You are rejecting light...!

[Guest]

Amen Mark. You are either up very early, or you are up very late.

[Twilight]

Amen Mark. You are either up very early, or you are up very late.

Up very late.

An important job came up...

:-)

[Musicman1228]

Sorry about the name mix up, Richard. I, too, have been tired lately.

No, I am not saying you have to work to get the Holy Spirit, I am saying you have to have the ability to receive it. God does not download the HS into you against your will, or by force. It is evident that Jesus offered His Spirit to them, which they received. Those that say that you must go to someone or someplace to 'get' the HS do not understand the way in which the HS is sent to us.

Question: if Jesus gave His disciples the HS BEFORE He left earth for Heaven, then for what reason would He need to give it to them a second time, 40 plus days later on the day of Pentecost? Also, since Jesus allowed His disciples to receive the HS in a peaceful way (before His ascension) then why was the big show necessary on the day of Pentecost?

[Guest]

The "Big show" as you put it, was responsible for baptizing a lot of souls. About 3000.

So let I get this straight. You don't ask for the Holy Spirit before you study the Bible?

You just did it once in your life and that was it?

And you're assuming that should be enough to last the rest of your life?

[Woody]

Well all have the HS with us. But it is us who don't access it. The prayer of invitation is just to set us in the right mood to be receptive to the presence.

[skyblue888]

First we cannot even have a thought without the Holy Spirit. "In Him we live and move and have our being." "In Him all things hold together."

If there is a man on the face of the earth who has any inclination toward God it is because of the many influences that are set to work to bear upon his mind and heart. We cannot have an inclination to come to Christ unless He sets in motion influences and impresses His Spirit upon the human mind. (See F.W.73)

And if we hunger for God's mercy, desire His counsel, and long for His love, this is an evidence that Christ has wrought upon your heart in order that He may be sought unto to do for you, through the endowment of the Holy Spirit, those things which it is impossible for you to do for yourself. (See M.B.19)

That He may be sought unto. How do we draw nigh to Him that He may draw nigh to us? by presenting our helpless case before Him pleading the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. This is our only plea!

"Looking unto Jesus and trusting in His merits, we appropriate the blessings of light and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." 5 T 744.

This simple statement of truth teaches us that "the merits of Christ's sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf," in order to receive the blessings of the Covenant of Grace.

Then every command becomes a promise, a most positive promise of their own fulfilment for then the righteousness of Christ is brought into the life. His righteousness is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. See F.W.65,66; T.M.92,93.

This is how we are to be made vessels fit for the Master's use and then the Holy Spirit will be poured out in large measure in order to reach the multitudes with the last message of mercy.

This will be the latter rain and loud cry.

sky

[Musicman1228]

Where in Bible prophecy is there mentioned a 'Latter rain'? The idea that Jesus needs to send His Holy Spirit again and again and again to people who BEG for it seem ridiculous to me. Jesus told His own disciples to 'receive' the Holy Spirit, and they did. Why are so many Adventists worried that they won't have the Holy Spirit when they need it (her).

[Guest]

So let I get this straight. You don't ask for the Holy Spirit before you study the Bible?

You just did it once in your life and that was it?

And you're assuming that should be enough to last the rest of your life?

This could explain some things.

[Musicman1228]

Again you complicate the simple, making the profound juvenile. Jesus gave his Holy Spirit to His disciples, this as an example that He sent that same Spirit to us. The Holy Spirit is present right now on earth, and around us and available to us anytime we have the need. The process of Sanctification is to learn that we have that need all the time. The reason that I continue to ask for the Holy Spirit when I pray and study, and in my daily life is not to remind God to send her but to remind me that I need her.

The Holy Spirit is already here with us 'in power'. That power is provided at need NOT as a show of force to capture the interest of those that do not trust God. The only reason for sending a 'latter rain' is if sending the Holy Spirit the first time was not enough to get the job done. Since when does God make that kind of mistake?

[Guest]

I really didn't see you ridiculing people for praying for the Holy Spirit as all that profound.

[Twilight]

Again you complicate the simple, making the profound juvenile. Jesus gave his Holy Spirit to His disciples, this as an example that He sent that same Spirit to us. The Holy Spirit is present right now on earth, and around us and available to us anytime we have the need. The process of Sanctification is to learn that we have that need all the time. The reason that I continue to ask for the Holy Spirit when I pray and study, and in my daily life is not to remind God to send her but to remind me that I need her.

The Holy Spirit is already here with us 'in power'. That power is provided at need NOT as a show of force to capture the interest of those that do not trust God. The only reason for sending a 'latter rain' is if sending the Holy Spirit the first time was not enough to get the job done. Since when does God make that kind of mistake?

MM?

Do you hold "any" doctrinal positions that are in common with the SDA church?

Any at all?

Mark

[Guest]

MM?

Do you hold "any" doctrinal positions that are in common with the SDA church?

Any at all?

Mark

That's a good question Mark.

[LifeHiscost]

True revelation is spiritual revelation.

Your thoughts?

Mark

Mark, your conclusions seem to presuppose that emotions with mental assent are largely a work of the adversary, and if evident in the life of a recent believer, gives probable proof of their wandering into spiritual darkness.

I'd like to suggest a group of people who made an effort to adhere to "Truth" and ended up crucifying the Lord of glory, partly as a result of an emotionless experience when it came to defining other's efforts to receive Jesus as the Messiah, as compared to their own lifeless experience.

"“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”" Luke 11:52 NKJV

"And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? ..... Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Mark 2:6,7,11 NKJV

"And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other."

Mark 3:5 NKJV

"His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’"Matthew 25:23 NKJV

I'm not suggesting anyone on this forum as having a heart devoid of the joy of Jesus, but merely pointing out that religion without joy (emotions), no matter how doctrinally correct, will eventually lead to finding reason to expel the joyful from the congregation of the "correct".

Blessings!

[LifeHiscost]

Originally Posted By: Tom Wetmore

And if we would understand this essential truth we could set aside our arrogant temptation to proclaim the title of this thread.

Amen...

We must ask the Lord to search our hearts and show us if anything of "self" is attached to our view of "truth".

Mark

The top comment above seems to me to be a rather arrogant proclamation.

The second comment would seem important as long as we do not arrive at the conclusion that we can never say anything for sure.

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”"John 8:31,32 NKJV

"Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands.... "Luke 4:35 NKJV

"For our [preaching of the] glad tidings (the Gospel) came to you not only in word, but also in [its own inherent] power and in the Holy Spirit and with great conviction and absolute certainty [on our part]. You know what kind of men we proved [ourselves] to be among you for your good."1 Thessalonians 1:5 AMP

Blessings!

[LifeHiscost]

It teaches us to be cautious and accept no mans teachings unless it is thoroughly checked against the bible.

Amen! Not ignoring the fact that the JWs check the Bible they use and it does not read the same as the commonly accepted Christian Bibles. Not to mention other religious men who use many different books, including the Quran, which has common beginnings with the Christian Word.

"Now these [Jews] were better disposed and more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they were entirely ready and accepted and welcomed the message [ concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] with inclination of mind and eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."Acts 17:11 AMP

Blessings!

[LifeHiscost]

You will NEVER get close enough to the light to matter if you don't DO the truth first. Any other theology is a cheap imitation, and we should not be fooled by cheap imitations.

This theology is, of course, the theology that kept the Jews in control of the masses, of those falling short of their right to the temple as they were judged too unclean to enter.

The same theology says God does not want me near Him until I clean myself up and make myself presentable(bootstrap religion). The same theology that accepts____

"...I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing...Revelation 3:17 KJV

And denies that____

"...thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked..."Revelation 3:17 KJV

What is needed is a recognition that Truth in and through the individual is progressive, something that starts as a goal to reach and never fully attained until one is translated and glorified at Jesus' coming, with the only way to see each other professing Christianity as being on our same level, which is at the foot of the cross.

This in no way denies recognition of those who see Jesus only as an historical figure or a good man, but do not themselves recognize their own need as one lost in sin without His Divine creative power in their own lives.

Blessings!

[LifeHiscost]

He knows NO ONE (Christian) will be fooled by someone who is saying that they are actually Jesus Christ in the flesh. Jesus is warning His own disciples to beware of those who come saying that they are OF or FROM Christ, and are acting on His behalf or by His direction. These people have a form of 'light' which says you don't need to DO truth to come to the light, you only need to know the source of truth, Jesus Christ, to be saved.

This is a warning we ALL need to heed.

I'm aware of a satellite station that has a man leading out who declares himself to be the Divinely appointed Son of God. His adherents are all beautifully presented individuals, sparkling clean and highly intelligent, most probably following a lifestyle that would make any desiring to do righteously, somewhat admiring, if they were not aware that Jesus reveals Himself differently than visual interpretations often adequately describe. Their "doing of Truth" has not repelled multitudes from those doing righteous deeds, from accepting a false messiah.

"And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light."2 Corinthians 11:14

Blessings!

[LifeHiscost]

("there but for the grace of God go i", is another great one that should be resurrected)

TU Amen!

[LifeHiscost]

Wow thanks, I just happen to have V9. I didn't know there were EGW books for it. Thanks for the link.

I just google "EGW Published Writings" and the links give me all I need, along with Biblegateway.com, with no special software. Hope this is helpful.

[LifeHiscost]

Problem is MM, you cannot "do the truth" until you have been regenerated.

I am perceiving that your are saying you have to "do the truth" to be regenerated.

That is backwards my friend.

Jesus said, "Ye must be born again".

That is spiritual rebirth.

Anything outside of that is legalism or liberalism.

Mark :-)

[Guest]

I have e-sword, and at that link she gave, I was able to get EGW Bible Commentary for e-sword. It's great. You can download e-sword for free BTW.

[LifeHiscost]

I think we should avoid being judgmental.

Amen. However one only needs to speak the Word and the conscience of individuals causes some to feel condemned. And that condition is that for which the Holy Spirit was sent.

"...and having come, He will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment..."John 16:8 YLT

Blessings!

[LifeHiscost]

You are 180 degrees off course MM. The best thing you could do at this point would be to stop moving, and ask God for directions. The text plainly says that if you are not born again FIRST, that you can't even see the KOH, much less enter it.

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

So you're standing there waiting for something that you could have right now, and you don't even know it.

I'm not going to join in correcting MM, but give a hearty Amen to the Truth found in the Scriptures you brought up, Richard, and let them speak for themselves.

Blessings!

[Guest]

Maybe you should, he might listen to you.

[LifeHiscost]

First of all, who are you calling Robert?

So you picked up on that too, Robert, errrhuhhh, Richard. Nothing gets by you.

Blessings!