The Four
“19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I
may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which
I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to
speak.” - Eph. 6:19-20 KJV
Starting out if anything good can be gleaned herein, all Glory goes to Jesus and I do not profess to know everything this is just what Jesus gave me to share! Often times Jesus will deal with me in simple ways on big Spiritual subjects. Some subjects are easier to just boldly open my mouth and talk about, others I'm like 'Jesus, is this absolutely required of me in my personal walk with You?'. Haha! But then my study bible opens right to passages like Ephesians 6:19-20 KJV and multiple confirmation backed by the Word that has been hid in my heart and I'm like 'Okay, if You have my back Jesus!' *Closes eyes and charges forward.*
Which brings me back to the title “The Four”. In this Apostolic/Pentecostal (Acts 2:38 KJV) walk with Jesus in truth, it really is a continuing salvational process. Just like a walk takes you from one point to another, you don't always know what is going to happen in the midst of the (for me a heart condition, POTS, was a surprise for me) journey when you start walking. Well “The Four” has been brought to my attention in study so it is the main topic of this blog post. The Apostle Peter is the first person from scripture that comes to mind when it comes to Jesus bringing things up along his walk with Jesus. The loud mouthed one, often awkwardly (albeit boldly) putting his foot in his mouth while actually walking and talking with Jesus in the flesh. Yet Jesus knew he would ultimately get his act together. Thusly, allowing Jesus to move through him and deal with him where others of His disciples wouldn't for whatever reason. Either way, Peter got picked.
“17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” - Matt. 16:17-18 KJV
Powerful, yet only for us to read in the same Chapter just a few verses away in Matt. 16:22-23 KJV that Peter gets checked by Jesus Himself! So I can only imagine how Peter was trying to grapple with following where Jesus wanted him to move forward. So his hesitance makes total sense when we fast forward to Acts 10 KJV where even with Angels and trances and visions all over the place and through multiple people, to confirm that yes, going to Cornelius's house was what Jesus wants, we see in Acts 10:23 KJV yeah, Peter went to this Gentile Cornelius's house, but he brought “brethren” with him! LOL Now Peter and Jesus are the ones that really know what his foundational motivating factors where. Perhaps fear of breaking the Jewish law of that time period, fear of being misguided and then isolated, fear of what his not present Jewish brethren might say/think about him, fear of having to explain when called out on what actually took place, or straight up fear of possibly having to get rebuked by Jesus again on Judgement Day if he was wrong! *Shrugs* In my humble opinion, there was some sort of element of fear involved that had to be overcome to say the least. But in this case, Peter had all his basis covered!
Then you have those rare moments, where Jesus moves so strongly that it is a do or die situation and a choice must be made by an individual being selected by and dealt directly with by Jesus. It doesn't happen often, but these rarities do happen. This is seen in Acts 9:3-6 KJV when Jesus calls Saul(aka Paul) and then it falls to an interaction between Ananias and Jesus Acts 9:10-16 KJV. Private spiritual interactions that didn't have to be left on record in scripture with it's valuable real estate. But Jesus, in my humble opinion, allowed it (and I'm talking KJV specifically) to show that these rare moments happen that can change the course of the future even when Satan(Matt. 4:1-11 KJV) rises up trying to hinder the plan of Jesus for His church. Taking someone like Saul/Paul who was unknowingly kicking against Jesus and His true followers, and then was turned around to be used to bring in countless souls for Jesus and minister in ways unheard of before, to not only help strengthen but uphold Jesus' own Spiritual Church in the face of adversity and persecution. 'Okay, what does this all have to do with “The Four” title? Where is the connection?'
Well if it were not for these and other key moves of Jesus after the birth of the New Testament Church age (Acts 2:38 KJV), in the face of tares (Matt. 13:24-30 KJV), antichrists (1 John 2:18 KJV), and Satan himself trying to frustrate the plan of Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11 KJV) to rescue those initially considered heathens, unfit, uncircumcised “dog” Gentiles under old Jewish law (Which Jesus fulfilled!), could, if they earnestly chose for themselves be a welcomed and huge powerful portion of the body of Christ. But after receiving this truth and liberty in Jesus that has the power to truly free from sin, and give freedom from condemnation of the now fulfilled Jewish law (but still Godly respect towards the Jewish brethren), an important focus according to Acts 15:20, 29 KJV for the Gentile church was to abstain from:
1. Pollutions of Idols
2. Fornication
3. Things Strangled
4. From blood
While, for now I humbly just touch on these 4 major guidelines for the Gentile body of Christ, they have been patterned and foreshadowed throughout scripture with great spiritual significance and meanings. Via the Holy Ghost and Jesus' Church actually getting on one accord, crushing that which hinders Him from authentically powerfully moving in His Church body. Removing that which is not like Jesus by His own power in His time, while the purity of His Holy love draws in those longing for this Spiritual truth of His Holy process of purification and the spiritual serverity which falls from a just God when intentions/motivating factors are negative. Revealing the motivating factors of those like Ananias and Sapphira (who only wanted glory in the eyes of men, without honest earnest sacrifice Acts 5:1-11 KJV) by the power of the Holy Ghost instantaneously displayed and beyond the shadow of a doubt. It is with the willingness of humble submission to Jesus in the face of suffering, persecution, isolation, adversity, and attacks of fear, that earnest prayers, praise,worship from those fighting for righteousness as best they can that makes way for powerful spiritual, yet balanced moves of Jesus to be seen in the bleak last days like never before seen in recorded history as Jesus prepares His Church to be found without spot or wrinkle. There are more signs than ever that Jesus is returning soon, thus disunity is a tool of the enemy to stop Jesus' people from laying aside the weights and unite. We must remember who the real enemy is, and as Jesus said in scripture:
“32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” - St. Luke 17:32-33 KJV
We must show and preach the pure love of Jesus' Holy Apostolic Doctrine, pray, praise, and worship and trust that the only real righteous Judge, Jesus, will take care of His Church. Because #2016IsTheYearOfHarvest. For my geeks out there, we gotta Spiritually unplug from the Matrix and Spiritually plug into Jesus (Acts 2:38 KJV), who will carry us all through these crazy times. It is with much prayer this is written. That being said, the scripture that is brought to mind involves Peter again with another slightly nervous interaction with Jesus, “17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” - St. John 21:17 KJV
Starting out if anything good can be gleaned herein, all Glory goes to Jesus and I do not profess to know everything this is just what Jesus gave me to share! Often times Jesus will deal with me in simple ways on big Spiritual subjects. Some subjects are easier to just boldly open my mouth and talk about, others I'm like 'Jesus, is this absolutely required of me in my personal walk with You?'. Haha! But then my study bible opens right to passages like Ephesians 6:19-20 KJV and multiple confirmation backed by the Word that has been hid in my heart and I'm like 'Okay, if You have my back Jesus!' *Closes eyes and charges forward.*
Which brings me back to the title “The Four”. In this Apostolic/Pentecostal (Acts 2:38 KJV) walk with Jesus in truth, it really is a continuing salvational process. Just like a walk takes you from one point to another, you don't always know what is going to happen in the midst of the (for me a heart condition, POTS, was a surprise for me) journey when you start walking. Well “The Four” has been brought to my attention in study so it is the main topic of this blog post. The Apostle Peter is the first person from scripture that comes to mind when it comes to Jesus bringing things up along his walk with Jesus. The loud mouthed one, often awkwardly (albeit boldly) putting his foot in his mouth while actually walking and talking with Jesus in the flesh. Yet Jesus knew he would ultimately get his act together. Thusly, allowing Jesus to move through him and deal with him where others of His disciples wouldn't for whatever reason. Either way, Peter got picked.
“17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” - Matt. 16:17-18 KJV
Powerful, yet only for us to read in the same Chapter just a few verses away in Matt. 16:22-23 KJV that Peter gets checked by Jesus Himself! So I can only imagine how Peter was trying to grapple with following where Jesus wanted him to move forward. So his hesitance makes total sense when we fast forward to Acts 10 KJV where even with Angels and trances and visions all over the place and through multiple people, to confirm that yes, going to Cornelius's house was what Jesus wants, we see in Acts 10:23 KJV yeah, Peter went to this Gentile Cornelius's house, but he brought “brethren” with him! LOL Now Peter and Jesus are the ones that really know what his foundational motivating factors where. Perhaps fear of breaking the Jewish law of that time period, fear of being misguided and then isolated, fear of what his not present Jewish brethren might say/think about him, fear of having to explain when called out on what actually took place, or straight up fear of possibly having to get rebuked by Jesus again on Judgement Day if he was wrong! *Shrugs* In my humble opinion, there was some sort of element of fear involved that had to be overcome to say the least. But in this case, Peter had all his basis covered!
Then you have those rare moments, where Jesus moves so strongly that it is a do or die situation and a choice must be made by an individual being selected by and dealt directly with by Jesus. It doesn't happen often, but these rarities do happen. This is seen in Acts 9:3-6 KJV when Jesus calls Saul(aka Paul) and then it falls to an interaction between Ananias and Jesus Acts 9:10-16 KJV. Private spiritual interactions that didn't have to be left on record in scripture with it's valuable real estate. But Jesus, in my humble opinion, allowed it (and I'm talking KJV specifically) to show that these rare moments happen that can change the course of the future even when Satan(Matt. 4:1-11 KJV) rises up trying to hinder the plan of Jesus for His church. Taking someone like Saul/Paul who was unknowingly kicking against Jesus and His true followers, and then was turned around to be used to bring in countless souls for Jesus and minister in ways unheard of before, to not only help strengthen but uphold Jesus' own Spiritual Church in the face of adversity and persecution. 'Okay, what does this all have to do with “The Four” title? Where is the connection?'
Well if it were not for these and other key moves of Jesus after the birth of the New Testament Church age (Acts 2:38 KJV), in the face of tares (Matt. 13:24-30 KJV), antichrists (1 John 2:18 KJV), and Satan himself trying to frustrate the plan of Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11 KJV) to rescue those initially considered heathens, unfit, uncircumcised “dog” Gentiles under old Jewish law (Which Jesus fulfilled!), could, if they earnestly chose for themselves be a welcomed and huge powerful portion of the body of Christ. But after receiving this truth and liberty in Jesus that has the power to truly free from sin, and give freedom from condemnation of the now fulfilled Jewish law (but still Godly respect towards the Jewish brethren), an important focus according to Acts 15:20, 29 KJV for the Gentile church was to abstain from:
1. Pollutions of Idols
2. Fornication
3. Things Strangled
4. From blood
While, for now I humbly just touch on these 4 major guidelines for the Gentile body of Christ, they have been patterned and foreshadowed throughout scripture with great spiritual significance and meanings. Via the Holy Ghost and Jesus' Church actually getting on one accord, crushing that which hinders Him from authentically powerfully moving in His Church body. Removing that which is not like Jesus by His own power in His time, while the purity of His Holy love draws in those longing for this Spiritual truth of His Holy process of purification and the spiritual serverity which falls from a just God when intentions/motivating factors are negative. Revealing the motivating factors of those like Ananias and Sapphira (who only wanted glory in the eyes of men, without honest earnest sacrifice Acts 5:1-11 KJV) by the power of the Holy Ghost instantaneously displayed and beyond the shadow of a doubt. It is with the willingness of humble submission to Jesus in the face of suffering, persecution, isolation, adversity, and attacks of fear, that earnest prayers, praise,worship from those fighting for righteousness as best they can that makes way for powerful spiritual, yet balanced moves of Jesus to be seen in the bleak last days like never before seen in recorded history as Jesus prepares His Church to be found without spot or wrinkle. There are more signs than ever that Jesus is returning soon, thus disunity is a tool of the enemy to stop Jesus' people from laying aside the weights and unite. We must remember who the real enemy is, and as Jesus said in scripture:
“32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” - St. Luke 17:32-33 KJV
We must show and preach the pure love of Jesus' Holy Apostolic Doctrine, pray, praise, and worship and trust that the only real righteous Judge, Jesus, will take care of His Church. Because #2016IsTheYearOfHarvest. For my geeks out there, we gotta Spiritually unplug from the Matrix and Spiritually plug into Jesus (Acts 2:38 KJV), who will carry us all through these crazy times. It is with much prayer this is written. That being said, the scripture that is brought to mind involves Peter again with another slightly nervous interaction with Jesus, “17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” - St. John 21:17 KJV
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