Spirit Fullness: A Way of Life, Not Merely Events
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire . . . And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit . . . Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them . . . the place . . . was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit . . . And do not be drunk with wine . . . but be filled with the Spirit. (Act_2:3-4; Act_4:8, Act_4:31; and Eph_5:18)
When we are born again through faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in our lives thereafter (1Co_3:16). At times after new birth, our lives may be repeatedly filled to overflowing by the empowering presence of the Spirit. The testimony of the early disciples illustrates this.
On the day of Pentecost, the 120 followers of Jesus were filled with the Spirit. "Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire . . . And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." Subsequently, the Apostle Peter, who was originally filled on Pentecost, was again filled as he stood before the religious hierarchy of Israel. "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them." After this encounter, Peter joined the other disciples for a prayer meeting. "And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." In this event, those who had been filled with the Spirit at Pentecost were filled a second time. Peter, who had been so filled twice before, was filled a third time. Therefore, it is evident that the filling of the Spirit is not a once for all time matter.
Furthermore, being filled with the Spirit is not automatic or universal for Christians, as is the indwelling of the Spirit. This fact can be clearly seen in the instruction given in Eph_5:18. "And do not be drunk with wine . . . but be filled with the Spirit." Since this is a command and not a description, it only becomes a personal reality to those who respond properly.
Additionally, the form of this command contains tremendous insight concerning the fullness of the Spirit and God's desire for us. The injunction to "be filled with the Spirit" is in the present tense, indicating an ongoing condition. It could properly (though awkwardly) be translated "be (always) being filled." This imperative is a call to a way of living, not merely periodic events. It is the will of God that we actually live, day by day, more and more, by the fullness of the Spirit's empowering work. We should humbly pray for the fullness of the Holy Spirit as we face each day, each challenge, each opportunity of life.
Prayer
Lord God of all power and might, I rejoice that Your Holy Spirit dwells within my heart. I thank You for those times when Your Spirit has worked powerfully upon my life. Help me to see that the fullness of Your Spirit is not merely an event-to-event experience, but a lifestyle to be developed. Lord, with great expectation I humbly seek You now for a fresh, ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in me. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Saturday, 17 March 2012
Heart & Mind
Romans 12:2 - 'And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by
the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.'
Your mind does according to what is put into it. Your mind can either "act" or "react". When things happen to you, your mind will pull from what it has been feeding on and address the issue based on what is in it! You see, it's like your mind is a tool box and whatever tools you have put into it are the tools you have to work with. Thus, when circumstances, trials, tribulations, etc. come your way, you have to use the tools that you have to deal with the crisis.
If all you put into your mind is garbage, then your decision making will suffer because your mind cannot deal with situations properly. And it will also cause you to live according to your thoughts instead of living according to the Word. See, the more God we put into our mind, the more of him we will have to handle our situations and circumstances when they arise. Reading the Word and understanding it will begin to saturate our minds and renew us from the wrong thoughts. And our thinking will be subject to his Word instead of our own way and we can effectively give our problems to him.
To truly give it to God, we have to make sure we have allowed him access to our minds as well as our heart. Many of us only allow him access to our hearts and therefore, when we talk to him, he feels far from us. We sometimes try to carry him around as a tool to use when we need him, while we constantly fill our minds with negative things via sinful lifestyles, people, places, music, movies, etc. that showcase immoral things instead of the Spiritual things from God. Eventually, that takes a toll on us. It begins to out weigh the "God" in our minds.
So, when problems or situations come, our minds "react" to them based on what we have filled our minds up with! The more evil in there, the more we react evilly. The more God in there, the more God can act for us. Sure you may have salvation in your heart, but your mind can definitely lead you away from the presence of God and you can be a gospel disaster! How many Christians do you know like that? Come to church, serve in church, talk about church, but their homes are a mess! That's because they have accepted Christ in their hearts, but their minds are not sober.
To be sober minded requires you to protect your mind from corruption so that you do not walk according to worldly thoughts, but you govern your life by thinking on things above. Sure it's good to have a clean heart, but for your heart to STAY clean, you must have a renewed mind.
Suggested Reading: 1Pet. 1:13, Rom. 12:2, Eph. 2:3, Phil. 2:5
the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.'
Your mind does according to what is put into it. Your mind can either "act" or "react". When things happen to you, your mind will pull from what it has been feeding on and address the issue based on what is in it! You see, it's like your mind is a tool box and whatever tools you have put into it are the tools you have to work with. Thus, when circumstances, trials, tribulations, etc. come your way, you have to use the tools that you have to deal with the crisis.
If all you put into your mind is garbage, then your decision making will suffer because your mind cannot deal with situations properly. And it will also cause you to live according to your thoughts instead of living according to the Word. See, the more God we put into our mind, the more of him we will have to handle our situations and circumstances when they arise. Reading the Word and understanding it will begin to saturate our minds and renew us from the wrong thoughts. And our thinking will be subject to his Word instead of our own way and we can effectively give our problems to him.
To truly give it to God, we have to make sure we have allowed him access to our minds as well as our heart. Many of us only allow him access to our hearts and therefore, when we talk to him, he feels far from us. We sometimes try to carry him around as a tool to use when we need him, while we constantly fill our minds with negative things via sinful lifestyles, people, places, music, movies, etc. that showcase immoral things instead of the Spiritual things from God. Eventually, that takes a toll on us. It begins to out weigh the "God" in our minds.
So, when problems or situations come, our minds "react" to them based on what we have filled our minds up with! The more evil in there, the more we react evilly. The more God in there, the more God can act for us. Sure you may have salvation in your heart, but your mind can definitely lead you away from the presence of God and you can be a gospel disaster! How many Christians do you know like that? Come to church, serve in church, talk about church, but their homes are a mess! That's because they have accepted Christ in their hearts, but their minds are not sober.
To be sober minded requires you to protect your mind from corruption so that you do not walk according to worldly thoughts, but you govern your life by thinking on things above. Sure it's good to have a clean heart, but for your heart to STAY clean, you must have a renewed mind.
Suggested Reading: 1Pet. 1:13, Rom. 12:2, Eph. 2:3, Phil. 2:5
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Beware!
Beware!
Col 2: 6 - 8."As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ".
There are a whole lot of ministries and men of God preaching and teaching the wisdom of men based on philosophy and vain deceit in fulfillment of their own desires. The Bible warns us of such people and ministries. (Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ").
All they are interested is your money. They have now diluted the True Word of God into sayings of Wisdom of men and to what the congregation want to hear ignoring the truth which brings life, repentance and the righteousness of God. Many ministries can't preach against sin because they will lose members if they do. And the their offering is going to reduce, thus they dare not to.
The Bible says Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matt 5:6).
The hour and the time has come for us to hunger and thirst after the righteousness of God. We need to arise from the deceptions and misleading of we don't need to worry about righteousness because we are the righteousness of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Rom 3:22) and can lead any kind of life.
This teaching is coming from the pit of hell. YES it is through that we are the righteousness of God but shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rom 6:1-4)
The Bible says He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:8-9).
We all know that we are working towards perfection and there are at times we fall but that doesn't mean we should remain in it. The fact that we feel guilty of the sins we commit is an indication that the Spirit of God is still working it out in our life.
And you have to arise and continue the race.
But the moment you don't feel any guilt what so ever and enjoy doing that which does not subject to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians. 10:5) is an indication that the Spirit of God has left you and you need to watch out because life without the Spirit of God is full of lifeless.
You wouldn't see it now but it's a mater of time. Always remember that, where your flesh leads you, it will leave you.
I pray in the name of Jesus that God grants us a willing Spirit to sustain us in all dimensions of our lives to live, hunger and thirst for righteousness that we may be filled.
God bless you.
Shalom!
Your-In-Christ.
Andy.
Col 2: 6 - 8."As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ".
There are a whole lot of ministries and men of God preaching and teaching the wisdom of men based on philosophy and vain deceit in fulfillment of their own desires. The Bible warns us of such people and ministries. (Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ").
All they are interested is your money. They have now diluted the True Word of God into sayings of Wisdom of men and to what the congregation want to hear ignoring the truth which brings life, repentance and the righteousness of God. Many ministries can't preach against sin because they will lose members if they do. And the their offering is going to reduce, thus they dare not to.
The Bible says Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matt 5:6).
The hour and the time has come for us to hunger and thirst after the righteousness of God. We need to arise from the deceptions and misleading of we don't need to worry about righteousness because we are the righteousness of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Rom 3:22) and can lead any kind of life.
This teaching is coming from the pit of hell. YES it is through that we are the righteousness of God but shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rom 6:1-4)
The Bible says He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:8-9).
We all know that we are working towards perfection and there are at times we fall but that doesn't mean we should remain in it. The fact that we feel guilty of the sins we commit is an indication that the Spirit of God is still working it out in our life.
And you have to arise and continue the race.
But the moment you don't feel any guilt what so ever and enjoy doing that which does not subject to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians. 10:5) is an indication that the Spirit of God has left you and you need to watch out because life without the Spirit of God is full of lifeless.
You wouldn't see it now but it's a mater of time. Always remember that, where your flesh leads you, it will leave you.
I pray in the name of Jesus that God grants us a willing Spirit to sustain us in all dimensions of our lives to live, hunger and thirst for righteousness that we may be filled.
God bless you.
Shalom!
Your-In-Christ.
Andy.
Saturday, 3 March 2012
Beware!
Beware!
Col 2: 6 - 8."As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ".
There are a whole lot of ministries and men of God preaching and teaching the wisdom of men based on philosophy and vain deceit in fulfillment of their own desires. The Bible warns us of such people and ministries. (Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ").
All they are interested is your money. They have now diluted the True Word of God into sayings of Wisdom of men and to what the congregation want to hear ignoring the truth which brings life, repentance and the righteousness of God. Many ministries can't preach against sin because they will lose members if they do. And the their offering is going to reduce, thus they dare not to.
The Bible says Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matt 5:6).
The hour and the time has come for us to hunger and thirst after the righteousness of God. We need to arise from the deceptions and misleading of we don't need to worry about righteousness because we are the righteousness of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Rom 3:22) and can lead any kind of life.
This teaching is coming from the pit of hell. YES it is through that we are the righteousness of God but shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rom 6:1-4)
The Bible says He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:8-9).
We all know that we are working towards perfection and there are at times we fall but that doesn't mean we should remain in it. The fact that we feel guilty of the sins we commit is an indication that the Spirit of God is still working it out in our life.
And you have to arise and continue the race.
But the moment you don't feel any guilt what so ever and enjoy doing that which does not subject to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians. 10:5) is an indication that the Spirit of God has left you and you need to watch out because life without the Spirit of God is full of lifeless.
You wouldn't see it now but it's a mater of time. Always remember that, where your flesh leads you, it will leave you.
I pray in the name of Jesus that God grants us a willing Spirit to sustain us in all dimensions of our lives to live, hunger and thirst for righteousness that we may be filled.
God bless you.
Shalom!
Your-In-Christ.
Andy.
Col 2: 6 - 8."As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ".
There are a whole lot of ministries and men of God preaching and teaching the wisdom of men based on philosophy and vain deceit in fulfillment of their own desires. The Bible warns us of such people and ministries. (Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ").
All they are interested is your money. They have now diluted the True Word of God into sayings of Wisdom of men and to what the congregation want to hear ignoring the truth which brings life, repentance and the righteousness of God. Many ministries can't preach against sin because they will lose members if they do. And the their offering is going to reduce, thus they dare not to.
The Bible says Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matt 5:6).
The hour and the time has come for us to hunger and thirst after the righteousness of God. We need to arise from the deceptions and misleading of we don't need to worry about righteousness because we are the righteousness of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Rom 3:22) and can lead any kind of life.
This teaching is coming from the pit of hell. YES it is through that we are the righteousness of God but shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rom 6:1-4)
The Bible says He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:8-9).
We all know that we are working towards perfection and there are at times we fall but that doesn't mean we should remain in it. The fact that we feel guilty of the sins we commit is an indication that the Spirit of God is still working it out in our life.
And you have to arise and continue the race.
But the moment you don't feel any guilt what so ever and enjoy doing that which does not subject to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians. 10:5) is an indication that the Spirit of God has left you and you need to watch out because life without the Spirit of God is full of lifeless.
You wouldn't see it now but it's a mater of time. Always remember that, where your flesh leads you, it will leave you.
I pray in the name of Jesus that God grants us a willing Spirit to sustain us in all dimensions of our lives to live, hunger and thirst for righteousness that we may be filled.
God bless you.
Shalom!
Your-In-Christ.
Andy.
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