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Holy Spirit, Salvation

The Gift of Divers Kinds of Tongues versus the Receiving of the Holy Ghost

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Isaiah 28:11-13
11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

The initial sign of receiving the free gift of the Holy Ghost was the speaking with other tongues, as the Spirit gave the utterance, just as the Prophet Isaiah prophesied would be the case.

Acts 2:1-4
1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Remember:  If you have not received the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, as the Spirit gives the utterance, you have not received the free gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Confusion:

1) Many people are under the belief that the Holy Ghost is automatically given to you at some point.  Many believe the receiving of the Holy Ghost takes place after repenting and accepting Christ into their lives.  However, this is in direct contradiction to scripture.

2) Some people believe that the speaking with other tongues, as the Spirit gives the utterance is only one of the nine gifts of the Holy Ghost and not everyone has this gift.  So not all people that have the Holy Ghost will speak with other tongues.  The error in this belief is not recognizing that you must first receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost before you can receive one of the nine gifts of the Holy Ghost.

To state this very plainly:  The 9 gifts of the Holy Ghost are not the same as the initial receiving of the Holy Ghost.  The 9 gifts of the Holy Ghost are gifts of the gift.  You must first have the gift before you can receive any of the other gifts of the gift.  Another words, the gift of divers kinds of tongues is not the same as the receiving of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, as the Spirit gives the utterance.  Divers kinds of tongues is one of the nine gifts of the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost is not automatically given to you because you have repented of your sins and have been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins.  The scriptures state this very plainly.

The Samaritans receive the Holy Ghost…..

Acts 8:12-18
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.
13  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
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:
15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Here we see very clearly that these people had repented of their sins and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins, and that none of them had received the free gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost is not automatically given to you because you believe on the name of Jesus Christ.  Nor is it given to you just because you repent of your sins.  Nor is it given to you just because you have been baptized into Christ.

17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Remember:  The scriptures do not have to redundantly state over and over again, that when you receive the Holy Ghost that you will speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gives the utterance.  We already saw that the Prophet Isaiah prophesied that the receiving of the free gift of the Holy Ghost would come with stammering lips and another tongue and we already saw that when the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the people on the day of Pentecost they all began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

So even though it does not state here that the people spoke with other tongues, we already know from the Prophet Isaiah that this will take place when you receive the Holy Ghost and we know that when the first people received the Holy Ghost they spoke with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

You can then conclude that what Simon the sorcerer saw was that after the Apostle prayed for the people to receive the Holy Ghost, he saw them all begin to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave the utterance.

The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 is identifying the gifts of the Spirit and giving instructions on how to properly use these 9 gifts of the Spirit.  You can’t have any of these gifts if you don’t have the Spirit.  And in order for you to receive this Spirit you must seek the Lord for this Spirit and when your receive this Spirit, you will speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gives the utterance.  This is why the Apostle Paul stated in: 1 Corinthians 14:39  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

First thing of importance is that the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to one of the Churches explaining spiritual gifts.  Letters or Epistle written to already established Churches understood the plan of Salvation as Repenting of your sins and being baptized in Jesus name for the remission of your sins.  They also understood the promise of the Holy Ghost to the believer evidenced with the speaking of other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance.

This Epistle written to the Corinthian Church was instructions concerning the nine gifts of the Spirit from chapters 12 – 14.

So what is the gift of divers kinds of tongues and the gift of the interpretation of tongues?

The gift of divers kinds of tongues is used for the edifying of the Body of Christ, when this gift is in operation and the gift of interpretation is in use with it.  These 2 gifts have nothing to do with a person receiving the Holy Ghost as evidenced with the speaking with other tongues, as the Spirit gives the utterance!

The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 is identifying the gifts of the Spirit and giving instructions on how to properly use these 9 gifts of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:1
1  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

The topic spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:4
4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

You have to have the Spirit to have one of the 9 gifts of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:28-31
28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29  Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.

Topic is still the nine gifts of the Holy Ghost or the spiritual gifts of the Holy Ghost.  We are told in verse 28 how the Lord has set some of these in the Church.  The Body of Christ is many members so not everyone will have the same giftings or callings.  However, this is speaking of the nine gifts of the Holy Ghost not the receiving of the Holy Ghost.

The more excellent way from verse 31 is not saying to make void the others, but rather to be sure you have charity in your life.  Charity is love and love is the fulfilling of the Law.

1 Corinthians 13:1
1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Teaching the importance of having charity which is love.

At the beginning of Chapter 14 the Apostle Paul then tells the Church to pursue both charity and to desire spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 14:1
14:1  Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Also again the topic is still spiritual gifts. “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts”.

1 Corinthians 14:2-5
2  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

This was not speaking of people receiving the Holy Ghost or worshiping God while speaking in tongues, but was speaking of one of the nine gifts of the Holy Ghost of which one is the gift of divers kinds of tongues as was stated from the topic from verse 1 which was spiritual gifts.

The only time the gift of interpretation of tongues is needed is when the gift of divers kinds of tongues is in use.  Recall from verse one that the topic is spiritual gifts, not the receiving of the Holy Ghost.

So how do you know the difference?  When someone begins to use the gift of divers kinds of tongues, the whole Body of Christ present, knows it.  Immediately the Spirit of God will quicken inside of you, and you will know to be quiet to listen to what God has for the Church.  Now if an interpreter is not present or if the person speaking in divers kinds of tongues is unable to interpret the message, then they are to remain silent.  For how is the Body of Christ edified if the message intended for the Church is left without an interpretation?

But this has nothing to do with the receiving of the Holy Ghost!!!  For the receiving of the Holy Ghost and the speaking with other tongues, as the Spirit gives the utterance is how one receives the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Thus why the Apostle Paul said, forbid not to speak with tongues!

You do not need an interpreter when someone is receiving the Holy Ghost.

1 Corinthians 14:12
12  Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Verse 12 again identifies the topic as spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 14:19
18  I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19  Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Teaching us that we want those who come to our church to be able to learn.  However we must not quench the Spirit.  And this again is speaking of the same topic which was spiritual gifts of which the gifts of divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues, and the gift of prophesy are the gifts being spoken of.  These gifts edify the body of Christ when used correctly.

1 Thessalonians 5:19
19  Quench not the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:21-25
21  In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22  Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23  If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

Meaning that they would not hear as was spoken in verse 21.  So the sign of speaking with other tongues was not for the believer but for the unbeliever who thinks you are mad.  Yet they would not hear!

24  But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25  And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

This being a sign for the believer because the unbeliever has testified that the prophecy was true.

Also Apostle Paul is explaining what was written in the Law concerning the Holy Ghost.  That they would not hear.  The sign of the receiving of the Holy Ghost was concerning the non believer thinking you were mad.  However the people on the day of Pentecost believed the Word of God and the preaching of Jesus Christ.  They believed that this was that which was prophesied by the Prophet Joel.  Others who saw this sign thought they were drunk and mocked.  This would be those who think you are mad.

However, Paul then again stresses the importance of prophecy in comparison to receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Remember the topic was concerning spiritual gifts and the edifying of the Body, which comes by the gift of prophecy or the gift of divers kinds of tongues with the gift of interpretation of tongues.  These edify the body when in use.  The subject is still spiritual gifts.

The people on the Day of Pentecost did not need an interpreter because the Lord allowed the people there at that time to be speaking in languages that the people understood.  This also was not the gift of divers kinds of tongues in use to edify the body of Christ as a message to the Church.  This was the birth of the New Testament Church and the receiving of the Holy Ghost.  Never the less, many of these people still thought the people were drunk and mocked them.  Thus still thinking the people were mad.

So in comparison to the Day of Pentecost and the receiving of the Holy Ghost, the divers kinds of tongues needs to be used with the gift of interpretation.  However, even if so, this doesn’t mean every non believer will believe.  Many will still think you are mad just as they did on the day of Pentecost.

However the gift of prophecy being used is greater because it reveals the secrets of mens hearts and they falling down on their face report that God is in you of a truth.

1 Corinthians 14:39
39  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

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Holy Spirit, Jesus

Christ the Firstfruits

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The First and only begotten of the Father!

John 1:1,14, 18
1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
18  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

John 3:16-18
16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

1 John 4:9-10
9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The First begotten of Mary!

Isaiah 7:14
14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7
6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Luke 1:34-35
34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Matthew 1:20-23
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.
21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

The First begotten of the Dead!

Revelation 1:5-6
5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Acts 2:25-28
25  For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26  Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27  Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28  Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

Acts 26:22-23
22  Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

The First begotten of every Creature!

Colossians 1:12-17
12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

The First begotten of the Living!

1 Corinthians 15:20-23
20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Matthew 27:52-53
52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

We have the Firstfruits of the Spirit!

Romans 8:19-23
19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:10-14
10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

James 1:17-18
17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

1 Peter 1:3-5
3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

We who have the Firstfruits of the Spirit, have a Promise!!!

1 Corinthians 15:51-58
51  Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Come take part of the Promise…..

Acts 2:36-39
36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39  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.

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Holy Spirit, Know Your Enemy

Are you Blind?

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This is a spiritual question of great importance.  Unlike being naturally blind in the flesh, where one can not see anything, spiritual blindness can happen to a person, and that person be completely unaware that they can not see.  Never the less, these people are blinded to the understanding of the scriptures of the Word of God.  This is a very scary place to be.  For you are in the darkness of this world, but yet believe you are in the glorious light of the Gospel of Christ.

The question today is, are you one of these people that are spiritually blinded and  unaware?  This question is of eternal consequences.  For if you are spiritually blinded you are lost.

You may be recalling,

2 Peter 3:9
9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The question that may be coming to your mind is, why would anyone be spiritually blinded if the Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish, but that all would come to repentance?

To understand the answer to this question, will take an understanding of whom the Lord will teach doctrine, how scriptures are discerned, what causes spiritual blindness, and finally to whom the Lord will reveal the doctrine of Christ to and to whom it is hid from?

The answer to the first question, “To whom will the Lord teach doctrine”, is found in the book of:

Isaiah 28:9-13
9  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

The prophet Isaiah is telling us that knowledge and the understanding of doctrine, comes by studying the scriptures one line at a time.  Which is line upon line.  And also by one precept at a time.  Which is a rule that governs one’s behavior, which would be a commandment.  So, he is saying we learn by one commandment at a time, and by studying the scriptures one line upon another line, one commandment upon another.

God purposed this for man so that we would study the scriptures.  God is looking for someone who truly loves Him and is seeking Him.  These type of people, will search the scriptures, pray about them, learn from their pastor, preachers, and teachers, and will always consider all possible meanings of the verse at hand, because they want to make certain, they are obeying the Gospel correctly.  It is to these people, that God will open the scriptures up to, because the scriptures are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:12-15
12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
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.
14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

So the answer to the second question which was, “how are the scriptures discerned”, is by the Spirit of Christ, which is the Spirit of God.

To answer the third question, which was, “What causes spiritual blindness”, we will need to look at some of the examples given to us.  We will start with taking notice of what verse 13 of Isaiah 28 above has told us.

Isaiah 28:13
13  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

This verse here is speaking of the Jews.  The Jews had been disobedient over and over to the LORD through out the reading of the Old Testament.  In His Jealousy, He decided that He would go to another people who were not a people.  This being (us) the Gentiles.

So Isaiah tells us that the word of the LORD to the Jews was one commandment upon another, one line upon another, until it caused them to be snared.  It became a trap to them.  The Word of God is written in a way, that God reveals to some, while concealing it from others.  The answer for why, is because of seeing whether you have an honest or a dishonest heart.  Do you truly love Him and will you obey what he says, or will you not truly love Him and decide to build your own plan of salvation from the scriptures.

Hear the Parable of the Sower and take notice of whom the Lord tells us it is that receives the Seed.

Luke 8:4-18
4  And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
5  A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6  And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8  And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9  And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
16  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
17  For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
18  Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

We have learned some life essential Words of Wisdom in this parable and from the snare which has befallen upon the Jews.  To better understand these Words of Wisdom concerning why the Lord spoke in parables, let’s listen to the Apostle Matthew as he has recorded for us why the Lord spoke in parables.

Matthew 13:10-15
10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Why??

15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

You may have (read/heard) this just now, and missed the answer to why this happens.  The answer is verse 15.  Jesus tells us, their hearts is waxed gross, their ears are dull of hearing, and here is the answer to why they don’t see, for their eyes they have closed.  Least at any time they should open their eyes and see, which would allow them to open their ears, to hear, which would bring understanding to their heart, which would bring repentance and conversion, and then Jesus would heal them.

Jesus is looking for a bride that truly loves Him.  Someone Obedient and Faithful to Him.  Thus scriptures were deliberately set up to either ensnare you if you love not the truth, or if you do love the truth, the Spirit will open your understanding.

Let’s compare this to the natural.  When you are about to be married, how do you want your spouse to love you?  Do you want them to love you with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength?  Or do you prefer them to somewhat love you, and every so often cheat on you?  Or would you rather if they were going to half way love you, that you had never even met this person?

Revelation 3:14-16
14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom.  The Church is the Bride of Christ.  So then if you are a person halfway serving the Lord, we are told that your ending will be that you are spued out of the Lord’s mouth.

Luke 10:25-28
25  And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26  He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Matthew 22:40
40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

You may be wondering how love will save you?  The answer is, LOVE fulfills all the law and God is love.

Romans 13:8-14
8  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Apostle John continues in:

1 John 4:16-21
16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19  We love him, because he first loved us.
20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

So now that we understand to whom the Lord will teach doctrine, how the scriptures are discerned, and that the Gospel is deliberately set up to either ensnare you if you love not the truth, or to be opened to you by the Spirit if you do love the truth, we will continue by seeing to whom the gospel is hid from and to whom it is revealed to.

Matthew 11:25
25  At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

2 Corinthians 4:4
1  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

This goes right along with what Jesus answered to His disciples concerning them that had shut their own eyes.  Now we find out that because they believed not, the god of this world has blinded their minds.  So the Gospel is only hidden to the Wise, Prudent, and to them that are lost.  Yet it is revealed to babes.

The answer to the question of, “To whom will the Lord reveal the doctrine of Christ to and to whom is it hid from”, is to them that are wise and prudent, and to them that are lost.  The gospel of Christ is not intended to be hid.  The gospel is revealed unto babes.  Which are those that have an honest and a good heart as the parable of the Sower revealed, they not only hear the Word of God, but also keep it, by applying what they have learned, and these bear fruit with patience.

2 Peter 3:13-18
13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Here Apostle Peter tells us what to do in verse 18 so that we be not blinded.  Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jesus tells us,
Matthew 7:7-8
7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

In closing,

With this new found knowledge we can now understand why there are so many divisions of Christianity that have led to so many different denominations.  Now that you can see that the gospel was designed to either ensnare one, or to be open to one, you want to make sure you are somebody that the scriptures are open to.  This comes by making sure what you are taught is correct.  And growing in the grace and knowledge of God as Apostle Peter has spoken.  And in conclusion Apostle Peter gives us the instructions very clearly on how to make sure we never fall and that we will not be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:1-12
1  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

I urge everyone that has read this message to cry out to God with an honest and a good heart, and make sure that you are not one that has become spiritually blinded and your thoughts being overtaken by satan unbeknown to you at his will.

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Holy Spirit

The Power of Pentecost!

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The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

The voice of John the Baptist

Matthew 3:11
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:

What is this fire?  This Pentecostal fire?

Acts 2:1-8
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire,and it sat upon each of them.
4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  

Pentecostal Power!!

5  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Acts 2:13-18
13  Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16  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:

I’m talking about ……..The Power of Pentecost!

Acts 2:3
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

I say this fire is a purifying fire!! A Godly fire that purges out our ungodliness and it sanctifies us!

This is Pentecostal Fire! – Godly Fire!!

Let Me Speak To You About The Mystery of the Human Tongue

James 3:6-10
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Devilish Fire – Sensual Fire

7  For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

With our tongue we praise God and curse our brother who is made in the image of God. But when the Holy Ghost comes in, God’s Spirit unites with our Spirit and cries out Abba Father in recognition that you have became a child of God. God only can tame your tongue! When you receive the Holy Ghost God does sanctify and tame your tongue.

Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues is the Power of Pentecost!

Church the Power of Pentecost is not a one time experience!

Acts 1:5-8
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
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.

Power to Witness; Pentecostal Power!!!

Isaiah 43:10-11
10  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

Power over death, hell, and the grave!  Power over sin! Power over our trials, tribulations, sorrows, and persecutions.

With Pentecostal Power-comes persecution!

The early church after the day of Pentecost was persecuted for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the Power of Pentecost!

(Peter and John taught and preached Jesus to the people in the Temple after healing the impotent man at the gate Beautiful. )

Acts 4:1-10
1  And as Peter & John spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2  Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3  And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4  Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. (What a revival in a single day!)
5  And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6  And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7  And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?  (By the power of Pentecost!)
8  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9  If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

The Name of Jesus Christ Invokes the Power of Pentecost!

Acts 4:15-21
15  But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16  Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17  But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18  And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21  So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

Acts 4:29-31
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Pentecostal Boldness!

The Holy Ghost is the Power of Pentecost! (The nine gifts of the Holy Ghost is Pentecostal Power!)

These scriptures prove that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is not a one time experience, but continuously moves on His people. That is they were all refilled with the Holy Ghost, they already had the Holy Ghost yet they received a refilling when they prayed and asked God for boldness to preach His word.

Again I say Church Pentecostal Power is not a one time experience!

Church, saints hear me! The Holy Ghost is not a one time experience, we can be refilled over and over again! As a matter of fact- we must be refilled over and over again, lest we grow feeble and weak, spiritually sick. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and that joy is the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.

Speaking in other tongues is a miracle, it is Pentecostal Fire!

Speaking in tongues is not a one time experience!

Do not let Satan lie to you and tell you, that you cannot speak in tongues anymore. Every time that you allow the Holy Ghost to move upon you, move in you; the gift of speaking in tongues will well up within you as a well of living water. It will bubble over, it will overflow you. For out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Stir up the gift within you! The gift of the Holy Ghost!
Stir it up! Get beside yourselves!
Crucify your flesh!
Bring your flesh into subjection to the Holy Ghost in you!
Let God have reign in your life!
Submit yourselves unto God!
Give God a spiritual sacrifice of praise! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Begin to worship God!

Pentecostal Power – You shall receive Power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you!

Raise your hands and worship the Lord! Cry out to God like you did when you first repented and earnestly sought God. You can have a Pentecostal experience right now!  This very moment! Draw nigh unto God, lift Him up and God will draw nigh unto you.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever!! He changes not!!

Worship God, love God, praise God, lift up Holy hands unto God!!

The Holy Ghost is a continual blessing of eternal life!  Renewed in your heart daily!! Day after day, after day, forever and ever!

Pentecostal Power is the saving power of Jesus Christ.

Lesson written by Perry Harris.

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