Month: July 2020

HOLY SPIRIT

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VICTORY OVER THE WORLD

“Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth.  It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon….It preforms great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work…it deceives those who dwell on earth…”  (Rev 13:11,13-14 ESV).

“The Dragon-Lamb (Rev 13:11-14) is capable of great signs.  In the realms of wisdom and knowledge, faith and healing, miracles of power, prophecies and discernment of the occult, tongues and their interpretation, the wisdom of this world outlives the works of modern religion” Samuel Chadwick (ref#195, p147).

FATHER, for the most part our modern religion succumbs easily to this “Dragon-Lamb” because prideful flesh has taken over the Church, ignoring Your SPIRIT.  We have so silenced Your SPIRIT that most pew sitters today don’t even know enough to seek Him.

“There are no reasons why the gifts of the Spirit should be operative in one dispensation and not in another.  They did not cease at the close of the Apostolic Age.  They have been manifest in all ages of the Church, and there are abundant proofs that they are still available…” Samuel Chadwick (ref#195, p146-147).

And with joy the SPIRIT still pours out His desires!  It may seem that the SPIRIT has stepped back presently and stopped giving His spiritual gifts.  But that is a lie from the “father of lies.”

“A revival of spiritual gifts in the Church would bring to naught the mocking pretensions of the world….in the Spirit of God there is victory over the world” Samuel Chadwick (ref#195, p147).

But, it takes two to tango.  Is the Church ready to give the SPIRIT freedom in our lives?  We need to abide with Him in order to understand Him and His desires.  Are we ready to take time in our days to get to know Him?

“What unspeakable joy to be secluded with Him in the secret closet, and for hours drink of that fountain of everlasting life and eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life.  You can come out of that prayer chamber already in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” David Wilkerson (ref#138, p165).

SPIRIT, thank You for putting into words this blog study of Your attributes and works.  I desire to keep this knowledge of You in my thoughts as I begin the next blog study of “Terms of Theology.”

HOLY SPIRIT

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BUILDING UP THE CHURCH

“…if a man is regenerate, he is saved….If he should die he would go to heaven.  But though he is saved he is not yet fitted for God’s service” R.A. Torrey (ref#223, p114).

“Spiritual gifts may be given at the moment of regeneration, but they may lie undiscovered and dormant for a long period of time….Spiritual gifts can be abused and neglected, but if they are received at regeneration, it would appear that they cannot be lost.  The Corinthian church illustrates the fact that believers can be highly gifted but spiritually immature” Kenneth Boa, (The Gifts of the Spirit, http://bible.org/article/gifts-spirit).

“The Corinthians were rich in gifts and poor in fruit.  Our Lord told of some who wrought wonders in His name, but they were none of His. (Matt 7:21-23)” Samuel Chadwick (ref#195, p138).  “So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church” (1 Cor 14:12 ESV).

Multi-gifted Christians often discover their combination of gifts through a gradual process…Each multi-gifted Christian has received a combination of spiritual abilities that is perfectly suited to his or her God-given ministry” Kenneth Boa, (The Gifts of the Spirit, http://bible.org/article/gifts-spirit).

“The gifts of the Spirit are for service…Some are permanent.  Others are given for special vocations and exceptional occasions…” Samuel Chadwick (ref#195, p146).

 “God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit….God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:

wise counsel

clear understanding

simple trust

healing the sick

miraculous acts

proclamation

distinguishing between spirits

tongues

interpretation of tongues.

All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when” (1 Cor 12:4-11 MSG).

FATHER, thank Your for spiritual gifts.  They are correctly called “gifts” for as I learn more and more to abide with You I realize I contribute nothing to their success.

HOLY SPIRIT

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THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE CHURCH

“It is for the church to explore the resources of the Spirit; the resources of the world are futile” Jim Cymbala (ref#161, p19).

“…the Church of God has two Paracletes, or Advocates – one in heaven with the Father, Christ, and the other on earth, in the heart of the believer, even the Holy Spirit” Charles Ross (ref#241, p90).

“The Father gave Him [CHRIST] the gift, and He passes it on to us;…The gift of the Holy Ghost to the Church is also, then, the absolute proof of the sufficiency of the work of Christ and of its acceptance with God….’I accept your work, it is sufficient; You have died for the redeemed, they are Your people.  So I will give you My Spirit to give to them, and then they will know that they are Your people and My people…” Martyn Lloyd-Jones (ref#211, p138).

“ He [the SPIRIT] has come to reign over each and all.  Jesus Christ had defined His mission and outlined His program.  He was to unify them into one Body, guide them into all truth, and strengthen them for all service.  In the Church He is the supreme executive, but He has His seat in the soul.  He directs all things from the spiritual center of the inner life” Samuel Chadwick (ref#195, p44).  “His objective is to produce holiness…But His ultimate work is to make us a holy people…” Martyn Lloyd-Jones (ref#189, Jan 2nd).

FATHER, I know that the HOLY SPIRIT will create in all of us who CHRIST claims as His bride, holiness and purity.  Your perfect will is to bring us a life of prayer and brokenness before Your throne.  I hunger to be secluded with You in the secret closet waiting for You to bring Your remnant church into one mind—living only for You. David Wilkerson (ref#138, p165).