If you believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead, you are a child of God. And as a child of God, only two things are necessary for you to be permeated by God's Spirit and power.
OBEY GOD.
According to the Apostle Peter, "God gives the Spirit to those who obey Him." And according to the Apostle Paul, we are actually commanded to "be filled with the Spirit" instead of "being drunk with wine." So the first thing to do is simply, completely, and unconditionally yield to the Spirit, giving Him complete and absolute control over you. That's what it means to "be filled with the Spirit." That is the command to obey. Once you've obeyed, you only need to do one more thing.
ASK GOD.
The Lord Jesus said, "If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." So, if you are a child of God, and you've yielded to the Spirit, all you have to do is ask God to fill you with the Spirit, and He will do it. Right now.
Obey God. (Yield to the Spirit.)
Ask God. (To fill you with the Spirit.)
That's all that's required to be filled with God's Spirit, if you are a child of God through faith in Jesus.
Showing posts with label Being filled with the Spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Being filled with the Spirit. Show all posts
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Friday, May 19, 2017
How to be filled with the Spirit and know it! Part 2
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18 Berean Study Bible
Just as alcoholics completely yield to the permeation, influence, and control of alcohol, believers completely yield to the permeation, influence, and control of the Spirit. The believer completely opens himself or herself to the Spirit's permeation, power, and control. There is a Bible verse that effectively illustrates this for me:
Ephesians 5:18 Berean Study Bible
Just as alcoholics completely yield to the permeation, influence, and control of alcohol, believers completely yield to the permeation, influence, and control of the Spirit. The believer completely opens himself or herself to the Spirit's permeation, power, and control. There is a Bible verse that effectively illustrates this for me:
"Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" Romans 6:16 NIV (italics mine)
To be a slave is to be under the complete control of a master. Paul is saying that we are under the control of whomever or whatever we offer ourselves to. It could be to sin (drunkenness) or to obedience (being filled with the Spirit.) It's up to us. And because Paul is commanding us not to get drunk on wine but to be filled with the Spirit, it's not only something we can do, but also something we must do.
So to be filled with the Spirit, the first thing to do is yield to Him. We simply offer ourselves to Him completely, like this:
So to be filled with the Spirit, the first thing to do is yield to Him. We simply offer ourselves to Him completely, like this:
"Holy Spirit, I give my spirit, soul, body, words, and activity completely to you. I totally surrender to you in total obedience to you."
After yielding to God, we now only need to ask to be filled with His Spirit.
ASK GOD TO FILL YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT.
After yielding to God, we now only need to ask to be filled with His Spirit.
ASK GOD TO FILL YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT.
After you yield to the Spirit, then ask God the Father to fill you with the Spirit, to give you His Spirit as your master. Jesus tells us how to do this:
"Even though you're evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" Luke 11:13 GWT
If you are a child of God through faith in Jesus, and you yield to the Spirit's control, all you have to do after yielding is ask God to fill you with His Spirit. The drunk person, in a sense, is asking the "spirit" to fill him or her. (Some people call alcohol "spirits.") Because the Spirit is an actual person, and because He will not negate your free will, He won't fill you unless you ask Him.
And when you ask Him, when you are under His influence, you actually become self-controlled, instead of losing control like drunk people do.
If you want to be filled with the Spirit and know it, say this prayer with me:
Our Father in heaven, I yield completely and unconditionally to Your Spirit. Please fill me with your Spirit in Jesus' name. Amen.
Let me know your experience of the Spirit filled life in the comments. I look forward to hearing from you.
If you are a child of God through faith in Jesus, and you yield to the Spirit's control, all you have to do after yielding is ask God to fill you with His Spirit. The drunk person, in a sense, is asking the "spirit" to fill him or her. (Some people call alcohol "spirits.") Because the Spirit is an actual person, and because He will not negate your free will, He won't fill you unless you ask Him.
And when you ask Him, when you are under His influence, you actually become self-controlled, instead of losing control like drunk people do.
If you want to be filled with the Spirit and know it, say this prayer with me:
Our Father in heaven, I yield completely and unconditionally to Your Spirit. Please fill me with your Spirit in Jesus' name. Amen.
Let me know your experience of the Spirit filled life in the comments. I look forward to hearing from you.
(And click here to read part 3 to see what to expect when you're filled with the Spirit.)
How to be filled with the Spirit and know it! (Part 3)
"You will receive power when the Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8
Some of you may be wondering how you can actually know if you're filled with the Spirit. I can sum up how you know in one word: power.
When the Spirit fills you, when He permeates you and controls you because you've completely yielded to His influence, you will have a power you didn't have before in serving Him, wherever you are in your life. This power may manifest itself in varying ways, but one thing is clear, and one thing will be very clear: you will have a supernatural power you did not have before that enables you to bear witness to the Lord Jesus.
The purpose of the power is to make Jesus known. Now if that isn't your goal, then you won't be filled with the Spirit. But if it is your goal, then no matter what circumstance or situation you are in, you will have power to make Jesus known in whatever you're saying or doing.
That's what you look for: power to make Jesus known.
You will experience a supernatural boldness and effectiveness in doing this. Boldness meaning confidence and certainty about Jesus. Effectiveness meaning you will be able to communicate who Jesus is in a way that will convict those who reject Him and encourage those who accept Him. The key is that the focus is on Jesus. Your focus is on Jesus. Whether you are a student or a teacher, employer or employee (or even unemployed.) Wherever you are in life, whatever your role, you will have an ability that you didn't have before, an ability to know Jesus and make Him known.
Look for this power to honor Jesus. It won't be hard to find.
Some of you may be wondering how you can actually know if you're filled with the Spirit. I can sum up how you know in one word: power.
When the Spirit fills you, when He permeates you and controls you because you've completely yielded to His influence, you will have a power you didn't have before in serving Him, wherever you are in your life. This power may manifest itself in varying ways, but one thing is clear, and one thing will be very clear: you will have a supernatural power you did not have before that enables you to bear witness to the Lord Jesus.
The purpose of the power is to make Jesus known. Now if that isn't your goal, then you won't be filled with the Spirit. But if it is your goal, then no matter what circumstance or situation you are in, you will have power to make Jesus known in whatever you're saying or doing.
That's what you look for: power to make Jesus known.
You will experience a supernatural boldness and effectiveness in doing this. Boldness meaning confidence and certainty about Jesus. Effectiveness meaning you will be able to communicate who Jesus is in a way that will convict those who reject Him and encourage those who accept Him. The key is that the focus is on Jesus. Your focus is on Jesus. Whether you are a student or a teacher, employer or employee (or even unemployed.) Wherever you are in life, whatever your role, you will have an ability that you didn't have before, an ability to know Jesus and make Him known.
Look for this power to honor Jesus. It won't be hard to find.
Monday, February 1, 2016
How to be conscious of the Spirit's Power in your life (Part 1)
Jesus told (the apostles), "You don't need to know about times or periods that the Father has determined by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes (upon ) you. Then you will be my witnesses to testify about me...to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:7- GWT, parentheses mine.
You can have power from the Spirit and know it; you should feel it and be aware of it. In fact, you should be aware of the Spirit's power before you say or do anything.
You need to be. You have to be. You're supposed to be.
I know this because I see this in scripture, and I am experienced it right now as I write to you.
Power: Ability to accomplish a specific goal you set out to accomplish.
You can have that power as soon as you finish reading my blogs. I'll show you how right now.
First, as I said, power assumes a purpose; it assumes a specific goal that you have the ability to accomplish. What is our goal? To be a witness of the Lord Jesus. What does a witness do? He or she simply tells what he or she has seen, heard, or directly experienced. So what kind of power do you need to be a witness, any kind of witness?
Jesus promised his first followers and us that we will be his witnesses throughout the world, and that he would give us power from the Spirit to do so. The early followers experienced the Spirit's power, and it was manifest in two ways:
These two things encompass the power of a witness of Jesus.
These two things are the power of which you should be conscious.
Click here for part 2.
Acts 1:7- GWT, parentheses mine.
You can have power from the Spirit and know it; you should feel it and be aware of it. In fact, you should be aware of the Spirit's power before you say or do anything.
You need to be. You have to be. You're supposed to be.
I know this because I see this in scripture, and I am experienced it right now as I write to you.
Power: Ability to accomplish a specific goal you set out to accomplish.
You can have that power as soon as you finish reading my blogs. I'll show you how right now.
First, as I said, power assumes a purpose; it assumes a specific goal that you have the ability to accomplish. What is our goal? To be a witness of the Lord Jesus. What does a witness do? He or she simply tells what he or she has seen, heard, or directly experienced. So what kind of power do you need to be a witness, any kind of witness?
- You need to know something or someone by direct experience.
- You need to be able to communicate effectively what you have experienced.
Jesus promised his first followers and us that we will be his witnesses throughout the world, and that he would give us power from the Spirit to do so. The early followers experienced the Spirit's power, and it was manifest in two ways:
- Boldness
- Effectiveness
These two things encompass the power of a witness of Jesus.
These two things are the power of which you should be conscious.
Click here for part 2.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Something you HAVE to know and DO (Part 2)
Imagine you got a bonus check from your job for $2000 dollars. The check is in your bag or purse or pocket. It's on your person. Think of how different your consciousness is. Instead of 20 dollars on your person, you have 2000. Your awareness and thoughts and actions are very much different. You have more respect for 2000 dollars than 20 dollars. Now imagine, for some reason, you forgot you had that 2000 dollars in your pocket or purse or bag, and somehow I knew it. Say I'm your boss, the one who gave you the bonus. One day I ask you, "So, how'd you enjoy your 2000 dollars?"
BAM!
You remember!
You've got 2000 dollars that you totally forgot about. That knowledge alone changes your life at that moment.
It's the same with simply knowing what you now have in your possession: The Spirit of God!
Do you really know and believe this? If you do, then there is something you must do.
The first thing you needed was a revelation.
The next thing you need is consecration.
Now that you know that the Spirit of the Lord God is in you, keywords, the Lord, meaning The Supreme Ruler Creator, it naturally follows that you would submit your entire life to Him at this very moment and from now on. Let's review the revelation Paul gave the Corinthians, with the consecration he urged them to act out as a result:
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
Because the Spirit of the Lord is in you, having "purchased you" by the blood of Jesus, you are no longer your own. Your life is not yours; your life now belongs to your Creator and Savior, to His Spirit in you. You are not just aware of His Presence, you are now aware of what His presence practically means.
For example, when you're driving and the police are following your car, you experience a revelation leading to consecration! Now that you know the police are following you, you submit to their authority. Their presence, red and blue lights, and sirens summon your submission. The same is true with the divine person in you, the Spirit of God.
If the Spirit in you doesn't shape everything you think, say, and do, then either you don't know He's in you, you don't believe He's in you, or worst of all, you don't care. It would be like you running from the police instead of stopping when they follow. You would be deliberately disrespecting the authority of the law. The Lord in you is now in authority over you.
The Spirit of the Lord is your Lord. What will you do with His presence from now on?
You have a choice:
Acknowledge Him and submit to Him.
Ignore Him and rebel against Him.
There is no neutral ground with what you now know.
If you choose to acknowledge and submit to the Spirit of God who is in you, pray this prayer with me:
"Our Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus I acknowledge and totally surrender to Your Spirit who is in me. I no longer live for myself. I live totally for Him. Amen."
From this moment on, you are aware of the Spirit of God who is in you.
Your life will never be the same, nor will anyone else who encounters God in you and with you.
Jesus is Lord.
Amen.
BAM!
You remember!
You've got 2000 dollars that you totally forgot about. That knowledge alone changes your life at that moment.
It's the same with simply knowing what you now have in your possession: The Spirit of God!
Do you really know and believe this? If you do, then there is something you must do.
The first thing you needed was a revelation.
The next thing you need is consecration.
Now that you know that the Spirit of the Lord God is in you, keywords, the Lord, meaning The Supreme Ruler Creator, it naturally follows that you would submit your entire life to Him at this very moment and from now on. Let's review the revelation Paul gave the Corinthians, with the consecration he urged them to act out as a result:
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
Because the Spirit of the Lord is in you, having "purchased you" by the blood of Jesus, you are no longer your own. Your life is not yours; your life now belongs to your Creator and Savior, to His Spirit in you. You are not just aware of His Presence, you are now aware of what His presence practically means.
For example, when you're driving and the police are following your car, you experience a revelation leading to consecration! Now that you know the police are following you, you submit to their authority. Their presence, red and blue lights, and sirens summon your submission. The same is true with the divine person in you, the Spirit of God.
If the Spirit in you doesn't shape everything you think, say, and do, then either you don't know He's in you, you don't believe He's in you, or worst of all, you don't care. It would be like you running from the police instead of stopping when they follow. You would be deliberately disrespecting the authority of the law. The Lord in you is now in authority over you.
The Spirit of the Lord is your Lord. What will you do with His presence from now on?
You have a choice:
Acknowledge Him and submit to Him.
Ignore Him and rebel against Him.
There is no neutral ground with what you now know.
If you choose to acknowledge and submit to the Spirit of God who is in you, pray this prayer with me:
"Our Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus I acknowledge and totally surrender to Your Spirit who is in me. I no longer live for myself. I live totally for Him. Amen."
From this moment on, you are aware of the Spirit of God who is in you.
Your life will never be the same, nor will anyone else who encounters God in you and with you.
Jesus is Lord.
Amen.
Something you HAVE to know and DO (Part 1)
You have to know one thing by the end of this blog.
You have to do one thing with what you will know.
The first thing you need is a revelation. The same revelation Paul gave the Corinthian Christians is the revelation you have to have by the end of this blog. Here it is:
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
I Corinthians 6:19a NIV
If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for your sins, you have to know this:
The Holy Spirit is in you.
The Holy Spirit is God.
Therefore, God is in you.
God is in you.
God.
In.
You.
Not a power or influence. Not an "it." Not a "force."
God, a person, The Person, with a mind, emotions, and will, is inside of your body right now as you read, acknowledging His presence as you read my words.
Ponder it with me.
(Click here for part two)
You have to do one thing with what you will know.
The first thing you need is a revelation. The same revelation Paul gave the Corinthian Christians is the revelation you have to have by the end of this blog. Here it is:
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
I Corinthians 6:19a NIV
If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for your sins, you have to know this:
The Holy Spirit is in you.
The Holy Spirit is God.
Therefore, God is in you.
God is in you.
God.
In.
You.
Not a power or influence. Not an "it." Not a "force."
God, a person, The Person, with a mind, emotions, and will, is inside of your body right now as you read, acknowledging His presence as you read my words.
Ponder it with me.
(Click here for part two)
How to Know God's Spirit is With You (Part 1)
"All spiritual blessings are given on a definite
basis." Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Life
What is the definite basis of God's Spirit being with
you? The basis of God's presence in your life is the same basis for God
forgiving all of your sins. The Spirit is with you for the same reason
that you have been born again. The basis of every spiritual blessing is
what the Lord Jesus has done, and not what you have done.
Why are all of your sins forgiven? Because of
the Lord Jesus' crucifixion.
Why are you a new creation? Because of the Lord
Jesus' resurrection.
Why is the Spirit with you in power and
presence? Because of the Lord Jesus' exaltation, as it is written:
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are
witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having
received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this
that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. Acts 2:32-33 ESV
You believe that Jesus died for your sins, so your
sins are forgiven right now.
- You believe Jesus rose from the dead, so you are born again, right here and right now.
- You believe Jesus ascended into heaven and is exalted as Lord and Christ:
- You have the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, right now.
Did you do anything to receive forgiveness or to be
born again? Absolutely not!
You simply accepted what Jesus did for you, and
received what God gave you through Jesus.
It's exactly the same with the Spirit's presence and
power in your life.
Some of you may ask, "But how do I know that the
Spirit is with me?"
The same way you know that your sins are forgiven and
that you are born again!
Do you know that Jesus died, rose, and ascended?
Then you know you are forgiven, born again, and have the Spirit's
manifestation.
Some may still say, "I understand all of that and
truly believe it. But I want to feel God's presence with me. How do
I directly experience it?"
If you know and believe the basis of the Spirit's
presence in your life (which you do), then all that is left is meeting two
conditions. (Click here
for part two.)
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Satan: The Christian's First Mission (Part 2)
The Spirit filled Jesus.
He then led Jesus into the wilderness.
The Spirit led Jesus to encounter, resist, and defeat Satan.
As Christians, we must imitate Christ.
BE SPIRIT LED
When the Spirit permeated Jesus' life, the very first thing He led Jesus to do was to encounter Satan. How did Jesus know the Spirit was leading Him to the enemy, and how can we? Look at what happened with Jesus at His baptism:
1. The Father Himself affirmed Jesus as His beloved Son.
2. The Spirit descended upon Jesus in a tangible way.
3. John the Baptist not only saw the Spirit descend upon Jesus, but identified Jesus by the Spirit.
What is God saying to you right now? Whatever it is, expect Satan to respond in contradiction. More than this, expect the Spirit TO LEAD YOU TO SATAN to resist and defeat him. Having resisted and defeated the devil, you can begin your mission, just as Christ began His mission.
You will be as sure of the Spirit driving you as Jesus was sure of the Spirit driving Him. And how will you know the difference between the Spirit influencing you and the devil influencing you? Easy. The Spirit will lead you TO RESIST THE DEVIL. In other words, the very distinction you fear is the very way you will know the distinction between God and Satan. God always leads you to resist Satan, and Satan always leads you to resist God. Again, easy! As it is written,
"Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you."
If you agree, please pray with me:
"God I submit to Your Spirit and resist the devil and every demonic spirit. Please fill me and lead by your Spirit to resist the devil. In Jesus' name, amen."
May God bless you always by the Spirit filling you and leading you as the Spirit led Jesus Christ.
He then led Jesus into the wilderness.
The Spirit led Jesus to encounter, resist, and defeat Satan.
As Christians, we must imitate Christ.
BE SPIRIT LED
When the Spirit permeated Jesus' life, the very first thing He led Jesus to do was to encounter Satan. How did Jesus know the Spirit was leading Him to the enemy, and how can we? Look at what happened with Jesus at His baptism:
1. The Father Himself affirmed Jesus as His beloved Son.
2. The Spirit descended upon Jesus in a tangible way.
3. John the Baptist not only saw the Spirit descend upon Jesus, but identified Jesus by the Spirit.
The same must be true of me and you.
When God affirms you as His child, and when the Spirit is filling you in a way that is tangible, undeniable, irresistible, and irrefutable, the next person, key word person, you will encounter is Satan. He is always in opposition to God and His children. From the garden of Eden until now, you can know that where God speaks, so will Satan in contradiction:- God said to Adam (and Eve), "From the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat. The day you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will surely die."
- Satan said to Eve (and Adam who was with her), "You will not surely die, for God knows the day you eat of the tree of knowledge you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
- God said to Jesus, "This is my beloved Son, with Him I am well pleased."
- Satan said to Jesus, "IF you are the Son of God, turn these stones to bread. IF you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from the temple."
What is God saying to you right now? Whatever it is, expect Satan to respond in contradiction. More than this, expect the Spirit TO LEAD YOU TO SATAN to resist and defeat him. Having resisted and defeated the devil, you can begin your mission, just as Christ began His mission.
You will be as sure of the Spirit driving you as Jesus was sure of the Spirit driving Him. And how will you know the difference between the Spirit influencing you and the devil influencing you? Easy. The Spirit will lead you TO RESIST THE DEVIL. In other words, the very distinction you fear is the very way you will know the distinction between God and Satan. God always leads you to resist Satan, and Satan always leads you to resist God. Again, easy! As it is written,
"Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you."
If you agree, please pray with me:
"God I submit to Your Spirit and resist the devil and every demonic spirit. Please fill me and lead by your Spirit to resist the devil. In Jesus' name, amen."
May God bless you always by the Spirit filling you and leading you as the Spirit led Jesus Christ.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
How To Release The FIRE in YOU
Do not quench the Spirit. The Apostle Paul
Your fire burns naturally and effortlessly...unless you suppress it. Unless you refuse or fail to express it.
What is your fire?
It is the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, manifest when you use your spiritual gift.
Every reference to "quenching" that I found in the New Testament had to do with fire, extinguishing a fire. John the Baptist said he baptized with water, but that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit, and with fire. When the Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, flaming tongues of fire hovered over each of the 120 believers, and they were filled with the Spirit. Paul told Timothy to "fan into flame" his spiritual gift, to do the opposite of quenching the Spirit. Paul also said that our "shield of faith" would "quench the fiery darts of the wicked one," extinguishing the burning accusations and temptations of Satan.
FIRE
YOUR FIRE
To release your fire, the presence and power of the Spirit, the spiritual gift Jesus gave you, do two things:
1. Recognize the burning passion God gave you to honor Him and help others.
2. Express that passion today. It will take great effort to suppress it or keep it in.
For example, when I read a scripture, certain truths or words jump out at me. I feel inspired to either write about those words, or to tell someone what God just showed me, namely YOU. My fingers flow, or the words flow out of my mouth. Flow. Burning truth from the Spirit. My fire.
Yours may be a desire to pray for someone or something that you simply can't get off your mind or out of your heart until you pray.
The fire is burning. You feel it or you have felt it. God gave it. Let it out. Let it burn.
If you agree, pray with me:
God, in the name of Jesus, let the fire of your Spirit burn in me and from me and through me. Show me my fire, or remind me what it is, so that from this moment forward, I many never quench the Spirit again. Amen.
Your fire burns naturally and effortlessly...unless you suppress it. Unless you refuse or fail to express it.
What is your fire?
It is the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, manifest when you use your spiritual gift.
Every reference to "quenching" that I found in the New Testament had to do with fire, extinguishing a fire. John the Baptist said he baptized with water, but that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit, and with fire. When the Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, flaming tongues of fire hovered over each of the 120 believers, and they were filled with the Spirit. Paul told Timothy to "fan into flame" his spiritual gift, to do the opposite of quenching the Spirit. Paul also said that our "shield of faith" would "quench the fiery darts of the wicked one," extinguishing the burning accusations and temptations of Satan.
FIRE
YOUR FIRE
To release your fire, the presence and power of the Spirit, the spiritual gift Jesus gave you, do two things:
1. Recognize the burning passion God gave you to honor Him and help others.
2. Express that passion today. It will take great effort to suppress it or keep it in.
For example, when I read a scripture, certain truths or words jump out at me. I feel inspired to either write about those words, or to tell someone what God just showed me, namely YOU. My fingers flow, or the words flow out of my mouth. Flow. Burning truth from the Spirit. My fire.
Yours may be a desire to pray for someone or something that you simply can't get off your mind or out of your heart until you pray.
The fire is burning. You feel it or you have felt it. God gave it. Let it out. Let it burn.
If you agree, pray with me:
God, in the name of Jesus, let the fire of your Spirit burn in me and from me and through me. Show me my fire, or remind me what it is, so that from this moment forward, I many never quench the Spirit again. Amen.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
How Does It Feel to Be Filled With The Spirit? (Part 1)
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit...
The Apostle Paul
I heard a man who claimed to be a Christian refer to himself as a "spiritual bartender," who got believers "spiritually tipsy." He said this in relation to being filled with the Spirit. This is straight foolishness. I write to expose it and replace it with the truth.
Drunkenness is a "work of the flesh," according to the Apostle Paul. The works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit are opposed to each other. So being filled with the Spirit is not like being drunk on wine. To be drunk on wine takes away your self control. To be filled with the Spirit gives you complete self-control. This principle is what distinguishes the Holy Spirit from Satanic spirits.
There is a connection between what Paul is saying about wine and the Spirit. But remember, he uses the word "instead." And remember, drunkenness is opposed to the Spirit's influence in your life.
Yet the word "influence" is the connection between wine and the Spirit. Instead of being under the influence of wine, be under the influence of the Spirit.
Again, how does it feel to be under the Spirit's influence, versus under the influence of wine?
Here is the difference:
The Apostle Paul
I heard a man who claimed to be a Christian refer to himself as a "spiritual bartender," who got believers "spiritually tipsy." He said this in relation to being filled with the Spirit. This is straight foolishness. I write to expose it and replace it with the truth.
Drunkenness is a "work of the flesh," according to the Apostle Paul. The works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit are opposed to each other. So being filled with the Spirit is not like being drunk on wine. To be drunk on wine takes away your self control. To be filled with the Spirit gives you complete self-control. This principle is what distinguishes the Holy Spirit from Satanic spirits.
- Satan wants you passive in mind and will. In a trance. Under hypnosis. Mindless. "Open." Controlled.
- The Holy Spirit wants your mind and will active, for you to be free, as it is written, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
There is a connection between what Paul is saying about wine and the Spirit. But remember, he uses the word "instead." And remember, drunkenness is opposed to the Spirit's influence in your life.
Yet the word "influence" is the connection between wine and the Spirit. Instead of being under the influence of wine, be under the influence of the Spirit.
Again, how does it feel to be under the Spirit's influence, versus under the influence of wine?
Here is the difference:
- Wine is a substance.
- The Holy Spirit is A Person.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
How People KNOW You are God's Child
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Romans 8:14
Did you know that you can control whether people know you are God's child? There is a way for you to do it. Two ways to be exact.
I learned these ways from a book called "The Power of Presence," by Kristi Hedges. The point of the book is that your presence is a powerful source of your success in life, and that you have direct control over it.
I applied this to scriptural truth, and saw how God's presence is the essence of His Kingdom, salvation, eternal life, reality. His presence in His children is the distinction between true and false religion. Kristi Hedges speaks of presence in ways that agree with the word of God. (Where she doesn't, or if she doesn't, I ignore it.) But where she does, she speaks two significant truths, or gives two types of presence that we determine in our relationships:
1. Our Personal Presence
2. Our Situational Presence.
You determine by deliberate intention your personal and situational presences. This is how people know that you are God's child.
Your personal presence is how you want to be defined, or known. What words you want to come to mind when people think of you. For example, let's say you want to be known as intelligent. When people think of you, they think, "He's very intelligent." You want intelligence to define you. That would be your personal presence, and everything you think, say, and do would need to be congruent with intelligence. You first intend this deliberately, then you do nothing to contradict it. This actually fits scripture by the way. Let's substitute "intelligence" with "wisdom." If you wanted your personal presence to be one of wisdom, meaning you wanted to be known as a wise man or woman, the scriptures give specific ways to "come across" as wise.
If you want people to feel excited when you come around, you should be "exciting." If you want them feel encouraged, you should be encouraging. Depending on the situation, and the needs of the situation, your "situational presence" may change, but it will never contradict your personal presence, who you are at your core. Again this agrees with scripture:
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15
Even God has "situational presences":
To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. Psalms 18:25:26
Now that you know what personal and situational presence is, and how to bring them about, you can apply them to being known as a child of God. What better personal or situational presence can you and I have? Paul tells us how to be known as children of God, so that when people think of you, the word that comes to mind is "child of God." When people are around you, no matter the situation, they feel like they are in the presence of a child of God.
It is by the Spirit of God in you that gives you the personal presence of a child of God; the presence of the Spirit, in you and with you, as you follow Him, gives you the situational presence of God's children.
You were born of the Spirit through faith in Christ Jesus. This is who you are. This never changes.
You are led by the Spirit in every situation; you walk in the Spirit; you are led by the Spirit.
Remember, this is intentional and deliberate, and Paul shows us how in very practical words, words that define my life:
If I'm only focused on the Spirit's will, then not only am I not controlled by any other will, but I don't want any body else to be controlled by my will! As it is also written,
"Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand." Romans 14:4
All I want for me, and for you, is to follow the Holy Spirit. He alone is my master. And He alone is your master. This is my personal and situational presence.
What is yours?
I applied this to scriptural truth, and saw how God's presence is the essence of His Kingdom, salvation, eternal life, reality. His presence in His children is the distinction between true and false religion. Kristi Hedges speaks of presence in ways that agree with the word of God. (Where she doesn't, or if she doesn't, I ignore it.) But where she does, she speaks two significant truths, or gives two types of presence that we determine in our relationships:
2. Our Situational Presence.
- Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent. Proverbs 17:28
- When there are many words transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19
To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. Psalms 18:25:26
You are led by the Spirit in every situation; you walk in the Spirit; you are led by the Spirit.
- "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that ones slave, whom you obey?"
- "Those who live in accordance with the Spirit set their minds on what the Spirit desires
If I'm only focused on the Spirit's will, then not only am I not controlled by any other will, but I don't want any body else to be controlled by my will! As it is also written,
"Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand." Romans 14:4
All I want for me, and for you, is to follow the Holy Spirit. He alone is my master. And He alone is your master. This is my personal and situational presence.
What is yours?
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
The Difference Between Will Power and Self Control
"Be self controlled, be watchful." 1 Peter 5:8
"The fruit of the Spirit...is self-control" Galatians 5:22-23
What's the difference between doing things "in your own strength," or by mere will power, and having self-control as a result of following the Spirit?
Imagine this.
Benson is a single virgin man. Mandy, whose been flirting with him for a week, comes to his desk in a bright red very low cut shirt, with a note tucked between her voluptuous breasts. "Hey," she breathes, leaning on his desk. Mandy takes the note from between her breasts and leaves it on Benson's desk. The peach perfume on the note fills Bensons nostrils. He knows he has a choice: Choose or refuse to read the note. It's obvious what's going to be in it anyway. But against his conscience, he opens the aromatic note and reads these words, "I'm tired of waiting and giving you signals. I wants us to go to Hotel 6 after work and have quick, meaningless sex." Feeling sweat on his chest, Benson tells himself over and over again, "I will not go to the hotel with Mandy."
Imagine Benson again, same motivation, same temptation. But with this addition. With his sexual arousal, and Mandy's alluring desirableness, Benson experiences a third desire: The Holy Spirit in Benson desiring a deep connection with him. The Spirit's desire for Benson feels like a cup of creamy steamy hot chocolate on the coldest day in winter, and at the same time like an ice cold lemonade on the hottest day of summer. The choice is between a deep lasting meaningful satisfaction, and the passing pleasure of his favorite once a year State Fair cotton candy that is sexy Mandy. So instead of telling himself NOT to lust after Mandy, he chooses to focus on fulfilling the Spirit's desires in him, and refuses to focus on fulfilling either his or Mandy's desires.
Click HERE for Part 2.
Click HERE for Part 2.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
What you should EXPECT after THE SPIRIT FILLS YOU (Part 2)
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20
When the Spirit fills you, the most probable manifestation is verbal expression. Not necessarily tongues, or prophecy, though in the Old Testament and New, when the Spirit came upon people, many prophesied. I'll go so far as to say most. Yet even in saying that, the word of God does not make it mandatory to prophecy or speak in tongues when you are filled with the Spirit, even if they were common biblical expressions of the Spirit's filling.
When the Spirit first came upon me, I didn't spontaneously speak at all! I felt the Spirit cover my body like a warm blanket of peace. This happened after I said these words alone, in the dark, in my room:
When you are filled with the Spirit, however it is manifest, you will be a bold witness of the Lord Jesus.
Yet it is also possible TO ACT from a heart filled with Spirit power! As Jesus was driven into the wilderness by the Spirit, you may feel His power driving you to act.
Or you may feel the perfect stillness of perfect peace emanating from you, affecting the atmosphere around!
But mark the word of God, when the Spirit fills you, something that glorifies Jesus WILL HAPPEN!
(READ PART 3! CLICK HERE!)
When the Spirit fills you, the most probable manifestation is verbal expression. Not necessarily tongues, or prophecy, though in the Old Testament and New, when the Spirit came upon people, many prophesied. I'll go so far as to say most. Yet even in saying that, the word of God does not make it mandatory to prophecy or speak in tongues when you are filled with the Spirit, even if they were common biblical expressions of the Spirit's filling.
When the Spirit first came upon me, I didn't spontaneously speak at all! I felt the Spirit cover my body like a warm blanket of peace. This happened after I said these words alone, in the dark, in my room:
"I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died for my sins."
Yet I will say this: When I preached the gospel to my graduating class I felt "the anointing of the Spirit." Literally. It felt like an invisible liquid poured on my physical head.
I must note:
I must note:
- I didn't ask for it.
- I wasn't excited.
- I spoke calmly.
But there was very real super natural power when I spoke! A holy hush fell over the audience. Time seemed to stop, and I received a standing ovation after leading the audience in a prayer to receive Christ. Now you could experience this anointing by asking! And you could be excited and shout, if the Spirit led you to.
The main thing is this:
When you are filled with the Spirit, however it is manifest, you will be a bold witness of the Lord Jesus.
Yet when the Spirit fills you, the common biblical manifestations are verbal expressions:
- speaking to one another
- with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.
- always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
- in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Yet it is also possible TO ACT from a heart filled with Spirit power! As Jesus was driven into the wilderness by the Spirit, you may feel His power driving you to act.
Or you may feel the perfect stillness of perfect peace emanating from you, affecting the atmosphere around!
But mark the word of God, when the Spirit fills you, something that glorifies Jesus WILL HAPPEN!
(READ PART 3! CLICK HERE!)
What you should EXPECT after THE SPIRIT FILLS YOU (Part 1)
"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." Acts 4:31 Emphasis mine
Boldness feels like the confidence of being convincing when you tell others something you perfectly know from personal experience. It is convincing compelling conviction; you can't help but to tell what you know.
THE SPIRIT WILL MAKE YOU CONVINCING
Jesus called the Holy Spirit "the Spirit of truth," who "guides you into all truth." A witness MUST bear witness to the truth he has PERSONALLY experienced. The Spirit convinces her that Jesus Christ is really alive IN HER. Being divinely convinced, she is divinely convincing.
THE SPIRIT WILL MAKE YOU COMPELLING
You will get and keep attention when the Spirit fills you; you won't be obnoxious, but you won't be ignored. Peter and the early church caught and kept the attention of 3000 people when the Spirit filled them. You may not have an audience of 3000, but however many you have, when the Spirit fills you, it will be noticed!
THE SPIRIT WILL MAKE YOU CONVICTING
When Peter spoke by the Spirit's filling, 3000 were "cut to the heart." After Spirit filled Stephen spoke, those who heard him were:
Some Christians say you will, or MUST, speak in tongues, or prophecy! Some may you must fall as dead and be "slain in the Spirit." Maybe some think you will have supernatural strength, like Samson! Or have powerful warrior passion like Gideon!
These things are possible. I'll even say some things are probable (in the next blog!)
But what is CERTAIN is this:
After the Spirit fills you,
expect boldness as a witness of the Lord Jesus,
however this manifests.
Boldness feels like the confidence of being convincing when you tell others something you perfectly know from personal experience. It is convincing compelling conviction; you can't help but to tell what you know.
THE SPIRIT WILL MAKE YOU CONVINCING
Jesus called the Holy Spirit "the Spirit of truth," who "guides you into all truth." A witness MUST bear witness to the truth he has PERSONALLY experienced. The Spirit convinces her that Jesus Christ is really alive IN HER. Being divinely convinced, she is divinely convincing.
THE SPIRIT WILL MAKE YOU COMPELLING
You will get and keep attention when the Spirit fills you; you won't be obnoxious, but you won't be ignored. Peter and the early church caught and kept the attention of 3000 people when the Spirit filled them. You may not have an audience of 3000, but however many you have, when the Spirit fills you, it will be noticed!
THE SPIRIT WILL MAKE YOU CONVICTING
When Peter spoke by the Spirit's filling, 3000 were "cut to the heart." After Spirit filled Stephen spoke, those who heard him were:
- furious
- gnashed their teeth
- covered their ears
- yelled at the top of their voices
- and rushed at him to stone him!
Some Christians say you will, or MUST, speak in tongues, or prophecy! Some may you must fall as dead and be "slain in the Spirit." Maybe some think you will have supernatural strength, like Samson! Or have powerful warrior passion like Gideon!
These things are possible. I'll even say some things are probable (in the next blog!)
But what is CERTAIN is this:
After the Spirit fills you,
expect boldness as a witness of the Lord Jesus,
however this manifests.
(Read Part 2 to find out the most probable manifestation!)
(Click here!)
What you should EXPECT after THE SPIRIT FILLS YOU (Part 3)
So what SHOULD you expect after the Spirit fills you?
Or SHOULD YOU EXPECT ANYTHING?
Maybe you should focus on faith and not feeling...unless you listen to the Lord Jesus!
Because if you listen to and believe our Lord, you should expect POWER!
As the Lord Jesus said in Acts 1:8:
"You will receive power when the Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth."
You should AT LEAST expect to feel like a powerful witness feels:
Is that how an effective witness approaches the witness stand?
Or does he have something he HAS to say, something he can't hold in!?
Or SHOULD YOU EXPECT ANYTHING?
Maybe you should focus on faith and not feeling...unless you listen to the Lord Jesus!
Because if you listen to and believe our Lord, you should expect POWER!
As the Lord Jesus said in Acts 1:8:
"You will receive power when the Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth."
You should AT LEAST expect to feel like a powerful witness feels:
- Convincing
- Convicting
- Compelling
- Like Stephen!
- Like Peter!
- LIKE JESUS!
Is that how an effective witness approaches the witness stand?
Or does he have something he HAS to say, something he can't hold in!?
- She has seen something with her own eyes that CHANGED HER LIFE FOREVER!
- He has heard something with his own ears! He WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!
- Their spirits in them compel them!
If you believe in the Lord Jesus,
you should expect the Spirit to fill you!
you should expect the Spirit to fill you!
After the Spirit fills you,
you should expect power as a witness of Jesus!
you should expect power as a witness of Jesus!
Expect to be convincing, convicting, and compelling,
in word or action!
in word or action!
Biblically truthful information WITH PASSION!
Like Stephen.
Like Peter.
LIKE JESUS!
Thursday, January 9, 2014
How it feels to be filled with the Spirit
To be filled with the Spirit of God means totally surrendering to Him.
How does that feel?
Think of it this way.
Imagine you want to be able to do something so badly that you are willing to do ANYTHING to achieve it. You are willing to follow someone who has achieved what you want to do. You will follow him wherever he goes. You will do what ever she says.
You find out that he is having a seminar in your city. No matter how much it costs, you are willing to pay. No matter how long the seminar is, you will stay.
You pay.
You go.
There she is.
She tells her story: how she came from where you are right now in your life to where she is right now in her life, having mastered that which you seek to master.
You are in awe of him. He is everything you want to be.
She makes it clear that one thing must happen:
You must totally surrender to her teachings if you want to achieve what she has achieved.
What you feel at that moment of surrender is what it feels like to be filled with the Spirit.
The decision you make to totally yield to whatever your master teacher tells you at that seminar is the very same decision you make when you are filled with, or totally surrendered to, the Holy Spirit.
How does it feel to be filled with the Spirit?
It feels like surrendering.
How does that feel?
Think of it this way.
Imagine you want to be able to do something so badly that you are willing to do ANYTHING to achieve it. You are willing to follow someone who has achieved what you want to do. You will follow him wherever he goes. You will do what ever she says.
You find out that he is having a seminar in your city. No matter how much it costs, you are willing to pay. No matter how long the seminar is, you will stay.
You pay.
You go.
There she is.
She tells her story: how she came from where you are right now in your life to where she is right now in her life, having mastered that which you seek to master.
You are in awe of him. He is everything you want to be.
She makes it clear that one thing must happen:
You must totally surrender to her teachings if you want to achieve what she has achieved.
What you feel at that moment of surrender is what it feels like to be filled with the Spirit.
The decision you make to totally yield to whatever your master teacher tells you at that seminar is the very same decision you make when you are filled with, or totally surrendered to, the Holy Spirit.
How does it feel to be filled with the Spirit?
It feels like surrendering.
Surrender to the Spirit.
Be filled with the Spirit.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
5 EASY STEPS to BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
“Do not get drunk on wine,
which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit…”
Ephesians 5:18
Sorry, sad, AND SINFUL!
You read it right.
Here’s the answer:
Be filled with the Spirit!
Ephesians 5:18
If you are a Christian, and you are not
at this moment under the complete influence of the Spirit, controlled and
dominated by Him—filled with the Spirit like alcoholics are filled with liquor,
then you are an abnormal Christian!
Powerless and pitiful! Sorry, sad, AND SINFUL!
You read it right.
Because we are commanded to be filled
with the Spirit, WE ARE SINNING IF WE AREN’T UNDER HIS COMPLETE CONTROL!
(I say all of this out of tough
loves. Plural loves!)
But HOW
are you “filled” with the Spirit?
That’s the question.Here’s the answer:
Total
unconditional submission.
This is ALL it means to be filled with
the Spirit!
Put this
in 5 steps: Know 3 things. Do 2 things--
1. If you
believe in the Lord Jesus, know that God’s Spirit is in you,
as it is written, “Do you not know that your
body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from
God. YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN. YOU WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE. THEREFORE HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR BODY,
WHICH IS HIS.” This
“step,” this verse, actually gives you everything you need to be filled, or
controlled by the Spirit. God is in
you. He owns you. So you can’t just do whatever you want. If you consciously accept this, YOU ARE
RIGHT NOW FILLED WITH GOD’S SPIRIT!
2. Know
God WANTS to fill you with His Spirit.
He commanded it, so it is His will, as it is written, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead a BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT."
3. Know that the only hindrance to being
filled is rebellion, the opposite of total submission, as it is written, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30
4. So stop living for your will and totally
surrender to God’s will.
THIS
TOTAL SURRENDER IS BEING FILLED, OR CONTROLLED, BY THE SPIRIT.
5. BY FAITH, LIVE LIKE IT!
AND THEN
YOU’LL EXPERIENCE IT.
- Married
couples live like they belong to each other, unconditionally.
- Alcoholics
live like they belong to alcohol, unconditionally.
So
unconditionally give yourself to God to do whatever He wants, no matter what.
At that moment you’re under the Spirit’s control.
Spirit Filled!
At that moment you’re under the Spirit’s control.
What
would you do if the Spirit completely influenced you?
By faith
do it!Be filled with the Spirit!
Saturday, December 14, 2013
The EASIEST WAY To RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
Listen to the Lord Jesus:
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13
Two ways:
1. You trust that Jesus cannot lie. He said the Father gives the Spirit to His children who ask. If you are a child of God, having believed in Jesus, then BELIEVE WHAT JESUS SAID: A child of God who asks God for the Spirit will receive the Spirit!
2. You do what God is giving you to do today, and expect to experience power that you didn't have before in doing it.
The easiest way to receive the Holy Spirit is to ASK!
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13
The easiest way to receive the Holy Spirit is to ASK!
Assuming you ask God the Father.
Assuming you are a child of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Ask for the Spirit and you will receive the Spirit.
- You won't receive a demon or a figment of your imagination:
- Any more than a child who asks for bread would receive a rock, even from an "evil" father.
- Any more than a child who asks for fish for dinner would receive a snake from an "evil" father.
You will receive exactly what you ask for: The Holy Spirit.
- His presence.
- His power.
- His filling.
- His leading.
Ask.
Receive.
Act.
"But how will I KNOW?"Two ways:
1. You trust that Jesus cannot lie. He said the Father gives the Spirit to His children who ask. If you are a child of God, having believed in Jesus, then BELIEVE WHAT JESUS SAID: A child of God who asks God for the Spirit will receive the Spirit!
2. You do what God is giving you to do today, and expect to experience power that you didn't have before in doing it.
- Are you a teacher? Expect power to teach that you didn't have before.
- Are you a student? Expect power to learn that you didn't have before.
- Are you a leader? Expect power to lead that you didn't have before.
- Are you a follower? Expect power to follow that you didn't have before.
The easiest way to receive the Holy Spirit is to ASK!
Thursday, December 12, 2013
How to KNOW the POWER OF THE SPIRIT
(Jesus) said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8-9 NIV
God may not want us to know times or dates, but He does want us to know the Spirit's power.
If you know the power of a witness, then you know the power the Spirit gives.
So when the Spirit empowers you, He will give you firsthand knowledge of the risen Jesus Christ.
You will share this firsthand knowledge with boldness, accuracy, and conviction.
You'll feel fearless.
You'll know exactly what to say and how to say it, because you'll simply be sharing your direct experience of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Your words will be undeniably convincing and convicting, leading those who listen to submission, or rebellion against God.
There will be no middle ground.
On the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts Chapter 2, those who heard the Apostle Peter were "cut to the heart." They asked Peter, "What shall we do?"
Peter's words of conviction led the listeners to action!
When Stephen spoke by the power of the Spirit in Acts 7, those who heard were furious; so furious that they covered their ears, yelled at the top of their voices, and stoned Stephen to death.
The boldness of Peter and John amazed their enemies, and this boldness came from being filled with the Holy Spirit.
So when you ask God to fill you with His Spirit, expect Him to do so.
Expect Him to give you the direct experience of the Spirit of the Ascended and Alive Jesus Christ.
Expect to bear witness to this experience with boldness, accuracy and conviction.
This is how to know the power of the Spirit.
Acts 1:8-9 NIV
God may not want us to know times or dates, but He does want us to know the Spirit's power.
The key to knowing the Spirit's power is to know the purpose of that power:
It's purpose is for you to be a witness of Jesus--who died and rose from the dead.
If you know the power of a witness, then you know the power the Spirit gives.
- A witness is someone with firsthand knowledge of an event, having seen the event with his own eyes, having heard the event with her own ears.
- The power of a witness is boldness, accuracy, and conviction.
So when the Spirit empowers you, He will give you firsthand knowledge of the risen Jesus Christ.
You will share this firsthand knowledge with boldness, accuracy, and conviction.
You'll feel fearless.
You'll know exactly what to say and how to say it, because you'll simply be sharing your direct experience of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Your words will be undeniably convincing and convicting, leading those who listen to submission, or rebellion against God.
There will be no middle ground.
On the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts Chapter 2, those who heard the Apostle Peter were "cut to the heart." They asked Peter, "What shall we do?"
Peter's words of conviction led the listeners to action!
When Stephen spoke by the power of the Spirit in Acts 7, those who heard were furious; so furious that they covered their ears, yelled at the top of their voices, and stoned Stephen to death.
The boldness of Peter and John amazed their enemies, and this boldness came from being filled with the Holy Spirit.
But this boldness wasn't just for the apostles.
- After the entire church prayed, the whole church was filled with the Spirit, and spoke the word of God BOLDLY!
- Peter and Stephen spoke the scriptures with supernatural accuracy, giving testimony of Jesus.
- Their words were so convicting that the listeners HAD to respond, passionately accepting or rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ.
So when you ask God to fill you with His Spirit, expect Him to do so.
Expect Him to give you the direct experience of the Spirit of the Ascended and Alive Jesus Christ.
Expect to bear witness to this experience with boldness, accuracy and conviction.
This is how to know the power of the Spirit.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
How to ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING (PART 1)
How do good people make tough choices? Rushworth M. Kidder considers the answer. He shows the difference between ethical problems and moral problems. A moral problem is between a right and wrong choice, good and evil. The issue is temptation. But an ethical problem is when there are two right choices, a choice between one right option and another right options. The choice to be faithful to my wife or commit adultery is a moral choice. But the choice between an unmarried man dating one good woman who is his friend and another good woman who is also his friend is ethical.
Kidder discusses three approaches to ethical decisions:
1. End base thinking: “Do whatever produces the greatest good for the greatest number.”
2. Rule-based thinking: “If everyone in the world followed the rule of actions I am following, would that create the greatest good .”
3. Care-based thinking: The Golden Rule—“Do to others what you would like them to do to you.”
Kidder uses an example of a librarian who receives a phone call from a man who is researching rape. A police officer over hears the conversation and asks the Librarian to give the name of the caller. According to the policies of the library, she is not supposed to disclose that information. But if she doesn’t, a rapist may go free.
What should she do?
Does she “do whatever produces the greatest good for the greatest number,” and give the officer the name?
Does she “follow only the principle that you want every librarian to follow,” and stick to the policy, no matter what?
Does she “treat the caller like she wants to be treated?” After all, what if he’s innocent?
Or what if he’s not? How should SHE feel if SHE were raped and SHE knew a librarian like her could have stopped the rapist by simply giving an officer a phone number?
What if the rapist is a serial rapist? The greatest number of women could be protected, even if it meant the inconvenience of one. (Whether the caller is guilty or not.)
Following the library’s rule could be “the right thing to do.”
Telling the police officer the name could be “the right thing to do.”
This is an ethical problem.
But there is a FOURTH alternative to ethical decision making that will give us the ability to ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING! (Click HERE for part 2)
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