I have read thread titles on online Christian threads that begin like this… “How to beat the boredom in heaven…” Started apparently by a young person who have deduced that since his church is boring, heaven must be boring.

In my younger days as a Christian nothing about the Pentecostal Holiness church I belonged to was “boring.” Our pastor started out as an evangelist and then accepted the pastorate at our church. We went to church Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday night, and Saturday night prayer service. We also had an active young persons ministry who would take us places. We also had many revivals during the year. When the evangelist came to preach they all had remarkable testimonies. It was also exciting to hear the testimonies of those in attendance on what was happening in their own life.

Fearing that this type of revival was coming to an end. And fearing likewise we were going to follow the same paths as the Methodist 100 years before us, I created a web site called youtube.com/rockytopva as a forward pass to the next generation. In hopes they would enjoy the type revivals I was used to growing up. At the time of this posting this website is at 4,001,315 views. I do not promote any kind of denomination, only the kind of exciting services I was use to coming up. The closest thing to this type revival was the Asbury Revival a couple of years back.

I had dreams the whole time I was sleeping about being in those type revivals. I had in my hand revivals identified in their Latin names. And feeling the second revival was the one I had experienced. The evangelists impressed me with their earnestness and there were many amens to it in the audience. I do not remember their text, but those were typical revival sermons, full of unction and power. While preaching an evangelist snatched the paperwork out of my hand and began to preach over it. And began to identify the churches I had written down in Latin. I was going to speak up and say something but the choir kicked in and with it appropriate praise and worship music. The feeling was that these people really had it together worship wise.

I then woke up feeling… Wow! What a wonderful dream! And that… Even though I was not going to get any credit for it…. The material I posted on the youtube.com/rockytopva site was going to be used well by others.

Acts 13:24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
(MY NOTE: John the Baptist is sent to preach, the ""Baptism of Repentance"" to All the People of ISRAEL.)

Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on the One that would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
(MY NOTE: John the Baptist preached, the ""Baptism of Repentance"" to ISREAL. John's foretold mission (Isa 40:3, Matt 3:3, Mk 1:3, Lk 3:4.) was to: "Prepare the way for the coming LORD". John proclaimed: believe on him which should come after John, that is, on Christ Jesus. Through whom remission/pardon of sin would be realized.)

Water baptism a commandment given by Jesus, Peter & others.

Emblem definition: a symbolic representation of a particular quality or concept.

Water baptism isn't the first breath of one's new spiritual life/birth. Water baptism is an outward Emblem/symbolic representation. A public statement, of belonging to the Lord & self denial. When immersed (buried emblem) & rise up (resurrection emblem). Water baptism isn't about getting saved, it's a response to salvation.

You're publicly partaking in a commanded act of obedience/a gateway to discipleship. This undertaking is an outward physical expression, of the inner spiritual transformation activated, when Christ baptized you with His eternal life giving Holy Spirit.

Jesus also commanded partaking in communion. Although both these actions are commanded acts of obedience. Neither action is the doorway leading to eternal salvation. These events follow the salvation sealing Holy Spirit baptism, performed by Christ alone. See Matt 3:11, Lk 3:16, Mk 1:8, Jn 1:33, Acts 1:4-5, 2:38, 10:45, 11:16)

Jn 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
(MY NOTE: It's Jesus Holy Spirit that gives born again spiritual life. Not any physical act one does)

1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
(MY NOTE: For by "ONE SPIRIT" "ALL ARE" "BAPTIZED" "INTO ONE BODY! Translators capitalized Spirit to identify when referring the Holy Spirit. Only Christ can baptize with HIS salvation sealing forever indwelling Holy Spirit.)

Spiritual baptism is the event where, through repentance = changing one's mind from UNBELIEF to BELIEF/FAITH: Placed in Jesus sacrificial sin atoning death & resurrection. The believer is FOREVER (Jn 14:16) indwelt/BAPTIZED via Christ's salvation SEALNG (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5, 2 Tim 1:14), eternal life giving (Jn 10:28) Holy Spirit!

BTW: The Holy Spirit is a GIFT (Acts 2:38 & 10:45, 11:16&17) A gift is given & NOT earned. Also see Rom 11:29.

Spiritual baptism doesn't require any hands or H2O.

Col 2:11 In whom also ""ye are circumcised with the circumcision"" ""made without hands"", in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh ""by the circumcision of Christ""
(MY NOTE: The baptism of the ETERNALLY SEALING (2 Cor 1:22, 5:5, Eph 4:4) FOREVER INDWELLING (Jn14:16) Holy Spirit is a ""Spiritual Circumcision Covenant"" done ""by Christ Alone"", WITHOUT HANDS & WITHOUT WATER.)

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
(MY NOTE: Circumcision of the heart, in the spirit)

Deut 30:6 (A) the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart,

Col 2:
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
(MY NOTE: ""IN Him"". Find Spiritual connections Jn 17:20,21,22,23.)

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
(MY NOTE: KJV Dictionary Definition: Complete, 1.) Having no deficiency; perfect. And ye are complete in him who is the head of all principality and power. Col 2:10. The believer is made complete/perfect, by Faith ""IN Him"")

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
(MY NOTE: OT circumcision covenant was a physical sign of belonging to God's chosen covenant people. Spiritual circumcision covenant is divine, ""made without hands"", internal "IN YOU/IN HIM" & transformative. This ""spiritual circumcision"" is performed by Christ alone. A covenantal break from the old order sin's nature & it's success enabled by Christ' Holy Spirit now dwelling "IN YOU"!)

SEALED
2 Tim 1:14 The Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you
(MY NOTE: The Holy Spirit dwelling within us > PRESENT TENSE. Is God's good deposit/down payment)

2 Cor 5:5 God, who also hath given unto us the "earnest" of the Spirit
(MY NOTE: God has > PAST TENSE, given us the earnest/Holy Spirit/a down payment/pledge DONE DEAL)

2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also "sealed us" & "given the earnest" of the Holy Spirit in our hearts
(MY NOTE: God has given the believer > PAST TENSE/DONE DEAL. The EARNEST = DEPOSIT/PLEDGE/PROMISE/SEAL)

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(MY NOTE: The gospel/good news of your salvation: you believed & were > PAST TENSE SEALED/DONE DEAL! With/by God's salvation sealing Holy Spirit promise)

Eph1:14 Which is the "earnest" of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession
(MY NOTE: The Holy Spirit by which only Christ baptizes. SEALS & FOREVER [Jn 14:16] indwells us. Is God's earnest = a down payment/pledge)

Eph 4:30 grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are "sealed" unto the day of redemption
(MY NOTE: Believers are SEALED until their next unrepentant sin? NO! SEALED until the day they receive their heavenly body. Christ's indwelling Holy Spirit, is Christ's pledge/promise that he will come for every believer. Jews received this "Promise" at the Acts 2 Pentecost, gentiles at Acts 10 Cornelius. And now any/every Jew of gentile that repents (from unbelief to belief) in Christ' death & resurrection. Is given/receives "IS SEALED" with the salvation sealing H/S. Promise)

Additional recourses:
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words: Salvation
[ A-1,Noun,G4991, soteria ]
(b) of the spiritual and eternal deliverance granted immediately by God to those who accept His conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, in whom alone it is to be obtained, Acts 4:12, and upon confession of Him as Lord, Romans 10:10; for this purpose the gospel is the saving instrument, Romans 1:16; Ephesians 1:13 (See further under SAVE);
Salvation - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

(MY NOTE: "ETERNAL DELIVERANCE GRANTED IMMEDIATELY" by God. To those who accept His conditions of repentance (from unbelief to belief) & faith in the Lord Jesus death & resurrection)

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words: Seal - (Noun and Verb)
[ B-1,Verb,G4972, sphragizo ]
(d) ownership and security, together with destination, Revelation 7:3-Revelation 7:5 (as with the noun in Revelation 7:2; See A); the same three indications are conveyed in Ephesians 1:13, in the metaphor of the "sealing" of believers by the gift of the Holy Spirit, upon believing (i.e., at the time of their regeneration, not after a lapse of time in their spiritual life, "having also believed," not as AV, "after that ye believed;" the aorist participle marks the definiteness and completeness of the act of faith); the idea of destination is stressed by the phrase "the Holy Spirit of promise" (See also Ephesians 1:14); so Ephesians 4:30, "ye were sealed unto the day of redemption;" so in 2 Corinthians 1:22, where the Middle Voice intimates the special interest of the Sealer in His act;
Seal (Noun and Verb) - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

(NY NOTE: The SEAL is a promise/sign/seal of Ownership & Security. Conveyed in Eph 1:13, in the metaphor of the "SEALING" of believer, by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Action upon believing/at the time of their regeneration, NOT after a lapse of time in their spiritual life)

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words: EARNEST -
(Noun) [ 1,,G728, arrabon ]
originally, earnest-money" deposited by the purchaser and forfeited if the purchase was not completed, was probably a Phoenician word, introduced into Greece. In general usage it came to denote "a pledge" or "earnest" of any sort; in the NT it is used only of that which is assured by God to believers; it is said of the Holy Spirit as the Divine "pledge" of all their future blessedness, 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; in Ephesians 1:14, particularly of their eternal inheritance. In the Sept., Genesis 38:17-Genesis 38:18, Genesis 38:20. In modern Greek arrabona is an "engagement ring."
Earnest (Noun) - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

(MY NOTE: Denotes "a pledge or deposit by the purchaser". Christ/God the Son is the church purchaser (1 Cor 7:23, 2 pet 2:1, Mat 20:28, Mar 10:45, 1 Tim 2:6). Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. In modern Greek arrabona is an "ENGAGEMENT RING". The Holy Spirit deposited in-us 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5, Eph 1:14 is an "ENGAGEMENT RING".)

During Jesus time an engagement/BETROTHAL was a legally binding contract. Marking the start of the marriage covenant. To show commitment the groom paid a bride price (Mohar). Jesus/our Bridegroom paid the ultimate price (1 Cor 6:20, 7:23, Acts 20:28, Eph 1:14). Hallelujah, praise the Lord, thank you Jesus. AMEN & Amen.