Sunday morning we were blessed to hear Bro. Gregg teach us about "confirmation". It was an eye-opening moment for us about how the Word of God confirms so many things that we are still wanting to "hear" God tell us in confirmation. But, how will we know this if we don't study the Word of God??? When God says "no" in scripture - then there's no sense in keeping on asking Him to give you a "yes".
After church, my daughter and I were blessed to have the opportunity to be schooled by a young man who has grown in the Grace of God very quickly, and who showed us verses to prove the importance of baptism - the necessity of baptism in Jesus Name as the scriptures require.
This young man, Murray, took us first to Acts 8:26-40 and showed us how when the Eunuch heard the Gospel of the Kingdom from Phillip, his first reply was "what hinders me from being baptized?" That's how important it was to the Eunuch to be baptized in Jesus Name - He couldn't wait. Phillip baptized him, then was translated away back to where he was when God took him out into the desert to bring that Eunuch into the Kingdom.
I've long loved that story, especially since the Eunuch was reading the book of Isaiah - and, Phillip started right where he was in Isaiah and PREACHED UNTO HIM JESUS......proving for me once and for all time that Jesus is God and that was Jesus speaking in Isaiah when he said ( Isaiah 50:5-7 (King James Version)
5The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
6I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
7For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed) When I first heard this verse I rejoiced, because I was in a church that preached from the pulpit on down that men with beards would go to hell.....and this verse clearly stated that Jesus had enough hair on His own face that they plucked it out....
As I've come along the Road to Truth, I've come through many bogs and swampy areas - but God's Word has always been faithful to guide me through all of that and keep me hungry for more Truth.
Back in 1987 in Miami, Florida, I heard the Gospel of Christ Jesus preached by a young pastor named Clarence Harris - and I studied the Word with he and his wife Althea. When I realized the Acts 2:38 formula was what Jesus gave the Apostles and what was honored throughout the entire New Testament, I was re-baptized in Jesus Name. Not too long after that I received the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. I had a 5-pack-a-day cigarette habit at that time, and when I realized that it was hindering me from praying, I asked for prayer. They prayed for me in Jesus Name, and my habit was gone. Even after that, I backslid and was caught in that backsliding when Hurricane Andrew came and took our home...and we had to take what we could in a duffle bag, and get on a bus, and go to Fort Worth, Texas, where my oldest son was in the Air Force.
I tried to pray, but my prayers hit the ceiling and fell down on me again.....and, I was alone with the misery of having lost our home, having to travel half-way across the U.S. to live with the help of the Red Cross and other charities until we could get jobs and begin to take up our own expenses. God never forsook me, but God did not let me get up until I had repented and started to walk towards Him again. Also, God did not allow me to just coast back in and slide into position - He caused me to have to read His Word and consider my ways against what He commanded. My hearts desire was to get back to my pastor and his wife where I could continue learning Truth without any frills or additions or subtractions......because whichever church we went to where we had come to Fort Worth, Texas , we got those frills, additions and subtractions.....the Word AND......the Word BUT.....when all I wanted was THE WORD.
It took 11 years, but God finally allowed me to come back to my base - and here I am growing again, and learning daily to trust in God for everything.
I followed God's commandment on baptism - He kept His promise with me. Each day He confirms through His Word that when I obey Him, He keeps His promises towards me.......what more could I want?