Relationship Ready Part I, 02/04/09

Posted on February 5, 2009 by growintheword

Relationship Ready Part I
“Wholeness”
Synopsis of Bible Study 02/04/09
Delivered by Bishop Walker III

Every relationship that you enter into begins with you. If you don’t deal with the issues within yourself your bring dysfunction to your relationship. Before you enter into a relationship, you need to ask yourself are you whole? The bible speaks of having a contrite spirit which means crushed. You need to know that God doesn’t want you to stay in this state. God wants you to have a spirit of wholeness, one that is undivided, unbroken, and complete.

22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. Matt 9:22 (KJV) –This scripture refers he woman with the issue of blood. For 12 years this woman had a constant flow of blood. You can imagine that this caused her to have physiological problems. Notice the woman has this issue for 12ys. It is important that you realize that numbers used in the bible is always significant. 12 means divine government or order. This means God was going to bring things in order for this woman. Once she arrives to Jesus, she touched the hem of his garment. By touching the hem of Jesus’ garment, she was touching something that touched him. In relationships you have to be in touch with what has touched you or effected you.
What is really important to see is the woman with issue of blood comes looking for a healing, but ends up getting wholeness. There is a physiological disorder with her that stems from her physical disorder. Her physical disorder was her bleeding out. Just like her, the church is filled with people that are bleeding out. These people are after healing, not knowing they need wholeness. These people think they just need the bleeding to stop. This is not the whole problem. Like the woman with the issue of blood, they have something inside that needs to be dealt with too. They need to be made whole. Another example is that people hook up with people after they have been hurt thinking that all they need is someone to be with. They simply want the pain to stop. The truth is they need to deal with what is inside of them. Hooking up with someone does not make you whole. It only stops the hurt. Inside you is still the pain that caused you to hurt and the damage the hurt caused. You must address the damage caused by the hurt or you will never be whole. Don’t put people in a position to do they were not designed to do. Only God can give wholeness.

7steps for gaining wholeness
I. Process the pain of your past
1. Everyone has had some type of pain. It is ok to own up to your pain. This doesn’t mean you are not spiritual.
2. Embrace the future. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:13-14 (KJV). Don’t eradicate the pain of past. It is ok to remember the past so it doesn’t happen again. What this scripture means is take the power of the pain under control. Don’t let the past hinder your future. Because you have not dealt with the pain of your past, people that had nothing to do with your hurt, is paying for it. Never allow what happened to you keep you from reaching towards what God has for you Keep on reaching. Pressing simply implies discipline and work while moving past the things that are working against you.
3. Overcome guilt with grace. 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1 (KJV), 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (KJV) -we have to understand that we have been forgiven. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Tim 1:7 (KJV) -Fear and love is relational. How can you love somebody without knowing somebody? Fear then is the thing that is not the fruit of the spirit.
4. Many of our relationships are fear based. Fear of being alone, used, or abused has affected many relationships. We see people by themselves and all of a sudden they are with someone they ran into it. Fear will make you run into stuff. Fear will even cause you to have a bad time on a good day. Ex-You just feel like something is going to happen, because everything is going to good. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalms 84:11 (KJV) -keep walking upright and stop being anxious and God will give you what he has planned for your life.
II. Discover you spiritual identity
Most of us have a representative. People don’t often meet who you are when they meet you. We always bring forth a representative and not who we really are. People often struggle with their spiritual identity. They show off what they think you want to see instead of allowing people to meet the real us.
Being sure of our spiritual identity means:
1. We know we are accepted. We know God defines us 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1 (KJV); 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Cor 6:19-20 (KJV). People ought to realize who they are rejecting when they try and reject you.
2. We are secure. The pain of the past causes us to be insecure. You have to be secure with yourself before anyone else can be secure with you.
3. We are free from condemnation. 1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 (NLT)
4. We are anointed. 21 It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment of everything he will give us. 2 Cor 1:21-22 (NLT). Somebody fine walks in the room and women say, “She thinks she is all of that”. What is she supposed to think? Should she walk in the room with her head down? Guys are guilty too. If some big handsome guy walks in the room, they clinch their spouse or they wonder who is calling their spouse’s cell phone when it vibrates because the battery is down. We are anointed and that makes us special.
5. We are protected. When you understand how secure you are, you realize god is covering you. 15 And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for. 1 John 5:15 (NLT)
6. We are significant. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph 2:10 (KJV) We are his workmanship. God took his time preparing us and he put things inside of us too.
7. He dwells in us. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4 (KJV)
8. We must bear fruit. 2 He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. John 15:2 (NLT)
9. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalms 139:14 (KJV)-God has fearfully and wonderfully made us. God made your head and lips like he wanted them. If someone has a problem with it, tell them to step! Everybody’s hair is not going to be long or short. We cannot spend our time trying to please others, because they can change their minds. We are not saying don’t fix yourself up. What we are saying is don’t live your life trying to be what others want you to be. Be content with yourself.
III. Develop criteria for relationships
3 kind’s relationships
• Results of common goals. Sometimes relationships develop simply because someone had something in common with you.
• Cunning. This relationship is born out of hidden agendas. They have some other motive for being with you.
• Committed relationships-There is more weight and depth in these types of relationships. These relationships are built on intimacy (in-to-me-to-see).
1. Don’t feel guilty for wanting the desires of your heart. 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalms 37:4 (KJV). People should have to qualify themselves for you. We have the right to have the desires of my heart. You will only set criteria based on the value you feel you have. Ex-The value of the house determines the quality of restrictions that it takes to purchase that house. Even though we are in a recession, we have to realize that we still are expensive. Do you know who you are? Ex-Bishop explains when he met his late wife, she was a medical student and he was a student of Divinity. They met in the lobby of a hotel. The Lord blessed them to make it to the penthouse (metaphorically). They were married for 11 yrs before she passed away. Bishop said he made up in his mind that since he made it to the penthouse, he was not going back to the lobby with his next mate. He realized he wanted to stay atleast on club level. That way he knew he would at least have someone that was a registered member. Everyone good or bad hangs in the lobby. Qualify your potential mates.
2. If you hang around fools, you will become a fool. You can’t find a prince or princes if you are looking out in the field. 20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Prov 13:20 (KJV)
3. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Cor 6:14 (KJV) What does this mean? It simply is a statement of values and visions. To be evenly yoked means simply that you share the same values. The vision part means if you believe in working, they believe in working. If you believe in education, they believe in education. If you believe in home ownership, they believe in ownership. Too many people have Messianic Complex. Messianic comes from Messiah or savior meaning you get into a relationship thinking you can save someone. You have to be whole and they have to be whole in order for you to come together. You cannot save someone that does not want to be saved.
3 questions you should ask about relationships
1. Does this relationship honor God?
2. Does this relationship bring me closer to God?
1. Will godly people approve of it?
IV. Develop a discipline life.
This is hard to work in. You have to be discipline to be in marriage.
When you try to become discipline, you must:
1. Have mental resolve. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 (KJV) We have got to let some things go in our minds. For some it is to let the player go. For others it may be gambling. For others it might simply mean letting go of the things that happened in the past.
2. Got to have psychological restraint. 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalms 1:1 (KJV) You have to have boundaries set for yourself because you know you. If you think about it, a lot of problems we got into in the past were tied to where we were. Ex-Water can not break concrete, but a constant drip in the same spot over a period of time can cause concrete to erode and eventually break down. Some people think moving is the answer to their restrain problem, but when you move, there is one problem. You will still be there. You have to learn to restrain yourself. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (KJV)
3. Got to have a righteous regimen. 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalms 1:1-2 (KJV) Set up a regimen that promotes Godly principles.
V. Pursue God’s propose for your life.
1. God has some awesome things he wants to do in our life. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jer 29:11 (KJV)
2. God said be fruitful and multiply. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen 1:27-28 (KJV). 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:8 (KJV)-bear much fruit.
3. Get an education for yourself. Pursue the stuff that you want. You got to aggressively pursue your dreams.
4. Acquire assets while you are single, before you enter relationships. Get a house in your own name; get your own credit, etc…Men: this is why you want women who have their own stuff before you get with someone. You can end up getting put out of your own house.
5. What about love? There are 3 reasons relationships don’t last. They are communication, money, and lack of sex. You need a help meet. You need somebody to help meet you and make the relationship successful. You got to come to the table whole.
VI. Expect growth to intimidate and eliminate.
Air gets thinner the more you grow. Some folk will just be intimidated by you as you grow. 1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. 5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. 6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. 7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? 9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. 1 Sam 18:1-9 (KJV)-Saul was Jelous of David because the song said boasted that David slayed more people than him; 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 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. Matt 1:18-21 (KJV)-Joseph was blessed enough to know he was blessed enough to walk by his wife knowing that what was inside her was bigger than him. Some men are intimidated because their wife makes more money than them, but men have to know they are blessed and fortunate enough to have the privilege to walk beside what is bigger than them.
VII. Be complete in Christ
We are complete in him. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Col 2:9-10 (KJV). We have everything we need in Christ; 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. Phil 4:11 (NLT)-We are cool where we are. We are cool by our self. If you are alone but whole, you are better than some people that are in relationships. Don’t be a 1/2 looking for another 1/2 to complete you. Know who you are. If Jesus is everything to you, let him be everything. Stop playing yourself!

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TD Jakes

Posted on January 28, 2009 by growintheword
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The move of the Holy Spirit Part 1, Bible study 01/21/09

Posted on January 23, 2009 by growintheword

The move of the Holy Spirit Part 1
Synopsis of Bible Study 01/21/09
Delivered by Bishop Walker III
When we get saved, we receive at that moment the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are sealed by Holy Spirit of God. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Eph 1:13 (KJV).
The Holy Spirit of promise was the promise of Jesus. Jesus promised after he left, the Holy Spirit would come. Verse 14 says, “14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Eph 1:14 (KJV)” It is the Holy Spirit that sustains us until Jesus comes back. We have to see the Holy Spirit as a sustainer to help us navigate thru life.
Our past is a result of the Holy Spirit’s power. 13 Hold on to the pattern of right teaching you learned from me. And remember to live in the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 14 With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard what has been entrusted to you. 2 Tim 1:13-14 (NLT). Whatever God puts in our lives, it is sustained by the ministry and work of the Holy Spirit.
We must look at the Holy Spirit’s relationship to God and the son, Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the 3rd person of God head. The title of the Holy Spirit is often associated with the Father and Son. However; people failed to notice the significance of the Holy Spirit. 19 How blind! For which is greater, the gift on the altar, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Matt 23:19 (NLT).This is significant because of what is found in 1 John 5:7 (7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7 (KJV).This scripture talks about the 3 being one which is the Father (God), the Word meaning Jesus the son, and the Holy Ghost. They work together as one, however; each identity has a distinct personality, but at the same time, they are all God. For example: H20 has three properties, water, ice, and steam, yet they are all still water.
God was above us at first. Emanuel (Jesus) was God with us. The Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit) is God in is. Some people treat the Holy Spirit like an “it”. Ex: “Something told me not to do that” We have to remember the Holy Spirit is God. Within you right now is a great deposit, the “Holy Spirit”.
Inside of you is a reservoir of power to give you what you need. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. John 16:12-14 (NLT). You don’t have to look outside of you to have what you need. If you are saved, you have within you the Holy Spirit.
Attributes of the Holy Spirit
a. He is called God. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Acts 5:3-4 (KJV)-When Ananias held back her offering Peter starts by asking why her heart lied to the Holy Spirit, but ends in saying she lied unto God. This shows that the Holy Spirit is also called God. God then is in you.
b. The Holy Spirit is eternal-14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Heb 9:14 (KJV).
c. He is omnipotent or all powerful- 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:34-35 (NLT). You might ask where the power in the scripture is. The Woman is pregnant by the Holy Ghost, yet she is a virgin. You can’t get more powerful than this. Inside of you is such a reservoir of power, yet you let the things outside you become more powerful than what is in you. You have to realize that inside you is all the power you can ever need.
d. The Holy Spirit is Omniscient or all knowing-26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26 (KJV). The Holy Spirit of God will teach you all things and bring back to remembrance things you have been taught in the word of God.
1. Why then do we come to church if the Holy Spirit will teach us? If the preacher is before you preaching, they have been sent by the Holy Ghost. You have to know that what they say is not them. It has been inspired by the Holy Spirit. The preachers are simply downloading into you what the Holy Spirit has inspired for them to tell you. What is preached is something relevant to you. The Holy Spirit gives the revelation to you. He calls back to remembrance the things in the word that we may have learned, but forgotten. Ex-Some people can’t pass test well, but they know material. All they need is someone to jar their memory. Like this, when you are tested in life, the Holy Spirit brings back into remembrance the word that you have learned. Some people don’t study, so what they are asking for is not a call back into remembrance. They are asking for a miracle. The Holy Spirit can’t call to remembrance what you haven’t learned.
e. The Holy Spirit is omnipresent or everywhere present. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. Psalms 139:7-8 (KJV) The Holy Spirit is everywhere. Some people say they don’t want to go some places, because the Holy Spirit is not there. The Holy Spirit is there. It might not be manifested, but it is there, because the Holy Spirit is in you. Everywhere you go, the Holy Spirit will be. Ex-You might have a gas heater. You may have the pilot light on, but the fire is not lit. People might smell an awful smell from the gas, because it is not lit. The smell reminds you that the gas is there, even though you can’t see it. The fire is the manifestation of the gas.
Attributes and works of the Holy Spirit:
a. The Holy Spirit was active at the time of creation 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Gen 1:1-2 (KJV). The Holy Spirit was moving during the creation of the earth. The ability we have to create is the product of the Holy Spirit within us. The act is when we speak it. There are things inside you that are blowing your mind, but you don’t have the courage to speak it.
b. The Holy Spirit was active in the regeneration of fallen man4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:4-5 (KJV). We must also be reborn with the Spirit, in order to enter heaven. It is the ability of God that can allow you to start over again.
c. The Holy Spirit was actively involved in the resurrection of the body. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11 (NLT). God got up with all power in his hands and put it in us. We have to realize that we have resurrection power. Ex-Having the Holy Spirit inside of you is like trying to push a ball under water. Because of what is inside the ball, you can’t hold the ball under the water.
d. The Holy Spirit was active in the inspiration of scripture. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Tim 3:16 (NLT); 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves 21 or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God. 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NLT). The Holy Ghost spoke to man and inspired them to write the book (bible). The prophets spoke and wrote what was inspired by the Holy Ghost. We try to interpret the bible with our minds instead of with our spirit man. You can make the bible appear to say anything that you want it to say if you interpret it with your mind Ex-Interpreting the bible with you mind instead of the spirit will cause you to think women can’t wear pants to church or that if you don’t speak in tongues, you are not saved. This is why you can’t rely on your mind to interpret God’s word. Ex2- In the most humble way possible, Bishop explains how he has studied the word in some of the best Ivy League schools in this country. He explains he was classmates with some of the most brilliant spiritual people ever. He explains that he brought one attribute to class that most didn’t. He brought his spiritual foundation. He explains he did not go to seminary for knowledge. He explained he went to seminary for a greater revelation of his informed faith. The sprit of God has to be over your mind, so you won’t interpret the word for your own agenda. Misinterpreting God’s word can mess up a denomination. The only way to get the essence of the bible is through the Spirit of God. This is the reason we start the service with praise and worship. Praise is the thing that cuts through the mess you been through all day long. Worship pushes you into the presence of God. You got to be open to what the Spirit of God is saying to you through God’s word.
e. The Holy Spirit has a mind. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. Romans 8:27 (NLT). -The Spirit of God has a mind and is intelligent. The Spirit of God and God will not cancel each other out. Ex-The spirit would not allow you to shout and fall on the floor and roll under the pews while the word is going forth. The congregation would not be listening to the word, because they would be concerned about you. You would actually become a distraction at this point. We associate everything emotional with the Spirit of God, but the Spirit of God is not about emotion. You can’t associate the Holy Spirit with emotionalism.
f. The Holy Spirit has a will. 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 1 Cor 12:11 (KJV) Everywhere he leads you is according to God’s will. When you walk into the room and say something don’t feel right, that is the Holy Spirit saying, “Get out!”
g. The Holy Spirit has emotion. . 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Eph 4:30 (NLT).When you receive the spirit during the church service and you leave the premises cursing, this greives the Holy Spirit. All the things that we do that is against God’s will, greives the Holy Spirit.
Life of Jesus
a. God emptied himself and became like us. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Phil 2:4-7 (KJV).God humbled himself as a man and became obedient to death. He became an example to show us how we should allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us through difficult times.
b. This issue is the emptying of one’s self. 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, Luke 4:14-18 (KJV) The will of God only manifests when we are led by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus taught in the synagogue, he explained that the Holy Spirit was on him. We have to empty ourselves to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest within us.
c. The world will never understand the power of the Holy Spirit. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:15-17 (NLT). The world has a hard time seeing the Holy Spirit. Anything that we do that seems impossible is possible because we are being led by Spirit of God. Ex-Bishop shares that when he first started Pastoring Mt Zion in 1992; Pastors would laugh because the first area he worked with in growing the church was college students. Pastors felt it would not work, because college students move away. If Bishop had not followed the spirit, the church might not have had the same impact that it has today. We have to learn to do what the Holy Spirit tells us to do, when we are told to do it. We need to stop listening to the opinion of others.
The s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g of our faith.
a. In order to receive this last point, you must empty yourself of all of you denominational upbringing. This point will expose some out of the box teaching that challenges most denominations including Baptist. Lots of folk miss this point that we are trying to make:
b. Some people think you have to tarry for Holy Ghost or if you don’t speak in tongues you don’t have the Holy Ghost. This is not entirely true. At this time we would like to introduce the new birth experience. 5 Jesus replied, “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. John 3:5-6 (NLT); 20 As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his side. They were filled with joy when they saw their Lord! 21 He spoke to them again and said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:19-22 (NLT). Some people didn’t believe Jesus had risen. In verse 21, Jesus had risen, but not ascended. He reveals himself to his disciples so that they would know who he was. He showed his hands and side to the disciples. The disciples had been with Jesus all this time didn’t realize they were being set up to lead. Jesus was preparing them to be released into something great, just like some of the folk reading this right now. This scripture illustrates how the disciples had not focused on the Spirit of God.
c. In verse 22, Jesus breathe on the disciples and said receive the Holy Ghost! At this point the Holy Ghost had been received. Now if you go back, God breathed on Adam and he became a living soul. We are not living if we are not fulfilling the desires of God. The disciples were dead men walking until God breathed on them. We ought to be saying breathe on me Lord all the time, so that we may live.
Here is the stretch!
a. Jesus tells the disciples to go to upper room. In Acts 1:8 ( 8 But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)), Jesus said you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come. People try to interpret Acts as theological instead of historical. The Holy Spirit had already come at the time of Pentecost. We received the Holy Ghost when we got saved or in other words when he breathed on us. We became living at that point. All we had to do is receive him.
b. Then what is the tongues at Pentecost about? Yes the tongues talked about at Pentecost were legitimate tongues. The tongues mentioned in Acts 2:1 was legitimate, but they were assigned tongues. These tongues had a mission. They were to share the gospel on the earth. In order for this to be obtained there was a manifestation of the Holy Spirit displayed by the speaking of these tongues in a language that men could understand. During Pentecost, each person understood what was being said in their own tongue. This was to be sure that man could understand that Jesus had risen and the Holy Spirit had come. We as Christians took this out of context and told people that they were not saved, unless they had the manifestation of this tongue. This encouraged some people to imitate it. The unsaved and some of the saved saw this imitation so much that the legitimate gift of tongues was not received.
c. Now look at Acts 2:1-4 again. 1 On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. Acts 2:1-4 (NLT) Here is the theological s-t-r-e-t-c-h! You have the Holy Spirit in you, because you got it when you got saved. The only thing missing is you haven’t been filled! The ultimate goal is to have the Holy Spirit manifested in your life. We have all heard the story of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37. In Ezekiel 47 the writer speaks of seeing water seeping under the doors. Water represents the Spirit of God. Some folk are comfortable with the water (representing the Holy Spirit) being ankle deep. Some are satisfied at waist or chest deep, but there are some out there that wants to be totally engulfed by the water. We should wake up every day saying less of me and more of you God. In other words, you can have the Holy Spirit and not be totally filled (waist deep). The only way that you can be totally filled is to move yourself totally out of the way and let the water overtake you. Only then will you see the manifestation of the Holy Spirit which is shown through tongues.
d. Some of you have the Holy Spirit in side of you and never experience the manifestation. The scripture says, “12 “The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. John 14:12 (NLT),” You have to say lord empty me, I want to experience it all. Some of us have a part in us that says we want it all and another part that has allowed our spirit to be clogged. We need to get back to that place where we use to discern things spirit. In this season, we are like a clogged sink. We have so much mess clogging up our flow that we can’t get the full manifestation of the Holy Spirit. We need to realize that inside of us is so much power, but it is lying dormant. The Holy Spirit is saying if you need me, I will be here. The Holy Spirit says, “Just call on me if you need me”, while he watches us try to fight stuff we don’t have to fight. If you just empty yourself, you can experience all of the Holy Spirit in the manner which God intended.

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Never would have made it, Marvin Sapp

Posted on January 22, 2009 by growintheword
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