First the Question: Satan has RELIGIOUS children, and sows them as tares among the wheat, the Children of God. True or False?
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The Child of God and the Holy Spirit
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All true Christians believe in three Persons in one God-head: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Three in One and One in Three, and the One in the middle died for me. The LORD Jesus Christ said, “Baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19
The personality and deity of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, are clearly set forth in the Scriptures. Christ said, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter (or Paraclete).” John 14:16. This is the same word translated “Advocate.” 1 John 2:2. When Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, he lied to God. Acts 5:3-4. “And the Holy Spirit said” Acts 13:2. “The Holy Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” Romans 8:26.
In the Old Testament Scriptures the Second and Third Persons of the God-head were latent; in the New Testament Scriptures they are patent. Christ, beginning with the Book of Matthew is patent; The Holy Spirit, beginning with the Book of the Acts is patent.
The dispensation of the Holy Spirit was ushered in after the resurrection of the Son of God. Before the Son of God went to the cross “the Holy Spirit was not yet given” John 7:39.
When The LORD Jesus Christ was here on earth, He said:
“I will send the Holy Spirit”, John 16:7
God is in the Christian, 2 Cor. 6:16
Christ is in the Christian, Colossians 1:27
The Holy Spirit is in the Christian. 1 Corinthians 6:19
Therefore the Holy Spirit is a Person as truly as is God, the Father.
Now, PAY ATTENTION, It is unscriptural for any Christian to pray for, or to seek for, more of the Holy Spirit. However, It is all right to pray that the Holy Spirit may have more of the child of God.
It is likewise unscriptural to ask God to send down the Holy Spirit from Heaven. When Christ was on earth He said, “I came down from heaven.” The Bible says that the Holy Spirit has been sent down from heaven. 1 Peter 1:12. How foolish would John have been, had he looked up to heaven and prayed for God to send down from heaven His Son, when John’s head was leaning on His bosom at the time. It is equally as foolish for a Christian with the Holy Spirit in his bosom to pray that the Third Person be sent down from heaven today.
Note: in Ephesians 1:3 and Ephesians 1:19-23 that the Christian has all blessings and power and therefore it is unscriptural to seek a second blessing called Holy Spirit baptism.
The Holy Spirit bears witness of the resurrection of the believer’s sonship. Romans 8:16. He is the believer’s assurance of his incorruptible inheritance at the LORD’s coming. Ephesians 1:14. Therefore he is the witness of the LORD’s return. Ephesians 4:30.
Just as truly as there is one Father and one Son, there is one Spirit, and one Body. Ephesians 4:4. And, just as truly as there are infidels in the congregations preaching another Jesus, there are fanatics in the congregations preaching another spirit. 2 Cor. 11:4.
The world cannot receive the Spirit. John 14:17. The Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. John 16:8. If the sinner under conviction yields to the Sinbearer, he is drawn by the Spirit to the Son. John 6:44. Then he is born of the Spirit. John 3:5.
As no one can work for salvation, which is a free gift from God, no one can work for the Holy Spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit by the hearing of The Faith. Galatians 3:2. The Holy Spirit is given unto believers. Romans 5:5. Therefore we do not have to agonize or go through physical contortions or have others put hands on us in order to receive the Holy Spirit. I pray I am being clear on this! It’s important.
Notice the three persons of the Trinity in these verses: “Now He which establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” 2 Cor. 1:21-22. The proof that we are in Christ, is the Spirit in our hearts. By this Spirit we are sealed when we BELIEVE. Ephesians 1:13. “After that ye believed” in this verse is properly translated from the original, “having believed”
No Christian is ever sealed because of an interval between the time of believing and the time of sealing; but every Christian is sealed by the Holy Spirit, because he believes the Gospel of Grace of his salvation. Moreover he is sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30.
No Christian could possibly have the experience of the certain disciples whom Paul met in Ephesus. They had previously received John’s message and baptism, which have had no place in the Body of Christ since that time. Acts 19:1-5. Paul’s question should be correctly translated, “Having believed, received ye the Holy Spirit.” Acts 19:2. Take NOTE: The anointing which the believer receives when first he believes abides in him. 1 John 2:27.
There is one Spirit and one baptism. Ephesians 4:4. When an individual is born into the family of God, by the work of the Holy Spirit, he is taken into, and made a member of the Body of Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit which puts the believer into the Body of Christ is called, “Baptized in or by the Holy Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:13.
People who call themselves Christians are doing all sorts of peculiar things today in an effort to receive the Holy Spirit baptism. Some are being taught that believers receive the Holy Spirit WITH them when saved by faith in the finished work of God, repentance and water baptism; and then they must pray and tarry and yield for a second work of grace in order to receive the Holy Spirit IN them. THIS teaching is contrary to the Word of God and has wrecked the faith and sanity of many converted people.
Some of these false teachers often quote the experience of Peter and the Eleven who were saved with Christ in the days of His flesh, and then were baptized by the Holy Spirit after His resurrection. Let us remember that they were His disciples before His death, that is, before the Holy Spirit was given. John 7:39. They were with Him while He was under The Law, preaching the Kingdom of Heaven message to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Galatians 4:4. Matthew 10:1-5. Those disciples had the unique experience of living, as disciples of Jesus, before His death and resurrection in the Old Testament and also after His resurrection in the New Testament.
As it would be impossible historically to have such an experience today, it would likewise be impossible for any believer to have their experience in receiving the Holy Spirit as an act subsequent to regeneration or conversion.
Now, the Christian, who is sealed with the Holy Spirit, can grieve the Holy Spirit and can quench the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30. 1 Thessalonians 5:19. It is the duty of every Christian to walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16. All Christians are temples of the Holy Spirit but very few of them are walking in the Spirit in the degree that they should. When a Christian walks in the Spirit he manifests the Fruit of the Spirit, against which there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23. He fulfills the righteousness of the law. Romans 8:4.
All true Christians have been baptized by the Holy Spirit, but how few today are obeying the Word of God in this command, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit” Ephesians 5:18. The Christian who has the sweetest fellowship with the LORD, who experiences the greatest joy of salvation, who serves God with the greatest power, who triumphs over the world, the flesh and the devil, is the one who is filled with the Holy Spirit.
The believer is thus filled just in the proportion that he is yielded to the will and way of the LORD in worship, prayer, Bible study, testimony, and practical Christian service.
Tarrying Meetings for members of the Body of Christ to receive the Holy Spirit are unscriptural. However, Prayer Meetings for an increase of The Faith, willingness and obedience to receive the power of Ephesians 1:19-23 are altogether Scriptural. No believer receives the Holy Spirit on the installment plan. Believers filled with the Holy Spirit will exalt Christ.
During the “Acts” period, the thirty plus years from Acts 1:1 to Acts 28:31, there were several baptisms, “Holy Spirit baptism” in fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, “water baptism” and “baptism into the death of Christ” Acts 2:16-38. Acts 19:1-7. Romans 6:3-4. Joel prophesied concerning the “last days” particularly concerning Israel’s kingdom age. Joel 2:28-30, concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, will not be fulfilled during this “grace” period. Whatever we may have in mind when we speak of Holy Spirit baptism, let us never forget that the anointing of the Holy Spirit is a once‑for‑all anointing. 1 John 2:27; that the sealing, anointing and baptism, of, in, or by, the Holy Spirit is always a past experience with the true Child of God!
Compare the “death” baptism of Christ in Luke 12:50 with the baptism of Romans 6:3, Colossians 2:12 and Ephesians 4:5.
“But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified” John 7:39.
Read carefully 2 Thessalonians 2:13 and 1 Corinthians 6:11 and see how the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit precedes justification and salvation.
“What! Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are NOT YOUR OWN? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
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