Doctrine & Disciplines

My Way Or The Highway

~ Pat Vick ~ 1 Comment


I see people all around me living their lives like there’s no tomorrow. Like there will be no repercussions for their life choices. Like there is no Heaven or Hell, and no Eternity. I’m not referring to people who have never known the Lord, but people who have.

I didn’t know the Lord until I was an adult. Even though I attended church off and on, and would have called myself a Christian, and yes, I even loved Jesus, I was lost. I had never experienced the biblical New Birth that is found in John 3:3-8, and Acts 2, 8, 10 & 19.

Before I was born again, I was terrorized by fear. The spirit of fear, to be specific. Thankfully, I was also followed closely by a spirit of conviction from the Lord. Satan will terrorize and condemn you, but the Lord Jesus will convict you.

[bctt tweet=”Satan will terrorize and condemn you, but the Lord Jesus will convict you.” username=”patvickdotcom”]

Conviction is a wonderful thing, even though it doesn’t feel wonderful at all. It’s God’s mercy drawing you to repentance. I felt conviction strongly even as a very young girl, long before I knew what to call it.

So I’m wondering…where in the world is conviction today? I look around, and people are living for self. That’s not new. But again, I’m not talking about people who don’t know the Lord. I’m talking about people who do. People who have repented of their sins, been baptized in Jesus’ saving name, and been filled with the baptism of the Holy Ghost. People who have lived holy. People who have witnessed to others, and taught Bible studies. People who have faithfully pursued ministries, and gone on mission trips. People who have spent hours in dedicated prayer, and days of fasting. People who were once delivered from the bondage of sin, and have consciously decided to walk back into the darkness.

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 16:25)

I have made my share of bad choices since coming to the Lord. I have also had sin in my life, and had to repent all over agin. I can tell you that there is no peace outside the will of God. So, when I see people who were once living for God, but are now living for self, I’m wondering how they sleep at night. How can a person who knows right from wrong, holiness from sin, Truth from deception, live for years as if it’s “My Way or the High Way?”

[bctt tweet=”There is no peace outside the will of God.” username=”patvickdotcom”]

No matter how many days, weeks, months or decades you live for self, God is calling you to live on the High Way. No matter how much fun you are having, there is coming a day when you will stand before God and give an account for your life. Hopefully, you will have come to repentance before then. At any rate, when you stand before Him, you will know for certain that every minute you spent out of His Will was a complete waste of time, energy, health and life.

I beg you. I beseech you. I implore you…Listen to the voice of conviction. Repent and start traveling on God’s High Way.

“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” (Isaiah 35:8)

 

Have You Denied The Name of The Lord Jesus? What Are You Going To Do About It?

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

The Island of Patmos

The book of Revelation was penned by the aged Apostle John while in exile on the island of Patmos. The island was used as a labor camp for prisoners at that time. History tells us that John, Jesus’ beloved, was boiled in oil for his witness. When God refused to remove John’s candlestick and allow him to die, he was then banished to Patmos as would be a rapist, or a murderer or one who had been an imminent threat to the Roman crown.

What did that old, weathered man of God do to be sentenced to such a fate? He dared to preach the name of Jesus Christ. The name of Jesus is spoken so loosely in the time we live, but it wasn’t so in John’s time. When he and other believers spoke the name above all names, it was with unfathomable love, and intense reverence.

In John’s lifetime, church was not a place. It was who John was. Who believers were. Everything the church did revolved around Jesus’ name, especially baptism.

As seen in the book of the Acts of the Apostles, all baptisms were performed in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. The first generation of Christ followers, or Christians as they were called, knew nothing but, and practiced nothing but baptism in Jesus’ name.

There was no trinitarian method of baptism for the first century believers. It simply didn’t exist because it hadn’t been invented yet. Let that sink in.

Under the unction of the Holy Ghost, John wrote the book of Revelation in the mid 90’s, just 20-25 years after the city of Jerusalem with its beautiful temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. John was the only first generation disciple left alive at this time.

Even this early in church history the enemy was coming against the name of Jesus, and causing people to disrespect, disregard and disavow the Name above all names. It wasn’t until 325 AD, at the Council of Nicaea,  that the Roman Catholic so called “church” made an official edict that anyone who baptized in Jesus’ name was to be anathema, that is cursed. The false doctrine of the trinity was officially established at this time, as well as mandatory baptism in the trinity formula, “Father, Son and Holy Ghost.”

The Holy Ghost in John foresaw this blasphemous treachery against the name of Jesus. God instructed him to pen these words to the churches in Pergamos and Philadelphia, two of the seven Jesus’ name assemblies that existed in Asia Minor at that time:

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.” (Revelation 2:12-13)

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:7-8)

These anointed words beg the question, how was the church in Pergamos holding fast Jesus’ name? How was the church in Philadelphia not denying Jesus’ name? These two churches, and others, were staying faithful to the name of Jesus in their baptismal formula.

If John were alive today, he would without a doubt be grieved beyond measure that the majority of all believers who claim Christianity now baptize in the trinitarian formula that he warned against. He would be begging you to abandon support of this erroneous doctrine that not one first generation Jesus follower believed. He would be begging you to turn back to the original baptismal formula of the early church, and not deny the name of Jesus Christ.

John was imprisoned, BOILED IN OIL, and banished to an island work force penitentiary because he stood firm on the doctrine of Christ, among which was the necessity of baptism in Jesus’ name. So, I ask you, as John would if he were here today, have you denied the name of our Lord? If you have been baptized any other way besides in Jesus’ name, you have. Are you actively denying the name of our Lord? If you refuse to be baptized in Jesus’ name, you are indeed denying the only saving name of Jesus Christ.

History tells us that John was eventually released, and spent his last years overseeing those seven assemblies of Christ followers in Asia Minor. I have no doubt that he never baptized even one soul in the deceptive trinitarian formula. Instead, he went to his grave preaching, teaching and baptizing every soul he could in Jesus’ name.

How were you baptized? Like the Apostle John, I beg you to find a man or woman of God who will baptize you in the only saving name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins.

“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.” (Acts 2:38)

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

4 Reasons Why Prayer Gets The Job Done

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

Men love tools. It doesn’t matter if they are city slickers or farmers, preachers or drunkards, musicians or writers, accountants or lumberjacks. They LOVE tools.

My husband and two sons have a vast and varied collection of tools. From precision machinist tools that will measure the minuscule width of a human hair to massive combines that harvest huge amounts of grain at once. Tools make everything easier. Having the right tool, and knowing how to use it, gets the job done, big or small.

A frustration of mine is to find tools that the men in my life just “had to have” still packaged in their boxes months, and even years later. At some point, they saw their need for the tool. They acted on that need to purchase the tool. They were so proud of the tool when they brought it home from the store. Yet, somehow the tool got pushed to the side and forgotten about.

It’s fun to see my husband find a tool that he had lost, or had forgotten that he had purchased. What excitement! It’s like Christmas or his birthday. Would you believe that sometimes those recently found tools get lost again without being used?!

The Church has a lost, forgotten, and definitely underused tool at our disposal called Prayer. There are countless tasks that are vying for our attention, and God has not left us unequipped. He has given us the tools that we need to get His work accomplished in the Earth during these last days.

Much of the time, we attempt to work the problem using our own finite reasoning. It’s a lot like using your teeth to open a soda bottle instead of a bottle opener. It’s not necessarily that it can’t be done, but it’s going to be less efficient at best, and painful at worst.

Why is it that we feel like we are not getting the job done if we resort to prayer first, rather than last? Why does that make us feel less than? Shouldn’t we be seeking for God to get all the glory?

FOUR REASONS TO PRAY

  • Prayer is universal. It is not restricted by time, distance or language barriers. You can send a prayer to the other side of the world, into a specific situation, for a person who you can’t even communicate with. Prayer will get the job done.
  • Prayer is powerful. There is no other tool that can be depended on so certainly than prayer because it is backed by our all powerful God. Our prayers are limitless because our God is limitless. You can send a prayer strategically into an impossible situation, and prayer will get the job done.
  • Prayer is invisible. The enemy cannot see prayer coming. It is like a stealth military jet that can fly below the radar into enemy territory. You can send a prayer behind enemy lines, and get out without detection. Prayer will get the job done.
  • Prayer allows God’s will to be done. Many times we anguish over situations that we are powerless in our humanity to do anything about. Often, we don’t even know the words to say when we pray about them. When we pray in the Spirit (tongues), we allow God’s will to have free course. You can pray in tongues over a situation, and God will intervene in His divine wisdom. Prayer will get the job done.

No matter what situation you have in your life, what problem you are concerned with, or what craziness is going on in the world, PRAYER is the spiritual tool you should reach for first. Perhaps the tools in your spiritual toolbox have gotten lost or misplaced. It’s definitely worth rounding them up, getting them organized, and putting them to work. Prayer gets the job done!

”Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

As always, I encourage your feedback. Blessings, -Pat

What’s The Big Deal About Being Born Again?

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

Here’s the situation: Jesus told Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, that unless a man is BORN AGAIN he cannot see the Kingdom of God. That makes it a pretty big deal.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

At Nicodemus’ confusion concerning how he was expected to be born a second time from his mother’s womb, Jesus explained further that this New Birth would include WATER and SPIRIT, and that it was necessary to ENTER the Kingdom of God.

“Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:4-5)

HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M BORN AGAIN?

Good question! I’m glad you asked, because the answer is so very important. If you are truly born again, you will have experienced the WATER and SPIRIT being applied to your life that Jesus spoke of.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

Again, another very good question. We must turn to the Word of God, the book of Acts in particular, to find the answer. We need to find out how Jesus’ apostles followed through with his instructions.

ACTS CHAPTER TWO

In Acts 2, one hundred and twenty of Jesus’ disciples were gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem, waiting for the wonderful gift that Jesus had promised them before he ascended into Heaven. After ten days of praying, they all received the Gift of the Holy SPIRIT, and began to speak in unknown languages/tongues.

When the crowds in the streets heard them speaking in tongues, they thought they were crazy, or even drunk. But Peter stood up and preached that this was actually the gift of the Holy SPIRIT that the disciples had received.

After the crowd listened to Peter preach about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, they wanted to know how they could be saved. This is what Peter told them:

“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. 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)

Three thousand people believed Peter’s message, repented of their sins, were baptized in Jesus’ name, and were filled with the Holy Spirit that day.

ACTS CHAPTER EIGHT

In Acts 8, Philip preached Jesus to the Samaritans. They believed his preaching, and were baptized in Jesus’ name. They didn’t receive the Holy Spirit at this time, but it was so important that Philip called in reinforcements. He asked Peter and John to come and help him pray for the people. When they arrived, they laid their hands on the people who had been baptized in WATER in Jesus’ name, and then they received the Holy Ghost/SPIRIT.

“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.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 8:14-17)

ACTS CHAPTER TEN

Cornelius was a good man. Actually, he was a very good man. He loved God. He prayed. He gave money to the poor. He served God to the best of his ability, and with what knowledge he had. You would think that such a good man as Cornelius was would for sure be saved. I mean, that’s who Heaven is for, right? Good people?

Actually, the truth is that Heaven is for BORN AGAIN PEOPLE. We can never be good enough on our own to deserve a place in Heaven. Thankfully, God loved Cornelius so much that He went above and beyond to bring a preacher to him to tell him what he needed to do.

It’s a miraculous story full of visions and angelic visitations that you can read about in Acts 10. The point is that God. Add a way for Cornelius and his family to hear the TRUTH of their need to be BORN AGAIN of WATER and SPIRIT.

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord…” (Acts 10:44-47)

ACTS CHAPTER NINETEEN

In Acts 19, the Apostle Paul ran across some Believers in Jesus. He asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost yet. (With no cellphones, word travelled rather slowly) They didn’t even know what the Holy Ghost was!!! Paul asked the most obvious next question. How were you baptized??? He k ew if they had been baptized in Jesus’ name, they should have also known about the Holy Ghost.

It turns out that they had been baptized by John the Baptist. This made perfect sense to Paul now. He explained to them that John only baptized u to repentance, but that John had told his followers to believe on Jesus when He showed up on the scene. Now, everyone was expected to be baptized in Jesus’ name to take away their sins.

THE PATTERN HAS BEEN SET
Maybe you have seen yourself in one of these groups of people.

  • Perhaps you know absolutely nothing about Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection to purchase your salvation.
  • Perhaps you’ve never heard that you need to be BORN AGAIN to go to Heaven.
  • Perhaps you have just assumed that when you accepted Jesus has your personal Savior, that automatically meant you were born again.
  • Perhaps you have been baptized using a different formula than in Jesus’ name.
  • Perhaps you know nothing about the Holy Ghost/Spirit.

I urge you to follow the steps that Jesus and His Apostles laid out so plainly. The pattern has been set. Have you been BORN AGAIN of the WATER (Baptism in Jesus’ name) and the SPIRIT (Infilling of the Holy Ghost/God’s Spirit, evidenced by speaking in tongues)?

Warm Regards, -Pat Vick PAT@PATVICK.COM 

 

 

 

 

When God’s Love Won’t Save You

~ Pat Vick ~ 4 Comments

As I scroll through my social media feeds, I see posts from well-meaning professors of Christianity. These posts are usually in the form of a poster or meme that has been circulated and shared over and over.

Statements such as TRUST GOD WITH YOUR PROBLEMS or IF YOU DON’T STAND FOR GOD, YOU’ll FALL FOR ANYTHING or GOD WILL COME THROUGH FOR YOU fill my newsfeed. There’s certainly nothing false about these declarations. I wonder, though, whether people who are scrolling through social media really take them to heart…Or, even more importantly, maybe they DO take them to heart, and use them to feel justified in continuing to live in sin while professing themselves to be Christians.

People who are living in sin don’t need to be rocked into spiritual slumber with CHRISTIAN CLICHES. They don’t need to feel comfortable in their sinful lifestyle. Allowing the sinner to believe they can continue in their sin, and just WAIT ON GOD to come and turn their life around for them will be to the destruction of their souls.

If you are living in sin, no amount of catchy, faith-building phrases will make you right with God. You must repent, and turn away from sin.

If you are a born-again Christian, the world doesn’t need you to make them feel safe and secure in their sin. The world needs a CHURCH who will PROCLAIM TRUTH to the point that sinners will:

  1. Be Convicted.
  2. Turn from their sin.
  3. Repent.
  4. Be baptized in Jesus’ name for the remission of sins.
  5. Receive the infilling of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in tongues.
  6. Live a holy and sanctified life.

Born-again Christians need to listen to themselves through the ears of the world, and read their posts through the world’s eyes. We need to communicate Bible Truths in a way that brings CONVICTION, and offers HOPE…but NOT the latter WITHOUT the former.

In this time of “any way you like it,” our voices need to give CLEAR INSTRUCTION, and not mamby-pamby, feel good phrases that offer DECEPTION, and not DIRECTION. I want my life and witness to be more than a CHRISTIAN CLICHE.

GOD IS LOVE, but even His love won’t save a person who refuses to REPENT and OBEY the Word. His love will DRAW you, but YOU MUST RESPOND.

“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. 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. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” (Acts 2:38-40)

What Will It Take For You To Live For God?

~ Pat Vick ~ 2 Comments

My heart is so absolutely burdened for people who refuse to turn to God in repentance. I have seen people I love go through sickness almost unto death. Bizarre illnesses that I refuse to believe are only coincidences. Life threatening injuries. I have interceded in prayer, and the Lord has been merciful over and over again.

A worldwide pandemic, riots in the major cities of America, the most destructive weather events ever recorded, prophecies being fulfilled left and right…How much more do you need to see and experience before you turn to the Lord in true repentance?

If you think it’s going to get easier, it won’t. If you think there will be a more convenient time, there won’t. If you think you’ll have the fortitude to turn to the Lord when all Hell breaks loose, even though you refuse to now, you won’t. If you think that you will find a loophole in order to be exempt from judgement, you won’t.

“If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5)

I beg you with tears in my eyes, and intercession on my lips, please turn to God. Please repent. Please fall on the Rock and be broken, before He falls on you, and grinds you to powder.

“And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Luke 20:17-18)

Do you truly believe that your way is better than His? No good can come from resisting His Will for your life. He loves you with a love deeper than you’ve ever known. True love. True peace. True salvation. True hope. True life. Why wouldn’t you want that?

It Takes A Thinking Person To Serve The Lord: Is That You?

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

It takes a thinking person to serve the Lord. A rational person. A person who can clearly see the difference between daylight and dark. A person who can follow basic instructions. A person who is able to recognize the voice of reason. Is that you?

It takes a thinking person to serve the Lord. It doesn’t have to be a highly educated person. A well known person. Someone with a charismatic personality. A born leader. As a matter of fact, most of the time, these things are hinderances, rather than helps. Is that you?

It takes a thinking person to serve the Lord. A person who is willing to read or listen to God’s Word, and truly hear it. A person who can be honest with themselves. A person who will look inside themselves, and ask, “Am I living according to His Word? Does my life look like Jesus?” Is that you?

It takes a thinking person to serve the Lord. A person who understands that confusion and chaos are not of God. A person who recognizes the need for order in a civilized society. A person who will separate themselves from lawlessness, and will submit themselves to a true man of God, and his spiritual authority. Is that you?

It takes a thinking person to serve the Lord. A person who is willing to take all of the feelings and emotions that are bottled up inside to the throne of God. A person who will bow their knees, and lift their voices to Jesus Christ, the King of kings, and say, “I’m a mess. Please help me!” Is that you?

It takes a thinking person to serve the Lord. A person who is willing to follow through with what the Lord instructs in His Word. A person who is willing to make good with actions, and not just talk. A person that will make the decision to do whatever it takes to be right with God. Is that you?

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 1:14-20)

 

Lessons From an Old Altar

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

We pastor a small, country church. It has a small, country altar. Years ago, the altar had been moved downstairs, as it often was when there was a special program that required more room at the front of the sanctuary. This time, however, the altar wasn’t moved back into place when the program was over. I realize that sounds awful, but I will add that there is a carpeted step that runs the length of the platform which served as the altar area.

One night, my husband had a dream of our two boys carrying the altar between them, and setting it back in place. He took this as instruction from the Lord, and asked our sons to do just that.

He preached that service about that old altar. He named saints that had gone on to their reward who had wept hot tears at that humble bench. He called different ones in the congregation by name, and reminded them how their mother and grandmother had agonized before God for their salvation. He told of a former District Superintendent who had given his life to Jesus while kneeling at that very altar.

Each person was called to approach the altar and make a fresh consecration to God and give reverence to that old country altar where so many lives had been changed. It was one of the most moving services that I’ve ever been a part of. Not because of any well rehearsed program or pageantry, but because of the image of people’s lives and hearts being visibly changed as they knelt or bent to lay their hand lovingly on the smooth wood, and mingled their tears with the tear stains from past generations.

It was in that service that I came to understand more deeply that the altar isn’t just a piece of furniture in a church building. The altar is a place where we are changed. Where we lay down old actions, old habits, old grudges, old ways of thinking, old sinful flesh. Down.

If we aren’t allowing the altar to change us, we’re approaching it wrong. If at all. The altar should alter us.

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)

The Jewish Mezuzah and Its Eternal Truth

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

One of the most precious gifts I ever received was a Mezuzah from Israel. It was given to my husband and me by our Pastor at the time from his trip to the Holy Land.

WHAT IS A MEZUZAH?

The Mezuzah is a small rectangular box, some simply decorated, and others extremely ornate. Every Mezuzah holds the same contents, a copy of the verses Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21.

WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE?

The Mezuzah is a reminder of the most fundamental knowledge of God.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

This knowledge that GOD IS ONE LORD is so important in our understanding of Him that He instructs His People to speak of it daily to their children, when they are sitting, walking, and otherwise going about their days. He expects us to keep this knowledge at the forefront of our minds, continually.

The Mezuzah is not an amulet, nor a good luck charm. It is simply a reminder to those who possess it of their obligation to God.

HOW IS IT USED?

The Mezuzah has traditionally been affixed to the doorways of Jewish homes. When the people who lived there, or even guests, came through the door, they would be reminded, this is a home where people know the one, true living God. I must conduct myself in a proper and reverent way in honor of Him.

Also, when people would leave the home, they would be reminded to live appropriately and in honor of God while they go about their daily lives.


A CLOSER EXAMINATION

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

The knowledge that God is one is the core belief that every person who claims to know and love Him should confess. The belief in a TRINITY of Beings who make up the One God is against that most fundamental doctrine.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

We should hold this knowledge that our God is One Lord deeply in our hearts. It should resonate clearly and distinctly within us every day of our lives so that we do not begin to think of Him as the many gods of heathen nations.

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

God expects us to teach this knowledge of His ONENESS to our children at every opportunity. This mandate should make us rethink putting our children in situations where we know they will be taught trinitarian doctrine, even so called “Christian” schools.

And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Again, whatever our hand finds to do, or our eyes look at, our minds should always retain the knowledge of God’s ONENESS, and the fact that we are to love Him with everything in us. When we go or come from our homes, this Truth should guide us in the way we go about our days, both inside and outside our homes. If we are truly in relationship with the One True Living God, we will behave ourselves in ways that please Him, both to the stranger, as well as to those closest to us.

 

Deuteronomy 11:13-21

And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

The blessings of God are contingent on whether we retain the knowledge of the One True Living God, and whether we serve Him with everything within us. IF we, THEN He.

That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.

The blessing of remembering and teaching that our God is One Lord, and loving and serving Him with our whole hearts, is that He will provide what we need to live productive and contented lives in His will.

Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;

It is possible that we could be deceived into serving and worshiping other gods. We must guard our hearts and minds continually. It is difficult to imagine the possibility of being deceived in the day that we live in. However, believing that the trinitarian doctrine is biblical is one such deception.

And then the Lord‘s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you.

If we do not retain the knowledge of God’s ONENESS in our hearts, and instead, live our lives as if we are not accountable to the One True Living God, and forsake our relationship with Him, then we can expect God’s fierce anger to be against us. We should not be surprised when His blessings of provision do not follow. Nor should we expect to live out our days in health and peace.

Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.

The knowledge of God’s ONENESS and our adoration of Him should not only be on display at every point in our lives, but should saturate our very hearts and beings.

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

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We must not assume that our children and grandchildren know and understand the truth of the Oneness of God simply because they witness our relationship with God. Nor should we assume they comprehend the magnitude of their obligation to God because they have heard us tell others. WE MUST SPEAK THE WORDS TO THEM ONE ON ONE as often as we can.

And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:

Hence, the reason that Orthodox Jews still attach the Mezuzah to their door posts even in modern times.

That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

We don’t live for the Lord and retain the knowledge of His ONENESS only for ourselves. Our children’s very lives and futures depend on us imparting to them this same knowledge of the Almighty, deep love and desire to serve Him in Truth. Knowing that GOD IS ONE, not three, is basic, fundamental, and ESSENTIAL to our and our children’s salvation.

 

YOUR OBLIGATION AS A CHRISTIAN

You may not have a Mezuzah affixed to your door posts, but you are responsible for knowing and passing on this eternal Truth:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Blessings!

Pat

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As always, feel free to leave a comment, share to social media, or email me: PAT@patvick.com

Also, if you’d love to read more about the Oneness of God, be sure to check out my past articles on the topic below.

Are All Pentecostal Churches Created Equal?

The Oneness of God: It Isn’t Just Semantics.

What Is The First Commandment Of All?

 

6 Reasons You Should Be Baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ

~ Pat Vick ~ Leave a comment

The choice to be baptized in Jesus’ name was neither difficult, nor complicated for me, once I saw the Truth of it in scripture. I had previously been baptized in the titles, “Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” When I came up out of the water, the only difference I felt was wet instead of dry. I was very disappointed that I didn’t feel a difference on the inside. I knew that I had missed something, but wasn’t sure what.

Years later, I learned of baptism in Jesus’ name. I saw it. I understood it. I acted on it. I can testify to you that when the man of God put me under the water, actually calling on the NAME OF JESUS, everything was different than my previous baptismal experience.

I can tell you the exact moment my sins were “washed away.” It was in the approximate two seconds that I was under the water. I remember opening my eyes, seeing the lights above me, and thinking that I could stay there forever. When I broke the plane of the water, I knew without a doubt that I was clean on the inside.

Because I’ve had this extraordinary experience, I desperately want you to experience it also. Here are six reasons why you should be baptized in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST:

1. Jesus commanded it.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matthew 28:19)

Father, Son and Holy Ghost are titles. What is THE NAME of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost? It is JESUS, of course! Going through the motions of baptism without using His name is powerless.

2. The Apostles obeyed Jesus’ command by baptizing in Jesus’ name.

On the Day of Pentecost, when Peter preached the first message of the early Church, he very plainly told the people what they must do to be saved -repent, be baptized in Jesus’ name, and receive the Holy Ghost.

We can see what Jesus meant by how the apostles followed through. There isn’t one scripture that even suggests they spoke the titles, Father, Son and Holy Ghost over new converts when they baptized them.

“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” (Acts 2:38)

“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)

3. Jesus’ name baptism is for the remission (removal) of sins.

How did the apostles have the power to remit (remove) people’s sins? It was by baptizing them in Jesus’ name. The ministry has this same power today. WOE to a minister who refuses to baptize new converts in the name of Jesus! That man or woman will stand before the God of all Glory with much blood on their hands.

“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” (John 20:23)

“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” (Acts 2:38)

“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)

4. Being baptized in Jesus’ name allows us New Life and hope of the Resurrection.

A bride is due all the benefits that taking on her husband’s name in marriage allows. So it is that we are due all that taking on Jesus’ name in baptism allows.

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:3-5)

5. Historical records prove Jesus’ name baptism to be the original formula.

Hastings Dictionary of the Bible, (Thirteenth Edition, Vol. 1, Page 241): The original form of words as ‘into the name of Jesus Christ’ or ‘the Lord Jesus.’ Baptism into the Trinity was a later development.

Schaff-Herzog Religious Encyclopedia, (Vol. 1, Page 435): “The New Testament knows only the baptism in the name of Jesus.”

Canney Encyclopedia, (page 53): “The early church always baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus until the development of the Trinity, afterward they were baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.”

6. We are commanded to do all things in Jesus’ saving name.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:17)

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

We are so quick to proclaim the name of Jesus in every other area of our lives; doesn’t it seem only right that His name should be spoken at our baptism? People will pray over their food, their choices, their health, and their children, calling on the name of Jesus. Yet, they will refuse to have His name spoken at the most pivotal point in their lives.

…This sounds like a trick of the enemy to me.