You hypocrites... This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their hearts are far from me. A hypocrite is someone who talks about religion while still sinning. Their hearts are still full of evil, but they attend religious services, singing, praying, paying, etc. So until you have been cleansed of sin, and then told to whom and what to say about God, or what to write about God, don't; for if you speak or write without his instructions, you will receive his condemnation. You will hear him say: "Who has required this of your hand?" The Lord did not want men to speak about him whose hearts were still full of evil: he did not need any testimony from man, for he knew what was in man, [the evil in their hearts]. John 2:25. George Fox said: "Unless your words are controlled by the Spirit of God, don't even speak the words Jesus or God." After you go to the Lord to hear and obey, repetitively, he will cleanse you and give you a new heart, which will be united with him. Then your worship will be in Spirit and Truth, with words supplied by the Holy Spirit; until then your praying, singing, and praises are abominations to the Lord, for the Father must be worshiped in Spirit and Truth. Abominations for two reasons: 1) your words come from your evil imagination, evil heart, and carnal mind; and 2) because your hypocrisy will be evident to outsiders. Words spoken without being supplied by the spirit will be a stumbling block to the hearers, scattering the true sheep. You scatter the true sheep because he who does not gather with [as under his direction and control] me, scatters. Luke 11:23, Mat 12:30.
2 In vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. As today Christendom's worship has man-invented, non-scriptural infant baptism, grape juice and bread, the "Apostle's Creed," the offering, the benediction, sermons, the sinner's prayer, altar calls, confirmation, bible reading, prayers from the preacher, standing to sing, kneeling, bowing to the cross, making the cross with your hand on your body, etc. All are the inventions of man, not scripture-prescribed forms of worship. Besides corrupting worship as described in the Bible, Christendom does not even recognize behaviors that disqualify it members; Christendom has lost sight of sin, calling evil good, good evil, putting light for darkness; Christendom says peace, peace, when there is no peace; Christendom says to the sinner who walks after the imagination of his own heart, "you are righteous because you belong to our sect, no evil shall befall you." From the Voice of the Lord: "Christendom has gutted the teachings of Jesus and have made the Bible an excuse for remaining immersed in their sins." Christendom ignores the Bible's exclusions, requirements, and qualifying conditions. Christendom tells their followers that the law is dead; except of course, they claim you are still required to tithe with your money. Christendom does not understand repentance, the cross, the rest, the light, salvation, or the word; they perish for lack of knowledge. Christendom has changed the covenant - making the blood of Jesus and unholy thing, used to excuse sin in their members. Retribution for this spite of grace looms.
3 Every plant, which my heavenly Father has not planted, will be rooted up. Jesus is speaking of every spiritual plant in a man's heart. The devil has sown his spirit into every man's heart: envy, greed, sexual immorality, pride, anger, profanity, lying, stealing, etc.; and each of these must be rooted out of a man's heart before he can be in the company of God in heaven. Notice, he says every plant WILL BE rooted up: either in this life voluntarily through the inward cross of self-denial, or in the next life's part in the lake of fire.
4 Leave them alone and disregard them; they are blind guides and teachers. In Zechariah, the Lord states his anger against the blind guides: My anger is kindled against the shepherds and I will punished the goat leaders. Zech 10:3. The shepherds of Christendom are all goat leaders. They have deceived their followers to believing a false salvation; so their followers remain sinning goats, rather than sinless sheep. They ignore God's exclusions, his requirements, and his qualifying conditions. The ministers of Christendom think that salvation's Biblically stated requirements of cleansing, purity, perfection, and holiness are impossible. They don't know how to receive the changing power of God. These goat leaders are self-appointed; not appointed by the Holy Spirit for the perfecting of the saints; not taught, perfected, restored, and authorized by the Lord. So the goat leaders of Christendom read the dead letter of the Bible to their followers, rather than speak words supplied by the Holy Spirit, words which give life to their followers, changing them from goats to sheep. The letter kills, the spirit gives life. 2 Cor 2:6; The words that I speak to you are spirit, and the are life. John 6:63. But true shepherds speak words supplied by the Spirit of God; as Paul said: Which things also we speak, not in the words, which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Cor 2:13; and as Peter said: If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles [words] of God; 1 Pet 4:11. But the goat leaders speak words from their carnal minds and from the evil imaginations of their hearts. Even Jesus did not judge, speak, or act without the Spirit's specific prompting.
By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, John 5:30
whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak. John 12:49-50
the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord);
but He [the son] is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, John 5:19
He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory,
but he who seeks the glory of the One who sent him,
that man is true, and there is no unrighteousness is in him. John 7:18.
Any man who speaks of God or Christ without the Spirit's specific promptings is seeking his own glory, and he is estimating himself to be greater than Christ,
for Christ said: The disciple is not above his master, but everyone who is perfect [purified, restored to the spiritual image of God, specifically authorized, and perfected] will be like his master. Luke 6:39-42.
Like the evil shepherds of Israel, the preachers today feed themselves, by taking money from their followers. Preaching for a salary is the error of Balaam, which is spiritual adultery, loving wages and profit - both Peter and Jude had some very grave things to say about those who solicit donations or preach for a salary. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children - for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Peter, Paul, and Jesus all spoke strongly against preachers who took money from the flock, feeding themselves at the expense of their listeners; the goat leaders of Christendom. Be you separate, said the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, said the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor. 6:17. Leave them alone and disregard them; they are blind guides and teachers. Come out of her my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues. Rev 18:4-7.
5 Out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies; these are the things that defile a man. If you lie, commit adultery (even by looking at someone with lust), steal (cheat), murder (hate is murder in your heart), or have impure thoughts — according to Jesus, you are defiled. Look at Jesus. Do you think he is going to join with a defiled man? Do you think Jesus is going to want the company of a defiled man? No - I assure you. You must repent. You must be cleansed. You must be purified, before you can have any part of him.
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holy Spirit. Show all posts
Monday, 1 March 2010
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Jesus said: whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven
At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath day, and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck the grain to eat.
2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day."
3 But he said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, along with those who were with him;
4 How he entered into the house of God and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
5 Or have you not read in the law, how on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?
6 But I say to you that in this place is one who is greater than the temple.
7 And if you had known what this means, 'I will have mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day."
9 And when he had departed, he went into their synagogue,
10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?" They asked the question so that they might accuse him.
11 And he said to them, "What man is there among you, who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold of it and lift it out?
12 How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days."
13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch forth your hand." And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like the other.
14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, how they might kill him.
15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew from there; and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all,
16 And warned them that they should not make him known;
17 So that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
18 "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.
19 He shall not strive, nor cry out; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench, until he sends forth judgment to victory.
21 In his name the Gentiles shall trust."
22 Then a man possessed with a devil, who was blind and dumb, was brought to him; and he healed him, so that the blind and dumb man both spoke and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed and said, "Is not this the Son of David?"
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebub the prince of the demons."
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?
27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
29 How can one enter into a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
30 He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.1
31 Therefore I say to you that all manner of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this world or in the world to come.
33 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.2
34 O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 But I say to you, for every idle [ineffective] word that men speak, they will give an account of the same in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."3
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees said, "Master, we desire to see a sign [miracle] from you."
39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh will rise in judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.
42 The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here.
43 When an unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
44 Then he says, 'I will return into my house from where I came;' and when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so it shall be with this wicked generation."
46 Now while he talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with him.
47 And someone said to him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to speak with you."
48 But he answered and said to him who told him, "Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?"
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples and said, "Behold my mother and my brothers!
50 For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."4
2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day."
3 But he said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, along with those who were with him;
4 How he entered into the house of God and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
5 Or have you not read in the law, how on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?
6 But I say to you that in this place is one who is greater than the temple.
7 And if you had known what this means, 'I will have mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day."
9 And when he had departed, he went into their synagogue,
10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?" They asked the question so that they might accuse him.
11 And he said to them, "What man is there among you, who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold of it and lift it out?
12 How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days."
13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch forth your hand." And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like the other.
14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, how they might kill him.
15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew from there; and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all,
16 And warned them that they should not make him known;
17 So that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
18 "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.
19 He shall not strive, nor cry out; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench, until he sends forth judgment to victory.
21 In his name the Gentiles shall trust."
22 Then a man possessed with a devil, who was blind and dumb, was brought to him; and he healed him, so that the blind and dumb man both spoke and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed and said, "Is not this the Son of David?"
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebub the prince of the demons."
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?
27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
29 How can one enter into a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
30 He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.1
31 Therefore I say to you that all manner of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this world or in the world to come.
33 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.2
34 O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 But I say to you, for every idle [ineffective] word that men speak, they will give an account of the same in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."3
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees said, "Master, we desire to see a sign [miracle] from you."
39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh will rise in judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.
42 The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here.
43 When an unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
44 Then he says, 'I will return into my house from where I came;' and when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so it shall be with this wicked generation."
46 Now while he talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with him.
47 And someone said to him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to speak with you."
48 But he answered and said to him who told him, "Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?"
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples and said, "Behold my mother and my brothers!
50 For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."4
Friday, 22 January 2010
Pray in Faith to jesus with the Holy Spirit
How to Pray in Faith to be Filled
with the Holy Spirit
We are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith alone. However, true prayer is one way of expressing your faith. The following is a suggested prayer:
"Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been directing my own life and that, as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit."
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If so, bow in prayer and trust God to fill you with the Holy Spirit right now.
How to Know That You are Filled (Directed
and Empowered) with the Holy Spirit
Did you ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit? Do you know that you are now filled with the Holy Spirit? On what authority? (On the trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word: Hebrews 11:66And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him; Romans 14:22, 2322The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.23But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from.)
Do not depend upon feelings. The promise of God's Word, not our feelings, is our authority. The Christian lives by faith (trust) in the trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word. This train diagram illustrates the relationship between fact (God and His Word), faith (our trust in God and His Word), and feeling (the result of our faith and obedience) ( John 14:2121He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.).
The train will run with or without the caboose. However, it would be futile to attempt to pull the train by the caboose. In the same way, we, as Christians, do not depend upon feelings or emotions, but we place our faith (trust) in the trustworthiness of God and the promises of His Word.
How to Walk in the Spirit
Faith (trust in God and in His promises) is the only means by which a Christian can live the Spirit-directed life. As you continue to trust Christ moment by moment:
Your life will demonstrate more and more of the fruit of the Spirit
( Galatians 5:22, 2322But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.) and will be more and more conformed to the image of Christ ( Romans 12:22And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.; 2 Corinthians 3:1818But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.).
Your prayer life and study of God's Word will become more meaningful.
You will experience His power in witnessing ( Acts 1:88but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.).
You will be prepared for spiritual conflict against the world ( 1 John 2:15-1715Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.17The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.); against the flesh (Galatians 5:16-1716But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.17For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.); and against Satan (1 Peter 5:7-97casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.8Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.9But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world; Ephesians 6:10-1310Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.11Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.).
You will experience His power to resist temptation and sin
(1 Corinthians 10:1313No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.; Philippians 4:1313I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.; Ephesians 1:19-2319and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might20which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.22And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.;
2 Timothy 1:77For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.; Romans 6:1-161What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?2May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?3Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?4Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.5For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,6knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;7for he who has died is freed from sin.8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.11Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,13and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.14For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!16Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?).
Spiritual Breathing
By faith you can continue to experience God's love and forgiveness.
If you become aware of an area of your life (an attitude or an action) that is displeasing to the Lord, even though you are walking with Him and sincerely desiring to serve Him, simply thank God that He has forgiven your sins - past, present and future - on the basis of Christ's death on the cross. Claim His love and forgiveness by faith and continue to have fellowship with Him.
If you retake the throne of your life through sin - a definite act of disobedience - breathe spiritually.
Spiritual breathing (exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure) is an exercise in faith that enables you to continue to experience God's love and forgiveness.
Exhale - confess your sin - agree with God concerning your sin and thank Him for His forgiveness of it, according to 1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. and Hebrews 10:1-251For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.5Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, But a body You have prepared for Me; 6In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure. 7"Then I said, `Behold, I have come (In the scroll of the book it is written of Me) To do Your will, O god.'"8After saying above, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the Law),9then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will." He takes away the first in order to establish the second.10By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.11Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;12but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,13waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.14For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.15And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, 16"This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them," He then says, 17"And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."18Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.19Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,20by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,21and since we have a great priest over the house of God,22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;24and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.. Confession involves repentance - a change in attitude and action.
Inhale - surrender the control of your life to Christ, and appropriate (receive) the fullness of the Holy Spirit by faith. Trust that He now directs and empowers you; according to the command of Ephesians 5:1818And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,, and the promise of
1 John 5:14, 1514This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.15And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
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Millions of copies of the booklet, "Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-filled Life?" have been distributed in most major languages around the world. As a result, thousands of Christians have learned how to experience the power and control of the Holy Spirit, moment by moment. Through the abundant life which Christ promises, and which they are now experiencing, they have become more effective in sharing their faith in Christ with others. Experience has confirmed the validity of Christ's command to the disciples to wait until they were empowered by the Holy Spirit before going forth to the world to share the good news of His love and forgiveness. Most Christians, when they have learned this truth concerning the Holy Spirit, want to be actively sharing Christ and helping to fulfill the Great Commission in our generation.
with the Holy Spirit
We are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith alone. However, true prayer is one way of expressing your faith. The following is a suggested prayer:
"Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been directing my own life and that, as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit."
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If so, bow in prayer and trust God to fill you with the Holy Spirit right now.
How to Know That You are Filled (Directed
and Empowered) with the Holy Spirit
Did you ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit? Do you know that you are now filled with the Holy Spirit? On what authority? (On the trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word: Hebrews 11:66And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him; Romans 14:22, 2322The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.23But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from.)
Do not depend upon feelings. The promise of God's Word, not our feelings, is our authority. The Christian lives by faith (trust) in the trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word. This train diagram illustrates the relationship between fact (God and His Word), faith (our trust in God and His Word), and feeling (the result of our faith and obedience) ( John 14:2121He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.).
The train will run with or without the caboose. However, it would be futile to attempt to pull the train by the caboose. In the same way, we, as Christians, do not depend upon feelings or emotions, but we place our faith (trust) in the trustworthiness of God and the promises of His Word.
How to Walk in the Spirit
Faith (trust in God and in His promises) is the only means by which a Christian can live the Spirit-directed life. As you continue to trust Christ moment by moment:
Your life will demonstrate more and more of the fruit of the Spirit
( Galatians 5:22, 2322But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.) and will be more and more conformed to the image of Christ ( Romans 12:22And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.; 2 Corinthians 3:1818But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.).
Your prayer life and study of God's Word will become more meaningful.
You will experience His power in witnessing ( Acts 1:88but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.).
You will be prepared for spiritual conflict against the world ( 1 John 2:15-1715Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.17The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.); against the flesh (Galatians 5:16-1716But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.17For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.); and against Satan (1 Peter 5:7-97casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.8Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.9But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world; Ephesians 6:10-1310Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.11Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.).
You will experience His power to resist temptation and sin
(1 Corinthians 10:1313No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.; Philippians 4:1313I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.; Ephesians 1:19-2319and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might20which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.22And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.;
2 Timothy 1:77For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.; Romans 6:1-161What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?2May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?3Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?4Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.5For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,6knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;7for he who has died is freed from sin.8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.11Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,13and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.14For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!16Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?).
Spiritual Breathing
By faith you can continue to experience God's love and forgiveness.
If you become aware of an area of your life (an attitude or an action) that is displeasing to the Lord, even though you are walking with Him and sincerely desiring to serve Him, simply thank God that He has forgiven your sins - past, present and future - on the basis of Christ's death on the cross. Claim His love and forgiveness by faith and continue to have fellowship with Him.
If you retake the throne of your life through sin - a definite act of disobedience - breathe spiritually.
Spiritual breathing (exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure) is an exercise in faith that enables you to continue to experience God's love and forgiveness.
Exhale - confess your sin - agree with God concerning your sin and thank Him for His forgiveness of it, according to 1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. and Hebrews 10:1-251For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.5Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, But a body You have prepared for Me; 6In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure. 7"Then I said, `Behold, I have come (In the scroll of the book it is written of Me) To do Your will, O god.'"8After saying above, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the Law),9then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will." He takes away the first in order to establish the second.10By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.11Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;12but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,13waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.14For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.15And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, 16"This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them," He then says, 17"And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."18Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.19Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,20by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,21and since we have a great priest over the house of God,22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;24and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.. Confession involves repentance - a change in attitude and action.
Inhale - surrender the control of your life to Christ, and appropriate (receive) the fullness of the Holy Spirit by faith. Trust that He now directs and empowers you; according to the command of Ephesians 5:1818And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,, and the promise of
1 John 5:14, 1514This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.15And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
You will want to share this important discovery...
If this page has been meaningful and helpful to you, please share it with someone else.
Millions of copies of the booklet, "Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-filled Life?" have been distributed in most major languages around the world. As a result, thousands of Christians have learned how to experience the power and control of the Holy Spirit, moment by moment. Through the abundant life which Christ promises, and which they are now experiencing, they have become more effective in sharing their faith in Christ with others. Experience has confirmed the validity of Christ's command to the disciples to wait until they were empowered by the Holy Spirit before going forth to the world to share the good news of His love and forgiveness. Most Christians, when they have learned this truth concerning the Holy Spirit, want to be actively sharing Christ and helping to fulfill the Great Commission in our generation.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Jesus said, I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly
God Has Provided For Us an Abundant and Fruitful Christian Life
Jesus said, "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" (John 10:1010The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.).
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:55I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.).
"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22, 2322But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.).
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth" (Acts 1:88but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.).
1.The Spiritual Man
The degree to which these traits are manifested in the life depends upon the extent to which the Christian trusts the Lord with every detail of his life, and upon his maturity in Christ. One who is only beginning to understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit should not be discouraged if he is not as fruitful as more mature Christians who have known and experienced this truth for a longer period.
2.The Carnal Man - Some or all of the following traits may characterize the Christian who does not fully trust God:
(The individual who professes to be a Christian but who continues to practice sin should realize that he may not be a Christian at all, according to
(1 John 2:3; 3:6, 91 John 2Christ Is Our Advocate3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
1 John 36No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.9No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.; Ephesians 5:55For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.).
Carnal Christians Cannot Experience the Abundant and Fruitful Christian Life
The carnal man trusts in his own efforts to live the Christian life:
1. He is either uninformed about, or has forgotten, God's love, forgiveness, and power
2. He has an up-and-down spiritual experience.
3. He cannot understand himself - he wants to do what is right, but cannot.
4. He fails to draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life.
Jesus said, "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" (John 10:1010The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.).
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:55I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.).
"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22, 2322But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.).
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth" (Acts 1:88but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.).
1.The Spiritual Man
The degree to which these traits are manifested in the life depends upon the extent to which the Christian trusts the Lord with every detail of his life, and upon his maturity in Christ. One who is only beginning to understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit should not be discouraged if he is not as fruitful as more mature Christians who have known and experienced this truth for a longer period.
2.The Carnal Man - Some or all of the following traits may characterize the Christian who does not fully trust God:
(The individual who professes to be a Christian but who continues to practice sin should realize that he may not be a Christian at all, according to
(1 John 2:3; 3:6, 91 John 2Christ Is Our Advocate3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
1 John 36No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.9No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.; Ephesians 5:55For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.).
Carnal Christians Cannot Experience the Abundant and Fruitful Christian Life
The carnal man trusts in his own efforts to live the Christian life:
1. He is either uninformed about, or has forgotten, God's love, forgiveness, and power
2. He has an up-and-down spiritual experience.
3. He cannot understand himself - he wants to do what is right, but cannot.
4. He fails to draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Jesus has given you the gift of the Holy Spirit
You can live an abundant life as a Christian by the power of the Holy Spirit. God has not left you to live your life as a Christian out of your own efforts, alone and frustrated. Jesus has given you the gift of the Holy Spirit! He told His disciples, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you” (Luke 24:49). When you first accepted Christ as your Savior by faith, the Holy Spirit was given to you by God to assure you of your salvation. But He has more for you! God wants you to be filled (directed and controlled) with the Holy Spirit so that you can live an abundant and fruitful life, one of fulfillment and powerful witness of Jesus Christ to those around you.
You can be filled with the Holy Spirit the same way you became a Christian—by asking God to fill you with the Holy Spirit by faith. Here is the promise Jesus gave to all believers: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). It is as if you had a million dollars in the bank; you just have to go in and ask for it. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is worth far more than a million dollars—it will give you a life of powerful witness and great fulfillment—and the gift is already in your spiritual bank account. If you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit today, ask God to fill you, and then thank Him in faith for doing so. You will begin to experience a life empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Key verses
“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Luke 24:49
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13
You can be filled with the Holy Spirit the same way you became a Christian—by asking God to fill you with the Holy Spirit by faith. Here is the promise Jesus gave to all believers: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). It is as if you had a million dollars in the bank; you just have to go in and ask for it. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is worth far more than a million dollars—it will give you a life of powerful witness and great fulfillment—and the gift is already in your spiritual bank account. If you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit today, ask God to fill you, and then thank Him in faith for doing so. You will begin to experience a life empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Key verses
“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Luke 24:49
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13
Saturday, 19 December 2009
Jesus and the Holy Spirit
The Trinity is the doctrine that in the unity of the One God, there are three divine persons: the Father, Son, and Spirit, distinct from one another yet of one substance. The three persons are co-eternal and uncreated: "the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God."[33] Jesus is understood by Trinitarian Christians to be the person of the Son, eternally begotten by the Father, who came upon earth to deliver to the world.
Such language appears in Matthew 28:19, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." This was incorporated into baptismal formulae, which also invoked a renunciation of Satan, contrasting the initiate's belief in the One God with the idolatry of polytheistic paganism.[34] This language also appears in early doxologies (Galatians 5:25; Romans 8:9; Hebrews 13:15).[35] The doctrine found full articulation with the Council of Nicaea.
The only Son of God
According to the predominant Christian interpretation, the title "Son of God" is understood as an expression of Jesus' divinity, specifically his unique divine sonship as the Second Person of the Trinity.
The title is applied often in the Gospels, notably at the Baptism and the Transfiguration (Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5). Also significant is the confession of Peter: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16). Jesus applies the title "the only Son of God" to himself in John 3:16 and John 10:36. John's gospel uses the title as a short formula for expressing his divinity: "We have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
Such language appears in Matthew 28:19, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." This was incorporated into baptismal formulae, which also invoked a renunciation of Satan, contrasting the initiate's belief in the One God with the idolatry of polytheistic paganism.[34] This language also appears in early doxologies (Galatians 5:25; Romans 8:9; Hebrews 13:15).[35] The doctrine found full articulation with the Council of Nicaea.
The only Son of God
According to the predominant Christian interpretation, the title "Son of God" is understood as an expression of Jesus' divinity, specifically his unique divine sonship as the Second Person of the Trinity.
The title is applied often in the Gospels, notably at the Baptism and the Transfiguration (Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5). Also significant is the confession of Peter: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16). Jesus applies the title "the only Son of God" to himself in John 3:16 and John 10:36. John's gospel uses the title as a short formula for expressing his divinity: "We have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
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