te this well:
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
[ 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.
+ + +
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. . . . including the very foods we eat and the clothing we wear.
This may well include our Beloved Church Doctrines . . . those doctrines which somehow may NOT line up with the unadulterated WORD+ of GOD .
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.
Our 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 of heart, mind, and body,
and defeat the enemy . . .
to the GLORY of our LORD JESUS CHRIST
and GOD our FATHER !
Amen and Amen
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