Generic!?!

Had a conversation recently that captured my attention. It was conveyed to me that "leaders" from  a church were choosing not to give people the Holy Spirit.
It was in their estimation the people were not ready for the supernatural!
After I heard this, I was appalled. 
So who decides who hears of the Holy Spirit and those who do not? For Jesus certainly was raised from the dead and the Holy Spirit was the force and the life. Amen!

For God said in the beginning, Genesis 1:1-5...stated the Holy Spirit was hovering over the face of the deep.
1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
NKJV

Then we were given this: John 1:1-5

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 

NKJV

Yes, Jesus is, was, and is to come the Word and He was in the beginning as well!

That which is of God, is the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God and it is spiritual. So what are these "leaders" breathing out. Is it just another religion, without life?  It is certain to not have the Holy Spirit.

Some people genuinely look for an outward method to reach a body of believer's. Without the Spirit of God one will dwell in spiritual death.

In remembering a long ago teaching by Spurgeon, in "The Form of Godliness Without the Power " sermon stated" the raw material of a devil is an angel bereft of holiness." He went on to state that the inward life must be touched by God or else you have a decay into a foul thing.

But seriously in this case, who decides what a people should be taught? 

Jesus said this:

John 14:23-31

23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. 

25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.   NKJV

He said: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

Are you getting power infused into you each Saturday or Sunday of your church meeting or you going home, dry, empty, and depressed?

So it is important to know the Holy Spirit and know He will speak what the Father has given through Jesus our Redeemer!

What good is "my word or any man's word" when it is God's Word that prevails! What good is that praise and worship when it is just "you or just any man/woman singing a song" without the Holy Spirit giving the worship. Now in the "secret place" at home that is wonderful. What great opportunities to give God all our time, our effort to worship that pleases Him. But to the one who shows up on the weekend to give a Generic word for a group of people is not life for anyone. God's Word is to be a now Word in the now moment of time. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that brings us that which is life to help us, heal us, make us whole!

Will the word spoken be of power of the Holy Spirit? Will that which is spoken really bring a strength to us for the day of sickness or in the hour of a possible death? Are we looking at wells without so much as a drop of water in them?

In the relating of God and of Jesus the Redeemer, is the word given that brings a drop of comfort for the weary and the heavy-laden. Or is it possible, some just go the way, "to look good", sing what they love to sing and they look good singing, and then bring a word but it lacks the life of God in it?

Anyone carrying a false ministry in the guise of true godliness will fail. I am thinking of Ehud!

For it is true false men will do serious injury to a true godliness.

Judges 3:12-4:3

12 Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and because they did this evil the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel. 13 Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms.  14 The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years. 

15 Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and he gave them a deliverer-Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. 16 Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a foot and a half long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. 17 He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man. 18 After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way the men who had carried it. 19 At the idols near Gilgal he himself turned back and said, "I have a secret message for you, O king." 

The king said, "Quiet!" And all his attendants left him. 

20 Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his summer palace and said, "I have a message from God for you." As the king rose from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king's belly. 22 Even the handle sank in after the blade, which came out his back. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. 23 Then Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them. 

24 After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, "He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the house." 25 They waited to the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their lord fallen to the floor, dead. 

26 While they waited, Ehud got away. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah. 27 When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them. 

28 "Follow me," he ordered, "for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands." So they followed him down and, taking possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab, they allowed no one to cross over. 29 At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not a man escaped. 30 That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years. 

31 After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel. 

Judges 4 ..............4:1 After Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the LORD. 2 So the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim. 3 Because he had nine hundred iron chariots and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the LORD for help. NIV

You can see from this passage, that Ehud, had come with a pretended message from God in verse 20 of Judges 3! Yes, this Ehud came with a message he said that was from God.
So too, men and women within those walls of a church can come and with their dagger sharpened on both edges, they strike vital godliness in its very heart. Much damage will be done to the body of believer's. Yes, this type of godliness is certainly devoid of power. It will destroy. It will bring something to nothing.

Remember we have looked at the Fig Tree in the previous blogs of this year. We have looked at it and found out why it had no fruit on it. And when passing by that fig tree, which was so early with its leaves but so empty of fruit, He saw the likeness of the one who is the vainglorious. Oh, they profess it, but they truly lack the real power.  Looks good on the outside, but provides no real fruit, it is the fruitless, and  it will be carried into eternity which most likely will not be with God.

Seek to pray to enter the place God has called you to in worship with others. It will be heaven on earth. You will know the Holy Spirit is alive in that place. You will be revived, strengthened and given an armory of words to fight the enemy. You will stand tall in the Word of God and will out wit the enemy on every turn. You can stand knowing God is with you. But if you enter a place and there is no fruit of the Holy Spirit, there is no wind of His gentleness to blow across any chaos in you and will not line up into God's peace and unity, then leave that place. For the benefits of God are good, and He is faithful to stay with us and not forsake us. He will lead us to green pastures, led by still waters, and be consumed in His peace for His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures to all generations. Don't settle for generic when you can have His power! Amen.



In the days ahead  watch for"Never a Quickening" is published in this blog. It will cover in more detail of the "pretender", one who is long on lingering but not the waiting on God. He looks for his own benefits in his giving. (What will I get for my giving? What benefits me when I help or give another is what he or she asks themselves) Yikes!

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has two new teaching published:
Meekness: Not Weakness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckFuD-ZaDxE


Christmas Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKXnnlvjAVA


You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at  http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

Seriously Flawed

Now I have done much writing on one's character. And everyone has some kind of character. And generally the worst of one's character is generally on the forefront of another's remembrance of that "bad" character.
In my youth, I remember people being remembered for their "bad" character. Those who would see the "bad" character walking down the sidewalk, would not even give said person a nod toward their direction if they ("bad") had left their wife for another woman, or who had abandoned their children with no one to care for them, or even worse, they just did not hold a job! And today, people are still regarded for their character: good or bad! I remember those who could not hold a job. In fact I probably had their names memorized by the time I was ten years old. For "bad" character would be spoke about and I would file their name away for use at later date! YIKES!
Yet when we look at the New Testament and Jesus with His disciples, character did not seem so paramount to Him.
Looking at say the chapters of 9 and 10 in the book of Luke, we find Jesus releasing power and authority over them, the disciples as well as some 70 others.

Luke 9:1-5
9:1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them." 6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.    NKJV

Luke 10:17-20

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."   NKJV

Yes, seventy had returned. They returned with joy. But Jesus told them not to rejoice in the having authority and power over the enemy but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

Yes, with growth........that growing up into the mature will take some character and the amount of trust in God for the power and authority He has given us.

Many people today have trust in their own power. And they wield it however they desire the outcome to be. We saw this with the 12 disciples. They were overwhelmed with power when they came back from teaching and preaching in their own towns and cities. And we later saw one as the devil himself, and one we saw deny Jesus, and the other two mentioned, wanted to bring fire down from heaven. Yes indeed, James and John wanted to kill an entire city of the Samaritans.

In looking at Ephesians 4:30, we are told to not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. In regard to Ephesians 4 and reading we find a lot about corrupt words.

Ephesians 4:29-32

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.  NKJV

So, would James and John on speaking about the Samaritans, brought about the necessary edification? NO!

So in evil speaking of another, the Holy Spirit of God is grieved. Then a list of things that grieve: like bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking.

Anyone have a problem with anger? You know you go along for awhile, possibly years and then one day, that "anger" button is pushed and we have to find what triggered that release of anger!

John 15:9-12

9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. NKJV

John 16:7-15

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (the Holy Spirit of God)  will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.  NKJV

1 Thessalonians 5:15-22

15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.  NKJV

We desire for the Holy Spirit to remain with us, as He did with Jesus. And from the above scripture we find, we are not to render evil for evil to any. We are to pursue what is good both for ourselves and for all. Rejoicing always, to pray without ceasing, giving thanks that is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us and we are not to quench the Spirit of God. We are not to despise the prophetic word given, holding fast to the "good" and to abstain from every form of evil. 

Although ministering to others is important. It is not as important as our "relationship" with the Spirit of God. Jesus always referred back to the Father. And Jesus was yielded to the Father's instruction. 

In my belief of His Word and my time of abiding in His love, I am always brought to His regal beauty. In regard to that beauty I always think how wonderful it would be if people all over the world would think on God and what He created. Spend time reading of the beauty of heaven and that He has prepared a place for us who believe. 

Revelatiion 22:1-5................22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. NKJV)

Revelations 21:2-8

2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." 6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."   NKJV

For to us who believe, for them who abide, this city exists and it is seen today with spiritual eyes. For our God is Spirit. And the Word He gave us is Spirit and True. For He is also the Faithful. He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He has freely given the fountain of the water of life to him who thirsts. In overcoming we will inherit all things.

To overcome, we will not tolerate sin. We will not try to get along with less anger, or be those who can not and will not take instruction.

Galatians 5:13-26

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! 

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.  NKJV

If we grieve the Holy Spirit, then we have no power, and whether our character is the good or the bad will not matter anyway, or will it?
Not grieving Him will look like kindness to others, goodness, faithfulness, self-control, joy and yes, peace! It is not provoking others or envying others.

To have the Spirit of God, is to have the same as Jesus had. Our conduct is how our character will react in situations or problems. Our power is to be in that same power that raised Jesus from the dead. And the completion of this is knowing the Father. Abiding as the "family" and knowing truth is vital to moving out of the seriously flawed  and into His plan. We truly can make mistakes, but when we first talk with our Father through His Son Jesus, we make the request of how we can move through this life and speak or make our boast in HIM!

The only way today to discern good or evil is not by watching the news at night. The best way is found in Hebrews 5:14........ 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.  NKJV

Those trained by God's instruction are those who will discern the false, the counterfeit. But if we have no time to give to our Father, how can He tell us the things that are to come to us?

Yes, the decision is yours. I made mine and I will continue to abide. Instruction is good. And His power along with my willing to "not grieve the Holy Spirit" of God will prove to be to my advantage. I choose not to be taken in by the devil when the greatest days are ahead in the culmination of God's harvest. Come on and go with me, and let's make His Name great.

Malachi 1:11
1 For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall be great among the Gentiles;
In every place incense shall be offered to My name,
And a pure offering;
For My name shall be great among the nations,"
Says the LORD of hosts.   NKJV

Amen!


You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV