[Elijah]

I became a Follower of Christ by asking God for His Spirit. It took many years of asking but the Lord finally gave me what I asked for. When His Spirit came He led me into all truth.

[Miki]

I only had to ask once....then l was saved....No one has to beg God for salvation.

His Spirit justifies us. When WE say yes to sanctification the Holy Spirit refines us.

[shy1]

Elijah, on Jan 3 2006, 04:25 AM, said:

I became a Follower of Christ by asking God for His Spirit. It took many years of asking but the Lord finally gave me what I asked for. When His Spirit came He led me into all truth.

Haven't seen your name in a while, Elijah! It's good to see you back here. Any thoughts you want to share with us, since it's been a while?

[C]

jhamner, on Jan 3 2006, 05:14 PM, said:

Perhaps he is talking about the baptism of the Holy Ghost. In my experience, they salvation and the outpouring of the Spirit are two different things.

You are right. It is two things. Acts 8 is one passage where you can see it clearly. There are others as well in Acts.

12But when they believed the good news (the Gospel) about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) as Philip preached it, they were baptized, both men and women.


13Even Simon himself believed [he adhered to, trusted in, and relied on the teaching of Philip], and after being baptized, devoted himself constantly to him. And seeing signs and miracles of great power which were being performed, he was utterly amazed.


14Now when the apostles (special messengers) at Jerusalem heard that [the country of] Samaria had accepted and welcomed the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

15And they came down and prayed for them that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit;
16For He had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17Then [the apostles] laid their hands on them one by one, and they received the Holy Spirit.


In some cases God will fill somebody at the same time as the new birth. God cannot be limited to how we expect Him to work. It is however up to each believer to make sure that he/she has received the Baptism of the Spirit, as it is not something that has to happen on salvation.
Let me be clear and state, that I do not believe it is a requirement for salvation , but I know from experience that you will have a "slimmer" walk with God without the baptism of the Spirit.

I know that people like to argue about it, but one cannot argue with what God wants for us.
I have had the privilege to witness numerous baptisms in the Spirit and the changes that it caused in the lives of the people. I saw a church come to life, after first preaching against it, and them God just took over and threw all the preconceived ideas out. The congregation grew from 300 to about 7000. We experienced such a renewal.

Cornelius

This post has been edited by Cornelius: 04 January 2006 - 02:55 PM

[Miki]

Belief is the prerequisite to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Not the laying on of hands. That doesn't mean the laying on of hands is wrong. It's just not a prerequisite...Belief is.

What is baptism? It's the immersion into full working power of God (Holy Spirit)with signs and wonders following. Because you believe you are able to open the door of your heart and allow God to fill you up....BUT! Remember...He's already in their because you invited him at salvation. So he fills you from the inside out.

I know this is foreign to you because you've been taught to think that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit comes from outside. But once you are saved and invite Jesus into your heart it can only come from the inside...right? Because the kingdom of God is with in you. This becomes a matter of semantics if we let it.

I've struggled with this issue because of latent human soul power. (Kundalini)

I've thought about it over and over and over again in my mind....

But l have to finally believe scripture. I met the prerequisites...I tested myself and was tested. I asked for bread and got it.

Something has to click....revelation knowledge. When we are saved we believe with our heads. But when we are born again we believe with our whole heart to the point that we're willing to submit to the sanctification process.

What does that look like....?

For me it was staying and standing in the existing circumstances and allowing God to change me and not the circumstances. My prayer was..."Change me God. Because when you change me then you can REALLY use me to reach others".

Understand?

This didn't happen because someone laided hands on me and l was changed in an instant...This was a process and still is. As l grow the manifested nature of God in me reveals it's self to an unbelieving world.

I'm not there yet....But l see the light at the end of the tunnel....
_______________________________________________________
Here's a word l got in my mail box this morning:

January 2, 2006
Jeannette Rodgers
www.NewWineToday.org
Rise Up, Rise Up, Oh Sons of God.

Romans 8:19

"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

Rise up, Rise up, Oh Sons of God.....

For the Lord is revealing the true sons who have been under the anvil in Christ Jesus. These are the sons who are coming forth in this season. Many have been in directed and appointed places but you have not seen it as such. The Light of the Lord has been shining in places that were once dark because you stood long enough for Him to shed His light through your life unto many. He has used you and your life in "certain" places and "certain" situations at a "certain" time to reveal HIS glory. Do not think it a strange thing if you see that the "time has come" to move on to something new or to that new place in Him; do not fear but stand in the strength of the Lord. Trust in Him as you move according to HIS plans and release all that He requires of you to release. Though it "may appear" that you have had to release "certain" things because of something you have done wrong, the Lord is moving you because it is RIGHT. For some, this has caused you pain, or heartache because you cannot fully understand the depths of His mighty blueprint. Know that this was not meant for harm but for good. For the Lord thy God is in the midst of thee, constantly moving about and moving things about; according to HIS perfect plans for this earth and with your life; and for RIGHT NOW.

Romans 8:12-17
Sonship Through the Spirit
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

"It has been difficult, but you have stood. It has been trying, but you have endured, you "felt" alone, but from the loneliness you have grown nearer to Me, saith the Lord God Almighty. You thought with your mind that you could not go on, but now you are stronger than ever before. For many await the revealing and the coming of the True sons of GOD who will show forth the love of the Father, the Son, and move only according to His Holy Spirit. You have held your tongue, walked in sandals of peace and judged not. You have cried in your closet and left a river of tears. You serve without recognition, expect nothing in return and keep the ministry that has been entrusted to you close to your heart as you continue to move diligently by My Spirit. You are not easily persuaded, you stand firm; because you have allowed Me to be your leaning post. You have continued even when stones have been thrown, accusations made, and no appreciation given. You have prayed without ceasing, believed without doubting, and loved unconditionally. When you were rejected you kept going, when you were neglected you persevered. You have moved by My word and My truth when no one else would stand with you. You did not compromise or dilute the Living word for fame, for fortune, or recognition. You give of yourself and of your life freely because you know that freely you have received. You have been willing to yield, and willing to let go. "

You are the sons of God who are about to be revealed.

Much has been removed, some have been redirected, things have been repositioned, people have been moved into place. The plans are being unveiled, the curtain drawn back, the blueprint was finished long ago and now it will come to pass.
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords is the Master Architect and His plans have been ready before the beginning and from the end. The humbleness and humility that has been revealed; though a painful process, has caused His love to shine brighter than you can know or see in yourself. At times many are left without words to simply express what they actually see because they are breath taken by the likeness of Christ in you.

"There are times this will be made known too, so you will know I see all things and acknowledge and love you with an everlasting love. The precious gift of time that you have invested, your life that you have given, and the love that you have shared, will bring forth much fruit; and many more will eat of the fruit in this hour." For you will be as a tree planted by the Rivers of Living Water; in which Life will yield and many will be healed. For in this hour, the revealing of the sons of GOD will bring forth love in a measure greater than seen with the natural eye.

Now in this hour the TRUE SONS OF GOD are being revealed.

Rise up , Rise Up, Oh sons of GOD....for your time has come. You have repaid good to those who have done wrong unto you. You have held your tongue and it has brought peace to a war, you have given when you did not have for yourself. It is the time NOW, that you My SON, My DAUGHTER, will come forward. You have overcome, you have endured, you have given much. Great is the measure of the Love that will shine through you. Many will be drawn by the Love that I am revealing through you and your willingness to surrender fully unto My will at all cost.

Romans 8:38

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.



The hours that have past have required much and the hour ahead will require more.
Rise up, Rise up Oh SONS of GOD. For I prepared you for such a time as this.




Romans 8 (New King James Version)
Free from Indwelling Sin
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Sonship Through the Spirit
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors?not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs?heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
From Suffering to Glory
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[b] with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spi rit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
God's Everlasting Love
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God?s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
" For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord".
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If you want to know my secret fears....?

I'm afraid l'm not going to make it....

Then l trust again...then l stand again...then he lifts my head again.

He carries me when l can not walk....only....

because of his mercy...Praise is Holy Name!!

This post has been edited by Miki: 05 January 2006 - 08:25 AM