While Acts 1:8 was spoken to the Apostles whom the Lord had chosen, it is true that every member of the Body of Christ, of God's Israel, of the royal priesthood, is to reveal in himself or herself the Personality and will of the Lord God of Heaven.

Evangelizing is successful when the Gospel has been brought to someone whom God has ordained to eternal life and he or she repents and receives Christ. Witnessing is successful when the Person, will, way, and eternal purpose have been portrayed clearly, whether or not the witness is received.

The result of attempting to minister apart from the guidance of the Lord is that today numerous churchgoers have never really met the Lord. If the demands of discipleship were presented to them they would flee from the Gospel of the Kingdom. Many ministers, realizing that if they present the demands of discipleship they will lose most of their members, soothe their congregations with flattery and platitudes. The preacher may speak of living a righteous life, of presenting our body as a living sacrifice, of laying down our life, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. But he understands and the congregation understands that these are things that are said in church but no one is actually going to do them.

Such churches are worthless. They are not being built by Christ. Both the minister and his congregation accept the fact that the people have no intention of offering their body to God as a living sacrifice. The game goes on!

Intense persecution is ahead for the Christian churches in the Western world. The true members of the royal priesthood, the elect of God who were predestined from the beginning of the world, will stand true to the Lord Jesus. They will be refined until they are a bride without blemish.

The great majority of "believers" will grow cold. They never have been ordained to the royal priesthood. They were brought into Christianity by the devices of the Christian "ministry." They do not know the Lord. They are not His sheep. They are churchgoers now, but in the time of persecution they will compromise with the authorities until the Holy Spirit leaves them completely. They are members of Babylon, not of the royal priesthood.

However, it always remains true that any person at any time can choose to serve the Lord. Any "vessel unto dishonor" can become a "vessel unto honor" by turning away from sin and following the Lord Jesus. No person will be able to say to the Lord, I truly wanted you but you did not want me. Whenever someone seeks the Lord with all his heart the Lord will be found!

Back now to the Book of Hebrews.

To be continued.