Subject: Deception IX: No Pentecost, Pt. I Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 18:35:55 -0500 From: Jesus Christ is the ONLY Way to God To: tracy@jesus-is-lord.com Jesus Christ is the ONLY Way to God - Powered by InJesus Subscribe Unsubscribe Change E-mail View Archive Deception IX: No Pentecost, Pt. I sis. tracy Mar 28, 2003 Deception IX: No Pentecost Dear Christian Friends: Greetings in the name of the ONLY wise God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. We need to keep in mind that the devil is not only at work in the secular world, he is working doubletime in the church of the living God...which is **THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH** (I Tim 3:15). Why does he war against the church? Because the TRUTH exposes EVERY lie and makes people FREE. But the devil wants SLAVES that believe lies. The true church frustrates his plans, therefore the devil constantly seeks to neutralize the church and render us ineffectual. He has been largely successful in this attempt. In this email, we will address A KEY DECEPTION that has NEUTRALIZED much of the church--and perhaps many on this mailing list. NEUTRALIZE, a. TO destroy, disguise, or RENDER INERT* THE PECULIAR PROPERTIES OF A BODY; TO REDUCE to indifference or inactivity. *INERT, a. DESTITUTE OF THE POWER OF MOVING ITSELF, OR OF ACTIVE RESISTANCE to motion impressed. DULL; SLUGGISH; INDISPOSED TO MOVE OR ACT. What are some "peculiar properties" of the church that have been rendered inert? The church of the Bible is a HOLY church, blameless and unrebukable. We're a CARNAL church. The church of the Bible is a SOBER church. We love HUMOR, LEVITY, FOOLISH TALK AND JESTING. The church of the Bible PRAYED. We watch TV and have game nights. The church of the Bible was PERSECUTED for righteousness sake. WE PERSECUTE anybody who comes in and says, "This is not Biblical". The church of the Bible PREACHED JESUS CHRIST. We hold seminars on everything but Jesus. The church of the Bible had POWERFUL, ANOINTED, PENETRATING preaching. We can't wait until the sermon is over. The Bereans SEARCHED the scriptures daily TO PROVE DOCTRINES. We take the church's "statement of faith", Scofield, Larkin, or Ruckman's doctrines and believe them WITHOUT INVESTIGATION. The list could go on. The "peculiar properties" of the church have been rendered inert. We're destitute, dull, sluggish and indisposed to move or act in accordance with the scriptures. As a result, not only is the much professed church NOT the pillar and ground of the truth, much of it is a tool of the devil...what a coup. ****INTRODUCTION**** This email may understandably irritate people who think that they have Pentecost all figured out--I used to be just like you UNTIL THE BLESSING OF PENTECOST HAPPENED TO ME. And no, I'm not talking about the antics of the charismatics. I am talking about being filled with the Holy Ghost. This email will include a number of scriptures on this subject, but before beginning, let's look at the importance of being filled-- (1) Many of us have the facts of the gospel, but those facts have not been ignited by the Holy Ghost. It's like having a stack of wood. You can't get any warmth from it until you light it. You can't get light to illuminate your way until you light it. You can't get power/heat from it to cook your food until you light it. We have the facts/wood of the gospel--that's essential. So did the disciples in Luke 24. BUT KING JESUS TOLD THEM THAT THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH. He said that they would be witnesses of these things BUT FIRST they had to go tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with POWER from on high. Those facts that they witnessed, the wood, needed to be IGNITED. After Pentecost, the SAME men who previously forsook the Lord Jesus rejoiced to suffer shame for Him (Acts 5:41) and many of them died for Him. They preached His word with authority, accuracy and boldness as they stood before kings and magistrates and common men. (2) The filling of the Holy Ghost gives us the DIVINE enablement to run this race as it is described in the Bible. We cannot attain to the ABUNDANT life by our own efforts alone. We need Christ and His Spirit abiding in us. Because we have not received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, many of us are CRIMINALLY weak. We live this life without the power that King Jesus promised and, as a result, WE ARE **INACCURATE REPRESENTATIONS** OF WHAT A CHRISTIAN IS SUPPOSED TO BE. The church today is like Sardis (Rev 3), pretty much dead. We have a **DEFECTIVE** FAITH that means almost nothing in terms of how we live and think. We know a few facts about Jesus, go to a few church services, but the rest of our life continues as it always was...hellivision, etc. Many of us want to do better, but we can't seem to gain ground. Many give up and accept the antinomian lie that nobody is holy--because they've tried and can't seem to get there. (3) The filling of the Holy Ghost gives us DIVINE understanding of the word. Many Christians read the Bible and attend Bible studies, but they are not filled with the precious Holy Spirit. They may get an insight every once in a while, but not often. They progress as far as their HUMAN REASONING can take them in the word--and that is not too far. They enjoy hearing "a word from the Lord" through a brother but they are rarely the one giving it. Why? God's word is just like Him, DIVINE. We are made out of earth/dust/dirt. How do you think some dirt can understand God's ways and thoughts? That is too beyond man. God's DIVINE precepts are "BEYOND the unaided comprehension of man." We need some powerful, DIVINE HELP to understand the deep things of God--we need His Spirit filling us, teaching us and opening the eyes of our understanding. The ONLY way we can know God's thoughts and ways are by **DIVINE** REVELATION. We need the filling of the Holy Ghost. Don't think for a minute that these "Deception" emails came out of my own head. They are a manifestation of the Spirit working in my life. I couldn't figure these things out. I once DENIED the baptism of the Holy Ghost based on what I was taught. When it happened to me, I didn't know what to call it. It was AFTER my Pentecostal experience (and no, I did not speak in tongues) that the scriptures in this email were REVEALED to me. I didn't hear these things from a pulpit or a book. (4) We need the filling of the Holy Ghost for service. I mentioned this earlier with a reference to Luke 24. We can have the wood of the gospel, but we need the Holy Ghost to ignite it and make us EFFECTIVE WITNESSES. The filling of the Holy Ghost will set you on fire and make you an ANOINTED WITNESS. Souls will get delivered through your ministry and naysayers will know that they have had an encounter with the kingdom of God when you speak His word. The Holy Ghost will make you TO UNDERSTAND the sense, tenor, tendency, and meaning of the gospel message...and others will be lit by your flame. You will shine in the light of God's countenance and He will give you POWER to witness-- Acts 1:8 But YE SHALL RECEIVE **POWER**, AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: **AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME** both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. In churches today, we are taught Bible stories and eschatological schemes, BUT WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL NOR ITS TENOR. Charismatics say the Holy Ghost makes you babble--no, THE HOLY GHOST MAKES YOU A HOLY WITNESS. We've believed on Jesus but we've had no Pentecost. If this topic makes you mad, pray and ask the Lord to show you the truth in His word. Ask Him to take away any traditions glasses that you may have on. If you think that the Holy Ghost manifested and then got quiet 2000 years ago, I'm here to tell you, not so. I was also deluded after years of being under this teaching. It's a miracle that God brought me out of it by His ALMIGHTY POWER. For naysayers, Peter said that THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST was for the people of that time **AND** to **ALL** who are **AFAR OFF**, **AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL CALL**--that's us! Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. FOR "THE PROMISE" IS UNTO YOU, AND TO YOUR CHILDREN, ***AND TO **ALL** THAT ARE **AFAR OFF**, EVEN AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL CALL***. "The promise" in Acts 2:39 is referring to the Holy Ghost-- Acts 1:4-5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but WAIT for **THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER**, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the **HOLY GHOST** not many days hence. Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having RECEIVED OF THE FATHER **THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY GHOST**, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send **THE PROMISE OF MY FATHER** UPON YOU: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH. Brethren, have YE received the Holy Ghost since YE believed? ...We'll see the devil as A THIEF in this email. ****WATER AND FIRE**** John the Baptist came BAPTIZING people IN WATER, but he said that one mightier than himself was coming who would BAPTIZE WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND WITH FIRE. All of the gospel writers record John's testimony that JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONE WHO... BAPTIZES WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND WITH FIRE. **MATTHEW 3:11 I [John speaking] indeed baptize you with WATER unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND WITH FIRE: **MARK 1:8 I [John speaking] indeed have baptized you with WATER: but HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST. **LUKE 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with WATER; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND WITH FIRE: **JOHN 1:33 And I [John speaking] knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with WATER, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, THE SAME IS HE WHICH BAPTIZETH WITH THE HOLY GHOST. WE'VE KEPT THE WATER and dispensed with the Holy Ghost and with fire... John was not the only one who testified that the Lord Jesus would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire. God the Father and the Lord Jesus both testified likewise-- THE FATHER TESTIFIES: John 1:6 There was a man **SENT** FROM GOD, whose name was John. 1:33 And I knew him not: but HE THAT **SENT** ME [God] to baptize with WATER, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, THE SAME IS HE WHICH BAPTIZETH WITH THE HOLY GHOST. THE SON TESTIFIES: Acts 1:5 For John truly BAPTIZED WITH WATER; **but ye** shall be BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST not many days hence. John's baptised with water for the remission of sins. It was the baptism of repentance-- Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. The Lord Jesus, on the other hand, baptises with the Holy Ghost to give us POWER to live this supernatural Christian life and testify of Jesus Christ is strength and power. We need strength and provocation for this race. The Holy Ghost is the divine stiumulous and enabler for our lives and ministry. He keeps our minds on heaven and pleasing the Lord NO MATTER WHAT lukewarm, dried up people are doing. He also instigates us to holiness and obedience regardless of what the flesh says. This enablement of the Holy Ghost is to be a distinguishing characteristic of God's people. The Holy Ghost gives you POWER to fulfill ALL the Christian life. HE WILL LIGHT YOU UP and you will start lighting up your corner of the world. THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM JOHN'S BAPTISM-- Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 1:5 FOR **JOHN TRULY BAPTIZED WITH WATER**; **BUT YE SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST** NOT MANY DAYS HENCE. 1:8 BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE **POWER**, AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. The Holy Ghost will make you HOLY--and that includes all the chastening required to get you in order. This Christian life is MUCH deeper than what people think. There is no end to this knowledge. In summary, we've KEPT the water baptism (repentance for the remission of sin) and DISPENSED WITH (gotten rid of) the baptism of the Holy Ghost (POWER to live for Christ at a high, divine level). So now we sit around in behemoth church buildings and teach antinomianism, false doctrine, and boredom. Today's visible church is FAR removed from the apostolic church--just compare it with the book of Acts. INSTEAD OF RELYING ON THE DIRECTION OF THE HOLY GHOST, WE RELY ON MAN'S PREACHING AND HIS PROGRAMS. THE RESULTS OF HUMANISM IN THE CHURCH ARE DISASTROUS. CURSED be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm. ****SATIATED VERSUS OVERFLOWING**** Being filled with the Holy Ghost makes the difference between being satiated and overflowing. Let me explain... When we come to Jesus, we never or hunger or thirst again. Our spiritual appetite is satisfied, we are satiated, we are full. We know that Jesus Christ is the one for us. No more questions that Buddha might be right or Muhammad or Confucius, etc.-- John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: HE THAT COMETH TO ME SHALL NEVER HUNGER; AND HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME SHALL NEVER THIRST. When I got saved by the blood of Jesus in 1991, my spiritual hunger and thirst were satiated. I loved the Lord and started following Him. I was satisfied. All other religions were seen as lies. I had the truth and started walking in it. SATIATE, v.t. 1. To fill; to satisfy appetite or desire; to feed to the full, or to furnish enjoyment to the extent of desire; as, to satiate appetite or sense. 2. TO FILL TO THE EXTENT OF WANT; AS, TO SATIATE THE EARTH OR PLANTS WITH WATER. Every true saint has this. We know that Jesus is it. We are full. This is the beginning. BUT WE CANNOT STOP HERE IN JOHN CHAPTER 6. IN JOHN CHAPTER 7 KING JESUS SAID THAT THERE IS MORE. He taught us that not only would our thirst be satisfied BUT that out of our belly would FLOW RIVERS of living water-- John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, OUT OF HIS BELLY SHALL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER. In the next verse we learn that the RIVERS come AS A RESULT OF RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST-- John 7:39 (But **THIS SPAKE HE OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH THEY THAT BELIEVE ON HIM SHOULD RECEIVE**: FOR **THE HOLY GHOST** WAS NOT YET GIVEN; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) It is one thing to have your belly full with water AND QUITE ANOTHER to have RIVERS of living water FLOWING out of YOUR belly. Not just one river either. It says, "riverS". With rivers, you are well hydrated even in the midst of a spiritual famine (ref. Amos 8:11) AND YOU HAVE PLENTY OF WATER TO GIVE TO OTHERS WHO ARE FAMISHED AND DEHYDRATED. Their thirst can be quenched by your rivers. They are refreshed by you because you have ABUNDANCE. This is what King Jesus promised to His people. How few are walking in this! RIV'ER, n. A large stream of water flowing; COPIOUS FLOW; abundance. FLOW, v.i. To proceed; to issue; TO ABOUND; TO HAVE IN ABUNDANCE; To be full; to be copious; as flowing cups or goblets; TO GLIDE ALONG SMOOTHLY, without harshness or asperity. Perhaps many of us on this list do not thirst anymore. We know that Jesus is it. But how many of us have RIVERS of living water flowing out of our belly? I am talking about abundance of love, joy, peace, power, strength, understanding, wisdom, knowledge, illumation, etc. Not in theory (or "positionally" as dispensationalists would say), but IN FACT. I'm talking about EXPERIENTIAL, continual knowledge of these things. When you have RIVERS, there is enough for OTHERS to drink and get their thirst quenched. It is no longer just you being satisfied, you start gushing forth and others GET STRENGTH FROM YOUR RIVERS. But how many of us have the rivers? Do YOU have them? Over the years, I've received many emails from Christians who are just barely making it. They believe in Jesus and the 14 things on the church's statement of faith, but they feel dried up. They try to make themselves feel satisfied with the little bit of knowledge that they have but they don't have the rivers. Jesus did not die for us to be dried up and powerless. He came that we might have life and that we might have it more ABUNDANTLY (John 10:10). That we might testify to the whole world by THE POWER that worketh in us. We've kept the water, but we've dispensed with the fire. ****STOLEN**** The baptism of the Holy Ghost was NOT just for the apostles and the early church. This doctrine is for ALL those who believe on The Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38-39). Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. FOR THE PROMISE IS UNTO YOU, AND TO YOUR CHILDREN, ***AND TO **ALL** THAT ARE **AFAR OFF**, EVEN AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL CALL***. This being the case, why didn't the pulpit tell me to ask the Lord to fill me with the Holy Ghost? When I experienced my personal Pentecost in 2000 (9 years after I was saved), I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME, I just knew that something powerful was going on. I kept telling people that something deep happened to me. This is now 2003 and I'm just now able to explain it. By His own amazing power, the Lord gave me something that I did not know existed. In a June 2000 email I recounted a very interesting event. My pastor gave an altar call THREE times and kept saying "Somebody didn't come up here". I had wanted to go the first time, but didn't. After the third altar call, he went to the pulpit, looked down at his Bible and said, "Somebody didn't come up here". Then when he was about to preach, I went up. I didn't know what to say when he asked my request so I said, "I want to walk in THE POWER at all times". I said it twice thinking it would make more sense the second time. He annointed my head with oil and shouted, "So be it!" I didn't know that I was asking for the Holy Ghost. But I NOW know that the Holy Ghost is THE POWER of God (Luke 1:35). I obviously knew something happened because I recounted it in an email to this list. But I didn't know what to call it. I have not been the same since. Men in pulpits across the world explain away this critical doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. They relegate it to the primitive church saying that it has no meaning for us today. That is a lie. The devil is a thief-- THIEF, n. 1. ONE WHO SECRETLY, unlawfully and feloniously TAKES THE GOODS OR PERSONAL PROPERTY [or in this case, DOCTRINE] OF ANOTHER. The thief takes the property of another privately; the robber by open force. A thief purloins (steals) your goods by stealth. You don't even realize that they are missing until you go to look for them so that you can use them. Where is our power to witness? Gone. Where is our victory over sin and the world? Gone. Where are our spiritual gifts? Gone. What has replaced these things? Carnality and manmade programs. Death. When a prayerless, worldly church let the devil steal the doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, THE ACCOMPANYING ABUNDANT LIFE WENT WITH IT INTO OBSCURITY. I learned about THE KINGDOM OF GOD system OUTSIDE of the local church and its incestuous game nights, jokes, and superbowl get togethers. THANK GOD that He is not limited by man's games. If you are truly seeking the Lord, He will recover to you something that you did not know was missing/stolen. In this case, the baptism of the Holy Ghost. ****GRAVE ERRORS IN THE SANCTUARY**** ...Let me regress...When I got saved in 1991, I ended up under "conservative" or "fundamental" ministries. I am glad about that because in this day of apostasy, I could have done much worse. I learned hymns, some basics of the Christian faith (e.g., the deity of Christ, showing hospitality), how to do church work (Awana, VBS & SS teacher, etc.), and I also learned the church system (where to get resources, fellowships instead of nightclubs, etc.). But I did not learn about the power of the Holy Ghost and I was not told to ask for His fullness. In fact, just the opposite was true in my case. I learned that when I got saved, I got all the Holy Ghost that I was going to get. THIS IS A VERY BAD AND GLARING ERROR. On the other extreme, some people get saved and end up in a charismatic church where they are told to forget doctrine and rather to seek signs and wonders. In charismatic churches, there is a great emphasis on what THEY call the Holy Ghost. Some have so perverted and changed the work of the Holy Ghost as to be openly heretickal and blasphemous. Preachers calling themselves "Holy Ghost bartenders"--and worse. Some people in these churches are channeling evil spirits and calling them the Holy Spirit. These churches have "prophets" (more like "profits") come through to drain people of their money and to tickle their itching ears. They tell the people that God will make them rich if they give their money to the profit. Many of the people in these churches either (1) get a spirit that they call the Holy Spirit and then almost immediately start backsliding (a sure sign that it was an evil spirit that they received) or else (2) they don't speak in a "heavenly language" and get frustrated trying while everybody else gloats about their supposed spirituality because they "speak in tongues" or (3) they pretend to speak "in tongues" so that they look spiritual. The charismatics have subverted MANY souls with their false teachings concerning the Holy Spirit. They say that speaking in your own made-up "heavenly language" is the evidence that you have been filled. No, the evidence is that you TESTIFY OF JESUS CHRIST with power (John 15:26-27, Acts 1:8), you glorify Him (John 16:14), you live a holy life, have power over sin (instead of it overpowering you), and manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). (continued in Deception IX: No Pentecost, Pt. II) InJesus Community Recommendation To recommend this message to others at InJesus, use these links. This is good. This is excellent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Visit My InJesus to manage your InJesus Recommends: subscriptions, change your profile, or check out thousands of other great ministry Home Bible School groups. [Image] (Biblical Library on CD-ROM) by Dr. If you do not have access to the web, you Stanley L. 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