Sunday - Spirit pressure in the Church was very heavy today. Not that kind of scary spirit, it's the Holy Spirit. When it descents, it touches the heart. And because I felt that, I was turning my head around to see if there's any difference in the Church. Some people still look the same, but then I saw the lady beside me and the couple in front was wiping their tears secretly, but I noticed. It happened during praise and worship time, it was very powerful, more heavy than other days. Today was special.
Well, it's hard to explain these paranormal stuffs because I have no idea of explaining it >.< I find it stupid last time when other church mates tell me this, that was a long time ago since I was young and loved science. I seriously don't believe paranormal stuffs and I started to question the existence of God, the Bible, and technically everything. Well this day, I discovered that we can sense them, yet unable to explain it unless I can do a full scale research on it :X My hypothesis is, perhaps there is some receptor in our soul which allows us to sense it, and it depends on our body condition to activate it. For example, when you are tired or certain things you eat triggers that receptor. Anyways, today I realised, how lucky we can feel close to God, compared to the people before the coming of Jesus. Yes there is a significance, that's why the church celebrates the Pentecost. Because God provided the Lamb for sacrifice (I find it very cruel sometimes), to allow the bridge of this gap. And it was recorded in history, one supper when Jesus broke the bread and said 'This is my body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of me'. In the same way after supper, he took the cup (with wine) saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, this this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Try to imagine that time, people cannot have a direct connection with God, and God have to go through prophets to speak to his people. And people have to sacrifice animals for their sins. And then fake prophets appear everywhere because prophets were used to be rewarded by kings and are think highly by people. Slowly real prophets sent by God was disliked some killed because they prophesied punishments due to the sinful acts of the strayed people. God's people were so lost, God was disheartened with the nation. Best way is to have 'direct contact' with us, so he sent his son to initiate that link - The prophesied Messiah in the scriptures that will set up a 'kingdom that shall stand forever'. The reason why Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus to the chief priests because he misunderstood the mission of the Messiah. Judas thought Jesus was a false Messiah, because he misinterpreted the meaning of the prophesied scripture. He thought Jesus, who had demonstrated miracle healings and casting out demons, is supposed to be the king to lead the victory over the Romans in war. But when Jesus told his disciples that he would die by crucifixion, Judas got angry because Jesus did not live up to his (Judas') expectations. He wanted Jesus to pay for deceiving him. And at Judas' acts, he saw the prophecy unveil in front on his very own eyes, and he realised he had sin by betraying innocent blood. Jesus is indeed the Messiah! Notice how Judas played an important role in fulfilling the prophecy but he couldn't live with the the guilt and hanged himself.
To keep things short, after Jesus' death, He rose from the dead on the 3rd day and His body returned to heaven. And he appeared again to two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Then Jesus appeared to the Eleven disciples, in a locked area, rebuking them for their lack of faith for they did not believed the earlier sightings. But boy were they startled and thought he was a ghost! Jesus said 'Peace be with you' and asked them to touch him, the disciples were overjoyed and Jesus also ate broiled fish in front of them. Then He opened their minds so that they can understand the scriptures and asked them to stay in the city until they have been clothed with power from high (Holy Spirit). Now one of the disciple, Thomas was not with them, he didn't believe the others when they told him and he said "unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe". Then Jesus came and appeared among the disciples again a week later, maybe just to give Thomas a shock, and he specifically told Thomas touch his hands and side. And Jesus said 'because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.' Then Jesus appeared again by the Sea of Tiberias to have breakfast with them. Jesus did many things with them and they were recorded in many scriptures (some were not included in the Bible).
The disciples stayed in Jerusalem until the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit finally came down as promised. They were filled with the Spirit and began speaking in tongues. Other people who witnessed it were amazed and perplexed. Many people were baptised that day. Only after the Spirit has descended on the people that the disciples were able to performed miracle healings and drive out demons. 'The Kingdom that shall stand forever' means God's kingdom that stands forever because we have direct contact now, and the Spirit will guide us back to God even if we stray.
Read Mark, Luke, John, & Acts from the bible to find out more about it. Written by different people and they are prepared to die so that they can bring salvation to to mankind. For there is only 1 way to God. Jesus said, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light. No one comes to the father except through me'. The Bible was written and compiled so that you would believe and be saved. The Holy Spirit that is now easily available to guide us and which we are able to enjoy and command now was not available to people in the past before Jesus' sacrifice. To attain it, a person have to ask Jesus into his life and be baptised. Jesus is alive and he hears your words and thoughts, just like how he heard Thomas', so just call on him and he will come. And through Jesus's blood our sins are washed away so we can speak directly to God. I was raised up as a christian, but only when I truly accept Christ by myself and my own will that I can enjoy the connection with of God. And through God, the spirit gave me wisdom to learn more about God's Kingdom and God's way.
Life is short, even if you can't live until end of the world and the second coming of Christ, death would still come to you. Even believers will be deceived during the end times. But don't be afraid, stay near to God and the Spirit of Truth as Jesus said will be our Counsellor forever. Christianity is not a religion, it's about our connection to God. So stay strong...
P.S. Sometimes I try not to blog about God so much because it's a sensitive issue. But I promised God for this introduction of Jesus post since many people out there don't know about His Son's significance. And I pray, through this, at least you will be able to understand our faith. I wanted at least some of you to be given the opportunity to hear the 'Good News'. Perhaps it could get some of you out there to question and start thinking, who is Jesus and then to find God yourself and to grow in Love with Him.
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