Saturday 9 November 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES(continued)One of my ...
LIFTING MY VOICE: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES(continued)One of my ...: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES (continued) One of my Facebook friends, himself a Pentecostal pastor, made an interesting comment followi...
THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES
(continued)
One of my Facebook friends, himself a Pentecostal pastor, made an interesting comment following the second part of this current blog theme. He said: "You don't hear much about speaking in tongues these days." When he said that, I knew he was right. He was stating a reality which my wife and I sensed was so, but would not have been willing to categorically state. This man, having been a pastor for some decades now, in a major Pentecostal movement in Australia, had obviously become aware over time of the apparent diminishing importance given to the experience by Pentecostal and Charismatic churches and movements. Most of these churches would still have in their Statement of Beliefs a clear indication that one their core beliefs is that subsequent to salvation or being "born again", the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues is available to every believer.
Again, as in previous blog posts on this topic, I think of the prophecy of Joel, some eight hundred years BC, confirmed by Peter on the Day of Pentecost as being fulfilled at that time, where the prophet said:
"And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions;
And also on My menservants
And on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in
those days."
After quoting this prophecy, Peter, empowered and inspired by the Holy Spirit, added: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,
For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:38,39 NKJV
The "gift of the Holy Spirit" referred to here by the apostle Peter is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit the 120 in the Upper Room had received that day, with the manifestation of speaking in other tongues - in that particular instance, languages unknown to the speakers, but known languages recognized by the hearers from other countries gathered together in Jerusalem at that time.
Peter said the Promise is "to you and your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." He was saying that the gift of the Holy Spirit, with the accompanying evidence of speaking in tongues was to all believers in every era, every generation, to those of all ages, of all races, all backgrounds - in fact, to everyone, Jew or Gentile - who would repent of sin, and receive the salvation offered through Jesus Christ.
With the restoration of this Biblical truth to the church in the twentieth century,
the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 were also restored to the church. These nine gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit include: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, the gift of faith, gifts of healings, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues (in public gatherings), and the interpretation of tongues (in public gatherings). (Words in italics added by me).
The fact is that we, as Christians, are in a war - a battle for the hearts and minds of men and women and children. One of my favourite verses in the Book of Isaiah, speaking prophetically down through the ages to the day in which we live, says: So shall they fear
The name of the Lord from the west,
And His glory from the rising of the sun;
When the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a
standard against him." Isaiah 59:19
Dennis Bennett, the Episcopal rector in California who, in 1960 became a catalyst for the beginning of the Charismatic Movement, when he announced to his church congregation that he had been baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, stated, that for a Christian to be born again and not baptized in the Holy Spirit would be like sending a soldier to Vietnam without a rifle. In these times of ever-increasing darkness covering the earth, the church needs to avail itself of every provision the Lord makes available to us. That provision includes the Baptism in the Holy Spirit subsequent to the salvation experience, with the provision of the ability to speak in other tongues, not as some quirky aberration of Christian experience, but to better equip the believer for effective ministry for our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sunday 20 October 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES(continued)Some year...
LIFTING MY VOICE: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES(continued)
Some year...: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES (continued) Some years ago, while we were living in Launceston in northern Tasmania, I attended a Holy ...
Some year...: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES (continued) Some years ago, while we were living in Launceston in northern Tasmania, I attended a Holy ...
THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES
(continued)
Some years ago, while we were living in Launceston in northern Tasmania, I attended a Holy Spirit teaching seminar with meetings held over three days, from memory. The speakers were Doug Duncan, a pastor with a high degree of credibility in the realm of prophetic ministry, and Stewart Rae, who at the time was Senior Pastor of a charismatic Baptist church in Geelong, Victoria on the Australian mainland.
During one of the sessions, Doug Duncan shared an amazing incident which happened in the life of another Pentecostal pastor in New Zealand by the name of Kindah Greening some years before that time. I believe Kindah Greening is currently pastoring successfully on Queensland's Gold Coast.
As the story goes ( and I believe it to be a true account), Kindah Greening was in Invercargill in the very south of the South Island of New Zealand, when on a particular day, he entered a local post office.
He saw a man standing at one of the counters, and felt impressed of the Holy Spirit to approach the man and to start speaking in tongues. As one could imagine, this is not something which a person would normally do, for fear of being thought more than a little mentally-challenged. He hesitated, wanting to make sure this prompting was from the Holy Spirit. The impression would not leave him, so in the end, he obeyed the prompting to approach the stranger and he began to speak in tongues - a language he had not learned. As Kindah Greening began to speak, the most amazing and wonderful thing happened. Tears began to well up in the eyes of the stranger, and he broke down and cried.
The stranger was, as it turned out a former Christian minister from an eastern European country who was away from the Lord. As Kindah Greening spoke in tongues, the stranger was so moved because he was actually speaking in the stranger's native European language.
Basically, the Lord was reaffirming His love for this man who was so many thousands of miles from his homeland with the words, which he heard in his native tongue: "THOUGH YOU RUN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH TO THE ISLES OF THE SEAS, YOU CANNOT RUN AWAY FROM ME!" This was a message of encouragement which I believe was a turning point in this man's experience to bring him back to a close relationship with the Lord.
The operation of speaking in tongues may be in a known language, or it may be a "heavenly language." The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13:1, at the beginning of what is referred to as the "Love Chapter" in this book of the Bible, states: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal."
Those who are not able to accept that the gift of speaking in tongues is for the church today would argue that, if the spoken tongue is not of a known language, it is just gibberish, or speech that is nonsense. I would refute that argument most vigorously, as I believe there is ample Biblical evidence to show that speaking in other tongues does not have to be in that of a known human language, and if it is not a known language but one given by the Holy Spirit, it is a language known in heaven and perfectly understood by God.
Romans 8:27,28 says: Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
When we pray in tongues, when using what most Pentecostal and Charismatic believers today is praying or speaking in tongues which are not known languages, we can be praying the will of God into situations and circumstances of which we know nothing.
In 1 Corinthians 14:14,15 the Apostle Paul in addressing the Corinthian church on the correct use of the vocal gifts of tongues, interpretation and prophecy in public gatherings makes the point: "For if I pray in a tongue [in public], my Spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is the result then? I will pray with the Spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding."
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:2 He who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. What a great prayer tool God has given us, to be speaking mysteries - in the spirit, as the Holy Spirit inspires our speaking forth in other tongues.
Speaking in tongues or "praying in the Spirit" has the benefit for the one speaking of edifying or building up of the believer's faith. 1 Corinthians 14:4a says He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.
This is re-stated in Jude 20,21 where the writer says: But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, [that is, praying or speaking in other tongues],
keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
This is a wonderful provision in the life of the Spirit-filled believer, the person who has experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. While bringing correction to the Corinthian church concerning the abuse of this practice in church life, the Apostle Paul did admit the importance he placed on speaking in tongues in his own prayer life when he said in 1 Corinthians 14:18,19 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
yet in the church I would rather speak five words with the understanding that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
If you would like to know more about how to become a Christian - to be "born again" as the Bible says, one reliable resource is:
www.vision.org This is the online home of Vision Christian Media.
Click on the Grow your faith tab at the top of the page, then Looking for God? God Bless!
During one of the sessions, Doug Duncan shared an amazing incident which happened in the life of another Pentecostal pastor in New Zealand by the name of Kindah Greening some years before that time. I believe Kindah Greening is currently pastoring successfully on Queensland's Gold Coast.
As the story goes ( and I believe it to be a true account), Kindah Greening was in Invercargill in the very south of the South Island of New Zealand, when on a particular day, he entered a local post office.
He saw a man standing at one of the counters, and felt impressed of the Holy Spirit to approach the man and to start speaking in tongues. As one could imagine, this is not something which a person would normally do, for fear of being thought more than a little mentally-challenged. He hesitated, wanting to make sure this prompting was from the Holy Spirit. The impression would not leave him, so in the end, he obeyed the prompting to approach the stranger and he began to speak in tongues - a language he had not learned. As Kindah Greening began to speak, the most amazing and wonderful thing happened. Tears began to well up in the eyes of the stranger, and he broke down and cried.
The stranger was, as it turned out a former Christian minister from an eastern European country who was away from the Lord. As Kindah Greening spoke in tongues, the stranger was so moved because he was actually speaking in the stranger's native European language.
Basically, the Lord was reaffirming His love for this man who was so many thousands of miles from his homeland with the words, which he heard in his native tongue: "THOUGH YOU RUN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH TO THE ISLES OF THE SEAS, YOU CANNOT RUN AWAY FROM ME!" This was a message of encouragement which I believe was a turning point in this man's experience to bring him back to a close relationship with the Lord.
The operation of speaking in tongues may be in a known language, or it may be a "heavenly language." The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13:1, at the beginning of what is referred to as the "Love Chapter" in this book of the Bible, states: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal."
Those who are not able to accept that the gift of speaking in tongues is for the church today would argue that, if the spoken tongue is not of a known language, it is just gibberish, or speech that is nonsense. I would refute that argument most vigorously, as I believe there is ample Biblical evidence to show that speaking in other tongues does not have to be in that of a known human language, and if it is not a known language but one given by the Holy Spirit, it is a language known in heaven and perfectly understood by God.
Romans 8:27,28 says: Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
When we pray in tongues, when using what most Pentecostal and Charismatic believers today is praying or speaking in tongues which are not known languages, we can be praying the will of God into situations and circumstances of which we know nothing.
In 1 Corinthians 14:14,15 the Apostle Paul in addressing the Corinthian church on the correct use of the vocal gifts of tongues, interpretation and prophecy in public gatherings makes the point: "For if I pray in a tongue [in public], my Spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is the result then? I will pray with the Spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding."
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:2 He who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. What a great prayer tool God has given us, to be speaking mysteries - in the spirit, as the Holy Spirit inspires our speaking forth in other tongues.
Speaking in tongues or "praying in the Spirit" has the benefit for the one speaking of edifying or building up of the believer's faith. 1 Corinthians 14:4a says He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.
This is re-stated in Jude 20,21 where the writer says: But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, [that is, praying or speaking in other tongues],
keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
This is a wonderful provision in the life of the Spirit-filled believer, the person who has experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. While bringing correction to the Corinthian church concerning the abuse of this practice in church life, the Apostle Paul did admit the importance he placed on speaking in tongues in his own prayer life when he said in 1 Corinthians 14:18,19 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
yet in the church I would rather speak five words with the understanding that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
If you would like to know more about how to become a Christian - to be "born again" as the Bible says, one reliable resource is:
www.vision.org This is the online home of Vision Christian Media.
Click on the Grow your faith tab at the top of the page, then Looking for God? God Bless!
Friday 11 October 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES(Continued)When th...
LIFTING MY VOICE: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES(Continued)
When th...: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES (Continued) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. and...
When th...: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES (Continued) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. and...
THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES
(Continued)
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
and suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind,
and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
The Day of Pentecost was one of three major Jewish feasts, also known as the Feast of Weeks. It was celebrated fifty days after Passover.Today, Christian churches remember Pentecost in the Church Calendar fifty days after Easter.
The Day of Pentecost recorded in the second chapter of Acts which saw the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the 120 of Jesus' disciples and followers, was the day the New Testament church began. It was on this day when Peter stood and boldly proclaimed to the crowds assembled in Jerusalem from all parts of the then Roman Empire, at the conclusion of his powerful Gospel message: "Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is to you and your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:38,39 NKJV
The Bible also records in this chapter that around three thousand people who heard Peter's words, responded to his message and were baptized.
Verse 42 says:They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Sounds like church to me!
The 120 in the Upper Room had been waiting in anticipation for the Lord to move in a new way in their midst in response to the words of Jesus after His resurrection from the dead, as recorded in Luke 24:49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
THIS WAS IT! Or, as the apostle Peter himself said in his message on this day: "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel....." In my first part of this blog, I quoted the verses from Joel 2:28,29 spoken by Peter. The prophecy of Joel fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost was written some eight hundred years BC.
The gift of speaking with other tongues was not to be a one-off manifestation in the life of the church. In the Book of Acts, there are three more recorded accounts of people being baptized in the Holy Spirit. These accounts are recorded in Acts 8:14 onwards, when after Phillip had preached the Word of God at Samaria, Peter and John went there and prayed for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.
the next account is in Acts 10;44-48, after Peter had preached salvation through Christ to the Gentile centurion, Cornelius and his household; and again, in Acts 19:1-7, when the apostle Paul prayed for believers in Ephesus to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. In the last two of these accounts, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was clearly stated to be evidenced by the gift of speaking in tongues, that is, with a language the speakers had not learned.
Were these accounts of speaking with tongues similar to that recorded in Acts 2 where the hearers from various countries heard the speakers in their own languages (known languages) declare "the wonderful works of God?"
Maybe - maybe not! In Acts 10:44-46, it is recorded that, when the members of Cornelius' household believed the Word of God through the mouth of Peter, that the Holy Spirit fell upon them, and those Jews who had accompanied Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on Gentiles also. Then it says in verse 46: For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. This is my personal thought, for what it is worth, but I wonder if the speaking in tongues in this instance was like that on the Day of Pentecost - in a known language, as the Jews heard the new believers speak in tongues and magnify God!
As to the last account in the Book of Acts in chapter 19, when the twelve or so men who were baptized in the Holy Spirit after the laying on of hands by the apostle Paul at Ephesus, I wonder if their experience of speaking in tongues was not in a known language, because the account says in verse six that the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
To be Continued..................
If you would like to know how to become a Christian - how to be "born again" as the Bible says, one resource I can confidently direct you to is: www.vision.org Click on the 'Grow your faith' tab at the top of the page, then 'Looking for God?'
God Bless!
The Day of Pentecost was one of three major Jewish feasts, also known as the Feast of Weeks. It was celebrated fifty days after Passover.Today, Christian churches remember Pentecost in the Church Calendar fifty days after Easter.
The Day of Pentecost recorded in the second chapter of Acts which saw the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the 120 of Jesus' disciples and followers, was the day the New Testament church began. It was on this day when Peter stood and boldly proclaimed to the crowds assembled in Jerusalem from all parts of the then Roman Empire, at the conclusion of his powerful Gospel message: "Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is to you and your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:38,39 NKJV
The Bible also records in this chapter that around three thousand people who heard Peter's words, responded to his message and were baptized.
Verse 42 says:They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Sounds like church to me!
The 120 in the Upper Room had been waiting in anticipation for the Lord to move in a new way in their midst in response to the words of Jesus after His resurrection from the dead, as recorded in Luke 24:49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
THIS WAS IT! Or, as the apostle Peter himself said in his message on this day: "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel....." In my first part of this blog, I quoted the verses from Joel 2:28,29 spoken by Peter. The prophecy of Joel fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost was written some eight hundred years BC.
The gift of speaking with other tongues was not to be a one-off manifestation in the life of the church. In the Book of Acts, there are three more recorded accounts of people being baptized in the Holy Spirit. These accounts are recorded in Acts 8:14 onwards, when after Phillip had preached the Word of God at Samaria, Peter and John went there and prayed for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.
the next account is in Acts 10;44-48, after Peter had preached salvation through Christ to the Gentile centurion, Cornelius and his household; and again, in Acts 19:1-7, when the apostle Paul prayed for believers in Ephesus to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. In the last two of these accounts, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was clearly stated to be evidenced by the gift of speaking in tongues, that is, with a language the speakers had not learned.
Were these accounts of speaking with tongues similar to that recorded in Acts 2 where the hearers from various countries heard the speakers in their own languages (known languages) declare "the wonderful works of God?"
Maybe - maybe not! In Acts 10:44-46, it is recorded that, when the members of Cornelius' household believed the Word of God through the mouth of Peter, that the Holy Spirit fell upon them, and those Jews who had accompanied Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on Gentiles also. Then it says in verse 46: For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. This is my personal thought, for what it is worth, but I wonder if the speaking in tongues in this instance was like that on the Day of Pentecost - in a known language, as the Jews heard the new believers speak in tongues and magnify God!
As to the last account in the Book of Acts in chapter 19, when the twelve or so men who were baptized in the Holy Spirit after the laying on of hands by the apostle Paul at Ephesus, I wonder if their experience of speaking in tongues was not in a known language, because the account says in verse six that the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
To be Continued..................
If you would like to know how to become a Christian - how to be "born again" as the Bible says, one resource I can confidently direct you to is: www.vision.org Click on the 'Grow your faith' tab at the top of the page, then 'Looking for God?'
God Bless!
Saturday 5 October 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUESIn the early 60's, a...
LIFTING MY VOICE: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES
In the early 60's, a...: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES In the early 60's, a young reporter for the "Guideposts" magazine, by the name of John She...
In the early 60's, a...: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES In the early 60's, a young reporter for the "Guideposts" magazine, by the name of John She...
Thursday 26 September 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUESIn the early 60's, a...
LIFTING MY VOICE: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES
In the early 60's, a...: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES In the early 60's, a young reporter for the "Guideposts" magazine, by the name of John She...
In the early 60's, a...: THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES In the early 60's, a young reporter for the "Guideposts" magazine, by the name of John She...
Monday 23 September 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: THE HOLY SPIRIT(continued)Luke 4:18,19 "The Spirit...
LIFTING MY VOICE: THE HOLY SPIRIT(continued)Luke 4:18,19 "The Spirit...: THE HOLY SPIRIT (continued) Luke 4:18,19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anoint...
THE HOLY SPIRIT
(continued)
Luke 4:18,19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
These words were spoken by Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth after returning from His forty days of temptation in the wilderness, during which time He had been fasting from all food.
Prior to His wilderness temptation, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.
In Luke's account, he says in Chapter 3:21,22
Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened,
And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."
in effect, following His baptism by immersion in the Jordan River, Jesus was baptized in the Holy Spirit in order to be able to accomplish His earthly ministry.
Although Jesus was, and is the Christ, the Anointed Son of God, or God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity - when He came to earth, He confined Himself to an earthly body just like ours with flesh and blood. Although He was still God, He was also fully man, having divested Himself of His Godly attributes of omniscience (all-knowing), omnipotence (all-powerful) and omnipresence (able to be everywhere at one time). Philippians 2:5-7 puts it this way:
Let this mind be in you all, which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, being in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped.
But He emptied Himself,
taking upon Himself the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men.
It is therefore easy to see that Jesus would have to fully rely on the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit in order to carry out His earthly ministry effectively.
But He emptied Himself,
taking upon Himself the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men.
It is therefore easy to see that Jesus would have to fully rely on the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit in order to carry out His earthly ministry effectively.
It was the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus which enabled Him to see the dead raised, the blind receive their sight, the lame to walk, the deaf and mute to hear and speak, the demonized to be set free of all Satanic oppression and bondage, all multitude of diseases and mental torments to be healed. He brought hope to those who had no hope, He spoke directly to situaltions in people's lives through words of knowledge, He prophesied concerning the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem in particular. He prophesied His own death and resurrection.
When He needed God's wisdom in addressing "traps" of the enemy laid by the scribes and Pharisees, the Holy Spirit enabled Him to respond always in a manner which showed insight which defeated His opponents' schemes to trap and trip Him.
For those who sat in great darkness, He came as a light. He was and still is the Light of the World. As He said in John 8:12 "I am the light of the world, he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
His message brought conviction of sin to the broken and humble, who in turn saw their lives transformed by the revelation of God's grace, mercy and love.
In all four Gospels, John the Baptist who was sent by God to "prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah",Jesus, is recorded as saying concerning Jesus that it was He who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Matthew and Luke's accounts record John the Baptist saying Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a provision of the Lord for all believers subsequent to being born again or being saved (both Biblical terms). Our salvation does not depend on it, but our effectiveness in serving the Lord, and our fruitfulness in ministry may well depend on this provision. I once heard a quote from Rev. Dennis Bennett, an Episcopal minister in the USA who was at the forefront of the Charismatic Movement in the early 60's, where he stated words to the effect: "For a Christian to be born again but not baptized in the Holy Spirit is like sending a soldier to Vietnam without a rifle." (The Vietnam War was, of course raging at the time).
I was baptized in the Spirit in 1969 following water baptism - not immediately following, but later in the afternoon as a result of prayer specifically for the Lord Jesus Christ to fill me with His Spirit. I will forever be grateful to Bob and Jan MacPherson, a couple in the Church of England in Surfers Paradise, where I was attending church - who led a Wednesday night Charismatic home fellowship group. Teaching input from many, if not most of the leading figures God was using in the Charismatic Renewal at that time - people such as Derek Prince, Bob Mumford, Charles Simpson, Ern Baxter, David du Plessis, Dennis Bennett, Harold Bredesen, Howard Carter, Paul and Bunty Collins from New Zealand, Michael Harper and many others - was provided through an extensive lending library of cassette tapes in Bob and Jan's home.
When I was baptized with the Holy Spirit, i spoke in tongues. I was overwhelmed with a physical sense of God's presence in my life - like electricity going through my body, but not at all unpleasant. I could not stand up for some time, and my experience caused me to understand why the apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost had to say to those observing what had happened to the 120 on whom the Holy Spirit had been outpoured: "These are not drunk, as you suppose..." I literally felt like I was drunk in the Spirit. Having said that, though, I know that not everyone's experience will be the same.
Let me finish by stating again that I firmly believe that, on the basis of the Word of God, the Lord is wanting every believer in Jesus who has committed his or her life to Him, to avail themselves of "the Promise of the Father" - to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, to be empowered from on high, to be fully equipped for Christian life and ministry in these challenging times in which we live.
If you reading this and you are not a Christian,this all might sound a little strange to you. That should not at all be surprising, because the Bible says: The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. ! Corinthians 2:14
The starting point to understanding the things of God is to be, as the Bible says - born again!
For help in taking that step into a new life as a follower of Jesus Christ, as a Christian, may I suggest the following resource:
www.vision.org.au Click on the "Grow your faith" tab at the top of the page, then from the drop-down menu, click on "Looking for God?"
God Bless!
When He needed God's wisdom in addressing "traps" of the enemy laid by the scribes and Pharisees, the Holy Spirit enabled Him to respond always in a manner which showed insight which defeated His opponents' schemes to trap and trip Him.
For those who sat in great darkness, He came as a light. He was and still is the Light of the World. As He said in John 8:12 "I am the light of the world, he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
His message brought conviction of sin to the broken and humble, who in turn saw their lives transformed by the revelation of God's grace, mercy and love.
In all four Gospels, John the Baptist who was sent by God to "prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah",Jesus, is recorded as saying concerning Jesus that it was He who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Matthew and Luke's accounts record John the Baptist saying Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a provision of the Lord for all believers subsequent to being born again or being saved (both Biblical terms). Our salvation does not depend on it, but our effectiveness in serving the Lord, and our fruitfulness in ministry may well depend on this provision. I once heard a quote from Rev. Dennis Bennett, an Episcopal minister in the USA who was at the forefront of the Charismatic Movement in the early 60's, where he stated words to the effect: "For a Christian to be born again but not baptized in the Holy Spirit is like sending a soldier to Vietnam without a rifle." (The Vietnam War was, of course raging at the time).
I was baptized in the Spirit in 1969 following water baptism - not immediately following, but later in the afternoon as a result of prayer specifically for the Lord Jesus Christ to fill me with His Spirit. I will forever be grateful to Bob and Jan MacPherson, a couple in the Church of England in Surfers Paradise, where I was attending church - who led a Wednesday night Charismatic home fellowship group. Teaching input from many, if not most of the leading figures God was using in the Charismatic Renewal at that time - people such as Derek Prince, Bob Mumford, Charles Simpson, Ern Baxter, David du Plessis, Dennis Bennett, Harold Bredesen, Howard Carter, Paul and Bunty Collins from New Zealand, Michael Harper and many others - was provided through an extensive lending library of cassette tapes in Bob and Jan's home.
When I was baptized with the Holy Spirit, i spoke in tongues. I was overwhelmed with a physical sense of God's presence in my life - like electricity going through my body, but not at all unpleasant. I could not stand up for some time, and my experience caused me to understand why the apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost had to say to those observing what had happened to the 120 on whom the Holy Spirit had been outpoured: "These are not drunk, as you suppose..." I literally felt like I was drunk in the Spirit. Having said that, though, I know that not everyone's experience will be the same.
Let me finish by stating again that I firmly believe that, on the basis of the Word of God, the Lord is wanting every believer in Jesus who has committed his or her life to Him, to avail themselves of "the Promise of the Father" - to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, to be empowered from on high, to be fully equipped for Christian life and ministry in these challenging times in which we live.
If you reading this and you are not a Christian,this all might sound a little strange to you. That should not at all be surprising, because the Bible says: The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. ! Corinthians 2:14
The starting point to understanding the things of God is to be, as the Bible says - born again!
For help in taking that step into a new life as a follower of Jesus Christ, as a Christian, may I suggest the following resource:
www.vision.org.au Click on the "Grow your faith" tab at the top of the page, then from the drop-down menu, click on "Looking for God?"
God Bless!
Sunday 15 September 2019
THE HOLY SPIRIT
(continued)
There is so much to be said about the Person and work of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers and in the Church of Jesus Christ. That being said, this current blog is not meant to be an exhaustive teaching.
Much much more about the Person, Work, Nature, Fruit, Gifts, Nature, Bible Emblems, Characteristics and Ministry of the Holy Spirit - can be readily researched on the internet through various ministry sources.
That being said, let me briefly address another related topic concerning the Holy Spirit, which over the years has been fraught with divided and divisive opinion, each camp claiming to be able to to support their personal stance with strong Biblical backing. I refer to the subject of the Baptism in or with the Holy Spirit, and the present day operation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, as outlined in 1 Corinthians Chapters 12-14.
Six years ago, in 2013, I remember experiencing a mixture of emotions - disappointment, anger, a sense of grieving in my spirit - because of the bold presentation of high profile US pastor, John Macarthur in his book and conference bearing the name "Strange Fire". The conference was hosted by John Macarthur, a cessationist Calvinist pastor and theologian, who, for many years has denounced the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements as aberrations of Christianity, and whose Pentecostal distinctives are not valid for today's church.
As a cessationist, he is of the firm belief that with the passing of the original twelve apostles and the completion of the canon of Scripture, that not only the ministry of apostles and prophets ceased, but also the gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit, as outlined in ! Corinthians 12-14. Macarthur even boldly asserts that the gift of "speaking in tongues", one of the hallmark features of the Pentecostal and Charismatic experience, is demonic in origin. He also states that those who practise speaking in tongues and display other characteristic Pentecostal and Charismatic manifestations are actually guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. As a Christian who has been firmly in the Pentecostal sector of the Church of Jesus Christ for almost all of the fifty three years I have been a committed follower of Christ, I can only respond to such claims with astonishment.
My reading of Jesus' words in Matthew 12 concerning blasphemy against the Holy Spirit seems to signify that attributing the work or ministy of the Holy Spirit to Satan or demons is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. To that end, I feel that people such as John Macarthur, Phil Johnson (one of John Macarthur's associates, who edits all his books) and Todd Friel - all involved in the "Strange Fire" conference - are on very, very dangerous ground.
Having said the above, though, I must admit I have not followed John Macarthur's ministry, but I understand he is generally a respected Bible teacher, author and pastor, as well as hosting a popular syndicated radio program "Grace To You."
I have heard respected Pentecostal / Charismatic leaders such as Dr Michael Brown and Christian social commentator, Bill Muehlenberg who writes his regular "Culture Watch" blogs - express some admiration for Macarthur's othewise integrity in ministry and his exposition of the Word of God.
Dr Michael Brown, who has several ministry degrees, including a PhD - a Pentecostal Biblical scholar, wrote his own rebuttal of "Strange Fire" in his book, "Authentic Fire", which I must admit I have not as yet read, but intend to obtain a copy in the near future.
Concerning the experience of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, in all four Gospel accounts, John the Baptist whom God sent as a messenger to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, is recorded as saying of Jesus that it is He who would "baptize believers in the Holy Spirit" (and with fire, as stated in Matthew and Luke's accounts).This was obviously going to be a key element of His ministry to believers from the commencement of the Church age.
In John 20, after the Resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week, He appears to ten of His disciples (Judas Iscariot had betrayed Him and committed suicide, and Thomas was not there). In verse 21, Jesus encourages them with these words: " Peace be unto you; as my Father has sent Me, even so send I you".
Then verse 22 says: And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said unto them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." It could well be argued that this was the point in time when the Holy Spirit came to indwell the lives of the disciples in the same way that He does when any person commits his or her life to Christ, being, as the Word of God says, born again by the Spirit of God.
Were these disciples of Jesus "baptized in the Spirit" at this time? No, they weren't. In the Gospel of Luke, in chapter 24, again, after the resurrection of Jesus, just before His ascension to the Father, Jesus gives this encouragement and direction to His disciples: " And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but wait in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high."
In the first chapter of the Book of Acts, Luke records these words, adding more detail to the direction given in Luke 24.
In Acts 1:4, it reads: And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father,"which", He said, "you have heard from Me;
for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Jesus further said in verse 8: "But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
True to the words of Jesus, the embodiment of Truth, ten days later on the Jewish feast Day of Pentecost, which was also fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, as 120 disciples and followers of Jesus (men and women) were gathered in the Upper Room, being in one accord in one place,
Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
The 120 in the Upper Room were the first New Testament believers to be "baptized in the Holy Spirit" by Jesus, the one who as foretold by John the Baptist, would "baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire."
As you read on in this chapter, it is stated that there were many devout Jews living in Jerusalem "from every nation under heaven" and they were all amazed as they each heard the 120 speaking the wonderful praises of God in their own languages. Peter the apostle explained that this was fulfillment of Joel's prophecy in Joel 2:28-32 "In the last days I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh....." If it was the last days then, 2,000 years ago, then we are certainly living in the last of the last days now, and therefore the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our day with attending gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit must certainly be valid for the Church today!I, for one, am glad to be alive in this exciting Church era, and connected to a church family with a vision to see the Holy Spirit moving powerfully to lift up the name of Jesus with mighty life-changing and transforming demonstrations of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, bringing glory and honour to the Living God in our times!
If you have read this blog, and desire to know more about how you can become a Christian, one resource I can recommend is:www.vision.org.au This is the online home of Vision Christian Media in Australia. Click on the Grow your faith tab at the top of the page, then from the drop-down menu, click on Looking for God?
As a cessationist, he is of the firm belief that with the passing of the original twelve apostles and the completion of the canon of Scripture, that not only the ministry of apostles and prophets ceased, but also the gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit, as outlined in ! Corinthians 12-14. Macarthur even boldly asserts that the gift of "speaking in tongues", one of the hallmark features of the Pentecostal and Charismatic experience, is demonic in origin. He also states that those who practise speaking in tongues and display other characteristic Pentecostal and Charismatic manifestations are actually guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. As a Christian who has been firmly in the Pentecostal sector of the Church of Jesus Christ for almost all of the fifty three years I have been a committed follower of Christ, I can only respond to such claims with astonishment.
My reading of Jesus' words in Matthew 12 concerning blasphemy against the Holy Spirit seems to signify that attributing the work or ministy of the Holy Spirit to Satan or demons is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. To that end, I feel that people such as John Macarthur, Phil Johnson (one of John Macarthur's associates, who edits all his books) and Todd Friel - all involved in the "Strange Fire" conference - are on very, very dangerous ground.
Having said the above, though, I must admit I have not followed John Macarthur's ministry, but I understand he is generally a respected Bible teacher, author and pastor, as well as hosting a popular syndicated radio program "Grace To You."
I have heard respected Pentecostal / Charismatic leaders such as Dr Michael Brown and Christian social commentator, Bill Muehlenberg who writes his regular "Culture Watch" blogs - express some admiration for Macarthur's othewise integrity in ministry and his exposition of the Word of God.
Dr Michael Brown, who has several ministry degrees, including a PhD - a Pentecostal Biblical scholar, wrote his own rebuttal of "Strange Fire" in his book, "Authentic Fire", which I must admit I have not as yet read, but intend to obtain a copy in the near future.
Concerning the experience of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, in all four Gospel accounts, John the Baptist whom God sent as a messenger to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, is recorded as saying of Jesus that it is He who would "baptize believers in the Holy Spirit" (and with fire, as stated in Matthew and Luke's accounts).This was obviously going to be a key element of His ministry to believers from the commencement of the Church age.
In John 20, after the Resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week, He appears to ten of His disciples (Judas Iscariot had betrayed Him and committed suicide, and Thomas was not there). In verse 21, Jesus encourages them with these words: " Peace be unto you; as my Father has sent Me, even so send I you".
Then verse 22 says: And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said unto them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." It could well be argued that this was the point in time when the Holy Spirit came to indwell the lives of the disciples in the same way that He does when any person commits his or her life to Christ, being, as the Word of God says, born again by the Spirit of God.
Were these disciples of Jesus "baptized in the Spirit" at this time? No, they weren't. In the Gospel of Luke, in chapter 24, again, after the resurrection of Jesus, just before His ascension to the Father, Jesus gives this encouragement and direction to His disciples: " And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but wait in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high."
In the first chapter of the Book of Acts, Luke records these words, adding more detail to the direction given in Luke 24.
In Acts 1:4, it reads: And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father,"which", He said, "you have heard from Me;
for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Jesus further said in verse 8: "But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
True to the words of Jesus, the embodiment of Truth, ten days later on the Jewish feast Day of Pentecost, which was also fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, as 120 disciples and followers of Jesus (men and women) were gathered in the Upper Room, being in one accord in one place,
Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
The 120 in the Upper Room were the first New Testament believers to be "baptized in the Holy Spirit" by Jesus, the one who as foretold by John the Baptist, would "baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire."
As you read on in this chapter, it is stated that there were many devout Jews living in Jerusalem "from every nation under heaven" and they were all amazed as they each heard the 120 speaking the wonderful praises of God in their own languages. Peter the apostle explained that this was fulfillment of Joel's prophecy in Joel 2:28-32 "In the last days I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh....." If it was the last days then, 2,000 years ago, then we are certainly living in the last of the last days now, and therefore the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our day with attending gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit must certainly be valid for the Church today!I, for one, am glad to be alive in this exciting Church era, and connected to a church family with a vision to see the Holy Spirit moving powerfully to lift up the name of Jesus with mighty life-changing and transforming demonstrations of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, bringing glory and honour to the Living God in our times!
If you have read this blog, and desire to know more about how you can become a Christian, one resource I can recommend is:www.vision.org.au This is the online home of Vision Christian Media in Australia. Click on the Grow your faith tab at the top of the page, then from the drop-down menu, click on Looking for God?
Wednesday 24 July 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: THE HOLY SPIRITAs a child, I did not come from a C...
LIFTING MY VOICE: THE HOLY SPIRITAs a child, I did not come from a C...: THE HOLY SPIRIT As a child, I did not come from a Christian home. My parents did not go to church, but I do remember going to a Methodist...
THE HOLY SPIRIT
As a child, I did not come from a Christian home. My parents did not go to church, but I do remember going to a Methodist Sunday School for a while in Surfers Paradise on Queensland's Gold Coast, where I grew up. Then, as a teenager at about the age of fourteen, I started attending the local Church of England youth group with another friend from school.
That led to us being asked by the minister of the church to become 'servers' - I suppose similar to altar boys in the Catholic Church. The church had two Sunday morning services - 7am and 9am. We were involved in the 7am service. Eventually, through a school holidays church 'coffee shop' outreach, I heard the Gospel message clearly as one of the youth group leaders sat with me until midnight one night sharing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ with me.
I prayed the "Sinner's Prayer", and, at that point in time, my Christian life began.
i knew that something had happened in my life. I literally did sense the experience of being 'born again' as the Bible says in John 3:3 and 7. I went home feeling invigorated, and woke up the next morning feeling a sense of God's nearness, and a real sense of being cleansed from my sin.
I knew from my Sunday School lessons earlier, and from attending the church services and hearing the Word of God preached, that the God of the Bible was referred to as the Trinity - One God in Three Persons - God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. In Genesis 1:26 as part of the creation narrative, the Bible says: Then God said, "Let us make man in Our image, according to our likeness...."
I could understand something of the concept of God being Father, and could also understand something of the Person of Jesus Christ through the Christmas story and the significance of Easter, and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - even before any church or Sunday School involvement I probably had some exposure to Christian teaching. through Bible-in-Schools programs as well.
But, I remember the Holy Spirit being a total mystery to me. Actually as a child, with the King James version of the Bible being the main Protestant Scripture source, the Holy Ghost was the terminology most used for this mysterious person in the Godhead. To be honest, Holy Ghost sounded to me a little spooky!
As a child, and into my early teens, ghosts were scary ethereal figures that haunted old dilapidated houses, and were the stuff of nightmares!
However, when I became a Christian, I learned that the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, as we mostly refer to Him now - is a vital member of the Godhead - Yes, He is a He, not an IT, not some vague force, but a Person with personality.
When Jesus was about to finish His earthly ministry, He told His disciples in John 14:15-18: "If you love Me, keep my commands,
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever,
even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows him; but you know Him
for He dwells with you and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."
The Bible tells us that when we commit our lives to Jesus Christ, when we confess our sin and our need of a Saviour, and accept the work of Jesus shedding His blood and dying on the Cross - the sinless Son of God dying in our place (Romans 5:8), we are born again by the work of the Holy Spirit as He makes alive our human spirit which until that time has been unresponsive to the Spirit and Word of God. The apostle Paul says in Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Jesus' disciples were sad when He told them He was going away, but He reassured them that He would send another Helper and that He would abide or dwell with them forever. The Greek work Jesus used for another Helper is allos which means another of the same kind. The Holy Spirit Jesus would send would be their Helper, Counsellor, Comforter, and Guide. The Holy Spirit's coming would assure them of continuity of all that Jesus both did and taught.
Every man, woman or child who personally commits their life to Christ and is "born again" of the Holy Spirit becomes as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:17 a new creation in Christ, able to commune or fellowship with Father God.
BUT WAIT........THERE'S MORE!
If you want to know more about how you can be "born again" and can experience the life that God has planned for you - not an easy life, but a life in fellowship with your Creator God, a life led by the Holy Spirit, a life filled with purpose and promise for the future - contact the following for further help:
vision.org.au This is the home of Vision Christian Media.
Click on the Grow your faith tab at the top of the page, then Looking for God?
If you have made a commitment of your life to Jesus Christ in response to reading this blog, please let me know in the Comments section below.
God Bless!
i knew that something had happened in my life. I literally did sense the experience of being 'born again' as the Bible says in John 3:3 and 7. I went home feeling invigorated, and woke up the next morning feeling a sense of God's nearness, and a real sense of being cleansed from my sin.
I knew from my Sunday School lessons earlier, and from attending the church services and hearing the Word of God preached, that the God of the Bible was referred to as the Trinity - One God in Three Persons - God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. In Genesis 1:26 as part of the creation narrative, the Bible says: Then God said, "Let us make man in Our image, according to our likeness...."
I could understand something of the concept of God being Father, and could also understand something of the Person of Jesus Christ through the Christmas story and the significance of Easter, and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - even before any church or Sunday School involvement I probably had some exposure to Christian teaching. through Bible-in-Schools programs as well.
But, I remember the Holy Spirit being a total mystery to me. Actually as a child, with the King James version of the Bible being the main Protestant Scripture source, the Holy Ghost was the terminology most used for this mysterious person in the Godhead. To be honest, Holy Ghost sounded to me a little spooky!
As a child, and into my early teens, ghosts were scary ethereal figures that haunted old dilapidated houses, and were the stuff of nightmares!
However, when I became a Christian, I learned that the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, as we mostly refer to Him now - is a vital member of the Godhead - Yes, He is a He, not an IT, not some vague force, but a Person with personality.
When Jesus was about to finish His earthly ministry, He told His disciples in John 14:15-18: "If you love Me, keep my commands,
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever,
even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows him; but you know Him
for He dwells with you and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."
The Bible tells us that when we commit our lives to Jesus Christ, when we confess our sin and our need of a Saviour, and accept the work of Jesus shedding His blood and dying on the Cross - the sinless Son of God dying in our place (Romans 5:8), we are born again by the work of the Holy Spirit as He makes alive our human spirit which until that time has been unresponsive to the Spirit and Word of God. The apostle Paul says in Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Jesus' disciples were sad when He told them He was going away, but He reassured them that He would send another Helper and that He would abide or dwell with them forever. The Greek work Jesus used for another Helper is allos which means another of the same kind. The Holy Spirit Jesus would send would be their Helper, Counsellor, Comforter, and Guide. The Holy Spirit's coming would assure them of continuity of all that Jesus both did and taught.
Every man, woman or child who personally commits their life to Christ and is "born again" of the Holy Spirit becomes as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:17 a new creation in Christ, able to commune or fellowship with Father God.
BUT WAIT........THERE'S MORE!
If you want to know more about how you can be "born again" and can experience the life that God has planned for you - not an easy life, but a life in fellowship with your Creator God, a life led by the Holy Spirit, a life filled with purpose and promise for the future - contact the following for further help:
vision.org.au This is the home of Vision Christian Media.
Click on the Grow your faith tab at the top of the page, then Looking for God?
If you have made a commitment of your life to Jesus Christ in response to reading this blog, please let me know in the Comments section below.
God Bless!
Wednesday 17 July 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: !THE ESSENTIAL WORD!The Bible tells us clearly tha...
LIFTING MY VOICE: !THE ESSENTIAL WORD!The Bible tells us clearly tha...: !THE ESSENTIAL WORD! The Bible tells us clearly that the Word of God to man is God-breathed. In the original inspiration by the Holy Spir...
!THE ESSENTIAL WORD!
The Bible tells us clearly that the Word of God to man is God-breathed. In the original inspiration by the Holy Spirit to those who were entrusted to record the Holy Scriptures, every word was inspired by the Spirit of God.
The apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, a young associate minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, says in 2 Timothy 3:16,17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The writer to Hebrews (possibly Paul, though authorship uncertain) says in chapter 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
It is very clear even from these few verses above that the Word of the Living God, recorded in our Bible and agreed upon by Biblical scholars in time past as the true and complete canon of Scripture, is powerful in its ability to build up the individual Christian in his or her relationship with the Lord God, and to provide a clear blueprint for the Church of Jesus Christ to grow and thrive as a healthy organism, imparting life to all who participate in its instruction.
That being said, our Creator God, who designed intricately every aspect of nature and flung the stars and planets throughout the universe - has given us creative ability under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the church is a place of great diversity in worship expression, meeting protocols etc - which is perfectly fine as long as the Biblical guidelines and foundation truth of Scripture is adhered to - without compromise!
Sadly, surveys have been conducted by reputable Christian data collection organisations and have shown that a high percentage of confessing Christians do not read their Bibles regularly, if at all. This is a tragedy for the modern church. I read recently that a survey by the Barna group in America revealed that a high percentage - nearly half of Millenials - people born from the year 2000 - young people, do not believe that Christians should share their faith with others if they already have adherence to another faith!
When we think of Jesus' own words about Himself in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me", it should ring alarm bells in the church that this generation of young Christians need to be instructed in the Word, that they may have hearts motivated with Christ's love to reach their peers with the life-transforming Good News of the Gospel.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
As a Christian for over fifty years of my life, if I am honest, I know that I do not read or study the Bible as much as I should. I have no excuse. I have time on my hands - no longer working, I have a number of Bibles in various versions, as well as unlimited internet access to every version currently available. I have no excuse. The devil will use anything, even legitimate activities to distract us and keep us from God's Word. Again, that is not a cop-out on my part, because as a Christian, redeemed by the blood of the Risen Christ, I have authority over any ploy from the enemy.
A number of years ago, my wife, Tessa was given a picture from the Lord in which she saw me picking up a sword. As I picked it up, at first it seemed heavy and in my hand, quite unwieldy. But as I continued to pick it up, I became more confident in holding it and, began to advance, skillfully wielding it as I moved forward. This was, of course, an encouragement to me to pick up the "sword of the Spirit" which, the Bible tells us is the Word of God.
Well known British Baptist preacher of the nineteenth century, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who was affectionately known as "The Prince of Preachers" once said: There are ten people who are willing to die for the Bible for every one who will read it." A rather sobering thought!
We, as Christians are in a relentless battle with our enemy, Satan, whom the Bible says is a thief whose aim is to "steal, kill and destroy" mankind, and to keep followers of Christ from enjoying their Godly inheritance in Christ, through lies and deception, fear and doubt etc. To that end, another quote that Tessa often reminds me of - I think originating from Derek Prince, is: "You can't fight thoughts with thoughts! You have to fight thoughts (of doubt, worry, fear, anxiety, unbelief) with the Word of God."
Much has been said and written about concerning the difference between the logos word of God, and the rhema word. Logos and rhema are two Greek words which both mean "word." It was widely agreed by many scholars that the logos word is the Bible, the written word, whereas in almost all instances of the use of rhema, it is a spoken word.
Indeed, it can be rightly said also, that the rhema word is a word that seems to jump off the page to the reader, as it were, to speak into a particular situation or circumstance requiring a quickened word to inspire faith for a need to be met by God. Examples may be when seeking direction in life, when seeking the Lord for healing or deliverance, when there is confusion of mind, or a word to bring peace to the heart is required.
Jesus, in His own words, says in John 8:31,32 "If you continue in My Word, then are you my disciples indeed,
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."
For help in becoming a Christian, please logon to www.vision.org.au Click on Grow your faith, then Looking for God?
The apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, a young associate minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, says in 2 Timothy 3:16,17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The writer to Hebrews (possibly Paul, though authorship uncertain) says in chapter 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
It is very clear even from these few verses above that the Word of the Living God, recorded in our Bible and agreed upon by Biblical scholars in time past as the true and complete canon of Scripture, is powerful in its ability to build up the individual Christian in his or her relationship with the Lord God, and to provide a clear blueprint for the Church of Jesus Christ to grow and thrive as a healthy organism, imparting life to all who participate in its instruction.
That being said, our Creator God, who designed intricately every aspect of nature and flung the stars and planets throughout the universe - has given us creative ability under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the church is a place of great diversity in worship expression, meeting protocols etc - which is perfectly fine as long as the Biblical guidelines and foundation truth of Scripture is adhered to - without compromise!
Sadly, surveys have been conducted by reputable Christian data collection organisations and have shown that a high percentage of confessing Christians do not read their Bibles regularly, if at all. This is a tragedy for the modern church. I read recently that a survey by the Barna group in America revealed that a high percentage - nearly half of Millenials - people born from the year 2000 - young people, do not believe that Christians should share their faith with others if they already have adherence to another faith!
When we think of Jesus' own words about Himself in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me", it should ring alarm bells in the church that this generation of young Christians need to be instructed in the Word, that they may have hearts motivated with Christ's love to reach their peers with the life-transforming Good News of the Gospel.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
As a Christian for over fifty years of my life, if I am honest, I know that I do not read or study the Bible as much as I should. I have no excuse. I have time on my hands - no longer working, I have a number of Bibles in various versions, as well as unlimited internet access to every version currently available. I have no excuse. The devil will use anything, even legitimate activities to distract us and keep us from God's Word. Again, that is not a cop-out on my part, because as a Christian, redeemed by the blood of the Risen Christ, I have authority over any ploy from the enemy.
A number of years ago, my wife, Tessa was given a picture from the Lord in which she saw me picking up a sword. As I picked it up, at first it seemed heavy and in my hand, quite unwieldy. But as I continued to pick it up, I became more confident in holding it and, began to advance, skillfully wielding it as I moved forward. This was, of course, an encouragement to me to pick up the "sword of the Spirit" which, the Bible tells us is the Word of God.
Well known British Baptist preacher of the nineteenth century, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who was affectionately known as "The Prince of Preachers" once said: There are ten people who are willing to die for the Bible for every one who will read it." A rather sobering thought!
We, as Christians are in a relentless battle with our enemy, Satan, whom the Bible says is a thief whose aim is to "steal, kill and destroy" mankind, and to keep followers of Christ from enjoying their Godly inheritance in Christ, through lies and deception, fear and doubt etc. To that end, another quote that Tessa often reminds me of - I think originating from Derek Prince, is: "You can't fight thoughts with thoughts! You have to fight thoughts (of doubt, worry, fear, anxiety, unbelief) with the Word of God."
Much has been said and written about concerning the difference between the logos word of God, and the rhema word. Logos and rhema are two Greek words which both mean "word." It was widely agreed by many scholars that the logos word is the Bible, the written word, whereas in almost all instances of the use of rhema, it is a spoken word.
Indeed, it can be rightly said also, that the rhema word is a word that seems to jump off the page to the reader, as it were, to speak into a particular situation or circumstance requiring a quickened word to inspire faith for a need to be met by God. Examples may be when seeking direction in life, when seeking the Lord for healing or deliverance, when there is confusion of mind, or a word to bring peace to the heart is required.
Jesus, in His own words, says in John 8:31,32 "If you continue in My Word, then are you my disciples indeed,
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."
For help in becoming a Christian, please logon to www.vision.org.au Click on Grow your faith, then Looking for God?
LIFTING MY VOICE: JESUS.........I AM!In the beginning, God created t...
LIFTING MY VOICE: JESUS.........I AM!In the beginning, God created t...: JESUS.........I AM! In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 Thus we have the beginning of the first book of ...
Friday 14 June 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE?Who is on the Lord's s...
LIFTING MY VOICE:
WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE?
Who is on the Lord's s...: WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE? W ho is on the Lord's side? Who will serve the King? Who will be His helpers? Other lives to...
WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE?
Who is on the Lord's s...: WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE? W ho is on the Lord's side? Who will serve the King? Who will be His helpers? Other lives to...
Thursday 30 May 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: AN EXCELLENT SPIRITIn the Book of Daniel, there ar...
LIFTING MY VOICE: AN EXCELLENT SPIRITIn the Book of Daniel, there ar...: AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT In the Book of Daniel, there are a couple of references to the prophet in which it is said that he possessed "an...
AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT
In the Book of Daniel, there are a couple of references to the prophet in which it is said that he possessed "an excellent spirit."
Daniel, together with some of his friends were amongst those who had been taken captive by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar as Jerusalem was besieged in the year 605 BC. Daniel was only a teenager at the time of his exile, around sixteen years of age.
It soon becomes obvious to the reader of the book of Daniel, that Daniel was fully devoted to serving the One true God, and he refused to compromise his worship and allegiance to the Lord.
My wife, Tessa, and I receive the free monthly magazine "Believer's Voice Of Victory" published by Kenneth Copeland Ministries. In the May 2019 issue, the first article speaks to this very topic which is the title of this blog: "An Excellent Spirit." After reading the article, over several days, I kept being impressed in my spirit of the desire to be known, like Daniel as one who has an excellent spirit.
Two references in Daniel speak to this description of the prophet. The first is in Daniel 5:12 "Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge and understanding, interpreting of dreams, solving riddles and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel.....", and in Daniel 6:3 "Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm."
Because Daniel had an excellent spirit, he found favor both with God and with man. His three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego also refused to compromise their devotion to the Lord God, and were saved in the fiery furnace. Daniel later was delivered from the mouths of the lions in the famous Lions Den incident - again because he found favor with God, and experienced divine protection.
In the article by Kenneth Copeland, he says that every Christian can release the excellence of God in any area and see His glory go to work in their life. All it takes is a quality decision to do these five things:
1. Decide to live always only by God's Word. Make it your absolute final authority.
2. Decide to live the life of love. To believe the love God has for you, and to love others the way He loves you.
3. Decide to live by uncompromising faith that makes no room for the flesh.
4. Live a life of honour before God. Be totally honest with Him always. Treat people with honor and tell them the truth.
5. Determine to excel in every area of your life. Commit to increase in excellence spiritually, to improve the quality of your soul (which includes your mind, will, emotions) and the condition of your body.
The apostle Paul encourages Christians to strive for excellence, by setting a personal example for us to follow: "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Philippians 3:8
He continues by saying: "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14.
British evangelist and preacher, G. Campbell Morgan in an article based on Daniel 6:3, says of Daniel that, as a man of excellent spirit, he was:
1) a man of purpose;
2) a man of prayer;
3). a man of perception; and
4). a man of power.
Don't you love the alliteration.
At the core of Daniel's being was an unflinching devotion to the Lord God, which enabled him to refuse to compromise his convictions.
In another online Christian Forum Site, an unnamed writer, in an article titled: "Characteristics of An Excellent Spirit" writes "Daniel acted with integrity in all that he did and we are to do the same. He was honorable in all his ways and had admirable qualities in character. Those who have developed in character will excel in Godly values. They excel above the average Christians who seem to be more concerned about the things of this world than pleasing our Father.
Back to the apostle Paul writing to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 4:6,7 "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."
God is calling each one of us today who name the name of Christ as Savior and Lord to walk in a spirit of excellence in all that we do for His glory.
Daniel, together with some of his friends were amongst those who had been taken captive by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar as Jerusalem was besieged in the year 605 BC. Daniel was only a teenager at the time of his exile, around sixteen years of age.
It soon becomes obvious to the reader of the book of Daniel, that Daniel was fully devoted to serving the One true God, and he refused to compromise his worship and allegiance to the Lord.
My wife, Tessa, and I receive the free monthly magazine "Believer's Voice Of Victory" published by Kenneth Copeland Ministries. In the May 2019 issue, the first article speaks to this very topic which is the title of this blog: "An Excellent Spirit." After reading the article, over several days, I kept being impressed in my spirit of the desire to be known, like Daniel as one who has an excellent spirit.
Two references in Daniel speak to this description of the prophet. The first is in Daniel 5:12 "Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge and understanding, interpreting of dreams, solving riddles and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel.....", and in Daniel 6:3 "Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm."
Because Daniel had an excellent spirit, he found favor both with God and with man. His three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego also refused to compromise their devotion to the Lord God, and were saved in the fiery furnace. Daniel later was delivered from the mouths of the lions in the famous Lions Den incident - again because he found favor with God, and experienced divine protection.
In the article by Kenneth Copeland, he says that every Christian can release the excellence of God in any area and see His glory go to work in their life. All it takes is a quality decision to do these five things:
1. Decide to live always only by God's Word. Make it your absolute final authority.
2. Decide to live the life of love. To believe the love God has for you, and to love others the way He loves you.
3. Decide to live by uncompromising faith that makes no room for the flesh.
4. Live a life of honour before God. Be totally honest with Him always. Treat people with honor and tell them the truth.
5. Determine to excel in every area of your life. Commit to increase in excellence spiritually, to improve the quality of your soul (which includes your mind, will, emotions) and the condition of your body.
The apostle Paul encourages Christians to strive for excellence, by setting a personal example for us to follow: "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Philippians 3:8
He continues by saying: "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14.
British evangelist and preacher, G. Campbell Morgan in an article based on Daniel 6:3, says of Daniel that, as a man of excellent spirit, he was:
1) a man of purpose;
2) a man of prayer;
3). a man of perception; and
4). a man of power.
Don't you love the alliteration.
At the core of Daniel's being was an unflinching devotion to the Lord God, which enabled him to refuse to compromise his convictions.
In another online Christian Forum Site, an unnamed writer, in an article titled: "Characteristics of An Excellent Spirit" writes "Daniel acted with integrity in all that he did and we are to do the same. He was honorable in all his ways and had admirable qualities in character. Those who have developed in character will excel in Godly values. They excel above the average Christians who seem to be more concerned about the things of this world than pleasing our Father.
Back to the apostle Paul writing to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 4:6,7 "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."
God is calling each one of us today who name the name of Christ as Savior and Lord to walk in a spirit of excellence in all that we do for His glory.
Monday 20 May 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: THIS DAY WE FIGHTIn his book, "This Day We Figh...
LIFTING MY VOICE:
THIS DAY WE FIGHT
In his book, "This Day We Figh...: THIS DAY WE FIGHT In his book, "This Day We Fight - Breaking the Bondage of a Passive Spirit", American pastor and author,...
THIS DAY WE FIGHT
In his book, "This Day We Figh...: THIS DAY WE FIGHT In his book, "This Day We Fight - Breaking the Bondage of a Passive Spirit", American pastor and author,...
Monday 4 March 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: THE BEST IS YET TO COME!Do not remember the former...
LIFTING MY VOICE: THE BEST IS YET TO COME!Do not remember the former...: THE BEST IS YET TO COME! Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it s...
THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18,19
So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,
My great army which I sent among you.
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
And praise the name of the Lord your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people shall never be put to shame. Joel 2:25,26
Thanks indeed to social media, and specifically, Facebook, about a month ago, I re-connected with a friend in New Zealand that I have had no contact with for over thirty years. Bruce and I boarded with a young couple in Christchurch in the early eighties for several years, while I was working for Radio Rhema.
Bruce related to me that he had been through a period of eleven years of severe debilitating health issues from age thirty seven, followed by a period of several years seeing their only daughter be taken from them through a terminal illness. Yet, through all these severe trials, Bruce and his wife have remained faithful to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and to trust Him, even though they have unanswered questions as to why God has allowed them to face such severe tests.
I wrote back to Bruce, with a desire to encourage him in the Lord, saying: It might sound like a cliche, but I want to believe for you, as for us, that your best days are ahead. In reply, he answered that he agreed that "The Best Is Yet To Come" if not totally here on earth then definitely in heaven as I am totally convinced that just one second in heaven will be far greater than all of our earthly years.
He also shared a link to a song he had written and recorded while singing at church called "The Best Is Yet To Come."
About ten days after Bruce sent me the song, for a period of twenty four to thirty six hours, this song, or at least the chorus to the song kept going around in my head.
To quote some of the lyrics in Bruce's song:
"The best is yet to come,
Yes, the best is yet to come!
The rain will fall again, heal you inside.
Has the flower bloomed into many colours
Or has the blossom come and suddenly gone?
Oh, the best is yet to come,
The best is yet to come.
Living waters will flow again
Out from your heart.
Oh, the best is yet to come!
What is so incredibly encouraging to Tessa and me is that the Lord has confirmed the truth of this song as an encouragement to us at this time, that for us - I believe starting this year - that the best is yet to come! To use a colloquial expression, I believe the Lord is saying for us, as well as for our church home and indeed for every follower of Jesus Christ, as we position ourselves for blessing and breakthrough - 'You ain't seen nothing yet.'
The following are five confirmations of this encouragement that the Lord has given us over the past nine day:
1. The Saturday before last, while Bruce's song was "playing in my head", I was scrolling through my News Feed on Facebook and suddenly saw a post with a picture of a big cinema screen with the words boldly emblazoned "BUT WAIT - The Lord says 'THE BEST IS YET TO COME.'
2. That same day, in the evening as I was getting ready to go for my shower, Tessa called out to me that she had just turned the radio on - tuned to Vision Christian Radio, the Australian Christian radio network. The song playing was "The Best Is Yet To Come" by a man named Matty Mullins.
3. Last Tuesday, we listened to my hour long music program on Tasman FM, a community radio station here in South East Tasmania - which I pre-record at home. After listening, I drove to the service station to check the tyre pressures in my car. When I got back in the car, I thought I would turn Tasman FM on to see what the lady announcer was playing. She forward announced the next three songs she was about to play. The second song in the set she announced as "The Best Is Yet To Come" by Michael Buble. I could not believe what I was hearing. Of all the thousands of songs she could have chosen, she chose to play that song at that time.
4. On Thursday last week, we received in the mail our quarterly copy of "Creation" magazine, produced by Creation Ministries International. While flicking through the magazine to get an overview of the articles contained, when I got to page 42, I gasped at seeing the title of the article: "The Best Is Yet To Come."
5. Finally, today while we were watching an episode of an old TV series on DVD, one of the characters, while in conversation said
"Come and go along with me,
The best is yet to be."
We feel really excited about our future, knowing that God is going before us and there is a sense of wonder at what the Lord is preparing us for in this next season of our lives.
Another word I have heard from time to time from the Lord is "Position Yourself."
Part of that positioning for us has been to move to a new church home, after being in our previous church for almost seven years. This was not done out of any sense of being disgruntled or being offended by anyone in our previous church home, but with a clear sense of leading by the Holy Spirit to Living Waters Christian Centre in Campania, an as yet, small church with a huge vision to reach the lost and to impact the nations for Jesus Christ. We truly believe that as far as we are concerned: "we have come to the kingdom for such a time as this." God Bless! May you who read this blog be encouraged today to Position Yourself in God's purposes for your life and see what He will do in and through you.
If you have read this blog and would like to know more about becoming a Christian, may I suggest you go online to:
www.vision.org.au. Click on Grow your faith, then Looking for God?
About ten days after Bruce sent me the song, for a period of twenty four to thirty six hours, this song, or at least the chorus to the song kept going around in my head.
To quote some of the lyrics in Bruce's song:
"The best is yet to come,
Yes, the best is yet to come!
The rain will fall again, heal you inside.
Has the flower bloomed into many colours
Or has the blossom come and suddenly gone?
Oh, the best is yet to come,
The best is yet to come.
Living waters will flow again
Out from your heart.
Oh, the best is yet to come!
What is so incredibly encouraging to Tessa and me is that the Lord has confirmed the truth of this song as an encouragement to us at this time, that for us - I believe starting this year - that the best is yet to come! To use a colloquial expression, I believe the Lord is saying for us, as well as for our church home and indeed for every follower of Jesus Christ, as we position ourselves for blessing and breakthrough - 'You ain't seen nothing yet.'
The following are five confirmations of this encouragement that the Lord has given us over the past nine day:
1. The Saturday before last, while Bruce's song was "playing in my head", I was scrolling through my News Feed on Facebook and suddenly saw a post with a picture of a big cinema screen with the words boldly emblazoned "BUT WAIT - The Lord says 'THE BEST IS YET TO COME.'
2. That same day, in the evening as I was getting ready to go for my shower, Tessa called out to me that she had just turned the radio on - tuned to Vision Christian Radio, the Australian Christian radio network. The song playing was "The Best Is Yet To Come" by a man named Matty Mullins.
3. Last Tuesday, we listened to my hour long music program on Tasman FM, a community radio station here in South East Tasmania - which I pre-record at home. After listening, I drove to the service station to check the tyre pressures in my car. When I got back in the car, I thought I would turn Tasman FM on to see what the lady announcer was playing. She forward announced the next three songs she was about to play. The second song in the set she announced as "The Best Is Yet To Come" by Michael Buble. I could not believe what I was hearing. Of all the thousands of songs she could have chosen, she chose to play that song at that time.
4. On Thursday last week, we received in the mail our quarterly copy of "Creation" magazine, produced by Creation Ministries International. While flicking through the magazine to get an overview of the articles contained, when I got to page 42, I gasped at seeing the title of the article: "The Best Is Yet To Come."
5. Finally, today while we were watching an episode of an old TV series on DVD, one of the characters, while in conversation said
"Come and go along with me,
The best is yet to be."
We feel really excited about our future, knowing that God is going before us and there is a sense of wonder at what the Lord is preparing us for in this next season of our lives.
Another word I have heard from time to time from the Lord is "Position Yourself."
Part of that positioning for us has been to move to a new church home, after being in our previous church for almost seven years. This was not done out of any sense of being disgruntled or being offended by anyone in our previous church home, but with a clear sense of leading by the Holy Spirit to Living Waters Christian Centre in Campania, an as yet, small church with a huge vision to reach the lost and to impact the nations for Jesus Christ. We truly believe that as far as we are concerned: "we have come to the kingdom for such a time as this." God Bless! May you who read this blog be encouraged today to Position Yourself in God's purposes for your life and see what He will do in and through you.
If you have read this blog and would like to know more about becoming a Christian, may I suggest you go online to:
www.vision.org.au. Click on Grow your faith, then Looking for God?
Sunday 10 February 2019
LIFTING MY VOICE: Evolution or Creation My wife and I do not wat...
LIFTING MY VOICE: Evolution or Creation
My wife and I do not wat...: Evolution or Creation My wife and I do not watch a lot of TV. We rarely watch the news, unless there is something of major significa...
My wife and I do not wat...: Evolution or Creation My wife and I do not watch a lot of TV. We rarely watch the news, unless there is something of major significa...
Monday 7 January 2019
E N L A R G I N G YOUR TENT
The year was 1977. I was in my second year of study as a live-in student at Christian Life Bible College in Lower Hutt, near Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. The desire to be in this location to further my knowledge of God's Word, and to be more equipped for Christian service was birthed in my spirit a couple of years before when I heard the Director of the college, Frank Houston speaking during a ministry trip to the Gold Coast. He spoke of the Bible College, and his passion to see men and women prepared for Christian service over two years of study, and then to go out on fire for the Lord - not necessarily as pastors, but in whatever ministry, to be prepared and passionate for the Lord.
Frank Houston, originally a Salvation Army officer, had encountered the Holy Spirit and the added dimension of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit through a fiery extrovert evangelist in Auckland, Ray Bloomfield. Ray had mentored Frank in the early years of his Pentecostal experience, and had encouraged him to expect the gifts of the Holy Spirit to operate in his own ministry. By the time I arrived at CLBC in Lower Hutt in January, 1976, Frank Houston had been successfully pastoring Christian Life Centre in that city for some years, and had risen in the "ranks" of the Assemblies of God (AOG) in New Zealand to become the national General Superintendent of the movement.
In his own words, he said later that "I thought I had it made". As well as the pastoral leadership of his local church, the national leadership of the AOG movement, and his leadership and lecturing at the Bible College, he travelled widely overseas conducting evangelistic meetings, seeing many hundreds of people come to salvation through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many physical and emotional healings, and deliverance from demonic oppression were hallmarks of his ministry, as were other gifts of the Spirit, including the word of knowledge and prophecy.
Then in early 1977, something happened which would set him on a new path of adventure and fulfillment in the work of the Lord. His wife, Hazel was away with friends in the South Island of NZ. One night, while sleeping, Frank had a dream. He dreamed of Sydney with its familiar sights - the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Sydney's iconic beaches. He awoke during this time, and he could still see before his eyes in vision form, the same sights of Sydney, Australia.
The Lord then told him to read Isaiah 54 - the whole chapter. In his own words, although he had read this chapter many times before, he could not remember what was in it. He opened his Bible and began to read, and, as he did, the Lord spoke to him from every verse. The Lord spoke to him, and told him He wanted him to go to Sydney and pioneer a church there. Verses 2 and 3 spoke to him in particular: "Enlarge the place of your tent,
And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
Do not spare;
Lengthen your cords,
And strengthen your stakes.
For you shall expand to the right and to the left,
And your descendants shall inherit the nations,
And make the desolate cities inhabitied." NKJV
The next day he shared this with his church board and elders. They had a witness in their spirits that it was of God, and later that year, Frank and Hazel moved across the Tasman to Sydney to begin a whole new chapter of their lives in ministry in Australia. At the age of 57, he said they were like a couple of kids, having to go out and rent a building for meetings, to buy communion cups and other necessary items for the infant church.
Eventually, they were able to secure a permanent church building in the inner-city suburb of Waterloo, where the church grew to a congregation of a couple of thousand, which, in those days was huge for Sydney. Frank and Hazel had been joined by a small team of several families from Lower Hutt in establishing the work in Sydney - including their recently wed son, Brian and wife Bobble Houston.
Brian and Bobbie commenced Hills Christian Life Centre in Baulkham Hills, a north-western suburb of Sydney. The church was to become what is now Hillsong Church, one of Australia's mega-churches with multiple campuses across Australia and around the world. In 1986, the first Hillsong Conference was held, an annual conference drawing thousands from Australia and overseas, featuring high-profile ministries as well as well known Christian worship artists.
One could argue that, if Frank Houston had not obeyed the vision to move to Sydney and answer the call of God at that time to step out by faith into "the unknown", Hillsong Church with its phenomenal growth and influence over the last thirty plus years - just may not have been.
Fast forward to 2019, and my wife, Tessa and I find ourselves in the will and purposes of God for us at this time, in an as yet, small country church in a small village in southern Tasmania - a place called Campania. Although comprising only several hundred people in Campania itself, there are numerous other townships and farming communities within a radius of Campania - a mission field ripe for a harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God. Pastor Anthony Castro and his wife, Annette from the USA and Britain respectively - originally, have both been used extensively on the mission fields of a number of countries in Europe and the Middle East - and they have a HUGE God-given vision for Australia and the nations of the world. Isaiah 54:2-3 are very much providing great encouragement to them and to the church as we move forward in 2019. We are believing for enlargement individually and as the church impacts the communities in and around Campania - and beyond to the nations.
Our lives as Christians do not have to be "same old, same old", and that is certainly not God's intention for us. Yes, faithfulness to God will mean that we have to persevere at times doing what we know is right in His sight, as we walk in obedience to His Word. We may go through periods of dryness spiritually, where we find it hard to hear God's voice and sense His direction. It is in these times, that we need to hold on to the promises of God - to walk by faith, regardless of what is going on around us - knowing that, in His time, He will bring us to breakthrough and to renewed blessing.
"Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And streams in the desert." Isaiah 43:18,19
Psalm 138:8 says: The Lord will perfect that which concerns us.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon Me, and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
And you will seek Me, and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity......Jeremiah 29:11-14a
god's vision for our lives is far greater than most of us can imagine. That is why most personal prophecies given to Christians are not condemning of our sins and failures - but they most often speak to who the Lord sees us becoming. He sees our potential for growth, and for enlargement of our capacity to host the Holy Spirit's power and fruitfulness in our lives. My wife and I are now not so young - in the world's eyes, past retirement age, but speaking for myself - I do not want to retire, but to refire in the purposes of God that we be fruitful in life and ministry in this season of our lives. We want to ENLARGE OUR TENTS as part of the church community corporate vision and purpose where we are planted!
POSTSCRIPT: Some reading this would know that Frank Houston, sadly, in his later years was exposed as a pedophile, although he was never charged with criminal offences. His son, Brian Houston has spoken about the revelations that his father was guilty of this crime in at least one of his books. In sharing the article above, and about my association with him, particularly in my years at Bible College, I do not in any way want to minimize the seriousness of his actions which have hurt individuals in the past. All I can say personally is that, from my perspective, I believed he was a man of God, anointed by the Holy Spirit, whose life and ministry touched thousands in NZ, Australia and the nations of the world. Many were saved and delivered and healed through his ministry. I personally am indebted to his ministry. Like many Biblical characters whom God used mightily, he obviously had some flaws in his life and character which to many have become his legacy.
If you would like to know more about becoming a Christian, may I suggest you go online to www.vision.org.au Click on the Grow your faith tab, then Looking for God?
Brian and Bobbie commenced Hills Christian Life Centre in Baulkham Hills, a north-western suburb of Sydney. The church was to become what is now Hillsong Church, one of Australia's mega-churches with multiple campuses across Australia and around the world. In 1986, the first Hillsong Conference was held, an annual conference drawing thousands from Australia and overseas, featuring high-profile ministries as well as well known Christian worship artists.
One could argue that, if Frank Houston had not obeyed the vision to move to Sydney and answer the call of God at that time to step out by faith into "the unknown", Hillsong Church with its phenomenal growth and influence over the last thirty plus years - just may not have been.
Fast forward to 2019, and my wife, Tessa and I find ourselves in the will and purposes of God for us at this time, in an as yet, small country church in a small village in southern Tasmania - a place called Campania. Although comprising only several hundred people in Campania itself, there are numerous other townships and farming communities within a radius of Campania - a mission field ripe for a harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God. Pastor Anthony Castro and his wife, Annette from the USA and Britain respectively - originally, have both been used extensively on the mission fields of a number of countries in Europe and the Middle East - and they have a HUGE God-given vision for Australia and the nations of the world. Isaiah 54:2-3 are very much providing great encouragement to them and to the church as we move forward in 2019. We are believing for enlargement individually and as the church impacts the communities in and around Campania - and beyond to the nations.
Our lives as Christians do not have to be "same old, same old", and that is certainly not God's intention for us. Yes, faithfulness to God will mean that we have to persevere at times doing what we know is right in His sight, as we walk in obedience to His Word. We may go through periods of dryness spiritually, where we find it hard to hear God's voice and sense His direction. It is in these times, that we need to hold on to the promises of God - to walk by faith, regardless of what is going on around us - knowing that, in His time, He will bring us to breakthrough and to renewed blessing.
"Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And streams in the desert." Isaiah 43:18,19
Psalm 138:8 says: The Lord will perfect that which concerns us.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon Me, and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
And you will seek Me, and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity......Jeremiah 29:11-14a
god's vision for our lives is far greater than most of us can imagine. That is why most personal prophecies given to Christians are not condemning of our sins and failures - but they most often speak to who the Lord sees us becoming. He sees our potential for growth, and for enlargement of our capacity to host the Holy Spirit's power and fruitfulness in our lives. My wife and I are now not so young - in the world's eyes, past retirement age, but speaking for myself - I do not want to retire, but to refire in the purposes of God that we be fruitful in life and ministry in this season of our lives. We want to ENLARGE OUR TENTS as part of the church community corporate vision and purpose where we are planted!
POSTSCRIPT: Some reading this would know that Frank Houston, sadly, in his later years was exposed as a pedophile, although he was never charged with criminal offences. His son, Brian Houston has spoken about the revelations that his father was guilty of this crime in at least one of his books. In sharing the article above, and about my association with him, particularly in my years at Bible College, I do not in any way want to minimize the seriousness of his actions which have hurt individuals in the past. All I can say personally is that, from my perspective, I believed he was a man of God, anointed by the Holy Spirit, whose life and ministry touched thousands in NZ, Australia and the nations of the world. Many were saved and delivered and healed through his ministry. I personally am indebted to his ministry. Like many Biblical characters whom God used mightily, he obviously had some flaws in his life and character which to many have become his legacy.
If you would like to know more about becoming a Christian, may I suggest you go online to www.vision.org.au Click on the Grow your faith tab, then Looking for God?
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