HAVE YE RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST SINCE YE BELIEVED?

THIS WAS PAUL’S QUESTION to the 12 disciples of John the Baptist when he found them in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-2). These men were believers and only knew the teachings of John.     What was the teaching of John? We read in Matthew 3:1-2,

“IN those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

JOHN’S MESSAGE was that of repentance, to believe in the coming Saviour Jesus Christ and for people to turn away from their sins. He also urged the believers who for baptism and confessed their sins to

“BRING forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”

~Matthew 3:8

JOHN ALSO made them to know that although he baptized them with water, there was One coming that would baptize them with the Holy Ghost and with Fire (Verse 11). So John was the one who first, in this gospel time, introduced us to the dispensation of the Holy Ghost.

ALTHOUGH WE HAD the promise in prophecy as we read in Joel 2:28 and 29, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit,” the disciples of Jesus also received the promise from the Master Himself.

HE TOLD them,

“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high,”

~Luke 24:49

NOTICE HOW Jesus termed it, “the promise of the Father,” “Power from on high.”

ALTHOUGH THESE DISCIPLES who encountered John were saved, just as the disciples of Jesus were at the time they received the promise, they had no knowledge nor experience of the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Power.

NOTE AGAIN that Jesus connects the Spirit and Power when he said in Acts 1:8,

“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.”

IT IS THEREFORE CLEAR that the presence of the Holy Ghost in the heart is what makes a difference between two believers. Watch Paul filled with the Holy Ghost and the weak disciples of John without Him. Consider the fearful apostles of Christ before Jesus went to the cross and the same apostles after the Pentecost. I am sure you will see much difference as the apostles worked the works of God, healed the sick, withstood the fiery persecutions, preached the gospel in every city in the face of intimidation, raised the dead, discerned and cast out evil spirits and spoke in various languages they never learned and through it made known the truth in all lands.

YOU WILL NOTICE that Paul did not ask these simple folks if they spoke in tongues since they believed, rather he asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost. Some people today are bent on speaking in tongues rather than receiving the spirit. Instead of seeking to be filled by the Spirit, they seek a kind of tongues. No wonder we see all kinds of spirits today manifesting in strange languages called tongues. Thank God such evil machinations of Satan have been exposed. God is not the author of confusion, the evidence that you are filled with the Spirit is not that you can speak in tongues, the evidences are those graces which the spirit of God bestow on you as recorded in Galatians 5:22,23. We will treat the tongues question another day.

HOWEVER, the Spirit of God changes the state of the heart and sanctifies it for God’s use. We see that as they humbled themselves in prayers they received it and began to speak with tongues and prophesied. They indeed were filled and became more useful and empowered.

A SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE is a consecrated life in Christ Jesus. While many are satisfied with a shallow Christian experience, God has made available to us a deeper Christian experience through the presence of the Holy Ghost. No wonder, the shallow Christian is falling and rising everyday. He will always rely on the prayers of others to sustain his weak faith. No, don’t continue in this way, there is a higher level of power for you.

THE HOLY GHOST is the Christian’s power to preach and live out the gospel around the community and the larger society. It is the church’s power to propagate the doctrines of Christ in the face of compromise and opposition.

THE SPIRIT IS the Christian’s power to be holy. The Holy Spirit makes holy. The world of religion without the Holy Ghost cannot preach or live holiness. It is futile and empty talk for the church to preach holiness and not have the Holy Ghost. It is an empty talk for a Christian to talk about holy living without the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

AGAIN, IT IS a theological somersault for preachers to claim to have the Holy Spirit (speak in tongues and conduct deliverance) and proclaim that they cannot live holy. What then is the work of the Holy Ghost in their lives?

HAVE YE RECEIVED the Holy Ghost since ye believed? It is good that you have believed, now that you have received Jesus and have sworn to walk with Him and obey His commandments, but is it not time to seek his power, which is not for a few but a promise for all who believe?

HEAR WHAT Peter said on that day when the Holy Ghost first came upon man,

“FOR the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call,”

~Acts 2: 39

EVEN AS MANY as the Lord our God shall call. Has the Lord called you? If yes, then the promise of the Spirit is for you.

YOU MAY ASK, how do I receive the Holy Ghost? I have attended a church service where I was asked to receive the Holy Ghost and what the preacher was waiting to hear is that I should begin to mutter some shimma-shabba. Brother, if that is what you are seeking for, then be sure you may receive a spirit – but you will not receive the power of the Holy Ghost. It is by faith, not by signs or sight. Yes when you have received the power, you will begin to see its manifestation in your life. In your devotion and consecration; yes, in your ability and input in the spiritual work of God; yes, in your dispensation of the gift of God in you and most especially, your life will be adorned with His rich graces, the same Paul referred to as fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 and 23.

LET ME EMPHASISE that the baptism of the Holy Ghost is not the manifestation of some gift or the just the speaking of tongues – it is the entrance of the Spirit in the heart of a man. Jesus said,

“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,”

~John 14:17

NOTE THAT JESUS said He shall be IN YOU. It is not just an influence or a feeling. It is a real experience of change and a new level of relationship between man and God through the Spirit.

I ASK AGAIN, have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? This is your chance of giving your Christian experience a facelift and your walk with God a fun. May the Lord grant your desires as you seek his sanctifying power and a deeper experience in the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Read Full Post »

PERILOUS TIMES HAVE COME

 

FROM 2 TIMOTHY 3:1, we read,

“THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”

PERILOUS TIMES refer to a period of extreme difficulty and hazards. The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines perilous as “very dangerous.” Perilous times therefore are very dangerous times. In what sense are the times dangerous?

IN THE RELIGIOUS CIRCLES, perilous times are described as times yet in the future when a man called antichrist would torment the people of the earth, starving them with food and liberty and forcing them to accept his mark (mark of the beast) or starve them to death.

I THINK THAT the tale of the antichrist as described above does not fall within the timing of the period Paul the Apostle, speaks of here in this verse. For he said “in the last days.” We are certainly in the last days. Do you believe it? If you don’t, consider some of the marks of the last days.

“FOR men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

~2 Timothy 3:2-5.

THE PICTURE SHOWN us in this scripture indicates that the last days would witness a period of wickedness and godlessness. There shall be a famine, not of food or money, but of truth and righteousness.

IT SHALL BE A PERIOD where to be good would be strange and all those who want to be good would be scared for reprisals from the ungodly people.

PERILOUS TIMES, according to the Bible, would witness a show of covetousness and greed. Just as people would flourish in the material things, so they would be greedy and fierce in their desire for them. They would kill and maim for riches, because they have lost all natural feelings and affections.

BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED competition for materialism, there would be so much pride in the land. Men would be selfish and would rather seek their own at the expense of the general good of others –“lovers of them selves.” There would be a craze for pleasure of all sorts, behold the avalanche entertainments- sports, music, dances, drinking. “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”

THE BIBLE DID NOT say that perilous times would witness a cessation of religion and godly proclamations. In fact during the perilous times, many would profess Christ and claim to be His servants. There shall be many churches and many preachers. There would be people who would say that they are Christ. But the difference would be that their religion would be a mere form, because while they make much talk about Christ, it is only in their lips; the power to be a true Christian disciple, they would refuse. So the Scripture says, “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”

IF THESE CHARACTERISTICS underline the last days and the perilous times, then here we are already. Don’t be confused by false doctrines making the rounds; this scripture was written for Christians to be vigilant; to beware of the times, so that they are not caught unawares. The perilous times are here and we are seeing the wickedness increasing on a daily basis. But we are to turn away from all this.

ALL WE NEED TO DO as saints of God is to draw closer to God in prayers and be valiant for the Lord. Satan is working hard to diminish the radiance of our faith, let us keep it up, for some are already waxed cold according to the prediction of Jesus,

“AND because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold,”

~Matthew 24:12.

THE TIMES ARE HERE; let us rise to the occasion, for only he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Read Full Post »

IF I REGARD INIQUITY IN MY HEART

READING THE BOOK of psalms chapter 66 and verse 18, we find the words,

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”

This lines reveal very important matters relating to our relationship with our God and Maker.

FIRST WE FIND INIQUITY in the heart. Iniquity is anything evil or wicked. All unrighteousness is sin, the Bible states. So iniquity in the heart brings us into disfavor with God to the extent that our prayers, cries and yearnings made toward God will not be attended to.

INIQUITY IN THE HEART is a state of defilement where it becomes impossible to appear before the Throne of Grace. God said of the people living in the days of Noah,

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually,” Genesis 5:5.

The result was the destruction by flood.

THE HEART OF MAN is the place for constant battle between righteousness and unrighteousness. The one is contrary to the other. If righteousness reigns, darkness and every evil work or iniquity will be vanquished, yet when iniquity reigns, righteousness will be subdued.

YET THE PSALMIST said, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

SOME PROFESSING CHRISTIANS are reveling in sin, yet make many prayers to the Lord. They make sure that they attend all the church programmes and pay all the church levies that are due to them, but they are deluded that the Lord will receive their sacrifices.

BE NOT DECEIVED, God is not mocked; whatever you sow you shall reap. God is not a man that He should lie. He told the children of Israel,

“TO what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.”

YOUR new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood,” Isaiah 1:11-15.

WHEN ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

GOD DOES NOT hear the prayers of sinners. Although some believe that although they sin, God still hear their prayers. They are confused and deluded, God heareth not sinners, John 9:31.

SOME WOULD SAY, “If God is not hearing me, why is God blessing me?” Such confuse material success with God’s divine favour. There is nothing to show for that. Even the ungodly who do not know God prosper in material things. In fact, they appear to have more access to the wealth of the world, but they do not have access to the divine grace of God. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

THERE ARE MANY people today suffering under the bondage of Satan, calling on God for help. They travel from one church to another seeking deliverance; God said he does not hear sinners and the workers of iniquity He cannot attend to.

“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear,”

~Isaiah 59:1-2.

“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation”

~Psalms 24:3-5.

FOR THOSE WHO would curse, swear and grudge, the Bible says your prayers will not be heard. And that is the reason Jesus Christ gave the instruction that if you come before the Lord to offer a sacrifice, and you realize that you have a quarrel with somebody, you have to first lay aside your gift and first be reconciled with the person, then you can return to offer your gift. This is because if you regard iniquity in your heart, the Lord will not accept that gift from the Lord.

SAUL WAS REJECTED because he sinned against the Lord, although he sought to offer sacrifice to the Lord from the spoil of the war, but God would not receive a defiled sacrifice, and Samuel said “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams,” I Samuel 15:22

HIS HYPOCRISY to still continue to offer sacrifice before the Lord after he was rejected further worsened his situation when he tore the garments of Samuel as he tried to force him to worship God with him. God had rent the kingdom from Saul and given it to David.

HOW CAN WE HOPE to worship God in our sinful state? Although we may come to God as we are, we cannot worship Him that way. He has plans for you and I when we come. As He said through Isaiah,

“WASH you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

“IF ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”

Isaiah 1:16, 18-20

IF THE HEART is defiled, the Lord cannot work, except it be purged. There is one purging fountain, and that is the blood of Jesus Christ. If you present your heart to the Lord he will purge it.

IT IS GOD’S WILL that His people be holy in heart and life. Although some do not believe that they can be holy and teach that men should not bother to be holy, yet in an unholy state we have no place in God. The Psalmist says

“I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me.”

In Psalms 119:2-3 we read,

“Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.”

TO BE HOLY is to do no iniquity. These are the people who are blessed, they do no iniquity.

GOD IS LOOKING for hearts that are willing to submit. He will not only forgive sins, He will cleanse from all unrighteousness ( 1 John 1:9). God in the heart makes anew. If any man be in Christ (or if Christ be in any man) he will be made anew.

REMEMBER – THE LORD said, if ye rebel ye shall be devoured, that is to say you will face the wrath of God, but if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. You will find peace and joy and your prayers shall ascend to the Lord as a sweet incense. Oh what joy it is that we can commune with the Lord!

FOR THE BIBLE SAYS the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their cry (Psalm 34:15). To be righteous is to be free from sin, only such can appear before God and have their cries and prayers answered.

AGAIN WE ARE TOLD that although God heareth not sinners, he would hear the penitent and repentant cry of the sinners. For he said a broken and a contrite heart he will not despise (Psalms 51:17), again it is written,

“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit,

~Psalm 34:18

MAKE YOUR DECISION now to be free from all sins and receive God’s admittance into his presence, for in His presence there is deliverance.

Read Full Post »