The Baptism In The Holy Spirit
Lesson Fifteen: The Ministry Of The Holy Spirit To The Believer

TEXT: "He said unto them, Have Ye received the Holy Ghost SINCE ye believed?" Acts 19:2

Gal. 3:14 - "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the PROMISE of the SPIRIT through FAITH."

The Holy Spirit's Ministry to the believer is multifaceted. He convicts us of our sins; He reproves us of error; He leads us into ALL TRUTH - THE LORD JESUS; He empowers us for service; He indwells us at Salvation and endues us when we are "baptized" in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. There is a great controversy as to whether one receives the Holy Spirit at conversion. The answer to that question is a strong YES AND a NO! The Holy Spirit does come into our hearts and lives at salvation but there is a big difference in being BORN of the SPIRIT and being Baptized IN the Holy Ghost. Two separate experiences - one for the sinner (Salvation) and one for the believer (Endowment). Only those who believe will receive this precious anointing and enablement just as our Lord and Master received during His earthly ministry.

When the Apostle Paul came to Ephesus he asked some new disciples a very significant question for our day as well as his: "have ye received the HOLY SPIRIT SINCE ye believed?" These were NOT sinners but believers who had been baptized by John the Baptist (the baptism of repentance) but who were completely unaware of the Holy Spirit. Paul told them fully of the redemptive work of Christ, and they were then baptized in water unto repentance. Following this, Paul laid his hands on them and they were instantly baptized IN the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues and prophesied.

As in ALL other recorded cases in the book of Acts, the baptism IN the Holy Spirit, NOT the baptism of repentance into the Body of Christ <1 Cor. 12:3-we will deal with the scripture in detail later in this journal> was experienced SUBSEQUENT to their accepting Yeshuah as Lord and Savior. There is a great deal of controversy today as whether one receives the Holy Spirit at the moment they are saved and born again. The only proper answer to that question is YES and NO!

The ministries of the Holy Spirit are MANY and VARIED. One of the MOST important offices of the Holy Spirit is His work in the process of salvation and regeneration for those who do not know the Lord. Our Lord said in John 6:44 that NO ONE could come to Him except the Father "draw him."

John 6:44 - No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

The person who acts as the Father's instrument in DRAWING us to Christ is the Holy Spirit. Paul further states in 1 Corinthians 12:3 that NO MAN can call Yeshuah Lord except BY THE HOLY GHOST. This demonstrates WITHOUT question that the Holy Spirit is involved in bringing the sinner to conviction, repentance and salvation. So, does a person "RECEIVE" the Holy Ghost at salvation as so many ministers insist today in various denominations within the Body of Christ? Certainly, but the question remains what does "receive" mean? Is this type "receiving" the same as one who is already been saved being baptized (IMMERSED IF YOU WILL) in the Holy Spirit?

Let's draw an analogy I heard a fellow minister make recently which I felt was very powerful. A person is walking in the wilderness on a warm day. Off in the distance that person hears the bubbling of a brook. The sound DRAWS this person approaching the stream. At this point he has been INFLUENCED by the "living water" and spiritually affected by it, but that person and that stream remain two separate entities. But now if this person decides to ENTER that stream, immerses him in it, and swims along WITH the stream, (becoming in effect PART of the stream,) the relationship of the stream and man is a totally different one. And so it is in the difference with the Holy Spirit's role in salvation AND in what we call the "baptism" of the Holy Ghost.

I want to stop here and make some very important statements here before I go on. Read what I have to say carefully! I have some dear brethren in the Lord (whom I respect and love dearly - this is not a personal issue with me and them) who disagree with what I am writing. Many of these brethren who disagree with me have not received the baptism in the Holy Spirit as I am talking about in this lesson and our previous lesson in this study "The Promise Of The Father." Usually those who have received the mighty infilling of the Holy Spirit have little trouble understanding this concept of what I am trying to get across.

I'm not saying that to draw a sword nor am I using terminology to draw me into a theological argument with men who even if someone came back from the dead trying to convince them this experience was real and for them today would still not believe or accept it. I'm not writing this journal or any of our upcoming journals on the Holy Spirit to get into a fight. I believe MUCH of the problem between the various denominations that don't see eye to eye on this subject IS terminology. If using the word "endowment" or "enablement," would not offend you then I will use that instead of saying the "baptism" in the Holy Spirit. Quite honestly, the term "Baptism in the Holy Spirit," is a doctrinal title most Pentecostal and Charismatic denominations attach to the experience I am talking about. Please understand again - I am in no way insinuating that one has to speak in tongues to be saved. I AM stating and unashamedly saying that MILLIONS of well-meaning Christians have short-changed themselves because of their own tradition, denominational standing, and fears concerning this subject and the blame for much if not ALL of this can be laid at the doorsteps of MOST PASTORS!!!!!!

YOU NEED THE BAPTISM, OR ENDUEMENT OF POWER IN THE HOLY SPIRIT! I don't care what name you call it or what term you want to use for it but you need to receive the anointing of God on your life and receive the infilling as those gathered on the day of Pentecost received. A supernatural prayer language will be the INITIAL, not final, result of this infilling. The tongues are a sign of the DYNAMO, or the POWER, that the Lord wants us to have. Sadly and I say this to the shame of many in the Charismatic world - the very prayer language that God gave us to destroy the devil's kingdom, has either been abused or neglected by many in the 'movement' that even in Charismatic and Pentecostal circles very little is preached any more about speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance. The abuse and foolishness of a few in the gifts of the Spirit has caused many in the non-Charismatic world to shun this experience all together. Furthermore, the pride and ARROGANCE of those who have received this precious gift has also been a turn-off. I'm not trying to be one of those arrogant ones believe me. I have nothing to be arrogant about - but I am THANKFUL I have received this precious experience from the Lord as well as my nine-year old son Brandon.

But no matter the abuse or the foolishness, that STILL doesn't give anyone the right to deny this experience is valid for today and needed in the heart of every single BORN AGAIN child of GOD on Planet Earth. Right now as I speak those claiming to be Pentecostal comprise one of the LARGEST groups in the entirety of the Body of Christ. MORE AND MORE people are being baptized in the Holy Spirit each day and the numbers are just going to get larger. Listen friend, your denomination and your pastor may tell you that you don't need this experience but I say to that to "let every man be a LIAR and let GOD BE TRUE." He said in the LAST DAYS He would pour out His Spirit upon ALL FLESH and your sons and daughters would PROPHESY and your young men would DREAM DREAMS and the older men would see VISIONS. Peter would quote Joel on the Day of Pentecost, as showing that what was being heard and seen by those around the Temple was a direct fulfillment of this prophecy!

Acts 2:16-33 - But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; [17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: [18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: [20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: [21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

I've never been sure what is worse. A pastor who through ignorance gets up and demeans this experience claiming it is not valid or even worse calling it of the devil, or a pastor who knows better and knows this experience is real and seeks to control it and hinder his people from operating freely in the Holy Ghost and in the Gifts of the Spirit. BOTH are hindering the enablement of the Holy Spirit in the lives of their sheep! What is happening on Planet Earth today is bigger than your church sir. It's bigger than the Baptists, the Pentecostals, the Presbyterians, the Assemblies of God, the Foursquare Movement, the Word of Faith, the Catholics. Dear God I feel the anointing of the Holy Ghost as I write this. The greatest threat to God's Kingdom has never been the prostitute or the drug addict or the pornographer. NO! The greatest threat to the power of God is mossy-back Pharisaical religion that seeks to manipulate and deny the supernatural power of God in these last days and to relegate speaking in unknown tongues down to man's pitiful ability to learn some foreign language he's never spoken before. HEAR ME MAN OF GOD. As Peter told Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8 - YOU HAVE NO PART IN THIS! AND MAN HAS NO PART IN THIS EITHER!!!!!!!!!! SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS FROM HEAVEN NOT MAN!!!

Acts 8:9-21 - But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 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. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Oh, Glory to God. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, believe me, we will not be able to take credit for what is happening and what is being said. Simon saw what was happening when Peter and John laid their hands on these Samaritan believers (ANOTHER JOURNAL!) He wanted to purchase this power to have this same thing take place when HE laid hands on other people. Peter said "your money perish with you," "you have no part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God."

This power comes when the Holy Ghost comes at Salvation then Jesus immerses you in power and immerses you in His glory and immerses you in a current of grace that NO CHURCH, NO DENOMINATION, NO MAN, NO WOMAN, NO BOY, NO GIRL, NO movement can create neither can they stop it. All the preachers in the world can get up and stick their finger in the face of God's word and say, "well we don't believe it's real" or "it's of the devil." Many can try to argue it away with theological verbiage such as "those things passed away with the apostles," "there is just ONE baptism, not two," or the favorite among most preachers today - "well brother, I just can't let that go on in my church, you know Paul said let 'everything be done decently and in order' and I just know that if this took place in our church it would just cause confusion." WHY WOULD IT CAUSE CONFUSION????? I TELL YOU WHY! IN THE HARDNESS OF YOUR HEART AND WILLFUL IGNORANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT YOU'VE TAUGHT AGAINST IT SO MUCH THAT IF GOD DID SHOW UP I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU IT WOULD BE TOTAL CHAOS!!!!!!!!!!!!

BUT all these things will NEVER NEVER change the fact that untold millions have received this glorious experience and have never been the same again. GLORY TO GOD!

Someone said to me just this past week that the tongues as spoken of in Acts 2:4 were the supernatural ability to speak in languages you had not "learned." The contention over those who received this endowment of power on the day of Pentecost was that those who received the tongues were "unlearned men." Well even if I agreed with that statement (which I don't) then we both would have to deal with a glaring problem - the Apostle PAUL. Paul was not "unlearned." He sat at the feet of Gamaliel and was one of the most educated men in the WORLD of his day. Yet, he wrote 1 Corinthians 14 "I SPEAK IN TONGUES more than ye all!" He didn't have to learn other languages from heaven - he already knew them from his days with Gamaliel. No Paul did not receive the supernatural ability to speak in languages he needed to learn. AND NEITHER DID PETER OR JOHN. Paul was talking about an encounter with something bigger than him. Paul was talking about something that took the scales right off his eyes glory to God. Paul was talking about the same power that put him on his face on the Damascus Road when Yeshuah appeared to Him and cried out "Saul, Saul, WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME???" Friend this was not about learning languages!! THIS WAS A SUPERNATURAL ENCOUNTER WITH HEAVEN!!!!!

Paul knew what he was talking about. He knew this endowment from heaven was real. He said when we speak in tongues are NOT speaking to ourselves BUT TO GOD! In other words ONLY GOD and the HOLY GHOST know what we are saying when we pray in the HOLY GHOST (in unknown tongues)! NOT EVEN SATAN can interfere with that! Why then do we try to fight this so hard in the church? Why do we try to reason this away with theological arguments that are rooted in our forefathers' unbelief and arrogance instead of truth? Why do we turn to men in the past who were probably not even born again if the truth were known to be our voice today? Don't we know that these men will not give an account for OUR ignorance on the Day of Judgment? That we will be accountable for ourselves before God? And knowing this it behooves us to find out the TRUTH about something directly from the Lord since what is at stake - our very soul!!

My nine-year-old received this glorious experience about 2 weeks ago at the time of the writing of this study guide. Since that time the Lord has given him an anointing of tears. He weeps just like his father weeps when the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him. I have had an extremely hard time ministering lately because every time I get up before a group of people I can't talk without crying and weeping before them. And now my nine-year-old son is doing the same. This promise is for YOU and YOUR CHILDREN of those who believe. What my nine-year-old experienced was NOT a lesson in language learning. No, he received a touch from heaven and sir that is what you need today in your heart and life - A TOUCH FROM HEAVEN THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST!!!!!!!

One Baptism Into The Body - Many Baptisms In Our Walk - One Holy Ghost

Eph 4:3-5 - Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Hebrews 6:1-6 - Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, [2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. [3] And this will we do, if God permit. [4] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, [5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, [6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Have you ever noticed both the SINGULARITY AND PLURALITY of the word "baptism" and "baptisms" in Ephesians 4:3-5 and Hebrews 6:1-6? For those who continue to preach that there is just one "baptism," look at that word closely in Hebrews. Yes, there is only ONE baptism into the Body. You can't come to the Lord any other way than through the baptism of the Spirit into Christ. The Holy Spirit is the agent that does that. He draws you to Christ and "baptizes" you into His DEATH, BURIAL and RESURRECTION.

But there are many "baptisms" or "fillings" or "endowment,” in our walk with the Lord! And there is an INITIAL endowment of power subsequent to salvation that will cause one who receives this endowment to speak in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance.

1 Cor 12:13-14 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.

The Holy Ghost IS a factor in salvation. He DOES come into our hearts at salvation and thank God He does. But His work in us IS NOT OVER at salvation - it is just beginning. But when we are BAPTIZED or ENDUED, IMMERSED in the Holy Spirit He and the individual become ONE. Yes, at salvation we DO receive the Holy Spirit, but NO the person does not receive the baptism or endowment of power at salvation because the deeper more life-changing walk with the Lord comes AFTER that. And the same Holy Ghost who comes in at salvation is the same Holy Ghost who causes us to speak in tongues when we are immersed in his power! Paul said we are "made to drink" into that one Spirit. Who makes us drink? The Lord Jesus! The Holy Spirit brings us to Jesus at salvation. Jesus then immerses us in the Holy Ghost after salvation. Yeshuah is the baptizer in the HOLY GHOST and fire.

Matthew 3:11 - 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 3:16-17 - And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: [17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The activities of the Holy Spirit are many and varied. He is a:

• Comforter
• Leader
• Teacher
• Communicator
• Guide

He is the DIRECTOR of all of God's activities on the earth today. When the sinner comes to the moment of salvation he "receives the Holy Ghost," - within the context of being "born-again." That is what Paul referred to in 1 Corinthians 12:3 as us being "baptized in to the Body of Christ."

1 Cor. 12:3 - Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Assuming that being born again of the Spirit of God is the same as the baptism or immersion in power can lead to erroneous doctrine. This widespread but erroneous doctrine can handicap a Christian in his efforts to walk fully in harmony with the wishes of God. ALL BELIEVERS CAN HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE IF THEY WISH TO RECEIVE. At salvation, life is imparted to someone who was formerly dead in sin. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit EMPOWERS someone, or ENABLES, someone who may have been a weak, ineffectual Christian.

I'm about to say something here I'm sure may get a heated and lighted response. It's not really written to get a response but it needs to be said. Many well-meaning people in the Body and some who are dear friends of mine feel offended when they read their need for the immersion (baptism) in the Holy Ghost is a reflection that their walk with the Lord is inadequate. One recent email I received from a dear brother told me in no uncertain terms he didn't need to seek the "endowment" of power but to seek being more Christ-like. He said he couldn't get any more spiritual than allowing Christ to live through him. I couldn't agree MORE. The problem with seeking to be more Christ-like without seeking the ENABLEMENT of the HOLY SPIRIT puts us on a course for shipwreck. WE CAN'T develop Christ-like character without the HOLY GHOST! The fruit-of-the SPIRIT are attributes that the HOLY SPIRIT produces in us - not our own efforts. Whenever a person or church for that matter seeks to separate himself or herself from the Holy Spirit's work in any pursuit of Christ- they are falling into the trap of Satan each time.

Satan loves to get the church going in circles seeking to generate activity and life on its own. I know of many churches right now that have thousands of people attending each week. The services "seem" very lively and the announcements of activities usually take 20 minutes telling of all the church is "DOING." But the "doing" of the church DOES NOT CENTER AROUND THE MINISTRY OF THE YESHUAH and what He has ordained our churches to do in the EARTH in these latter days.

IN SPITE OF ALL OUR NUMBERS AND ACTIVITIES THE WORKS OF JESUS ARE NOT GETTING DONE! We can call our "pursuit" as being more "CHRIST-LIKE" all we want to but if we are not healing the sick, casting out devils, delivering the oppressed, setting captives free - THEN WE ARE NOT CHRIST-LIKE! We may be seeking His attribute and character but His call to the modern day church is to not only embrace His nature but to embrace HIS POWER as well and DO HIS WORKS! And we can't do His works without the baptism in the Holy Spirit and POWER! To LIVE in the full REVELATION of who Jesus Christ is and what it means for Him to live in us is to have not only HIS CHARACTER is us - BUT HAVE HIS POWER in us as well.

I don't care how many softball teams the church has. I don't care how many pizza parties and youth concerts the church has. I don't care how many people attend every Sunday and how many services are needed to hold all the people. Numbers are very deceiving. We as pastors may beat our chests in pride about those but it may do us well if we ask our selves a somber question - "why are people enjoying my church?" A church may have 1500 coming each week but if 1450 are lost and without God what does that profit the church? A church may have an active youth ministry, an active Sunday school, and all the other programs we LOVE to pride ourselves in. BUT IF THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT PRESENT IN OUR CHURCHES WE ARE NOT ACTING LIKE JESUS! That was HIS rebuke to the LAODICEA church:

Rev. 3:16-19 - So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. [17] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knows not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. [19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Oh we are rich. Oh we are increased with goods. Oh we feel our large buildings put us in a place where we have need of nothing but do we know that without the LIGHT of the HOLY SPIRIT and the POWER and ANOINTING of the Lord in our services we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked? HEAR the Spirit of God counsel us to buy of the Lord GOLD tried in the fire; hear Him speak and say "buy of me white raiment," and "anoint" our eyes that we may see. We cannot SEE without the HOLY GHOST! We cannot preach without the HOLY SPIRIT. We cannot teach without the HOLY GHOST. We cannot sing without the HOLY GHOST. We cannot see the captives set free among us without the HOLY SPIRIT. We cannot pray WITHOUT the Holy Ghost. We cannot see souls saved WITHOUT THE HOLY GHOST. We cannot change society without the HOLY GHOST!!!! Men of God rise UP and rebuke the lukewarmness of your people in this hour. Repent of hindering the HOLY GHOST among your parishioners. REPENT!! HOW LONG DO YOU RESIST THE HOLY GHOST OH MAN OF GOD????? HOW LONG?????? WHAT WILL IT TAKE to allow the freedom of the Lord's Spirit to change your church??? What will it take man of God??

When is the last time you heard of a service at a local church where the song service was canceled, the preaching was canceled, the announcements were canceled because the GLORY of the Lord fell and sinners who walked by the church grounds on the outside couldn't stand for the GLORY but RAN in to get saved? When is the last time we've prayed for the sick? How long has it been since we have prayed for people to get "filled" with the Holy Ghost????? How long has it been since we've had the Spirit of God so real in our midst that He speaks with such clarity the entire church finds itself on our faces WEEPING before the Lord REPENTING of our sinful wicked conditions before HIM???????? HOW LONG OH MAN OF GOD????????

HOW LONG has it been preacher since a person got truly born again at your church?????? And don't answer that question with the response that we had "several" come down and make professions of faith on Sunday. The average American churchgoer has become so professional in making a "profession" of faith without having an ENCOUNTER with a HOLY GOD through the power of HIS SON and through the ANOINTING OF THE HOLY GHOST that many wouldn't know if they are born again or not! Many who profess salvation yet wonder why they still love sin need to make sure they are in the FAITH!

2 Cor. 13:1-8 - This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. [2] I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: [3] Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. [4] For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. [5] Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? [6] But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. [7] Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. [8] For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

God I'm so hungry for a true move from heaven. I'm so terribly sick of normalized "church" I could regurgitate (I wanted to use another word but chose not to) It's what the Lord is going to do to us if we stay in this lukewarm state!!!!!!!!!!! HEAR ME MAN OF GOD. HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD. Dear God I don't want to go anywhere where You're not welcomed there. Lord I don't want to go where the Spirit of God can't move in power and freedom. Lord I'd rather sit in my car and worship you in the privacy of my front seat that to go hear some backslidden preacher get up and try to tell me Your Spirit don't move today like He did in the past. OH GOD DELIVER YOUR PREACHERS from our pride and egos. Deliver us from this sickening sense that our church services have to be structured to be "user" friendly and "seeker" friendly instead of being GOD FRIENDLY. Oh men of God hear this humble writer whose heart is burning with the fire of the Spirit right now. Hear me oh man of God. Hear me oh woman of the Lord. If we are not doing the works of JESUS in our churches then we are not SEEKING HIM! He wants to birth both His character AND His power inside of us! He wants to set us free from ourselves. A program of rules, regulations and disciplines DO NOT disciples make. NO NO! Only the power of the Holy Ghost birthing the POWER and NATURE OF YESHUAH in our hearts can make a true disciple. For it is the power of LOVE that CONSTRAINS US to love GOD and love OTHERS. And how is that love shed abroad in our hearts???? BY THE SAME HOLY GHOST who brought us to Jesus when we got saved.

Romans 5:5 - And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Salvation and the baptism (or enablement, endowment of power) in the Holy Spirit are TWO distinct and separate experiences. They are different as to source, time and nature. A person may experience salvation without experiencing this endowment of power. They cannot however experience the baptism in the Holy Spirit without first experiencing salvation. The infilling of the Holy Spirit must be PRECEDED by regeneration (salvation). Only THEN can the Holy Ghost actually take up residence within us and not just indwell us in a measure. It is this INDWELLING of the Holy Spirit that endows us with the power of Jesus and enables us to be of greater service to God.

The Holy Spirit's Work Today In The Believer Is More Powerful To Us Than Even If Yeshuah Were Still Here On Earth

A strange statement but one that is true and vitally important to understand if we are going to do the works of Yeshuah here on earth before He comes. When Yeshuah was here in the flesh He could only be in one place at one time. For an individual to be touched by Yeshuah, that person would have to travel to the very place Yeshuah ministered. That is why Yeshuah told His disciples so often that it was EXPEDIENT, NEEDFUL, VERY IMPORTANT for Him to go away so He could send back the COMFORTER - the HOLY GHOST.

John 14:16-18 - And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

John 14:26 - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26-27 - But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

John 16:7-11 - Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
(KJV)

Yeshuah knew that WHEN the Comforter came, that He would bring in a New Covenant where Yeshuah and His Law would now reside in the hearts of ALL those who believed in Him. As a result, Yeshuah was no longer confined to one place -but HE LITERALLY WOULD NOW BE SENT ALL OVER THE WORLD. WHY? Because HE WOULD BE INSIDE EACH AND EVERY ONCE WHO NAMED THE NAME OF YESHUAH. Praise God. You see I live in Knoxville, TN. and the Holy Ghost in me is just as much GOD here as He is in Southern Georgia where my father lives. When I go to work each day I take Yeshuah to work with me. And YOU take Yeshuah to work with you. And my wife takes Yeshuah to work and the places she goes with her! My brother is in New Mexico but the JESUS in him is just as real as the JESUS in me is here in TN. JESUS IS BOTH PLACES AT THE SAME TIME!!! WHY?? BECAUSE HE NOW LIVES INSIDE OF US (INDWELLS) us through the power of the HOLY GHOST!!

That's why I believe Yeshuah told us that we would do greater works than Him. He would no longer be confined to the earthly limitations of where He was at - NOW He'd BE EVERYWHERE! Praise God. Yeshuah said the Comforter would do three things inside each believer and his relationship to the world:

1. He Will Reprove The World Of Sin Because They Believe Not On Me

The greatest work of the Holy Spirit to the believer is His office of conviction. Let me tell you something very sobering and very serious when it comes to your eternal soul. If the day comes whenever you no longer feel this convicting touch - FALL ON YOUR KNEES IMMEDIATELY and plead for mercy. I want to say it again and stronger!!!!!! If the day comes when you can sin and not feel convicted about your sin - FALL ON YOUR KNEES and beg God for mercy. If you attend a church and you never hear a message that convicts you of sin and causes you to repent of your sin - GET OUT OF THAT CHURCH. Get out of from underneath that pastor. Get out of the influence of that church. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT THERE! If you're always "amening" the message you hear without feeling the Spirit's searching of your heart and soul, the mind, the inward man - GET OUT! Something is wrong there. The NUMBER ONE OFFICE OF THE HOLY GHOST IN THE HEART OF BELIEVERS (and the lost too) IS CONVICTION!

As much as I love speaking in tongues in my devotional time I can tell you that speaking in tongues is NOT the greatest thing the Holy Spirit does for us as Christians. The greatest thing and purpose of the Holy Spirit in our lives is that He keeps us on the path of life and headed towards our Lord Yeshuah through the work of conviction. The unbeliever is not subject to this conviction until the Lord draws him to Yeshuah. There comes a time in ALL our lives - NO EXCEPTIONS - that we ALL feel this conviction at one time or another. To some this conviction comes just once and if we reject it we are in serious trouble. For others, the Lord seems to deal and deal and deal and deal and deal over and over again giving us untold chances to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus.

The greatest feeling in the world (even though your flesh will NOT agree!) is the hammering conviction we feel at the hands of the Holy Ghost. When we experience this conviction we are experiencing God's LOVE and GRACE towards us! If He didn't love us He'd NEVER convict us! When this conviction becomes real to us we will always become like Isaiah and cry out that we are "UNDONE," and "dwell in the land among an undone people and unclean lips."

I believe without blinking the reason the church at large cannot reach the society around it is the Holy Spirit has departed from our establishments because He has been rejected so many times we have literally pushed him out our doors. The sinner man (which in America is comprised of a great deal of lost church members) can come in and out on Sunday morning and not be changed or confronted by the way they are living. The preacher preaches a lifeless message that has no conviction on it. Most messages we hear in most churches are a business report, pep rally, book report, or denominational report. VERY LITTLE PREACHING IS DONE ANYMORE AGAINST SPECIFIC SIN!

And thus since we in the church live worse than the world ourselves, we are a pitiful witness to a drunkard or drug addict or anyone else we are trying to lead to Yeshuah. I don't care HOW big the church is - if there is no CONVICTION in what is being preached - then there is NO ANOINTING THERE and you need to GET OUT and GET OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!!! That is what will confront a sinful society.

Two things happen to us when we are convicted:

• We get angry and mad; some grow resentful, bitter at the preacher or God;
• We humble ourselves before the hand of the Father and repent of our sins and seek a change in our lifestyle

The same sun HARDENS some clay and MELTS other forms of clay. It's the same SUN - the difference is in the makeup of the clay. The same is true about the SPIRIT OF GOD. The same Spirit - but each person responds differently to the conviction of the Spirit.

The Spirit Of God Is The Lamp Of The Lord

Proverbs 20:27 - The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

When the Spirit of God shines His light of love and conviction upon our hearts - we may feel condemned - but we are always dealt with knowing that there is hope for forgiveness. The enemy's condemnation carries no hope with it - it only carries condemnation. There are many people who have confused condemnation for conviction and vice versa and the results have been devastating eternally and spiritually. We must allow the Holy Ghost to shine His light upon us in this last hour and search our motives, our hearts, our souls, our minds, our most inward thoughts and being. Without the light of the Holy Spirit we will wind up in darkness!

Beware Of The Deceitfulness Of Sin

Hebrews 3:7-8;12-14 - Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, [8] Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 12-14 - Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. [13] But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. [14] For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Sin HARDENS us. Sin deceives us. Sin makes grown men be able to talk to strange women on the internet (or women talk to men - it works both ways) without feeling it is wrong. Sin makes men or women watch porno movies and not feel any remorse or conviction over what their eyes are taking in. Sin's deceitfulness hardens us to the point where we no longer have any compassion for our fellow man but we are quick to give our money out to the worldly establishments without blinking an eye or pausing a second.

Sin makes women meet men they don't know for drinks at strange bars and tell these men things they wouldn't tell their mother and not feel any remorse over doing so. Sin will make you do things you'd never think you'd sink to doing. Sin will let you sit and watch rape, violence, murder, greed, lying, stealing and extortion for three-four hours a night and not feel the heart-tug of the Holy Ghost telling you the enemy is bringing destruction against you with each second you allow those things to come into your home. OH NEIGHBOR HEAR the Word of the Lord in what I am saying to you.

That is why the office of the HOLY GHOST in this area is SO important. It is VITAL to our eternal destination. HE MUST be the LAMP of our hearts searching the SPIRIT OF MAN so we can stay on the path of life. Those who became spiritual shipwrecks didn't do it overnight. They strayed a little here and little there till there was no conscience to what they were doing and before they knew it they were BOUND and in need of deliverance. But I can guarantee you in their journey into this oblivion there was a call of conviction by the Holy Ghost to keep them from making those choices. Sadly, many of those bound by sin have sat in churches and never felt ANYTHING. God help us in this hour as church leaders. God help us as pastors. God help the church that fights tooth and toenail to keep this type moving of the Holy Spirit OUT while allowing every ungodly imaginable thing in the front door. Yea, I'm going to say it. We'll rebuke someone who is "dancing in the Spirit" because it offends some of our rich and affluent church members (who are so full of the devil it isn't funny) but we'll let a group of female so-called Contemporary Christian artists come and "jook out" like something that would make the Backstreet Boys blush in front of our church with belly-buttons showing and pants on that would strangle a goat. But yet we have no conscience about exposing our young people to this type "entertainment," we call "ministry,” while we swear an oath to the death that we will never allow an outbreak of Holy Ghost "laughter" or "falling out in the Spirit" to take place in our services. God help us.

The Holy Ghost has come to convict us of SIN.

2. He Will Reprove The World Of Righteousness Because Yeshuah Has Gone To His Father And We Will See Him No More

The Holy Ghost's role in reproving us of righteousness is to make us aware of our need for Yeshua’s righteousness! He has gone to the Father to make intercession for us daily for our sins. IF we sin, (not when) then we have an advocate in heaven that is FAITHFUL and JUST to forgive us our sins. Our righteousness is as filthy rags. HE IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS! Yeshuah has come to set us free from self-righteousness that always leads us to judge others based upon the merits of our own lives instead of using YESHUAH as our example.

3. He Will Reprove The World Of Judgment Because The Prince Of This World Has Been Judged

Yeshuah has judged Satan and has found him to be a LIAR and a murderer! The Holy Spirit has come to make that judgment REAL in our hearts and lives. He has come to give us the victory over the enemy and to appropriate Christ's victory over Satan at Calvary to our walk with the Lord. Everything that is accomplished in Yeshuah is because of Calvary. We can never stray from the CROSS. The cross of Yeshuah is the greatest symbol of victory for it was there where the ordinances and the penalties of sin were destroyed. Satan's power has no authority over those who have been to that same cross and given their lives TOTALLY over the Yeshuah.

To the degree we have sought to hold part of our lives back from Yeshuah - that is the part of our lives where the enemy has legitimate rights to torment and control us! The Holy Spirit has come to make Satan's defeat a reality in our own lives. GREATER IS HE that is in YOU (US) than HE that is in the WORLD (Satan)! Satan may be able to do a lot of nasty things through his people - BUT THE HOLY GHOST IN ME IS BIGGER! Islam may be growing at an alarming rate- BUT ISLAM IS NOT CONTEST FOR THE HOLY GHOST OF GOD IN ME!

Satan may be able to accuse and to attack - BUT GOD IS GREATER! Greater is He that is IN YOU sir, than HE that is in the WORLD! Let the power of God become so real in your life today that the HOLY SPIRIT makes Satan's defeat a reality in YOU! We have been made "MORE" than conquerors through HIM who has loved us! We are the HEAD and not the TAIL. We are the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD through CHRIST JESUS and not those who are depending on their own RIGHTEOUSNESS to earn brownie points with God. We are a CHOSEN generation, a ROYAL priesthood, and A GLORIOUS nation! We have been made to CRUSH the head of Satan underneath our feet. We can "chant" that in service each week and put on a good show for everyone to see us - BUT THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN MAKE THAT REAL IN OUR HEARTS and LIVES is the HOLY GHOST!

The Holy Ghost is MORE than a religious concept, a vague symbol. He is a vibrant force in one's life, as many who have stepped forward to invite the Lord Jesus to immerse them in HIM have found out. My nine-year old son Brandon found this out two weeks ago. I found it out 15 years ago. My brother Todd and his lovely wife Angela have found it out. My lovely wife Lisa found it out in 2000 after having gone 37 years without ever HEARING about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. My brother John and his wife Liz have found this out. My Aunt Florence and Aunt Hazel found it out many years ago. Many other believers and friends I know have found this out. But there are many who have not found this out for various reasons ranging from fear, to unbelief to downright arrogance and anger against it. What about you? I'm talking to believers here. The Lord Jesus SO wants you to be immersed (baptized) in the Holy Ghost and power. You may ask, "well I want that but I don't want to deal with the tongue issue." God understands that. I felt the same way in 1987. I went up and asked for prayer several times before I actually received the Holy Spirit baptism in February of that year. I was scared of the tongues too. But my initial problem was I was seeking "tongues" instead of seeking HIM. And that is the answer to your dilemma. You are not seeking "TONGUES" you are seeking MORE OF JESUS and the agent here on earth that can give you MORE OF HIM - is the HOLY GHOST!

You need this endowment of power. I can't say that enough. You need the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Praise God.

Father, in the name of Yeshuah, I pray for those reading this article right now that they will so sense their need to receive the Holy Spirit in His enablement and enduing power they will fall on their faces NOW and cry out for You to fill them! Help us not seek an "experience," with you but help us seek an ENCOUNTER with YOU oh LORD. Help us get THIRSTY for more of You. Help us develop a HUNGER for MORE of the things of God in this crucial hour before YOU come back to Earth. Help us oh Lord to KNOW you more intimately and help us see that the ONLY WAY we know You more intimately is THROUGH the HOLY SPIRIT. We need MORE OF YOU Yeshuah. We want to know Your SON more LORD. We want to allow the HOLY SPIRIT to immerse US in His grace and power right now Lord. Father, we are open to whatever You have for us in this time we are living in. Forgive us for the hardness of our hearts. Help us celebrate the Feast of the Lord this May as we near Pentecost. Help us see our need to be FILLED with the mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost that was given on this great Jewish feast day in honor of the giving of the TORAH on Mt. Sinai. Let the fire of Mt. Sinai rests in our hearts today - in Yeshua’s name. Amen!
 

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