THE ENDUEMENT OF POEWR ON THE EARLY CHURCH

THE ENDUEMENT OF POWER ON THE EARLY CHURCH: In The New Testament Church, it was the exception rather than the rule to have any believer who had not received the infilling of the Holy Spirit with the supernatural sign of speaking in other tongues. The apostles recognized the necessity of the indwelling Spirit of God, and they stressed this in their teachings to new converts. In this dispensation this body of believers are no different from the Early Church, we are one and the same Church. (Acts 8:14-15). "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, pray for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost." (Acts 9:17). "And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 19:1-2). "And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed ? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." Certainly the Church today is no less in need of this endowment of power ! The apostle Paul said, "Know you're not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you ?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). The amplified version of this verse reads, "Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God's temple (His sanctuary), and that God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you -- to be at home in you [collectively as a church and also individually] ?" We are the temple of God. Not the building that is made by man's hands that you go to once a week or twice. God indwells us not only as a Body, but as individuals. That's why you should be conscious of what you are putting in your body ! Or what is coming out of your mouth ! Notice the expression, "to be at home in you." God is actually making His home in our bodies ! No longer does He dwell in a man-made Holy of Holies, as in Old Testament times. In those times, it was required that every Jewish male present himself before the Lord at least once a year in Jerusalem. The men had to travel to Jerusalem, because The Presence of God Was Only in the Holy of Holies. No one except the High Priest dared approach the holy presence, and he only with great precautions. Anyone else who intruded into the holy place failed dead instantly. But now all this has been done away with, and we may ". . . Come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).