Eating at the Hand of God

The Bible is a book about giving. We are told in John 3:16 that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." Christians ought to be giving people. Giving to God should be a joy, pleasure and priority. I feel so sorry for so many Christians who have not experienced the joy of giving. They are missing out on an important part of their relationship with the Lord. First let me illuminate the real problem. For some giving is about money. Biblically this is wrong for giving, like all other aspects of the Christian life is about faith.

Luke 21:1-4
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the
treasury. 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two
mites. 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath
cast in more than they all: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in
unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living
that she had.

Faith, exemplified by the poor widow, is giving what God wants you to give and trusting him to provide. Simple but not always easy. The question that we must ask ourselves is this - are we providing for ourselves, or are we eating at the Hand of God? Often Christians trust the limits of their paycheck and the meager extras of overtime instead of the mighty outstretched arm of God. Many Christians have given up their church attendance to work a second job. God cannot bless this approach for it is carnal and not spiritual. The problem is that we like to be in control. Okay, come on now, admit it; wouldn't we be a whole lot better off if we allowed the God that spoke the universe into existence to control our lives, yes, even our finances? When we are in God's will and obedient to His word, His great provision provides far more than we can possible earn on our own and He supplies in ways unknown to our frail human logic proving once again that faith is the only way to please Him and receive His might bounty from glory. Trusting the Lord with our eternal soul took far more faith than trusting him with our finances. God's plan and program for this age is to work through the local church. That is where your giving should be focused. Eating at the hand of God and giving by faith will usher you into a spiritual realm that you may have not visited before. Here are 7 Biblical steps or principles to follow:

1. Start with Tithing (10%)
Some say that tithing was only meant under the dispensation of Law. Yet, Abraham tithed before the Law was given. He gave tithes to Melchizedek, King of Salem, who was a forshadowing of Christ to come.

Genesis 14:17-20
And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the
slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of
Shaveh, which is the king's dale. 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought
forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he
blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of
heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered
thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Jacob vowed to tithe "of all that God would give him." Somehow he knew who was providing and what his responsibility was to give back of God's generosity.

Genesis 28:10-22
And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he
lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was
set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and
lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set
up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of
God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the LORD stood above
it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the
land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And
thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the
west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in
thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I
am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will
bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done
that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And
Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place;
and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this
place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had
put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of
it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that
city was called Luz at the first. 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God
will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread
to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father's house
in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have
set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I
will surely give the tenth unto thee.

God determined that 10 % would be given for his work and service through the Levites. I don't know what Christians who don't give through their local church are thinking. How is the building payed for? How does the Pastor get payed? The answer usually is "through someone else's tithe."

Numbers 18:20&21
And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their
land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine
inheritance among the children of Israel. 21 And, behold, I have given the
children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service
which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

People who think that Tithing is strictly OT have not read Hebrews chapter 7. God validates tithing for the NT as well. The illustration is regarding the account of Abraham paying tithes to Melchisedec. The point made is that the Aaronic priests who received tithes under the Law were the descendants of Abraham. So, why did Abraham pay tithes to Melchisedec? Because he was greater than Abraham. Hebrews 7 tells us that the priesthood of Melchisedec was also greater than the preisthood of Aaron. So if Abraham payed tithes to Melchisedec before the Law, and Jesus our Savior is a better high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Doesn't He deserve and expect our tithes in this age through the local church. If you are confused now please reread this until you grasp it.

Hebrews 7:1-10
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met
Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed
him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by
interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem,
which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without
descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like
unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 4 Now consider how
great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of
the spoils. 5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive
the office of the preisthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the
people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come
out of the loins of Abraham: 6 But he whose descent is not counted from
them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of
whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so
say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he
was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

The fact is (don't get nervous here) that Tithing is the Start or Beginning of giving according to the NT. The next step is

2. Offerings

The Bible talks about Tithes and Offerings. Offerings refer to giving above and beyond the tithe which is given to the Lord and goes to the support of his church of which he is the head.

II Cor 8:1-11

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the
churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the
abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their
liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their
power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that
we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to
the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own
selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6 Insomuch that we
desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same
grace also. He urges the Corinthians to be liberal 7 Therefore, as ye abound in every
thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your
love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 8 I speak not by
commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the
sincerity of your love. 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his
poverty might be rich. 10 And herein I give my advice: for this is
expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward
a year ago. 11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a
readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

We should give Liberally (vs2). We should give Willingly
(vs3). We should give of Ourselves (vs5). Our giving should Abound (vss 7&10). We should give out of Love (vs8). According to vs 11 our giving is a Performance. Chapter 9, vs 7 says that we should give Cheerfully. Are you still with me? God
met every need exactly for those that "ate at the hand of God." (II Cor 8:15)
"As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had
gathered little had no lack." If we are tight with God, he'll be tight with us. (II Cor 9:6) "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

3. When should we give? Sunday - the First day

I Cor 16:1&2
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the
churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let
every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be
no gatherings when I come.

4. Give the Firstfruits
Always give to God First! Of your Gross pay, not net. God is like me, he doesn't care for leftovers. You give the government a lot more and they get theirs off the top. Show your Savior the same respect. If you don't, I will guarantee that you will never have any leftover and God won't get much if any.

Neh 10:35-39
And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits
of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD: 36 Also
the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law,
and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of
our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God: 37 And that
we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the
fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the
chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the
Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of
our tillage. 38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites,
when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of
the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure
house.

5. Bring your gift to the House of God.
Some Christians will give to TV and radio ministries and a host of missionary endeavors instead of tithing to the church that they should belong to. This is wrong. Most churches sponsor missionaries through Faith Promise or dedicated missions giving in the local church. The idea of "individuals partnering" with certain missionaries is not a good idea in my opinion. Let the whole church get behind a missionary and pray for them. They will lose a lot less support once they get to the field. (Exodus 36:5) "And they space unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make."

6. Your giving should support the Man of God.
The preacher should not be the poorest man in the church. The church should honor God by caring well for their Pastor. He does not have to live lavishly but shouldn't have to beg either. (I Cor 9:14) "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." I know how difficult it is to work full time and Pastor. I thank God that our church is able to support me well and has been for the past many years. That is a great testimony for a small church.

7. Giving invites the Blessings of God.
Everyone down South wants to be "under the spout where the blessings come out." Amen to that Brother. God will bless our obedience if we are sincere about eating at his hand.

Malachi 3:8-11
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we
robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye
have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the
storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith,
saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour
you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy
the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the
time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

Giving is the one area in our Christian lives where God challenges us to put him to the test. He promises that he will open Heaven's windows and dump a heaping bucket full of blessing upon us for trusting Him and being faithful. However, he also warns that those who withhold are stealing from him. We would never think of putting our hand in the till but somehow not giving to God does not bother us as much. Not only do we rob from God when we don't give, but he claims that he allows the devil to take away from our spending power. Haggai called it "putting money in bags with holes." We can lay up treasure in heaven or serve the god of mammon and consume all that God has blessed us with on our own lusts. The key to understanding how to eat at the hand of God is found in the doctrine of Stewardship. You know well that "we are not our own" but that we are "bought with a price." And everything that we posses comes from the very hand of God. I am trying to encourage you to get in on one of the greatest blessings of the Christian life that will bring endless joy and encouragement to your Christian walk. There is nothing more wonderful than seeing God's hand at work in your life. Start giving and see what God does. You will be amazed.

Sign of Jonah

The proof that Jesus gave to the unbelieving Pharisees that he was in fact the true Messiah was the "sign of the prophet Jonah. The Bible tells us clearly that Jesus our Savior, "died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." I Cor 15:3&4. So then the "sign " of Jonah was a forshadowing of our Lord's death burial & resurrection. In fact, the cornerstone belief of Christianity is resurrection.

38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying,
Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto
them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh
after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign
of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in
the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the
heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this
generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of
Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. Matthew 12:38-41

In order for the sign of Jonah to be correct and accurate, I believe that it must also include resurrection and that there is Biblical evidence of this is in the Book of Jonah. Matthew 12 tells us that Jesus spent 3 days & nights in the heart of the earth and we also know from other Scriptures that he was physically dead. His resurrection is the victory over hell and death for all that believe. As Jonah spent the same amount of time in the belly of a great fish, I believe that he too was also resurrected.

Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly, 2 And
said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out
of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. 3 For thou hadst
cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me
about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. 4 Then I said, I am
cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. 5 The
waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about,
the weeds were wrapped about my head. 6 I went down to the bottoms of the
mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought
up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. 7 When my soul fainted within me
I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. 9 But I
will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I
have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. He is delivered from the fish 10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land. Jonah 2:1-10

Many unbelievers ask the question, "how could a man live for three full days submerged under water in the belly of a fish?" That is a great question! Eventhough I believe that ALL things are possible with God, I think that the Biblical answer regarding Jonah is that he didn't. When Jonah prayed in verse one, he cried out of the fish's belly. That word simply means "hollow place." In verse 2 he gives more detail and says that he cried out of the belly of hell. This is the OT word sheol equivalent to the NT hades which simply means "underworld." In verses 3&5 he speaks of being "compassed about" in the depths. Verse 6 gives the clearest evidence where he states that he "went down to the bottoms of the mountains," and that the "bars of the earth" were about him for ever. This certainly speaks of an "out of the belly experience" (please excuse the pun). He also claims that the Lord brought his life up from "corruption." I Cor 15 also uses this word to speak of physical death. I believe that the context here and that the sign Jesus gave clearly imply that Jonah had died physically and was resurrected. Chew on that for awhile, if you don't like it, you can always spit it out.

I also believe that when the apostle Paul was stoned at Lystra in 46AD, that he actually died and was brought to life again as the disciples stood round about him.

19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who
persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city,
supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about
him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with
Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city,
and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in
the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of
God. Acts 14:19-22

In 60AD, Paul humbly writes about this experience in the third person so that people wouldn't not glory in him, but in the Lord.

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and
revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago,
(whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell:
God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such
a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words,
which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I glory:
yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6 For though I
would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now
I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be,
or that he heareth of me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure
through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the
flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above
measure. II Cor 12:1-7

In verse 2, Paul states that it was 14 years previous. If you examine the context you will discover that he was trying to deflect all attention away from him personally. If you read the previous chapter you will be amazed at what Paul suffered to serve Christ and establish the churches. I have no doubt that this "glimpse of Glory" is what motivated him and kept him going unto the very end. Paul said in Romans 8:18, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

The Bible does not teach "soul sleep." It clearly states that when we are "absent from the body," we are "present with the Lord." II Cor 5:8. We are created in God's image and likeness, we are tri-partate being consisting of body, soul and spirit. When we die, our soul & spirit go directly to Heaven (if we are saved) and our bodies go into the grave. I Thess 4:13-18 explains this perfectly:

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the
Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in
the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one
another with these words.

The Bible teaches that the bodies of the dead in Christ are in a state of "sleep" while waiting to be resurrected and glorified when united with the soul & spirit at Christ's return. Christ's resurrection makes it possible and even immutable for Christians to take part in the "sign of Jonah." The next time some zodiac loving unbeliever asks me what my sign is - I think I'll be like Jesus and just say , Jonah.

Valley News Goes to Church

Olivet Church Celebrates Rebirth
Easter Services Finally Held in New Home
By Carolyn Lorié
Valley News Staff Writer

West Lebanon -- With wispy hair and a dress the color of cotton and daffodils, 18-month-old Emily Devers looks around the new church, wide-eyed and silent, as Pastor Joe Scearbo invokes the story of Jonah and the whale, the miracle of the raising of Lazarus and the Acts of the Apostles.
It is an Easter sermon about resurrection, but yesterday morning the story of the Olivet Baptist Church was one of being born again.
Started in 1993 by Scearbo, the church has grown from a handful of people gathering in the home Scearbo shares with his wife, Michele, to about 50 people showing up for sermons in a cramped space on Railroad Avenue to yesterday's inaugural service in the parish hall of the former Holy Redeemer Church on Maple Street.
“We are just so excited, because we've actually prayed about this whole property since the Catholic Church closed,” said Scearbo, minutes before his sermon.
The path to the parish hall, however, was a complicated one paved with deals between developers and a diocese, zoning board decisions and threats of lawsuits.
In 2003, Holy Redeemer Church closed because of a lack of priests, but the Catholic Diocese of Manchester held onto the property. Last year, it was in negations to sell the 3-acre lot, the church and the parish hall to Smith-Jackson, a development company based in Nashua, N.H. Part of the deal would have included ousting the Montessori School housed in the basement of the parish hall and selling that building to the Olivet Baptist Church. But Elise Thayer, head of the school, refused to leave, and threatened a lawsuit against the diocese.
In the meantime, the Lebanon Zoning Board rejected Smith-Jackson's plan to subdivide the lot, by selling the hall to Olivet, tearing down the old church and building single-family houses in its place. The deal eventually fell apart, leaving the school and the church facing an uncertain future.
Finally, Hanover developer Jolin Salazar-Kish bought the property, signed a five-year-lease with the school and rented the hall to Olivet.
“It's wonderful,” said parishoner, Lorraine Slack, of Lebanon. “We felt we needed growth and the lord led us to this space. And we feel the Holy Spirit already.”
Before starting the church, Scearbo, who is 48, was businessman living in the suburbs of Boston. He was raised a Catholic, but at 24 he said he was “called by the Lord” at which time he became a minister. Scearbo and Michele moved to Lebanon with their three children 13 years ago and put a sandwich board in their front yard inviting people to a bible-study class they held on Thursday evenings.
“We started with no one,” said Scearbo.
But word of the new church -- named for the mountain where Jesus was said to have spent his last hours in the garden of Gethsemane -- spread, and yesterday morning about 60 people gathered to listen to Scearbo preach. As he did so, he paced the dais, raised his arms and even jumped once to emphasize a “hallelujah.” He rarely looked at his notes and spoke in a stentorian voice that could be heard in the basement where the children had gathered for Sunday school.
Whatever twists and turns it took to get the church to Maple Street, its members, like Slack, spoke of the process in terms of faith and patience.
“It was a blessing because it showed us the power of God and the power of prayer,” said Rocky Moxley of Hartland.
Moxely said he joined the church five years ago and throughout Scearbo's preaching, he punctuated points by calling out: “Amen,” or “Yes, Lord God.”
Unlike many churches, which seem to be dominated by an aging population, Olivet has attracted a large group of young people. Among them are Michelle and Patrick Wade, who are 29 years old and 30 years old, respectively.
The couple moved to the Upper Valley from Michigan eight months ago with their two young sons and began searching for a spiritual home.
Though they have not officially joined Olivet, they said they are through looking. The Wades were one of many couples who held babies and toddlers on their laps throughout the service.
The church has about 50 core members, which Scearbo described as having a “great spirit” and being “one big happy family.” The hope, he said, is to double in number over the next five to 10 years -- but to not change in the process.
“My goal is to strive to maintain that spirit as we grow in the future,” he said.
As Scearbo closed his first sermon in the parish hall on Maple Street, a muted gray light seeped through the windows, the congregation stood for a final hymn and Emily Devers slept on her father's shoulder.
Valley News staff writer, Mark Davis, contributed to this article.
Carolyn LoriÐ can be reached at clorie@valleynews.com or (603) 727-3220.
Photo by James M. Patterson, Valley News

Easter

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Acts 12:1-4

This is the only place in the Bible that the word Easter is found. I have been told many times by many Christians over many years that my beloved King James Bible has a mistake in this verse and the "correct" translation should be Passover. Since I believe and the Bible claims not just to be inspired but also to be preserved; and that the Word of God is inerrant and infallible, I cannot let this false charge to go unanswered. The KJV differs from all modern bible versions in that it is the only one that originates from the correct source, the Received Text or Textus Receptus. All other bibles come from or are at least influenced by the Alexandrian text which I believe to be corrupt. Although these versions differ in thousands of passages, to the best of my knowledge they all incorrectly translate the word Pascha as Passover in Acts 12:4.

Why did the KJV translators, who were noted for being consistent in translating words according to their context, use the word Easter in this passage alone and not use the word Passover as they did in every other occurrence? The answer is simple - it would just plain be incorrect!

Please note the context here. The subject is a heathen King (Herod) who is persecuting believers to please the Pharisees. The Jews honored the Passover, however the heathen celebrated Easter ( not exactly the same as our "Christian" Easter).

Secondly, I am told by Greek speaking people that they use the same word pascha when referring to orthodox Easter.

Lastly, and most importantly, Easter is the only translation of this passage that agrees with Scripture.

12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the
firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of
Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to
you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will
pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite
the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye
shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it
a feast by an ordinance for ever. 15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened
bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for
whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that
soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16 And in the first day there shall be
an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation
to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must
eat, that only may be done of you. 17 And ye shall observe the feast of
unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the
land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an
ordinance for ever. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the
month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of
the month at even. Exodus 12:12-18

Notice the date of the Passover, it is the first month and the fourteenth day and it is followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S Passover.
And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened
bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. Lev 23:5&6

Looking back at Acts 12:3, we see that Passover had already gone by for "Then were the days of unleavened bread." Verse 4 plainly states that it was Herod's intent to bring forth Peter to trial and execution after Pascha. Since Passover was over and the feast of Unleavened Bread was already being observed (vs 3), the only correct translation is to use the word that agrees with scripture and is most likely the same context used by a heathen king. I believe that word in this lone passage to correctly be Easter.

Believers Baptism

There are a wide variety of doctrines associated with baptism and I would like to explain Baptism in the NT and comment on a couple of errant views. First, the word baptizo literally means "immersion." Sprinkling or pouring is not the same as scriptural immersion. Immersion is the only correct manner because it fulfills the picture of the gospel in Romans 6, meaning death, burial and resurrection.

Baptism's Purpose

The purpose of baptism has always been for identification. Long before John the Baptist, religious sects and secret societies required baptism as an official part of initiation or acceptance thus proclaiming ones identification as part of that group or sect. So long before Christian baptism, Satan had a counterfit baptism as explained so well by Rev. Hislop in his work called Two Babylons. Because the method was by immersion, and the purpose was for identification, this prevented what is currently practiced around the globe regarding infant baptism which is by sprinkling or pouring. This is why it is called, believers Baptism.

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of
one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a
leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round
about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their
sins. Matthew 3:1-6

John was certainly preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom when he cried for repentance and identification with the Kingdom at hand. It was John who was ordained of old to introduce the King of the Kingdom shouting, "prepare ye the way of the Lord."

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and
comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so
now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from
heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (vs13-17)

Some wonder why Jesus himself demanded of John to be baptized. Since John was the chosen one to herald the first advent of the Messiah, Jesus himself was immersed to identify not just with the Kingdom, but also as the King. God bearing him witness by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, and by the voice from heaven proclaiming Christ as well.

Paul, in Acts 19:1-6, meeting Appolos and his crew asked what baptism they had received. When they responded "the baptism of John," Paul baptized them over again in Christ. Why? So that they would correctly identify with the current message being the Gospel of Christ's death, burial and resurrection.

Although the disciple's of Appolos in Acts 19 received the Holy Spirit at that time we must remember that the book of Acts was the transitional book taking us from the Gospels (law) to the new dispensation of Grace or the Church age. According to Mark 16:19&20, The Lord gave his "stamp of approval" to the early church disciples while the churches were born and the NT nearing completion. Cf: I Cor 13:8-12.

So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Not The Same As Spirit Baptism

Water baptism and spirit baptism are not the same. On the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, the early church disciples were baptized with the Holy Ghost the day the church was born. Then, those that gladly received the word were baptized by water upon their profession of faith in Christ, Jesus. (vs 41)

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. I Cor 12:13

The context of this passage is obviously refering to "Spirit Baptism." The Bible clearly teaches that for NT Believers in this age, we are baptized by the Holy Ghost the moment we believe. His Spirit quickens or brings to life our dead spirit and we are Born from above according to John 3.

Not only are we baptized with the Holy Ghost the moment we repent and receive Christ; we are also sealed by His Spirit. Once the Church Age had commenced and the NT completed there was no longer any need for the "laying on of hands" in order to receive the Holy Spirit as cataloged in Acts 19:1-6 regarding those that were saved under John's ministry and message. We now are sealed from the moment we believe.

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our
inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Eph 1:12-14

In ancient times, declarations from the king were irrevocable when "sealed with the King's signet." Although we are able to grieve and quench the Holy Ghost within, as children of Heaven we are sealed by the Holy Ghost for all eternity Cf: II Cor 1:22 & 5:5. Ephesians 1:13 claims that being sealed by the Holy Ghost is God's earnest of our inheritance in Glory and for the redemption of the purchased possession - meaning our bodies. The word earnest means downpayment! Being sealed by God's Holy Spirit is His downpayment on those of us who were "bought with a price," even the precious blood of Christ." I Cor 6:30

Since we are sealed the moment we trust Jesus as our very own personal Savior, and because Spirit baptism and water baptism are different events, the idea of receiving a "second blessing" and loosing one's salvation do not hold up under careful examination of the Scriptures. Those that teach the second blessing believe that Spirit baptism happens post salvation and is also associated with evidence such as "speaking in tongues." I will address Eternal Security at another time.

Some also teach that water baptism is a necessary part of salvation. The first question that comes to mind is, "what about the thief on the cross?" To this they answer that Water Baptism only became essential after Christ's crucifixion. My following question is always "What about those that were saved under John the Baptist?" Christ had not yet been slain yet those disciples were instructed to be baptized! If it was not necessary, why were they compelled to do it. Of course, they have no answer. I also like to take them to I Corinthians 1;14-18.

I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any
should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Paul clearly states that Christ sent him "not to baptize, but to preach the gospel." Of course, they are unable to answer this as well. We are to preach "all the Counsel" of God and "compare spiritual with spiritual" (scripture with scripture). When a doctrine is made from a single scripture or is largely confined to only one or two books of the Bible. We should immediately be suspect.

Not Required For Salvation

According to Romans 6:3-5, baptism is a picture of the gospel.

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.

It is very clear in the NT that baptism does not save. Baptism pictures the Gospel and enables us to identify with Christ's death, burial & resurrection on the cross for our sins. Baptism is our outward & public declaration that our hope for eternity lies squarely on the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus. We are baptized after salvation in obedience to his will and Word. Just because it is not essential for salvation does not mean that it is not important!

When the early churches were established in the Book of Acts, those that were saved were baptized shortly after their profession of faith to be obedient to Christ and to publicly declare their faith in Him.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
the apostles work miracles And they continued steadfastly
in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in
prayers. Acts 2:41 & 42

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. Acts 8:35-38

Note: verse 37, containing the gospel ("if thou believest with all thine heart") is missing from most modern bible versions.

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. Act 16:30-34

The question in Acts 2:37 is simply "what shall we do?" The answer in verse 38 is " repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins." The converts of the first church at Jerusalem asked a general question. I believe that Peter correctly tells them to get saved and get baptized. The Question from the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:30 is more specific, he asks "what must I do to be saved." The answer in verse 31 is simply "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." Notice that the whole family believed the gospel and made a public declaration that same night through believers Baptism.

Commanded By Christ

Eventhough baptism does not save, the most important reason for every Born Again Believer to be immersed is because Jesus commanded it.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus commanded that His disciples be baptized publicly in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Ghost. Baptism is an important step in the spiritual life of the believer to identify with the gospel and to be obedient to Christ's command. Baptism is the believers public proclamation of faith in Christ just as the Lord's Supper is a local church's public & corporate testimony of faith in Christ.