To be a classic is to be like an original without all the defects caused by improper use and the passage of time. Classic Christianity is not any different. For two millenniums Christianity has endured the changes of self-righteous man and many defects caused by their unbelief. Christianity, as it was in the First Century, is no longer the same in the 21st Century. Christianity has grown old. It’s no longer relevant for the modern man. He feels as though he can no longer find comfort or direction from today’s lukewarm church to truly deliver him from his self-imposed bondage. So, he has reached out to the world of fallen humanity to seek answers to his ever-enlarging problems. There is not a day that goes by where we don’t see this in the modern world as man’s behavior is growing more irrational every day. The world offers him many choices from other world religions to the growing popularity of Satanism or the all-encompassing humanistic teachings of psychology that fits every world religion or nonreligion. As mankind sinks deeper and deeper into his sins and their consequences, he needs to rediscover classic Christianity with its unlimited power to overcome all of his problems. We present to you today a step-by-step rediscovery of classic Christianity to unlock the mystery from ages past.
The first step in rediscovering classic Christianity is to understand that God has not changed. The Bible says, “For I amthe LORD, I change not; therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6). This is, in theological terms, the immutability of God. God has been the same for all of time. We hear the same thing in the New Testament in reference to Jesus Christ, that says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13.8). As the world changes, God and Jesus Christ remain the same. The way to a transformed life in Christ has not changed. Being filled with the Holy Spirit has not changed. The access to unlimited power has not changed. However, from the very beginning, Satan and the powers of darkness have been busy convincing the Church that it needs to change; that it needs to make adjustments to its beliefs and practices to reach the fallen world. There have been only a few periods of an attempted recovery to classical Christianity throughout the ages. Unfortunately, the Church has ignored these attempts causing her people to turn back to the fallen world for help and grow weaker in the process. It didn’t take long for the simple Gospel to turn into volumes of systematic theology. It didn’t take long to produce the seven sacraments and many rituals deemed necessary for worship. The more they produced the further they moved away from their all-powerful God. God does not change and neither has His glorious Gospel.
The second step is to understand and believe the simple Gospel. After that, you will enter into a life of discipleship. As Christians, we have all heard the old, old story of Jesus Christ dying on the Cross for our sins. Most have said, “sure I believe that” and then off they go on their merry way. They soon discover that their belief was simply rhetorical nonsense. The good news is that through our faith all of our sins, past, present, and further are completely removed making access to the Holy possible. Yes, we still need to repent remorsefully and recognize our sin as a trespass against a Holy God. We still need to agree to no longer commit the trespass again. We still need to ask God for forgiveness believing that we have already received it. Now we are ready to enter into a life of discipleship by putting off the old life, by stop doing or thinking what we discover to be wrong. That’s only one-half of our discipleship. We also need to put on our new life in Christ by doing or thinking those things we discover to be righteous in the eyes of the Lord. The good news is that God sends us the indwelling Spirit to help us to grow Spiritually. To ignore the Spirit by not following His direction will not only grieve the Spirit but stunt our Spiritual growth and our ability to enter the next step. It’s essential that we recognize the presence of the indwelling Spirit.
When you sincerely walk in discipleship every moment of every day by putting off the old life and putting on the new life in Christ then you will experience transformation in Christ. This transformation does not take a lifetime; it takes faith believing and receiving all that God wants to give you through the indwelling Spirit. You will receive Spiritual gifts with tremendous power to do the work of the ministry, all to the glory of God. God will give you unlimited power to stand against the powers of darkness to fulfill His mission on earth. The Bible says, “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20). Nothing shall be impossible unto you. Let that sink in for a minute. Nothing will be impossible! So, how do we acquire this little faith to do the impossible? First things first. We must be a disciple having a personal relationship with the risen Lord. We must feel His presence. We must know that He is with us. If Christ is really with you, then you will know the seemingly impossible thing to do, as He leads you to do it. Christ’s presence with us is one of the deepest mysteries revealed to Christians of faith.
Now we are getting to the crux of the matter. How do we access this unlimited power to do what we think Jesus Christ wants us to do? Let’s join the Apostle Peter in doing the impossible. We all know the story of when he healed a lame man, who had been that way since birth. He probably did not know that this one healing would have such a tremendous impact upon the crowd including the religious leaders of that day. He probably did not know that it would add five thousand souls to the Church that day. On the other hand, I believe he did know that Christ gave him an opportunity to access that unlimited power to heal the man. Peter and John both looked intently upon the man that was lame, (as if they were waiting upon direction from the Lord), and then the Bible says, “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength” (Acts 3:6-7). Later in the text, Peter tells the crowd emphatically, that he did not heal the man (see verse 12). It was Jesus Christ of Nazareth who did the healing. This is an important lesson understood and known in Classic Christianity but has been lost through the ages. Peter finally learned this important lesson that he can’t, but Jesus Christ can. We can’t but He can. And if we don’t, He will. This is the great mystery in receiving unlimited power to do the impossible.
Much power is lost in modern Christianity by attempting to save the world by utilizing their own methods. The modern church is so weak that it’s turned to the fallen world for help. They no longer believe that Jesus Christ has the power today to deliver people from their many psychological struggles. They no longer believe that God has given them everything they need for life and godliness, so they rush to the world’s counselors and their prescription drugs to solve their problems. They no longer believe that Jesus Christ can transform people into a new creation growing them from one degree of glory to another. They no longer believe that God’s children can access this unlimited power to turn the world upside down, so they rush to their political pundits or favorite political party to do it. They no longer believe the truth, so they search the internet seeking new truth, even if it’s nothing more than the latest conspiracy theory. They no longer believe that they have access to unlimited power to overcome the powers of darkness and its legions of demons. Dear children, it’s time to return to classic Christianity having full access to God’s unlimited power. For one who has experienced Jesus Christ working His miracles through me in healing, miraculously causing food to appear, overcoming a demonic spirit, along with many other miracles, there is no greater joy than having Christ in my life and experiencing His amazing presence every moment of every day. What wonders awaits those seeking a deeper life in Christ. Rediscover the power of classic Christianity. Amen
Please Join me in Prayer …
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name. Oh Lord, how marvelous are your ways. When our strength is all dried up and we feel we just can’t do anymore, then we see your greatest miracle. For when we turn our labor over to you then we see you working powerfully in and through us. As we completely trust in you, we feel that we are working well beyond our own ability and doing things that absolutely amaze us. We admit that strength and power must come directly from you. Hallelujah. Of course, the real miracle is realized when we learn how to completely let go and trust you to work through us. Help us not to run ahead of you or lag behind but keep in step with the indwelling Spirit for indeed it is your work that you have called us to. A marvelous work indeed. Help us to step out in faith when you lead, knowing that the strength and the ability will both come from you to accomplish the task. Oh Lord, please remind all of your children to always give you all the credit and all the glory. We pray this in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
Originally posted on March 24, 2021
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