Closer Day By Day

Bible Passage:  ACTS CHAPTER 19 TO 20

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

This is a question to the Ephesians and even by TJC church members today.

Our Spiritual Meeting has just ended, and I thank God for His abundant Grace and Blessings especially for pouring down His Holy Spirit.

This Spiritual Meeting is probably the most heavy hearted Spiritual Meeting that I have attended.  It emphasized greatly on the Absolutes in our faith especially in this Last Days where modern thinking, loose morals, hypocrisy and confusion is the norm.

I feel that the Last Day is really drawing very close. Just like in the Apostolic church, apostasy crept into the church and with great destruction such that Paul had to teach and cry out vehemently to the flock of God.

Also like in the past, there was the first temple that was destroyed, and 70 years later there was a revival of the temple and that temple too was destroyed.

TJC is the revival of the Apostolic church and the time is coming that we will face such apostasy that happened during the Apostolic church times.  From the Spiritual Meeting sermons, it can be heard that the threat is great and far reaching, even more than what I have imagined it to be.

Acts 19 talks about the great hand of God in establishing the Ephesian church. Acts 20, talks about Paul departing from Ephesus and his final address to the elders in Ephesus. This speech gave insight into Paul’s concern and love for the Ephesians. This church was a glorious church, even more glorious than the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

I watched a documentary of this Artemis temple, and it was indeed a very big and glorious temple and many of the Ephesians worshipped Artemis. However, through the working of God, Paul preached the Gospel courageously and with the testimony of the Holy Spirit with signs and miracles. Many people became Christians and forgo their gods and the gospel was preached to all Asia. So much so that the idol makers were losing so much of their business and felt that the Christians were such a great threat to their livelihood! Despite many threats to Paul’s life, Paul ministered to the Ephesians for 2 years.

What really moved me in these two chapters were Paul’s submissiveness to the Holy Spirit and great love for the brethren.

The Holy Spirit instructed Paul to go to Jerusalem and to face chains and tribulations. Albeit such hardships and death awaiting Paul, Paul was insistent on going.

Even at Ephesus, the brethren had to restrain him from addressing to the Ephesians who were rioting as they were afraid that he would die. He revealed the whole council of God to the brethren and taught all that he knew; unlike ‘kungfu’ masters who keep some knowledge to themselves and not transfer it to their disciples.

He preached to them with tears and warned them of the future deterioration of the church. He was able to declare that he is innocent of the blood of all men, having preached to everyone he knew and warning them of the impending dangers the church will face.

This is Paul’s departing speech to the Ephesians. I have highlighted the important words in Paul’s address.

“You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself,[b] so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God[c] which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 Yes,[d] you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

In conclusion, here are some questions.

• Are we able to accomplish the race that is set before us?
• Are we able to suffer much for the love of God and the brethren?
• Are we able to submit to the Holy Spirit even to walk in the valley of death?
• Are we able to testify our faith totally to our friends, relatives, colleagues and students?
• Are we able to lead a good example as a Christian?
• Are we able to serve God with humility and endure the trials that await us?
• Finally, are we able to hold fast to Jesus and the Church till the coming of Christ and not be swayed by false Christ and false doctrines?

May God help us in this end times.