It is expressed clearly from reading Genesis to Deuteronomy that a physical race of people was chosen and separated from other races to be God's people. All twelve tribes of Israel now would be God's precipitants of blessings if they would obey His laws, statutes and judgments. History has revealed they failed!! Because of their failure to keep God's commandments, statutes and judgments, God through Christ sacrifice and resurrection, has now established a spiritual nation of Israel.

The writings in Acts powerfully defends the faith that is needed to be in God's kingdom. Luke in Acts 2, writes of the disciples and apostles that received God's Holy Spirit on the day promised, Pentecost! "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, behold, are not all these which speak Galilaean? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" (Acts 2:1-8). In these scriptures God shows that we can speak and hear in our own language. We do not have to speak Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic to be accepted by God the Father or His Son, Jesus Christ. "And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, what meaneth this? Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, you men of Judaea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: for these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My spirit; and they shall prophesy" (Acts 2:12-18).

The New Testament Church of God is now spiritual Israel! No longer physical Israel! To receive God's Holy Spirit [which Pentecost pictures] one must be called, repent of his past sins and be baptized and have hands laid on him or her to receive God's Holy Spirit. That does not mean you are now spirit and can walk thru doors or walls, but it does give you an expanded physical responsibility. Once we have been given God's Holy Spirit, the fruits of God's Holy Spirit are to be practiced.

Quoting a short railroad story helps make a point on the importance of fulfilling our physical dedicated responsibilities after receiving God's Holy Spirit. "Several years ago on an extremely hot day, a crew of men were working on the road bed of the railroad when they were interrupted by a slow moving train. The train ground to a stop and a window in the last car---which incidentally was custom made and air conditioned was raised. A booming, friendly voice called out, "Dave, is that you?" Dave Anderson, the crew chief called back, "sure is, Jim, and it's really good to see you." With that pleasant exchange, Dave Anderson was invited to join Jim Murphy, the president of the railroad, for a visit. For over an hour the men exchanged pleasantries and then shook hand warmly as the train pulled out. Dave Anderson's crew immediately surrounded him and to a man, expressed astonishment that he knew Jim Murphy, the president of the Railroad as a personal friend. Dave then explained that over 20 years earlier he and Jim Murphy had started to work for the Railroad on the same day. One of the men half jokingly and half seriously asked Dave why he was still working out in the hot sun and Jim Murphy had gotten to be president. Rather wistfully Dave explained, "twenty-three years ago I went to work for $ 1.75 an hour and Jim Murphy went to work for the railroad." ("See You At the Top" by Zig Ziglar, pg.205-206).

Zig Ziglar continues to say, "In America today, there are thousands of schools that will teach you how to do everything from trimming toes nails and operating Heavy Equipment, to removing tonsils and curling hair. However, there is not a single city or county school in existence that will teach you how to be any better than mediocre unless you have the right ambition and drive. This is one thing about which most agree, whether they are doctors, lawyers, teachers, sales people, parents, kids, democrats, republicans, coaches, athletes or ministers. They all share the opinion that ambition and drive as one undertake a project, is the dominate factor in its success. In short, ambition and drive is more important than ones aptitude." Dave Anderson had no vision, zeal, ambition or drive. His goal was to think only of himself. He had only his own pleasure and time at heart, along with his pay check. Jim Murphy on the other hand had vision, zeal, ambition and drive. His goal was to give it his all. Jim, wanting to help the company be a success by making the company be a high priority in his life.

Looking at that story spiritually, Dave Anderson was satisfied with showing up and just sitting in Church warming a chair. Jim Murphy's attitude was asking, Where can I help and serve others ? He made himself be involved and available unselfishly. Jim Murphy recognized, where there is no vision, no zeal, ambition or drive, he would stagnate, become complacent and lazy. The Railroad Company became a part of his life, just as the Church of God should be a major part of our life. Paul sharing his thoughts with the Church of God in Cornith said, "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Cor. 9:19, 23-27).

Paul knew being a servant of God, must be a fight to the finish, no matter what the cost. This is a lesson we all must learn if we desire to be accepted as a citizen in the kingdom of God. We must understand with the utmost, exhaustive clarity, "Religion is THE way of life!" Way, being a Road; Route; Highway or a Path to be traveled. "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life" (Prov. 6:23). "The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell [sheol] beneath" (Prov. 15:24). What did Jesus Christ say to Satan after His 40 day and night fast? "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4 and Deu 8:3).

This is a clear warning against any and every kind of association with un-believers that would place a Christian, one with God's Holy Spirit, in a situation where they would find it difficult or impossible to avoid compromising principles. This includes the marriage relationship, but is by no means restricted to it. It includes being in a business partnership with one that is still in the world [one that has not been called]. A Christian having God's Holy Spirit cannot afford to enter into any connection with the World that calls for compromise.

Religions is not a suggestion! It is the expression of our belief in a new way of life!! "Whatsoever your hands find to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, where you goest" (Ecc. 9:10) Religion is the way of life. Our conduct reveals our way of life. Some have had to give up their career to make religion the way of life for them. Its not an easy way of life. We are told in Matthew, "Few there will be that find it." "Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:13-14). Psalms one, give us more insight and knowledge of the few that find the way. "Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the Way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish" (Psa. 1:1-6).

"But They Were So Little" is a story to illustrate a point. It goes like this: "On the western slopes of the rocky mountains, a giant sequoia lies rotting. It was a growing sapling when Christ walked the shores of the Sea of Galilee. When Columbus discovered America, it was reaching maturity and it looked down from lofty heights during the American Civil War. It withstood the ravages of fires, floods, storms and droughts. It seemed destined to live many more centuries. Then, a few years ago, a Tiny beetle started to burrow into its bark and lay the eggs that would produce other beetles. It seemed like an unequal battle at first, but the few beetles multiplied into hundreds, then into thousands and finally into millions. First they attacked the bark, then they worked deeper and deeper into the trunk, and finally, they were eating at the very heart and strength of that magnificent forest giant. Then one day, after withstanding the elements for centuries, the rains came, the winds blew, the lightening flashed and the giant sequoia fell. Not because of the elements. It fell because of the weakening effect of those tiny beetles. Bad habits do the same to people. They slowly take a toll until the day comes when the man like the trees, falls!" ("See You At the Top" by Zig Ziglar, pg. 276).

If it weren't for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His sending from the Father the Holy Spirit to help us, giving us the advantage over our weak areas of the flesh [which Satan is continually looking for] we would have no hope of overcoming sin by our own power. In the gospel of John, Christ promises us the Holy Spirit, if we ask. "And whatsoever you shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that it may abide with you for ever; even the spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees it not, neither knows it: but you know it; For it dwells with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John 14:13-18).

The Apostle Paul writes a warning of failure that could occur after having received God's Holy Spirit. "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame. For the earth which drinks in the rain that cometh often upon it, and brings forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receives blessing from God: but that which bears thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which you have showed toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Heb 6:4-12). These verses teaches us a vitally important message. That man is not at liberty to select from God's word portions that appeal to him and reject other portions. God's word provides a spiritual balanced diet for all mankind. To understand this we need to have God's Holy Spirit.

The third step, Pentecost [just past] pictures His spiritually called, receiving His Holy Spirit! Having God's Holy Spirit separates us from this world, but does not take us out from the world. "Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And whither I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither You go; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:1-6). The unfolding plan of salvation and the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was a very important step in helping us to make religion the way of life. It is encouraging to read when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were All with one accord in one place. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:1-4).