The Baptism With The Holy Spirit is For You!

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).

 

Thirty Seven years ago on September 12th, I received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. This experience revolutionized my life! The power of God resident in this experience began its work in me that day, and continues to change me!

The Greek word for power in the above verse is dunamis. From this word we get the words dynamic, dynamite, and dynamo. Dunamis means inherent power, capable of reproducing itself, like a dynamo. That inherent power of God began its work in me that day in 1976, and it is still producing!

I was raised in a denominational church, and had never heard of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. My mother had received this experience about a year and a half earlier in a ladies prayer meeting. While praying in a circle in a living room expressing their love for Jesus, these ladies began simultaneously to speak in another language! They didn’t know what happened to them, but they all changed! One of the ladies knew a full gospel pastor who visited them weeks later and informed them of what they had received, the baptism with the Holy Spirit!

 

My mother changed dramatically. She began to read her Bible and pray, and developed habits of continually praising and worshipping the Lord. My Father, brothers and I were surprised at the sudden change in mom. It continues to this day!

 

The baptism with the Holy Spirit produces power to change! Three main changes occur with this experience. First of all, there will be a boldness to witness that comes. I was changed from an introvert, hardly looking people in the eye during conversation, to a bold child of God!

 

Secondly, there will be a greater understanding of the Word that manifests. The Holy Spirit will take the Word and will enlighten your understanding with it. It takes more than education to open the Word to the human mind. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit. And in the baptism with the Holy Spirit, this understanding of the Word is greatly enhanced.

The Third change that occurs in the baptism with the Holy Spirit is that there is given to the believer a new ability to pray. The ability to pray in tongues comes with this experience, and this ability will revolutionize your prayer life if you will yield to it. Instead of praying prays limited by your own understanding, the baptism with the Holy Spirit will enable you to pray in tongues which is praying with your spirit and not your mind. It is spirit to Spirit communion with God, and this kind of praying takes you into an unlimited mode of prayer!

If you’ve received the baptism with the Holy Spirit, walk in the light of it! Spend time with the Father in the Word; allow the Spirit of boldness to rise up within you, and take time daily to pray in this heavenly, unlimited language. If you haven’t received, ask the Father for it today!

Basing Your Life on the Word Produces Stability and Confidence!

We live in unstable times in an ever changing world. The only thing I know of that never changes is the Word! It’s forever settled, fixed and established! Basing my life on the Word produces stability and confidence.

I want to share with you today the scriptures that I meditate on regularly to keep faith in the Word built up strongly within me. I’ve been meditating on these scriptures for many years now, and they have given me strength and confidence in my Father. Take time to meditate on them regularly:

 

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good (Numbers 23:19).

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).

My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips (Psalm 89:34). Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89).

I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name (Psalm 138:2).

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11).

The Lord said to me, You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled (Jeremiah 1:12 - NIV).

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away (Matthew 24:35).

These scriptures have kept me during some really difficult times. I often meditate them while driving, or when I wake up in the night. Many times I mention them to the Lord when praying. They have become my constant companion. Make them yours!

You Get a Harvest From What You Plant

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:22).

  

Seedtime and harvest is a universal law of God on earth and in the kingdom of God. Everyday, with every act, we are planting seeds that will produce a harvest!

The harvest is determined by the seeds that are planted.

  

What kind of harvest are you expecting in the various areas of your life? Look at the seeds currently being planted by your words, thoughts, attitudes, and actions! Tomorrow’s health, material well being, relational stability, spiritual stamina, etc., are determined by what you sow today. You just don’t get something for nothing!

 

Give and it will be given to you: good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you (Luke 6:38). This law is as stable as the rising and setting of the sun. Cooperate with it, and you’ll have a life of blessing. Work against it, and misery will keep you company!

 

Paul said it this way: Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

 

Let’s sow seeds today that will benefit the kingdom of God, and that will bring blessing to others and to our own lives. Sow time in the Word and in prayer today. Sow words that bless, heal, inspire, quicken, and mend. Sow attitudes that will glorify God and exalt Jesus. Sow actions that will produce health and plenty. You’re casting seed today with every action. Make it count!

Calling Those Things That Do Not Exist As Though They Did

(As it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations) in the presence of Him whom he believed — God, Who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did (Romans 4:17).

  

God wants us to imitate Him in all things. One of the ways He desires that we imitate Him is in calling those things that do not exist as though they did. The above verse is rich in helping us understand the basic concepts of walking by faith.

 

First of all, notice that it says that God calls things that do not exist as though they did. Calls in this verse refers to speaking words. And that’s an important part of understanding faith. Faith must be released with words!  And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke, we also believe and therefore speak (2 Corinthians 4:13). But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach) (Romans 10:8).

 

Faith never floats out of our heart independent of our words. Word convey faith from the human spirit to God.

  

Then notice in this verse that God calls those things that do not exist as though they did. He changed Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude). Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

  

Everything exists in two realms; first the spiritual and then the natural. God spoke the world into existence from things unseen with words (Hebrews 11:3).

  

To put this together, I must speak what God says about me and my life even when it doesn’t seem that it is true. I must say I believe I’m healed according to the word while the symptoms get worse in my body. I must say my God is meeting all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus  while the bills are piling up. I must say in all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me while I feel defeated. I must say He promised to never leave me or forsake me even when I feel alone!

  

Faith receives before it sees the results. It believes before there is any manifestation of the answer to prayer. And it talks the way it wants things to be, not the way they are!

The Basic Needs Of A Husband and Wife

Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband (Ephesians 5:33).

The above verse clearly identified the innate needs of both wife and husband in marriage. Let’s talk about it briefly. Understanding the needs of your husband or wife will help deal with conflicts that arise when those needs are not met.

The basic need of the wives is love. The basic need of the husband is respect. The husband’s main responsibility before God is to show Agape love to his wife. The wife’s main responsibility is to show respect to her husband.

 

In Ephesians 5, Paul compares the husband and wife relationship to the relationship we as the church has to Jesus. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.

  

This Agape love is a love of action, not feeling. Husbands are to show by their actions that they love their wives. Wives need to her I love you frequently and then need to see I love you demonstrated in practical ways. Helping with the dishes, the laundry, house cleaning, and taking care of the kids so the wife can have some “free” time can be tangible expressions of love.

Agape love is unconditional and self-sacrificial. Agape love expresses itself regardless of the response for it is unconditional. Agape love puts itself last because it is self-sacrificing.

  

Nowhere in the New Testament is the wife commanded to Agape her husband with the unconditional, self-sacrificing love. Once in Titus 2 the wives are commanded to love their husbands, but the word for love there is the Greek Word Phileo (friendship) and not Agape. But the wife is commanded in verse 33 above to respect her husband.

  

Husbands need to hear words of encouragement like: You did a great job with…or I think you’re the best at…or I like the way you…A man needs the affirmation that his wife values him and what he does for the family. And that’s the major responsibility of the wife.

 

Let’s believe God for our marriages to be strengthened by the Father. And husbands, love your wives.  Wives, respect your husband!

What If I'm Married To An Unbeliever?

But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace (1 Corinthians 7:12-15).

  

Yesterday, I discussed marriage between two believers and talked about how believers should deal with problems in their marriage relationship. Today, I want to discuss marriage between a believer and a person who isn’t, or a person who says they are, but never acts like it!

 

In the verses above notice that Paul strangely says but to the rest, I not the Lord, say. He said this because this is the first time in scripture that a marriage between a believer and an unbeliever is mentioned (In the Old Testament, and in the gospels, marriage is addressed in the context of two Jewish believers under the law). When the church age began, those who were converted and already married found themselves in this situation. No believer should marry an unbeliever!

  

Then Paul basically says that if a believer has an unbelieving spouse, they should remain together as long as they get along and treat each other with kindness and respect. As long as the believer is in the home with the unbeliever, there is an influence of righteousness that speaks into the life of the unbeliever and sets an example for the children. And the unbeliever may come to the Lord!

  

Those who do not get along have to weigh their options. If the unbeliever is abusive or hurtful to the spouse or children, then the believer has to make the choice of what should be done. Are the actions so bad that they warrant leaving? These matters should be discussed with church leaders, and be treated with much prayer and caution. Rash decisions and hurtful actions by a parent can leave a child scarred for life!

 

God’s ultimate will is for the unbeliever to come to the Lord in this relationship. And if the believer will pray and live a godly lifestyle, then that may just happen!

  

This is a day to carefully guard our marriages and families with much prayer. Our nation needs strong families. Our children need the example of those who do it right!

Let’s pray for families today. Let’s believe God for His best in life where we find ourselves right now. Don’t waste time brooding over the past. Look ahead from today, and let’s give God our best!

Work Out Your Marriage Problems!

Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife (1 Corinthians 7:10-11)

 

I’ve often stated it this way: When you get married, regardless of the former circumstances, it becomes the will of God for you to stay married. The will of God for our lives in found in the Word, not in subjective circumstance.

  

In the above verses, Paul addresses the relationship between two believers in a marriage relationship. He tells both husband and wife that God’s best is that they not divorce when they have difficulties. He acknowledges that at times someone will succumb to the pressures of life and divorce, and in that case he tells believers to remain unmarried for a period of time because as long as they both remain unmarried, there is the possibility of restoring the relationship.

  

Susan and I have been married 34 years yesterday! She’s had a lot to put up with in me! We made a decision before we were married that when married, we would never consider separation or divorce as a way to solve problems that would arise.

  

Just like everyone else, we’ve had disagreements and challenges over the years. That comes with just being human! But we both made the choice to deal with ourselves and to let the Father deal with us.

  

For two believers, unless there is unrepentant infidelity involved, they should work together to solve their problems. Separation and divorce do not solve problems. Separation often creates a sense of false peace and removes the immediate pressure to problem solve together. And divorce doesn’t solve the problems either; those that go that route may find themselves dealing with the same problems they had in the previous relationship.

  

Some people say, well, we have marriage problems. Actually, it isn’t the marriage that is having the problem, it’s the two people that make up the marriage that have personal issues that they must face and deal with! Marriage problems are people problems!

  

God hates divorce because it hurts people, it wounds children, and it weakens society. For us Christians, we have tools available to us to help solve our personal problems that hinder marriage. We have the Word of God to believe and obey. We have the fruit of the spirit that we must choose to develop. We have the Holy Spirit that will help us change. We have the spiritual strength that comes from praying. We have the ability to pray the perfect will of God by praying in the spirit. We have the authority to command Satan to take his hands off of us and our family. We must use what God provides.

  

Work on your marriage today by working on yourself. You can change yourself. You can’t change your wife, and you’ll frustrate her and yourself if you try! Keep yourself built up in the Word. Pray for your spouse and for the Father to watch over you and your marriage. Ask for His help. Ask for His wisdom and strength. Refuse the taunting of the enemy to compromise with the influences of the world.  

Marriages Make or Break a Nation!

The family unit is the basis for any human society. And marriage is the foundation of the family. If marriage loses its value, then that society is in danger of collapse. Marriage and family are God’s plan to pass values and morality from one generation to the next. As goes the family, so goes the nation.

 

In our nation, we have more couples living together without marriage (yes, the Bible calls this fornication) and having children than ever before. Divorce is rampant. We are a nation in great danger. Our moral fabric is coming apart!

 

You and I can make a difference! How? By making an unqualified commitment to remain loyal and faithful in our marriage for life! Too many believers have an “escape clause” in their heads if problems in the marriage arise!

  

Here’s the bottom line. It is the will of God for you remain married for life to your present spouse. There are basically two God sanctioned reasons for divorce in the scriptures. Only two. And if the problems a couple have don’t fit those two, then they should work together to solve them. Every marriage will have some problems because we humans are imperfect! We just have to be willing to work on ourselves and change!

  

The two God sanctioned reasons for divorce are 1) adultery - But I tell you, whoever dismisses and repudiates and divorces his wife, except on the grounds of unfaithfulness (sexual immorality), causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a woman who has been divorced commits adultery (Matthew 5:32) and 2) desertion by the unbelieving party - But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace (1 Corinthians 7:15). This second God sanctioned reason also covers spousal abuse and neglect.

  

Other than these two reasons, generally speaking, stay married! Work your problems out. The Holy Spirit and the Word are God’s two problem solvers! If we’re really committed to Jesus, these two friends will help us find answers to the problems life brings! The Holy Spirit knows you, and the Word of God will change you! All it takes is a committed will.

 

If you’re already divorced, walk in the grace of God! God forgives and cleanses our past! There are innocent victims of divorce. The Father doesn’t hold guilty a person who has a spouse who chooses to go their own way and forsake God’s plan. If you’re experienced this, let the mercy and grace of the Father mend your heart. And walk in forgiveness.

  

We should pray for our spouses daily. Here’s a great prayer. Father, help me be the best spouse my husband or wife could possibly have! Help me to be what he or she needs!  Don’t pray, Lord, change my spouse! Pray, Lord, change me!

  

I’ll address the issues of marriage again tomorrow!

 

Right Thinking, RIght Believing, and Right Speaking

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14).Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).

  

It’s right thinking, right believing, and right speaking, that will lead us into victory in our lives. The first thing that we must correct is our thinking. We are to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, positive, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). If our thinking is right, then our believing will be right. And if our believing is right, we’ll speak what we believe.

  

Words are so important. Your success or failure today will be determined by the tenacity of your confession in the hard place. You may feel and experience all kinds of negative things in life, but it’s important to say out loud what you really believe during these times.!

  

Even if it seems like the Word isn’t real and it isn’t working for you, it’s important to say it anyway!  Perhaps you’ve heard someone say, so and so has said that so much that they really believe it! Well, the truth is that you can “school” yourself into believing by saying something over and over again.

Meditate on the Word in the area of challenge you face, and then start confessing out loud what the word says. At first, you may not seem to believe it, but just keep on saying it. Sooner or later your words will register on your heart, and you’ll begin to believe what you say. You’ll notice a quickening on the inside, and joy will rise on your spirit! I’ve used this principle so many times in a hard place.

  

Many years ago, Susan and I faced a financial challenge. It seemed as though lack dominated us! I felt trapped and defeated every day! On an index card, I wrote out scriptures that promised God’s blessings on those that obey Him and are givers.

  

I meditated on them every day and begin to repeat them out loud. And I would say every day, Father I thank you that we have not only enough money to meet our own needs, but we have enough to give away! I said this over and over again.

 

Slowly my thinking and believing changed, and I saw myself as a blessed person with every need met and with excess to give. And what I said came to pass! The Lord has blessed us, and our needs are met, and we’re able to give and bless others! God’s Word never fails! He watches over His Word to perform it! Give Him something to watch over today! Start saying what you want to believe, and sooner or later you’ll believe it!