Prepare for the Holy Spirit by changing relationships.

Acts 1:20-22

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” Acts 1:20-22

Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ with a kiss and he symbolizes everyone who betrays Jesus with an atheist’s version of kindness, goodwill, and love. Peter quotes from Psalms 69, “Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents. For they persecute the ones You have struck, and talk of the grief of those You have wounded.” Psalms 69:25-26 They are desolate of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their life as they persecute the wounded, maliciously speak of the grief of others, and are unmerciful towards the vulnerable and sheep of this world. Peter continues by quoting from Psalms 109, “Let his days be few and let another take his office.” Psalms 109:8

Our born-again testimony is one of changing our lifestyle and previous way of living after saying “Yes!” to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Part of that life-changing experience is to separate ourselves from those who are hostile towards belief in God, who scoff at the need for the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, and fight against the presence of the Holy Spirit. We seek for others to set in the place of worldly so-called “friends”. The Holy Spirit comes to us as we separate from friendship with this world, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4

As followers of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to us as we put away the enemies of Christ from our friendship circle. Our friends must be those who are among the family of Jesus Christ, in cities around the world, where Jesus walks among us through the Holy Spirit. These are friends who are baptized in the Spirit of Christ and are a witness to the resurrection of Jesus living in us through our born-again experience [which is the Gospel of Jesus written on our heart].

Peter and the other Apostles had to choose someone to be the twelfth Apostle to replace Judas Iscariot. Peter gave a clear description of the qualifications of an Apostle, 1] Someone who was among the other 11 Apostles when our Lord Jesus Christ walked among them. 2] Someone who was with the other 11 Apostles from the baptism of John to the day of the ascension of Jesus Christ. 3] Someone who was able to be a witness with the other 11 Apostles of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Remember, Jesus walked on this earth for 40 days after His resurrection, showing Himself to many. The chosen Apostle would have to be willing to speak of the resurrection of Christ Jesus, in face of persecution, imprisonment, and even death.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1