Verse of the Day: Colossians 3:2
Monthly Archives: January 2020
The Holy Spirit (Ghost)
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead.
1 John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
He was involved in creating humans.
Genesis 1:26-27 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, He reproves the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement.
John 16:7-11 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”
He helps us pray.
Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
The Catholics teach that Mary helps people pray, but the Bible says that the Holy Spirit helps us pray. Nowhere does the Bible say that Mary helps anyone pray.
He teaches us all truth.
John 16:13″Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
He baptizes us into Christ’s body.
1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
He indwells us, and seals us in Christ at salvation.
Ephesians 1:13 “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,”
He gives us gifts and power to lead others to Christ.
Acts 2:1-8 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?”
Acts 2:41-42 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
The gift of tongues:
Tongues are languages.
Acts 2:1-11″And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”
Speaking in tongues is a sign to unbelievers.
1 Corinthians 14:21-22 “In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.”
The purpose of speaking in tongues, just like all the other gifts, of the Spirit is to lead other people to Christ. Speaking in tongues does not give you the Holy Spirit, does not fill you with the power of the Holy Spirit, nor does it make your prayers more powerful. As said above, we receive the Holy Spirit at Salvation, not by speaking in tongues. We are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit by simply allowing Him to fully control us and produce the fruits of the Spirit in our lives (see Ephesians 5:18 and Galatians 5:22-23).
Not all Christians speak in tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”
I do not speak in tongues myself, but I cannot find any biblical reason that says it is wrong to speak in tongues.
There is no need to practice or take classes to learn how to speak in tongues. The Holy Spirit just speaks through you.
Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
It is important to note here that the disciples did not receive the Holy Ghost at this time. They were only filled with His power. They received the Holy Ghost after Jesus arose from the dead and breathed on them.
John 20:22 “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”
Do not forbid to speak in tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:39 “Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.”
Many people today forbid to speak in tongues because the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:10 that when that which is perfect shall come tongues shall cease. They say that the phrase “That which is perfect” is speaking of the Bible. I believe the Bible is perfect and I can see their argument.
However, other people argue that this passage is talking about Jesus returning. It is true that when Jesus come back there will be no more “tongues”, because tongues are languages and we will all speak the same language. The Bible does not plainly say what this “perfect” is, but it does say not to forbid to speak in tongues.
Therefore, I will not limit God or judge others for speaking in tongues, if they obey the rules laid out in Scripture as below.
Only 1 person at a time is to speak in tongues with a total of 2 or 3 in the whole church service.
1 Corinthians 14:23 “If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?”
1 Corinthians 14:27 “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.”
There must be an Interpreter.
I Corinthians 14:27-28 “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.”
1 Corinthians 14:13 “Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.”
It is best to already know what you are going to say and the interpretation of it before you speak.
Married women are not to speak in tongues in the Church.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.”
This is only speaking of married women, because the word “women” in this verse specifically means wives in the original Greek (see in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance with Greek and Hebrew dictionaries #1135 in the Greek.) Also, we can see this from the context, because it says these women have husbands. In addition, if you take this verse in context, it is only saying that a married woman cannot speak in tongues in the Church, not that she cannot speak at all in the Church.
Prophecy is more important than tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5 “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.”
Charity is most important.
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
A lot of people put too much emphasis on tongues. Speaking in tongues is not a second working of grace, nor is it baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is simply one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and a sign to unbelievers (particularly unbelieving Jews) that Jesus (The Messiah) has come and died and rose again.
1 Corinthians 14:21-22 “In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.”
Our responsibility towards the Holy Spirit:
Do not blaspheme against the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 12:31 ” Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is calling the Holy Spirit the Devil. This is why I do not say that it is the Devil speaking through people when they speak in tongues as some people I know say this. Nobody knows that for sure, and I am not about to get into trouble with God for blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5: 18-20 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” This means we should allow the Holy Spirit to control us like alcohol controls a person who is drunk with it.
When a person is filled with (controlled by) the Holy Spirit, their life will show the fruits of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Do not Grieve the Holy Spirit. (Do not do things you are not supposed to do.)
Ephesians 4:30-32 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Do not Quench the Holy Spirit. (Do not refuse to do things that you are supposed to do.)
I Thessalonians 5:19 “Quench not the Spirit.”
I pray this lesson helps you understand the Holy Spirit better. Who He is, what He does, and what we are to do for Him.
Verse of the Day: Acts 16:31b
Verse of the Day: John 17:17
verse of the day: luke 13:3
Verse of the Day: John 16:13
Verse of the Day: 1 Timothy 2:5
Verse of the Day: 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Verse of The Day: Matthew 19:14
How to endure persecution
All who live for Christ are persecuted.
2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”
Why People Persecute Christians:
People persecute us, because we do not participate with them in doing things that God says are wrong.
1 Peter 4:4 “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:”
Also, because we reprove evil works.
Ephesians 5:11 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
Different levels of persecution.
Everyone who lives godly in Christ suffers persecution, but some suffer more than others. This is dependent largely upon where a person lives.
Many Christians in other Countries such as: North Korea, Iran, China, and many others face very harsh persecution by their governments. They are constantly imprisoned, tortured and killed for their faith in Christ.
Here in America we enjoy religious freedom from our government. Therefore, we do not have to face being imprisoned, tortured, or killed by our government for being Christians.
However, we still suffer some persecution from friends, family, co-workers and others for trying our best to please God in all things that we do.
When a person gets saved their friends and family may turn away from them, because the saved person will no longer drink, do drugs, swear, tell dirty jokes, or participate in other activities with them anymore, because those activities would displease God.
In recent years employees and business owners have fallen under persecution for refusing to participate in homosexual marriages. (See Romans 1:24-32) This fight has now largely been won, because the Supreme Court has upheld our Constitution.
Jesus sends us as sheep among wolves.
Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
We become wise as serpents by studying God’s Word.
Wolves will try to twist the meanings of God’s Word and confuse us. Therefore, we must diligently study God’s Word in order to combat their twisted arguments.
2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Sometimes wolves will try to look like sheep, and even secure for themselves a “job” as a Pastor of a church. But they are only in it for power or money, they are corrupt, they abuse their sheep, and lead them to destruction.
We must diligently study the Word of God so we can recognize these wolves in sheep’s clothing, and get away from them.
Jude 1:3-4 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Timothy 3:5-6 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,” (The word “houses” here is speaking of “houses of worship” i.e. “churches.”) This is specifically speaking of the wolves in sheep’s clothing who get “jobs” as Pastors of churches.
If you start going to a church, and discover that the Pastor is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, you need to just quietly leave and find another church. Wolves are dangerous, not only spiritually, but they can be physically dangerous too.
We must be harmless as doves by showing our persecutors love not hate.
Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
Proverbs 25:21-22 “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.”
We are allowed to use the laws of our Country to protect ourselves, Paul did.
Acts 22:25-29 “And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman. Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea. And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born. Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.”
Fear God not Men.
Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Our life is not ours.
1Cor 6:19-20 “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? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Colossians 3:3 “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
Those faithful unto death receive the crown of life.
Revelation 2:10 “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
If we endure persecution we obtain a better resurrection.
Hebrews 11:35b “…and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:”
When persecuted, remember nothing can separate you from God’s love, and you are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Arm your mind to endure persecution.
1 Peter 4:1 “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;”
1 Peter 4:1 was written by the Apostle Peter, the disciple who denied Jesus at His crucifixion. Here Peter tells us how to avoid making his mistake. We must arm or train our minds to stand for Christ no matter what.
The Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:3 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
Soldiers are trained to endure torture and die for their Country, if they are ever captured by the enemy.
We must train our minds the same way to suffer and die for Christ, and our heavenly Country (Hebrews 11:16), if we ever need to.
The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7a “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…”
How we think is how we will be!
If we train our minds to endure persecution, the Bible says that we can know that we will endure it!
The Bible says we must also be willing to die for other Christians, not just for Christ.
1 John 3:16 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
To Betray Another Christian is to Betray Christ.
Matthew 25:40 “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Before the Apostle Paul got saved, his name was Saul and he persecuted Christians. When Jesus appeared to him He asked Saul why he was persecuting Him.
Acts 9:1-5a “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:”
The Bible makes it very plain that what someone does to a Christian they also do to Christ.
Many Christians have suffered torture and death, because they would not betray other Christians.
In the book and movie “Tortured for Christ” Richard Wurmbrand tells how he and other Christians were imprisoned and tortured in the Soviet Union for being Christians. Their government told them that if they would betray other Christians to them they would receive special favors, but if not, they would be tortured worse. Richard Wurmbrand and many others suffered unspeakable tortures and some died, because they had armed their minds not to betray their brothers and sisters in Christ.
This is one reason why God commands us to always treat other Christians kindly (see 1 Peter 4:8 and Romans 12:10). Someday they may have to die for us, if we have treated them badly it could cause them to sin and betray us and Christ.
I encourage you to read the book and watch the movie “Tortured for Christ” they will strengthen your faith and change your life.
We must also be willing to let others die for Christ.
Matthew 10:37 “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
Many Christians have had to watch their children and other loved ones be tortured and killed, because they themselves would not deny Christ or betray other Christians.
Again in the book and movie “Tortured for Christ” Richard Wurmbrand tells of another man whose son (about 12 yrs old) was tortured to death in front of him, to try to get the man to betray other Christians. As his son was being tortured the man started to become weak, and was going to give the government the names of the other Christians, but the boy encouraged his father and begged him not to betray them. The father did not betray the other Christians, and the child died.
This is the reality of true Christianity. Christ died for us and we must be willing to suffer the loss of all things and die for Him and other Christians, if we are faced with it.
Now in America, we are very blessed, we have never had to face this level of persecution yet, but it could happen.
It is happening right now in other places of the world like: North Korea,Nigeria,Iran,China,and most recently the Philippines.
Those who don’t endure:
Matthew 13:20-21 “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”
Christ will deny those who deny Him.
2 Timothy 2:12 “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”
Matthew 10:33 “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you cannot know for sure if you would be able to endure certain kinds of persecution or not until you are faced with it.
That is a lie from Hell to try to cause you to deny Christ!
As shown above, If we train our minds to endure persecution, the Bible says that we can know that we will endure it!
It is not prideful to say that you would die and suffer anything for Christ, It is obedience to the Word of God! (1 Peter 4:1) Don’t ever let any wolf in sheep’s clothing, standing behind a pulpit ever tell you any different. They are setting you up for a fall, and trying to take away your crown of life.
Revelation 3:11 “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
We must arm our minds and decide that we will always obey God no matter what happens.
Some things to help you arm your mind:
- Read the book of Daniel
- Read the book of Acts
- Study the Apostle Paul’s life
- Watch the free movie about William Tyndale (he died for Christ) on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyvr6dxgglI
- Watch the free movie about John Huss (he died for Christ) on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssFJfvHXmaE
- Watch free video about John Bunyan (persecuted for Christ) on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ByKbrzm5gI
- Watch Free Video about the King James Bible (Many were persecuted and died for making the King James Bible) on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGwwScorP6w&list=PLTAdZsupFNCh6ghqPmJWxJmj_OpjsF1jF&index=5
- Read Foxes Book of Martyrs (Tells of many who have died for Christ) Read it free online https://www.gutenberg.org/files/22400/22400-h/22400-h.htm
- Learn about Christians who are being persecuted today at https://aclj.org/persecuted-church and https://www.persecution.com/
- Read book “Tortured for Christ” (probably have to buy it at a Christian bookstore or online somewhere.)
- Watch Movie “Tortured for Christ” (probably have to buy it at a Christian bookstore or online somewhere).