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Jun 28 2015
1

They Spoke With Boldness

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“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).

The first thing that Peter did on the day of Pentecost, after he was filled with the Spirit, was speak with tongues. The second thing he did was speak with boldness. The last article I shared was about speaking with tongues and how it is evidence that one has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I want to say a few more things about tongues and then I will move onto another form of speaking, speaking with boldness.
The issue of speaking in tongues has become a very divisive issue in the church today. Because of that, many believers would just as soon ignore the whole topic. I have to be honest and admit that I have done that at times for fear of causing division or chasing people off. However, speaking in tongues is not a subject the apostle Paul avoided. He wrote a whole chapter on it (I Corinthians 14). He mentions it in the 12th chapter as well. So I too must not be afraid to teach about it when needed.
Did you notice when you read what Paul said about tongues, that he never said it was of the devil? He was rebuking the Corinthians for their abuse of it. He was rebuking them for not letting love dominate the using of the gifts of the Spirit. Why do we have so many, supposedly Bible believing Christians, say tongues is of the devil? Now I know the devil uses his false version of the real, but that false comes from the devil not from God. Could it be possible that there is some blaspheming of the Holy Spirit going on?
There are also many Christians that believe speaking with tongues ceased with the first century Apostles. They act as if the Apostles were the only ones that spoke with tongues. If that were the case, then Paul would never have written to the Corinthian church for their abusing that gift. Many Christians believe the things they are told when they first get saved. Some of those things are inaccurate. Nonetheless, some of those believers never really prayerfully study the scriptures. I know of a sister in Christ who was raised up in a church that taught against speaking in tongues. Talking to her one day, she told me that she used to pray for those poor deceived Pentecostal Christians. Then she was filled with the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. She quit praying for them, at least in that way, and joined up praying with them. I praise the Lord that the man He used to lead me to the Lord was a Pentecostal believer. I can’t help but to think the confusion it would have caused for me to be told some of the New Testament is not for our generation. I would have had to trust someone to sort that out for me. That is really a dangerous proposition. What a wonderful liberty to just believe the whole Bible as it stands. If the church would just come together and agree that the anointing for ministry that God gave to the early church at Pentecost is for every church generation, all the way up to the day He raptures His church, then the book of Acts would surely make more sense and come alive before the reader. I trust that you will allow the scriptures to develop your doctrine, not the teachings of men.
Have you ever wondered why God chose to use speaking in tongues as a sign that a person received the Spirit? I have, and I believe I have a thought on why that is. God used tongues to show that this power He promised us would flow through our mouth. The releasing of the tongue to the Holy Spirit in a sense opens up the flood gate of power and authority for men to preach.

“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” (Acts 1:8).

Enough on tongues, now I want to go on to the topic of this article which is, the baptism of the Holy Spirit gives us the power to speak with boldness. Speaking with boldness is another evidence of being filled with the Spirit. In this day of watered down seeker sensitive messages, that are more like motivational speeches, there is a real absence of bold preaching and teaching. What it really is, is that there is an absence of Spirit filled preachers and teachers. Without the boldness that comes from the Spirit, the pressures from all angles, church and world, will cause the most godly of men to lighten it up a little bit. Just a little bit here and a little bit there until there is nothing there but cotton candy.
For the most part, bold preaching is not appreciated today. Some consider it old fashioned while others refer to it as finger pointing. Some others consider it judgmental or just too negative, but according to the text in Acts 4:31, boldness is what exploded from those that were filled with the Holy Spirit. After Peter received the Spirit and spoke with tongues, he went out to speak to the multitudes, not in tongues but with bold authority and power. It was only about fifty three days before this that he was buckling under the accusations of a little damsel telling everyone that he was one of Jesus’ followers. One preacher said that when Peter was acting like a chicken, God used a rooster to speak to him. That all changed when he was filled with the Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached a less than three minute sermon and three thousand men came to know the Lord. How we need Spirit filled preachers today.
What you are likely to hear from preachers and teachers that are not filled with the Spirit are messages and teachings that speak to the practical mind, but do not penetrate the Spirit. They can move the emotion of man to make him want to try harder to serve God. But unless it moves his spirit, he will end up disappointed when he can’t overcome and will feel far from God when the excitement wears off. Preachers that lack the Spirit will preach messages on how to live by biblical principles in a God rejecting society. They will educate the intellect. They will use plenty of scriptures and say a lot of true statements, but there will be something missing. That something is the quickening work of the Holy Spirit “.piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow.” (Hebrews 4:12). We call our Bible the “Book of Life,” yet Christianity can sound like dead religion the way some preachers preach it.
Being filled with the Spirit is of the utmost importance. Consider what John the Baptist said when he first made comments about the one that is coming after him. John called the people to repentance. He taught the people what they should do. However, when it came time to turn his attention on Jesus he did not say, the one coming after me is coming to save you. He didn’t say, the one coming after me is going to deliver you. He didn’t say the one coming after me is going to heal you, feed you or teach you. Though Jesus did all those things, John said,

“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 Ghost, and with fire” (Matthew 3:11).

There is no other kind of believer that Satan fears more than the Spirit and fire baptized believer. They are the most effective believers on the face of the earth. When Holy Spirit boldness comes out of a believer, the people will take notice.

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

There was a man in the sixth chapter of Acts who met the requirement of being filled with the Spirit so he could be appointed as a deacon. His name was Stephen. His time with the church was very short. Why? Because he spoke with boldness. Read what he said.

“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:51-56).

There are only two reasons a man will talk like this to others. He is either filled with hate and self-righteousness, or he is filled with the Spirit of God and given the ability to speak with boldness. Speaking with boldness is so needed today. If we are going to have a church of bold Christians then it is up to you, saint of God, to ask the Lord to fill you with the Spirit. Will you ask Him right now?

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him” (Luke 11:13)?

May 20 2015
0

And Began to Speak with Tongues

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It may be a little old fashioned today to believe that speaking in tongues is evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit, but I have to admit that I am one of those who believe it. I don’t care how intelligent a Bible teacher is that tells the church that speaking in tongues isn’t for today. When my Bible talks several times of this phenomenon happening upon receiving the Spirit and then, personally experiencing it just as the early church did, I have no choice but to reject what these men teach. I have had so called brothers try to convince me that it was fake or from the devil or something, but it was too late, it already happened. How could I deny what happened? You can be certain that these men that stand against it, more than likely, are not filled with the Spirit otherwise they would not dispute it. Before I continue, I want you to know that I am not one that makes a doctrine out of experiences. To do that is extremely dangerous and leads to mysticism. However, there are doctrines in the Bible that are backed up by experience. A simple example of this would be healing. When God heals someone, you can be certain that person experienced the healing. That healing would be a testimony to the truth of the word that people can be healed in the name of Jesus.
Let me tell you a testimony of what happened the second Sunday I entered a Christian church. I was born into a Catholic home and went to a Catholic grade school through sixth grade. I remember one day in religion class, my teacher who was a nun, told the class that the Red Sea may not really have split. She then gave a few suggestions of what may have happened. From that day on, my teacher left me with the impression that the Bible wasn’t actually true, but just a good book with examples of how we should live. Now fast forward to the year 1983. I owned a home improvement business at that time and hired the man that would lead me to the Lord. His name was Reed. One day while we were working, Reed told me that his church believed in speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues? I never heard of that. He told me that it is in the fourteenth chapter of First Corinthians. When I got home from work that evening, I opened up my Bible and read about speaking in tongues. It seemed a little strange, but none the less it was in my Bible.
One Sunday I decided to go to church with Reed. Then I went again the next Sunday. Now remember, I was taught that the Bible wasn’t one hundred percent accurate. During the song service that morning, a sister in Christ gave a message in tongues with an interpretation following. When I heard her speak in tongues, I began to weep and I said to myself, “I can’t believe this is true. The Bible really is true! This thing on tongues I read about really happens to people.” A few months later, I too got filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues has several purposes to it. One of them is that it is a sign to unbelievers. “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not..” (I Corithians 14:22). That day in church, God used tongues as a sign to me that His word is the absolute truth. Hallelujah!
Since that day I have had my share of discussions about speaking in tongues as being the primary evidence that one has been filled with the Spirit. I know a large portion of the church does not believe it. Though I am disappointed with that, I have learned to not let it discourage me or judge those that deny it. There is one thing that does irritate me a little and that is when Christians try to make other things the evidence. If you are going to be truly open and honest, through reading the Bible plainly, you cannot deny that speaking in tongues seemed to be the primary evidence. Let’s look at the scriptures of what happened when saints were filled with the Spirit.

“And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).

This potion of scripture has been the most prominent verses used by the Pentecostal church to support that one will speak in tongues after they are filled with the Spirit. It is also where the term Pentecostal comes from. I know that some Pentecostal’s have misrepresented what true Pentecost is, but in simple terms it means to continue on with the same authority and power that was given to those disciples in that upper room. We must continue on with this Pentecostal power until the Lord takes the church home. It is important that you take note of one thing that happened that day. They were ALL filled with the Spirit and they ALL spoke with tongues. Not just the Apostles, not just the men, but the women too. This gives very strong indication that this blessed promise is for every believer. If only some would have been filled that day and only some would have spoken in tongues, then I would hold my peace. One thing I have to say, that has been one of the reasons some saints struggle with the whole idea of being filled with the Spirit, is that many have made it about speaking in tongues instead of yielding their life to be filled with the Spirit. I am aware that this article could seem to be promoting tongues more than the Spirit. Even now, my prayer is that this article promotes an appetite for every believer to desire to be filled with the Spirit.

“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:14-19).

There is no mention that anyone spoke in tongues in these verses, but Simon saw something happen to those that received the Spirit because he wanted to buy the power to lay his hands on others so they could receive the Spirit. It could be that Simon heard them speak in tongues.

“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized” (Acts 9:17-18).

There is no mention that Paul spoke with tongues at this moment, but don’t forget that Paul said, “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than ye all” (I Corinthians 14:18).

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we” (Acts 10:44-47)?

How did Peter and the rest know that these Gentiles received the Spirit? “For they heard them speak with tongues.”

“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied” (Acts 19:1-6).

Our last portion of scripture shows once again that speaking with tongues followed receiving the Holy Spirit. My question for you is, have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? Jesus told us that the Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask. Will you ask God to fill you today with the Spirit?

Apr 24 2015
0

Grow In Grace

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“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” (II Peter 3:18)

It is apparent from Peter’s epistle that grace is more than a one-time application that makes you good to go. It takes the grace of God to continue in your life if you are going to grow in Christ. I’ve heard it said that grace is something that isn’t so easy to explain. I don’t know if that is true for most Christians, but I have to admit it is true for me. I personally find grace easier to live in than explain. We really don’t need to explain it as much as we need to receive it. So, I write this article not from an expert view, but I write it humbly that I may present an accurate representation of grace.
One of the most quoted scriptures about grace is found in Ephesians. You are probably already starting to quote it, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8). If you are like me, I take scriptures at face value, but I also keep it in context with what the Bible fully says about a subject. So if you give me that liberty, I want to say something that sounds contrary to “For by grace are ye saved..” We are not really saved by grace. What do you mean? It says it very clearly that it is by grace we are saved. Let me explain. Grace is an attitude of God. The way some preach grace, they make it sound like it is its own entity separate from God. Almost like grace controls God or God has to obey grace. Basically, grace is love, God’s love. Grace is an aspect of the love of God that causes Him to have compassion on fallen mankind and desire to restore man to his God. Grace is an aspect of God’s love that prefers to pardon. Our God is gracious, but He is also a just God that has to pour out His wrath upon the wicked. But grace is the preference of God, so He would rather save than condemn. So, it is this grace, this attitude of God that has resulted in God putting a plan into action so He could redeem mankind and restore them back to Himself.
So because God is full of grace, He gives us a means to be redeemed. The plan of redemption is this: God sent His pure spotless Son to die on a cross and spill His blood that we could be redeemed. So again I say, it isn’t grace that saves us, it is the blood of Christ that saves us. It is the blood of Christ that has the redemptive power, not grace. Grace sent Jesus to the cross, but it is on the cross where the blood was spilt. Grace doesn’t do the saving work, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world does the saving.

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
(Ephesians 2:13)

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (I Peter 1:18-19)

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (I John 1:7)

These three scriptures are clear in what they say. They teach us these three things:
1. We are brought close to God by the blood of Christ.
2. We are redeemed by the blood of Christ
3. We are cleansed from our sin by the blood of Christ.

Of course, if God wasn’t gracious He would have never sent His Son to die for our sins. On the other hand, grace alone would not pardon anyone. Grace may be what moves God to want to pardon, but without the remedy there is no salvation.
The grace of God is so marvelous that He didn’t just send His Son for His chosen people Israel, but He sent Him for whosoever will call on Him. Just as grace without the blood cannot save, the blood of Christ will not save if God isn’t gracious and offer it to whoever shall receive it. If you are born again, you are one that has received this grace by calling upon the Lord. Because of His grace God put you in that, “Fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel’s veins, And sinners plunge beneath the flood, Lose all their guilty stains.” Hallelujah!
Grace doesn’t start and stop at salvation, it continues on in the life of the believer. I want to say something else about grace that may sound contrary to Peter’s words, “grow in grace.” Grace is not what makes us grow; it is the Spirit working in us that causes us to grow. It was the grace of God, which again is an aspect of His love, which prompted Him to send the Holy Spirit to be our counselor and give us the wisdom and the power we need to grow. Grace in itself has no wisdom and power, but grace will send the wisdom and power through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The grace of God will continue on in the life of believers to give them everything they need to live a life that glorifies God. Grace will always provide the means to stay in true fellowship with God. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” (II Corinthians 9:8)
So in conclusion, I remind you one more time that grace doesn’t save you, the blood of Christ does. Grace doesn’t cause you to grow, the Holy Spirit does. Grace is the favor of God that urges Him on to provide a means to save, change and keep men for His glory. If you happen to be one that has not yet called upon the name of the Lord, there is no better time than now to receive the grace of God. If you need to be cleansed of your sin, God’s grace has provided the blood of Christ for you. If you need to grow into a mature saint of God, again, it is His grace that has provided the Holy Spirit for. Will you receive Him today?

Mar 20 2015
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Holy Spirit Prepositions

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A preposition is a word used in a sentence, usually before a noun or pronoun, to show its relation to another word, in that sentence. There are four prepositions in the bible that I want to expound on. These words, as you will see, connect the ministry of the Holy Spirit to the believer. These four words are, after, in, by and of. They are little words that can seem insignificant, but when you consider they connect the believer to the Spirit, they become very significant words to us. We will find all four of these words in the eighth chapter of Romans.
The first preposition we will start with is the word “after,” It is found in Romans 8:4-5. You will see this word four times. Two times it is preceding the word flesh, and two times it is preceding the word Spirit. “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
So what does “after the Spirit” mean? To fall in place behind the leader, to follow the one in authority. Where the leader goes, so goes the follower. What the leader does, so does the follower. What the leader says, so says the follower. It is to recognize the Holy Spirit’s position as Lord, and our position as obedient servant. Too many Christians have this reversed. They think God is supposed to serve us and follow after us. In a military sense, the Holy Spirit is the General and we are the soldiers. We obey and follow His orders. To walk after the Spirit means to imitate the Spirit of Christ. I’m sure you have heard the phrase, “he takes after his dad.” Well, it’s the same thing with our relationship with God. We are to take after Christ. We are to walk in the righteousness of Christ, walk in the holiness of Christ, have the compassion of Christ and have the love of Christ. We are to have the mind of Christ and imitate Him in all ways. We need to continually pursue God and let the Holy Spirit conform us believers into the image of Christ. Therefore, let us walk after the Spirit.
Our next preposition is the word “in.” “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.” (Romans 8:9). Twenty six times in the New Testament you will find the phrase, “in the Spirit.”
What does “in the Spirit” mean? It indicates inclusion. To be a part of something, a part of the plan, being (in)volved (in)timately. Throughout the bible, God has always made known to His servants when He was about to do something. He told Abraham before He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. He told Moses what He was going to do for the Nation of Israel. When we are “in the Spirit” we become a part of what He is doing. The word “in” also indicates a place or position. Just as the man who sits in the oval office is given the authority to be President of the USA, so does the man or woman who is in the Spirit have authority over hell. The word “in” also indicates a manner. The Holy Spirit is the manner we must walk in. We are to walk and talk in the same manner as Christ and to minister in the same manner as Christ did.
The third preposition is the word “by.” “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14). Twelve times you will find this phrase “by the Spirit” in the New Testament.
What does “by the Spirit” mean? It means that the Holy Spirit is our source. He is our ability. It is through the help and the power of the Holy Spirit that we can do something and be what God would have us to be. The Holy Spirit goes above and beyond our natural ability and can do the impossible through us. If we are going to do the impossible, it will be by the Holy Spirit. “By the Spirit” also means to live according to God. It is by keeping the commandments of God, doing the will of God and living by God’s standards that we please Him. “By the Spirit” also implies that it is through the agency of the Spirit that we have authority. Our authority is in Christ. By whose permission do we go to the throne room of grace? It is by Christ’s permission. As a preacher, I was taught not to speak about God, but was to speak for Him. Who gave me that authority? It is only by the Spirit that I can do that. “By the Spirit” means we can speak on God’s behalf.
The final preposition is the word “of.” “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23). This phrase, “of the Spirit,” is found thirty times in the New Testament.
What does it mean to be “of the Spirit?” It means, coming from. The fruit of the Spirit that is displayed in our life, is of the workings of the Holy Spirit. Anything and everything in our life that is godly, has come from and is a result of the Holy Spirit that lives in us. “Of the Spirit,” also means possessed or ruled by. Our lives will reflect who we are ruled by. If we are ruled by the flesh, then our actions will be a representation of that flesh. If we are ruled by the Holy Spirit, then our actions will be indicative of that.
These four prepositions, “after, in, by and of” connect our life to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. These words show us just how much the Holy Spirit is involved in this life we call Christianity. As Christians, we must walk after the Spirt, be in the Spirit, be led by the Spirit and live a life that is of the Spirit. God didn’t save us, brush the dust off of us, stand us up and pat us on the back and say, “You are on your own.” He gave us the ministry of the Holy Spirit so we can give glory to God in every way. Let’s live such a life that is after, in, by and of the Spirit. Let the world see such a life. The life that is totally controlled by the Spirit of God, is a life the world has seen very little of.

Mar 05 2015
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What is the Anointing

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“Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;” II Corinthians 1:21

I would have to say that one of the more misunderstood and misrepresented topics in the Bible is that of the anointing of the Spirit of God. Some Christians don’t really know what the anointing is and how to have it. Others have been introduced to a counterfeit anointing, or even an anointing of the demonic kind which has caused fear and doubt in a segment of the body of Christ. Though I can’t give you a brief concise answer on what the anointing is, I do understand some things about the anointing I can share with you. I have experienced the anointing of God through the years. I can tell you, it is real and God still anoints His people.

The first thing we must understand about the anointing is that we cannot be effective for the Kingdom of God without it. Far too often I have taken the anointing for granted, and because of that I have lacked it and have been far too ineffective. The church today seems to have little effect here in America. This testifies to her lack of anointing. God’s ingredient to reach a fallen world is still the same as He ordained back when the church was birthed. It is the combination of Spirit filled believers preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

We desperately need the anointing of the Spirit in our generation. We have had our fill of men’s techniques, talents and tricks to try to introduce a society, which is deceived by sin and loves sin, to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Have you ever considered the story we preach? It is a story that says, a God, who created all there is, came in human form to die for those that hated and rejected Him. That is an irrational, illogical message that cannot be believed or understood by pure human reasoning and intellect. We, who have been commissioned to preach such a message, need help of the supernatural kind. That help comes in the form of the anointing.

Too often, men’s abilities and achievements are mistaken for God’s anointing. Therefore, many Christians think they are anointed because they have graduated Bible College, or have great natural abilities and talents. Our generation has forgotten that the anointing is something that comes from God and is given to all that ask for it. The anointing comes with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. Jesus said, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13). The anointing is not something someone can receive apart from the Holy Spirit. The anointing is in the person of the Holy Spirit. If He is not present, the anointing is not available. If the Holy Spirit is downplayed, so will be the anointing. Paul preached, “Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” but he never did it without a “demonstration of Spirit and power.” The anointing doesn’t make us smarter or more talented, it makes what we say and do more powerful.

Some Christians, flat out, don’t believe there really is an anointing of supernatural proportions. Though they cannot deny the power and authority that was given to the early church, they have somehow concocted a reasonable argument why our generation is not privileged to demonstrate such power. All I can say is, well thought out arguments on why the anointing that the early church had is not for our day does not rebuke doubt, it caters to it. When unbelief rises up in us, we need to ask God to help our unbelief, not come up with a teaching to support our unbelief.

Another thing that has happened to us Christians here in America is we have grown so accustomed to being a self-sufficient people, that we think we really don’t need any help. We have our workshops, seminars, and oodles of books, along with plenty of money to accomplish anything we want for God, so we think. That self-dependency has also resulted in some Christians becoming skeptics of our God’s supernatural power. They conclude that since some things are being accomplished for the kingdom of God through the efforts of the flesh, then that is all that should really be expected. They then go on to be satisfied with a church that has lost her supernatural effect that has very little impact on society.

Salvation is not just a person changing their mind, salvation is a genuine miracle. It makes a saint out of a sinner in an instant. It makes a person a brand new creature. No workshop or book or clever presentation can accomplish a miracle. Only a supernatural God can bring forth such increase. When Christians get back to depending on God, then the anointing will be there to accomplish supernatural conversions.

Then we have those that have turned the anointing into fanaticism. They make the anointing out to be something it isn’t. The false signs and wonders they do, they say are from God, and that they do them by the anointing of God. Therefore, many Christians have grown so fearful about the anointing that they would just as soon avoid the whole topic. That is exactly what the devil wants. You can be sure if there is the fake, there is the real. Don’t let the false talk you out of the real. The Christian that is anointed is who the devil fears the most.

If you have that anointing, it is important to remain devoted to God and not be overcome by sin if you are going to remain anointed. Sin and disobedience to God rob us of God’s anointing. His anointing is something that must be maintained on a daily basis by seeking after God. Careless carnal living promotes the carnal life, not spiritual life

Some Christians may think that someone has the anointing only when the results of their preaching is positive. I know at one time I thought that when I say something, and it is rejected by men, I was therefore lacking the anointing. However, there was no one with as great of an anointing as Jesus Christ, yet many rejected Him, even after great displays of power. Jesus ministered to thousands, yet after His resurrection there was only 120 in the upper room. Jesus never once lacked the anointing. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach…” (Luke 4:18). This Spirit filled anointed Jesus pierced the hearts of all who heard Him with the two edged sword of truth. He never let up, even when attempts were made to kill Him. It might be that many of us really don’t want this anointing after all.

Finally, the anointing is like any other attribute, quality and fruit of God; it must grow in us. It is not one dose and you’re ready to go. You may be ready to go for that moment, but as I said earlier, the anointing must be maintained and allowed to grow in the true man and woman of God. I have found myself getting comfortable in the pulpit to such a point that I didn’t realize I had developed confidence in myself. This can happen to any preacher; so preacher, be on guard. I know the saints in my church aren’t coming to hear what I have to say, they are coming to hear “thus saith the Lord.” Without the anointing it is “thus saith” Terry Fischer.

Jan 30 2015
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Believe The Whole Book

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“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation” 22:18-19

We believers, can have a rather proud attitude sometimes when we proclaim that we believe the whole bible. We can talk as if we are so grounded and unmovable when it comes to the entire word of God, but saying you believe something is not proof of actual belief. It is a very disturbing thing to have millions of Christians, including whole denominations insisting that they believe the whole bible, yet there seems to be a thousand differing and divisive beliefs that they all claim the bible teaches. How is it that Christians, who all have the same book, and claim it is their final authority, are so divided? Well, it isn’t the fault of God’s word; the problem lies with man.

Because our human nature hates correction and self-denial, it isn’t hard to understand why man at times will resist the bible and even teach the scriptures in a way that accommodates the lifestyle of man. There are those who water down scripture and even teach a false view of scriptures for convenience sake. Those who do that are called false teachers. They do this for a variety of reasons. Some do it to justify their sinful life style, some do it to form their own brand of religion, some do it to please man and some do it to scare or rule over people. Some will try to make the scriptures say less than they do, while some try to make them say more than they do. I have often said, “The bible has enough rules already without someone adding more to it.” Whatever the motive is, it is of the highest offense against the kingdom of God to carelessly and falsely handle the word of God.

I want to address something of great concern, which has to do with this subject of mishandling the word of God. What makes it such a great concern is that this mishandling that I am going to talk about is widely accepted in the Christian church. Since it is so accepted, few see the danger of this violation. What I am talking about is what we all agree is forbidden to do, and that is, “take away from the words of this book.” No, it isn’t that a publisher has printed bibles with some of the words missing, it is that some of the words and verses have been marked as obsolete by some of the most popular bible teachers of our day.

I can give you two strong examples of what I am talking about. The first example has to do with the ministry. Let’s look at Ephesians 4:11-13. “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:” You can see that I highlighted the words, “till we all come.” This simply means that there is a time that we will no longer need, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, but now is not the time. The time is when we all come into “the measure of the stature of the fullness in Christ.” Kind of sounds like heaven to me. Have any of you come to be a “perfect man?” If so, has the rest of your brethren? If not, then you still need ministers in your life. Has the church come into “the unity of the faith?” This is highly unlikely, since we have hundreds of denominations and different doctrines that separate us. It is plain to see that we need ministers in our life. Well, you may say, I believe we have pastors and teachers, others may say, we have pastors, teachers and evangelists. I will not disagree with them, but we also have prophets and apostles. However, we have those today that say we no longer have prophets or apostles, and that they died off in the first century. Just because we don’t have men anymore that can pen us scripture does not mean that we don’t have apostles in our day. I think some of the problem is that we over spiritualize the office of an apostle. Apostles were simple men like you and me that God used to establish and oversee the body of Christ. We still need that done today. Therefore we still need apostles.

Another example is the gifts of the Spirit. It is amazing to me how widely accepted it is that some of the gifts aren’t for day. The spiritual gift that is most commonly refuted is “speaking in tongues,” but it doesn’t stop there. I know of Christians that don’t believe that divine healing is for today. When I first heard that as a young believer, I just shook my head in disbelief. I have come to find out that this teaching is more widely accepted than I thought. All I can say is that Jesus said, “let it be done according to your faith.” If you don’t believe in speaking in tongues, you aren’t going to receive the gift. If you don’t believe in divine healing, you are never going to pray for someone to be healed.

The thing that is the most disheartening about the claim that not all of the gifts are for today is the desperate attempt to find scriptures to support that belief. One of the more common scriptures is I Corinthians 13:8-9. You would never come to the conclusion that this scripture is telling us these three gifts, “prophesies,” “tongues” and “knowledge” will cease during this church age. The bible experts that believe that, violate the principles of bible study by not reading that passage in context and not reading the verses around it. In fact, just read verse 10 and it will clear up the whole passage. The “perfect” that verse ten is talking about is obvious, it is heaven, and it is our completeness in Christ.

So we have prominent teachers and church leaders that tell the church that there are no longer apostles or prophets today. They tell us that some of the gifts have ceased, but there seems to be confusion and disagreement about which gifts have ceased. So I end this article with this immensely important question: Who has such authority today to tell us what offices and gifts are not for today? Who has the authority to make the final decision for all of us on these matters? Simple respect for God’s word tells us that the safest ground to be on is to just believe it all for today. Do you really want to get into trying to pick and choose what is for today and what isn’t? I don’t know about you, but the scares me to death.

“But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

“But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (I Peter 1:25)

Jan 30 2015
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Where the Spirit of the Lord is, There is Liberty

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“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” II Corinthians 3:17

One of the last things a lost sinner would ever consider a Christian to be, is a person who has a great deal of liberty. To a heathen, being a Christian means bondage to rules; it means that they can’t do any of the things they love. Think about it: How can anyone that loves sin understand that it is bondage? They don’t understand that once a person becomes born again, their desires change. Some things they used to like to do, they will hate; some things they used to hate, they will love to do. This is the work of the Spirit, and this work, which is called sanctification, will continue in the believer’s life.

Only the believer in Jesus Christ can ever understand how a person can turn from living for their own ways and desires, surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and walk around totally liberated. A woman, who loves God, will experience much more liberty than any of the top leading ladies in the woman’s “liberation” movement. This world will never understand that in the Lord, surrender means freedom, and self-promotion means bondage. What can be awfully frustrating is when Christians don’t understand it either. The reason they don’t get it is because they don’t experience the liberty in serving Christ. The more we hang onto our carnal life, the more in bondage we are to it. The more we lay down our lives, the greater the liberty we will walk in.

Just like living in sin is not true liberty, religious rules are a source of bondage. Men have an attraction to rules. Liberty in the Spirit is what is missing in a lot of religious organizations. Some of these organizations started in the Spirit, but have since turned to the flesh. Paul rebuked the Galatians for the same thing; “Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3).

One thing is certain. According to II Corinthians 3:17, if the Spirit is present in our midst, there will be a liberty that frees us from being bound to manmade religious rules. I want to tell you a true story of an encounter I had with a group that had religious rules. This experience, though it had a form of godliness, was the worst demonic experience I have ever encountered.

Some years ago, a young man from my church, named Tim, and myself, were planning to go to Alabama for a camp meeting. Some men we knew here in Wisconsin, invited us to stop by their revival meetings they were having in Ohio the same week we would be making our way down to Alabama. They said if we would attend they would put us up for the night. We decided to head out the day before our meeting started so we could stop at their meeting. After the meeting we greeted a few of the men we had previously met back in Wisconsin, and we were greeted by others that were in attendance. We were then introduced to the family with whom we would be spending the night. We followed them to their house, which was quite a ways out in the country.

After we arrived we had a meal with them. There was some fellowship at the table, but not the real koinonia that Tim and I were accustomed to. Not long after we ate, we were shown the bedrooms where we would be sleeping. In order for Tim and me to have our own rooms, they had their two children share a room. Before I got comfortable I went into the room where the two children were, and I was talking and joking with them. Then I went back to my room. I was wearing a long sleeve dress shirt and a pair of dress pants. I took off my shirt and had a white T shirt underneath. I grabbed my tooth brush and tooth paste and headed to the bathroom, only to find it was occupied. So in dress pants and a T shirt, I went back to visit the two children. Upon entering their room their eyes got really wide. I said something like, “are you afraid of me now?” Then I went back to my room to wait until I could get in the bathroom.

While I was standing there in my room, the man of the house (notice I have not called him brother?) approached me with a very mean spirit and dropped this bomb on me. He said, “Listen, we don’t show our arms around this house. If my children see your arms they will be offended.” I was devastated when he said that to me. It was too late; they already saw my arms. I didn’t know what to say, so I said, “I can appreciate that.” I don’t know why I said that because I did not appreciate it at all. Why didn’t someone tell me they had this rule, which I never found in the bible? I could have either submitted to their rule or turned down the offer to stay at their house, but it was too late. I felt terrible. Every part of me felt like I violated their household.

Let me tell you, it was hard to fall asleep that night. Tim and I were up early the next morning and left without any breakfast. We headed out to the camp meeting in Alabama. Throughout the day, I was haunted by this event that took place. I felt a very heavy condemnation hanging over me. When I got to the meeting in Alabama that evening, I shared my experience with some other ministers that were there. However, condemnation was still hanging over me. Nothing changed by the next morning. After breakfast I called an evangelist friend and told him what happened. He told me that it was the spirit of heaviness that the bible talks about. “..the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;..”(Isaiah 61:3)

I immediately understood that this whole experience was demonic. It was as if demons had followed Tim and I out of that house in Ohio and traveled with us in my car. I went back into the church, had a few ministers pray for me, and the condemnation immediately left.

The devil is very protective of one of his greatest deceptions: RELIGION. He gets awfully angry if you don’t obey his rules. I learned two things that day: the difference between conviction and condemnation, and that the demonic forces are very protective over their religion.

Saint of God, understand this, God convicts, the devil condemns. Religion is demonic bondage, but the Spirit is liberty. Not liberty to sin, but liberty to not have to obey sin. If the devil can’t trap you in sin, he will try to trap you with religious rules. Your deliverance is in the presence of the Spirit of God; “..where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)

Jan 30 2015
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Speak The Same Thing

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“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” I Cor. 1:10

“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” Rom. 15:5-7

The testimony of the early church, taken right from the bible, is they were in “one accord” in the upper room. Even after about a ten day span, they were still in “one accord” on the day of Pentecost. I wonder how united my church would be, if we spent ten days together. Anyway, the early church had a unity that is not seen today, not because we can’t have it, but because we don’t believe it can be. Often our idea of unity, is for us all to share the same cause or all belong to the same denomination or all agree to the same creed written by authors other than those who penned our bible. These things can bring some degree of unity for some people, but then another group forms that has their own cause and creed. That is why we have so much division today in the church. Add to that, the lack of love and concern for one another, and it is easy to see why the church doesn’t get along with each other.

The reason the early church had such a unity is because they were fully surrendered to Christ. He told them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit. So, they all waited together. While in that room, there were no saints determined to carry out their own agenda. They were not jockeying for position, but willingly came under Peter’s leadership. They were praying together and were holding to the Old Testament scriptures, so much so, that they were literally fulfilling scripture by appointing someone to take Judas’ place. You can’t believe the word of God much better than that. We see this true unity in the early church, but true Christian unity has escaped our generation.

How is it, that millions of Christians, can all read the same book called the bible, declare that it is the unadulterated word of God, insist that it holds the highest authority over their life, and yet there be so many disagreements amongst us? I know there are many saints that really want unity. If you don’t want unity there is something desperately wrong with your spiritual man. God created us because He wants to share His kingdom with us, He created us because He wants to have a love relationship with us. When Christ entered us upon salvation, the desire of God came with Him. The desire for love and unity came with Him. As we mature in the Lord, so does our love for God increase, and as our love for God increases, so does our love for mankind, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.

When I met my wife Joy, I thought she was pretty. She was willing to let me date her, and I did. I found out she was a nice girl too, but I just liked her in those first several months of seeing her. One day I realized I loved her and wanted to be with her more, so much more that I asked her to marry me. We got married and 6 years later we got saved. Joy gave birth to 3 sons who all married and gave us 9 grandchildren. You know what? I still want to be with Joy, even more. I want to be around my sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren too. This is the nature of families. Even more, it is the nature of God. Adam didn’t even finish his first assignment, of naming the animals in the garden, before he was asking where his companion is.

It is only natural for Christians to want unity, and because of that desire for unity, many prayer meetings, conferences, workshops and such have been held for the main purpose of uniting the body of Christ. Who can hold it against those that try such things? I commend them for their effort to bring unity to the body. However, they are going about it the difficult way. Unity is much easier to achieve than one might think.

First you have to believe that we really can have true unity. Paul would never had told us to speak the same thing if we couldn’t; he would have never told us that there should be no divisions amongst us, if it weren’t possible for it to be so. I Corinthians 1:10 is one of those verses in the bible that it seems many Christians really don’t believe. They have shrugged off the possibility that we could have true spiritual unity in the church, years ago.

As I said, to have unity is a very simple thing. Romans 15:5 holds the answer. It says, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:” It is right there as plain as can be; our unity must be “according to Christ Jesus.” It is not according to Terry Fischer, it isn’t according to The Church In Wisconsin, it isn’t according to you, or your church or your creed or your denomination. I am not asking you all to think like me, or for us all to think like one of you. I am asking us all to get the mind of Christ. However, for this to happen, we all have to be teachable. You and I cannot be stubborn in our hearts and say, “this is the way I always believed and I am not changing.” Let’s be honest church, with all the different doctrines we have, someone has to be wrong. Are you willing to change the way you think if the scriptures and the Spirit of truth prove you wrong? My mentor told me, “You don’t look to the bible to prove yourself right, you look to the bible to prove what’s right.” If you and I have a contrary interpretation of a verse in the bible, either I am wrong, or you are wrong, or we are both wrong. We can’t both be right. The Spirit of truth would never teach opposing views and leave us confused and divided. So with that said, it is up to us to be teachable, no matter how long and how well trained we may be. Let’s not agree to disagree, let’s agree to get the mind of Christ and have unity according to Christ Jesus. I am one that believes we will have it. I plead with you to determine in your heart that we can have unity, and that you will cooperate toward that end.

Jan 30 2015
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We Are In This World

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“I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth. As Thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” John. 17:14-18

A half mile down the road from my house is a Muslim Mosque. I remember when they bought the building, it was a Kingdom Hall. The building went from one false religion to another. Anyway, one thing I have noticed about the Muslims is that they do not associate too much with other Americans. They send their children to Islamic schools, and I often see groups of them together at the stores. I rarely see Muslim girls, with the head dress on, hanging around with other girls in their neighborhood. I have even noticed that many Muslims are buying up certain neighborhoods close to their Mosques. The same with the Amish / Mennonite communities. They go through great effort to disconnect from American society. This is understandable that they should be this way. They are trying to preserve their culture, traditions and religious beliefs. The less they mingle with those of other religious beliefs and cultures, the less impact it will have on their people.

I am in hearty agreement that we Christians must be careful who we associate with and who and what we allow into our children’s lives. This world is a dark place, and the darkness is increasing by the day. However, one of the major differences between Christianity and other religious groups is that Christians are the only people that are promised that they can be in this world and not be overcome by it. Instead of being on the run or go in hiding, we can go out into this world and make an impact on its citizens. As other religious groups fear being impressed and demanded upon, to conform to this worlds system, the Christian can walk amongst it with confidence and boldness.

Jesus did not pray for the Father to take us out of this world, He prayed that God would keep us from the evil of this world. We must never go out into this world with the hope we can be satisfied by this worlds delicacies, nor shall we partake in her evil, but be encouraged to know that the devil can do a surprise attack on you with all kinds of evil and yet you can stand strong. You can even do more than stand strong, you can overcome him. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11) What makes it hard for a believer to overcome in this world is when he loves this present life. If we love not our lives unto death, this world will have no pull on us. You don’t have to fear it.

We are given the ability to overcome this world, we are blessed with peace in the midst of a world filled with tribulation. We can overcome because Jesus overcame this world. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John. 16:33)

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1John 4:4)

We have more than the ability to be in this world and not be overcome by it, but we are demanded of, by Jesus, to go into this world and make disciples of all nations. John recorded these words of Jesus, “even so have I also sent them into the world.” Jesus sent us into the world, not as lambs to the slaughter, but as bold proclaimers of the gospel of truth. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

Imagine if Jesus went and gathered Himself a few disciples and then went and found a little place in the wilderness to hide out in. Lazarus would have never had his grave clothes removed. Blind Bartimaeus would have remained blind Bartimaeus. The lady with the issue of blood would have never been emboldened to burst through the crowd to get to the hem of Jesus’ garment. The woman from the city, known by all as a sinner, with broken alabaster box in hand, would have never heard those precious words, “thy sins are forgiven.” As long as the devil can keep the church fearing this world, he will not have to deal with the church impacting this world. We’re not lost, the world is; we don’t need to hide, sinners are the ones who hide in darkness.

I don’t advocate that we take young believers and thrust them out into this world. They must sit at the feet of Jesus for a season, so they can grow in the grace of God. However, once they have been grounded, they too must make their presence known in this world. Another very important factor, which is so imperative if the church is going to affect this world; we must be filled with the Spirit. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” (Ephesians 5:18)

Jesus would not let His well-trained disciples leave Jerusalem until they received power from on high. When they did receive it, the world couldn’t handle them. Church, we need power from on high if we are going to be true witnesses who can overcome this world. The mistake isn’t letting the church go into this world and witness the evil for themselves, the mistake is in sending them out there without that baptism of power. I used to belong to a religion that had no power, this religion was accepted by the world because it did not confront the world.

Saint of God, understand that you will not be accepted, you’re not supposed to be. “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” (1John 3:13) Receive the Spirit, become full of God, and then go boldly into this world.

Jan 30 2015
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It’s About Good Verses Evil

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Conservative radio hosts dominate talk radio programs across this nation. Liberal-minded programs just don’t do very well at all. I guess, when it comes down to it, people don’t like to listen to liberals talk their nonsense. When you listen to talk radio–especially to men like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity–there is constant comparing conservatism to liberalism, or Republican to Democrat. That is all right for these men to do that; that is why their shows are popular, and that is why Americans listen to them. It is educational as well as entertaining at times to listen to these conservative talk shows. I found myself laughing a few times over the years while listening to some of the things that are said. I also had to intentionally shut the radio off or change the station to keep me from becoming too pessimistic or even overly political. After listening to the constant talk of how our great country of America is declining in every way, it is hard not to be very discouraged or even outright angry.

America, the only real military super power, is declining economically and it is directly related to the moral decay of America and her increasingly open rejection of God. There is no way anyone can convince me that all of those that founded our nation and all of those pioneers that forged this country were true born again believers; however, I am convinced their morals and standards were high and were greatly influenced by the written word of God. It was only about fifty years ago that TV would not show Elvis Presley gyrating his hips, and now today, at the mall just down the road from me, they have posted in the windows some of the most sensuous pictures of women advertising skimpy clothes. In my 58 years of life I have seen an incredible deterioration of morality here in America.

The battle rages: Democrats against Republicans, liberals against conservatives, lefties against righties. I want to set something straight right now, church of God. For us it isn’t Democrat versus Republican, it isn’t liberals against conservatives, and it is not the left against the right; it is right against wrong. It is about overcoming evil with good. Do not let yourself get caught up in the wrong fight. The wrong fight is carnal; the true fight is spiritual. Haven’t you noticed that everything that is evil in this world and this country is embraced by the liberal crowd? They are for murdering babies in their mother’s womb and they have no problem promoting the homosexual lifestyle. They encourage dependence upon government and criminalize the hard working go getter. Telling lies is accepted for the sake of achieving a goal. Anything that has a standard of godliness is rejected by that liberal crowd, but it isn’t just the liberals. There are some conservatives, as well, that reject godly values. Maybe not as blatantly, but many are started on the path of moral decay.

I do not consider myself a Republican, although I voted Republican many times. I do not consider myself a conservative, although I agree with the highest conservative values. I am a bible-believing, Spirit-filled saint of God. That also means that I belong to a whole other and completely opposite kingdom. It is clear in the bible that God’s people are foreigners and strangers just passing through this old world. This world is not our home; heaven is our home. Until we get there, the kingdom of God is within us. Give me a moment to shout hallelujah! We are here to shed the light of Christ, we are here to be an example of godly living, we are here to love fallen man on behalf of God, and we are here to speak for God. We are here to promote and advance the kingdom of God.

Deep sadness comes over me at times when I see what is happening to this country. I will be the first to admit I love the comfort and prosperity we live in here in America. However, my concern for America is not that we are losing all the blessings of God that we have come to take for granted, but to see the decay of society and the rise of the antichrist spirit in this nation. I am not much of a weeper, but what gets me teary-eyed is to think how God has blessed this nation, yet we have spit back in His face. Therefore I am determined that I am going to love Him with everything in me. I appreciate every blessing He has bestowed on us, but I am not fighting to keep them; I’m fighting for the establishment of the kingdom of God.

I don’t know about you, but I am convinced that we are living in the very last days. When I first got saved, I was taught that there was going to be a great last days’ revival. I am believing for that. I believe the 20th century has experienced a true spiritual awakening. However, the bible doesn’t speak much of a last days’ revival other than James writing of how the farmer patiently waits for the latter rain. What the bible does have quite a bit to say in regard to the last days is that mankind will turn from God. The bible clearly teaches that there will be perilous times, iniquity will abound, love will grow cold, and deception will increase. I am careful not to allow myself to end up, in an attempt to restrain society, fighting against what God has allowed to be. I will vote if there is someone to vote for. I will pray and preach against the evils of abortion and sexual sin of all sorts. My purpose for being here, however, and your purpose for being here is to be a light in this dark world that is getting darker by the day. I am not going to get caught up in political debates, though there may be a need for them. I am not going to label myself according to some political preference. Just because I reject the Democratic Party does not make me a Republican. Just because I reject liberal ideology doesn’t lump me in with the conservatives. I am more conservative than a conservative. I’m a child of God. I belong to an eternal kingdom that I already have the privilege of walking in. God’s kingdom is the kingdom that I am concerned about. It is His kingdom that has come unto me. It is the kingdom of God that Jesus came into Galilee preaching. It is the kingdom of God we must receive as a little child. It is the kingdom of God that we have the privilege of knowing mysteries about. Whatever we need, carnally or spiritually, is added unto us as we seek the kingdom of God. Now that is the kingdom I am fighting for. It is “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on EARTH as it is in heaven.”

I am not going to lie down and play dead and let the wicked take America. I will pray, I will vote, I will take the opportunity to teach those that will listen that America must repent and turn to God; but one day it is going to be an antichrist nation. Even then, the kingdom of God will stand unshaken.

My intention for writing this article was not to scold any Christian for fulfilling what they believe is their political duty. I thank God for those in the church that keep us informed and challenge us to be a voice for morality. I wrote this to comfort you and proclaim peace in the midst of America’s declination. If we are truly in the last days, there is nothing you can do about it. I just want to remind you that you are on the winning side and you belong to the ETERNAL Kingdom of God. “..but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the KINGDOM and the power and the glory forever, Amen.”