The Apostolic Voice

There are some of us that just want to get to the point without having to read a book to find out what some refer to as the “bottom line”.

“What do I have to do to be saved?” A direct and simple question. The direct and simple answer is that you need to first believe that Jesus was and is the Christ, and that He was God manifested in the flesh, and is indeed the Savior. For Jesus said; “for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” - (John 8:24)

Then you simply need to obey the Gospel;

“The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” - (2 Thessalonians 1:7,8)

The plain Gospel is stated in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

1* ¶ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2* By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3* For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4* And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The Gospel or “Good News” is the Jesus died, was buried and rose again. So the obvious question is: “How do we obey what only appears to be an historical event?”

Peter told us how in Acts 2:38 where he said to:

“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift (Luke 11:13) of the Holy Ghost.”

God did not ask us to be crucified as He was and die as He did.  He asks us to die to ourselves through repentance.  He does not ask us to be buried in a tomb as He was, but rather be buried with Him in the waters of baptism for the remission of sins. Then He promises that same Spirit that rose Jesus up on the third day would be given to us in the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Repentance = Death  (A simple and sincere turing away from sin).

Baptism = Burial  (by immersion and in the name of Jesus).

Holy Ghost = Resurrection  (with the evidence of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance – Acts 2:4).

This is the only way that you can be saved. “Accepting Jesus as your personal Savior ” or saying a “sinners prayer”, or “joining a Church” is no where to be found in God’s Word.

Jesus said; “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God“ – (John 3:3). Then He clarified; “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God“ – (John 3:5).

This is what is referred to at the New Birth. When we repent and are baptized by immersion in water in the Name of Jesus our sins are remitted or washed away (Acts 2:38). Therefore when we come up out of the water in is like a new birth in the flesh in the sense that we are now sinless, and truly have a new beginning or birth.

Then when God fills us with His Spirit which is evidenced by a heavenly language that flows from out lips as the Holy Ghost gives the utterance or ability (Acts 2:4), we then then born of the Spirit as well. We then become a child of God, our name in written in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:15).  That same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now resides in us, which will raise our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11) when Jesus returns for His Church.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.  - 1Peter 2:9

The word peculiar appears seven times in the King James version of the Bible. Many think that it means odd or weird, it does not.  In fact nowhere in the Word of God is His Church ever referred to as odd, or weird.  It is the world that is odd, weird, and contrary to what God intended for us.

The word peculiar as used in the Word of God means a “purchased possession”, or “purchased treasure” (See also Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 14:2,26:18, Psalms 135:4, Ecclesiastes 2:8,Titus 2:15).

Having said this, I think someone needs to tell some that are in the Church.  Some of us act weird! Holiness or Godly does not mean contrary to the natural, or contrary to what is taught in the Word of God.

Let me give you an example; If you were to look upon the crowd at a rock concert or a sporting event like a football or baseball game, you would see people responding naturally. If music was being played we would perhaps see people moving to the music or beat.  They might sway, bounce, dance, or even jump up and down.

If they get excited they might clap, jump up and down, shout, etc. Really no different than most of us do in a Church service. We are just getting excited, and are happy about different things.

We have the same natural response  regardless if we are in the World or in the Church. Having said that, we shouldn’t be doing weird things that are contrary to the natural, as well as contrary to the Word of God.

In my sixty-one years I’ve seen some pretty strange practices in some assemblies as I’ve traveled around the country. Most of them I’m not going to mention here.

I want to start by saying that I think some use Church as a reason to do the same things in the Church building that they did in the world.  Some folks talk like Church is just a big party, looking for an opportunity  to dance in the aisles, or “shake their hair down”.

Why do we assemble ourselves together?  Do we come together to worship God together as a Church, or do we come to Church to go crazy and put on a show for each other?

Do we come to hear a message and learn of God? Or, do we come to get worked up emotionally by a screaming preacher and organ music getting everyone all pumped up so that they can all go crazy and talk about what a great time we had, and how the Holy Ghost moved?  Holy Ghost or flesh?

We should be bold in proclaiming the gospel.  We should be bold in our worship, lifting our hands and our voices unto God.  But we should also have wisdom.

Here is the wording an actual sign the I saw in front of an Apostolic Pentecostal Church building:

“Apostolic Pentecostal, One God, Tongue Talking, Holy Rollers“.

A sign at another Apostolic Pentecostal Church Building in another location read like this:

(Name of the Church) – “A Place to Belong and Believe”.

It was bold to put up the first sign, but did it show wisdom?  If you were not in the Church and were looking for a Church to attend, which one would attract you?

Did you ever notice that some of these things that people like to do in a Church service always seem to happen down front where they can be seen by everyone, and never up in the back? Did you ever notice they only happen in front of an accepting crowd and never in WalMart or in their own back yard? Just saying.

It might help some of our assemblies grow if some of us stop acting weird. It might help the Church grow if we stop looking down our long self-righteous noses at the unsaved, and love people instead. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to work on it’s own, and stop trying to help it with our flesh, and calling it a work of God. We need to be full of the Spirit, but far too many are full of flesh. Whoops! Did I say that?

A few weeks ago I was cleaning out my rain gutters and my porch roof of all the leaves and mostly pine needles before winter set in.  I was using a push broom to reach up over the edge of my corrugated metal roof on my porch to pull off several small branches and pine needles down onto my driveway.  On my last reach up over my roof, the end of my thumb hit the sharp edge of the metal roofing which cut me very deep.  I’ll spare you any further description than that because it makes most people wince.

I was the only one home at the time and I was sitting at my kitchen table holding a paper towel on the end of my thumb over another paper towel that was fairly saturated with blood, when my wife and youngest daughter walked in. The site of this threw them into a bit of a panic.

I got the bleeding to stop relatively quickly despite the depth of the cut and I did not feel the need for stitches, and a tetanus shot never occurred to me, since I’ve never had one in my life. I just bandaged it up and went on with my day.

Needless to say that this thumb, this small body part, was handicapping me greatly in the use of my right hand, and consequently my arm because of the injury.

It was about three weeks later that I was thinking about this, and came to a realization and subsequently a lesson learned. Paul says in Ephesians 5:30 that we are “members of His body”, and in Colossians 1:24 he says that the Church is His body.

Think about it; when Jesus dwelt amongst us in the flesh, His Spirit was in that body of flesh. Now His Spirit is in us, His Church, His bride. We are His body!

If there is just one saint in the local assembly that is spiritually injured and not in a right relationship, the body as a whole is affected, and at least partially crippled or handicapped.

We often think that our Spiritual failures, or sins only affect us, but that is far from the truth.  In relationship with the Church, your local assembly, our failures in this area have an effect on the Church. If the local expression of the body of Christ is not whole and is crippled in some way, it affects our ability to be used effectively for His purpose.

In the case of our families, especially with the head of the family, if we are not doing right, our entire household and family can and   does pay a price for that.  Sin comes with a price.

Ephesians 5:30* For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Colossians 1:24* Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

1 Corinthians 6:19* What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Ephesians  4:1-32

1* ¶ I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2* ¶ With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3* Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4* There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5* One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6* One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7* But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8* Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9* (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10* He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11* And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12* For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13* Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14* That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15* But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16* From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 17* ¶ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18* Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19* Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20* But ye have not so learned Christ; 21* If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22* That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23* And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24* And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25* Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26* Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27* Neither give place to the devil. 28* Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29* Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

My thumb is doing very well.  It is being healed and is being restored.  While it is not completely there yet, I am seeing great progress and am very pleased.  I did not lose my thumb, nor as some predicted, did I even lose the nail. It is amazing the way the body has of healing itself, when a member is not cut off or damaged beyond restoration.

What separates us from God is the same thing that separates us from the body. . . sin!  There is a sin unto death as stated in 1 John 5:16. James 1:15 says that “sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”. Sin is a severing action caused by our own selves, separating ourselves from God, and from His body.

Hebrews 3:12,13 “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

My thumb was injured, but was not cut off completely.  It continued to be given, and receive life giving blood and nourishment from the body.  Notice that I said it continued to be given and receive.

Let me ask you a question; What would happen if my thumb became completely cut off or severed from the body and was no longer receiving the healing and life-giving nourishment that it needed?  Would it not perish?

What if when this happened I did not put the thumb away from me, but rather clung onto it, not wanting to lose the thumb?  Perhaps I might tie a string around it and hang it about my neck.  Would it not whither there and begin to look unsightly to all that beheld it, and me.  Would it not also begin to stink?

Several months ago in prayer, I believe that God gave me a glimpse of His body as a lame man walking. Sin cripples the Church! The sin of fornication, which includes sins involving pornography, the sin of adultery, of stealing, of lying, of covetousness. Also the sin of gossip, of backbiting, of slander, of haughtiness, a sower of discord, and a false witness all of which stem from pride.

God desires to do a great thing in His Church. I believe that it is not us that are waiting on God, it is God that is waiting on us.  We need repentance, we need revival, we need oneness!

Ephesians 4:14-16 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

I liken the presence of God to sitting outside on a warm, calm Summer day, and feeling the warmth of the morning sun against your skin. . . except on the inside. I love the presence  and the love of God, and have become addicted to it.

Did you ever have feelings as a young man or woman for someone to the extent that you felt that you wanted to spend every single moment with them? It was particularly troublesome if you did not know whether or not they felt the same way. It was even worse if you found out that they didn’t. But if they did feel that same way, at the moment that they told you that they loved you too, your heart felt like it was going to burst with joy.  Have you ever known a love like that? I think that is like the love that God loves us with. It is a perfect love, and love that is without measure or comprehension.

As with all relationships, our relationship with God takes time to grow. As with any relationship it takes time and effort.  Can you imagine a young man or woman who have entered into a courtship not talking to each other, not spending time together? God already knows you inside and out, and He still desires to spend time with you. . . imagine that!

His Word says that we cannot even know our own heart, but He searches our heart and knows it (Jeremiah 17:10). His Word also says that he cares so much for us that even the hairs of our head are numbered (Luke 12:7). He loves and desires a relationship with you that involves time and conversation. It is more than just us doing all the talking, we need to listen to Him.

Sometimes we have ignorant mindsets and habits. Some of us don’t spend much time with God until it’s time to go to a Church service.  Some have habits of a prayer before a meal, or before bed.  We all tend to pray and seek the Lord when a calamity befalls us, or a loved one. From my observations over the years, this all seems to be fairly typical of most Christians.

Some may think that because the Bible says; “for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20), that there needs to be a group in order for God be present. Wrong! If you are saved, born-again, that is you have obeyed the Gospel (Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) , then you have direct access to God every single moment of you life! God’s Spirit is with us at all times, and not only with us but He is in us (John 14:17)! God has taken up residence in us!

I think sometimes either true Christians don’t realize who they are, or they forget. He is with us always! They problem is our flesh, and we are carnal minded.  We get caught up in our senses, in what we see, in what we hear and what we touch. Our senses are bombarded in this modern world in which we find ourselves.  The world’s music is everywhere.  Its in our workplace, in our homes, in our cars, on our iPods, and even on our phones.  We can literally go through a day and never have a quiet moment, and some of us virtually don’t, and some by choice!

Video is everywhere as well. Some of us are addicted to movies, television, and YouTube. It is like we have to be constantly entertained. Add to that video games, sports, hobbies, food, fashion, cars, and on and on, and on. It has been said that you are what you eat.  But I say; you are what you think about all day long. What you think about all day long is a form of worship, and thus can become your God.

What is needed first is a realization of the problem, then repentance.  We then need to seek God and ask Him to change us, to search out hearts, and as King David did, ask Him to create in us a clean heart (Psalms 51:10). Begin to draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you (James 4:8).  Begin to form a habit of communication with God, even if you need to place reminders in your life until it becomes second nature. Talk to Him when you awake in the morning, before your feet even hit the floor. Thank Him for the day, for your life, for your salvation.  Ask Him to guide your footsteps through the day. Praise Him in the shower singing songs of praise.  Pray at breakfast giving thanks for it.  Grab some time with your family before you all head off in different directions for your day.  Talk to Him on your drive to work, and talk to him throughout the day. You are not bothering Him! He wants to be involved with your life!

I desire to come to, and remain in a place where I am not addicted to all the entertainment and distractions that the world offers, but rather I am addicted to His presence. To come to a place where I am not trying to steal a few moments to enjoy the pleasures of this world, but rather I am trying to steal a few moments with my redeemer, my savior, my fortress, my refuge, and my strength, and the one the loved me enough to die for me.

©2012 Stan Hallett

God has always been so faithful.  I usually don’t get everything that I want, but I always get all that I need, and this month was no exception. Typically the Winter months here in Maine are very slow work-wise for me, as a self-employed individual. The first half of this month was especially difficult.  However, everyday we have a roof over our head, clothes on our back and some food to eat.

At the beginning of this week I was able to earn some income to help see us through.  On Monday evening after a long day, as I drove back into town, I noticed that my battery light in my pickup had come on.  I decided to try to make it to an auto parts store to see if the could put a meter on it and tell me is it was the alternator, which is what I suspected.  I got there just in time, they were closing in a few minutes.  It turned out that indeed it was my alternator and a new one was going to cost $165. I believe that the Lord kept that bad alternator going until virtually the very moment that I had the money to replace it (Blessing #1). Not only that, but He allowed me to make it to the auto parts store before they closed (Blessing #2). I was able to get it diagnosed and purchase a new one which was in stock (Blessing #3), within minutes of closing.

After I paid for the alternator I asked them what it would cost to charge up my battery so that I could make it home, which was another 10 miles.  It was now dark and a rainy night as well, so the battery had to be able to have enough of a charge to keep the headlights and the wipers running all the way home. They told me that it would take about a half hour to charge it up, and the cost would be about $18.  However, they said that was not possible because the store was closing in 10 minutes.  Then he said that they would just put the charger on for that amount of time and at least I would get a partial battery charge (Blessing #4).

The battery is rated at 675 cold cranking amps at full charge had now 610 amps on it, so I was not too bad.  As it turned out the man that was helping me stayed late, past store closing (Blessing #5) and charged it up to full capacity, and did not charge me anything to do so (Blessing #6). Now I just had to make it home.

It was a cold rainy night, which was not a good time to be broken down on the side of the road, and with no AAA. I made it home without a hitch (Blessing #7) and pulled into my driveway and under the poach light where I could see to do the work.

It just so happened that when I arrived home, now at about 8:00 p.m., my son-in-law was there picking up my grandson who was being watched by his grandmother for the day. This was a rare event, and typically he would have picked him up on the way home right after work.  This time he went and spent some time home first.

What was special about this is that my son-in-law is a mechanic, who offered to do the work to put in the new alternator.  He did it in just a few minutes having done it many times before (Blessing #8).

God is Faithful and Good.  I thank him for His blessings and I knew that when I rose up this morning that the Lord was going to take care of me.

©2012 Stan Hallett

If you are a husband you occasionally like to do something special for the bride that you love. Perhaps a nice evening out, that would include dinner at a nice restaurant. Not a fast food restaurant, or even one of those chain restaurants, but something fancy, expensive, intimate, quiet, with some nice music perhaps, and some great food, and romantic atmosphere. For us that are in love it is all about atmosphere. Everything has to be just right.

When God created man, He didn’t just create him and put him in some void until he got around to create the things that man wanted or needed.  No, before He created man He made the earth, the seas and the heavens. He made the grass, the trees, and every living thing.  He created and prepared the environment, and just the right atmosphere.

The Bible says that when He created man, He didn’t just create man by simply speaking him into existence, as He had everything else that He created.  He created man by forming him from out of the dust of the earth, and in His own image. Then the Bible tells us that He breathed the breath of life into him and he became a living soul.

The garden was well prepared for him, and God set him over it.  All of life was already created for him, and He set man in it. Everything was perfect, a perfect environment, and a perfect atmosphere.

Now six-thousand years later He has brought us through to finally obtain the promise that He would not only be with us, but He would be in us (John 14:16,17). All of us that have His Spirit are no longer of this world, but we are His Bride.

When we gather together we become the complete local expression of His Body, the Church. If you ask anyone why they attend Church Services or assemble themselves together or “go to Church” as some might say, you may get different answers.  Some may say “it’s just something we do”, or “I enjoy the fellowship”. Perhaps one might say “I really enjoy the music”, or “I always feel better after going”.  Some may say that they “like to hear the preaching of God’s Word” or “I like to learn more about the Word of God”. All of these things are good, but the primary reason that we should be gathering together is to worship God, together as His Church, His Body, His Bride.

So how should we go about that?  Would we not want to create the right atmosphere?  Would we not want to create the right environment that would move God, and cause Him to desire to enter into it with His presence?

The Word of God says that He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3).  This is not referring to the appearance of worship or rote ritual praise.  It is not the praise that looks good to us with our hearts somewhere else.  It is not the kind of praise where someone has their hands raised, but they’ve got leaving on their mind. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God sees the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

We need to create an atmosphere of praise and worship, and begin not to just go through some ritual or motions, but  express our love and adoration for Him with sincere praise and heartfelt worship. When we do this we are creating an environment that God will inhabit with His presence.

Let’s go back to creation just for a moment. . . The Bible says that God created the heavens and the earth, and every living thing. But by what means did He create them? All through creation God spoke everything into existence. Seven times before he formed man the book of Genesis says “and God said”. And God said: Let there be Light, and God said, and God said, and God said, and God said, and God said. God is all about His Word!

The Bible says in John 1:1 that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. Then if we go down to verse 14 its says “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us”. Again, God is all about His Word!

Now let me ask you, does the Bible not say that we are made in the image and the likeness of God (Gen 1:26, 5:1)? We are like Him! So if God, in whose likeness we are created, spoke an environment and an atmosphere into existence for us, how then should we create a proper atmosphere or environment for Him?

We need to speak it into existence with what Hebrews 13:15 refers to as “the fruit of our lips”, and with our words of heartfelt worship and praise.

©2012 Stan Hallett

          Pray without ceasing – 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Our relationship with God varies from person to person. Many may only pray when they go to a Church service or when they sit down to a meal. Others more dedicated may have a brief time of prayer at some point through their day. For most, being able to pray without ceasing is an inconceivable notion.

Before we have obeyed the Gospel as laid out before us in John 3:3-5, Acts 2:38, and 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, and are filled with His Spirit, we only have our flesh, our sin nature. After we are born again of the water and of the Spirit, we have a dual nature. We still have our flesh which we will have until we die. But now we also have a new nature which we have in the Holy Ghost.

Part of the problem is that some see this infilling of the Holy Ghost as just an experience that they went through. After a while the “glow” wears off, and depending on the mindset and the desires of the individual, they can fade away back into the world, some quite rapidly. Others seem to be on a typical roller coaster of highs and lows throughout their walk with the Lord. Still a few actually maintain a high level of Godliness, of Holiness, and a close walk with God.

What is the difference between these individuals? What causes one to fade right back into the world and the flesh, and another to maintain a close walk with God? One might recall the teaching of Jesus regarding the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23. But I say unto you that stony and hard ground can be cultivated through labor and God’s help. Our soil can be made fertile through cultivating with prayer, and being fertilized with desire. With prayer and the Word of God, weeds can be overcome and rooted out.

First we must have conviction, followed by desire and commitment. We need to implement the tools of change. They are those that work to build our relationship with God, which is the Word of God through study and teaching, and that of prayer. We need to understand and realize that the infilling of the Holy Ghost was not just an experience that we went through. Prior to that event we had God with us, but that now we have God within us (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19)!

We need to turn off the world. I mean turn off the TV and the computer, turn off the smart phone, the video game, put down the magazine, the newspaper, as well as the hobbies and activities that consume our time and our minds (James 4:4). We need to spend time with God in His Word, and in prayer daily.

When you pray, take time to just praise and worship Him. Bring your petitions, but also take time to listen. Spend some quiet time with the Lord, and let God begin to deal with the issues that need to be rooted out. Get into His Word and begin to build the relationship that God desires to have with you. If it is your desire, eventually it will become easier and more natural. God’s voice will become more clear and distinctive. Your relationship will grow and become your desire over the things of the world. Soon you may find yourself praying without ceasing.

Yes, we have to interact with the world in our work and everyday life. But God wants to be part of your life, and involved with you. It is often thought that God does not want to be bothered with everything in our life, or with matters that are seemingly trivial. That’s a lie! Don’t you believe it! God cares so much about every detail of your life that even the hairs of your head are numbered (Luke 12:7)!

I wake up in the morning, and sometimes He wakes me. The first words out of my mouth and in my heart is praise and thankfulness. I’m in the shower sometimes singing praises to Him, other times just praising His Name. Sometimes I gather my family together if they are up, and we have a time of prayer together. I get in my truck and as I drive to my job, wherever it may be, and I turn the cab of my truck into a prayer room. I am oftentimes driving down the road with tears in my eyes, and I am overwhelmed with His presence. Throughout the day He talks to me, sometimes giving me complete messages. We have ongoing communication all through the day in between my dealings with customers, or business owners, clerks and cashiers.

He orders my footsteps, and He directs my path. If I get a wrong thought, He corrects me with a whisper. If I set off in a wrong direction, He softly nudges me to go the right way. If I lose my focus, He draws me closer. What I know now, I so much wish I had known as a young man. However I am so glad that I did learn it before my time on earth was done. What a loving God! What a Savior! What a Companion and Friend!

Sometimes I am in communication with Him and no one around me knows. Other times His presence is so overwhelming that I have to lift my hands and praise Him, even if I’m in the middle of WalMart.

“Pray without ceasing” is not just an idealistic suggestion, it is a necessary and vital part of our walk with God. It is the solution to roller coaster Christianity. It is the spiritual Weed-B-Gon or Roundup that will keep the cares of this world from overtaking us. It will prevent the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things from entering in, choking the word, and becoming unfruitful.

We’ve all seen the little gardening set of which the primary tools contain a trowel and a cultivator. Prayer without ceasing is a spiritual cultivator that keeps the soil loose, weed free, and prepared to receive the seed of the Word of God. The trowel is what is used to plant the Word of God deep within our prepared soil, by listening to His Voice and reading His Word.

If you could grasp this truth for yourself my friend, oh the joy that is waiting for you! Through every trial, through every tribulation, my course is set. I don’t know all of the waypoints, but I know the destination. I am enjoying the road and I have a peace in knowing that God will see me through.

“Prayer without Ceasing” is one of those gems of truth that has become a great treasure to me. I so desire it to become a treasure in your life as well. It’s up to you. What is your desire?

©2012 Stan Hallett

God’s creation is so amazing to me. My wife and I are not into watching many videos, but one thing that we do enjoy from time to time is a nature video all about God’s marvelous creation. We are still discovering new things about it everyday, and even discovering life forms that have never been recorded in history.

How could anyone be a scientist working in these various fields of science and not come to a belief that these are the result of divine creation and have not just somehow evolved?

Some scientists believe that this all evolved from some great explosion that took place millions, or billions of years ago.  Have you ever seen something created by an explosion? Has an explosion ever been known to create anything other than destruction? How could things like the human eye have ever evolved?  If this is random and just left to chance why are my limbs equal and why don’t I have an arm sticking out of my back?  Why does virtually all forms of life have amazing semetry and similarity, two eyes, two antenna, two ears, to arms, two wings, two fins, all balanced.  Why is all life so unique and complete, and not in a state of evolving into something better, but perfect with great purpose and form?

If we evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?  Were they just the slow kids?  Why do we not see any real provable signs of continued evolution in man’s recorded history?  Because it’s a lie!

Did you know that we are the only living thing that God did not just speak into existence?  Read it for yourself.  He spoke every single thing and creature into existence, except man (Genesis 1:1-24).

But the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7).

That’s why when we die our natural body goes back to the ground (Genesis 3:19), but our soul lives forever.  It’s just a question of where. This life is but a vapor, then what?  Where will you spend eternity?  You have a choice, free will, and free volition that God will not violate, and satan cannot violate. It’s up to you!

God had a plan and loved us before He formed us, or this world.  He had a plan for us before man ever fell into sin.  He knew that He would one day come, suffer and die to redeem us to himself before Adam or Eve had their first thought. It is amazing for us to even try to comprehend it.  What love!  How could we not respond in kind?  How could we remain all caught up in out own little world, our pride our little pleasures, and not obey His voice regardless of the cost?

Because of sin, man is separated from God. But because of His love for us He made a way for us to come back into a relationship with Him. We call it salvation, the act of being saved from His righteous judgement.

Do you want to know how to be saved?  All you have to do enter into His covenant.  To do that you simply do what the convenant requires and obey the gospel. We simply obey God and enter into what is a beautiful covenant relationship with Him.  But it’s not the lie of today’s “Orthodox Christianity”. Theirs is diluted, and watered down and of no effect, a “Placebo Christianity“.

It’s not a difficult requirement, or any great burden.  On the contrary, Jesus said ”Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29,30)

But the Gospel is something that must be obeyed, not just accepted.  We don’t accept Him, He accepts us!

“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8* In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7,8)

So the question is; What is the gospel?

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

“1* Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2* By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3* For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4* And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”.

That’s the gospel!  But you may say; “Wait, that’s just a historical event!  How do I obey a historical event?”  I’m so glad you asked.

This is tied right in the message that Peter preached in the book of Acts.  When asked what they should do, Peter said to them: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

God does not ask us to die on the cross as He did for us, but rather that He die to ourselves through repentance.  That simply means turn from our will to His will.  God does not ask that we be buried as He was, but in like figure we are buried with Him in the waters of baptism in His name.

Baptism has a purpose, as Peter proclaimed in Acts 2:38.  It is for the remission of sins, without which our sins cannot be remitted.

Jesus said “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

The true gospel is not “accepting Jesus as our personal savior”. That cannot be found in the Bible anywhere.  It’s not just saying a prayer. We must obey God’s plan of salvation and not man’s philosophy. If we do, then He promises to fill us with His Spirit with a great and wonderful evidence.

God robed Himself in the flesh of a man (John 1:1, 1:14) and He called that flesh His son containing the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit). Now God has sent that same Spirit to us, to not just dwell with us, but within us.  We (the Church) are now His body (Ephesians 5:30, Colossians 1:24).

No three Gods, and no three persons in the Godhead. The Bible is clear that there is but one LORD, and His name one (Zechariah 14:9, Deuteronomy 6:4, John 14:7-9).

There is only one God, one faith, one gospel, one plan of salvation, and one Church, the one the Jesus is building (Matthew 16:18).  Not Joseph Smith, not L.Ron Hubbard, not Mohammed, not Buddha, not Benny Hinn, or anyone else.  The Church is not the Baptists, The Methodists, the Mormons, the Catholics, the Pentecostals or any other man-made organization.  It knows no denominational lines (John 10:27).

Repentance is not asking for forgiveness, although when you repent it should be due to a Godly sorry for your sin.  Repentance simply means an about-face, a change of mind and of heart, and turning from your way to God’s way.

Baptism comes from the latin word Baptizo which means to be completely submersed. It is done exactly the same way today that the apostles and the early Church did it in the book of Acts, in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 19:5).

Then God promises that your will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Luke 3:16, Luke 11:13, Acts 2:38).

So where should you go to Church? We need to be connected to a body of believers which is the Church, that have obeyed the gospel as I have preached here. If you live in Southern Maine the answer would be easy for me. Anywhere else you will need to seek out what is known to be a Church that is “Apostolic” meaning that they teach the same message and doctrine as the apostles did in the book of Acts.

They should also be “Pentecostal” which means that they still preach and have received the same experience of being filled with the Holy Ghost as they were on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

Please feel free to email me in your quest, or with any questions that you may have.

In His Service,

Stan Hallett

© 2012 Stan Hallett

There is nothing for me to add here.  I’ll let the Word of the Lord speak for itself, with emphasis added . . .

New Testament – (Jesus said):

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.” - John 18:1-6

“Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.” –  John 13:19

12″Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 13* The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. 14* Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. 15* Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16* And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17* It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18* I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. 19* Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. 20* These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. 21* ¶ Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22* Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23* And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24* I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 25* Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26* I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27* They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. 28* Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29* And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” - John 8:12-29

Old Testament (God said):

4* For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. 5* Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. 6* Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. - Isaiah 52:6

10* Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11* I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. 12* I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. 13* Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? 14* Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. 15* I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.” - Isaiah 43:10-15

Jesus is God and was God as he dwelt among us in flesh. He came in the flesh as the lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8)  to redeem us to Himself. It is much more beautiful than man can fathom or comprehend. He did not send another to die for us, He came Himself!

©2012 Stan Hallett

Placebo:   A placebo (pləˈsiboʊ/ plə-see-boh; Latin placēbō, “I shall please” from placeō, “I please”) is a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient. Sometimes patients given a placebo treatment will have a perceived or actual improvement in a medical condition, a phenomenon commonly called the “placebo effect“.

In medical research, placebos are given as control treatments and depend on the use of measured deception. Common placebos include inert tablets, sham surgery, and other procedures based on false information. However, placebos can also have a surprisingly positive effect on a patient who knows that the given treatment is without any active drug, as compared with a control group who knowingly did not get a placebo.

In one common placebo procedure, however, a patient is given an inert pill, told that it may improve his/her condition, but not told that it is in fact inert. Such an intervention may cause the patient to believe the treatment will change his/her condition; and this belief may produce a subjective perception of a therapeutic effect, causing the patient to feel their condition has improved — or an actual improvement in their condition. This phenomenon is known as the placebo effect.

◊◊◊

Jesus asked Simon Peter “Who do ye say that I am?” Peter said; “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus said; “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:15-19).

There are three Biblical truths that I want to point out in the portion of scripture:

(1.) Who Jesus is, is a revelation from God. Most of the religious, and even proclaimed “Christians” do not fully understand who Jesus is.

(2.) The name Peter is derived from the Greek Πετρος (Petros) meaning “stone”. This is a translation used in most versions of the New Testament of the name Cephas, meaning “stone” in Aramaic, which was given to the apostle Simon by Jesus. But when Jesus said; “thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church”, He wasn’t saying that He was going to build his church on Peter, or even beginning with Peter as a foundation, but rather on the verse before, which is the revelation of who Jesus is. That is the foundation on what Jesus built His Church on.

(3.) That it was Jesus that built His Church, not Simon Peter, not the Christians, not the Jews, not the Mormons, not the Catholics, not the Pentecostals, or Apostolics, not the Baptists, nor anyone else but Jesus. There is but one Church.

(4.) That the keys that Jesus told Peter that he would give to him were not physical keys. Sorry Catholics, St. Peter is not the physical keeper at heavens gate with a big key ring. The Keys that Jesus gave to Peter were spiritual keys that Peter then shared with us in Acts 2:38 where he said; “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Death, Burial, and Resurrection, those are the keys to heaven, and that is the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

God has given us free volition, and free will to choose and live as we please. Without God’s allowance, satan also cannot violate our free volition and free will.

There is a great spiritual battle going on, from the time that God created man, right up  until this very moment. It is a battle waged in the hearts and minds of men.

Satan uses trickery, lures, traps, and deceit, which are seemingly endless. For the most part he has most of the world convinced that either there is no God or they have a very warped, worldly conception of God. However, just in case they use that free will and try find God, he throws in great confusion.

Primary Religions of the World

1. Christianity: 2.1 billion
2. Islam: 1.5 billion
3. Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion
4. Hinduism: 900 million
5. Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
6.Buddhism: 376 million
7. primal-indigenous: 300 million
8. African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million
9. Sikhism: 23 million
10. Juche: 19 million
11. Spiritism: 15 million
12. Judaism: 14 million
13. Baha’i: 7 million
14. Jainism: 4.2 million
15. Shinto: 4 million
16. Cao Dai: 4 million
17. Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million
18. Tenrikyo: 2 million
19. Neo-Paganism: 1 million
20. Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand
21. Rastafarianism: 600 thousand
22. Scientology: 500 thousand

Just in “Christianity” alone there are now reported to be approximately 41,000 Christian denominations in world, many of which cannot be verified to be significant. Talk about confusion!

Let me ask you a question. . . without direction, or revelation from God, how would anyone know what is truth, or find the true Church? Remember there is only one true Church, the one that Jesus is building.

But that is just what so many in the world try to do! The paths are as varied as there are people in the world. Some choose a religion or denomination based on a family members, a friend, a neighbor. Many simply try to find what seems right to them. Many go from religion to religion, denomination to denomination, assembly to assembly, looking for something that they can accept, and that feels right to them. A place where they can be happy or satisfied, and feel good about.

This is why 2 Timothy 4:3 says “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears”. 4* And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Many folks were born into whatever religion or denomination that their parents were a part of. They were born a Baptist, or a Catholic, or whatever, and they are going to die a Baptist, or a Catholic, or whatever.

It’s an psychological and emotional attachment for most. Many will stay with the Church that they got “saved” in, or won over to because of this. They have a psychological loyalty to their philosophy and their Placebo Christianity.

Colossians 2:6-9

6* As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  7* Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8* Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  9* For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Many in false religions and false Christianity have been spoiled through philosophy and deceit. They either will not get into a discussion with you regarding it due to instructions they have received, or they know that they lack the ability to adequately defend what it is they believe. Some will argue and debate with you to justify or prove out what it is they believe, never able to see truth (2 Timothy 3:7).

2 Timothy 3:1-9

3:1* ¶ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2* For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3* Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  4* Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  5* Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6* For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7* Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8* Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9* But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.