Subject: Deception IX: No Pentecost, Pt. II Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 18:37:56 -0500 From: Jesus Christ is the ONLY Way to God To: tracy@jesus-is-lord.com Jesus Christ is the ONLY Way to God - Powered by InJesus Subscribe Unsubscribe Change E-mail View Archive Deception IX: No Pentecost, Pt. II sis. tracy Mar 28, 2003 ****THE ADVERSARY'S HOOFPRINTS**** It is no random chance that these grave errors concerning the baptism of the Holy Ghost are in the church today. SATAN IS A CRAFTY FOE...BY STEALING THIS DOCTRINE, HE HAS EFFECTIVELY NEUTERED THE CHURCH. Churches are full but they are not turning the world upside down. Instead, the opposite is true. The world is in the church. The people watch hellivision, go to movies, read Stephen King, "Christian" romance stories, "Christian" heavy metal, etc. The problem is our pulpits. Many unanointed men are taking pastoral positions and have not experienced the filling. They do the best that they can, but that is poor and limited--man needs divine revelation to expound the hard truths of God's holy word. TODAY'S CHURCH HAS REPLACED ANOINTING WITH EDUCATION AND TRADITIONS...AND IT IS KILLING THE PEOPLE. THE DEVIL has DECEIVED the church by injecting two equally terrible errors into it-- (1) One ESSENTIALLY says that there is no Holy Ghost--(fundamentalists/conservative churches). (2) The other makes up false doctrine concerning the Holy Ghost and distorts His work (charismatics). The truth is that the Holy Ghost STILL exists, He is STILL the power and mover of God, and He is STILL baptizing people with Himself. THE POWER STILL exists and it is God's will that every child of God be a partaker of it. The devil waged a war against this doctrine and, through men, has obscured the doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. By so doing, he not only neutered us BUT KEPT US DEPENDING ON MAN'S RELIGIOUS DRAWING POWER RATHER THAN HOLY GHOST POWER. That's why we have CHURCH halloween parties, CHURCH Christmas trees, CHURCH Easter egg hunts, CHURCH bazaars, CHURCH step teams, etc. There is NO deliverance in man's power and ideas-- Zechariah ...NOT by might, nor by power, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, saith the LORD of hosts. Andrew Murray said this concerning man's religious power in "Experiencing the Holy Spirit" (a book I would NOT have been interested in just a few years ago)-- "What an immense host of workers there is in Christian countries. How varied and unceasing is the preaching of the Word. Sunday-school teachers are numbered by hundreds of thousands. Large numbers of Christian parents make their children acquainted with the Word of God and also bring them to the Lord as Savior. YET HOW LITTLE FRUIT SPRINGS FROM ALL THIS WORK." If our churches are not run by God's Spirit, then they are run BY MAN. That's why we are so weak and the products of our service are so weak and ineffectual. By and large, today's professed church is HUMANISTIC. We talk a lot about "secular humanism". We need to take off "secular" (that word makes us think that humanism is just outside of church walls) and just park on humanism and it's EMPHASIS ON MAN'S REASON. If God's Spirit is not running a church, MAN IS. It's EASY to see that HUMANISM IS THE SPIRIT OF THE CHURCH TODAY (more on this in a later email, Lord willing). King Jesus did not need the testimony of MAN, for he knew what was in man (John 2:25). He wants the testimony of His Spirit. We need to be led by a man filled with God's Spirit. Otherwise, the church becomes a three ring-circus--which is what most of them are. Many sermons are actually speeches better suited for Toastmasters than for the church of the living God. ****SHOW STOPPER**** Over our years on the internet, I've studied many different subjects and doctrines. One of them was the idea that we were to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost after salvation. I took the mainstream party line (that I was taught) that we had everything that we were ever going to get at salvation. But one night, I remember reading Acts chapter 8. I told my husband, "This is a show stopper". Let me explain. The people of Samaria believed the gospel of Jesus Christ and were baptized with water-- Acts 8:12 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. This is where many of us are today. We have believed the gospel of Jesus Christ and have been baptized in water. We are saved and that is good. But this story of the Samaritans did not end with water baptism. When the apostles heard that the people had received the word, THEY KNEW THAT THEY NEEDED SOMETHING ELSE, the Holy Ghost-- Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD, they sent unto them Peter and John: 8:15 Who, when they were come down, PRAYED FOR THEM, THAT THEY MIGHT RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST: This account still isn't over. Acts 8:16 gives us a parenthetical commentary telling us that the people were "ONLY" baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. That is many of us today. We've ONLY believed and been baptized in water, but not by the Holy Ghost-- Acts 8:16 (FOR AS YET he was fallen upon none of them: **ONLY** they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 8:17 Then LAID THEY THEIR HANDS ON THEM, AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST. Many of us have been saved and baptized with water FOR YEARS but we have no witnessing POWER of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. No real power over sin. No sense of holiness. No overwhelming love and adoration of God for who He is. No deep love for our fellow man. No charity. No keeping power. WE NEED TO ASK THE FATHER FOR THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST-- Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: HOW MUCH MORE SHALL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM THAT ****ASK**** HIM? IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH THAT SOMEONE HAS TOLD US THAT PENTECOST IS OVER. WE MUST LOOK AT THE TESTIMONY OF THE SCRIPTURES. MAN WILL KEEP YOU IN A LITTLE BOX, BELIEVING A FEW CHOICE DOCTRINES. God will LIBERATE you from traditions of men into the truth and reality. ****LAYING ON OF HANDS IS NOT JUST IN ACTS**** In the book of Acts, we find the practice of "laying on of hands" for the filling of the Holy Ghost. For instance, Ananias put his hands on Saul that he might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost-- Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and **PUTTING HIS HANDS ON HIM** said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, AND **BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST**. Another example. Peter and John prayed and "laid hands" on the Samaritans that they might receive the Holy Ghost-- Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria HAD RECEIVED the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 8:15 Who, when they were come down, PRAYED FOR THEM, THAT THEY MIGHT RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST: 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 8:17 Then **LAID THEY THEIR HANDS ON THEM, AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST**. Paul "laid his hands" upon certain Ephesian disciples-- Acts 19:2 He [Paul] said unto them [Ephesians], Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 19:6 AND WHEN PAUL HAD **LAID HIS HANDS UPON THEM, THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM**; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. Many modern day preachers relegate the laying on of hands to the primitive church. But the book of Acts is not the only place that we find THE DOCTRINE of laying on of hands. The book of Hebrews teaches us that "laying on of hands" is a basic, foundational, principle doctrine that even babes in Christ should understand. It is milk. Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, YE HAVE NEED THAT ONE TEACH YOU AGAIN WHICH BE THE **FIRST PRINCIPLES** OF THE ORACLES OF GOD; AND ARE BECOME SUCH AS HAVE NEED OF **MILK**, AND NOT OF STRONG MEAT. 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. [this is last verse of chapter 5, now continue on down into chapter 6] 6:1 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, 6:2 Of the doctrine of BAPTISMS [notice the "s" denoting that there is more than one baptism], **AND OF LAYING ON OF HANDS**, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Now, according to Hebrews 5:12 these first "**principles** of the oracles of God" (including laying on of hands) are MILK and not even strong meat. BUT FOR US laying on of hands is like strong meat that we can't handle--BECAUSE THIS MOST BASIC, EASY DOCTRINE HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM US. The doctrine of laying on of hands is in the same difficulty category as repentance from dead works and of faith towards God (ref. Heb 6:1-2). It is FOUNDATIONAL and it is easy. **** "WHAT IF I HAVE NO ONE TO LAY HANDS ON ME?" **** First of all, God is not bound by the presence or absence of man. If you are His sincere child, He will give you the gift of the Holy Ghost if you ask Him (more on this in Deception X: Attaining Pentecost)-- Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: HOW MUCH MORE SHALL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM THAT ****ASK**** HIM? In the scriptures, we find that people received the Holy Ghost in different ways-- (1) The disciples were together with one accord tarrying (waiting) on the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-4). (2) Laying on of hands (as the Samaritans, Saul and the Ephesians). (3) Through hearing and believing the spoken word of the gospel (Cornelius and his band)-- In Acts 10:1-48, we read the account of the Gentile Cornelius and his family. When Peter finally came to Cornelius' house, he found Cornelius and his (Cornelius') kinsmen and near friends assembled together to hear the word from Peter. While Peter preached the word of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost fell on all those who heard the word. They came together ready to hear and receive the word. The people believed and accepted everything about the gospel and the GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST (v. 45) was poured out on them. I perceive that these people believed and accepted everything of the gospel AND THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO BE CHANGED BY IT. WHATEVER HAD TO CHANGE, THEY'D LET IT CHANGE. This mentality is REQUIRED to be filled with the Holy Ghost. **HE IS NOT GOING TO FILL YOU THAT HE MIGHT PLAY SECOND FIDDLE TO YOUR SINS.** Cornelius and his friends and family were baptized in water after they received the Holy Ghost. The point is that Peter was not praying or laying hands on the people, he was preaching when the Holy Ghost came. Even if you don't have a man to lay hands on you, the Lord is not bound by man's absence (or presence for that matter), praise the Lord and hallelujah. If you are saved and love the Lord enough to obey Him and disown the world, just ASK Him for the gift of the Holy Ghost. In Acts 11, Peter recounts the events of Acts 10-- Acts 11:15 And ***AS I BEGAN TO SPEAK***, THE HOLY GHOST FELL ON THEM, as on us at the beginning. 11:16 **THEN REMEMBERED I THE WORD OF THE LORD**, HOW THAT HE SAID, JOHN INDEED **BAPTIZED WITH WATER; BUT YE SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST**. 11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like ***GIFT*** as he did unto us, WHO BELIEVED ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST; what was I, that I could withstand God? Don't worry if you have no man to lay hands on you. The Holy Ghost fell on Cornelius, his friends and family as they HEARD the word spoken. No hands were laid on them...One thing I have learned about the Lord is that He has a customized plan for you. I didn't have a dramatic Damascus road experience when I got saved. I didn't fall off of a horse, I wasn't in a car accident, etc. In fact, no gospel worker approached me. My testimony isn't what most people would call exciting, yet I'm still saved. When I was filled with the Holy Ghost, I had no man to approach me with that doctrine. I didn't know whether there was any Holy Ghost. Yes, I was baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, but I didn't know the Holy Ghost as more than a name and an agent in the primitive church. BUT GOD knew that I needed the baptism of the Holy Ghost and He knows that you need it...In my life, He overrode man's theories (and my resulting prejudices) and gave me power. ****POWER TO WITNESS**** King Jesus gave us a commission to convert all nations (ref. Matt 28:19-20). He also gives us THE DIVINE empowerment and enablement of the Holy Ghost to do it. Our human mindset and understanding and explanation of the gospel is NOT enough to convert souls. This work must be done by the Holy Ghost. We must be filled with the Holy Ghost in order to be EFFECTIVE witnesses. If you find that your efforts are feeble, this ought not to be. The following is a quote from Deception I: Thinking Outside the Box-- "Two different people can share the gospel of Jesus Christ. That He died, was buried and rose again the third day. They can both say the same words. What makes the difference is the anointing of the Holy Ghost." We have lots of "soulwinners" knocking on doors, but what are the results? What do the "converts" look like. Pews are loaded down with worldlings that can't even stop sinning, much less show the glory of God. **** NO POWER **** Church people speak lots of words. Some even knock on doors to pass out tracts. BUT THERE IS NO POWER TO THE WORDS. Our words may be orthodox, but there is no Holy Ghost POWER pushing them forth. 1 Corinthians 4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, NOT THE SPEECH of them which are puffed up, BUT THE POWER. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 For OUR GOSPEL came **NOT** unto you IN WORD ONLY, BUT ALSO IN **POWER**, AND IN THE **HOLY GHOST**, AND IN MUCH ASSURANCE; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. We don't need man's words about the Bible, we need to hear (and speak) what the Holy Ghost teacheth -- 1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, NOT IN THE WORDS WHICH MAN'S WISDOM TEACHETH, BUT WHICH THE HOLY GHOST TEACHETH; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Bro. Andrew Murray comments on the dangers of unanointed preaching-- "Many who hear [the gospel] and are by no means indifferent never make a definite choice for salvation. Many who from youth to old age are conversant with the Word of God ARE NEVER SEIZED by it in the depths of their heart. They find it good, pleasing, and instructive to attend church, but they have never felt the POWER of the Word as a hammer, a sword, or a fire. THE REASON THEY ARE SO LITTLE DISTURBED IS THAT THE PREACHING THEY LISTEN TO IS SO LITTLE IN DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT AND OF POWER. THIS IS EVIDENCE ENOUGH THAT THERE IS A GREAT LACK OF THE FULL BLESSING OF PENTECOST." (Experiencing the Holy Spirit, pp. 46-47) This is a strange thing...given that the doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Ghost is absent from most churches... WHO ARE THE MEN IN OUR THE PULPITS AND WHO HAS SENT THEM? I am not saying that there are not sincere Christian people who are trying to serve the Lord in their limited strength. There are such people. Nevertheless, the strangeness of this issue still remains. ****WHAT ABOUT YOU?**** Have you been immersed in the waters of baptism? If so, good. But have you been baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire? Were you ever told to seek such a baptism? In Acts 19, Paul asked the Ephesians a question that reverberates unto this present day-- "Have YE received the Holy Ghost SINCE YE BELIEVED?" And they said unto him, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." (ref. Acts 19:2). If you don't have the fire, ASK for it (Luke 11:13). But you must be serious. The Holy Ghost comes to EXPEL your self-seeking, self-loving, self-pleasing self-life. If you want to keep your pet sins or any area to yourSELF, then you are not interested in being filled. But if you want to glorify Jesus at the expense of SELF then you are ready for a state unknown to most people. This higher life requires the sacrifice of all. In fact, that is what Jesus requires-- Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not ALL that he hath, he CANNOT be my disciple. This experience, this filling of the Holy Ghost, is for ALL those who love the Lord and believe in Him of a truth. Ask in sincerity to be filled with the Holy Ghost...but don't be surprised if grief comes first. More on this, Lord willing, in Deception X: Attaining Pentecost. I've been meditating on this email since February 7, 2003. Somebody on this list can experience their own personal Pentecost even while meditating on these things. Grace, blessing, peace and power to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. for Jesus' sake, tracy -- http://www.jesus-is-lord.com ..they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Ezekiel 2:4, 6 InJesus Community Recommendation To recommend this message to others at InJesus, use these links. This is good. 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