Who am I? That's a very important question!I am a Pentecostal! What's a Pentecostal?
Wikipedia describes a pentecostal as "A Pentecostal is an individual who is a Christian that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the baptism of the Holy Spirit with Speaking in Tongues (italics words added by blogger). The term Pentecostal is derived from the feast of Pentecost which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ as described in the Book of Acts, Chapter 2."
Wikipedia goes on to say that:
"Pentecostalism is an umbrella term which includes a wide range of different theological and organizational perspectives. As a result, there is no central organization or church which directs the movement. Most Pentecostals consider themselves part of broader Christian groups. Pentecostalism is also theologically and historically close to the charismatic movement as the latter was influenced by the Pentecostal movement, and some Pentecostals use the two terms interchangeably."
But I am more than a Charismatic! I am a Oneness Pentecostal! What is that?
Oneness Pentecostals hold to a conservative monotheistic view of God and stress Jesus Christ as the self revelation of God in the New Testament, who was known as Jehovah in the Old Testament. The Christian Monotheist Oneness doctrine rejects all concepts of a duality, trinity, pantheon, or other doctrines they see as representing multiple personalities of God. It rejects all concepts of Jesus Christ as anything different than being both fully God and fully man.
But I am more than that! I am an Apostolic Oneness Pentecostal! What is apostolic?
Something that relates to the twelve apostles of Jesus!
My belief is to use the twelve apostles as a model of what a disciple of Jesus should believe and live since they were the individuals who Jesus discipled [Paul is also included in this group since he is an apostles born out of due time (1 Corinthians 15:8)]! They recorded the teachings and the events in the Life of Jesus. Christianity uses these records as the foundational guiding truths to their beliefs (The New Testament)!
What did the apostles believe and live?
They experienced the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 1:12-15; 2:1-4; 10:44-46; 19:1-7)
They baptized in water in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38; 8:14-16; 10:47-48; 19:1-6)
They taught that personal salvation was to be followed by holy living (Ephesians. 2:1-22; II Corinithians 6:14-7:1; I Corinthians 11:1-16; I Timothy 2:8-15; Deuteronomy 22:5; I Peter 3:1-6; Titus 2:11-12; I Timothy 4:12-16)
They taught the oneness of God (John 1:1-4; II Corinthians 5:19; II Timothy 3:16; John 8:24, 58; Mark 12:28-34)
But the one belief that I am been thinking about a lot lately is: They believed that Jesus would come back and that it could happen at any time!
Matthew 24:42 -45
42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (KJV)
This belief is a powerful belief that can change everything in your life if you believe it and remember it! Relationships will improve if you remember this! How you might ask? Relationships are often strained by hearts that are full of unrepented actions and/or attitudes. These actions or attitudes are sin! Sin will keep us from going with Jesus when He comes back! When we remember that He is coming back and it could happen at any moment, it will cause us to humble ourselves and repent of any and all wrong doings!
This belief will assist us in not just making wrongs from the past right but to help us monitor our present day words, actions and thoughts! You will have a desire to protect your heart and mind by limiting what comes in our eyes and ears. Repentance will be on your lips at all times! Holy living will be your goal!
Believing that He could come at any moment will create an attitude of prayerfulness! Your prayer life will immediately improve! Prayer will be the first thing on your lips in the morning and the last thing at night! Prayer will be on your lips breathed under your breath when you are in a crowd!
Your mind and heart will crave His word! Your Bible will become the most read book in your house!
You will desire to attend and participate in the Worship services of your church! It will not be work to get ready to go! You will anticipate every gathering! Your tongue will sing His praises!
Serving others will become your purpose! The thought that Jesus is Coming will be a motivator for you to reach others! Fear will leave you as you realize this might be the last opportunity for your friend to hear that Jesus is coming! You will begin to speak with a confidence that you've never had before!
In my life one man stands out above the rest of an individual who consistently spoke about the Lord coming! He was not a preacher! He was a ditch digger! His name was T.R. McDonald! Every time you would see him he would ask you the question: Do you believe He's coming? The majority of time I answered yes! I would say it with all the excitement I could generate but as soon as I was out of his presence it seemed I would forget this truth! As I think about it today, I see that he was just trying to get everyone to live a life that would be powerful and passionate about the Lord! He did believe it, he lived it and he spoke it! Now it is my turn to believe it, live it and speak it!
In my life I want to constantly remember that Jesus is coming at any moment! Let that be priority in my life! Let that thought drive my every daily action!
Yes, I am Pentecostal but more than that, I am Oneness Pentecostal, but more than that, I am an Apostolic Oneness Pentecostal but more than that, I am a Apostolic Oneness Pentecostal who is living as if Jesus is coming in the next minute!
