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Archive for the ‘The Holy Spirit’ Category

THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH

Posted in Heaven, The Holy Spirit, The Righteous, tagged , on August 31, 2024|

“for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 HCSB

In the Lord’s Prayer we ask that the Kingdom of God come to earth as in heaven.  Both John the Baptist and Jesus called for repentance since the Kingdom of God was here.  Jesus also said that one could not see the Kingdom of God unless they were born again (John 3:3). So how do we advance the Kingdom of God on the earth?

We cannot do anything apart from the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is here on earth with us.  We know that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father in heaven.  So to see the Kingdom of God advance the Holy Spirit must be at work in us.  When we pray that God’s Kingdom be established here on the earth we should keep in mind the Apostle Paul’s words – The Kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking, it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  For people to experience the Kingdom of God we must walk in Righteousness and walk by the Spirit so we can display the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  The Kingdom of God is not about the flesh.  Paul told us the Kingdom of God cannot be inherited by flesh and blood (1 Corinthians 15:50).  It is only through the Holy Spirit the Kingdom is revealed here on earth.  Only those born of the Spirit can see and inherit the Kingdom of God.

So when we pray that the Kingdom of God come then we must abide in Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  This way people can experience the Kingdom of God by the fruits of the Spirit.

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Justice is Perverted!

Posted in government, Jesus, Knowing God, Love, Prayer, Salvation, The Holy Spirit, Unity on March 27, 2018|

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To turn aside the justice due a man

Before the face of the Most High,

 Or subvert a man in his cause—

The Lord does not approve.  Lamentations 3: 35-36 (NKJV)

4Therefore the law is ignored

And justice is never upheld.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

Therefore justice comes out perverted. Habakkuk 1:4 (NASB)

 

Justice is perverted!  For that reason we are seeing a wave of protests in our country over the last couple of years.  There has been the rise of Black Lives Matter Movement, the Women’s March, #MeToo Movement and the March for Our Lives.  There is a cry for justice.  This cry is being heard by God.

As Christians we often focus on one leader or a nation to gauge the next move of God.  Yet what we are witnessing is God awakening the hearts of the people.  They are crying out for Him whether they realize it or not.  God is justice.   Justice describes the very nature of God.  God’s throne is established on righteousness and justice.

The push back these movements are experiencing are rooted in fear and hate.  Some would argue the protests are rooted in hatred but they are not.  Those who oppose the movements do not realize that what they are opposing are justice and God.  You oppose justice, you oppose God.

In the church we have heard about the next Great Awakening and it is prophesied that we will see the greatest soul harvest in the history of the church.  That is what is happening in these movements.  People are not only asking for justice but they seek compassion, love, understanding and they despise all the hate and unrighteousness that is taking place.  People are getting away with murder and they are literally pleading for their lives, asking to be saved.  It is time we listen.

Will our government listen?  Will they find justice in our society?  Many doubt they will, but I believe that God is setting the stage for Justice to be served.  “Many seek the ruler’s favor, but Justice for man comes from the Lord,” Proverbs 29:26.  People will get their justice and their souls will be saved as well.  It is God’s desire that everyone will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Jesus also said that no one can come to Him unless prompted by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is at work exposing sin, convicting the world of sin and drawing people to God.

There is also unity in these movements.  Even though each group is addressing a different issue in our society, their request is the same.   They are united by their search for justice, equality, peace, safety, love and hope.  God is listening.  Great things will be accomplished through unity.  Is the church paying attention?

We can no longer be silent from the immorality and the injustice we see.  We must turn to God and pray that Justice and righteousness will be established in the earth as in heaven.  We must also see the harvest is ready and the people are crying for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed.

Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.  John 4:35

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Identity Crisis

Posted in Jesus, Knowing God, Salvation, The Father, The Holy Spirit, The Righteous on October 11, 2011| Leave a Comment »

14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.  Romans 8:14-17

As a Christian I constantly struggle with my identity in Christ.  I grew up in a church that taught you had to be good to go to heaven.  I was told by some as a child that I would not amount to anything.  At one time I defined myself by my career.  Currently, I am a wife, mother, and pastor.  However, we are told in the bible we are sons of God; we have been adopted and are fellow heirs with Christ.  This is where, at times, I have confused my identity.

Sometimes I struggle to see myself the way God sees me.  I don’t always act like a child of God’s.  There are times I walk in accordance to my flesh and not by the spirit.  Many times I have walked by sight and not by faith.  In the times I have fallen or made mistakes I often ask myself “who am I?”  It’s very easy to fall into the old patterns of my thinking that I am not good enough or what I do is not good enough.  Honestly, I wish I could always see myself the way God sees me.

There are times I try to impress God with my “good” deeds.  I seek His acceptance instead of receiving His love.  I struggle with my faith when I don’t understand my identity.  Things are much more difficult when I look at my own weaknesses instead of keeping my eyes on Jesus.  When God looks at me He sees His child; not a slave nor a servant.  There are times I act like a slave full of fear and doubt lacking faith in God.

God created us in His image and in His likeness.  Jesus knew and understood His identity; He only did what He saw the Father doing.  Jesus didn’t struggle with sin; sin was not a part of Him because sin was not in the Father.  God hates sin; Jesus hates sin.  Jesus healed because the Father is a life giver.  Jesus raised the dead because death has no place in the Father.  What fellowship does light have with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)  Jesus saved us so that we would be reconciled with the Father.  So through Jesus we are made righteous and are now considered the children of God.  Even the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

Each day I have to make a conscious decision to know that I am a child of God’s.  I am no longer to walk according to my flesh or what others say that I am.  I should not hold the opinion of others or of myself above what God says about me – He is perfecting me in the image of Jesus.

So I will no longer live based on my past identity but I will press forward in understanding and knowing my true identity in Jesus.   Do you know your identity?

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Performing Signs and Wonders

Posted in God's Glory, Healing, Knowing God, The Father, The Holy Spirit on May 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »

26“I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel;
For He is the living God and enduring forever,
And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His dominion will be forever.
27“He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders, In heaven and on earth,
Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:26-27

“I believe in miracles with every atom of my being… because I believe in God – but Kathryn Kuhlman has nothing to do with the healing of sick bodies.  I have no healing power. It’s the power of God that does the healing. The only part I have in it is making Jesus real to the hearts of men and women. Any results there might be in this life of mine, is not Kathryn Kuhlman. It’s the Holy Spirit; IT’S WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES THROUGH A YIELDED VESSEL.” – Kathryn Kuhlman.

I found this quote by Kathryn Kuhlman, who was a great faith healer and evangelist in the 1940s through 1970s, and pondered this for quite some time.  Miracles, signs and wonders are to point people to our God.  They are not meant to elevate men or cause others to glorify and worship us.  Miracles are a testimony to the power and glory of God.  We see this in the book of Daniel.

King Darius threw Daniel into the lions’ den because Daniel did not stop praying to God.  King Darius hoped that God would save Daniel because it was the king’s injunction that got Daniel thrown in the lions’ den.  When King Darius saw the next day that Daniel had not been harmed and eaten by the lions’ he was grateful and gave glory to God.  It was God’s provision that caused King Darius to make the above confession about God.  See that is the purpose of miracles, signs and wonders.

Kathryn Kuhlman understood this too.  She knew that healing had nothing to do with her ability or power but that it was all God and she was just a vessel.  Daniel understood this too.  He acted as a vessel for God to cause the kings of Babylon to bow to Him; to confess that God was above all and that His kingdom would endure forever.

As Christians we must be yielded vessels, allowing the Holy Spirit to do the work of bringing conviction of sin to the world and the world to Jesus.  The greatest miracle is the death and resurrection of a life – when someone who is dead in their sin is made alive in Jesus.  God said that whenever we preach the gospel signs and wonders would follow as a confirmation of His word.

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These Signs Shall Follow

Posted in Crucified, God's Glory, Healing, Jesus, Prayer, Salvation, Satan, Sin, Teaching, The Father, The Holy Spirit, The Righteous, The Word on April 22, 2011| Leave a Comment »

19So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

 20And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. Mark 16: 19-20

 3how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,

 4God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.  Hebrews 2: 3-4

Today is Good Friday and Sunday is Easter.  As Christians we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ during this time.  Usually on Easter weekend, churches have the largest attendance of the year.  So many churches preach the gospel message hoping that many will give their life to Christ.

When Jesus commissioned the disciples after His resurrection, He told them that when they went out to preach the gospel, signs and wonders would follow them.  They would be able to cast out demons, lay hands on the sick and they would be healed.  We are also told in the above scriptures that God confirms the message of salvation by both signs and wonders and various miracles.  We cannot have the gospel preached without evidence of signs, wonders and miracles.  Otherwise we are simply preaching a message with no power behind it.

We should not only anticipate a great soul harvest this weekend, but we should expect to see it all including signs, wonders and miracles.  Their purpose is to confirm the gospel message and point people to Jesus.  So we should expect to see miracles, healings take place, deliverance from demons, etc.  Of course the greatest miracle of all is when a person is saved – that person was once dead in their sin and is made alive in Christ.

So let’s invite the lost, the sick and shut in, the hopeless, the downtrodden, those bound, etc.; and expect God to show up and deliver them all.  Let our prayer be that God will confirm His covenant, made through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by the miracles, signs and wonders that will point all men to Jesus.

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Peace As Our Guide

Posted in Peace, The Holy Spirit on April 15, 2011| Leave a Comment »

6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Peace is one of the tools the Holy Spirit uses to give us direction, either with the presence or absence of peace.  It is very important that we are in tune with the Holy Spirit and recognize when peace is present or not present.

The Holy Spirit will warn us if danger is ahead or if we are making the wrong decision.  He will confirm if a decision is right and the will of God.  But we must be sensitive to His promptings.  Many people want God to shout in a booming voice what they should or should not do.  Many times it is simply the presence or absences of peace that will let us know if we are on the right track.

Too many of us ignore this and we make decisions that we have no peace about but somehow reason it out to be right.  Other times we gave peace about a decision but it does not make sense in the natural, so we question ourselves and go against that decision.  It is very important that we heed to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and warnings.

When we make a decision based on God’s will, and obey Him, there will be peace, the kind of peace that is not controlled by circumstances or emotions.  It is the peace of God; peace that the world does not have.

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To Be Watchful…

Posted in Jesus, Salvation, The Holy Spirit on January 6, 2011| 2 Comments »

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:7-8

It is a New Year and usually there are groups claiming that this is the year Jesus will return and rapture the church.  They warn people to watch and pray because Jesus can return any day.

In 2000, I was very involved with the end time theories and actually did believe then we were living in the last days and thought there would only be a few years left of the world.  In 2000 I didn’t imagine us being in 2011.  I was so consumed by the end times teaching that I found it difficult to really focus on anything else and found myself in angry debates, attacking anyone who disagreed with me.

Because I was so fixated on the rapture and the day Jesus would return I found it very difficult to hear from God and His plan for my life.  Eventually, I came upon this scripture and realized that it was not for me to know the day and hour of Jesus’ return, but I was responsible for being a witness for Jesus.  So I prayed for God’s will in my life and for the past ten years God has continued to guide me and direct my steps.

I would now argue that watching and praying involves hearing from God and doing what He says.  Every Christian has been given the mandate to take the gospel to the world.  It does not mean everyone has to become a missionary but we should be witnesses for Jesus wherever we are; including our schools, jobs, homes, families, etc.

When the disciples received Jesus’ last instruction before His ascension they believed they would see Jesus return in their lifetime.  They spent their days and lives spreading the gospel and doing the things they saw Jesus doing.  After the Holy Spirit came and empowered them they were able to go out and preach the gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead, plant churches and make more disciples.  The Kingdom of God spread as anticipated the Lord’s return.

This is our same mandate.  As we wait for Jesus’ return, we are to be doing the same things Jesus did.  We have been given charge to spread the Kingdom while we are here on earth.  It really is not about looking out for ourselves and making sure we will be raptured when Jesus comes; all believers have that promise.  Instead we are to be witnesses for those that do not know Jesus.  The Kingdom of God is not about mere talk but of power.  Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come and empower them and the Holy Spirit is present now to empower us to preach the gospel and make disciples in the entire world.

We do not know the exact day Jesus will return but when He does my prayer is that He will find us doing the work He left us to do; that we will be able to testify that we took the gospel to the ends of the world.  Let us have the same compassion Jesus had for the people, and in these last days be true witness of Jesus and His love for the world.  Let us remember it is God’s desire that none should perish but all should come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

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A Wedding…

Posted in Prophesy, The Body, The Holy Spirit on June 26, 2010| Leave a Comment »

21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

 3But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. 1 Corinthians 14:3

Last week I was at a wedding and one of the pastors performing the ceremony gave a sermon on marriage.  I was surprised to hear the pastor telling the newly married couple how difficult marriage was and that some marriages end.  He was encouraging them to put God first but I began to think what a wonderful time to prophesy to a couple who are about to embark on a brand new life.

Many times it is second nature for us to just warn people about the trouble ahead and the trials they may face.  I’m sure the pastor did not want to make marriage seem too easy or should be taken lightly.  There is life and death in the tongue, how I wish he spoke life to this couple.  Instead of focusing on the perils of marriage, he could have focused on their lives and the blessings that come in marriage.  Marriage between a man and woman is the prophetic picture of the marriage between Christ and His church.  Marriage is meant to help the body of Christ not burden it.

As Paul exhorts us to prophesy we do not need have some special ability to foresee the future.  There are many scriptures in the bible that are prophetic that we can use to exhort and edify the church.  There are many scriptures that could have been used to exhort and edify this newly married couple.

Many know that life is full of ups and downs.  We don’t always have to be the bearer of bad news.  We should desire to prophesy to others when we can through the power of the Holy Spirit.  We should seek to exhort and edify each other for that is what brings life.

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By Grace

Posted in The Holy Spirit on March 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »

 1You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?

 2This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

 4Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain?

 5So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?  Galatians 3:1-5

Paul admonished the Galatians for trying to maintain their salvation through the observance of the law after they had received salvation by grace through faith.  Instead of relying on the faith that saved them they were now trying to observe the law in such a way to maintain their salvation.  Instead of relying on the Holy Spirit they were no relying on human effort.

Are you guilty of this?  Many Christians try to walk in works and in their own effort to either please God or do the things God has called them to do.  They do not rely on the Holy Spirit.  We are no longer under the Old Testament covenant we are under the New Testament covenant of God’s grace and love.  Jesus paid it all for us.  His righteousness has been given to us and we have the Holy Spirit given to us also.  God never intended for us to conform ourselves into the image of Christ but we are being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is by grace through faith that we are saved, not by works or observing the law.  This way no man can boast.  The same grace that saved us is the same grace that will enable us to live according to God’s plan and purpose.

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Dishonor leads to Unbelief

Posted in Healing, Jesus, The Holy Spirit on February 23, 2010| 5 Comments »

 2When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?

 3″Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.  Mark 6: 2-3

When Jesus went to His hometown Nazareth He was unable to do many miracles because of their unbelief.  The people there had recognized him as Joseph and Mary’s son but not the Son of God.  They also did not recognize the Holy Spirit that was at work in Him, because Jesus said that He only did what He saw His Father in heaven doing.  So the people in Nazareth did not honor Jesus and their dishonor led to unbelief and for this reason Jesus was unable to do many miracles.

The same is true today.  The same Holy Spirit that was in Jesus has been given to us.  It is the Holy Spirit that enables a person to perform the miracles that Jesus did.  Jesus did what He saw the Father doing and we should do what we see Jesus doing.  But many dishonor the gifts of miracles like healing and the raising of the dead because they see the person but not the Holy Spirit at work.   Many take offense at the men and women of God who operate in the gift of healing and prophesy.

It is really sad that many in the church doubt the testimonies of healings that take place at revivals or at the hands of well known ministers who operate in these miraculous gifts.  When we doubt the testimony and we dishonor the people who God uses to perform the miracles we are actually dishonoring the Holy Spirit, and are in danger of actually attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to that of Satan.  The same thing happened in Jesus’ day.

As Christians we have to understand that our gifts and abilities are not dependent upon whom we are, but it is the Holy Spirit at work in us.  We don’t heal the sick or raise the dead but the Holy Spirit does and we must honor the men and women God uses to demonstrate His power and Spirit.  Our dishonor leads to unbelief and the lack of miracles taking place in the church.

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