WE NEED THE HOLY GHOST cont.
We don’t come to Him perfect, (He will continue to do that) just repentant but we must surrender our wills to Him. If Jesus doesn’t own our wills- He cannot completely fill us. It would be like trying to use atomic fuel in a trashed out model T! Obviously, an old junk like that isn’t even able to run on gas, let alone fuel designated for a nuclear reactor. By our repentance, desperation and abandonment before the Lord, He then transforms our inner containers (wineskins) so that He can also fill us!
In another great book by Charles Finney; “How to experience revival,” he states that:
“I never knew a person who was filled with the Spirit who was not called eccentric. The reason is that these people are unlike other people. They act under different influences, take different views, are moved by different motives, led by a different Spirit. You are to expect such remarks....There is such a thing as being so deeply imbued with the Spirit of God that you must and will act strange and eccentric to those who cannot understand the reasons behind your conduct.” 21 (Charles Finney, ‘How to experience revival,’ pp.132-33)
In the book of Acts, God went as far as sending Philip to preach to the eunuch, and then snatched him away in the Spirit to preach to someone else. The Spirit is our guide, comforter, and our enabler, His attributes are clearly seen in the book of Acts. “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they...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.” (Acts 10:44,45) Peter spoke in faith as led by the Holy Ghost and then the Holy Ghost did the real work in their hearts. (We must believe that this is still possible or there will be little chance that it will happen in our meetings and churches) He is our companion, He causes us to “abide” in Jesus and as we walk and talk in faith, He will bless our paths with His Presence. He will lead us and speak to us but not just to bless or grant our own selfish desires. “While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.” (Acts 10:19,20) It’s very clear that the Holy Spirit is meant to be the initiator, leader, empowerment and completer in all the ministry in which we are involved. He is the very presence of Jesus within us!
“And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.”(Acts 11:15) Could it be made more clear that the power of Pentecost was not meant to stop? Why is it that so many completely dismiss the “Pentecostal” experience?” After all, this did happen in Acts. Is the Lord not the “same today yesterday and tomorrow?” What prevents more vessels from knowing this powerful abandonment to Jesus? The words are sin and fear. Fear of realizing how far short we fall in our Christian walk. Fear of “losing control” of self. (isn’t “self”, what we are supposed to loose) Fear of what “foolish things” God would have us do. Fear of loosing all that we love in this life. (Aren’t we supposed to hate this world in comparison to loving Him) Fear of being controlled by God! (after all we must have “decorum”)
God’s ways, are not our ways, and the more that we die to self and are filled with His spirit (every day) the more satisfied and joyous we will be. We need not fear the Holy Ghost! “For He has not given us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and discipline.” (2 Tim.1:7) “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened up unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If 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? I have heard these verses used in many different ways but isn’t it clear that He wants us to seek and greatly desire the greatest gift after Himself; His precious Holy Spirit? He will not give us something evil or dangerous if we are truly His! He will not give us a stone if we are truly seeking HIM! Jesus encourages us to seek and ask for the Holy Spirit! If you are only seeking power and “self fulfillment,” you may experience “something” but it will be the counterfeit.
I have found a chapter in Finney’s: “How to experience Revival” that proves to me that human nature is exactly the same in our time as it was in Finney’s time as it was in Paul’s time. The chapter is called; “Be Filled With the Spirit.”(Eph. 5:18)
“WHY DO MANY NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT? It may be that you live a hypocritical life. Your prayers are not earnest and sincere. Not only is your religion a mere show without any heart, but you are insincere in your personal exchange with others.
Others are so frivolous that the Spirit will not dwell with them!
Others are so proud that they cannot have the Spirit. They like to find ways to prove to everyone that they are better than others. They are so fond of dress, high life, and fashion, it is no wonder they are not filled with the Spirit.
Some are so worldly minded, love property so well, and are trying so hard to get rich, that they cannot have the Spirit. How can He dwell with them when all their thoughts are on things of the world and all their powers are absorbed in procuring wealth?....They show how much they love the world in all their conversations with others....how can such believers have the Spirit of God? It is impossible!
Others are neglecting some known duty, and that is why they do not have the Spirit. If you have neglected any known duty and lost the spirit of prayer, you must yield first. God has a disagreement with you. You have refused obedience to God, and you must change. You may have forgotten it but God has not! You must recall your failure and repent. God never will yield or grant you His Spirit until you repent!
If you know what it is to commune with God, how sweet it is to dissolve in penitence and to be filled with the Spirit, you cannot help but desire a return of those joys... if you wish to have the Spirit of God dwell with you, you must lead a different life. You must give up the world. You must make sacrifices...you must confess your sins...you do not really want to have the Spirit come, unless He will consent to let you live as you please. HE WILL NEVER DO THAT!” 22
(‘How to experience Revival,’ Charles Finney pp.129-131)
To those that would find the Lord’s Baptism a “subjective” or dangerous cult-like experience, I challenge you to read the book of Acts and read the words of Jesus about the Holy Spirit. He is the one that made these promises. Would you really try to say that His promises were only for His disciples and the early church? Then we might as well discount the entire Bible, (it’s obvious that many have). He promised us in John chap.14:12,13, that “....he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” The ministry of the disciples in Acts, clearly indicates a sensitivity and preoccupation with being filled with the Holy Ghost as the only way of being available and capable for ministry: “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 13:52. The book of Acts is clearly only the beginning of an ongoing fulfillment of the Lord’s prophecy concerning the comforter. His desire is to “pour out His Spirit on all flesh,” and that includes you and me! The Lord ascended and sent power from on high that we might walk, talk and minister as He ministered!
We must be grounded and anchored in the word, and listen to those that are gifted to interpret the deep meaning or rheama of His word. (Jesus is the Word!) This is what Paul also had in mind when he said; “...desire the spiritual gifts but rather that ye may prophesy... he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort... for greater is he that prophesieth...” (1Cor. 14:1,3,5 KJV) I believe that the most important form of prophesying, is the revelation of the deep truths of God’s word. Prophesying, isn’t just confined to a new, direct revelation (that some may get from the Lord, which is also scriptural). All of the prophets got direct messages from the Lord and this gift is still in operation, it did not die with the first church or the Old Testament prophets. “Do not despise prophetic utterances”. “The words of the prophets are subject to the prophets”. All prophecy or fresh revelation, must agree with the word of God and be confirmed by other prophets. There are different kinds of prophetic giftings but the most important, is the interpretation of scripture and it’s deepest meaning. To prophesy, is the greatest of the gifts but many today don’t understand the word and there are many who truly despise prophetic utterings. A dry, sterile and unanointed interpretation of scripture prevails in most of the church today. Many a bible school has relegated the supernatural part of Christianity to the trash heap. This they do to their own demise (“having a FORM of godliness but denying the POWER thereof”). Revelation of the deep meaning of His word is profitable for everyone and necessary for edification. It is quite clear when a preacher is hearing from God or not, and receiving the hidden manna that is necessary to minister to God’s people. “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” God is not just talking about “head knowledge” or basic understanding of scripture here. What God is talking about in that verse is the deeper revelations of His thoughts that are available to us only when the Spirit of God reveals the deeper meaning of His word. I’m not talking about an extra-biblical, pie-in-the-sky type of interpretation either, but of revelations that are grounded in the full counsel of God’s word and revealed by His anointing!
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