Remembering the apostle's doctrine

When I read the Oneness, Holy Ghost, Baptism in Jesus Name doctrine; I get excited all over again.  No matter how many times I hear it preached...it is just as exciting to me as if it was the first time I received the reveleation.  It is so important that we recieve the revelation for ourselves and not just because its what momma and daddy lived.  I did that for a good part of my life.  My dad has always been in apostolic ministry my entire life.  It was easy for me to see the doctrine thru my paents. 

It wasn't until I was 18/19 years old that I recieved the revelation for myself.  And, when I did, I fell in love with it!  Not just knowing it, but believing it and applying it to my ministry.  I heard it preached every Sunday, every Thursday and at home all the time.  It was "cool"...it was real, but I didn't have it in my system for me. 

I learned Acts 2:38 in Sunday School.  I learned Acts 2:1-4 in Sunday School.  But, I didn't really understand what it meant to me until I studied it for myself and saw it for myself.  I'll tell you what challenged me: there was a young man named Doug that started coming to our church when I was 18.  He didn't know much at all about the Bible and especially the apostolic doctrine.  So, it was my task and previlege to teach him a bible study.  It wasn't long before Doug started asking me questions I didn't know the answer to.  Answers I should have and could have known if I would have studied throughout my earlier teen years. 

This was my turning point.  I wasn't going to allow a new-convert out do me with the doctrine.  I give credit to God and Doug for this challenge.  I needed it!  It was at this point I fell in love with the apostolic doctrine.  It became real to me, because I studied it, memorized it and applied it.

I know people my age today that don't know the doctrine because they only lived on what momma and daddy showed them.  Ok...thats alright when your 11, but as you enter into your teen years, you need to know the apostolic doctrine for yourself.  LEARN IT!  WRITE IT DOWN!!  GET IT IN YOUR MIND AND HEART!!  LIVE IT!!  It is so crucial that we establish our foundation, because, let me tell, our world it about to be rocked.  If the foundation isn't strong, we will crumble. 

I challenge you today, as a Youth Worker; learn the doctrine and not only teach it to your youth, but live it in front of them.  I challenge you today, as a young person; get it for yourself.  Get excited about it when you hear it mentioned.  As I continue this thought in the next few posts, I will share some specific scriptures and ideas of what the apostles doctrine really is and what it means to us today. 

May God bless you!!  Let us "...continue in the apostle's doctrine..."