What have you produced?

[Semachiah]

Shalom,Scripture references are from,the SET (Stone Edition Tanach) or the CJB (Complete Jewish Bible) for the OTand the PNT (Power New Testament) for the NT unless otherwise specified.Acts 18:24. And a certain Jewish man, named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, a learned man who was strong in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25. He was teaching the Way of the Lord and being fervent in the spirit. He was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John: 26. and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. And when they heard him Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and carefully explained the Way of God to him. 27. And when he desired to go to Achia, after the brothers encouraged him they wrote to the disciples to accept him, and when he arrived he helped many of those who, through grace, had believed: 28. for he was refuting vigorously with the Jewish people, publicly demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. 19.1. And it happened while Apollos was in Corinth, after Paul went through the interior parts he went down to Ephesus and found some disciples, 2. and he asked them, “Did you take the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “But in fact we did not hear whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3. So he said, “Then in what name were you baptized?” And they said, “In John’s baptism.” 4. Then Paul said, “John did baptize a baptism of repentance to the people, saying that they should believe in the One Who was coming after him, that is in Jesus.” 5. And when they heard they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, 6. and when Paul laid his hands upon them the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they were speaking in tongues and they were prophesying. 7. And there were about twelve men. 19:8. And going into the synagogue he was speaking boldly for three months discussing and persuading the things about the kingdom of God. 9. But as some were hardening and disobeying, speaking evil of the Way in the presence of the throng, when he left from them he took the disciples, discussing daily in the yeshiva of Turannus. 10. This went on for two years, so that all those who were living in Asia, both Jewish and Greek, heard the message of the Lord.Curious little section of Scripture. We start with Apollos, a man "preaching" the things of Y'SHUA even though he "knew" only the baptism of John.cts 18:24. And a certain Jewish man, named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, a learned man who was strong in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25. He was teaching the Way of the Lord and being fervent in the spirit. He was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John: To "know" something in this manner is to have been baptized only into repentance. We MUST take note of this however! There is doctrinal teaching that states that one MUST be baptized in the name of JESUS to be Born Again. The first problem with that statement is that "JESUS" was not His name, Y'SHUA was and even if you were in another country they would try to pronounce your name your way if possible. Therefore we are much more accurate when we use the name of Y'SHUA. The other side of this coin is that since JESUS is the more well known name of Y'SHUA in English speaking countries that for us to be the most effective witnesses for Him it is better for us to use the name JESUS. Therefore in reality, it's NOT the name that we use that matters but the SPIRITual intent, the actual SPIRIT behind whatever we use.The second argument against the "MUST" is that nowhere does it state above that Apollos was then baptized in any other or different way. It does not also state that he then received The HOLY SPIRIT with evidence of anything, let alone speaking in tongues and yet it does state that then he is sent to teach others!Acts 18:25 He was teaching the Way of the Lord and being fervent in the spirit. He was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John: 26. and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. And when they heard him Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and carefully explained the Way of God to him. 27. And when he desired to go to Achia, after the brothers encouraged him they wrote to the disciples to accept him, and when he arrived he helped many of those who, through grace, had believed: Although he was teaching Y'SHUA to anyone who would listen Priscilla and Aquila apparently found some areas where he needed correction or further instruction, possibly further development in his message and they took him aside and espoused these teachings to him.It does not state or imply that they then baptized him "in the name of Y'SHUA". It does not state that he received The HOLY GHOST.Thus the "MUST", must not have been all that important to the early church!Acts 18:25. He was teaching the Way of the Lord and being fervent in the spirit. He was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John: What was important?He was accurate in his teaching. He was teaching Y'SHUA. He was "fervent" in the SPIRIT.Basically YHVH had accepted and was working through Apollos because Apollos had laid himself down for YHVH through the life and teachings of Y'SHUA that he had learned. He had died to his "SELF." He was not seeking to preserve himself. He was not seeking to make a name or position for himself. He was simply trying to bring others to the knowledge of Y'SHUA and HIM crucified (1 Cor 2;2).He was passionate, or sold out completely to teaching the MESSIAHship of Y'SHUA...Acts 18:28. for he was refuting vigorously with the Jewish people, publicly demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.Are you?What have you done with your beliefs?Do you really take Y'SHUA with you everywhere?Who can tell?Do you really study The Scriptures vigorously enough to teach the MESSIAHship of Y'SHUA or do you know only your assemblies doctrines, the "traditions" and teaching of men (Mk 7:13)?If YHVH were still writing what we call The Bible would you, your life be included as was Apollos?Would others of "The Way" (what the early "church" was known as and not to be confused with the 60's cult) send you to reach out to others?Would YHVH want you to represent HIM?Eph 4:11. And He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12. for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of the Messiah,Would YHVH use you?Are you equipped?2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJVHave YOU done what it takes to receive the approval of YHVH or have you simply depended upon others to spoon feed you your beliefs? Apparently Apollos did!Acts 19:4. Then Paul said, “John did baptize a baptism of repentance to the people, saying that they should believe in the One Who was coming after him, that is in Jesus.” 5. And when they heard they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, 6. and when Paul laid his hands upon them the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they were speaking in tongues and they were prophesying. 7. And there were about twelve men.This is where some fellowships come up with the doctrine that one "MUST" be baptized in "the name of JESUS" and one "MUST" speak in tongues in order to be Born Again. Let me ask you, "Where does it say that?"What has happened is that these fellowships have 'inferred' this doctrine from this segment of The Scriptures. However what is 'implied' here is that there is still a higher level of commitment to YHVH through Y'SHUA which YHVH honors by the giftings/manifestations of The HOLY SPIRIT. Why do some receive these giftings and others do not?Mat 7.1. “Do not judge, so that you would not be judged:Some things are simply at YHVH's discretion. HE knows what you can handle properly and when.1 Cor 12:11. but the one and the same Spirit operates all these things, distributing His own gifts to each, just as He wishes. 12:12. For just as the body is one but has many parts, and all the parts of the body, although there are many, are one body, so also the Messiah: 13. for we also were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jewish or Greeks or slaves or free, and we all were given one Spirit to drink. 14. Now also the body is not one part but many. 15. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” is it not in spite of this still part of the body? 16. And if the ear would say, “I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it not of the body in spite of this statement? 17. If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If the whole body were a sense of hearing, how could it smell? 18. But now God placed the parts, each one of them in the body just as He wished. 19. But if all were one part, how could there be a body? 20. And now indeed there are many parts, but one body. 21. The eye is not able to say to the hand, “I do not need you,” or again the head to the feet, “I do not need you:” 22. but much more the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary, 23. and what we think to be insignificant of the body, to these we grant greater honor, and our unseemly parts have greater modesty, 24. but our presentable parts do not have need of modesty. But God united the body, when He gave greater honor to the inferior, 25. so that there would not be division in the body but the parts would have the same care on behalf of one another. 26. Then when one member suffers, all the members suffer together: when one member is glorified, all the members rejoice together. 12:27. And you are the body of Messiah and members individually. 28. Now God indeed placed them in the congregation. First He placed apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues. 29. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracles? 30. Are all having gifts of healings? Are all speaking in tongues? Are all translating? 31. Then you must continually strive for the better gifts.There is a phrase that the US military often uses which states, "Ours is not to reason why? Ours is but to do and die!"We have been called to serve in the Army of YHVH, in HIS military! We are called to serve in HIS war against terrorism that satan has instituted. Not everyone is a commander. Not everyone drives a HOLY tank. Not everyone soars with the eagles in a jet but we all serve in HIS military and we all seek promotions. We seek them not for ourselves but in order that we can used by HIM. HIS promotions come with a new rank, a new gifting. Seek HIS best! Seek HIS highest but understand that with new gifts come new more powerful demons as well that are assigned just for or to the purpose of taking such as yourself out of the battle!Acts 19:8. And going into the synagogue he was speaking boldly for three months discussing and persuading the things about the kingdom of God. 9. But as some were hardening and disobeying, speaking evil of the Way in the presence of the throng, when he left from them he took the disciples, discussing daily in the yeshiva of Turannus. 10. This went on for two years, so that all those who were living in Asia, both Jewish and Greek, heard the message of the Lord.The war had begun!While Paul was teaching in the synagogue not everyone that was listening to him was a convert to CHRISTianity. Many would have still been devout Jews attempting to persuade the converts to come back to their belief system, to Judaism. It is possible and even probable that they had some measure of success in this. We often see in what calls itself CHRISTianity, this very same thing happening. Someone confronts you with a belief system in YHVH through The CHRIST that is different than what you believe and a battle ensues to win one to the other's position. I really don't think what we are seeing in Acts 19 is as some describe to be the first "church split". I see this as one of the first separations of Judaism from CHRISTianity. At this point CHRISTianity is starting to distinguish itself as a separate belief system and no longer should it be seen as a sect of Judaism.This is the beginning of...Rom 11:11. Therefore I say, did they stumble so they would fall forever? God forbid! But by their transgression the salvation for the heathens is to provoke them to jealousy. (Dt 32:21) 12. And if their transgression is riches for the world and their loss riches for heathens, how much more will their fulfillment be riches. 11:13. But I am speaking to you heathens: then as long as I am indeed an apostle for heathens, I honor my ministry, 14. if somehow I could provoke my flesh to jealousy and I could rescue some of them. 15. For if their rejection of Him means reconciliation of the world, what is their acceptance by God if not life out of death? 16. And if the first fruits is holy, the whole batch is also: and if the root is holy, the branches are also. 11:17. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, since you are a wild olive, were yourself grafted into them, then you would be a participant for yourself of the richness of the root of the olive tree. 18. Stop boasting of the branches: but, if you do boast, you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19. Therefore you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20. Just so: they were broken off by unbelief, but you have stood by faith. Do not be proud, but you must continually fear for yourself: 21. for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He in any way spare you. YHVH was separating CHRISTinaity in order to provoke the Jews into seeing what they were missing, a relationship with HIM rather than a religion. HE was cutting most of them out and grafting these New Believers (Rom 13:11), these "New Creatures" (2 Cor 5:17), these "Born Again Believers" (Jn 3:7, Rom 13:11) into HIS vine.BUT...Rom 11:20. Just so: they were broken off by unbelief, but you have stood by faith. Do not be proud, but you must continually fear for yourself: 21. for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He in any way spare you. BUT... it could still happen to you as well!Do not become one of the five foolish virgins (Mat 25:8) who is unprepared when Y'SHUA returns! If YHVH were still writing what we call The Bible would you, your life be included as was Apollos?Would YHVH want you to represent HIM?YHVH grafted new branches into the vine to bear fruit, to be productive. What have you produced?