Zebra Ministries

Good morning Zebras,

The second story is found in Acts 18.  I have often quoted Acts 19 where Paul asked the people of Ephesus what baptism they had received and when they replied “John’s baptism.”  He proceeded to lay hands on them and baptize them with the Holy Spirit.  But I never connected it to the preceding passage until Wednesday.

Acts 18:24–25  Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.  He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.

The reason the people in Ephesus only knew about the baptism of John is because that’s all they were taught!  That explains so much.

If all you do is listen to people preach, all you are going to know about the truth of God is what they tell you and I can say without a shadow of doubt-there is so much more to learn!! 

Which God will happily teach you if you open the Word and make the time to listen.

We place a huge emphasis on the love and grace of God but what changed my faith was the day He told me He was holy.  Jesus died on the cross because He loved us but also because the holiness of God required someone to pay the price for sin.  It should have been us, but it wasn’t, it was Jesus.

Make no mistake God loves you, but He is also holy and righteous and should be respected and feared.  And obeyed!

Luke 12:4–5   “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear him.

The Jewish people did not need to be taught to fear God, their ancestors had lapped the desert forty years until everyone who refused to believe God died and He sent their entire nation into captivity for their disobedience and worship of false idols.    

Teaching Jesus died only because He loved us is teaching half the Gospel and it is as dangerous as teaching the Baptism of Repentance without the Baptism of the Spirit.  Which we also do, but that’s a topic for another day.

Love,

Jill