Holy Ghost Baptism

Acts 1:1-4

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

1 Theophilus, I first wrote to you about all that Jesus did and taught from the very first ² until he was taken up to heaven. But before he was taken up, he gave orders to the apostles who he had chosen with the help of the Holy Spirit.

³ For forty days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God’s kingdom. ⁴ While he was still with them, he said: (basically) "..the Father will give you the gift and baptism of the Holy Ghost/Spirit.." A cornerstone of God's work and kingdom (which is ultimate reality) and a greatest miracle of all!
Acts 1:4,5 and 10:47

Opposites!

Mark 6:1-3,5 (New King James Version)
- "1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? So they were offended at Him. ....5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them."

Mark 4:37-39,41 (New King James Version)
- "37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ....41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

- (Darby Translation)
"Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Discipleship

Luke 9:1 says "Jesus called together His twelve apostles and gave them complete power over all demons and diseases.." Which is how it reads in the bible version I'm reading right now. I was wondering if the original Greek word used here was "apostle" or "disciple" (because to me apostle means teacher and disciple means follower and student). It wasn't that easy however! For starting with the Greek concordance, I looked up "apostle" and found it was not used in Luke 9:1, but when I looked up "disciple" I found that wasn't used either(!) What was written originally was "And having called together the twelve he gave them power and authority over all the demons and diseases to heal.." (from the "Interlinear NASB-NIV Parallel New Testament in Greek and English"). I then thought to myself that "the twelve" is likely closer to "apostle" then "disciple". It's important because I presently know three people battling stage four cancers.
- All in all, I decided, I will continue my prayers and encouragement to them, because "apostle" or "disciple" Jesus said many times things like "what ever things you desire, when you pray, believe you have them and you shall have them.." and "where two or more agree in prayer as touching anything upon earth, my Father in heaven will hear them and give it to them.." (Well, these are paraphrased from my memory.. which is faulty at best and getting worse as I get older! But you get my drift I hope..)
- However, and in addition, when I went back to the concordance (Strong's Exhaustive) I found that apostle means "messenger" and "sent out"(one).. (And "disciple" is "learner, instructed one".)

Just What Is Hell, Besides a Mistranslation Which Should Read Death?

'Hell' was created, as 'hell' is commonly understood to be, very early on, but not by God! As a place of torment it has been a part of ancient Pagan (non-Hebrew) beliefs and reached its epiphany in Greece. But Israel acquainted "hellfire" with fiery (national) judgment. And Sheol, of course, the place of the dead, was the grave and the dust of - Isaiah 14:11; Genesis 3:19 (Philippians 2:10).
- "Hell" is being without God. But that can't happen! God is Life. Every little drop of Life is God - Genesis 1:1 - so to be without God is to not be. Period. "And the last thing to be vanquished is death" - 1 Corinthians 15:26. (The opposite of Life, is non-life.)
- Jude, in verse 7, said "the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.. is the example of eternal fire" - Jude 7. Is there flames and fire there now, where Sodom and Gomorrah once were? Rather it is mounds of dust and ashes. Revelation 19:3 speaks of destruction as a "smoke that rises forever and ever." It is an eternal lesson which is remembered forever and ever, and then some. The smoke (memory) of it will rise forever in our memory and psyche. We cannot walk away from God in any means or fashion, because God is both Life and Perfection. To turn from Him in any little thing is to cease to be. It's an eternal "note to self (a great gift) which says "CANNOT BE DONE".
- But this journey and lesson of hell (death) and hellfire, this narrative of God is/was unavoidable, unless God is creating an ant farm and robots. But He's not. He's of course creating the absolutely best thing possible, because He is, after all, Perfection. So the 'end' result of all this can only be Perfect. Nothing else is possible.

God Can Only Be Perfect

Jesus said things like "that your joy may be full.." and "if I be lifted up I will draw all unto me". I think we greatly under-estimate God's "great plan of salvation". After all God can only be perfect, so wouldn't the best outcome of all this be the best one possible.. Logic tells me God reaches every heart with the gospel. [Ps 22:27 "all the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will worship Him".]

Everything Must Move

Everything has to move! If we lived in an unmoving universe, it would have to be flat (one dimensional)!
- Right..?

From Where Come Wars and Quarrels Among You ? (James 4:1)

Jesus asked "What were you arguing about on the way?" They were quiet, saying nothing because they had been arguing over which of them was the greatest. Jesus said whoever wants to be first must be last and be as a servant to others. ...Everyone will be salted with (the cleansing) fire, salt is good but if it loses its saltiness what good is it? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another." - Mark 9:33,34,49

Why Does It Matter?

Is life an anomaly?
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Surely If There is God, He is Perfect..

It seems to me that there is very much the possibility that the 'end' result of all this (human history and all) can only be the best 'end' result possible, because God is Perfect, therefore nothing else is even possible!