the SPIRITUAL GIFTS of the HOLY SPIRIT

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murjahel

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THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES KEYS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK




Some of the bestowments that many think about, that God wants to give us, are the ‘keys’. Jesus said ‘I will give unto...’ and that offer of these ‘keys’ still is being offered and given. Yet, like many of the other ‘bestowments’ offered, there are some who do not even know what these bestowments are.

KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Matthew 16:18-19
“And I say also unto thee, that thou are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee, the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven...’



Keys are symbols of authority. Here they mean the authority and power to do the works of God. If we learn to loose and bind with the keys, we will see the miracles meant for the church to have.

The church has spent centuries distracted by the devils on those verses. While the church debated if Peter was a pope, if the keys were given him to pass down, etc., the devil has robbed us from the real meaning of those verses.

The name ‘Peter’ is from ‘petros’ meaning ‘a small stone.’ The ‘rock’ that Jesus spoke of was the ‘truth’ stated by Peter, that Jesus is the ‘Christ’. Upon that truth, the church is built. Peter is one of the small stones, that are built into the church. We, the saints, are all stones put into this building of the Lord.

The whole church is told:
“Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood...’


So, since that part of the debate is not to distract us from the truth of binding and loosing miraculously, let’s see what the ‘keys’ to those are.

The word ‘key’ is the Greek word ‘kleis’, and is an instrument used to shut or open a lock. In those times, it was usually wood with nails inserted upon it, so as to fit corresponding holes in the lock.

In the Bible it is used figuratively to describe official authority and power to lock and unlock miraculously. The authority and power to do miracles has long been desired in the church, but almost as much misunderstood or even ignored.

John 14:12 promised us ‘greater works’ than Christ did in His first coming. Mark 16:17 promised that ‘signs’ should follow us. Other verses in the Word of God promise us locking and unlocking power in the miraculous.

Isaiah 58:6-8
“...break every yoke... hide not thyself from thine own flesh... then... thine health shall spring forth speedily...”

To break and open the ‘yokes’ that have held us back, to have healing come speedily, we need the keys to unlock what has been shut from us.

Ones who have ‘keys’ will be given wisdom to bind and loose, lock and unlock, those things that are the will of God. Many have tried to unlock possession of mercedes, yachts, and mammon prosperity. Their goals were not spiritual but were carnal. When keys are given by the LORD, it is to those who will make the ‘whatsoever’ of the verse to be ‘whatsoever’ is of spiritual worth.

There are things the keys that the Lord gives to us, that we can LOOSE, i.e UNLOCK.


Firstly, we can loose (unlock) men from infirmities.

Luke 13:11-16 tells of a woman that was loosed by the Lord from a long enduring infirmity. In Mark 7:32-35, Jesus loosed persons from deaf and dumb. In Matthew 9:27-31, Jesus healed the blindness. In Matthew 8:1-4, we see that Jesus could loose from leprosy. We will, in this double portion of revival, walk into buildings where there is sickness of all kinds. We will stand there, and apply a key to loose sickness from those victims. Sometimes, oil may be applied, prayers may be made over various ones, but in this last revival of the church age, often, just the key being applied to that area, will show sicknesses disappear from many, in a moment. They will walk out of their hospital rooms, wondering what has happened. The gospel message of salvation will then be spoken, and many will come to Jesus.


Secondly, bonds can be loosed (unlocked).

Paul and Silas were loosed (Acts 16:26). Another time, Jesus was about to be seized by angry pharisees, but passed through their midst, unable to be stopped by those desiring to bind Him. Many try to interfere with the gospel spread. In the final double portion revival, the devil will put forth all efforts he can to stop the spread of the gospel. Many will be encouraged by the devil to imprison and lock up those who are miraculously ministering for the Lord. In some cases, angels will come and loose from those bonds, in other cases, the locks will become unlocked, doors will open, freedom will not be denied to those with the key of the Lord.


Thirdly, we will loose (unlock) multitudes from sin.

Sin tries to grip, habits refuse to let go of their victims. With the glory of God about us, and the applying of the key to situations and places where we will go, we will find that an overwhelming pricking of the souls will encompass those near us. Many will fall on their knees, repenting, weeping, and coming to Jesus. Often this will happen before we preach, and then as we preach, more will come to Jesus, being loosed from their sins.


Fourthly, false guilt will be loosed (unlocked) from many tormented Christians.

The devil tries to hold guilt on many. Though they have repented long ago, and often since, that guilt is pasted back onto the person by the demons. They cannot un-paste that guilt, and wear it with shame. The key of the Lord can be applied, and false guilt will fall from these victims, and rejoicing will break out, songs will be sung of joy, dancing will be spontaneous and unrestrained.

James 5:14-15 tells us of the ‘elders’ (pastors) of the church that should be able to unlock and loose from sickness and sin.

James 5:14-15
“Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church. And let them pray over him, anointing him with oil, in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up. And if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

We can see sin and guilt be removed from those to whom we speak the unlocking keys.

Peter preached to Cornelius’ household. Before he could get to the altar call, to offer them salvation, they began to speak with tongues. They had, in their hearts, in the midst of that early revival, repented and been filled with the Spirit, before the sermon could be finished. In the last days, double portion revival, the salvations will come so fast and easy, we will be as boggled of mind, as was Peter there.


BINDING, i.e. UNLOCKING, also will come with use of the keys given us by the Lord.


We will bind, i.e. lock up, satan’s power, We have been promised to ‘resist the devil and he will flee.’


James 4;7
“I give you authority over serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall be impossible to you.”

That ‘nothing shall be impossible’ that we are promised will be evident soon, for we shall use the key to lock and bind the devil’s power. The devil knows that our knowledge of the keys we have, will make us able to bind him and stop his workings. For too long people have hid from the devils, and tried to ignore him, hoping he would not be too hard on us. It is time for us to make him sorry he came near to us. We have the keys to bind him, we will finally begin to use them.

The forces of nature will also be bound by the keys.

Elijah shut up the heavens from rain for three and a half years. Elisha did so for seven years. Jesus calmed the storm. The laws of nature can be bound or loosed. That last double portion time, will see the devil try to use the weather to stop revivals, to hinder the sermons, and to distract the hearers of the gospel message. Thunder and lightning will be bound, rains will stop on our command and use of the keys of the Lord, and blizzards, hurricanes, etc, will be stopped in their tracks, and dissolve mysteriously to the world’s scientists, when we call for God to lock those forces of nature.


The sins and hindrance to revival of Ananias and Sapphira, were bound by the rebuke of Peter, who by the gifts of the Spirit, locked hypocrites from the hindrance they could have been to that service.

That kind of key use to bind from the harm of those coming knowingly or unknowingly, to hinder revival will find many great miracles that lock those hinderers from the presence of our worship times. There will be even greater demonstrations of God locking out, somehow, someway, those who come to hinder His times of blessing for the church.

Simon Magus (Acts 8), and Elymas (Acts 13) were locked from their hindering attempts. The devil wants to hinder this last revival, but his attempts, and those who unwittingly become his helpers, will be locked away, stopped in their tracks.


KEYS FOR ALL CHILDREN OF GOD


Elijah had a mantle of power, and Elisha wanted a double portion. He worked hard, and was stedfast in seeking to have that mantle, and even more power than had Elijah. That kind of determination for the ‘keys’ is vital to the demonstration of power to soon be found in the revival to come.

Of all the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist was said by our Lord Jesus to be the ‘greatest’. Yet, we are also told, that every saint in the N.T. period will be greater than John. Why? Well, now we all can have the ‘keys of the kingdom’. Therefore, we need to use those ‘keys’ for the Lord’s sake.

see part 2... more to come
 
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murjahel

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Jesus came and used the keys.


He claimed that Isaiah 61:1-3 was descriptive of His ministry.

Isaiah 61:1-3
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me
to preach the good tidings unto the meek,
He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted (BINDING),
to proclaim liberty to the captives (LOOSING),
and the opening of the prison to them that are bound (LOOSING),
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord
...

Isaiah 58:6
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
To loose the bands of wickedness (LOOSING),
to undo the heavy burdens (LOOSING),
and to let the oppressed go free (LOOSING),
and that ye break every yoke (LOOSING).


Correct fasting involves loosing, and binding. We bind our natural desires, and fill our time with loosing for the Lord. Binding and loosing are to be exercised and made powerful parts of our lives.

Salvation has loosed us, from the law and the captivity of sin.

Romans 7:23-24
“I see another law in my members,
warring against the law of my mind,
and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin...’
O wretched man that I am,
who shall deliver me from the body of death?
(WHO SHALL LOOSE ME FROM THE LAW?)

Romans 8:5
‘...ye have not received the spirit of bondage...’

We are no longer bound, but we are loosed, and now we are to realize we have a LOOSING ministry. The double portion time will show forth a time when the whole church of the Lord will be using these keys.


PURPOSE OF THE KEYS


Joel 2:19
“...no more shall ye be a reproach among the heathen...’

The word for ‘reproach’ in that verse, is the Hebrew word ‘cherpah’, and means ‘disgrace, exposed to upbraiding’, ‘exposed to defying.’

For too long, the world has reproached the church, and the church has been a ‘disgrace’ to our Lord. Filled too much with hypocrites, carnal, and apostates, the church has been a laughing stock to the world.

We will find that the ‘keys’ will make sure that there is no longer a ‘reproach’ coming from the world against the church. The church will have been cleansed by the harvest of tares. The keys will show forth a church that will make even the sinners to be in awe.

Joel 2:8
“...if fall upon a sword, they shall not be wounded...’

It is one thing to have a wound, and have the Lord heal it after it wounds. Yet, during this time, there will accidents, and no harm shall come to the ones using the keys. The last days will be ‘perilous’ times due to the devil knowing his time is so short. He will be doing all he can to kill and wound. The accidents he causes, will not bring harm to those using the keys, no harm to be healed later, for the harm will not come to the key users.

Joel 2:10
“earth shall quake before them

Has that verse ever been fulfilled? No!

When shall it then?

It shall be fulfilled during the double portion revival time. The keys we use will cause the earth to ‘groan and travail’, shaking, quaking, as we move about this world.

Joel 2:10
‘heavens shall tremble’

The stars, sun, moon, comets, etc, shall tremble and show forth movement, as the whole universe is in travail pain in this double portion time. This last month before the rapture, the whole physical universe will be anxious for the soon coming event of rapture of the church.

Joel 2:10
“...sun and moon shall be dark... stars shall withdraw their shining...”

The sun and moon shall suddenly be unpredictable, and when one expects light from them, they will find there are moments of darkness from each. God is blinking the lights of heaven, to alert the world. The consternation of the world’s scientists will alarm the world. They will know something is about to happen, yet, not know how and why all is happening. The anxiousness due to these kind of events, will make our gospel message take hold in ways never seen before.

Joel 2:11
‘...the Lord shall utter His voice before His army...’

God’s own voice will be heard, as we walk to our next place of ministry. The aura of God needs and demands a herald. In previous times, heralds would precede the king, and announce His coming. In the double portion time, Jesus is soon to come, and we, His emissaries, will have God Himself announcing those who bring message. How awesome this will be. How startling to those to whom we go to minister, for they shall hear God’s voice announce our arrival, before we arrive.

Isaiah 25:
verse 2 “city on heaps... defensed city a ruin...’
Verse 3 ‘city of terrible nations shall fear thee...’

The cities and communities to which we go to minister, will find that ‘fear’ will come upon them, if they reject, for the cities that reject our message, will be devastated by disaster, and be in heaps, ruined. When Jesus was here in His first coming, James and John wanted Jesus to call for fire to fall on the Samaritan city. Jesus knew that there were a couple thousand more years of mercy yet. But in that last month before the rapture, the time of mercy for rejection is over.



HOW DO WE WORK THESE KEYS OF POWER​


ASK, SEEK, KNOCK


First, we should ... ask, seek, and knock. There is a passage in Matthew 7:7-11, with which most Christians are familiar. It tells us there to ‘ask... seek... and knock.’

The ‘asking’ is the part most of us have done well.

The ‘seek’ has been less well done. ‘Seek’ means to go where God is. So, when ‘asking’ alone does not get the answer, we need to get nearer to God and ‘seek’ His presence.

Then comes the ‘knocking’. Once you have arrived in God’s presence, and you are the ‘door’ of the answer, the ‘knocking’ is necessary. The ‘knocking’ causes the ‘door’ to be opened. Too many are ‘knocking’ while far from the door. Did you ever ‘knock’ upon a door from the ‘highway’ in front of the house? No, our arms are not long enough. We need to get up on the porch, near the door, standing right there at the door. Then we can knock.

If we knock from across the street, the knock is not heard, so God does not unlock the door.



SUBMIT TO GOD, RESIST THE DEVIL


James 4:7-8
“Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

The devils flee when we resist them, for we are told to ‘resist the devil, and he will flee...’ First, though, we are told to ‘submit ourselves to God.’ God’s glory comes when we ‘draw nigh’ to Him. The directions in James are bound together. You cannot ‘draw nigh’ to the Lord if you have not ‘resisted’ the devils. You have no power to resist the devils, if you have not ‘submitted’ to the Lord. Then, you can, ‘draw nigh to God’, and He will ‘draw nigh to you’. When you meet God in that way, your next act will not be to get swell headed and proud, but rather, you will realize you are a ‘sinner’, and need ‘cleansed’... and need ‘purified’ from your ‘double mindedness”. Then, you will find you have ‘sought’ and found God.


CLEANSE AND PURIFY


The ‘cleansing’ and ‘purifying’ is so vitally needed. The grudges, judgmentalism, carnality, anger, bitterness, etc. that creeps into Christians separates us from God, keeps His power from flowing through us, keeps our aura minimal, keeps the keys from our hands, and miracles, signs, and wonders from following us.

II Corinthians 6:16-18
“What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord God Almighty.”

All sinful things are ‘unclean’. There are multitudes of Christians who are hypocrites, carnal, and wayward. They dishonor God often by their behavior and attitudes. They bear grudges, jealousies, and pride. They seldom repent or are humbled before the Lord. We are not to even ‘touch’ those ‘unclean things’.

These keys are available to be used for the work and ministries we are given. Where would our ministries be, if we did not have them? Learn to avail yourself of the keys.
 
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murjahel

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THE NAMES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
REVEAL MUCH CONCERNING THE NATURE
OF THE GIVER OF THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS



The names that we are given in Scripture for the Godhead, reveal much to us. Jesus is given nearly 200 names in Scripture, as Jesus, Savior, Lord, Christ, Messiah, Emmanuel, etc. Each one reveals an office, a service, a trait, or a fact about our blessed Lord. God revealed many names for Himself, as Elohim, Jehovah, Jehovah-nissi, Jehovah-rohi, etc. Each of these reveal to us facts about the nature of God.

The same is true for names given to us for the Holy Spirit. Each name is designed to describe something to us about the Spirit. Often, we also use titles to substitute for names. If the car needs fixed, we need a mechanic. If we are sick, we need a physician. If our teeth need attention, we go to a dentist. The name indicates the work which the person can do for us, and is really a title.

The Spirit is called many names or titles:


HOLY SPIRIT

The emphasis is on "holiness", and our Lord is a holy God. If we come into contact and relationship with the Holy Spirit, we will come into a new holy relationship with the Lord. Holiness is found by relationship and fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 6:3
‘Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty..."

Because of His holiness, you can expect Him to uncover, expose, and condemn sin. We need the Holy Spirit.

John 16:8
"And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin."

The Holy Spirit reveals, and emanates, holiness. Without the Spirit's working, the convicting, the revealing, etc., we would not become HOLY. We will not develop holiness, apart from the works of the Spirit in our life.


SPIRIT OF GOD

Ephesians 4:30
"Grieve not the Spirit of God..."

I John 4:2
"Hereby know we the Spirit of God..."

This name shows that the Spirit has a relationship with the heavenly Father. As we develop a relationship with the Spirit, we have a Mediator between us and the Father. We hear what the Lord God, and Jesus also, have to say to and about us, because of the Spirit of God.

The Spirit "proceeds from the Father" (John 15:26). And thereby He can reveal the truth of God ("will guide you into all truth..." John 16:13). This Spirit of God will guide us toward God (Romans 8:4). In order to have any relationship with the Father, you must have a relationship with the "Spirit of God."


SPIRIT OF CHRIST

Romans 8:9
"Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His..."

The Christ-life is imparted to us by the one known as the "Spirit of Christ." He reveals the things of Christ (John 16:14 "for He shall receive of Mine, and show it unto you..." The Spirit will take the place of Christ, and be the comforter, advocate, and one who gives us strength to carry on... (John 14:16 "He will give you another comforter...")

COMFORTER, ADVOCATE

The word for "Comforter" is the Greek word - paracletos. It means "one who walks alongside, an advocate..." The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and as we have a relationship with Him, we receive comfort, aid, and defence from Him. This name reveals another thing that the Spirit wants to give us.


HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Promise, for He is part of the fulfillment of the promise of the Lord, and as you develop a relationship with the Spirit, you will have more and more of the promises of God come to you. Every promise of God is to be given to us by His Spirit.

SPIRIT OF GRACE

Hebrews 10:29 speaks of some who insult the "Spirit of Grace..." This name of the Spirit reveals to us that His nature and ministry is to bestow and share the grace of God with us. We come into contact with grace, via the Spirit. We continue to enjoy the grace of God, because of the Spirit... The Spirit confers grace to us.

"Mercy" is "not receiving what we deserve," and "grace" is the "receiving of what we do not deserve." We need both. Jesus paid for the mercy we need, and the Spirit comes to bestow gifts of grace to us. The gifts of the Spirit are the "charismata" (bestowments of grace). No merit is needed, for they are received by grace, and that grace is given to us by the Spirit of grace...


SPIRIT OF LIFE

Romans 8:2
"For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

A relationship with the Spirit will bring us to a place wherein we can live free from the law of sin and its resultant death penalty. He quickens our bodies, and makes aware our spirits to live a life of righteousness, and holiness. Life in the spiritual realm is a product of a relationship with the Holy Spirit of the Lord... The Spirit of Life is a name that reminds us of that fact.


SPIRIT OF ADOPTION

Romans 8:15
"...but ye have received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry 'Abba Father'..."

One of the special works of the Spirit is to take "sons of the devil" and make them to become the "sons of God..." As we develop our relationship with the Spirit, He encourages a close relationship with our Father... we cry "Abba Father" which is like us saying, "Daddy" or "Pop". The closeness of our relationship with God is a result of the work of the Spirit of Adoption.

Adoption brings us to a place whereby we are legally "heirs" of God, a true part of the family and all its blessings. We need this relationship with the Spirit of Adoption, and to share the "adoption" blessings from Him.


SEE PART 2
 
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murjahel

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THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH


This brings me now to a name that has been ignored, misunderstood, or neglected for too long. The Holy Spirit is about to do a work which will bring back into eminent position, the ministry of the Spirit of GIFTING us His glorious TRUTH.

Often in Scriptures, the Holy Spirit is called the "SPIRIT OF TRUTH..."

John 15:26
"...when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto your from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth... He shall testify of Me..."

There is a grave need of the TRUTH in Christianity today. There have been false prophets, false doctrines, errors of doctrine, hypocrites and hypocrisy galore, deception and half truths pervading the congregations of these last days. God has never desired to have Christianity floundering in the midst of such lies and liars. He wants us to know the truth, live in the truth, and be in relationship with the Spirit of Truth.

I Timothy 2:4
"Who (God our Savior) will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth..."

Where the Lord is, in strength and power... there will be truth. Wherever God is in power and revival, truth will prevail. God will show forth the truth, the Spirit will reveal in His way the truth, and condemn the lies and false doctrines of the false prophets.

Psalms 89:14
"...mercy and truth shall go before Thy face..."

Psalms 57:3
"...God shall send forth His mercy and His truth..."

When the truth of God prevails in the church, the power of God will also be manifest. If the truth of God is marred and leavened by the hypocrites of the church, the power of God will be hindered. It is the presentation of the truth to the sinful of this world, and the power of God that accompanies such proclamations, that makes the consciences of mankind be sparked toward acceptance of the gospel.

II Corinthians 4:2
"...by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God..."

To bring TRUTH back into the ministry of the church, we need the SPIRIT OF TRUTH... He must minister TRUTH to us, and He alone can guide us to the truth. The neglect of this ministry of the Spirit has hindered, yes - even devastated - the church and its proclamation of the gospel.

John 16:13
"Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth."

Jesus says that He is the "truth" (John 14:6), and the Holy Spirit will reveal Him, and the truth to the church... He has been trying to do such, and will increase His efforts in these last days. We have seen Him bring a revival of intercessory prayer to the church of the last days, we have seen the Spirit bring a revival of charismatic gifts to the church... Both of these revivals are necessary. The perversions of truth, the hypocrisy of the false prophets, and the deceptions of so-called Christians have devastated the church, and kept the revival of the last days from its true impact, and kept it from its glorious power that God wants to send.

It will take a judgment and a spiritual revival of the ministry of the Spirit of Truth to effect the latter rain revival as we desire it.

Isaiah 42:3
"He shall bring forth judgment unto truth."

Zechariah 8:16
"...execute the judgment of truth and peace."

Proverbs 16:6
"By mercy and truth iniquity is purged."

II Peter 2:2-3
"Many shall follow their pernicious ways (false doctrines that bring destruction), by reason of whom, the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you; whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."


This judgment upon the deceit, hypocrisy, lies, and false doctrines of the church in these last days - must come... in order that sanctification and revival might come in strength.

John 17:19
"And for their sakes, I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth."

We cannot even truly hear the voice of God, be instructed by Him as we should, until we receive the truth as the Spirit of Truth seeks to impart to this latter rain revival.

John 18:37
"...Everyone that is of the truth heareth My voice..."

We have been spiritual garments to wear in our spiritual warfare against the devil, and if we are not in truth, as we should be, we are missing a very important part of that battle garb.

Ephesians 6:14
"having your loins girt about with truth..."

The church of these last days has much untruth, many lies, abundant false prophecies, and terrible wrong doctrines. The church has had a self-deception about such... Just as those who say they love God but hate their brother are in a self-deception that such is possible... so many other deceptions are in the church.

I John 1:8
"... we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us..."

The church is encouraged to get truth into our midst.

I John 3:18
"let us not love in word but... in truth..."

The world will never get truth, the way the church is supposed to have it. The world, commerce, business, politicians, courts, doctors... all have many deceptions, lies, and prevarications. It is normal for them... They do not even understand the need for unadulterated truth...

John 14:17
"Even the Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive..."

The world, and much of the church, have perverted TRUTH. The Bible speaks of this happening within and about the church...

Romans 1:25
"...who changed the truth into a lie..."

Romans 2:8
"unto them that... do not obey the truth..."

Galatians 2:14
"walked not...according to the truth..."

II Thessalonians 2:10
"...because they received not...love of the truth..."

I Timothy 6:5
"...disputings of men... destitute of the truth..."

II Timothy 3:8
"...so do these also resist the truth..."

II Timothy 4:4
"shall turn away ears from the truth..."

Titus 1:14
"fables... of men, that turn from the truth​
..."

The warning in the book of Hebrews is frightening:

Hebrews 10:26-27
"For if we sin willfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries..."

There is a "spirit of error" at work in the world, and definitely within the church of the last days. Most warnings in the Bible of "false prophets" are given to the last day period. This "spirit of error" (I John 4:6) is devastating, and deceiving many within the church.

There needs to be a great repentance of the church for accepting the deceptive doctrines, and false prophecies of this "spirit of error." After the church has repented, the truth will become more known, and the Spirit of Truth will not be so grieved by the false, the lies, the prevarications within Christianity that He is hindered in His revelation of truth.

II Timothy 2:25
"In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth..."

The Spirit of Truth is doing a great work in these last days, and His next emphasis will be to make us more and more aware of the truth. Just as He has given gifts to the church, He is now seeking to give ALL TRUTH to the church.

If we repent of the falsity of the church, if we seek to abandon hypocrisy in all its forms, if we agree to not be blatant with our revelations of truth in opposing lies, liars, hypocrites, and false prophets... the Spirit of Truth will begin to reveal much to you...

How we handle such truth will determine if we grieve the Spirit of Truth and cease to receive such revelations. Notice that the Bible says "in meekness" (II Tim. 2:25) we are to instruct... We must sometimes "swallow hard", and act as though we do not know the Truth... We must often allow the liars to go unscolded, unhindered in their work, allowing the Spirit to do His work, His way!

The Holy Spirit will reveal truth, and cause a separation between the hypocrites, liars, and false prophets... He will cleanse the church of them by the harvest of tares (Matthew 13), and He will have this church which has received the truth proceed to the double portion of the latter rain revival, and be truly ready for the rapture of the church.

Many years ago, the Spirit of Truth tried to "bless" me with this gift in a fullness that scared me. When someone spoke a lie.. I would sense the Spirit of Truth telling me that it was a lie. I was instructed by the Spirit to not show that I knew it was a lie (usually). I had to be "meek" and suffer the pain of the knowledge. It hurt so much to know every lie, that I finally asked God to only tell me such if I really needed to know - otherwise to allow me to be lied to - unawares. The Lord did grant my request, and only at times has the Spirit informed me of lies and liars.

Recently, I have been taught of the Spirit of Truth, that I have hindered His work in my life by that partial rejection of His gift. I am now being shown the importance that "truth-awareness" in the ministry of the gospel.

The Spirit of Truth revealed to Peter when Ananias and Sapphira brought their gifts to the church and lied... Jesus knew when the woman at the well was being partially deceptive with Him. Jesus was aware of the source of Peter's words when He told Peter, 'Get thee behind me, Satan...' Jesus spoke angrily to the Pharisees and scribes (calling them vipers and serpents) when they deceptively tried to trick Jesus with their questions. The Spirit of Truth wants Christians today to know the truth, live the truth, and recognize the deceitful, hypocritical, false prevarications in the church today...

The Spirit of Truth is restoring the fullness of this gift to many in these last days. He wants to eliminate the false doctrines, the self-deception, the hypocrisy, and expose the hidden tares of the last day revival period. The "tares" have grown amidst the wheat unnoticed for many centuries. Now as the wheat nears its harvest in the rapture, the wheat is turning "white", and the tares are turning "black." This is indicative of the revelation of truth, and the revelation of who are the tares...

Matthew 13:26
"But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also..."

For a number of years, the Holy Spirit has been showing me congregation, after congregation... revealing truth, or its lack, within each. The lies, hypocrisy, deception, false doctrines, apostasy, hidden within was exposed to me in various ways by the Spirit of Truth.

In one of them, the Lord told me that the "spirit of deception", i.e. a "lying spirit" had a stronghold within. In another, the deceptive spirit was controlling six so-called "saints." Amidst the errors and deceptions in local churches that the Spirit of Truth has revealed were:
saints lying one about another to turn some against others...

some who choose to believe lies of friends or relatives, and refuse to accept the truths of their victims...

some who pretend facts that they were told earlier to be words of knowledge from the Lord

physical abuse of children, lying that it never happened (despite many witnesses)...

some who wanted a different pastor lied that money was missing from the church treasury, and the board suspected the pastor of taking it (no money was missing)...

These events, amidst others, devastated congregation after congregation. Ministers were hurt in some, ministers devastated others in some... Lies, prevarications, hypocrisies, false doctrines, false prophets, etc... are doing a dastardly work... The Spirit of Truth needs to re-assert the gift of TRUTH to the church.

After having these types of things exposed in congregation after congregation, the Spirit would have me "shake the dust off" and go to another congregation. There in the new congregation, the Spirit of Truth again began to reveal things. Again and again, I would try to quietly depart... shocked, hurt, and mind-boggled by the hypocrisy and sin in congregations.

The Spirit of Truth has shown and taught me much during the last few years. Now that I am more fully understand His message, and the shockingly sinful state of many congregations, I am being shown some of the Spirit's methods of changing the horrible sins.

An increased revelation of truth will be given to all saints who desire it...

I Corinthians 14:1
"...desire spiritual gifts..."

This gift will then remain with those who do not grieve the Spirit of Truth by misusing the gift...

Ephesians 4:25-32
"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor; for we are all members one of another. Be ye angry and sin not... Neither give place to the devil... Let no corrupt communication proceed from your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God... Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you..."

If we follow those instructions, we will not grieve the Spirit of Truth... and the gift will remain, and do a work the church so desperately needs. The Spirit of Truth desires us to know "all truth" in these last days... A double portion of truth is now being GIFTED to us.
 
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murjahel

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BESTOWMENT OF POWER THROUGH
THE WRITTEN WORDS
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO US



The Written Word of God enables us to feed our weak and frail human spirit, and to cleanse ourselves from defilements of the world. The Bible is the inspired words from God, using men as secretaries of the Holy Spirit, passing on to us divine blessings. Revealed in the Word are blessings and secrets to be divine enablements for us.

GOD’S WORD IS PURE REVELATION FROM GOD.

Psalms 12:6
“The Words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”

The Words of God are pure and clean. They help to clean our lives, our inner selves from the defilements of all else that is about us.


GOD’S WORD IS PROFITABLE FOR US, FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS TRUTHS WE NEED VIA THIS BIBLE.

II Timothy 3:16
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Yes, the Word of God is ‘profitable’, it is great for ‘reproof’ of errors we may commit, it is profitable for ‘correction’ of wrongs we stray toward, and it is wonderful ‘instruction’ into Godly living.

GOD’S WORD IS INFALLIBLE, INERRANT TRUTH FROM GOD TO US.

The Bible contains the mind of God. It is infallible in its original language. Therefore, it is a message we can trust. God is infallible, so His written Word is also infallible. We need to rightly interpret it, we need to correctly translate it from its original language, and we need to be sure our interpretation of it is consistent and harmonious with its entirety.

I Kings 8:56
“... there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant...”

Since the Author is God, the Bible is truthful, for He is Truth. The Bible is an accurate guide, for He is the Way. The Bible is an accurate revelation of the future, for the Author is the Light. The Bible is eternal, speaking to all generations of mankind, for the Author is eternal. The Holy Spirit is the One of the Trinity meant to convey the revelations to us through the Word.

Many question how much of the Bible has suffered from transmission errors of editors and copyists? How much is to be understood literally, figuratively, symbolically, historically, and poetically? If we read, study, and verify the harmonious interpretation of it, it is obvious that One mind inspired the whole of the Bible. The Word of God all harmonizes, and has one central theme.

The Bible is God’s attempt to reach mankind. That makes the Bible to be the rule of faith and rule of conduct. That makes the Bible to be the final authority, for it is from the Divine Mind. It also makes the Bible to be the hope of mankind in their search for God and salvation. It makes the Bible to be the test and standard by which to judge all other writings and things.

MANKIND’S ANSWERS ARE SOURCED FROM THE DEVIL,
AND ARE TOTALLY FALLIBLE.


Yet, many to whom we minister always want to be the final authority, and to intellectually decide on their own, what to believe, and decide what is truth.
So mankind often see the Bible as foolish. The world cannot understand the holy revelations in the Bible, for they are only discerned when the Holy Spirit gives us enablements as a spiritual gift.

I Corinthians 2:14
“But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Many today are challenged by the ‘satanic’ suggestion, that the Bible, today’s passer of the message of God, may not be accurate and truthful. As the devil challenged Eve, with ‘hath God said?’, many today believe that doubt that the Written Word called the Bible is truly ‘God’ saying what we need to know.

The devil went on to say ‘ye shall not surely die...’ (Genesis 3:4) The devil wanted to take the fear of judgment out of the equation.
The devil then said: “ye shall be as gods”. (Genesis 3:5). The gnostic dogma, the new age dogma, the majority of false religions all have this common teaching. It is the ‘man-centered’ philosophy that false religions offer to challenge the Bible’s message. They want converts to look inside themselves for the answers, for the power and wisdom. They do not want mankind to listen and read, accept and believe the message of the Bible, God’s Word. The written Word of God is God’s message to us, who are far from ‘gods’, far from omnipotent, omniscient beings. We need His message for any inner message from our soul will be errant and dooming. Any message from any outside source other than God, is also dooming to our souls. The Written Word of God, is our only hope of right understanding. We need that help.

Every conspiracy of the devil involves the plan to eliminate the idea of the atonement through Jesus’ blood, from the minds of mankind. The Bible which teaches that concept from beginning to end, must therefore be attacked, challenged, ridiculed, and belittled. Yet, the Written Word of God always stands the test!

GOD MIRACULOUSLY PRESERVED THE ‘HELP’,
THE GIFT OF THE WORD FOR US.


The Word of God has been preserved. As God preserved Moses in the ark of bulrushes, so the Bible has been protected down through the ages.

One time, during Josiah’s reign, the Written Word of God had been neglected for many years, the original copy of it was lost amidst the piles of trash in the Temple. But, then God had it found, and did not let it continue to be lost.

II Kings 22:8
‘and Hilkiah, the high priest said unto Shaphan, the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord...’

The spiritual power confirmed in miracles and wonders, has made the Bible a book unlike any other. God has preserved the written Word from the Holy Spirit, for in it, are revelations from God to man. In it, we find miracles will flow from God, to His Word, through to us. Signs follow the Word.

Mark 16:20
‘And they went forth and preached everywhere. The Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following.”

The word ‘confirming’ is the Greek word ‘bebaioo’ meaning ‘establishing’. The Word of God is established to be God’s miraculous revelation to us via the miracles, signs, wonders that follow its preaching and the believing of it.


And therefore, when the original gnostic challenger of the message of the Bible, i.e. Simon the sorcerer, performed his own ‘magic’ wonders, Peter (as early church history confirms) followed him, and showed miracles and wonders of the Lord, in healings, and such... that the crowds could see, that the Word of God preached by Peter was far superior to the heresy of Simon magus. The Word of God has survived the challenges of the past, the present, and will survive the challenges of the future.

All confusion, all apparent contradictions and errors come from mankind, not from the Word of God. The Bible was written by 44 secretaries of the Author, over a span of 1500 years. The Bible claims to be authored by God in I Peter 1:10-11, Revelation 19:10, John 5:39, 46, and Luke 24:7.

The Bible is accurate. There were 25 specific prophecies concerning the betrayal, trial, death and burial of Jesus given over a period between 500 to a 1000 years before it occurred. Yet, Jesus fulfilled all of them in 24 hours.

THE PURPOSE OF THE WRITTEN REVELATION
OF GOD TO US IS UNIQUE.


The written Word of God reveals God and His messages to us.

Hebrews 1:1-2
“God, Who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds.”

God revealed Himself by Jesus, by His deeds and His words. The Bible is the declaration of God about Jesus Who would come, and of His revelation of God’s plan for us would be written.

THEREFORE, THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD
IS A HELP THAT IS ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY
FOR US TO HAVE.



II Peter 1:21
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit...”

The prophecies from God of old, were written down, and many of them are contained in the Written Word of God called the Bible. The messages of the Holy Spirit today will harmonize with the Written messages in the Bible. Therefore, we need this ‘help’ from God, so that we can be sure the messages and voices we hear are truly God.

I Corinthians 14:37
“If any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”

We need to study the Word, and prove from its messages that these truly are the Written Word of God. God challenges us to do so, and any true study of the Word will come to that undeniable conclusion, that God’s Written Word, i.e. the Bible, is His infallible and true message to us.

The Bible is intelligible. We can understand it. The Bible is a ‘revelation’, meant to reveal, not conceal.

Romans 15:4
“...whatsoever things were written afore time, were written for our learning...”

The mysteries of God are no longer to be mysteries. The Bible is God’s attempt to tell mankind what mankind is able to receive. God’s Word does not surpass mankind’s reason. God did not have the Bible written to tease mankind with ‘non-understandable’ truths.

Ephesians 3:4
“Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.”
 
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murjahel

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WE ARE COMMANDED TO STUDY THIS HELP
CALLED THE BIBLE.

II Timothy 2:7, 15
“Consider what I say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things... study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God...”


The Bible (rightly understood) is authoritative. We need to beware error, for some things do require a bit of study. But when we correctly have studied and harmonized the message of one part with the totality of the Bible’s truths, then we can trust this authoritative passage.

Some of the Bible is ‘hard to be understood’. Yet, if we learn and are stable in the Lord, the truths will be revealed by the Spirit of God.

II Peter 3:16
“...some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction

Many are unstable in their Christian lives, and these then wrestle with passages, allowing misconception and improper exegesis to bring them to error. Many have stumbled in understanding the real message of the Bible.

Even in Jesus’ first coming, some listened to His message and ignored the truth of what was said.

Matthew 13:14-15
“For the people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time, they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand, and be converted, and I should heal them.”

SUBMIT TO THE WORD OF GOD.

The authority of the Bible demands submission. When God spoke, “Let there be light”... nature responded, and light came. When we read in the Word, study to verify its message, and know that God is commanding us to certain things, we must submit to it, or be judged for our errant decision.

The Bible speaks much of those who do not submit to the teachings of the Word.

Romans 2:6-9
“unto them that are contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish”... shall come.

THE WORD OF GOD BRINGS LIGHT TO THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AND WE NEED THAT HELP.

The Bible can be ‘light’ to us, and yet still be ‘darkness’ to many others. We are to live in the light of the Words of God.

Psalms 119:130
“The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”

This light from the Word of God is to aid us in our working.
John 9:4
“I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day.”

This light aids us in our war against evil and the devil.

Romans 13:12
“...let us put on the armor of light...”

We are to daily walk in the light that comes from God’s Word.

Ephesians 5:8
‘Walk as children of the light...”

We are to witness this light from the Word of God to the rest of the world.

Philippians 2:15
“Shine as lights in the world...”

We are to use the light from the Word of God to enlighten our watching for Jesus to return.

I Thessalonians 5:5-6
“We are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober.”

Some ‘ever learn’ but never come
to ‘knowledge of the truth’.


Some who do not use the ‘help’ we call the Bible, are ‘ever learning, but never able to come to knowledge of the truth’ (II Timothy 3:7).

Some others, who think they can just dabble in the Word, will ‘corrupt the Word’ (II Corinthians 2:17), and ‘pervert the gospel’ (Galatians 1:6-8).

There are many who will try to put darkness back on we who study the “light’ of the Word. They ‘lie in wait to deceive’ (Ephesians 4:14), ‘beguile you with enticing words” (Colossians 2:4), ‘spoil you though philosophy ... after the traditions of men’ (Colossians 2:8).

Many, as we notice while walking in the light of the Word of God, will ‘consent not to wholesome words... doting about questions and strifes of words’ (I Timothy 6:3-5). They ‘strive about words to no profit” (II Timothy 2:14-16), ‘teach things which they ought not’ (Titus 1:10-14), and ‘bring in damnable heresies” (II Peter 2:1-3).

God allows people to do any of those things, if they persist. He has sent some prophets, apostles, teachers, etc., to attempt to persuade them from error, but often mankind resist the conviction of the Spirit through their words, and the end result is damnation. As ministers, we have that job of correcting the heresy of the Word of God, teaching mankind to find the Lord, to trust His rightly interpreted Words, and to be ready for His coming. That is a fantastic mission, not an easy one, and we need ‘help’. The Written Word of God is that ‘help’ that we need.

Those who resist our ‘help’ of preaching, teaching the Word, are given over to ‘strong delusion.’

II Thessalonians 2:10-12
“...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

HOW DO WE USE THIS ‘HELP’ OF THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD?

1. Receive the Word of God with reverence.

I Thessalonians 2:13
“...when ye received the Word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is, in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh in you that believe.”

Isaiah 66:2
“To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word.”

2. Have a teachable spirit.

I Corinthians 2:14
“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

So, to understand, we need to be open to the teachings of the Holy Spirit. We must know Him, as a Person, and be receptive of His teachings.

II Corinthians 4:3-4
“If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds.”

Psalms 25:9
“The meek will He guide in judgment, and the meek He will teach His way.”

3. Be earnest and hungry for the truth.

Apathetic and carefree study is boring and unrewarding. Love truth, be zealous for truth. Do not be satisfied with your current knowledge, want more.

John 3:19
“Light is come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light...”

What do you love more than Bible study? Work? Recreation? Wealth? Etc.? Lay those things aside, and seek to know God through His Word, as never before.

I Peter 2:1-2
“Laying aside all guile, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word.”

Psalms 25:14
“The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.”

4. Be patient.

The Word of God is inexhaustible, profound, difficult to find all truth therein. John 5:39 says to ‘search the Scriptures’, and the word ‘search’ denotes labor of a miner who digs and searches the earth for the precious metal, a work that requires patience.

Acts 17:11
“...they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily.”

Notice, their search was ‘daily’, not once and for all, not finished long ago, but a constant, patient, continuing of study.

5. Begin with the simple, and move toward the complex.

This is how we learned mathematics. We did not start with geometry and calculus. We began with addition, and then subtraction. We progressed to multiplication and then division. We found the further we went, the more there was to learn. The same is found in Bible study. Begin with the simple, and it will be like stepping stones to higher and higher plains of understanding.

John 15:15
“All things that I have heard of My Father, I have made known to you.”

And then later that same hour, Jesus said:
John 16:12
“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.”

The truths that the Father had Jesus speak, were preparatory for more truth to come. There is no contradiction in those verses, for Jesus had spoken all the things that the Father had told Him to speak, but the Lord knew there would be more truth to discover, when they were prepared for them by the Holy Spirit.

James 1:5,7
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God... it shall be given him...”

We need the help of the Written Word of God. It is an available ‘help’, and needs to be used.


YOUR LIFE WILL THEN SHOW THAT GOD IS CONTINUING AN ILLUSTRATED STUDY COURSE FOR YOU, USING THE WRITTEN WORD AS YOUR LESSON PLAN, AND AS YOUR INSTRUMENT OF POWER.

God loves to illustrate His truths. As we study the Written Word of God, there will be illustrated lessons demonstrating the truths of the Bible. Our lives, as ministers of the Lord, will have multitudes of illustrated lessons from our Teacher of the Word, from the Author of the Written Word, i.e. the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16:17
“And these signs shall follow them that believe.’

God wants His saints to be shown that His Word is truth, so He illustrates many things in our lives that demonstrate His truth. Therefore, signs and wonders will be in the life of the saints of God who study the Written Word. The casting out of devils, the speaking with tongues, healing of the sick, are some of the illustrations that God bestows upon the saints. Some are lessons in faith, lessons in how to serve God in a troubled world. The illustrations sometimes are hard. At their end, we rejoice in the illustrated lesson from the Spirit of God.

In the prison, Paul and Silas had an illustrated lesson from the Spirit. The earth quaked, the guard feared, a message was preached, a family came to God, release from prison came in the morning. These all illustrated the message of the Bible that God sends signs and wonders to follow the preaching of the Word. We will find ourselves in situations where God will illustrate His Written Word in our lives.

The word ‘sign’ is from the Greek word ‘seimeion’ meaning a sign, or mark, an illustration.’

God gave Moses a message of God’s displeasure of Egyptian mistreatment of Israel. God illustrated it with the plagues upon Egypt. Those plagues were signs to Egypt, that they had better let His people leave. (Exodus 4:8, Joshua 24:7)

The miracles of Jesus were signs, illustrated lessons, demonstrating the relationship with God. (Mathew 12:38, John 2:8, Acts 2:22)

The word for ‘wonders’ is the Greek word ‘teras’, meaning a miraculous display or illustration of God’s power and wisdom.

God has always illustrated His truths. He has always given ‘milk and meat’. These are two kinds of truth in Scripture.

Hebrews 5:12-14
“For when for the time, ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age; even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Milk and meat, are one way to describe truths in the Word. Meat represents the deeper truths, and milk represents the basic, simpler truths. God takes the simple truths of the Bible, the milk, and illustrates them in our lives, and we therefore have then the ‘meat’ revelation.

I Corinthians 10:11
“these things, written for our admonition’

Hebrews 8:4-5
“Who serve as an example and shadow of heavenly things”

Hebrews 9:8-9
“which was a figure for the time present”

Hebrews 10:1
“... law having a shadow of good things to come...”

The words ‘shadow’, ‘example’, ‘pattern’... all contain the idea we refer to as ‘types’. Types were illustrated lessons of the past.

Abraham knew from Adam’s message passed down, that a ‘Seed’ would come, and fulfill the ‘lamb’ that was offered type. His taking of Isaac to the altar, and then seeing the ram caught in the thicket to replace Isaac on that altar, wa a meat lesson of God’s simple promise. That illustrated lesson still speaks to us in the Word, and we are experiencing illustrated lessons of the Bible’s truths yet today in our own lives.

When we avail ourselves of the help of the Written Word, it becomes more than a book, it becomes a part of the lessons in the “University of the Holy Spirit.”
 
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murjahel

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Dealing with church people on this earth is very difficult to do. One of the many reasons for gifts of the Holy Spirit, is to be able to minister amidst and to some who are working with gifts of the devils.

If we can effectively deal with these cohorts of devils, in sheep's clothing, we would find the devil to be easy in comparison. We know he is out to harm us, and are not surprised by his attacks, and deceit. However, in the church, the behavior of "so-called saints" toward one another is shocking and often unexpected. They can catch us off guard and do more harm than can be imagined.

In many homes there is child abuse, and in some, there is abuse of a mate. These ought not to be, yet they do happen. In most churches, there is SPIRITUAL ABUSE. Some "saints" are nit-pickers, some are quarrelers, gossips, complainers, fault-finders, scornful, bickerers, finger-pointers, judgmental persons, apostates, etc. These people can do much harm to the Christian witness. They can cause many to leave the church. Others who have left the church, may never return to it - because of these abusers.

The church is likened unto the "body of Christ." (I Cor. 12:13-27)

All Christians are like parts of the body. Some are like the hand, others are like the foot, the heart, the eyes, etc. Together we are to be a functioning body, able to serve the Lord in a useful manner. The problem is that also on this body are parts the Lord did not put there. The "cancers" are deadly, and must be removed or the body will die. God wants a healthy "body" of believers. Yet, in most, if not all, churches - we find a destructive, abusive, cancers. These abusive people will chase Christians from the church. They will hurt feelings, insult, berate, attempt to control, belittle, stir up dissension, etc.

For too long Christians have tried to ignore, and pretend that the abusers don't exist in our churches. These abusers have kept churches small, or split churches, or caused periodic and sudden drops in attendance. They have hindered revival. The Lord has been unable to give the type of revival and blessing that He has desired. The blessing has been sapped from churches by these offenders and abusers.

How do we know when we should flee such "saints", or should endure and pray for such "saints?" The Lord did not mean for us to simply endure such attacks.

There are many scriptures that tell us how to deal effectively with abusive Christians.

First, examine yourself.

The Lord spoke of some who try to remove a splinter from another's eye, while they have a log in their own eye (Matthew 7:1-7). To avoid this mistake, we should do as we are instructed in the Word and "examine" ourselves (I Cor. 11:28). What are your motives, actions, and thoughts? Are they pure and righteous? Have you talked with the Lord about the situation, and your own behavior in this situation ? Have you been telling the truth ? Have you been interceding and loving those who are being used of the devil ? Are you able to consider the problem from the viewpoint of the others ?

Galatians 5:14
"FOR ALL THE LAW IS FULFILLED IN ONE WORD, EVEN IN THIS; THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF."

Secondly, we should examine the others.

Matthew 7:16
"YE SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS."

What seems to be their motives? Are their motives right, and their actions wrong? Or are even their motives wrong? Are they "carnal saints," or "tares" sown in the church by the devil?

In Matthew 13, we are told that the devil sows evildoers amidst the saints. We confront these troublemakers often in the church, but it is their father, the devil, that is our real enemy. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood. We have been divinely equipped to destroy the plans of the devil, and resist against the "tares" that he has sown amidst the "wheat."

Often, the problem is some "carnal Christians" who want to play "Holy Spirit" and do the convicting, judging, ruling, etc. for Him. This is dangerous and sinful.

Romans 14:1-10
"HIM THAT IS WEAK IN THE FAITH, RECEIVE YE, BUT NOT TO DOUBTFUL DISPUTATIONS....WHO ART THOU THAT JUDGETH ANOTHER MAN'S SERVANT? TO HIS OWN MASTER HE STANDETH OR FALLETH... BUT WHY DOST THOU JUDGE THY BROTHER ? OR WHY DOST THOU SET AT NOUGHT THY BROTHER? FOR WE SHALL ALL STAND BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST."

Thirdly, we should examine the other leadership of the church.

Are they offering help, or part of the problem? Sometimes they are blinded to the evil and hurt being done. The abusers may be closely tied with the leadership, or long-time members, or even family of the leadership. This then poses a very serious addition to the problem.

If the leadership is sensitive to the Spirit and anxious to follow the Spirit's leading, the church will move forward. Often, this is the case. But, if the leadership has their ears to the troublemakers and abusers, then the possibility of changing things is remote.

Often the best course of action involves praying for the leadership to have them awakened to see the problem as God does. The eyes of many in church leadership can be blinded by a group of abusers who lie, deceive, criticize, and seek power. Sometimes the leadership is convinced that to expose and remove the abusers from power is too difficult. They may seek to ignore the problem and hope it goes away. It doesn't. We need to expose the problem.

Fourthly, examine your ability to minister within the abusive system.

Is it possible for you to minister in the system without it changing? If not, and if the system refuses to change, then one should probably leave the abusive system and find one where they can minister and be ministered unto.

Often the Lord wants us to stay within the abusive system to effect a change. This means we must do much intercession, work, and loving.

Moses found himself with several million people for 40 years that abused him and each other. Moses had to occasionally withdraw to a mountain top, or other retreat to be near to God.

Christians are sheep that are sent out amidst wolves (Matthew 10:16). The only way we survive the wolves is to stay near the Good Shepherd.

Do not expect a "pat on the back" by many, if you stay inside an abusive system that does not want to be awakened to see the abuse. Even the non-abusers will come to the side of the abusers. They will perceive you as the one who is "rocking the boat." They have seen many who noticed the abusers, and then left the church. These who have already left, have been criticized as weak, etc. Those who notice the abuse and stay to confront it, will be called "rebels," and branded as "troublemakers." Jesus was a troublemaker when He chased out the abusers in the temple. He was hated when He confronted the Pharisees, who were the religious abusers of His day. It was those who saw Jesus as a troublemaker that determined to have Jesus crucified. We have been warned by Jesus that we will be also hated as was He.

In the abusive church, we cannot be silent. We must speak the truth, preach the whole gospel, teach the complete Word of God.

When someone speaks out against a case of spiritual abuse, the people who calmly have watched the "abused" leave the church time after time, often get disturbed that the "abusers" might leave the church. Young Christians, youth, new attenders, are the most vulnerable victims of the abusers. We must stop the abusers from chasing them from the churches, and from God.

The ones who are being abused must decide whom they serve and to whom they give account. The abused should determine to serve and listen to God alone. There will be much advice, direction, and guidance offered. Most of it will be in error. Let the Lord be your only Master. We are all "priests" to God, and the true "chain of command" is:
God first,
the One Mediator -Jesus, as Second,
and then you.

I Peter 5:3
"NEITHER AS BEING LORDS OVER GOD'S HERITAGE, BUT BEING ENSAMPLES TO THE FLOCK."

We all answer directly to Jesus and God. The ones who want to look down on some as inferior Christians are in opposition to God's plan. Surely, there are rules in a church. These rules are supposed to make sure that all is done in love, fairness, and in a way to edify each other. Other rules are just a potential wedge for the devil. Abusers will take these rules and attempt to divide the saints over them.

We need to find a group of like-minded believers to stand with us in prayer. The abused often need to exhort and encourage each other into continuing with the Lord. Often the abusers are already unsaved and backslidden. If the abused also backslide, the devil wins. Build relationships with others who can help pick you up when you have been hurt.

Hebrews 10:24-25
"AND LET US CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER TO PROVOKE UNTO LOVE AND TO GOOD WORKS. NOT FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLING OF YOURSELVES TOGETHER, AS THE MANNER OF SOME IS, BUT EXHORTING ONE ANOTHER; AND SO MUCH THE MORE AS YE SEE THE DAY APPROACHING."

Do not counterattack. Revenge is not the answer. Often people feel the need to strike out and get revenge. Our pain and disappointment can make us feel justified in this course of action. Yet, it is never right. There is an appropriate way to confront and change abusive situations. God's way will result in your growth, be based on Biblical truth, and not make you apologize later. Don't get drawn into a course of action that will bring regret and necessitate an apology.

"A LITTLE LEAVEN, LEAVENS THE WHOLE LUMP." (Gal. 5:9)

We must seek out the leaven, and effect change. We cannot weed out all the "tares" ( Matt. 13). Some of the wheat would be weeded out along with the tares. So we effect change by changing the system whereby the abusers function. The message and emphasis of the church must be altered to put God back into control. When He sits upon the throne of the church, the abusers lose their power. Their power depends on the leadership being blind, unaware, or apathetic to what they do.

When the Holy Spirit reveals to the revived leadership the abuse that is occurring, the leadership will expose the abusers and remove their power to continue in positions of authority. A revival of love and worship to the Lord, Who is now back on the throne, will cause the abusers to either get revived too, or leave.

To effect this revival back to the Lord, requires much intercession.

Many Christians are not up to it. Many will run at the first sign of opposition. Others will fight for revival and wait long for it. Sometimes they too leave, but only after the people or leadership have thwarted the revival God tries to give.

Some who enter the fellowship are saints who have been in an abusive situation elsewhere, and are now attending where we worship God to find a place of peace, love, and healing. We should love and attend to them. We must not let them be abused in our church.

Others who may come to our church may be the abusers who left a church that exposed them for what they are. These ECCLESIASTICAL TRANSMANDICANT MENDICANTS (church bums), will go from church to church to find one who will tolerate them and allow them to rise to positions where they can abuse others.

We cannot always know the abusers from the abused. We need the guidance and the help of the Spirit.
The gift of 'word of wisdom' will reveal the motives of abusers.
The gift of 'word of knowledge' will be God telling us what their intent and motives are.
The gift of 'discernment of spirits' will reveal who is on whose side.

We need to examine our church fellowship and pray often for it and its leadership.

Galatians 5:10
"HE THAT TROUBLETH YOU SHALL BEAR HIS JUDGMENT, WHOEVER HE BE... I WOULD THEY WERE EVEN CUT OFF WHICH TROUBLE YOU. FOR, BRETHREN, YE HAVE BEEN CALLED INTO LIBERTY; ONLY USE NOT LIBERTY FOR AN OCCASION TO THE FLESH, BUT BY LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER. FOR ALL THE LAW IS FULFILLED IN ONE WORD, EVEN IN THIS; THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF. BUT IF YE BITE AND DEVOUR ONE ANOTHER, TAKE HEED THAT YE BE NOT CONSUMED ONE OF ANOTHER."

II Peter 2:1-3
"FALSE PROPHETS...FALSE TEACHERS... DAMNABLE HERESIES... DENYING THE LORD...PERNICIOUS WAYS .. . COVETOUSNESS ...MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU... WHOSE JUDGMENT NOW OF A LONG TIME LINGERETH NOT, AND THEIR DAMNATION SLUMBERETH NOT."

Jude 4
"FOR THERE ARE CERTAIN MEN CREPT IN UNAWARES, WHO WERE BEFORE OF OLD ORDAINED TO THIS CONDEMNATION, UNGODLY MEN, TURNING THE GRACE OF GOD INTO LASCIVIOUSNESS, AND DENYING THE ONLY LORD GOD, AND OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST..."

II Peter 4:17
"FOR THE TIME IS COME THAT JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD..."

Matthew 13:41
"THE SON OF MAN SHALL SEND FORTH HIS ANGELS, AND THEY SHALL GATHER OUT OF HIS KINGDOM ALL THINGS THAT OFFEND, AND THEM THAT DO INIQUITY."

Matthew 13:33
"ANOTHER PARABLE SPAKE HE UNTO THEM: 'THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE UNTO LEAVEN WHICH A WOMAN TOOK, AND HID IN THREE MEASURES OF MEAL, TILL THE WHOLE WAS LEAVENED.'"

Matthew 7:15-23
"BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS, WHICH COME TO YOU IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING, BUT INWARDLY ARE RAVENING WOLVES. YE SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS. DO MEN GATHER GRAPES OF THORNS, OR FIGS OF THISTLES? EVEN SO EVERY GOOD TREE BRINGETH FORTH GOOD FRUIT; BUT A CORRUPT TREE BRINGETH FORTH EVIL FRUIT. A GOOD TREE CANNOT BRING FORTH EVIL FRUIT, NEITHER CAN A CORRUPT TREE BRING FORTH GOOD FRUIT. EVERY TREE THAT BRINGETH NOT FORTH GOOD FRUIT IS HEWN DOWN, AND CAST INTO THE FIRE. WHEREFORE BY THEIR FRUITS SHALL YE KNOW THEM. NOT EVERYONE THAT SAITH UNTO ME, 'LORD, LORD,' SHALL ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. MANY WILL SAY TO ME IN THAT DAY, 'LORD, LORD, HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED IN THY NAME? AND IN THY NAME CAST OUT DEVILS? AND IN THY NAME DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS? AND THEN I WILL PROFESS UNTO THEM, I NEVER KNEW YOU; DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY."

Matthew 18:6-7
"BUT WHOSO SHALL OFFEND ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES WHICH BELIEVE IN ME, IT WERE BETTER FOR HIM THAT A MILLSTONE WERE HANGED ABOUT HIS NECK, AND THAT HE WERE DROWNED IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA. WOE UNTO THE WORLD, BECAUSE OF OFFENSES ! FOR IT MUST BE THAT OFFENSES MUST COME, BUT WOE TO THAT MAN BY WHOM THE OFFENSE COMETH."
 
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murjahel

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Joel 2:28-29
"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon your servants and upon your handmaids in those days, will I pour out My Spirit."

Peter said on the day of Pentecost, that "this is that which was prophesied of the prophet Joel." So the early church began experiencing the early fulfillment of this prophecy. The outpouring of the Spirit began then, but the complete fulfillment of this verse will not occur until "all flesh" on the earth are filled with the blessed Holy Spirit. This will not be completely fulfilled until the millennial rule of Jesus. We are presently in the period between the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy, and the end and final perfect fulfillment of the prophecy.


Joel 2:28-29 was a fulfillment of the prayer of Moses as recorded in Numbers 11:29:
"...would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!"

The purpose of the Holy Spirit was to guide mankind to Jesus. We have currently many gifts that aid us in that goal. The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus, and we an be 'full of the Holy Spirit' to aid and be used in His goal of convicting sinners, bringing mankind to righteousness, and assuring them that there is a judgment.

I am NOT a CESSATIONIST now... but certain gifts will cease in the millennial time following the coming of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (KJV)
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Current cessationists try to use that verse to prove that now there should be no prophetic words, no gift of tongues, and no words of knowledge. They are wrong as can be... for the ONE Who is perfect has not yet come.

When He does, a part of the infilling of the Holy Spirit is done away, for we will not need a 'word of Knowledge', we will be living with Jesus Who knows all things, we will not need a message in tongues from God, we will be dwelling with Him, and He can speak Himself, instead of routing it from Him to the Holy Spirit to one with the gifts of tongues, to another with the interpretation. We can cut out some middle men. Words of prophetic encouragement will then cease too, for we have Jesus there, to speak directly to us.

So, part of the infilling is no longer necessary. 'Charity' never ceases... and the 'love' of the Spirit is long thought to be one of the fruit, but here it is listed in the gift category. There are gifts that endure, and the gift of love will abound in the millennium.

Of course, we are 'Spirit filled' in the millennium, we are saved, sanctified, eternally secure, in fellowship with the whole of the Trinity... and those blessings include being Spirit filled, and love is the most powerful gift. We will need 'love' to minister to those humans left on the earth, we will tell them about Jesus, the Holy Spirit will save them, fill them... and we and they, all of us will be filled with the Holy Spirit. Eternal security is not yet in place for them though, for at the end of the tribulation, some shall follow a 'loosed devil' and be destroyed by fire from God. Then we move to the new heaven and new earth. The Holy Spirit infilling continues for eternity, and the gift of charity, love.. enables us to teach and preach to the humans we rule and reign over...

While the 120 were awaiting the Spirit in the upper room in Jerusalem, the arrival of the Spirit occurred, and they began to speak in languages unknown to them about the wondrous Lord Jesus. The 120 soon became thousands, and now the Spirit-filled believers are numbered in the millions. Yet, this has not exhausted and completed the fulfillment of the prophecy of the outpouring of the Spirit. There will come a time, when all humans on the new earth, and all of us in our new glorified bodies too, will be full of the Holy Spirit.

Certain gifts will then cease... (oh my, that means I will be a partial 'cessationist', LOL) Now, we are not 'cessationist' and I will not be until I am standing with Jesus... and then only some of the gifts will 'fail', 'cease', be 'done away', for we will no longer need them. Some others will cease... like 'gift of healing', but then only because there will be no sickness, no more death...

Yet, the powerful Holy Spirit will still have a work, and we will still need His power to do it, and He will still infill us with Divine Power to do what we need to do in ruling and reigning over the new earth, new heavens.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit began with the day of Pentecost revival. The Spirit continued to fill thirsty souls, but the revival waned through the "dark ages". Now, in the last century, we have seen a renewed move of the Spirit. The revival has begun. It will continue to increase until the "double portion" time just preceding the rapture of the church. Still, the full fulfillment of the prophecy in Joel will not have reached its apex. In the millennium, finally, "all flesh" will be filled with the Spirit.

Isaiah 32:15-18 (KJV)
15 Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
16 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

Ezekiel 36:26-28 (KJV)
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Ezekiel 39:28-29 (KJV)
28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

Zechariah 12:10 (KJV)
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.


The "last days" revival began on the day of Pentecost, but it will not be completed until God has completely restored mankind to the place of fellowship Adam had with God before the fall in the garden. In the millennium, the revival will have reached its ultimate goal. Then, during the "day of Jehovah", those on the earth will have real peace, fellowship, and restoration to God. The Holy Spirit infilling will still be available, in fact, it will be universally accepted in the millennium and post millennial new earth time.

Joel 2:32
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered; for in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance..."

Deliverance from sin and its horrible effects is the reason we need the baptism. Power for ministry is another reason... we will be delivered, we will be preaching 'deliverance' to those still in human bodies... we will need power to serve the Lord as rulers over these humans.

Jesus will, Himself, dwell in Jerusalem on Mount Zion. Grace will extend to all. Some gifts will no longer be needed, but some will. The gift often misconstrued as 'only a fruit', will be the most powerful gift... a gift of love.

Charity (love) never will cease, and we and the humans there will not have wars anymore, not have sin anymore, not have strife, lies, etc... for the two commandments of Jesus (love God supremely, love your neighbor as yourself) will be a gift of the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

We are still dabbling in the wonder of the Holy Spirit infilling, there is much more to come, there is adjustment to it when certain gifts are no longer needed, there is an unfolding of its supremity.
 
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murjahel

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John 15:26-27
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning.

The Lord Jesus sent back the Holy Spirit to be a Comforter, Advocate, Helper with gifts of power for us, for two reasons shown here... TO TESTIFY OF JESUS, TO MAKE US WITNESSES OF JESUS.

John 16:1-33 (KJV)
1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me.
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5 But now I go My way to Him that sent Me; and none of you asketh Me, Whither goest thou?
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.
8 And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on Me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Many want to be Spirit-filled, but do not realize those who are filled must be a witness for the Lord. The Lord promised here that the Holy Spirit would be a revealer of information, as in the gifts of word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discernment of Spirits. The Holy Spirit is predicted to speak the messages of Jesus and God to us, as in prophecies, tongues, interpretations. All this is to be done for the purpose of being a WITNESS for Jesus.

John 15:26-27
"But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, Whom proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me; and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning."

Many want to be given revelations from God, but few of these will realize that the only way to be so enlightened by God means they must be rejected, expelled from congregations, plotted against by the religious of the world.

John 16:1-3
"These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me."

There are great benefits to abiding... We will know what the Lord is doing, we will have revelations, and we will not just be His servants, but will be His friends... Chosen, to be friends, to be witnesses, to be used of God, to be fruitful, to be clean and pure, to be joyful, to be given revelations, to be Spirit-filled, to be a blessing to others... Yes, we are so chosen, and the Lord is therefore now inspiring us with words spoken by the Father about us...

John 15:14-16
"Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth, I call you not 'servants'; for the servant knoweth not what the Lord doeth, but I have called you 'friends', for all things that I have heard of My Father, I have made known unto you..."

We have been "chosen" of the Lord. We are chosen to abide... Denominations make lists and rules for deciding who they think is worthy to be chosen for ministries. Often, very often, the ones the denominations turn down, are chosen by the Lord. Likewise, many Christians look for ones with prestige, education, wealth, etc. when choosing ones to fill places of leadership.

od rips away all those standards, and does the choosing Himself... His choices usually astound and contradict the choices of mankind.

He chose David, when even David's father, Jesse, did not consider David a likely candidate.

God often chose the ones who were not the firstborn to take the blessings of the firstborn... (Jacob, not Esau; Seth, not Cain; Isaac, not Ishmael).

God chose a Pharisee who had helped stone one of the saints of God to be the apostle of the Gentiles (Paul).

God chose to use the adulterous woman at the well to evangelize a whole city.

Now, we know that we have been chosen of the Lord for a particular ministry... God chooses us... He has chosen you... He can and will do great things through you... if you will abide the tests, the trials, the persecutions... Do not blame God if the trial is hard to bear, if the cost seems too great! The reward for such trials is greater than we can realize.

I Peter 1:7
"...the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold..."

If you can abide:
the purging,
the scoldings and corrections of the Lord,
the necessary obedience to His commands,
the difficult tasks asked of us by our Lord,
the hatred and persecution of the world,
the humbling by our Lord,
the mistreatment without cause by the world,
the witnessing to a hateful world,
and the plotting against us by the world...
then you can have the CHOSEN CALLING AND ITS REWARDS.

And-- also remember, that God not only has chosen those the world has not chosen... He will also choose places we would not choose... in which to use and bless us. God chose an upper room into which to send the Holy Spirit, when we would probably chosen the Temple for such an event. God chose for Naaman to dip seven times into a muddy Jordan River, rather than into a clean pool. God chose to send His Son to a birth in a manger, and not to the palace room. God chose to reveal Himself to Moses in a desert via a burning bush, not in a crowded Temple in a large city... God will choose to bless you, in strange places, and in strange circumstances...

God also chooses the time. Everything has been planned in detail by God, since before the world ever began. He has times planned, and He will do everything according to His schedule, not ours...

Acts 17:26, 31
"hath determined the times before appointed... He hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness."


God has chosen to have us be witnesses. He has called unlikely, and incapable ones, for the Holy Spirit's gifts and power bestowed upon us, make us able and powerful witnesses.
 
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murjahel

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John 15:7
"If ye abide in Me, and MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you..."

We all love the final part of the verse above... We quote it often, and have forgotten the rest of the lesson. We need to have come step by step through the teachings of the previous lessons, and now find that the Word (rhema) of God is abiding in us... and we will find the powerful, dynamic, revival dunamis is easily available... We need that power for the latter rain revival... How do we get it???


WHAT ARE THE "WORDS" THAT ARE TO ABIDE IN US?

First, let us consider what is the "WORD" that is to abide in us... It is part of the armor we need to stand up to the devil and to defeat him as never before... in this latter rain revival!

Ephesians 6:11-13, 17-18
"PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL. FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES. WHEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND...AND TAKE...THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD. PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION IN THE SPIRIT, AND WATCHING THEREUNTO WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE AND SUPPLICATION FOR ALL SAINTS."

We are not to be "foxhole Christians." We are to attack the devil and his strongholds. God did not put us here on earth to suffer, die, and hope our defensive armor protects us until the rapture. We are to be offensively minded against the devil, to tread on him, and to defeat his plans.

John 20:21 "AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, SO SEND I YOU..."

Did Jesus come to be beaten by the devil? No! He healed the sick, preached the Word, raised the dead, cast out devils, etc. In the same way, we are to attack the devil, demons, and the destructive work they are doing in this world.

The part of the armor described as the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God," refers to the "machaira" of the Roman times. It was not a sword as we usually think. We think of a sword as one that one of the three musketeers would have used. This sword though was a short sword, a dagger, or like one of our knives. It was used in close combat.

God did not offer us a spear, to throw at the enemy 20 yards away. Nor did He offer us a bow and arrow, to shoot at the enemy on a hillside away from us. No! He gave us a short dagger, that we must march right up to the enemy and bravely use. We are to come face to face with the enemy. Not hiding in a foxhole, occasionally rising up to hurl a spear and then duck into safety again. We are to get into the battlefield, bravely confront the devil and his plans... and use the short dagger that the Lord has given us, i.e. the Word (rhema) of God.

A sword is an offensive weapon. It is used to destroy the enemy, and bring him to surrender. Fighting with a sword is difficult and dangerous. It takes much practice. Yet, in spiritual sword fighting, many Christians are novices. Many have never attacked the enemy. Many don't know how to use the "sword." Many carry a sword they have seldom used. This is not how the Lord planned our attack.

What is this "sword?"

Ephesians 6:17
"...SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD..."

The "WORD" referred to here is the Greek word "rhema" and not the word "logos" that many have assumed it to be. Rhema denotes an "utterance of God." Logos denotes the "Word of God, i.e. the Bible." Rhema is the speaking of God through us, perhaps using God's Word, or by prophecy, by word of knowledge, or by inspiration. Now that we have learned how to have Jesus abide in us, we should expect Him to speak through us. As we learn to ABIDE IN HIM, and find that He also begins to ABIDE IN US, the end result is that we will have His RHEMA WORD in us... and can therefore begin to speak it.

Matthew 12:36
"BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT EVERY IDLE WORD (rhema) THAT MEN SHALL SPEAK, THEY SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT THEREOF IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT."

Here the word, rhema, refers to the times when one may say: "God is saying... to you." Whenever a person of God speaks for God in this way, he or she must be very careful to be sure it is truly God speaking. For we shall someday have to account to God if it was not God speaking through us. Rhema is the uttering of God's message to someone. Jesus, Who had the Father ABIDING in Him so much, that from the Father He knew that Peter would deny Him three times, uttered that fact to Peter.


Matthew 26:75
"PETER REMEMBERED THE WORD (rhema) OF JESUS, WHICH SAID UNTO HIM, 'BEFORE THE [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] CROW, THOU SHALT DENY ME THRICE...'"

This was not a quote from the Bible that Jesus spoke to Peter. A rhema word does not need to be a quote from the Bible. This was a message from God to Peter. Jesus spoke this rhema to Peter. In the same way, when we speak rhema, we are speaking a message from God through our lips.


THE SOURCE OF THE RHEMA

Jesus spoke the words of the Father, for the Father dwelt in Him, in the same way that Jesus seeks to abide in us. Jesus spoke the words of God... these were His rhema words.

John 8:26
"I have many things to say and to judge of you; But He that sent Me is true. I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him."

We are to follow the Lord's example, and seak to the world the things we hear of the Lord Who abides in us.

John 8:28
"But as the Father hath taught Me, I speak these things..."

If we are learning from the Spirit of Truth, and abiding within Jesus, and allowing Him to abide in us... we will have rhema word to speak to the world... When they listen to our words, in this latter rain revival, they will hear what we have been learning from Jesus... We will speak of His coming, of His love, of His concerns over the need of repentance, etc. The world will see and hear Jesus in us, as the world saw and heard God in our Lord in those days.

John 12:45-50
"He that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear My words (rhema) and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judges him in the last day. For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father Who sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is everlasting life; whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak."

Our source for the rhema words is the Lord... and He will speak to us concerning ourselves, the world, our lives here, and his blessings to come upon us... In fact, if we are sent into a ministry for the Lord, we will have the Holy Spirit without measure given to us... So the speaking of rhema to us, for us to pass on... will be abundant...!

John 3:34
"FOR HE WHOM GOD HATH SENT SPEAKETH THE WORDS (rhema) OF GOD; FOR GOD GIVETH NOT THE SPIRIT BY MEASURE UNTO HIM..."

The rhema here are the words that God gives His servants to speak when He sends them. Rhema is not our own word, but it refers to the message of God. This verse says that whenever God sends us forth to do His work, He will give us rhema to speak. We will be able to speak for God, or rebuke the devil with the rhema of God. We have been empowered by the Spirit of Truth, and we are abiding in Christ, and He is abiding in us, and we are sent to be a blessing for the Lord to the world in the latter rain revival... so why would God give us only a little rhema, or just enough rhema...??? No, He gives us Spirit "without measure..." and the Rhema will flow abundantly in the latter rain revival.

The rhema of God is the message with which we will proclaim in the last day revival. The early church had rhema word abundantly in the former rain revival... Notice what Paul proclaimed:

Romans 10:8,17
"BUT WHAT SAITH IT? 'THE WORD (rhema) IS NIGH THEE, EVEN IN THY MOUTH, AND IN THY HEART, THAT IS THE WORD (rhema) OF FAITH, WHICH WE PREACH... SO THAT FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD (rhema) OF GOD."

The Word of truth is near ("nigh") us also, as it was for them, for the Lord dwells in us, as Emmanuel. He uses our lips, our tongues, and our voice box to speak to this world. It is Jesus, Who is "the Truth" abiding in us, and the "Spirit of Truth" Who works with us - and both of Them are creating the "Word" (rhema) that is abiding and resident within us...!!!


John 17:17
"Thy Word is truth..."

Where the Spirit of Truth is at work, the Lord will be speaking His word through His children. The Spirit will be encouraging the message of Jesus so much that somehow the Word of truth will become heard... We can be a part of the Spirit's work by uttering the rhema Word...

John 8:31-32
"If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed. And if you know the truth, the truth will set you free."

Continuing to speak the rhema word of the Lord will show we are truly the disciples of the Lord. Knowing the truth that His rhema word will show... will set us free from worry, doubt, and fear. We can grow in faith more than we ever dreamed if we learn to listen to the rhema word, and speak it forth as the Lord directs. Faith is built up in us, and through us, by the speaking forth of the rhema of God.

This gift of Rhema is for all ages, and for all saints... but we in the last days can have a double portion of it for this last revival before the coming of Jesus for His church. Do not believe the lies of the hypocritical, dead, Laodicean saints... it is not something for only past Bible times.

I Peter 1:25
"BUT THE WORD (rhema) OF THE LORD ENDURETH FOREVER, AND THIS IS THE WORD (rhema) BY WHICH THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED UNTO YOU."
 
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murjahel

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WHEN WE SPEAK THE MESSAGE OF JESUS,
VIA THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
THE HEARERS EITHER RECEIVE SPIRITUAL SIGHT,
OR THEY RECEIVE SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.

THE ONES MADE BLIND BY THEIR REJECTION OF THE WORDS,
WILL HATE US.​



When Jesus spoke the rhema of God, He was hated, and many sought to kill Him. They desired to destroy Him, but God kept them unable to do so until the proper time. Many will hate us, despise us, scheme against us, and perhaps even want to kill us... but do not fear.

John 8:20
"These words (rhema) spake Jesus in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no man laid hands on Him, for His hour was not yet come."

Jesus indicated that many will not be able to understand the rhema of God. Those who are of God will recognize God's rhema word, and the ones who are of the devil will not be able to understand or accept the rhema. You will find this out by experience in the next few weeks, as you speak rhema, many people will not be able to accept the rhema, and many will show to us, the truth about themselves (i.e. who their true father is!).

John 8:43-47
"Why do ye not understand My speech? even because ye cannot hear My word (rhema). Ye are of your father, the devil... there is no truth in him... when he speaketh a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not... if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me? He that is of God heareth God's words; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God!"


When Jesus shared the rhema word with His disciples, and they began to share the same with others... they were hated.

John 17:14
"I have given them (the disciples) Thy Word (rhema), and the world hath hated them (the disciples)."

In the midst of the sermon of Jesus to the disciples of the rhema word, and how to be used of God in delivering such word to the world, Jesus gave an illustrated lesson. We find the story of such in John 9.

Jesus came upon a man born blind. The disciples asked if the man was blind because of his owns sins, or because of the sins of his parents. Jesus told them that this man was blind due to the desire of God to manifest something to those who behold the miracle that Jesus was about to show.

Jesus took clay and spit, and anointed the eyes of the man.

The clay and spit indicated a type of the human and divine... (clay = earth = the human vessels that God uses were created originally from the earth; the spit of the Lord = the divine anointing upon the earth, and upon mankind created from it).

The man was told to then go wash in the near-by swimming pool. When he did, he received a miracle of sight.

Many have wondered why Jesus did this healing in this manner, instead of simply saying: "Receive your sight!" The truth Jesus sought to teach is the reason for this unusual miracle.

There was much rejoicing, and the Pharisees became upset that the man gave Jesus credit for his miracle. They tried to force him to recant his praise of the Lord, and threatened him and his parents with excommunication from the synagogue if he did not rescind his testimony.

Instead of rejoicing in the miracle for the man, the Pharisees were angry at Jesus, at the man, at his parents, and at all who were rejoicing for the miracle.

The man was a bit taken back, confused, and did not comprehend their anxiety. He was too busy enjoying his miracle.

The blind man was given sight, but the Pharisees were blinded to the miracle by their jealousies, fears, and sins.

In the same way, Jesus told the disciples that some will find sight when He speaks the rhema word... but others will be made blind by the same rhema word. We will find the same true as we utter rhema words from the Lord.

With the gift of prophecy, with the gifts of tongues and interpretations, with the gifts of 'word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discernment of spirits, we are given rhema words we can speak. These are words from Jesus, and unlike our words, they have a power. They bring sight or blindness spiritually.


John 9:39-41
"And Jesus said, for judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made blind... Are we (the Pharisees) blind also? ...If ye were blind, ye should have no sin, but now ye say 'We see!' Therefore you sin remaineth."

Therefore, we must still speak the rhema word, though some will be blinded, and reject the words... we still speak. Others will accept and rejoice as the blind man did at the revelation of sight.

Do not be discouraged! Speak on! For the time is coming when we will not be able to speak... Jesus faced an end of His earthly ministry, and He had to relinquish this ministry to His disciples.

John 9:4-5
"I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
 
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murjahel

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THE HOLY SPIRIT IMPARTS RHEMA GIFTS TO US,
AND IN THEM THERE IS POWER


Whenever the word rhema is used, it refers to the words spoken under the authority of God. We have been given the right by our Lord to speak the words of God through our lips. We need to learn how to use this rhema of God properly. It is our "SWORD" of offensive power against the devil.

Matthew 16:19-20
"AND I SAY UNTO YOU - THAT THOU ART PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN, AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT LOOSE IN EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN..."

The "keys" are symbols of authority. We speak with authority. This same power is promised to all Christians.

Matthew 17:20
"IF YE HAVE FAITH AS A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED, YE SHALL SAY TO THIS MOUNTAIN, 'REMOVE HENCE TO YONDER PLACE, AND IT SHALL REMOVE, AND NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU.'"


Matthew 18:18
"VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, WHATSOEVER YE SHALL BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN AND WHATSOEVER YE SHALL LOOSE ON EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN."

Matthew 21:22
"ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVING YE SHALL RECEIVE."


Then, do not forget the verse with which we began:

John 15:7
"IF YE ABIDE IN ME AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, YE SHALL ASK WHAT YE WILL AND IT SHALL BE DONE UNTO YOU."

Thus, the Christians are promised to have the authority and right to speak the rhema. We are offered the armor of God. We are to use the "sword" which is the "rhema" of God.

With this rhema sword we can:
Bind Satan and his angels in chains (Revelation 9:14, 20:2)
Bind men by God's power (Matthew 16:19, 18:8)
Loose infirmities (Luke 13:12-16, Mark 7:35)
Loose men from chains and prisons (Acts 16:26, 22:30,24:6)
Loose men from sin (Revelation 1:5, I John 1:9)
Loose men from bonds of death (Acts 2:24)
Loose from deafness and dumbness (Mark 7:32-35)
Loose from blindness (Matthew 9:27-31)
Loose from leprosy (Matthew 8:1-4)
etc.

There are many examples of this rhema power of God in operation.

Elijah - the woman with the cruse of oil and handful of meal
Elijah - woman who filled many jars with one small vessel of oil
Elijah - shut up rain for over 3 years
Elisha - shut up rain for 7 years
Christ - calmed the sea
Christ - walked on water and bid Peter to come to Him
Christ - fed the 4000, and the 5000 +


The laws of nature can be bound and loosed by the rhema of God. We have this authority and power when God gives us the words to speak.


Luke 10:19
"BEHOLD, I GIVE UNTO YOU POWER (exousia, authority) TO TREAD ON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS (demon powers) AND OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY, AND NOTHING SHALL BY ANY MEANS HURT YOU."

Don't be afraid to expect and to use rhema. Go to situations where rhema is needed. Go to where the devil needs bound, or where blessings need loosed. Then expect God to give you the words to speak. The rhema can be spoken, and it will be as though God spoke the words Himself.

Many improperly try to use rhema, and seek to get all their carnal desires fulfilled with speaking "rhema". This is contrary to the plan of God, for God told us not to seek earthly treasures, and if we are seeking earthly treasures, and speaking "rhema" to claim cadillacs, mansions, and spectacular vacations, it only proves that we are not speaking the "Word" of the Lord that abides in us... For if the Lord were abiding in us, and we were being filled with His word (rhema), we would be claiming what He wants for us, for the world, and for our ministry...

Examine your rhema, and see if it matches what should be flowing out of a person entirely filled with the Lord and with the Spirit of Truth. If it does not, forget speaking rhema, until you are abiding in Christ, and He is fully abiding in you.

In order to properly use rhema, communion with the Lord is vital... That is why we first had to study about having the Spirit of Truth working in our lives... And then we needed to learn how to abide in Jesus, even though it means suffering with Him. Finally, we find Him abiding in us... and the power is therefore ready...

Too many want to speak rhema without the relationship so far described in these lessons. To run off to battle without THIS RELATIONSHIP is like running into battle with an empty gun. Many Christians do that. There is no power in your "word", there is only power in HIS WORD THAT ABIDES IN US. His word (rhema) abides within us, when we have Him abiding in us, fully, completely, and unreservedly... Our words (rhema) will betray any hypocrisy or deception in that claim...
 
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murjahel

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THE DISPENSING OF DIVINE BLESSINGS FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT
IS A RESULT OF DIVINE ANOINTINGS ON THE ONES GIFTED...



The Father has shared with us Jesus, and Jesus has taken of what the Father has given Him, and shared them with us. The sharing with the divine is the message of John in John 17.

At the baptism of Jesus, the Father spoke from heaven and put a blessing upon His only begotten Son. The Holy Spirit then descended from heaven in the form of a dove, and rested upon Jesus with a divine empowerment to do miracles, and to minister with enlightenment and rhema. Jesus then went out in power to do His ministry.

We, now, are to be likewise anointed, so that the Holy Spirit can operate through us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus has definitely taught in the gospel recorded by John, that He did His works with the power of God, and not in His own power. He had divested Himself of His power, glory, and station that He had in heaven. He had come to earth to be as a man, and as the Son of Man, He could do nothing of Himself.

Philippians 2:4-8
"Let this same mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

This mind of self-emptying of the Lord is to be in us, and we should realize that we are nothing of ourselves, as Christ made Himself to be. This is called the "kenosis" of Christ, which means the "self-emptying" of the Lord. It comes from the Greek word, "Kenoo," which means "to empty out, to drain." It is translated- "to make void", to "make of none effect", "to be in vain", to "make of no reputation", or "emptied Himself."

What the Lord is showing us in the gospel of John is that we are to do great things for the Lord, we are to have divine help, to have divine blessings, and to speak the rhema words of the Lord. Yet, we are not to do it in our own power, but to realize that everything that we have is of God!

So Jesus reminds us often that He was sent of the Father, and we are to realize that it was from the Father, and from the Spirit that Jesus did His miraculous works, and spoke His powerful messages. He had emptied Himself of all the power, glory, authority, and attributes of deity that He had in heaven.

John 3:35
"The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand."

John 5:19-20
"Then answered Jesus, and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do; for what things soever He doeth, these also the Son doeth likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth, and He will shew Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel."

What Jesus did while on earth, was done as the Father Who was in Him shared with Him. In their close relationship, the Father spoke words to Jesus, telling Him what to do, what to say, and then the Lord obeyed, and great marvelous miracles were wrought. Now Jesus is trying to teach us in the church age, that we are to take the same sharing covenant that He had with the Father, and abide in Him, and He in us, and to be filled with His rhema word, and to be filled with His love, enjoy the manifestations of the Lord, and go forth and feed His sheep, in the same way that Jesus did.

Jesus had to empty Himself of His power and glory to do this, we had no real power and glory to begin with, but we must realize how helpless, weak, drained, and totally powerless we are in ourselves, so that we can share from the Lord the power to do miracles, and to speak forth rhema. The new age movement of today tries to teach that each person is a god, a powerful being waiting to be released, but Christianity teaches us that in us is no good thing, and it is only in taking our weak, ineffective selves and sharing with it the power of a the divine Lord that we can do anything great!

YET, AS GOD SENT JESUS TO BE A HUMAN FOR A TIME,
AND ANOINTED HIM WITH WISDOM, POWER, AND VICTORY,
SO GOD WANTS TO DISPENSE THAT SAME POWER,
AND GREATER, TO ALL OF HIS DISCIPLES, GIFTING THEM WITH THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, AND ANOINTING THEM FOR MINISTRY..


Jesus came to do the will of God the Father. This is God, Who loves not just those who love Him, but the God Who loved us before we even decided to love Him. People love their friends, love those who have similar interests, love those who do right to them. That certainly is not all people, but some people are loved. God so loved the world that He sent Jesus to die for us. Can you even comprehend that kind of love? Can you comprehend that God the Father now wants to share divine blessings with us, in the same way He did for Jesus?

We can lift some things, carry our groceries from the car to the kitchen, carry our laundry to the basement. That is awesome to us. Yet, we have a God Who holds the universe together, Who created the planets, the stars, the tiny atoms that make up this universe we cannot even see the ends of it.
We have a God Who can hear the prayers of billions of people, billions of angels, all at once. He can know the number of hairs on your head at any given moment. He can see every sparrow that falls. He can call the trillions of trillions of stars by name. He can know the past, the present, and perfectly describe the future, and still, be there when you cry out for help.

Neither you, nor I, have an adequate concept of God. We could not. We can hear one person speak to us at a time. I have no idea how many hairs are on my own head, let alone yours. I do not notice birds when they fall to the ground. I can’t remember the names of the persons I have met in the last decade, let alone the names of all the stars in the heavens. How can my finite mind comprehend His infinite mind?

We will spend eternity trying to comprehend our loving, merciful, powerful, eternal God. It will be a wonderful journey. I hope to bump into all of you while on that conquest of the true concept of our wonderful Lord. While here on this earth, Jesus wants for us to learn how to tap into the wisdom and power of God, so we can do the works God wants for us to do. He wants to teach us, in John 17, the secrets to sharing divine blessings, to do works God wants us to do, to be the kind of powerful witness Jesus did while He shared a mortal, finite body.
 
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murjahel

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THE BURNING BUSH TEACHES US MUCH ABOUT THE EXCUSES WE STILL HEAR TODAY AS TO WHY SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE NOT USED.


This prickly shrub pictured the sinful, enslaved Hebrew people. Since thorns are the result of the curse of sin (Genesis 3:17-18), and fire symbolizes their suffering and tribulation. The unscathed bush shows that all the persecution and trials put upon the Hebrew people could not annihilate them. The voice of the Lord out of the burning bush shows the preservation, and presence of God amidst them, during their fiery trials.


Does God still lead men as He did Moses, here at the burning bush? God unquestionably dealt with Moses in an unusual way. It was not a "still small voice within Moses, but an audible voice from an inanimate object. God startled Moses with a revelation that defied logic, and then answered each of Moses (probably already prepared) excuses in a logical way, and left no doubt what God wanted of this man.


Today we have Scriptures to direct us, and we have the Holy Spirit to guide us. but occasionally God still must use "burning bush" experiences to make sure we definitely know His will.

Psalms 37:23
"The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord..."


GOD'S PEOPLE NEED CREDENTIALS AND AUTHORITY
BEFORE USING GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.



Too many of today's ministers feel that the ordination of a denomination is sufficient to indicate a calling and ministry. There is a greater credential authority that is mandatory for any ministry.

Moses knew that if he appeared before the elders of Israel, they would not accept him, or believe him. They would not accept the words and direction of Moses as the message from God. Therefore, Moses felt unprepared, afraid, inferior, and unworthy.


Inferiority comes from two fears:

1. Fear of failure

This is the fear that one cannot do what is required of him. This fear of losing even self-respect by lack of ability is devastating. The fear of failure is taking a wrong estimate of God's promises and provisions. The secret is to learn that it is not what can we do, but what can God do!!! We can "do all things through Christ."

2. Fear of man

There are always people who will disapprove. No one will get 100 % approval. Christ even had a "Judas" in the twelve disciples. Christ was perfect, but His critics were many. If we are in a perfect harmony with the Lord, many will think we are not in harmony, because they are not in harmony. Criticism must not be used to defer us from doing right, for we would never get anything done for God if we await 100 % agreement.


THE EXCUSES OF MOSES


1. LACK OF CAPABILITY
Exodus 3:11
"...Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh...?
God answered in Exodus 3:12:
"Certainly, I will be with you..."

2. LACK OF MESSAGE
Exodus 3:13
"...what shall I say unto them???"
God answered in Exodus 3:14:
"Thou shalt say, 'I AM' hath sent me..."

3. LACK OF AUTHORITY
Exodus 4:1
"...behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken to my voice..."
God promised multitudes of miracles in His answer in Exodus 4:2-9:
"What is in thine hand?" ("A rod") "... put hand into thy bosom..." ("leprous")... "If they will not hearken to the voice of the firs sign, they will believe the voice of the latter sign."

4. LACK OF ELOQUENCE
Exodus 4:10
"I am not eloquent..."
God answered in Exodus 4:18-19:
"Who hath made man's mouth? ... I will be with thy mouth..."

5. LACK OF A HELPER
Exodus 4:13
"Send, I pray thee, by the hand of him who thou wilt send..."
God's answer is found in Exodus 4:14-16:
"The anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses... Is not Aaron, the Levite, thy brother? ...he shall be thy spokesman."

6. LACK OF PREVIOUS SUCCESS
Exodus 5:23
"For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Thy name, he hath done evil to this people, neither hast Thou delivered Thy people at all..."
God answered in Exodus 6:1:
"Now thou shalt see what I will do to Pharaoh..."

7. LACK OF PREVIOUS ACCEPTANCE
Exodus 6:12
"Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me..."
God answered in Exodus 6:13:
"...the Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge..."

God can get angry at our excuses, and our lack of trust in Him as our answer. Many think God sits in heaven, immovable, uncaring. God does have emotions, feelings. He shares His sorrows, He pities His children. He loves, He can regret, HE can be jealous, He can get angry, He can be touched.

Hebrews 2:17-18, 4:14-16
"Wherefore, in all things, it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in all things pertaining unto God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted... Seeing then we have a great High Priest, That is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High Priest Which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

BY THREE SIGNS, GOD OVERRULED OBJECTIONS.

1. The "rod" of God which Moses cast upon the ground became a serpent (Heb. = nachash = a hissing snake), and when returned to his hand, it became again the "rod of God." (Exodus 4:1-5).

2. Moses' hand became leprous, and then was healed of God (Exodus 4:6-7).

3. Water taken from the Nile, and poured upon dry ground would turn to blood. (Exodus 4:8-9).

God always gives a person called to a mission the power, might, miraculous help needed to do the task. Moses here is promised the miraculous signs to give him credentials before the people. It is not our ministerial badges, our denominational license, or our "robes and turned around collars" that we need to parade before the people to have their attention, respect, and reverence.

IN THE ORIGINAL WILDERNESS JOURNEY, THE LEADER WAS MOSES, IN OUR WILDERNESS JOURNEYS, THE LEADER IS JESUS

Moses died on the same day on which he was born 120 years earlier. He was promoted to paradise, and unable to enter the land for he had sinned against God's plan. Many others in Israel were likewise judged for their sin of murmuring and doubt. God is no respecter of persons. God's justice counted the sin of Moses striking the rock for a second time to be severe for it broke the type and shadow of truth that God was showing to those people and to all generations since. God's justice does not allow Him to favor one, and judge others. His salvation is all mercy, but His rewards are based on our works, and His punishments are given for disobedience.

Moses was saved, promoted to paradise, later allowed to stand on the Mt. of Transfiguration with the Lord, and now awaiting the rest of us in heaven. Do you suppose that Moses was satisfied with just this glimpse into the promised land? Are any of us ever satisfied with the blessings of God here on this earth? There is a dissatisfaction because we now see "as through a glass darkly", and we long for the fuller blessings that await us in our soon coming time of eternal victory.

This man named Moses has been loved greatly by people of that day, and also of our own.

Deuteronomy 34:10-12
"And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land. And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel."

To prevent veneration and glorification of the man, God chose to bury him secretly. A greater than Moses was to come, and God did not want, nor would Moses have wanted, to let this loved intercessor and deliverer of his people to shadow the great One Who would come for the ultimate deliverance of the people.

Moses had become a ‘nobody’, before he began to lead Israel out of the wilderness, and at the end, God made sure that ‘nobody’ would be shown to still be a ‘nobody’ and not get undue reverence, worship, or adoration, that would negate the truth that only God deserves the credit, the worship, the praise for His works.

Moses had some great qualities that marked him as a man of God. He was:
an obedient nobody...

Moses was obedient in returning to Egypt, confronting an angry and evil Pharaoh, interceding for Israel even when they murmured against him, and faithfully leading them for 40 years.
an unselfish nobody...

Moses was not bitter even when he was refused entrance to the land he so longed to go. Moses gave glory to God, and not to himself for all the things that had occurred.

a sensitive nobody...

Moses was sensitive to the needs of the people, and carried their burdens to God in intercessory prayer...

a confident in God nobody...

Moses was confident in God's wisdom, and though he could easily have yielded to doubt and despair, he bore the weight of leading several million people across a desert for 40 years.

We need to face the excuses offered in our day, and realize that application of them to our ministry will keep one in the defeat. If we accept God's gifts we can be prepared and armed to do God's work.
 
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murjahel

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Satan has wisdom, but it is perverted. We, as gifted children of God, have the 'word of wisdom', the 'word of knowledge', and 'discernment' that make the perverted wisdom of the devil look totally impotent in the battle.

Satan has ability, but it is limited. We, as Holy Spirit filled and Holy Spirit empowered, have all the power of God to be used in battle.

Satan is a deceiver, but we are enlightened by God, shown what we need to know of the devils' lies, and workings. So, we need not be deceived.

In reality, Satan is a defeated, stupid, overmatched enemy. Too many give too much credit to Satan. He doesn't know everything. He is no mind reader. He may be powerful, but we, as Christians, have a greater One in us. We are empowered with gifts that the devil cannot match.


The Bible instructs us to be joyful, even in trials, because God will use, even what Satan uses to try to hurt us, to give us good things.

James 1:2-4 Amplified Bible
"CONSIDER IT WHOLLY JOYFUL, MY BRETHREN, WHENEVER YOU ARE ENVELOPED IN, OR ENCOUNTER TRIALS OF ANY SORT, OR FALL INTO VARIOUS TEMPTATIONS. BE ASSURED AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRIAL AND PROVING OF YOUR FAITH BRING OUT ENDURANCE AND STEADFASTNESS, AND PATIENCE. BUT LET ENDURANCE AND STEADFASTNESS AND PATIENCE HAVE FULL PLAY AND DO A THOROUGH WORK, SO THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECTLY AND FULLY DEVELOPED (WITH NO DEFECTS, LACKING IN NOTHING)."


We, as Holy Spirit filled and gifted saints of the Lord have a crown, and heaven's joys to anticipate. The devil has the lake of fire in his future. We work with joy in view, the devils know total defeat is near for them.

James 1:12 KJV
"BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION; FOR WHEN HE IS TRIED, HE SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH THE LORD HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM."

If we resist the devil, he has to flee, and we win. If he resists us, we can rebuke, bind, and defeat his plans.

All the trials and temptations that the devil throws our ways, God not only overcomes, but gives us gifts of the Holy Spirit to defeat the devils' goals.

Satan tries to defeat us, but instead, we are matured and strengthened through the trials. The dummy (Satan) keeps giving us trials, and we keep maturing more and more.

As we get stronger and stronger in the Lord, the devil keeps getting smaller and smaller. We are the winners, he is the loser. He is the dummy, and he always has been. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are some of the weapons with which we battle the devils.

God's first prophecy scared Satan.
Genesis 3:15
"AND I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN THEE AND THE WOMAN, AND BETWEEN THY SEED AND HER SEED. HE SHALL BRUISE THY HEAD, AND THOU SHALT BRUISE HIS HEEL."

Satan learned about a "SEED" of the woman who would defeat him. This scared the devil.
James 2:19
"...THE DEVILS BELIEVE AND TREMBLE."

Satan had thought the he'd won the war when he had succeeded in having Adam and Eve sin. Then God tells him that there is a plan for the devil to be defeated. None of the angels, or demons knew what the plan was. God kept it secret until after the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. Now, with Jesus having been crucified, risen again, and ascended to send back the Holy Spirit to empower us, the devil is defeated by all who stand up against him.

I Corinthians 2:8
"...WHICH NONE OF THE PRINCES OF THIS WORLD KNEW, FOR HAD THEY KNOWN, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY..."


Satan would not have had Jesus crucified, if he had been smart. Satan thought that if Jesus were killed, God's plan would be defeated. But God had a hidden plan. The devil did not know this plan. Jesus died and thereby conquered sin and death. The death of Jesus planted a victory for us. Let's look into the Bible and see the brilliant plan of God.

John 12:24
"EXCEPT A CORN OF WHEAT FALL INTO THE GROUND AND DIE, IT ABIDETH ALONE: BUT IF IT DIE, IT BRINGETH FORTH MUCH FRUIT."

For seed to produce, it must be planted. When Jesus, the promised Seed, was planted in His grave, He began a process of reproducing. A seed that is planted, produces and multiplies. Because of Jesus' death for us, we can become Christians. We can have our failures wiped from our slate and be as sinless as Jesus Christ.

Mark 4:28
"FOR THE EARTH BRINGETH FORTH FRUIT OF HERSELF, FIRST THE BLADE, THEN THE EAR, AFTER THAT THE FULL CORN IN THE EAR."

Before the crucifixion, Satan had only one Seed to worry about. Now, since that crucifixion, the planted Seed has been bringing forth a harvest of more seed... called the church.

This church can be filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and each one can use those gifts in this battle. That is why Jesus told us to do the works that He did. We all are the same threat to the devil that he worried about the Seed (Jesus) to be. The devil now has a whole church to battle, and every one of the church can be used with gifts and empowerments of the Holy Spirit, to battle and to battle, defeating every one of his attempts to hurt us.

Galatians 3:29
"IF YE BE CHRIST'S, THEN ARE YE ABRAHAM'S SEED, AND HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE."

We cannot be conquered by death, for now, "TO DIE IS GAIN."

We cannot be defiled, unless we choose to be, for if we "RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU..."

We now have the promised Seed dwelling within us. That means "GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU, THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD."

Ephesians 6:12
"FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES."

Ephesians 6:13
"...THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY..."

What are we to do? In verse 11, it tells us to "PUT ON" this armor. This verb is "enduo", which means "to be clothed." It is in the passive voice, which means we just let God give us the armor. Our part is to just receive it, God has made an offer of it. We don't earn, or work to get it.

In verse 13, we are told to "TAKE UNTO YOU". This also indicates that we need only to receive it, hold to it, not refuse it, keep it. The armor must simply be accepted.

The armor is complete. When we have the armor of God, we need nothing more. We are told it is the "WHOLE ARMOR" (Ephesians 6:11, 13). The word in the Greek is -"panoplian". It comes from two words - "pas" = "all", and "hoplon" = "weapon." Among the Greeks, the word "panoplia" referred to the complete equipment that was used by a heavily armed infantry. So, when we accept the armor of God, we are completely armed for the battle that we fight.

Ephesians 6:11
"PUT ON (enduo) THE WHOLE ARMOR (panoplia) OF GOD THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST (stanai) THE WILES (methodias) OF THE DEVIL."

With the gifts of the Holy Spirit, with the armor that He has provided for us, with the rhema word of power to wield, with the prayers in the Holy Spirit allowing us to commune and pray for what we are not even yet aware we need, we can:
Bind Satan and his angels in chains (Revelation 9:14, 20:2)
Bind men by God's power (Matthew 16:19, 18:8)
Loose infirmities (Luke 13:12-16, Mark 7:35)
Loose men from chains and prisons (Acts 16:26, 22:30,24:6)
Loose men from sin (Revelation 1:5, I John 1:9)
Loose men from bonds of death (Acts 2:24)
Loose from deafness and dumbness (Mark 7:32-35)
Loose from blindness (Matthew 9:27-31)
Loose from leprosy (Matthew 8:1-4)
etc.


Luke 10:19
"BEHOLD, I GIVE UNTO YOU POWER (exousia, authority) TO TREAD ON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS (demon powers) AND OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY, AND NOTHING SHALL BY ANY MEANS HURT YOU."

James 4:7
"RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE'LL FLEE FROM YOU."

Psalms 91:13
"THOU SHALT TREAD UPON THE LION AND ADDER, THE YOUNG LION AND THE DRAGON SHALT THOU TRAMPLE UNDER FEET."


Some act as though they have years to get ready for a single battle. This war is already in progress. The gifts of the Holy Spirit need used daily. The devil and his forces are already attacking. To save your loved ones, to keep your possessions from the enemy, you must be fighting the devil now. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are empowering endowments.

Romans 13:12-14
"THE NIGHT IS FAR SPENT, THE DAY IS AT HAND; LET US THEREFORE CAST OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS (we must cast off all the sins of this life), AND LET US PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT (this means the same armor the God reveals is available to us in Ephesians). LET US WALK HONESTLY (from the Greek, euschemonos = decently), AS IN THE DAY (this means -as if we know that we are not in darkness where our sins are not seen, but are in the light where God sees everything); NOT IN RIOTING AND DRUNKENNESS (not in revellings and drunken orgies), NOT IN CHAMBERING AND WANTONNESS (in the Greek this means - not in whoredoms and perversions), NOT IN STRIFE AND ENVYING (we are not to be fighting each other, but the devil and sin). BUT PUT YE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NOT PROVISION FOR THE FLESH (don't make the carnal side of you stronger), TO FULFIL THE LUSTS THEREOF (if we feed our fleshly nature, it will be strong enough to control our being)."


This is our new way. With the gifts and endowments of power, we should be fighting a good fight, and warring a good warfare.
 
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murjahel

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ONE OF THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT IS A 'CROWN'... ONE THAT WE WEAR, GIVING US...

The ‘crown’ that He offers us to wear,
is a gift we desperately need.



Psalms 8:3-9
“When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained, what is man, that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou hast made him a little (while) lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet; all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passes through the paths of the sea. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth.”



We may, like the psalmist, wonder... “What is man? Why is God interested in sinful mankind?” Note, that God is not only concerned about man, but He has made ‘all things’ to be subject and lower in importance to mankind. We are a “‘little’ (word indicates talking of time, not distance) lower than the angels.” Mankind has been crowned with glory and honor by the Lord. God has stationed mankind very high in this creation.


‘Crowned’ means that authority, ability to rule, and to lead, has been given mankind. God has placed all of creation in Adam’s dominion. Adam was king of the earth and his crown was the glory of God. Something spoiled Adam’s place, satan took the crown that belonged to Adam. The moment Adam failed, he committed high treason against God, and satan became the ‘god of this world’. (II Corinthians 4:4).

John 10:34
“Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods.?”

This is a quote from Psalms 82:6
“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High.”

It is not that we are equal with God, but we are created to be ‘sons of God’, children of God, and as His children, we have a godly nature, glory, and authority. We live far below our privileges, and many have lost our crowns.

This teaching here is not meant to sound like I condone the ‘dominion’ theology out there in many circles today. I do not. Their teaching is one of trying now to rule this world, claim millennial blessings far before the millennium, and is focused on things and power, not on Jesus and winning souls to the kingdom.

We do, though, have a crown to wear, we are called to have a rightful dominion over the powers of the devil, over the things of the world. We are in the time of waiting for Jesus to come, where He will claim all this world and He will then rule. Till then, it is not ‘ruling’ we are seeking, but in deposing the devils from their pretend thrones in the lives of sinners.

Job felt stripped of his crown.

Job 19:6-9
“He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.”

Satan tries to wear the crown meant for you and I. Jesus kept His crown, but the devil tempted Him, and attempted to get the crown of Jesus. The devil has taken the crown of many, and we are here, as ministers, to get that crown away from the devil. We are to wear a crown.

John 14:30
“The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.”

Jesus called the devil, ‘prince’ because satan wore the crown meant for man. But satan could not get the crown of Jesus. Jesus resisted the devil in the wilderness and retained His crown. Jesus had authority, dominion, and exercised such rule over sickness, elements, etc. God intends for mankind to have this authority and dominion also. Jesus is called the ‘second Adam’, for the first had lost his crown, and Jesus came and reclaimed it.

Hebrews 2:5-9
“For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying ‘What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that Thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownest him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor.... that though death, He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and to deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage...”

Thus, Jesus came and took from the devil, the crowns he had claimed from us. We need no longer subject to death, but should be eternal beings, and should rule, being no longer in bondage.

Crowns are available to us...
John 17:22
“The glory that Thou gavest Me, I have given them.”

The sin that took our crowns, is made nil, by Jesus Christ. If sin left your head bare of the crown, then repent, and let Jesus put the crown back upon your head.

Jesus has His crown, and offers it back to :

Matthew 28:18-19
“All power is given Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore...”

The power and glory that Jesus exhibited in His first coming are promised to be available to us. But we ‘hold fast’ that crown... or we can be without it...

Revelation 3:11
“Behold, I come quickly, hold that fast that thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

Satan wants to strip your crown from you, He will instigate men to try to get you to yield your crown.

The wise will wear the crown.

Proverbs 4:7-9
‘Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom, and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she (wisdom) shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.”

The unwise and the unlearned will miss the crown.

Hosea 4:6
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

Not many talk about this crown. Some who do, pervert its teaching by ‘carnal-prosperity seeking’. Many are struggling saints, without the wisdom to wear the crown. Religious traditions, and faulty teaching, trains many saints to not wear the crown.

Matthew 15:6
“Thus have ye made the commandments of God of none effect by your traditions.”

Satan would like us to yield our authority and glory. Through many of the “doctrines of demons” the faith of many is simply form, ‘denying the power.’ The church of many is just cushioned pews, where ‘hearers only’ do not have training to be ‘doers of the Word.” The church, without its crown, is helpless.

There is no need to stay helpless.

Romans 5:17
“For if by one man’s offence, death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.”

In heaven, all saints will finally realize that God wants them to reign. Look at the song the saints sing in heaven:
Revelation 5:10
“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God, kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.”

We are a royal priesthood. We are made priests, like unto the tribe of Levi... but we reign, like unto the tribe of Judah, so we are a royal priesthood. We are a priesthood, that wears a crown. The High Priest pre-figured Jesus, with a crown on the mitre, and now that Jesus has come, we can wear a crown too.

I Peter 2:5, 9
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ.
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into marvelous light.”

The world may call us fanatics, extremists. Yet, we are just claiming what God wants us to have. We are a royal priesthood, and we are to be wearing the ‘crown’.

The mitre of the High Priest was linen, and rolled, or wound around the head.

Exodus 28:39
“And thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen.”

A golden plate (Hebrew word was ‘tzeetz’ meaning ‘flower’) was upon the mitre.

Exodus 28:36-38
“And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave on it, like the engravings of the signet- ‘HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD’. And thou shalt put on it a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre, upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things... shall always be upon his forehead, that he may be accepted before the Lord.”

The crown on the mitre represents the glory and honor and power given to the children of God.

We do not deserve it, we have not earned it. It is ours, due to the ‘holiness of the Lord.’ As High Priests, we claim the crown to wear.

In the New Jerusalem, the children of God wear the crown. For it says of such ones... ‘His name shall be in their foreheads’ (Revelation 22:4). The name on the golden plate, i.e. the crown, is God’s name.

We need to preach this as a renewed doctrine. It has been lost over the ages. It has been perverted and adulterated by the carnal serving of the dominion theology of this day. We need to know there is power in the faith. We have authority over the demons, the sicknesses, the battles of life. Many have a ‘form of godliness’ but are ‘denying the power thereof...”

The power and authority of Christ Jesus is offered to us, and it is our crown to wear. We are not defeated, we are beggars, fools, paupers. No, in truth, we reign. No matter what the devil throws at you, you still have that crown... Exercise your authority. Do not give the crown away. Battle the devil with authority. Do not try to use the crown to claim a mansion here, or a Mercedes to drive to your yacht. No, this crown is now to be used to claim authority over the devil and to win this spiritual battle. Kings issue decrees, settle things, bind and loose. We too can decree the will of God, and see things happen!
 
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murjahel

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SOMEDAY, A PARTIAL CESSATIONIST !


Joel 2:28-29
"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon your servants and upon your handmaids in those days, will I pour out My Spirit."

Peter said on the day of Pentecost, that "this is that which was prophesied of the prophet Joel." So the early church began experiencing the early fulfillment of this prophecy. The outpouring of the Spirit began then, but the complete fulfillment of this verse will not occur until "all flesh" on the earth are filled with the blessed Holy Spirit. This will not be completely fulfilled until the millennial rule of Jesus. We are presently in the period between the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy, and the end and final perfect fulfillment of the prophecy.


Joel 2:28-29 was a fulfillment of the prayer of Moses as recorded in Numbers 11:29:
"...would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!"

The purpose of the Holy Spirit was to guide mankind to Jesus. We have currently many gifts that aid us in that goal. The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus, and we an be 'full of the Holy Spirit' to aid and be used in His goal of convicting sinners, bringing mankind to righteousness, and assuring them that there is a judgment.

I am NOT a CESSATIONIST now... but certain gifts will cease in the millennial time following the coming of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (KJV)
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
Current cessationists try to use that verse to prove that now there should be no prophetic words, no gift of tongues, and no words of knowledge. They are wrong as can be... for the ONE Who is perfect has not yet come.

When He does, a part of the infilling of the Holy Spirit is done away, for we will not need a 'word of Knowledge', we will be living with Jesus Who knows all things, we will not need a message in tongues from God, we will be dwelling with Him, and He can speak Himself, instead of routing it from Him to the Holy Spirit to one with the gifts of tongues, to another with the interpretation. We can cut out some middle men. Words of prophetic encouragement will then cease too, for we have Jesus there, to speak directly to us.

So, part of the infilling is no longer necessary. 'Charity' never ceases... and the 'love' of the Spirit is long thought to be one of the fruit, but here it is listed in the gift category. There are gifts that endure, and the gift of love will abound in the millennium.

Of course, we are 'Spirit filled' in the millennium, we are saved, sanctified, eternally secure, in fellowship with the whole of the Trinity... and those blessings include being Spirit filled, and love is the most powerful gift. We will need 'love' to minister to those humans left on the earth, we will tell them about Jesus, the Holy Spirit will save them, fill them... and we and they, all of us will be filled with the Holy Spirit. Eternal security is not yet in place for them though, for at the end of the tribulation, some shall follow a 'loosed devil' and be destroyed by fire from God. Then we move to the new heaven and new earth. The Holy Spirit infilling continues for eternity, and the gift of charity, love.. enables us to teach and preach to the humans we rule and reign over...

While the 120 were awaiting the Spirit in the upper room in Jerusalem, the arrival of the Spirit occurred, and they began to speak in languages unknown to them about the wondrous Lord Jesus. The 120 soon became thousands, and now the Spirit-filled believers are numbered in the millions. Yet, this has not exhausted and completed the fulfillment of the prophecy of the outpouring of the Spirit. There will come a time, when all humans on the new earth, and all of us in our new glorified bodies too, will be full of the Holy Spirit.

Certain gifts will then cease... (oh my, that means I will be a 'cessationist', LOL) Now, we are not 'cessationist' and I will not be until I am standing with Jesus... and then only some of the gifts will 'fail', 'cease', be 'done away', for we will no longer need them. Some others will cease... like 'gift of healing', but then only because there will be no sickness, no more death...

Yet, the powerful Holy Spirit will still have a work, and we will still need His power to do it, and He will still infill us with Divine Power to do what we need to do in ruling and reigning over the new earth, new heavens.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit began with the day of Pentecost revival. The Spirit continued to fill thirsty souls, but the revival waned through the "dark ages". Now, in the last century, we have seen a renewed move of the Spirit. The revival has begun. It will continue to increase until the "double portion" time just preceding the rapture of the church. Still, the full fulfillment of the prophecy in Joel will not have reached its apex. In the millennium, finally, "all flesh" will be filled with the Spirit.

Isaiah 32:15-18 (KJV)
15 Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
16 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

Ezekiel 36:26-28 (KJV)
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Ezekiel 39:28-29 (KJV)
28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

Zechariah 12:10 (KJV) 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

The "last days" revival began on the day of Pentecost, but it will not be completed until God has completely restored mankind to the place of fellowship Adam had with God before the fall in the garden. In the millennium, the revival will have reached its ultimate goal. Then, during the "day of Jehovah", those on the earth will have real peace, fellowship, and restoration to God. The Holy Spirit infilling will still be available, in fact, it will be universally accepted in the millennium and post millennial new earth time.

Joel 2:32
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered; for in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance..."

Deliverance from sin and its horrible effects is the reason we need the baptism. Power for ministry is another reason... we will be delivered, we will be preaching 'deliverance' to those still in human bodies... we will need power to serve the Lord as rulers over these humans.

Jesus will, Himself, dwell in Jerusalem on Mount Zion. Grace will extend to all. Some gifts will no longer be needed, but some will. The gift often misconstrued as 'only a fruit', will be the most powerful gift... a gift of love.

Charity (love) never will cease, and we and the humans there will not have wars anymore, not have sin anymore, not have strife, lies, etc... for the two commandments of Jesus (love God supremely, love your neighbor as yourself) will be a gift of the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

We are still dabbling in the wonder of the Holy Spirit infilling, there is much more to come, there is adjustment to it when certain gifts are no longer needed, there is an unfolding of its supremity.
 
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murjahel

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SUBSEQUENT TO SALVATION


Repentance and salvation has always been possible. The baptism of the Holy Spirit has been ‘subsequent’ to that gift, and is a gift of empowering. John the Baptist said:
Matthew 3:11
"I INDEED BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER UNTO REPENTANCE; BUT HE THAT COMETH AFTER ME IS MIGHTIER THAT I, WHOSE SHOES I AM NOT WORTHY TO BEAR; HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND WITH FIRE:"

John the Baptist prophesied here that Jesus would "baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire." The word "baptidzo" of the Greek is used here. It means "to immerse, overwhelm, drown with..." John the Baptist immersed in water as a symbol of repentance. Jesus would immerse in the Spirit to empower.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate immersion. Salvation does involve the Holy Spirit. He convicts, He shows and points to Jesus as the answer to sin and guilt. He then immerses one into Jesus, and the Lord dwells within, giving one the power to overcome sin, enlivening our spirit from its former state of death, making us ‘born again’.



John 7:39
"THIS SPAKE HE OF THE SPIRIT WHICH THEY THAT BELIEVE ON HIM SHOULD RECEIVE: FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS NOT YET GIVEN, BECAUSE JESUS WAS NOT YET GLORIFIED."

After Jesus ascended to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit back to become the ‘Advocate’, the ‘Comforter’, to the believers. It was to those in the upper room, the ones called, and dedicated to the request of Jesus to await one to empower them to be witnesses.

Acts 1:8 (KJV)
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The immersion of the Holy Spirit immersing us into Jesus is salvation. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, of Jesus immersing us into Him (the Holy Spirit) is the empowering for service. This is a subsequent event to salvation, although it may be seconds or minutes later. Sometimes, some Christians only receive the Holy Spirit immersing them into Jesus, and miss totally the wonderful subsequent experience. The Holy Spirit is still active in their lives, blessing them, convicting their errors and faults, leading us into righteousness. Yet, the subsequent gift of immersion into the power of the Holy Spirit, like with the 120, is received by obedience to Jesus to ask and receive.

The very fact that the baptism of the Spirit has come testifies to the fact that Jesus has ascended to heaven and been glorified. We can rest assured that He did reach heaven by the fact that the Spirit did return. We need to take courage in the fact that the Spirit is being now poured out on all who wish to receive Him, because it is an experience that is intended to reassure us of the fact that Jesus is not dead, and buried-- but is at the right hand of the Father in heaven and interceding for us. The Holy Spirit glorifies this Jesus.

John 16:7-15
"NEVERTHELESS I TELL YOU THE TRUTH: IT IS EXPEDIENT FOR YOU THAT I GO AWAY: FOR IF I GO NOT AWAY, THE COMFORTER WILL NOT COME UNTO YOU: BUT IF I DEPART, I WILL SEND HIM UNTO YOU. AND WHEN HE IS COME, HE WILL REPROVE THE WORLD OF SIN, AND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND OF JUDGMENT: OF SIN, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE NOT ON ME; OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, BECAUSE I GO TO THE FATHER, AND YE SEE ME NO MORE; OF JUDGMENT, BECAUSE THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD IS JUDGED. I HAVE YET MANY THINGS TO SAY UNTO YOU, BUT YE CANNOT BEAR THEM NOW. HOWBEIT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH IS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH; FOR HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF; BUT WHATSOEVER HE SHALL HEAR, THAT SHALL HE SPEAK; AND HE WILL SHEW YOU THINGS TO COME. HE SHALL GLORIFY ME; FOR HE SHALL RECEIVE OF MINE, AND SHALL SHEW IT UNTO YOU. ALL THINGS THAT THE FATHER HATH ARE MINE; THEREFORE SAID I, THAT HE SHALL TAKE OF MINE, AND SHALL SHEW IT UNTO YOU."

These verses show that the main purposes of the coming of the Spirit and of the experience of being baptized into Him is:
-comfort
-reproof of sin, righteousness, and judgment
-guiding us into the truth
-showing us prophecies of what is to come
-glorification of Jesus
-speaking and revealing to us whatever the Son and the Father speak concerning us


Many were invited to tarry in the upper room until the Holy Spirit came. At one time 500 saw Christ after His resurrection. Even if these 500 had been the only ones invited, 380 had either not gone to await the coming of the Spirit, or had left before the Spirit finally came. It is the same today. Many know about the infilling of the Holy Spirit and its availability. Few seek it. The 380 were undoubtedly saved, but were not anxious to await in the upper room for the subsequent gift of immersion into the Holy Spirit.

This experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit is still for us today. All true believers are candidates. Peter said it was for "AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL CALL..." (Acts 2:38-39). Jesus put no moral level, or position for candidates to reach, other than the new birth. One can still be fighting bad habits. One can still have ups and downs. Perfection is not to be attained before the infilling of the Spirit. No, the Holy Spirit wants to fill us so we are empowered to fight the flesh, and the devil. The Holy Spirit is present with the sinners to convict them. He is present with all believers to regenerate them. Yet, there is an experience available beyond and subsequent to these. It is called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

BAPTIZER THE ONE BAPTIZED BAPTIZED INTO

SALVATION - Holy Spirit - sinner - Christ

BAPTISM OF - Christ - Christian - Holy Spirit
THE
SPIRIT

IF THE IMMERSION INTO THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WERE IDENTICAL TO SALVATION, IT WOULD NOT BE GIVEN AS A COMMAND TO RECEIVE THE INFILLING.

Ephesians 5:18
"BE NOT DRUNK WITH WINE, WHEREIN IS EXCESS, BUT BE YE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT."

Ephesus, to whom the above verse was addressed, was a pagan city. They worshipped the goddess, Diana. Drunkenness was common. The wine brought exhilaration, insensibility to pains. It seemingly took the drinker to another world. They felt carefree and happy, strong and uninhibited. The baptism of the Spirit does this also, without the hangover, social, and mental damage. We are commanded not to be "drunk with wine." Many people try to follow that command. Yet we are also commanded to be "filled with the Spirit." Many forget to follow that command.

When you received the Lord as your Savior, your spirit became alive again. Your spirit within you began to assert itself over your soul and body. This spirit is the dwelling place of God within you. Your spirit united with God's spirit at salvation.

Some say, "How can I receive the Spirit when He already dwells within me?" The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not the receiving of the Spirit into your life--all Christians have the Spirit working in their lives. At the baptism of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit completely fills your life. The word "baptize" in the classical Greek was used of a sunken, waterlogged ship. The Lord wants us to be more than:
born of the Spirit,
or used of the Spirit,
or regenerated of the Spirit
--He wants us to be waterlogged with the Spirit.

John 7:38
"HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME...OUT OF HIS BELLY SHALL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER (the Holy Spirit)."

The baptism of the Spirit will aid in the production of the "image of Christ" in us.

Galatians 5:16
"WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND YE SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH."

We are not made perfect by the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Yet, when we are Spirit-filled, the Spirit will help us resist the lusts and temptations of the flesh. There will still be ups and downs. However, the Spirit is better able to direct, to aid, to uplift, and to convict. We can still refuse or ignore His help. The baptism of the Holy Spirit makes us more aware of sin, and gives us more desire to shun sin. With this new power we have received, we have power to resist sin, if we so choose.

There are many negative reactions to the experience known as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Some say that it is of Satan. Yet, time has shown that those filled with the Spirit have a deep love of God and Christ. Missionary zeal among Spirit-filled people is great. The churches of Spirit-filled believers are among the fastest growing. It isn't likely that Satan would like to cause these things.
 
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murjahel

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Some say that the experience was only for the apostolic age. Yet, the verses of Joel that predicted the experience, is not yet completely fulfilled as yet. So we are still in the process of seeing those verses being fulfilled.

Some say that church history does not record it. This is wrong. It has been recorded in all the church ages. Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Augustine all speak of the speaking in tongues. Martin Luther, and Francis Xavier are reported by good authority to have spoken in tongues. Some say Paul talked against it. This is wrong. He spoke against the misuse of tongues, and spiritual gifts. He also said that he thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than they did.

Satan counterfeits all the good things that God gives. His counterfeits are false and evil. Yet we should not reject the real, because Satan has a counterfeit for it. God's gifts include, the gift of knowledge, and wisdom, the gift of discernment, the gift of faith, the gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues, the gift of prophecy, etc. Satan's counterfeits of these gifts include, ouija boards, crystal balls, Precognition, fortune telling palm reading, ESP, telepathy, clairvoyance, mind reading Mind expansion drugs, T.M., positive thinking, hypnotism spiritism, seances, necromancy, etc. Just because there are counterfeits, we must not miss receiving the real gifts of power from the Holy Spirit.

There are many misconceptions about the baptism of the Spirit, and especially about the part of it known as "tongues." Speaking in tongues has nothing to do with emotions. Emotions may or may not be felt as one experiences this. One will not be in some trance, or in a strange frame of mind when they speak in tongues. There is no compulsion to speak in tongues. A person may cease at any time. You are not possessed, nor compelled by an outside force to speak. The Holy Spirit inspires the tongues, but the person is in control at all times.

I Corinthians 14:32
"AND THE SPIRITS OF THE PROPHETS ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROPHETS."

It has often been taught that the receiving of the Holy Spirit is difficult to receive. This is not true. People have made it difficult by some strange teachings and ideas that have been perpetrated upon Christianity. The Lord desires all of us to have this experience. He wishes all to be saved, and therefore He has made salvation so simple that even a child can be saved. In the same way, the Lord has promised to give the Spirit to all who ask. He has made it simple, and all Christians can receive this baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 11:13
"IF YE THEN, BEING EVIL, KNOW HOW TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS UNTO YOUR CHILDREN: HOW MUCH MORE SHALL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM THAT ASK HIM ?"

Note that the ‘Father’ is giving to those already His children, a gift that they are choosing to obey and ask for. If they do, this is a subsequent gift of the Holy Spirit, meant to be received. We, are yet, battling ‘evil’ when we receive it, but we are more empowered in our struggle against sin, we are empowered via these gifts to battle the devil, we are recipient of subsequent gifts to salvation.
 
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murjahel

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HOW TO RECEIVE THE SUBSEQUENT GIFT
OF INFILLING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

The simple beginning of the receiving of the baptism of the Spirit, is to ASK.

James 4:2
"YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT."

Then, one must simply believe that what God has promised, He will fulfill. At the moment you ask, the Lord will begin to fill you. Enjoy the filling. Don't demand tongues immediately. That is the sign that the filling is complete, not the filling itself. Enjoy what God is doing in and with you, as He gently fills you with His Spirit. Praise Him as He fills you. You may feel emotion, and again, you may not. The filling is proceeding as you worship and praise. When He is finished filling you, you will have a prayer language given to you. It is like eating at a buffet. The mealtime is the enjoyable. Enjoy every course and eat to the fill. The dessert is great, but it is just the final course. Enjoy the full meal, the dessert will come soon enough.

Be sure to pray aloud. A very likely finishing part of this experience is the tongues, and one must be speaking aloud to find their language changed. One does not need to await ‘tongues’ to be filled, for it is a process that begins when one asks, and the process may continue for minutes, or days and weeks, but one is being filled, as soon as they sincerely ask.

Psalms 81:10
"OPEN YOUR MOUTH WIDE, AND I WILL FILL IT."

First, you must be saved. This infilling is subsequent to salvation. The Bible is clear that "THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE (John 14:16-17) the Holy Spirit. The world can receive salvation, but they cannot receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. They must first be saved, and then, they are no longer the ‘world’.

Not all saved ones receive either, for they must then obey the Lord. The Lord gives the Holy Spirit to "THEM THAT OBEY HIM."

What did He command us?

1. ASK!
Luke 11:13
"FATHER GIVES THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM THAT ASK HIM..."
Matthew 7:7
"ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN..."

2. BELIEVE

John 7:39
"THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH THEY THAT BELIEVE ON HIM SHOULD RECEIVE..."

3. THIRST (this means to desire, and push out other desires)
Matthew 5:6
"BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED."
John 7:37-39
"IF ANY MAN THIRST, LET HIM COME UNTO ME AND DRINK...THIS SPAKE HE OF THE SPIRIT."

4. OPEN YOUR MOUTH (you drink in the infilling)
Psalms 81:10
"OPEN THY MOUTH WIDE, AND I WILL FILL IT."

5. DRINK (receive the infilling, it will take time)
Job 29:23
"AND THEY WAITED FOR ME AS FOR RAIN AND THEY OPENED THEIR MOUTH WIDE AS FOR RAIN."

6. SPEAK
One of the first gifts experienced in the infilling, is the prayer language of the Holy Spirit, Who has just filled one, to pray forth from the person in rejoicing in Jesus. The Holy Spirit will not force you to speak in tongues, nor to praise God with your present language. When He does give you a word, speak it. Sometimes the words in English that you are trying to speak will come out garbled. Don't stop speaking at this time, for it is the Holy Spirit beginning to change your language. Allow Him to change it by continuing to speak, even if the words are sounding funny. When you receive it, the new language will by pass your mind, and it will be as though you are listening to another pray. Yet it will be your voice and your lips praising in a new prayer language.

Charles Finney said: "I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost. I wept aloud with joy and love...I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my heart." (Autobiography)

You won't understand these new words, but speak them anyway. The devil will try to convince you that it is not you. Don't believe him, the devil is a liar. Speak in this new prayer language and it will become more fluent as you continue. Every day of your life, speak more in this language. You will feel edified more and more as you speak.

Stammering lips are often the first sign that the Lord is almost finished with your infilling. Begin to praise God more at this point for you are almost full of the Spirit and tongues, your prayer language is the part the Spirit is giving you at that point. Don't demand fluency, babes learn simple syllables first. Don't demand emotion, for some will have much emotion and others will have very little emotion. Don't demand loudness, for there is no law on loudness.

Holiness is not the basis of receiving. If Satan reminds you of your faults while you are receiving, don't go on a guilt trip. Instead, use it as a reason to praise God. Thank God for the forgiveness that you have been given. Thank God that He is filling you with the Spirit even though you don't deserve it.

Acts 2:38
"YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT (unmerited favor) OF THE HOLY SPIRIT."
 
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