The Charismatic Church
The Lord gives gifts that are freely accepted by those who are poor in sprit. The poor in spirit is the one who has come to know that there in nothing good in himself, with out any value, and so he depends on God. Men want to reason out what there minds cannot understand. God's gifts do not and will not enhance the soul of man. The soul consists of the will, mind, and emotions.
The Lord takes the spirit of man as the vessel of his choice and use. The purpose is so that man will always and forever have to draw from the life in God. "Apart from me you can do nothing." Yes man can do many things, but they have "nothing of eternal value or life". They are as nothing. There is no reasoning in the spirit, only intitution, conscience, and perception (knowing). Neither can the soul produce the life of God.
The mind may understand the meaning of the words, but lacks the ability to produce the effect. Consider; "You shall love the Lord your God". The reason understands, but only by the spirit can you do this with truth. For it is born of the spirit within and not the will of man to obey. The Lord lives in man by the spirit. "a new spirit will I give you,.. and will put my Spirit within you." God is spirit. Not mind or thought or reason; these are of the soul. When we are saved we are conscience of the Lord in our spirit.
We have our beginning in this realm, not the mental realm, or the emotional, or even in the realm of our will. It is senseless to think that we could now change directions. We will not find God in our mind. Or in the flesh. The way of God is by the spirit, only. If we want to find more revelation of Him, we will have to learn to follow the spirit. We will have to put off the soul with it's reasonings. We'll have to subdue all our strivings, and efforts, and good works. The soul must be put into subjection to the spirit where the Lord alone is the source of everything. As it says, "you shall have no other gods before me".
This simply means the way of faith, hope, and love. The invisible is not seen then believed, it is believed and then seen. God is invisible with-in us, we have not seen Him, but we can fellowship in the darkness with Him. For to Him darkness is the same as light and by our spirit we will receive the inspiration and illumination that we need in our walk.
All of the things of God will be recieved in this same way. In our darkness we will see light, and know the way that the Lord in our spirit is directing us. The gifts and calling of our life is with-in us. In God who rules and reigns in the hearts of His people. Learn to follow the still small voice with-in, and walk there-in. Cease from all our own enterprises, wheather good or bad, and be still, "and know that I am God".
So away with you scholars, and you learned and highly educated. The wise and the prudent. Do you not know, and have you not seen that the Lord has made the wisdom of this world foolishness. Will you now explain God to the ignorant? Are you so wise as to understand how one can be raised from the dead. By what theory? By what power? Explain to me the virgin birth, surely you know. Do the laws of your science and knowledge have this answer? If not, then be quiet. Learn from God. And then you will have something to say.
You despise prophesy, and tongues, and the gifts of healing, and of power. You would discourage those who through humble hearts are walking and hearing from God. You point out faults, and errors, as though you would do better! Come then and take upon you this servant yoke and see how you fare, or are you to wise for this, God knows. But these you distain will exceed you. These will grow in grace and the knowledge of God. There hearts will be the prized possession of the Lord of Glory. And if you touch them you will be rebuked by the Lord, for they are the delight of His heart. So become a fool for Christ, so that you may become wise in God.
The Lord takes the spirit of man as the vessel of his choice and use. The purpose is so that man will always and forever have to draw from the life in God. "Apart from me you can do nothing." Yes man can do many things, but they have "nothing of eternal value or life". They are as nothing. There is no reasoning in the spirit, only intitution, conscience, and perception (knowing). Neither can the soul produce the life of God.
The mind may understand the meaning of the words, but lacks the ability to produce the effect. Consider; "You shall love the Lord your God". The reason understands, but only by the spirit can you do this with truth. For it is born of the spirit within and not the will of man to obey. The Lord lives in man by the spirit. "a new spirit will I give you,.. and will put my Spirit within you." God is spirit. Not mind or thought or reason; these are of the soul. When we are saved we are conscience of the Lord in our spirit.
We have our beginning in this realm, not the mental realm, or the emotional, or even in the realm of our will. It is senseless to think that we could now change directions. We will not find God in our mind. Or in the flesh. The way of God is by the spirit, only. If we want to find more revelation of Him, we will have to learn to follow the spirit. We will have to put off the soul with it's reasonings. We'll have to subdue all our strivings, and efforts, and good works. The soul must be put into subjection to the spirit where the Lord alone is the source of everything. As it says, "you shall have no other gods before me".
This simply means the way of faith, hope, and love. The invisible is not seen then believed, it is believed and then seen. God is invisible with-in us, we have not seen Him, but we can fellowship in the darkness with Him. For to Him darkness is the same as light and by our spirit we will receive the inspiration and illumination that we need in our walk.
All of the things of God will be recieved in this same way. In our darkness we will see light, and know the way that the Lord in our spirit is directing us. The gifts and calling of our life is with-in us. In God who rules and reigns in the hearts of His people. Learn to follow the still small voice with-in, and walk there-in. Cease from all our own enterprises, wheather good or bad, and be still, "and know that I am God".
So away with you scholars, and you learned and highly educated. The wise and the prudent. Do you not know, and have you not seen that the Lord has made the wisdom of this world foolishness. Will you now explain God to the ignorant? Are you so wise as to understand how one can be raised from the dead. By what theory? By what power? Explain to me the virgin birth, surely you know. Do the laws of your science and knowledge have this answer? If not, then be quiet. Learn from God. And then you will have something to say.
You despise prophesy, and tongues, and the gifts of healing, and of power. You would discourage those who through humble hearts are walking and hearing from God. You point out faults, and errors, as though you would do better! Come then and take upon you this servant yoke and see how you fare, or are you to wise for this, God knows. But these you distain will exceed you. These will grow in grace and the knowledge of God. There hearts will be the prized possession of the Lord of Glory. And if you touch them you will be rebuked by the Lord, for they are the delight of His heart. So become a fool for Christ, so that you may become wise in God.
posted by pete porter | 7:17 PM
8 Comments:
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Phil,
Great to hear from you. The discussions on the blogs prompted me to show the foolishness of pursueing God by any route that He hasn't ordained. He has truely chose the weak to confound the wise.
Be Blessed,
Pete
Bryan, do you see the need for a balance between 'spirit and truth?'
The more 'charismatic' or supernatural journey is really a new one for me (not even 2 yrs old). I see the pursuit of God as being my need to experience Him in a supernatural way - being open to the existence and use of the gifts, as well as a need to be solidly grounded in the truth of His word.
Thank you for that Pete and amen. May God continue to pour out His Spirit on you.
Hi Gayla,
"do you see a need for a balance between 'spirit and truth'."
The mind with it's thoughts, even if they are good is still the fruit of "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." But with the "tree of life" (Jesus), we receive revelation from the spirit of the things and life of God. In this way we have the substance in truth in our being by the spirit. The spirit then enlightens our minds (also called renewing our mind) and we gain understanding. In this happy state we can worship God in truth by our spirit brought life.
This is a lot of words to explain that the way of God is through God, and that is by the spirit which we have recieved from God.
Also in this way we can be sure that we are in truth, He is the Spirit of Truth. The Lord has assured us that He will do the work in us. Our part is to believe and recieve. It takes the power of God to dismantle the strong-holds of the thoughts. As Pauls prayer shows in Ephesians 1:15.
Be Blessed,
Bryan
Brother Tim,
Thank you, and that we all come to a unity of faith, and love.
Be Blessed,
Pete
Thanks Bryan -
I'm not talking about the stronghold of thoughts. I'm talking about the Word of God - what God says about that Word:
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17
The Sprit of God is certainly not going to reveal anything that is contrary to what He's already given us in Word. And it's evident by the verse above what Scripture is for.
I certainly agree that the Spirit leads us into truth - that's scriptural. I agree that the Sprit IS truth. (Jesus is the way, the truth and the life)
It seems like we're on the same page - I'm not sure! :) I'm just trying to be careful to not let the pendulum swing to far into the 'emotional' so as not to lose the solid foundation of the Word. Does that make sense?
As I said, the more 'charismatic' journey is a new one for me. :)
Hi Gayla,
There are two tabernacle's in the old testament. One was with Moses, and was a quiet, and somber place. And David's son build the second. In between these two David placed the Ark in Zion. And appointed singers, and musicians to worship before the Lord continually. The place of Zion is the example of the joy before the Lord. So as I see it, God was pleased with the arrangment of David. And is pleased with our exuberant praise and we are free to allow our emotions to "go after the Lord". Other than that, I personally feel that we all need to loosen up and allow God to give us "joy unspeakable and full of glory." If I get beside myself in the worship of God, it's to Him and not to man. Paul spoke of something on this order. So I say, Let 'er rip!
Be Blessed,
Bryan
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