what makes the difference
The popular idea that is promoted by most churches is that it doesn’t matter which church you go to, we all believe in the “Same God” Some churches, not wanting to offend, will go even further and include other religions.
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE
The “Same God” statement covers a lot of territory. Muslims believe in the “Same God” they say. Jews believe in the “Same God” as well (and we could write a book on that subject), as do a number of other middle eastern religions that have sprung up over the past centuries, simply because they had a different “vision” about who “God” is and what he really wanted according to their vision. Taken at face value, God seems to change His mind every so often without any warning. even software on your computer tells you when an update is available, but God obviously didn’t seem to see a need to inform each group that there was an update available. It seems he didn’t even tell Jesus that this was going to happen. Plus, it seems that incorporated into all of this God seems to be given to lies and deception if everyone’s story is true. But they all claim to have the “latest” revelation, which is not what God actually said. Jesus is the last and only revealer of the truth, and all the future updates are included in the Bible.
Why the difference
The world of theology tends to lump the 3 “Same God” worshipers into the 3 great monotheistic religions, and treat them as being equal in God’s sight. Well, we have news for them, that just isn’t so. Not only that, but all three are definitely fractured amongst themselves by doctrines that are divisive and destructive . So much so that they fight amongst themselves within themselves. And as is well known and documented, each one thinks that the other two are the illegitimate religions, and within each of those groups, each group believes all the rest are probably wrong, or definitely wrong.
That is not what God intended because he said he is not the author of confusion. If God is not the author of confusion, then all the confusion must someone else’s doing. If you don’t know the answer to that then you don’t really know what the right doctrine is and you are confused, but the worst news is, you are not saved, even if you think you are!
SO, WHO IS RIGHT? AND WHAT MAKES THEM RIGHT?
THE BACKGROUND PICTURE ABOVE IS A DEPICTION OF HOW MAN KIND MEASURES POWER. MAN MAKES A BOMB AND USES IT FOR A DEMONSTRATION OF HIS ABILITY TO DESTROY MAN. THE BIGGER THE BANG THE MORE POWER HE HAS. POLITICAL POWER IS SOUGHT AFTER, SO THAT THE ELECTED CAN HAVE POWER OVER THE ELECTORS.
GOD DOES NOT MEASURE POWER IN THE SAME WAY. HOW DOES HE MEASURE IT?
LET’S TAKE A LOOK.
IT IS ALL ABOUT POWER
The great majority of churches today absolutely do not understand much at all about the power talked about in the Bible. There are two words that are translated into the English word power, and they have two different meanings, but compliment each other. On the one hand if you have one, you have the other, but conversely when it is the opposite way around you end up having neither scriptural and biblically. So, what are they? and why the difference.
δύναμις dúnamis;
When you fully understand this you will understand that the other power has no force in the Kingdom of heaven without this power. This power gives us the right and the privilege of becoming the sons (a generic term which includes females) of God, and as such we gain the right to act on behalf of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. without this authority no one has the right to speak on God’s behalf or act on His authority. Anyone that has not received the Holy Spirit with the accompanying evidence of speaking in tongues is not authorized to baptize anyone in the “name” or by the authority of the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. That means that no matter how well intentioned the whole process is, it cannot be recognized in the Kingdom of Heaven.
In effect, those people are just exercising a purely natural authority that carries no weight in God’s sight.
ἐξουσία exousía;
This word means the exercise of a power or authority of any kind. However, trying to, or believing that you can exercise the power and authority of God by this word alone is false. you have no right to exercise any power on God’s behalf without having the other power (on the left) as the means for that authority.
The Supreme Court exercises a natural authority given to it by the United States Congress, but they have no authority to act on God’s behalf because they do not have the other power vested in them. Only, and we mean only the people that have received the Holy Spirit the way God planned and have done according to his plan can exercise the authority given by God.
The True Church
On the day of pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out on mankind for all to receive for the very first time. This event is what would be called in the scientific world, a “Singularity”. This will never be repeated ever again. However, the church was meant to continue in this form and embracing this doctrine until the return of Jesus Christ. That means that every church should be preaching this experience, and every church leader should be thoroughly and totally informed about that experience and the result of having that experience.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto 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.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received — his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Many churches today are denying the experience is for today because they read the letters to the churches and misunderstand and misinterpret one particular verse;
1 Corinthians 13:8
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
This is interesting because those that claim tongues has ceased never claim that knowledge has vanished or that prophecy has failed. Tongues is the real elephant in the room that everyone wants to steer well clear of. The problem with that is that speaking in tongues is the evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit. No Holy Spirit! No salvation! simple as that, but also simply a dangerous position to be in.. Churches that do not preach the apostles doctrine have no “power” of either kind. Being in those churches will leave YOU powerless as well. We are not speaking about the “Gift” of tongues as that is a very definite and separate experience given to you after you have received the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues (THE EVIDENCE). You can not have the Gift of tongues without receiving the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Again, it is dead churches reading the letters to the living churches and totally misunderstanding exactly what it means.