Are You Also Ready?

By Victolyn Flemmings

Key Verse: Matthew 24:44 - "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

In the story of the ten virgins, the five wise were prepared, but the five foolish took no extra oil for their lamps. Indeed, they had oil in their lamps in the beginning, because their lamps were burning. But as the Bridegroom tarried, their lamps used up all the oil and went out. When the cry came, they had no extra oil to put in their lamps, whereas the wise virgins were able to trim their lamps and refill them with their oil on hand.

In his final letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul knew he was ready to meet his Saviour. "I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith, I have finished my course," There were steps Paul had to take. He had to take. He was able to check each one and show he had earned it fair and square.

In order to be ready, we too, must make preparations. Take the Olympics for example, It takes years of preparation; consistent training, dedication, and sacrifice for an athlete to even consider participating, and when he wins a medal, he has earned it, fair and square.

As a registered nurse, I didn't just wake up one morning, after dreaming all night that I was a nurse, decide I wanted to take care of the sick, and put on a nurse's uniform, automatically becoming a nurse. The law dictates a certain amount of years in school with intense training and study of the anatomy of the human body, disease processes, plus so much more. I had to graduate from an accredited school of nursing, obtain passing grades in a national examination, apply for and receive a license before becoming a registered nurse.

Without preparation, there are no blessings.When Mary, the mother of Jesus, realized there was no more wine at the marriage supper, she told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. Jesus instructed the servants to fill the containers with water. (See John 2:1-10.) Preparation was necessary.

When the army of Judah needed water, Elisha told them to dig a valley full of ditches. Without wind or rain the valley would be filled with water so they and all their animals could drink. (See II Kings 3.)

There are numerous instances in the Bible where good results follow a conscious deed or action of faith. Naaman the leper was told by Elisha to dip seven times in the river Jordan to receive his healing. At first, he refused, thinking that he was an important government official and that dipping in Jordan's water was beneath his dignity. But we see that when he obeyed, he was totally healed of his disease.

In Esther's day, the Jews were threatened with extermination; she told her people to fast and pray with her for three days and three nights, and that she would go before the king to petition for their lives. They did... She did... and, God did!

Finally, there was a widow who was in debt. Her creditors were going to sell her sons to get their money. Desperate, she went to the man of God, who used something she had in her house to "save the day." It took a single pot of oil and some effort on the part of her and her boys. Elisha told her to get all the empty pots she could get her hands on, even borrowing from her neighbors. Then she was to shut the door on herself and her two sons and pour from her one pot into all the other pots. Thanks be to God there was enough to fill all the other containers, which she sold and paid her debts. The amazing thing was that there was even oil left in the original container for her personal use.

The point I am trying to make is that these blessings and miracles happened after someone consciously made ready. The same principle could be applied to salvation. We are told to "...repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38) Repentance and Baptism are conscious actions. The gift of the Holy Ghost is living water, the evidence of new life in Christ - the oil of gladness overflowing...

In these last days, we have something to do to be prepared for the coming of the Lord. We need to watch and pray, we must be steadfast and unmovable, we must be ready. Therefore,let us all do what is required of us. The steps are clear and simple.

1. You need an awareness of your sinful nature.
2. You must genuinely repent of all your sins.
3. You must be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins.
4. You must receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.
5. You must live a holy life, studying the Word of God and consistent in prayer.
6. You need to be a part of a Bible-believing church that preaches the truth.

The question is: Are you also ready?

Editor's Note: Sis. Victolyn is the wife of Berris Flemmings. They are the parents of three adult children; Sherene, Shelee'Ann, and Berris Jr. (BJ) and proud grandparents of two boys; Carter and Ethan. It is a privilege to serve the Lord alongside this precious family. 

Why Hadn't They Heard?

By Donna Franklin

Texts:
Mark 1:1 - "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."
Mark 1:4 – "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."
Acts 19:1-6 – "And it came to pass, that…Paul…came to Ephesus, and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
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."

Mark tells us that John the Baptist was “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Luke tells us, in the book of Acts, that Peter required every baptism to be in the name of Jesus Christ. Peter had been given the keys to the Kingdom and knew what Jesus had taught. And the other eleven apostles stood up with him in agreement.

Nowhere in the Acts of the Apostles did they baptize any way but in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 4:12 says "there is no other name..." Yet, here we learn that John the Baptist — from the very beginning — did NOT baptize in the titles, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. If he had, his disciples would not have told Paul they hadn’t so much as HEARD whether there be any Holy Ghost. He certainly would have explained to them about “the third person in God,” if he believed in such a thing.


What about Matthew 28:19, you say? Tell you what. Find someone who teaches the English language, and ask that person to diagram that sentence. They will show you how that “in the name” is a prepositional phrase and below it there will be three more prepositional phrases that belong to it. Do notice that “name” is SINGULAR. What does that mean? It means that all the titles listed below it are referring to a single name! Go back to the book of Acts, and I’m fairly sure you will be able to figure out what that name is. Yes, it is JESUS!

Edtorial Note: Sis. Donna Franklin is a faithful member of the United Pentecostal Church in Paoli, Oklahoma (Pastor Terry Erwin). She loves to write and is a strong believer in Bible truth. 

All Over the World!

By Bishop Charles R. Grisham

What's all this talk about the Holy Ghost?

"Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" This question was asked by the Apostle Paul in Acts 19:2, and it is the question we wish to ask you today... It could be the most important question of your life!

Joel, the Old Testament prophet foretold, "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also upon the servants and the handmaids in those days will I pour out of My Spirit." (Joel 2:28)

In the New Testament, John the baptist, speaking of Jesus, said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; ...but He who cometh after me shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." (Matthew 3:11)

Further, we see that Jesus commanded His disciples, "...not to depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, Ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." (Acts 1:4-5)

This faithful band of believers obeyed the command of Jesus and they received the promise. Thus the church was born. We can read the powerful story... "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)

Jesus had told them it would happen. Prophecy had been fulfilled. Jesus had sent back His own Spirit to fill the hearts and lives of true believers!

This immediately caused a stir among many devout men who were dwelling at Jerusalem. They were amazed and inquired, "What meaneth this?"

Peter replied, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel."

As Peter preached, "they were pricked in their hearts and said, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

Peter's answer contains the plain, simple, positive plan of salvation for our dispensation...

"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. 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." (Acts 2:38-39)

In Romans, Paul declares, "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Romans 8:11)

The Holy Ghost is actually "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27). Jesus said, "Except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." (John 3:3). The Holy Ghost is that spiritual birth.

Jesus could come today! We need to examine our experience to make sure we are ready. We must have the Holy Ghost if we are to be caught up to meet Him in the air.

Repent... Be baptized in Jesus' Name... and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost!

God's Name Manifested

By Charles C. Kirby

Text: John 17:1-7
Key Verse: “I have manifested Thy Name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest Me them, and they have kept Thy Word.” (John 17:7)

If man is to know the one and only true God in a real, practical, and experiential sense, and then be able to utilize that knowledge for his own benefit, it is absolutely necessary that he have a revelation of His Name. This is so because it is through His Name that God has elected to make Himself known to mankind. The history of the worship of the one true God discloses the fact that this worship was ever essential and inseparable from His Name. Hence God said to Moses when He revealed His Name, “By this Name was I not known to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Exodus 6:3) Again, when God declared to Moses that the purpose of taking the Israelites out of Egypt was that they might worship Him on the mount, Moses asked, “When they shall say to me, What is His Name? What shall I say unto them?” (Exodus 3:13)

Indeed, the early Christian worshipers of the one God were scions of the first worshipers we know anything about. It is written in the book of Genesis, “...then began men to call on the Name of the Lord.” (Genesis 4:26) After Pentecost, the disciples invariably worshiped in the Name of the Lord. They met together to call on the Name of the Lord “with all that call on Thy Name.” ...“to bind all that call on Thy Name.” (Genesis 26:26; Acts 9:14) Jesus taught the disciples to pray in and through the Name of the Lord. “Hitherto ye have asked nothing in My Name. Ask and ye shall receive that your joy might be full.” (John 16:24) The first words of the model prayer show what a place the Name occupied in true worship, “...Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.” (Luke 11:2) This Name was retained in the Name of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and constituted the one Name of God throughout time and eternity (so far as man can know from a study of the Scriptures because God put His finger on the “I Am” declaration and said, “...this is My Name and this is My memorial unto all generations.” (Exodus 3:15)) This is the only Name used in Baptism and the work of the ministry by the Apostles. It is the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, (the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in Jesus,) and it is written, “...that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” (Philippians 2:10) He is “...Lord of lords, and King of kings, and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14) Thus we are inspired by the Apostolic example.

All the academic discussions about and highbrow analysis of the Name of God will not and cannot avail the church for the present and awful crisis. Jude tells us to “...earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3) Faith based on a true system of doctrine can only be manifested in power, on the basis of an individual faith. The Apostles demonstrated as well as proclaimed that faith. In fact, many of them had to demonstrate the power of Jesus' Name in order to get an audience to listen to the message of the Gospel. Peter got the ear of the religious leaders who perhaps were not present on the Day of Pentecost, by performing an astounding miracle in the Name of Jesus.

A church policy based as it is today on a system of theology afflicted with the customs and methods of worldly societies, judges, and clubs would not tolerate the customs and methods of the first Christian church. The early church got the ear of the common people by the demonstration of the power in Jesus' Name. The modern church collects an audience by adopting, in an alarming degree, the customs and practices of the world, and in their theological discourses. It is fundamentalism versus Modernism. The “fundamental” of the first Christian church, as every honest Bible student knows, was the Name of Jesus. They emphasized that Name. They had no ornamental to emphasize. The modern church is all ornamental; in fact, it is hard to discover from their principles and practices what they consider as fundamental. Architectural display, ornamented windows, ornamented women, and ornamented congregations with “the bed too short and the blanket too narrow,” (Isaiah 28:20) Massive and complicated instruments, highly paid choirs and orchestras with a so-called Doctor of Divinity displaying oratorical fire instead of old fashioned, Apostolic Pentecostal Holy Ghost Fire that will, and does melt hearts of stone bringing sinners to repentance and filling their hearts with the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, with a new hope in life. Yes, with the revelation of the Name of the Great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The fundamental of true religion is the power to demonstrate it's message to the world by miracles of mercy to mankind. Let that fundamental be non-existent or cease to operate, and you only have a dead system covered under the ornamental. The fundamental of an automobile is its motor. Let the motor cease to operate out on the highway, though it be covered by the most expensive and attractive body that could be built, what have you then? Only a palace by the roadside: for it is there you stop and the scenery gets monotonous because it never changes. Even so, let the vision and the Holy Ghost power of the early church possess the mind and heart of modern church ministry everywhere and there would be a cracking of the old, musty methods and the breaking of dead, theological forms. The Living Waters would begin to flow. Yes sir, and the desert will begin to take on life, the wilderness will blossom as the rose.

In spite of our blind systems which have stifled the power, love, and grace of God; thank God Jesus Christ lives today and His Name is as powerful as ever it was. Our God is and His Name is dynamic. Our old creed method is to try an absorb the seed. You might as well talk of the moist earth in the springtime absorbing the seed. The seed absorbs the earth, in it (the seed) is the life. Jesus is our life, and I have Him in my soul to believe that through His Name He will ultimately absorb all our lifeless methods of worship and service for we who trust, love, and serve Him. He will subdue all our enemies and swallow up death in victory. He is looking for a people who have an ear so trained that above the babble rising from the crossroads of our religious life, they will hear a voice announcing that a new day has dawned and the Kingdom of God is at hand.

Even as Phillip, the Evangelist, went down to the city of Samaria, (Acts 8,) and preached Christ unto them, and when they believed Phillip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.“Now when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (for as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 8:14-16) Friends, if God's ambassadors required of their converts in their day to know and acknowledge God's Name before a wicked and perverse generation by taking on that Name in baptism in water, then to be filled with His Holy Spirit, why should it be thought a thing incredible with you today for those who love Him to do likewise? Hence, you too must repent and be baptized in His Name for the remission of your sins and receive the Holy Ghost with the Bible evidence of “speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.” (Acts 2:4) This is the “Pentecostal Fire” we sing about.

Editorial Note: Rev. C.C. Kirby was pastor of Christ Church Apostolic in Royal Oak, Michigan. (My parents, J. Raymond and Marjorie (Smith) Broyles, raised their family there. For many years, the church presented a weekly radio program each Sunday, from 3:30 to 4:00 on radio station WEXL. These programs featured the church choir and a short radio sermon. The theme song, sung at the beginning and end of each broadcast, was "Pentecostal Fire." This message was aired Sunday, September 2, 1945.