When Moses decided to see what was going on with the burning bush, He received a direct order from God.
Exodus 3:4-6
King James Version (KJV)
“And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Entry Twenty Two: 6 January Love – http://wp.me/p4nvz2-5O
Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.
Know you are loved.
theunfetteredpreacher.com
I have wrtten about Epaphras before, but I believe we can learn alot by his example.
He is only mentioned 4 times, in the Word, 3 of which are in Colossians. We find Paul singing his praise, so he must have had something on the ball.
“as many as touched him were made whole.”
This is the last line of Mark 6. We know of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5, who pushed through the crowd to touch the hem of the garment of Jesus.
Virtue went out of Him, she was healed. Here in Mark 6, we find a whole town that knew to touch the hem of His garment.
As many as touched Him “were made whole.”
(We strut around, missing Gods best).
“And the people served the Lord “
I would love that to be what I was remembered for. “Bill served the Lord.” Wow, if only that were accurate. This would be closer to the truth:
“Bill desired to serve the Lord and sometimes did.”
Judges 2:7
King James Version (KJV)
“And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that he did for Israel.”
I have longed to see the great works of the Lord, since before I found Him.
As a matter of fact, My prayer was that I wanted to know and serve a Lord of Power. Not just of Words, (hot air, empty prayers).
I am convinced that He brought me to Christian Retreat in Florida, so I would see just that. I lived, worked and attended The Institute of Ministry and the Pastoral Training School.
I worked there about 3 years. Left there licenced and ordained to preach, teach,. . . ready to marry and bury. Did ok as an Evangelist, failed as a Pastor.
Ran away from it, (with my tail between my legs). I still loved the Lord, but had lost my hope and nerve.
I didn’t understand how to work with His people. To me they were Satans spawn. They couldn’t be trusted, relied on, or confided in.
That was wrong, the problem was within me, not them. It took about 20 years in the desert for me to come around, and realize the truth.
Is it possible to understand why they served the Lord and then stopped?
“all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua”
Why stop then? What happened? Are we experiencing the same problem today? Few do the necessary work to know and be used of the Lord.
“who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that he did for Israel.”
The people who had experienced the Lord.
Isaiah 41:20
“That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.”
This is what we are missing today, in our churches. Very few have seen anything but a few healed souls, and we call that miracles. When Jesus was in His home town all He could do was heal a few sick people. Why?
Because of their unbelief. They thought He was doing mighty things. He couldn’t. Same thing today, no earth shattering miracles, in the early church people were healed by the Apostles shadows. Raised from the dead.
Today our preaching puts more to sleep, then sets their faith on fire. We have lost the Power of God. Sorry folks we need todays Peter, Paul and James and John to rise out of our dead churches, and show us the way to the Holy of Holies, so we can find Grace and Mercy in our time of need.
Lord, help us to be usefull vessels of Your power and love.
Thank You.
“This is your last Christmas “.
IT WASN’T. It is funny how you can be sure you have heard His voice, and have misunderstood, miss heard, don’t understand the time frame. Well I am not sure which I did, but I have lived through an other Christmas.
If you are Interested, this is the post that was supposed to follow my departure.
If you are reading this, that was a word from the Lord. As I write, It is now April of 2015, I feel alot better than I did in December. But I woke up this morning with the thought to get my house in order.
Today I tune a couple of pianos for Gail Ebron. What a treasure she and Gene have been. God fearing customers since I started in business, along with the Tunnels probably my most steady customers for 20 years. Thank you.
I do have a very small life insurance policy, but I am afraid my trust is in God to take care of Bette and Celeste. I am sure He will do a better job without the help I’ve given Him the last 30 years.
My 2 girls have been my biggest blessing, they have given me love and joy that I have not deserved. I am so proud of them both. It is just God, that I ended up with such a wonderful family.
I failed to be the miracle working man of God I desired to be. I tried to Submit to God and Resist the Devil. I wanted to be a useful vessel. A man God could trust, rely on, depend on, to walk with Jesus.
Some days I almost am. Others I am out in the puker brush doing my own thing. God forgive me. I ‘m not anything but a sinner saved by His Grace.
Work wise I have a few pianos I wish I had never seen. Work that I failed, never should have attempted. I gave every job my best, on some my lack of knowledge, experience led me down the garden path. Thank God I gained the knowledge and experience to see fewer of these each year.
Other than family, this blog has given me a reason to go on. It has been a blessing to share whatever insights I’ve received from the Lord. I pray it has caused some to get a little closer to our Saviour.
I may add more to this as time goes by.
12/16/15
Get your house in order….I have failed at that also. Will I die before Christmas? Some days I think so. Others I feel fine, till I don’t.
I need to finish getting the piano parts ready for Bette to sell, same with the train things. There is so much stuff I should throw away, before I go away.
More importantly, Celeste graduated from UNCW, with a gold cord…so proud, Lord, please bless her with work she enjoys and is financially satisfying.
Taylor is a good kid, bless them both please Lord. If they marry, may he be a better husband, father and provider then I have been.
I worry about Bette, lots of low sugars lately…Lord, please guide and protect her….Thank You for her, she is a blessing.
Lord, thank you for this blog and the people who have read, followed and liked my writing. I pray You have been Glorified as I have been satisfied. I do hope You have used it to touch hearts.
I look at this, (the blog), as all I have to leave my girls, and they don’t even read it. I had hoped a book would be the result of some posts…..lol.
Jesus, thanks for allowing me to teach your Word at FMUMC. I pray they walk closer to You because of what they have learned.
The choir has been a blessing also. Thanks.
Bless our extended families. I trust You will take care of my girls. I love You.
Blessings
ps
I am obviously alive, it doesn’t change my feelings of failure, regret, and satisfaction. Our lives don’t run in a straight line, we weave and bob, zig and zag.
We do our best to be the people we dream to be. Faithful, loving, selfless, forgiving, helpful, joyful, peaceful, Christ like.
Well, there’s always next year.
Blessings to all. May the Lord, help us to see Him as we look at our reflections in the eyes of others. Change our hearts O Lord. . . .
bill theunfetteredpreacher cote
As a Christian I have heard all the reasons for not reading the Old Testament.
It’s not relevant, now that we have Jesus.
It’s too confusing, why are their names so hard, and the towns?
Some sage advice from Paul and James. Hearken Diligently to some Godly council.
1 Corinthians 10:14
“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”
Flee from idolatry. The Lord means business.
Exodus 201-4
King James Version (KJV)
“And God spake all these words, saying,
I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”
The Lord is pretty clear. He wants our undivided love and obedience. We must learn to love, listen and obey Him.
He has delivered us, gave His life for us. His desire and direction for our life, will always be better then our own.
Philippians 2:12
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Work out your own salvation: Your own, is the key here, as much as we want everyone to know and love the Lord. You are the one who counts.
As we grow in the Lord, we grow in the Fruit, people are attracted to tasty food. The Lord should be a good taste in their mouths.
When they interact with us, our personality, honesty, trustworthiness, joy of and love of the Lord. Should draw them to ask, “what in our life, is different? ” Why are we ….?
If we work on our selves, others will notice.
“with fear and trembling”
Should we be in fear, trembling? We should know the Lord wants us to be Holy, Separated unto Him, (sanctified), Consecrated, (our lives dedicated to His Service). Our minds renewed by the washing of the Word. Our Faith increased by praying in the Holy Spirit.
Knowing the Lord, should relieve us, of Fear of Damnation and Hell….we are delivered from sin and death. Our concern should be, of how we miss the mark. Knowing we are forgiven, if and when we realize it and repent.
James 1:19
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
“swift to hear,”
How often have I heard what I wanted and not what was said, or meant?
How often have we taken offense, where none was meant?
Or Ingnored what we didn’t want to hear.
The world refuses to hear and recognize the Love, Mercy and Grace of the Lord. Pray that theirs ears are opened to the truth.
“slow to speak”
Boy, this is a lesson that is hard for me. Like Peter, I am apt to say, “Not me Lord, I’ll never deny you.” You know what happens.
Psalm 39:1
King James Version (KJV)
“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”
James 1:25-27
King James Version (KJV)
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
James 3:1-10
King James Version (KJV)
“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
Proverbs 6:2
“Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.”
12-14
” A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.”
16-19
“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Our tonuges, what comes out of our mouth, is often a problem. It reveals what is in our hearts. Is it truth and life or sin and death?
2 Peter 3:14
“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”
“Such things”
2 Peter 3:13b
“look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
We are looking for the promises of God, will we be found to be in peace, without spot, blameless? Will we dwell in righteousness?
Again we must live a life of repentance. Knowing when we miss the mark and be willing to turn from sin to the Lord.
The only righteousness we have is given to us by the blood of Jesus. He has bought and paid for all, only those who accept Him will profit.
If you want your friends and family to come to know the Lord, do as I say, not as I did. Love them in the love of the Lord.
John 3:17
“He came not to condemn the world, but that through Him the world might be saved.”
Lord, open my eyes and heart, to obedience and service.
2 Peter 1 ends with a warning :19b-21
” ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
We need to make sure we believe what the Word actually says. All understanding of scripture should have 2 or more witnesses, (verses that agree), and all who prophesy, their words, need to agree with scripture.
Which brings us to:
2 Peter: 2. 1.
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
How do we know who are false prophets and teachers? Like the Treasury Department, (the Secret Service), we need to know the real deal, so we recognize the false.
We cannot rely on others, we must have a basic working knowledge, so we we realize whether what we hear matches the Word. There is no other God, then the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We must know them, walk with them, be led by the person of the Holy Spirit. We need at least an overview of the Word.
Deuteronomy 13:1-5
King James Version (KJV)
“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.”
We, in our sophisticated society, no longer believe in Spirits, Ghosts, Miracles, signs and wonders. The Word clearly tells us beware.
Deuteronomy 18:20-22
“But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”
False prophets can also perform signs and wonders. The Lord allows it:
Deuteronomy 13
“for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
So how can we tell what is truth? We must know the Word, we can’t rely on what we see, we must know the Lord.
Jude 1:4
King James Version (KJV)
“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ungodly men:
Men who claim, Holiness, Morality, Honesty are no longer applicable, we are forgiven.
We need to repent, when we sin, ask forgiveness, live a Holy, Acceptable life, become a Living Sacrifice knowing the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.
1 Corinthians 6:20
King James Version (KJV)
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Once saved, always saved?
2 Peter: 2. 2.
“And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”
This is one of the many scriptures, that if taken at face value debunk that teaching. (Once saved, always saved), If Cain could leave the presence of the Lord, (?), turn His back and walk away, then it is possible for us.
Hebrews 6:4-6
King James Version (KJV)
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
2 Peter 1:9
“But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”
Forgotten his Salvation. The Prodigal Son returned and his Father ran to meet him, if he had not returned, he was still a son, but lost to the Father.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
We are indeed forgiven but we must be ready, willing and able to repent when we fall short of the Glory of God.
1 Corinthians 5:5
“To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
A saint in sin, always has the option of repentance. No repentance, no forgiveness, sin seperates us from God.
You are welcome to disagree, but back it up with scripture.
“No one can snatch us out of His palm,” but His hand is open, we can walk off.
Stand fast in your faith, and see the Salvation of the Lord.
Blessings
Peter is giving us instructions on how to live a Godly life. In the first four verses of 2 Peter 1, he tells is our “precious faith”, is the same faith as the Apostles.
He goes on to tell us, Jesus, “hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,” we can live a Godly life, a life of peace, joy and love.
He has also, “given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:” wow…not just promises but exceeding great and precious promises.
That we might become, like Jesus, “having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Jesus, beat the devil, the ways of this world, by knowing and living in the Word, by speaking the Word. We can too, that is the path to a victorious Godly life. He then tells us to grow in the following ways, to exercise them in our life.
“faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity.”
Then another promise.
2 Peter: 1:8,9
“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”
Throughout the Word the Lord causes the barren to be fruitful, Peter is telling us how to become fruitful in our knowledge of Jesus. By exercising these things, we will bare fruit, (bring many into the Kingdom.
If we fail to grow in these areas, we are blind and cannot see far off.
Quite simply, we are not understanding the Lords plan and purpose for our Salvation.
He shed His blood, not so we alone, can live with Him, but so all we bring with us, can also. He came into the world, not to condemn but that through Him the world may be saved.
Have we forgotten why we were forgiven? We have joined the heavenly host, we must train and prepare for Spiritual Battle. “Go ye therefore”
2 Peter: 1:8,9
“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”
As we study the next verse we find a wonderful promises, we need to grab with both hands.
2 Peter: 1. 4.
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
“given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:”
We really can not comprehend the blessings the Lord has for those who learn to walk in His Yoke, by His side, doing His will at His direction and in His Power.
Exodus: 1. 7.
“And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.”
Ephesians: 3. 20.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”
All through the Word we find the Lord blessing His chosen. We are His chosen today, we shouldn’t be in want, or fear, but full of “Power and of Love and a Sound Mind.” He loves us, won’t “give a stone when we ask for bread.”
“ye might be partakers of the divine nature,
The Word tells us we are partakers of the divine (Godly) nature. The Word tells us we are partakers of many things.
“partakers of my grace., partakers of his promise ,partakers of the inheritance, partakers of the sufferings, partakers of the benefit, partakers of the heavenly calling, partakers of the Holy Ghost,partakers of his holiness.partakers of Christ’s sufferings, partakers of the divine nature, be not partakers of her sins, partakers of that one bread.partakers of his promise,partakers of the Lord’s table, partakers of their spiritual things,”
“divine nature,”
We become sons, and Hebrews 6:4-5, can be quite exciting when we grasp its meaning.
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,”
We have been enlightened, (we know and recognize the Lord). So we have tasted Salvation, the heavenly gift. We have the Holy Spirit, we need to allow Him freedom to work.
We taste the good Word of God, and we should have a taste of the Powers of the world to come. (The Gifts of the Spirit working through us).
John 1;12
“12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
Romans 8;8-11
“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
Romans 8:29
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
The Precious Promises are a way to conquer sin and death in our lives. We can if we just learn to trust and walk in Him. Be conformed to His image.
“having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Lust, Greed, Covetousness, Pride, feet that shed inocent blood, lying tounges, sowing discontent. I haven’t checked but I think these are in Proverbs 6, the 7 deadly sins.
2 Peter: 1. 4.
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Lord, help us to claim and live in Your Precious Promises.
A very long post, sorry.
I hope this study is helpful to my Bible class. I am trying to teach how to dig into the Word and understand the meaning themselves. It’s funny before Salvation, you could not get me to study anything, now I hate to stop.
Let’s look at 2 Peter 1:3.
2 Peter: 1. 3.
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
Devine (Godly), Power, what is this? Resurrection, Healing, Words of Wisdom and Knowledge, Faith…ect.
Matthew 22:29
King James Version (KJV)
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”
How is God’s Power manifested?
A local Pastor, Gary The-Sermonator Carrol, invited people to read the 21 chapters of John, one a day till Thanksgiving.
Great idea, here is what jumped out at me today.
John 1:14,16
“And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.”
” I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” (Verses from Psalm 4)
David would encourage himself in the Lord in times of trouble.
One way for us to do that is to have scripture implanted in our hearts and minds. This only comes from memorization, meditation and action. To know the Lord we must know His Word and walk in it.
Then you can lay down in peace and sleep, knowing the Lord is keeping you safe.
“But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.”
Are you set apart, godly? Does the Lord hear your call? Do your prayers reach the highest heavens? Do you listen and wait for His answer? Do you accept the judgements, answers to your calls?
“Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.”
Is the joy of the Lord a growing fruit in your life?
Gladness isn’t about a smile on your face or a bounce in your step. It is a place of Faith, (to do His will). Wisdom, (to understand His will). Knowledge, (to know how to do His will).
Gladness, (is ours in His service).
Romans 12:3. Tells us God gives everyone a Measure of Faith. We choose to activate it when we repent, confess and accept Jesus as both Lord and Savior.
Then it is up to us to increase, to build up the Faith we have received. We do this by reading the Word, by stepping out in that Faith, sharing the Love and Grace, (Gods unmerited Forgiveness and Favor, Salvation).
James 2:26
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
For Faith is not passive but demands action.
Jude 1:20
King James Version (KJV)
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Praying in the Holy Ghost or Spirit, that my friend is Praying in Tongues. ..This is where being Filled with the Spirit comes in.
The Lord doesn’t appear to give a measure of the Holy Spirit : He certainly filled Jesus.
John 3:34
King James Version (KJV)
“For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.”
When we receive the Lord we receive the Spirit in Full, someone came up with what we have called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
I have thought of it this way for over 30 years, the Baptism of the Spirit as a second blessing. An immersion into and of Gods Spirit.
Always hearing those who don’t speak in tongues arguing, if I didn’t have the Holy Spirit, I couldn’t have been saved.
Peter and Paul both asked: “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you’ve believed? “
They then prayed :
Acts 2:4
King James Version (KJV)
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Some point out speaking in tongues is not always mentioned, true; but it is not ruled out either.
Paul encouraged us to be filled with the Spirit :
What have we done?
Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy:
These words from Isaiah 9, apply to our Churches today. So many Churches, reverential, solemn, ritualistic, formal. Hymns, music so wordy no one knows what it means.
Romans 12:3
King James Version (KJV)
” For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
Have you ever noticed, That God gives us all a measure of faith But fills us with the Holy Spirit.
What’s that all about?
What seek ye?
What is your desire? What are your hopes? What are your dreams? What is it you seek?
Is it money, power or love? Is it peace, prosperity or purpose?
We are all seeking something, it’s elusive, it’s something we just cannot see, something that we desperately need. It is something we do not understand.
“The Lord watches over His Word to perform it”
If it’s scripture, what’s the address?
I hope my comment box is back now. Please comment.
The writer of Proverbs says, let thine heart. Let thine heart, sounds like something our heart desires to do, that we need to let it do.
I believe this to be true. All of mankind is seeking and searching for something bigger than themselves. Some look for it in science, some look for it in false religions and some find it in Christ.
In Proverbs three, the writer said: ” <strong>My son forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments.”
theunfetteredpreacher 