TAKING A HIETAS July 3, 2019

To our devoted readers and new comers to our blog sight, we do apologize for the silence in the past two months. We seem to have just too many irons in the fire at this time and are therefore unable to complete the posting entries as we have in the past.

We always endeavor to do God’s Word justice with thorough research, daily reading, prayer and uncompromising love, and when time constraints prohibit us, it is best to take a break.

Our love and devotion to our Lord God remains ever strong and the guidance of His Holy Spirit engages us every single day. We continue reading each day to gain further understanding and the Holy Spirit continues in His job, enlightening, teaching and strengthening us.

We considered ourselves part of the “Done’s”, done with organized religion, but through loving encouragement were led to a local Church, which we began attending last November. It has been a blessing to listen to TRUTH from the pulpit, worship in song and prayer and fellowship with the Saints there.

Please bear with us a little while longer, we will continue our series of following the Holy Spirit through the New Testament in the fall.

Wishing you all a blessed summer, love with family and friends knowing God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son to reconcile us to himself.

PRAISE BE TO GOD, FOREVER, AMEN

THE HOLY SPIRIT #7

As we continue in our study of the HOLY SPIRIT, journeying through the New Testament, chapter by chapter to reveal the person of the HOLY SPIRIT. We recall in Mathew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the SPIRIT into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

We recall the Sermon on the Mount:
Mathew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in SPIRIT; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mathew 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the SPIRIT of your Father which speaketh in you.

While speed reading through these last chapters as indicated the HOLY SPIRIT is not mentioned in word, but is definitely present in action as Jesus preached, healed and loved. As Jesus says in chapter 11 vs. 5) “The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6) And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”

Mathew 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my SPIRIT upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
These words were spoken by the prophet Isaiah 700 years before Christ’s coming.

Mathew 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the SPIRIT of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Jesus, knowing the thoughts of the Pharisees declares; putting attributes to God which are not his is blaspheming the HOLY SPIRIT and if you are not for him, you are against him. There is no sitting on the fence, you must choose, either for Christ, or against >>>>there is no middle ground!

Mathew 12:31-32 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the HOLY GHOST shall not be forgiven unto men. 32) And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever speaketh against the HOLY GHOST, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world or in the world to come.
PRAISE BE TO GOD, FOREVER, AMEN

THE HOLY SPIRIT part 6

All Scripture references from the King James Version

Jesus said in Mathew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell will not prevail upon it.” The rock is Jesus and since then we have been in the Church age and Jesus will build His Church when He returns to this earth with His saints to rule and reign for 1000 years.

We are instructed by Jesus to go into all the world and make disciples. Our mission as born again believers on this earth is to follow Jesus’ instructions, teaching and revealing His truth.

Mathew 28:18-20 – 18) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 20) Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever, I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16: 15-16 15) And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Luke 24:47-49 47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48) And ye are witnesses of these things. 49) 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.

John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them , I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

John 20:21-22 21) Then said Jesus unto them again, Peace be unto you; as my Father hath sent me, even so I send you. 22) And when he had said this, he breathed on them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost

The gospel message is very clear that as born again believers we are to teach others the good news of salvation and by the strength of the Holy Spirit in us we are able to fulfill Christ’s mission. In the true Christian realm, we cannot fulfill this mission without the working and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Follow with us as we journey and follow the person and work of the HOLY SPIRIT through the New Testament from the book of Mathew to Revelation.

From Abraham to David 400 years passed. From David to Babylon were 14 generations and from Babylon to Christ were 14 generations.
Mathew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the HOLY GHOST.

Mathew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the HOLY GHOST.

Mathew 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.

Mathew 3:16 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 lighted upon him.

Mathew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the SPIRIT into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

The Apostle Paul puts it very well in Chapter 5 of Romans vs. 2-5. In summary he reinforces that we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God, not only in tribulation which worketh patience, patience worketh experience and experience worketh hope; vs. 5 and hope maketh not shamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the HOLY GHOST which is given unto us.

PRAISE BE TO GOD, FOREVER, AMEN

CHRISTIANITY

Having taken some time away from our Blog, we pause and divert again onto another subject inspired by recent life events.

We will continue our series on THE HOLY SPIRIT in our next post.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a CHRISTIAN as: – 1. Relating to or professing Christianity or its teachings. 2. informal, having qualities associated with Christians, e.g. kindness. n > a person who has Christian Baptism or is a believer in Christianity.

CHRISTIANITY is defined in the same dictionary as: the religion based on the person and teachings of Christ.

The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary defines a CHRISTIAN as: A Christian is a believer in and a follower of Jesus Christ the Messiah.

The misunderstanding of who and what a true Christian is, is too widespread in our society. Sadly, many who call themselves Christians have tainted the faith and the popular world view is skewed.

A recent event in our lives was possibly the influence for this publication to put this matter front and center. A group of young men were discussing their sexual exploits and making very lude remarks, thoroughly demeaning women. They seemed oblivious at us being very close by and very much within ear shot, as were other beach goers. A suggestion was presented to cease and a remark followed that there are Christians here. A young woman present with these boys chimed in that she was a Christian herself. The group reluctantly moved on and we were left shaking our heads.

History has proven to us, the world at large distorts Christianity, they have no understanding of the God of the Bible and time and again we see the gross misrepresentation of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we become a new believer, we will live a life worthy of repentance, and we become a new creation. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and are led by Him. This is not what the world sees.

Jesus Christ teaches us to Love, and let him who has no sin cast the first stone. Should we then not speak up at least, not passing our judgments on them but those of Jesus Christ who enables us to teach others?

WHO ARE YOU FOLLOWING?
HOW ARE YOU REPRESENTING OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST?

If you are following the Pope, (circa 450 a.d., since it’s inception),
you are not following CHRIST.
If you are following John Calvin, (circa 1530’s),
you are not following CHRIST.
If you are following Joseph Smith, then Brigham Young (circa 1844),
you are not following CHRIST.
If you are following Charles Taze Russel (circa 1867),
you are not following CHRIST.

They are following a Jesus Christ. Reference to some Scripture is made but falsely represented.
Following THE Lord Jesus Christ means you are believing in HIM, you are in communion with HIM, through His word you are getting to know HIM, He becomes the LORD of your life, not men of this world.

Any Church that leads its people into false teaching is supporting the false world view of Christianity.

PRAISE BE TO GOD, FOREVER, AMEN

Happy New Year 2019

To all our readers, we wish you all a Very Happy New Year in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The good news of Salvation always seems dominant at Christmas time and so it should be. As born-again Christians we celebrate Christmas because of the Salvation gift to us, sinners who were separated from God the Father, and now have been redeemed through His special gift and sacrifice.

Luke 2:10-11 – And the Angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; 11) for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

What is it that is most important to you at Christmas time? Personally speaking, for us it has become more about reaching out to people, whether family or friends and even strangers on the street. We reach out in love, with a smile, sharing a meal, sharing a song, exchanging a few gifts and if possible, sharing the word of the Lord. I say, if possible, because some doors are closed, some are slightly ajar and by the grace of God some are wide open. It is the easiest time of year to mention the Lord with least resistance and opposition. Our beautiful Christmas Carols exemplify the wonderful message, and we achieve an atmosphere of peace and love, His very precious gift. Those of us who live in the four seasons are also awe struck at the wondrous beauty of snow covered trees, deer leaving their well marked prints in the snow and the clear crisp air we breathe. We look to our maker and are thankful to Him for this bounty and beauty.

Meanwhile we leave the greater world at a mere distance, knowing it moves on in its secular views, its false ideologies, its anger and crime, its burdens of poverty and destruction, knowing there is a better way. We wish everyone could feel this peace and joy and think everyone has the right to feel it and to know there is something far better, far more secure even in diversity. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made the offer to become His child, please accept this precious gift and get to know Him.

PRAISE BE TO GOD, FOREVER, AMEN

The Holy Spirit #5

We are looking at an additional perspective of the Holy Spirit as outlined in the Jack Van Impe Prophecy Bible, King James Version.

This person of the Holy Trinity, also called “the Comforter” by Jesus Christ (John 16:7,8), came to dwell in believers when Jesus returned to heaven. It is evident that the work of the Holy Spirit is that of conviction and restraint concerning sin in those whose bodies He indwells (1 Corinthians 6:19).

He always glorifies Christ. Believers have a purifying effect upon the world (Mathew 5:13,14). No wonder the world is so wicked during the Tribulation – the believers are gone in the rapture and the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit with them (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8). This must not be interpreted to mean that the Holy Spirit is no longer omnipresent, nor operative during the Tribulation hour. At this time He will work in and through men as He did in the Old Testament times. His particular ministries to the believer in the present age are: baptism into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12,13,) indwelling (1 Corinthians 6:19,20) sealing (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30), and filling (Ephesians 5:18). During the Tribulation period He will return to working as He did in Old Testament times and will anoint 144,000 Jewish evangelists for service (Revelation 7:2,3; Joel 2:28,29).

He is the restrainer (2 Timothy 2:7,8).

1. As the wicked one is personality with operations in the spiritual realm, so is the Holy Spirit and therefore able to hold Antichrist in check until the time for the revealing.

2. The restrainer must be a member of the Godhead, stronger than the man of sin and Satan who energizes him. In order to restrain evil down through the ages, He must be eternal.

3. The Church age began with the Spirit’s baptism at Pentecost and will close with a reversal of Pentecost … the removal of the indwelling Spirit by the Rapture (catching away) of those He indwells, the believers. This does not mean that He will not be operative on earth during the Tribulation … only that He will no longer be resident in believers.

Lets delve into the Holy Spirit’s particular ministries to the believer in the present age:

BAPTISM INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST:
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 12) For the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

INDWELLING
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19) What know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20) For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

SEALING
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed into the day of reclamation.

FILLING
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is of great importance to the believers, He leads us in truth and the way of the Lord.

To be continued……

PRAISE BE TO GOD, FOREVER, AMEN

THE HOLY SPIRIT >>>>>>>>Part #4

Experiencing the Holy Spirit…..

 

Personally we have experienced the Holy Spirit, through knowing Him and trusting Him, at one point He has sent up red flags at false teaching, which we immediately recognized. It was only years later, after careful study of Scripture that we recognized this was the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He was working in us and we did not know it although we experienced Him. In the effort of trying to counter this false teaching we were met with vicious resistance. That being said, we emphasize that the Holy Spirit will not lead you into believing false teaching. Jesus said, I am the truth, the way and the life, the entire Bible supports that and our choice has been clear, WE FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST, not man made doctrine. The question is always asked, what does Scripture say?

Under the New Covenant, when we become born again believers the Holy Spirit indwells us, to guide, lead, teach and comfort us, however, recognizing Him in these early Christian years may not be so easy.

Where is the Holy Spirit in so many Churches today? The Holy Spirit will enable you to discern and understand sound truthful teaching from the pulpit. He will enable you to recall Scripture you have read, further enhancing your understanding of God. He will always guide you in truth. The more we study the Bible the more we understand God and what His plan and purpose is for us as children of God. If the truth is not in us, we are not led by the Holy Spirit and we lack the ability to discern and understand. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT LEAD US INTO FALSE TEACHING OR LIES, HE CANNOT.

Let’s examine the manifestation of the Holy Spirit and how He led some of the people in the Old Testament.

Genesis 1:2   And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:26   And God said, “Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

Making man in their image, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit means it is His Holy Spirit that God wanted mankind to have.

The Spirit of God the Father, His Son, the living God and the Holy Spirit are one, each having distinct purposes in the creation. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, and His main attribute is HOLY. Therefore many passages reference Holy in the Spirit. The Holiness of God is set before us in Scripture.

Isaiah 6:3   And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.

Psalm 71:22   And I will also praise thee with psaltery, even thy truth, O my God unto thee I will sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 104:30   Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created and thou renewest the face of the earth.

The prophets of old all had experiences with the Holy Spirit, they were led by the Spirit to compose God’s message. God is love, in His Being and His Spirit. Let’s look at the prophecy book of Daniel for another account of experiencing the Holy Spirit. In Chapter One we see that Daniel was true to his Lord God and would not defile himself with a portion of the king’s meat and wine. Verse 17 says Daniel and his 3 friends were given knowledge and wisdom and understanding in visions and dreams. In chapter 2 Daniel was given the wisdom to interpret the dreams of the king and he blessed the God of Heaven in verse 20 Daniel said “Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever, for wisdom and might are his:” In chapter 3, faced with the prospect of the fiery furnace for not bowing to Nebuchadnezzar golden image, Daniel and his companions not only survived the furnace but were accompanied by a forth man. Nebuchadnezzar said in vs. 25 “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the fourth is like the Son of God.” This is possibly the ultimate in experiencing God and His Spirit. Chapter 4 gives Daniel the opportunity to interpret another dream and declares in vs. 24 “that this decree is of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king;”

The Spirit of the most High God is moving over the kingdom of Babylon, giving charge to His most devout servant in order to further His purposes and His plans. Chapter 5 reveals in vs. 11   There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods and in the days of thy father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;

Again Daniel found favor with the new king who had been instructed by his council to heed Daniel as one having favor with the gods. We know it is only the God Almighty whom Daniel believed and obeyed and the Spirit of God led the way. In chapter 6 Daniel survives yet another assault on his person, when he is put into the lions den at the age of 81. His faithfulness, never bowing down to other gods regardless of his circumstance, God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths’. Daniel is surely a true and faithful servant trusting the Spirit of the most High God to lead him. This is indeed experiencing the Holy Spirit.

We recently began attending a new Church in our community and the book of Daniel is being taught during the Sunday Service. Although this has been predominately regarded as a book of Prophecy, we are seeing it with additional insight. This insight into Daniel himself, being taken from his home as a very young person and forced into a life he had not anticipated. He was guided spiritually every step of the way, knowing the way of the Lord and trusting in His Holy Spirit to be with him. Daniel was a person of the way, knowing that his Lord God was the way, the truth and the life.

David says in Psalm 51:10-11   Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  11)   Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

We have only scratched the surface of how the Holy Spirit has worked in the lives of so many Old Testament souls, God’s chosen people, Israel.

To be continued!

 

PRAISE BE TO GOD, FOREVER, AMEN