The first phase in the life of a Christian begins when we “follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21) We do this by reading the Gospel narratives of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Matthew’s in particular because it has the full account of the Sermon on the Mount, which is the Magna Carta of the Christian Faith.
However, we should not live only in the Gospels (Phase One) but move on in our experience. The apostles moved on from Passover to Pentecost, not just to an event that took place fifty days later but from following his steps to walking in his shoes (Phase Two).
Evangelicals find this difficult — especially Baptists, mainly because they are fundamental in their belief that the Gospels not only contain the teachings of Jesus but also his example of how we can live for our Lord. Importantly, his witness to the truth and suffering — if necessary facing — death as he did. The Lord’s character and composure under Pontius Pilate’s questioning so impressed the Roman ruler that he declared him to be without fault and made a half-hearted attempt to prevent him from being crucified.
Yet neither can we remain in the Book of Acts, even though Jesus said that we would do the things he did. We began with Passover and the Lamb of God and while retaining our love for salvation through the blood of the Lamb moved on to Pentecost and the Dove of the Holy Spirit, along with the wind and the fire that accompanies the experience of receiving the Holy Spirit.
Baptists believe that God gives them the Spirit when they are saved but Pentecostals believe that Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to those who confess Jesus as their Lord. Not as a second experience but concurrently with the first one.
In Phase One, we follow the Lord’s steps; in Phase Two we walk in his shoes! Jesus said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He who believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12) Pentecostals love the Book of Acts!
“Walking in the Lord’s shoes” is wonderful! I have done so for 65 years, more so during my three decades of missions overseas. (Why that is so is covered in my free book “Faith: God’s Gift to the Heart.” Get it on: https://peterbarfootministry.com/books/book-3/
We enter Phase Three when we move on from the Gospels and the Book of Acts to the Epistles; from following the Lord’s steps and walking in his shoes to him walking in our shoes! Moving from the wonder of following Jesus, which the disciples did in the Gospels, to being filled with the Holy Spirit, which they received on the Day of Pentecost.
The Twelve were then “sent out” and so became apostles. But there was more! Through the Epistles of the Apostles, Christians learned how to experience the reality of Jesus ‘walking in their shoes’!
And so was fulfilled the promise: “I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:16) This ancient promise was fulfilled and has been in the history of the church, from the time of the first apostles until today. God’s desire is that all who believe in the Lord Jesus will move from Phase One and Phase Two to Phase Three, in which we are no longer following the Gospel narratives of Jesus or walking in the shoes of Jesus as he said we would, but by the awareness of the Lord who dwells in us by the Holy Spirit ‘walking in our shoes’.
Note: These three phases are different aspects in the development of every believer’s life. For example, the church at Thessalonica viewed the Apostle Paul and his fellow workers as models of Christ and the church reached into the nearby regions (1 Thessalonians 1:5-10). I am not suggesting that those in whose shoes the Lord “walks” are special and no longer need to spend time studying the Gospels or be less conscious of “walking in the Lord’s shoes” by doing the “works” that Jesus did. I waited years for the Lord to reveal Phase Three (as I call it). When he did, I felt like a miner who after following a promising seam of gold, finds the motherlode! I felt like shouting “Eureka!” Since then, the emphasis has changed from The Acts of the Apostles to The Epistles of Paul. For example, instead of asking the Lord in the morning where I should go and what I should do, I ask the Lord where he wishes to go and what he plans to do through me. I must add that more often than not I have no idea of these things, but I delight in being surprised along with everyone else in a meeting! God receives all the Glory!