2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
The Father designed the new creation people to be a "Super-natural" family, who would reveal God again into the midst of the earth. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was never intended to be a "religion," but a reality to the people. Jesus made a declaration in Acts 1:8 (Amplified) that both amazed and bewildered those He was speaking to, saying, "But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth (the very bounds) of the earth."
Then, Jesus' Words were revealed in Acts 2:43 (Amplified), which says, "And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers)." The "signs and wonders" were to continue throughout the very "bounds of the earth." These weren't only for the starting of the Church, but to identify the Church (the new creation) until the time when Jesus would return for His Body.
Many believe that these signs and wonders have "passed away," and were for only starting the Church. But, as the Body of Christ, we are to continue these things and reveal the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth. Through the centuries, we've been told repeatedly that these signs and wonders have ceased. Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) says, "Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is (always) the same, yesterday, Today (yes) and forever (to the ages)." So, according to the Word, this Promise and Jesus' instructions from Acts 1:8, are still the same as they always have been.
When we fail to demonstrate God's Presence in the earth, the eyes of the world see us as "just another religion." What sets Christianity apart from all other people, is that God Himself was to made manifest to the world, through His people. No other group of people on this planet, could do the things our God was manifesting through the new creation. Even those in the old covenant who followed Jesus' instructions, manifested God's Presence to the people.
We've majored on preaching how Jesus loved us so much that He died on the cross for our sins, but Jesus demonstrated His Love by being "moved by compassion" and delivering the multitudes from even their physical torments, sickness, and disease. His Love went far beyond what we're preaching today.
Although it's true concerning Jesus' redemptive work on the cross and He did this on our behalf, Jesus didn't just leave us to endure the same things that plague mankind, but through the indwelling Holy Spirit, relieved us of even the natural works of sin. The signs and wonders were "proof" of His Love, being demonstrated for all the world to see. Jesus' Love went beyond just being forgiven and it reached into the Super-natural realm, according to Acts 10:38 (Amplified) which says, "How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by (the power of) the devil, for God was with Him."
The Very Same God is now with us, to do the same works that Jesus did. This demonstration of His Love, is something that His Body (the Church) brings to the world. Jesus said in John 17:22 -23 (Amplified), "I have given them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One. I in them, and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and (definitely) recognize that You have sent Me, and that You have Loved them (even) as You have Loved Me." This Love was to be demonstrated by the Father working through us and is to be something the world can see, through His Body. The world would know that we were sent by the Father and that He loved them.
In a very short period of time, the early Church brought more converts to Christianity, than we've managed to make with all the things we have at our disposal, to do so. Even with radio, satellites, and the internet, we haven't moved the people as much as the early Church did, with their demonstration of God's power. We've accomplished bringing Christianity to the world by natural means, but this isn't what Jesus had in mind, when He sent the Holy Spirit to empower the Church.
We are challenged to "get back to basics," in Romans 1:17 (Amplified) which says, "For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith, and leading to faith (disclosed through the way of faith, that arouses to more faith) as it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live, and shall live by faith." Our faith is supposed to grow "from faith to faith." His Love is supposed to be manifested for the unbeliever, by our faith, through signs and wonders. We see God's Love being manifested in 1John 4:16-17 (Amplified), which says, "And we know (understand, recognize, and are conscious of, by observation and by experience and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the Love God cherishes for us; God is Love, and he who dwells and continues in Love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him. In this (union and communication with Him) Love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us; that we may have confidence for the day of judgment (with assurance and boldness to face Him) because as He is, so are we in this world." This manifestation of God's Love, has long since been neglected to be revealed to the world. If we found them sick, then we left them sick. If we found them addicted, then we left them addicted and left them to the world's means of ending that addiction. The Love we're to display to the world, is to loose the people from not only sin, but from the effects of sin in their lives.
We see the effects of misunderstanding God's Love, when many in today's Church still fear God's anger and judgment, in 1John 4:18 (Amplified) which says, "There is no fear in Love (dread does not exist) but full grown (complete, perfect) Love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and (so) he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of Love (and is not yet grown into Love's complete perfection). We Love Him, because He first Loved us."
We have so misunderstood God's Love and have reduced it to our own natural way of love. God's Love extends to every realm and area of our lives. God's Love extends from the redemptive work of removing sin to the very effects of sin, to those who will believe. This is the Gospel that Jesus preached and demonstrated. This is also the Gospel that He instructed His disciples to preach and demonstrate to the world, in Mark 16:15-20 (Amplified), "And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the Good News (the Gospel) to every creature (of the whole human race). He who believes (who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth) and is baptized will be saved from the penalty of eternal death, but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to, and trust in, and rely on the Gospel and Him it sets forth) will be condemned. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe. In My Nae they will drive out demons, they will speak in new languages (tongues) They will pick up serpents, and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, and they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well." Verses 19-20 go on, "So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoke to them, was taken up into Heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the Message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied it. Amen (so be it)."
Do we understand God's Love this way?
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