Note this well:
Acts 4:31 occurred AFTER the Day of Pentecost ! It was yet another out-pouring of the HOLY SPIRIT.
+ + +
Acts 4:31 occurred AFTER the Day of Pentecost ! It was yet another out-pouring of the HOLY SPIRIT.
+ + +
We
canNOT do the same works of power that the Apostles did, many say . . . a true statement if WE STOP THERE.
The FULL truth is this: We cannot do the works of power that the Apostles did . . . WITHOUT HAVING THE SAME BAPTISM of the HOLY SPIRIT, which they received on the Day of Pentecost.
Scripture
tells us there were OTHER out-pourings of the HOLY SPIRIT upon them even AFTER
the Day of Pentecost ! Acts 4.
Furthermore,
these out-pourings of The HOLY SPIRIT were foretold in the Prophet Zechariah,
as well.
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying,
This is the Word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel,
saying,
Not by might, nor by power,
but by My SPIRIT, saith the LORD of Hosts.
Zechariah 4:6
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[ We recall the WORKS of power the disciples did when The LORD JESUS directly sent the 70 forth. They returned rejoicing that the [evil] spirits were subject unto them ! Luke 10.
The HOLY SPIRIT was upon them . . . but not yet WITHIN THEM, as on the day of Pentecost, 50 days after His+ RESURRECTION.
Our bodies did not become the Temple of the HOLY SPIRIT until after the Day of PENTECOST. ]
Even the SPIRIT of Truth;
Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him:
but ye know Him;
for He dwelleth with you,and shall be in you.
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We
canNOT fight spiritual warfare in our own human strength. Human strength is NO
MATCH for the satan’s strength.
We
canNOT fight lying spirits via human determination. The satan’s will to destroy
us is stronger than our strongest determination.
We
canNOT fight battles with wicked, tormenting spirits with our mental
abilities.
Understanding how satan works
does NOT equal power against him.
The
satan understands only one thing: A supernatural POWER which is greater than
his. He and his demonic spirits fear
only one thing: The POWER of The LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Thou believest that there is one GOD; thou doest well:
the devils also believe, and
tremble.
James 2:19
The
satan and his wicked spirits were beaten once. The next battle will be forever.
We humans must obtain power from the HOLY SPIRIT in order to engage in SPIRITUAL WARFARE . . . VICTORIOUSLY.
In order
to do this, we must set aside some time, energy, and determination to PURSUE
The LORD JESUS CHRIST and His+ Baptism.
I 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 SPIRIT and FIRE:
Matthew 3:11
Although
it is freely given, the Baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT will cost each one of us
something.
It will
cost us a LOSS of all Self-illusion, both good and bad. All fantasies and lies
about our Self must be REPENTED of , RENOUNCED, and STOOD-AGAINST. We are not
the “best” of all nor the “worst” of all people.
Next, it
will cost us a LOSS of Self-indulgences. All of them. They must be REPENTED of,
RENOUNCED, and STOOD-AGAINST each time they attempt to lure us into their grip.
Then, it
will cost us all of our favorite LIES, about everything we think will make us
happy.
This may well include our Beloved Church Doctrines . . . those which may not line up
with the unadulterated WORD+ of GOD . .
. to the very foods we eat and the clothing we wear.
We will be FORCED in the inner man to accept TRUTH, want TRUTH, and embrace TRUTH about everything that touches our lives. . . regardless of the discomfort or loss of friends TRUTH may bring.
When we
FAST and PRAY for His+ Baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT, HE+ will show us things to
REMOVE that are inside of us, all things
that place themselves above our LOVE of The LORD JESUS CHRIST. Loyalty to HIM+ is the top requirement.
Why should HE+ grant HOLY SPIRIT power to someone who has a half-hearted allegiance to HIM+ ?
The
POWER from HIM+
comes to us for us
to DO HIS+ WILL, not ours.
We must be totally walking IN UNISON with our Precious SAVIOR+ in order to know HIS+ Will, then.
The LORD
does not share His+ Glory with anyone. Remember:
For MINE OWN SAKE, even for MINE OWN SAKE, will I do it:
for how should MY NAME be
polluted?
and I will not give my glory
unto another.
Isaiah 48:11
If we
SEEK THE LORD, HE+ told us, “I+ will be found of you.” 2
Chronicles 15:2.
If we SEEK THE LORD and His+ Baptism of the
HOLY SPIRIT in total honesty and truth in the inner man, HE+ will move.
Individuals
can do this as well as a small group of dedicated, serious-minded CHRISTIANS
who are agreed together.
The
Ministry of CHRIST pours out of this Glorious Baptism.
Victory over unclean spirits which are afflicting the Body of CHRIST will be available. Works of power like as unto the Early Christians will come forth, for the HOLY SPIRIT never changes !
If we
purpose to LINE UP our hearts and our lives with the unadulterated WORD+ of GOD
. . .
If we
purpose to REMOVE from our midst the
pursuit of temporal values and even our “good” values which in effect
nullify the WORD+ of GOD . . .
If we
purpose to come closer to the LORD JESUS CHRIST in order to minister HIM+ and His+ Salvation to others in this lost,
dead, and dying world . . .
Then HE+ will grant our plea and place upon us the STEWARDSHIP of the HOLY SPIRIT, with power and fire.
We must
simply DIE to our SELF and LIVE unto CHRIST . We must allow HIM+ to do with us
whatsoever HE+ desires.
We must take the claim of OWNERSHIP of our lives OUT our hands and place it into HIS+, for real and for all time.
What? know ye not that your body
is the Temple of the HOLY SPIRIT which is in you,
which ye have of GOD and ye are not your
own?
For ye are bought with a Price:
therefore glorify GOD in your body, and in your spirit,
WHICH ARE GOD'S.
1 Corinthians 6: 19-20
When our lives are emptied out of Self and ALL its temporal goals and we pursue The LORD JESUS CHRIST and His+ Baptism, HE+ will bring us into the Glorious Baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT.
Then it is that we can ENGAGE in spiritual warfare
to rescue souls, heal the sick, and defeat the enemy . . .
to the GLORY of our LORD JESUS CHRIST
and GOD our FATHER !
