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"The ungodly folk and the casual Christians are into prosperity and seem to go around enjoying being a part of the world, the flesh, and devil, and everthing I am doing is not working out well. I thought I should at least have some joy to help me through? After all, didn't I consecrate my heart and life to Him? Did I not surrender to Him as Lord and Ruler of my life? Then what is going on here!"
Psa 73:1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
Psa 73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
Psa 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psa 73:4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
Psa 73:5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
Psa 73:6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
Psa 73:7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Psa 73:8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
Psa 73:9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
Psa 73:10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
Psa 73:11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
Psa 73:12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Psa 73:13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
Psa 73:14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
Psa 73:15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
Psa 73:16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
Psa 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
Psa 73:18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
Psa 73:19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
Psa 73:20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
Psa 73:21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
Psa 73:22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
Psa 73:23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Psa 73:24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Psa 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
Psa 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Psa 73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
Psa 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
My House shall be called a House of Prayer:
Isa 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
As we enter into God's sanctuary, our temple within, shut the door to the chaos, we begin to UNDERSTAND the Ways of God. If we are to help in the building of His temple, House, for our generation, we have to see that it is to include all nations. All kingdoms shall bow the knee and submit. The knowledge of God WILL cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. What has that got to do with me today, in my mess? As we mentioned on the Home page, as we begin to get our eyes off our own mess, submit to God and His purposes in the earth today, look for ways to help our brothers and sisters, pray for our enemies, and the enemies of God, our life will change. We have to make Jesus Christ central to our life. You only know the Father, as Father by Jesus Christ. God was NOT even revealed as Father in the Old Testament, Jesus brought that to light. And God is ONLY the Father of those who come to Him by the Son. Settle that. Put Christ first. Are you baptised in the Holy Spirit? What is the evidence of that commitment? It should be holiness and the fruit of the spirit. Everything reproduces AFTER IT'S OWN KIND. The baptism of the Holy Spirit brings you over into the spiritual realm. The Scriptures come alive and you have an APPETITE for God's word and prayer. No appetite, no baptism. Why do I say that? When, He, the Holy Spirit IS come, He will lead you into all Truth and bring back to your remembrance those things I said unto you.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
The FRUIT of ANYTHING is the RESULT of it's seed. You do not get baptised into the spirit of tongues. Now, let me be quick to say with Paul that I speak in tongues more than ye all! However, that does not mean it is the evidence of the Holy Spirit baptism. John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: The Holy Spirt testifies of Jesus Christ. He teaches you by the Light of the Annointing you received from Christ. He teaches about Christ, by the spirit not the flesh. 2Co 5:15 And that
He underwent death for all, so that the living might no longer be living to themselves, but to him who underwent death for them and came back from the dead.
2Co 5:16 For this reason, from this time forward we have knowledge of no man after the flesh: even if we have had knowledge of Christ after the flesh, we have no longer any such knowledge.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit lines up with the symbolisim in the holy place of Moses's tabernacle in the wilderness. The furniture in the holy place consisted of the seven-branched candlestick, the table of shewbread, and the altar of incense. Nothing here to represent glossolalia, speaking in languages. It all represents no more natural light, the Illumination of the Spirt on the bread, Word, and the altar of incense, representing praise, prayer and worship.
The gift, charisma, of speaking in tongues of men and angels is a 1st Corinthians 12 descesnion-order gift and needs either the gift of interpretation to accompany it, or another with the abilty to interpret the heavenly language for it to profit the body. 1Co 12:10 and to another, workings of powers, and to another, prophecy, and to another, discerning of spirits, and to another, kinds of languages, and to another, interpretation of languages.
1Co 14:1 Pursue love, and seek eagerly the spiritual things, but rather that you may prophesy.
1Co 14:2 For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God, for no one hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries.
1Co 14:3 But the one prophesying to men speaks for building up, and encouragement, and comfort.
1Co 14:4 The one speaking in a tongue builds himself up, but he prophesying builds up an assembly.
1Co 14:5 And I wish all of you to speak in languages, but rather that you may prophesy. For the one prophesying is greater than the one speaking in tongues, unless he interpret, that the assembly may receive building up.
1Co 14:6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you, except I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching?
1Co 14:7 Yet lifeless things giving a sound, whether flute or harp, if they do not give a distinction in the sound, how will it be known what is being piped or harped?
1Co 14:8 For also if a trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will get himself ready for war?
1Co 14:9 So also you, if you do not give a clear word through the language, how will the thing being said be known? For you will be speaking into air.
1Co 14:10 So it may be many kinds of sounds are in the world, and not one is without distinct sound.
1Co 14:11 If, then, I do not know the power of the sound, I will be a foreigner to the one speaking, and he speaking to me, a foreigner.
1Co 14:12 So also you, since you are zealots of spiritual things, seek to build up the assembly that you may abound.
1Co 14:13 So then, the one speaking in a language, let him pray that he may interpret.
1Co 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
The mind is unfruitful, or unable to produce any benefit when speaking in tongues without an interpreter to bring understanding, however, it does "build up" the inner man.
We certainly condone all spiritual gifts manifesting decently and in order. Now let's deal with "granddaddy' Scripure reference(s) where tongues are taught as being evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit:
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
I am about to share a set of Scripture texts where Peter stood up and confirmed what Hour it was, and that what was then happening was a SIGN to that generation that Messiah had come. It was a one-time catastrophic event in Jewish history, marking the end of the Age. Actually it was the end of the Jewish world, kosmos, that God Ordained at Mt. Siani. A sign for their times. It was the Time that Jesus had promised that He would send the Holy Spirit to be poured out. Notice that prophecy, dreams, visions, tongues, and various other phenomenon attended this historic even, including the literal and symbolic darkening of the Sun and the moon turning to blood. Remember, the moon is the lesser light that GOVERNS the NIIGHT. Night was passing and the Daystar had dawned. Listen to the sounds of the end of an Age:
Act 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, Men, Jews, and all who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
Act 2:15 For these are not drunk as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day.
Act 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Act 2:17 "And it shall be in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
Act 2:18 And in those days I will pour out My Spirit upon My slaves and My slave women, and they shall prophesy.
Act 2:19 And I will give wonders in the heaven above, and miracles on the earth below, blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
Act 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious Day of the Lord.
Act 2:21 And it shall be that everyone who shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Act 2:22 Men, Israelites, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by powerful works, and wonders and miracles, which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know,
Act 2:23 this One given to you by the before-determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken and by lawless hands, crucifying Him, you put Him to death;
Act 2:24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
Let me add one more vital sign that you have been baptised with the Holy Spirit: 1Co 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says Jesus is a curse, and that no one can say that Jesus IS LORD, but by the Holy Spirit.
A sure first EVIDENCE of the baptism by the Holy Spirit is the desire to make Jesus LORD of your life. You have known Him as Saviour, but, now if you truly have the help of the Holy Spirit, you will be led one place and one place only, to the cross, your cross. Mat 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him give up all, and take up his cross, and come after me.
Finally, let's look at what happened in Jesus's experience immediately after He was baptised by the Holy Spirit:
Luk 4:1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, came back from the Jordan, and was guided by the Spirit in the waste land
Luk 4:2 For forty days, being tested by the Evil One. And he had no food in those days; and when they came to an end, he was in need of food.
He had just been baptised from on high, filled with the Holy Spirit, and here come the Tempter!
That is landmark EVIDENCE of Holy Spirit baptism. And you and I are tested too after we are filled with Spirit.
1Pe 1:6 You have cause for great joy in this, though it may have been necessary for you to be troubled for a little time, being tested in all sorts of ways,
1Pe 1:7 So that the true metal of your faith, being of much greater value than gold which, though it comes to an end, is tested by fire, may come to light in praise and glory and honour, at the revelation of Jesus Christ: |
