10 Reasons Why We Water Baptize In Jesus Name

Ten Reasons Why We Water Baptize In Jesus Name

1.) We baptize in the name of Jesus Christ because he has instructed us to... (Matt 28:19)

2.) We baptize in the name of Jesus Christ because there is no other name that can save us...(Acts 4:12)

3.) We baptize in the name of Jesus Christ because he has the name above every name...(Phil 2:9)

4.) We baptize in the name of Jesus Christ because for the remission of sins...(Acts 2:38)

5.) We baptize in the name of Jesus Christ because there is miracle working power in his name...(Acts 3:6)

6.) We baptize in the name of Jesus Christ because it is a commandment of God...(Acts 10:48)

7.) We baptize in the name of Jesus Christ because we take on his name as a bride takes on her husbands name...(2 Corinthians 11:2)

8.) We baptize in the name of Jesus Christ because it is proven to be biblically RIGHT...

(Acts 2, Acts 8, Acts 10, Acts 19)

9.) We baptize in the name of Jesus Christ because he has all power and authority in heaven and earth...(Matthew 28:18)

10.) We baptize in the name of Jesus Christ because we Love Jesus...! 

(John 14:15)

Authored by: John W. Jenkins

Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church

Applying the Blood

To experience the new birth, the blood of Jesus must be applied.
 

Applied Science

Struggling to cut firewood with only an ax, a backwoodsman went into town and purchased a well-advertised chain saw. Not having any better success at cutting wood with the chain saw, he returned to the store and complained. The salesperson gave him a demonstration of how to operate the chain saw. As the salesperson pulled the cord starting the gasoline engine, the woodsman said, "What is that noise?"The man had a good tool for cutting wood, but he failed to learn how to use it. Without its engine running it offered no more power to accomplish the job than his ace had provided. A fundamental concept is obvious in this anecdote: we must realize our responsibility to do something. Having a chain saw alone does not help us cut wood. We must start the engine. Some seem never to understand that salvation requires action. We have to do something. Jesus came in flesh and shed His blood, but that blood must be applied to be effective for us. Scripture gives a detailed step-by-step formula for the application of that blood. Carefully read the instruction book. The blood of Jesus Christ is efficacious, but it must be properly applied.

By R.L. Gilstrap

Because the blood of Jesus is sufficient for all human beings, no person need fear that any past sin, filthy depravity, or station in life can keep him from becoming cleansed by that blood. However, because God desires us to come to Him freely, of our own will, we may also choose to reject His atonement to live and to die in our sins. Still, Christ continues to call to all mankind that they might experience the new birth.


1. Applying the blood in the Old Testament

Unless the sacred furnishings and objects of the Tabernacle were sprinkled with blood, they were not acceptable for worship of God. Until the people had the blood applied by ritual sprinkling, they were not able to approach a holy God. Hebrews 9:13-14 tells us, "for if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctified to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

 2. Applying the blood in the New Testament

The clear answer of the Bible is that the blood is necessarily applied throughout our conversion and Christian experience. Without the blood of Christ applied to our minds, we could not initially believe the gospel, repentance would be of no effect, and baptism would just get us wet. Except the blood cleanse us, the Holy Spirit could not take up residence within us. Holiness of life and thought are impossible without His blood cleansing us moment by moment.
 

We are washed and completely cleaned by the blood of Jesus, but our feet still get directly just form our daily walk. This requires the blood of Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary to be applied to our lives daily. We appropriate the blood of Jesus for daily cleansing by daily repentance, reading, studying, and applying the principles of Scripture, praying, fasting, and following other spiritual disciplines.

Sinfulness has made us spiritually insensitive to the awfulness of sin and its penalty. But God has made a means through His own blood to simultaneously show us the cost of our sinfulness and pay that cost for us. No one need die in his sins. The price has already been paid in full and reconciliation has already been made. The only reasons the majority of people will go to Hell is because they have reject the price Jesus paid by failing to apply His blood to their lives. He has laid before us a new life in fellowship and peace with Him.

Every believer has authority over disease and sickness through the power of Jesus' blood and of His name.

Created by: Jocelyn Jones

Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church

References: Davis, Richard. Lessons from History for Christian Living. Winter 2012-2013. Hazelwood: Word Aflame Publications, 2013. 84-90. Print.

The Strength of God

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith."

Romans 1:16-17

After carefully pondering on this portion of scripture one can not help but to ask. What is it about the gospel that made the Apostle Paul so unashamed and to what manner or extent did it affect his life?

What is the gospel

Def: Gospel (Greek:euaggelion) - Good tidings or Good news

How good is this good news? 

1) The angel of the Lord speaking the shepherds declared this good news saying "behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" after this a multitude of heavenly hosts praised God saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good will toward men". The Gospel is for all People. Luke 2:10-14 

2) King Solomon put it ever so beautifully saying "as cold water to a thirty soul, so is good news from a far country". The gospel is Refreshing. Proverbs 25:25

3) Paul wrote that the "goodness of God leadeth thee unto repentance". The gospel has eternal purpose attached to it. Romans 2:4

The Affects of the Gospel

What could make a man endure persecution, heartache, pain, abandonment, beatings, imprisonment, trials, and ultimately beheading. What could make a person so bold? Apostle Paul endured all these thing and more and he revealed to us how he did it, he wrote it is "the Power of God".

Paul's character was that of a pharisee, these people were leaders in the Jewish synagogues. They were the traditional teachers of jewish law. They also held to deeply rooted traditions passed down through "oral law". Jesus Christ would reprove them for esteeming this oral law as much as the commandments of God, at times they would even go as far as neglecting the commandments of God for the traditions of men (Mark 7:1-13). Before his conversion, Paul was more zealous then the rest of the pharisees, the scriptures show that he fervently persecuted the church thinking that it was the will of God. One day he had an encounter with Jesus (Acts 9:4) and three days later he was converted (Acts 22:16). 

Paul's Suffering

"Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness". 2 Corinthians 11:23-27

Could you imagine this happening to you today? Being stoned almost unto death? (Acts 14:19-20)

In spite of these things Paul boldly declared, "none of these things moved me" Acts 20:24 How did he endure it? It was the Power of the Gospel! This word power literally means strength or might. It is the strength that propels one unto salvation. It is a literal force, who's author is Jesus Christ. What he did for us is life changing if you apply the gospel to your own life. Paul had a real encounter with the Savior and his gospel and he used his faith to apply it.

Application of the Gospel

A vehicle frame is useless without an engine, and an engine is useless without a vehicle frame. Alone they serve no real purpose, but when you install the engine into the vehicle it can accomplish its intended purpose. The Gospel works in the same manner with humanity. It must be applied to our life in order to be effective because the gospel was accomplished by Jesus for humanity.  

The Gospel (good news) is the publishing of what Jesus did to redeem us. It is the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We apply the same principle through the plan of salvation. We Die to self (Repentance), get Baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ (Burial), and we rise in the newness of life by the power of the Holy Ghost (Resurrection) (Romans 6:3-5). Peter made it plain, giving instruction on how to be saved he said to "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

Paul experienced this same plan of salvation and preached it as well (Acts 9:17 18) and (Acts 22:16). Every New Testament church had the gospel applied (Repentance, Water Baptism, and Holy Ghost), thus qualifying them to be called saints (Romans 1:7), brethren (Colossians 1:2) and churches (Galatians 1:2). 

Daily application

After our Christian conversion the principles of what Jesus did for us are also vital aspects to holiness living. The love that Jesus displayed for us in his death is so tremendous and life changing, how could we overlook it and not love our neighbors? The forgiveness he showed toward the very people that were crucifying him is the model for us today, we should not even hesitate to forgive others and love our enemies.

Gospel Power Houses

Truly the gospel is the "Strength of God" unto salvation. Like Paul, it will literally transform your life, making you into a gospel Power House. The power of God will flow through you and it will touch others; its contagious, its electrifying!  This Gospel has an eternal purpose attacked to it, it is not temporal nor will it leave you weary in well doing but it will position and project you into salvation and an eternal inheritance with Jesus Christ. Although we endure various trial and tribulations, the strength of God will leave us also with the very same testimony as the Apostle Paul, "None of these things move me" Acts 20:24

Authored by:

Min. John W Jenkins

Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church  

Restoration of the Rebel

Repentance

Restore the Fallen

     A pastor we will call Sam fell into sin. His moment of weakness hurt his wife and family, who worked with him through his repentance and forgave him. After moving away from the community where he had suffered a tarnished reputation, he determined to live for God. Within a short time, the call of God stirred him to reach the lost again. He began bringing people too the church in the town where he now lived, baptizing them in Jesus' name, and seeing the Spirit fill them. In a few years he won dozens to the Lord.

     He accepted his pastor's gracious invitation too serve as the church's staff evangelist. Over the years hundreds of souls have been added to the Kingdom by his tireless desire too teach Bible studies and do outreach. One day, a visitor who knew Sam's dishonorable past remarked, "How could your pastor have him as a staff member?" Once told of the minister's devotion to the Lord and his labors in the harvest, the voice of the accuser had nothing more to say. Perhaps we would have a stronger army if we shot fewer of our wounded and helped them get back into the fight instead.

     Jesus said His mission was to bring back the straying sheep. One He restored was Peter. How many heroes could come back if we let them? Sam got a grip on his purpose again and is still tearing down strongholds.

by Daniel J. Koren

Restoration of the Rebel

     In order to receive salvation, one must be made clean before God. The Bible gives many examples of how God restores those who seek his forgiveness wholeheartedly and the importance of repentance.

"And Samson called unto the Lord, and said O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." Judges 16:28

     Many times we feel we are trapped in our shortcomings because
the enemy tries to makes it clear to us that we are not worth being
restored.  Did you know that God has better plans for you? "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:33

      There must be an effort made in order to reach out to God when we are out of the body of Christ. If the effort is not made, we are blatantly breaking our covenant with Christ and denying the power to withstand temptation. How could the Lord be so patient and gracious? How could a holy God restore such a seemingly unholy rebel? "The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9 The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works." Psalms 145:8-9


When sin receives the victory during our trials there are three things we lose from God:

1. Loss of Strength "And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, Ii will go out as at other times before and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him." Judges 16:20
2. Loss of Freedom "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." II Corinthians 3:17
3. Loss of Vision "But the Philistines took him, and putout his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house." Judges 16:21

     However, the mercy of God overpowers this all when we are restored:

• Struggle for Restoration
• God can grant repentance and remove the scales from our eyes if we do not falter in our commitment to live for God.
• Strength Returns
• God can feel a divine stirring in our hearts when all we can do is look to him for forgiveness and decide to leave what we've done against him behind.
• Final Victory
• The Lord will remember us during this time of restoration and returning of strength. 

Make it a point to repent and move on. There is no need to carry around what God already let go for you! He wants your heart and he has a place for you to dwell with him for all eternity.

Authored by:

Sis. Joy Jones

Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church

References: Davis, Richard. Lessons from History for Christian Living. Spring 2013. Hazelwood: Word Aflame Publications, 2013. 22-24. Print.

The Oneness of God

"Hear O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord" Deuteronomy 6:4

The key to having a proper relationship with God is to know his identity. Moses expressed to the children of Israel that the God whom they serve is one God in number. Meaning he is a singular God. 

This revelation of the identity of God is the very foundation of the Jewish faith, and is called the "Shema" which is recited even until this day. It is traditionally known that Moses is the author of the first five books of the bible, the Torah. Moses as well as all of his Jewish counterparts who have labored in writing the books that make up the Old Testament were highly monotheistic believers. This is a key concept in understanding who God is; we must understand that he is one Lord. 

          The prophet Isaiah declared...

 "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God". Isaiah 44:6

The book of Isaiah holds some of the strongest declarations that the God of the Bible is one God. The Lord used the prophet Isaiah to emphatically proclaim his absolute oneness to such an extent, that he could not make this concept any simpler. The cries of Isaiah serve as a memorial for us today that beside God there is no other, he formed the earth all by himself.  

"Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God: I know not any". Isaiah 44:8

There is one thing that God does not know, and that is another God.

“And Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment”. Mark 12:29-30
Jesus made it plain, quoting Deuteronomy 6:4 he lets us know that loving the one true God of the bible is the greatest commandment. Jesus Christ was completing his earthly ministry in telling the scribes this because he was in fact pointing the world unto himself, for the very God who gave Moses this commandment was resident in his body. 

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself...” 2 Cor 5:19

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory”. 1 Tim 3:16

Lets us understand, with all wisdom what the word of God declares concerning the identity of God. For the mighty God of the Old Testament prophets was manifest in the flesh and bruised for our iniquities to redeem us unto himself, and not another.

 

Authored by:

Min. John W. Jenkins

Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church