Fire and Redemption




We are living in the time of “the great falling away,” which means to defect from the truth. It’s not just about us learning the truth - it’s about us walking it out to become that truth. This is why in the early church everyone was required to fast at least twice a week, as a discipline in denying fleshly desires. Some may scoff at that, thinking we don’t need works, but didn’t Jesus say He will know you by your works? (Matt. 7:16). It should be in all of our hearts to walk out the Word like the early Christians did. 

 

The miracles the early church did were because of the price they were willing to pay to walk in that kind of power. Nothing is free. This is why the wise virgins told the foolish virgins to go buy the oil, which is symbolic of the teaching (Matt. 25:9). We live in a time where most of the church expects things to just be given to them for free. The false belief that Jesus did it all at the cross creates entitled Christians. 


There are also those who think there are no more mysteries in the Word and that everything has been revealed. In the New Testament alone the word “mystery” is mentioned twenty-two times. When you read the various Bible dictionaries, it’s easy to see that the number of mysteries are vast and that these mysteries cannot be understood by natural reasoning but must be divinely revealed. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals these mysteries (1 Cor. 2:10). Those who cannot understand them in the church are those who have human wisdom. 

 

The mark of the beast is for those who do not understand the mysteries of the Scripture. The beastly nature is also known as the carnal man. Those who are carnal oppose the deep things of God - these deep things are foolishness to them (1 Cor. 2:14). Paul was talking about people in the church, not just those in the world. That is why he could not teach the church in Corinth the mysteries of God because they were still carnal (1 Cor. 3:2). 

 

The mysteries of Word are released by the offices of the Apostles and Prophets. Paul prayed that there would be an open door to preach the mystery of Christ (Col. 4:3). 

 

The Sacraments, which comes from the Latin word “sacramentum” and the Greek word “musterion,” was not speaking of just communion. It was speaking about the mysteries of the kingdom. All the mysteries of the Word are sacraments, the body of Christ, also known as communion. When someone says that there are no more mysteries, they are denying the body of Christ and are unable to take part in true communion.

 

The sacraments speak of something that is holy and set apart. Without the mysteries of the kingdom, you cannot be set apart and made holy. Tertullian, an early church father from the 2nd century, compared taking the sacrament after baptism to a soldier who has just enlisted. Once it was time for war, that soldier was required to leave everything, including his wife and children. Jesus said that if you were not willing to leave your mother, father, brother, sister, husband, wife or children you were not worthy to follow Him (Luke 14:26). Once you decided to learn the mystery of the kingdom, you were required to leave your old life behind, and that standard is still in place today.

 
The Protestants continued the practice of the sacraments after the reformation. So, how can those who call themselves part of the Protestant church say that the mysteries, or the sacraments, are done away with? According to the faith the sacraments are necessary for salvation which means that the mysteries are necessary for salvation. Jesus said that if we eat his body and drink his blood, the sacraments, then we will have eternal life (John 6:53-57). It is not about eating a little wafer and drinking some wine; it is about learning the secrets of the kingdom. The understanding of the mystery of the sacrament was a sign of divine grace. Paul said that the grace was given to him to give to the church so that they would understand his knowledge of the mystery, or sacrament, of Christ (Eph. 3:2). 

 

As far as receiving the grace, or mystery of the kingdom, the receiver’s disposition is very important. If they are in sin, not serious about the Word they’re receiving, or are too caught up with the cares of the world, then they are preventing the mystery of Christ from having the ability to transform them. The people who don’t change are those who don’t believe and those who aren’t dealing with things in their life. If we’re not in the right place spiritually, we can miss that fire that is meant to purify us. 

 

So many denominations hold core doctrine that believe in the sacraments but have lost the meaning and understanding of how the sacraments operate in the Spirit. The Orthodox and Coptic churches know that the sacraments are an understanding of the mysteries but for the most part these churches don’t hold true to their foundations. We need to remember that there is power in the sacraments to transform us. There is no other way for us to be redeemed but by the mystery of the Word, which is the body and blood of Christ. Amen.

 

Sincerely,

Apostle Michael Petro

 

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Passover 2021 and the Final Move of God

Image
As the congregation gathered for Passover, there was a tangible presence of the Lord in worship. But even in the midst of it, the Lord was telling me that some are still holding onto a spirit of pride and it’s time to let it go. The Lord wants that spirit killed now. Too many are sitting back to observe, worried about what they’re going to look like, but this is not the time to spectate. This is the time to enter in. There was a heavy anointing for healing as almost every person rushed to the front. Many were slain in the Spirit and many cried out in travail. The spirit of revival began to break out. The Lord told me that He is releasing a new anointing for this season, but we have to learn to be sensitive to the Spirit of God. The Lord will pass by those who won’t humble themselves to enter in. The days of pride and the carnal mind are over. It’s time to enter in to the Spirit of Yah. As the presence intensified, some were crying, some were repenting, some were soaking in the presen
Read more

The Torah

Image
We have been taught that the final harvest has to do with people, but the Early Church taught that the harvest is actually the fruit in our lives. Understanding what that fruit is and how it is produced by the Torah is the foundation for the final move of God. The Early Church’s understanding of fruit goes against modern day church’s theology. For one, most churches have thrown out the Torah, and instead teach that Jesus did it all at the cross. Fourth century Early Church Father, Eusebius, speaks about those who have done away with the Torah:   “ Some of the heretics simply deny the Law and the Prophets for the sake of their own doctrine . And under the pretense of grace , they have sunk down to the lowest abyss of perdition .”   This proves that the message, “We’re not under the law - we’re under grace” was not part of the Christian faith and was not believed by the Early Church - it is heresy. That is why I thank God for getting me out of that belief system that would’ve taken me st
Read more

The Time is Now

Image
The Time is Now The atmosphere is charged with warfare right now and we should be feeling it in the Spirit. While one party is pushing socialism and communism, the true patriots are standing up to fight. As the body of Christ, we should be all the more prepared and determined to come against these opposing forces with everything we have. We need to remember that our lives are not our own. In the Early Church, those who renounced Christ so that their lives would be spared were not welcomed back. The Lord is looking for those who are prepared to battle no matter the cost. When Elijah met with the prophets of Baal it became a battle for the nation: God’s true prophet facing the false prophets within the corrupt system. Today’s mainstream media have become those false messengers; they’re the prophets of Baal who have an agenda that only exalts the message of Jezebel. It’s a deadly mixture of governmental intimidation and false religion. This false seed is what births the one world governm
Read more