notes from lisa...

" Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign ; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas" [Matthew 12:38,39] Today, in our churches there is a tendency to encourage the people of God to seek and to "claim" divine miracles and blessings. I'm not exactly sure why we think that is the way to go since Jesus clearly says that seekers of "signs" ( semeion : an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally -- miracle, sign, token, wonder) are a "wicked and adulterous generation. Yet, if God's people are not actively chasing miracles they are deemed faithless--according to Jesus, just the opposite is true.  Miracles aren't bad, but they have a distinct purpose, and they are not for the comfort of those who already believe--it could be that we will...

Today, in the world, there are an estimated 24 million Apostolic Pentecostal believers. That's the count for those who call themselves Apostolic--I'm one of them, from the crown of my head to the souls of my feet; and I take that designation very seriously. Why? Because, in all honesty the only New Testament church in the Bible was made up of those who held to the Apostolic standard. Mind you, except for baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit--we don't much resemble the first Apostolic believers and their way of living. We are very different from those first apostles and saints who believed and carried out the words of Jesus. The first Christians, after Jesus was resurrected, were baptized "in Jesus' Name" and "filled with the Holy Ghost" according to the book of Acts. That was the first step, but only the beginning of being real Apostolic people of God. That was just the "milk" (Hebrews 5:12-6:1), but the test of who is actually A...