4 Common Misconceptions About the Holy Ghost - Part 3 & 4

3. THERE MUST BE A "HOLY GHOST FEELING" IF HE IS AROUND
Many Christians are accustomed to one kind of feeling and conditioning that has been termed "Holy Ghost atmosphere". Since you heard this topic of Holy Spirit, you just begin to put up some imaginations and dreamings. The truth is, all those feelings exist only in the mind and they are based more on your background and first experience of "Holy Ghost meetings". The Holy Ghost is God and needs no feeling to validate or invalidate His presence.
God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24 KJV)
He didn't say "God is a feeling and they that must serve Him must serve Him in feeling and in imaginative atmosphere"

4. I HAVE A DUTY TO KEEP THE HOLY GHOST
Another common mistake believers often make is to try to "maintain" the Holy Ghost. What you got not by your begging for it, you want to retain by begging?

Hey don't be silly! The Holy Spirit is God: you cannot "keep" or confine God if He wants to leave a place. Neither can you cast Him out
After hearing that the Holy Ghost is in you now, you are happy and go jubilating for a while; then you want to begin to do something to RETAIN the Spirit. It's the feeling that you want to retain. Unfortunately, feelings are temporal creations of the mind: it may not be real. It's sense-ruled Christians who act like that. It's such an insult. The Holy Spirit is to KEEP you and not you to keep Him. He is to sustain you and not the other way round. He will keep you to the end.

*[[Eph 1:13-14]] 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,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance UNTIL THE REDEMPE of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

4 Common Misconceptions about the Holy Spirit – Part 2

Misconception #2 - YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU DID OR DO

I say first that it is essential for Christians to portray holiness in carriage, conduct and conversation. God wants us to live holy. Mankind wants it too.

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16 KJV)

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV)

Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (Hebrews 12:14 KJV)

1Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

However, you do not have the Holy Spirit because of something YOU did or do. Why then do you have the Holy Spirit? Let's see that from the bible (and not from the unrenewed mind)

And BECAUSE YE ARE SONS, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6 KJV)

So why do you have the Spirit of His Son?
"Because ye are sons"… Simple!

Another reason?

(But this spake he of the Spirit, which THEY THAT BELIEVE on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39 KJV)

So the Spirit was given BECAUSE JESUS HAS NOW BEEN GLORIFIED, and you have believed on Him. Faith is key here.

Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and BELIEVING [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] (Galatians 3:2 AMP)

Then does He Who supplies you with His marvelous [Holy] Spirit and works powerfully and miraculously among you do so on [the grounds of your doing] what the Law demands, or because of your BELIEVING in and adhering to and trusting in and relying on the message that you heard? (Galatians 3:5 AMP)

In fact, you do not have the Holy Spirit because you ASKED or PRAYED earnestly. Yes! Jesus said the Father will give the Spirit to any that ask Him (Luke 11:13) but it is not in answer to your prayer you have the Spirit now, but in response to Jesus' prayer and RIGHTEOUSNESS.

And I {Jesus} will PRAY THE FATHER, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16 KJV)

Because there is NO criterion for obtaining the Holy Spirit: a man receives the Spirit, not by His doings of the Law but by faith.

So, no believer is "IN NEED" of the Holy Ghost! The believer is not to "desire" to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Why? You don't desire to have what you have, do you? If I have so much money that I'm the world richest man, can I ever "wish" or "pray" that I should have money? If you are born again, you already HAVE the Spirit. To ask for "more Holy Ghost", "fuller Holy Ghost", "refilling" is only another subtle voice of unbelief in you. What you have is ALL that may be had of the Spirit – "without measure". (John 3:34)

Now the response of each believer to the Spirit may be different. That is why not all believers seem to manifest the abilities of the Spirit. The believer who is fulfilling the works of the flesh is doing so because he is not walking in the Spirit, not because He is void of the Spirit. (Gal 5:16). ALL believers have the Spirit. Don't get intimidated in any way by how some believers have reacted in the Holy Ghost to begin to contemplate changing your confession. Don't forget it is "by faith". YOU ARE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN! "Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)" (Hebrews 10:23 KJV). Oh! "let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4 KJV) It is one Spirit in us all by one and the same sacrifice! (Eph 4:4-6).

4 Common Misconceptions About The Holy Spirit - 1

MISCONCEPTION #1: THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS ONLY IN SOME SELECT BELIEVERS

But that's not true! ALL believers have the Spirit of God in them. John says there cannot be a believer without the Spirit of God in Him.

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:15 KJV)

We understand that true confession is a product of one's belief. "I believe, therefore I speak…" (2Cor 4:13). So we can paraphrase 1John 4:15 as "Whosoever shall confess, having believed, that Jesus is the Son of God… God dwells in him! So whether a baby Christian or grown up one, our confession is the same, God dwells in all of us! And this habitation of God is THROUGH THE SPIRIT.

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God THROUGH THE SPIRIT. (Ephesians 2:22)

So you cannot again say "He has God, but not the Holy Spirit".

Now, never mind the way the Acts of the Apostles was written; where the apostles will after salvation pray for believers to receive the Holy Spirit. They said this because they were learners.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (Acts 8:14-16 KJV)

Oh no! They had received the Holy Spirit, because they had confessed Jesus to be the Son of God. Paul says the Spirit is the seal that comes AFTER a person believes.

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, (Ephesians 1:13 KJV)

But because the day they (the twelve) received the Holy Ghost in Acts 2, they spoke in tongues and saw many other things happen, this experience made them to think until you speak in tongues like they did, you don't have the Holy Ghost. They carried on with this mentality almost throughout the book of Acts. Nevertheless, we have several evidences they later understood the truth. They were men too who must grow in understanding: knowledge did not drop on them like Holy Ghost: they had to grow in it.

It was Peter and JOHN who came to "pray down Holy Ghost", it is the same John who will later write: "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." And again, "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)
Even Peter will later submit: "for the spirit of glory and OF GOD resteth upon you" (1 Peter 4:14 KJV)

Paul finishes it off when he said, "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Romans 8:9 KJV)
But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God]. (Romans 8:9 AMP)
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV)

Surely every believer in Christ is filled with the Spirit of God. Oh! It is the earnest of our inheritance. How can you claim to have all things except what is the earnest of our inheritance? That can only happen because you're not one of us. God happily dwells in all of His sons. Alleluia!

Which Law or Laws Actually Passed? #AcceptingTheRealityOfMatthew5:17 - Part 3

There had been questions from Christians, "which of the law/laws actually passed? All, or some? When I read the old testament, how do I know which one to follow and which one to obey? There is 'thou shall not commit adultery' there; there is 'thou shall not lie' there; there is tithing and firstfruits law there; there is 'woman must not wear what pertains to the man' there: some have condemned some of these laws as past old testament: how do I know which I must keep?".

Some have provided quick head answers like "it's only the sacrifices of goats and rams the bible says we should not keep there". Some say "it's sacrifices and 'trousers' issue that is cancelled out there" because they don't like the 'trousers' issue (maybe). Some say "it's sacrificing and circumcision that is past". People just hastily imposing their opinions on the truth without carefully finding out what the bible says. Hmm… will you like us to see this together?

Yes!  We'll do!

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under THE LAW. (Galatians 5:18 KJV)

So, what passed? What are we not under?
"the law"

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. (Romans 6:15 KJV)

What did this say passed? "the law"

But before faith came, we were kept under THE LAW, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore THE LAW was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (Galatians 3:23-25 KJV)

Again, the above text keeps putting it as "the law". So what passed?
THE LAW passed. What are we not under? THE LAW!

Don't add to it; don't remove from it. If any ask you what passed? Simply say "the law".

Now, it didn't say "some laws". It didn't say "a law". It didn't say "sacrificial laws" like some people have singlehandedly coined. What did the bible call it?
"the law"

We are safer to leave it like that even if it is not clear except until we later find another portion of the bible to give us examples. Don't try to clarify where the bible did not clarify by adding your own impressions to it: you're safer leaving it the way it is. You don't have to make people feel you are a know-it-all by answering everything even if it means 'scripturalising' your opininons. Be humble.

So what passed again, some laws? Hard laws? Easy-to-keep laws? No! no! no! but……. "the law".

What then is "the law"?

For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Joh 1:17

So we can safely say "the law" is that which came by Moses since it was not given by anyone else.

Did not Moses give you the law Joh 7:19

So the law is that which was gotten through Moses, so it is always called the law of Moses, and never called the law of Joshua or Abraham. So that which came by Moses today is what is passed in Christ Jesus. It's not only sacrifices and offerings that came by Moses.  It's not only tithes and offerings. It's not only 'trousers'. But "ALL" that came by Moses Jesus fulfilled to be our sanctification and righteousness.

Hmm… "ALL" Yes! Oh Jesus said it in Matthew 5:18 that not "one jot or tittle" will pass but "till ALL be fulfilled". And finally before He left, he announced their fulfillment.

And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that ALL THINGS MUST BE FULFILLED, which were written in THE LAW OF MOSES, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44 KJV)

ALL "the law" passed: sacrificial, ceremonies and even that which had to do with morals. The whole system had to be abolished.

And not as Moses, [which] put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of THAT WHICH IS ABOLISHED:
(2 Corinthians 3:13 KJV)

By ABOLISHING in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] THE LAW WITH ITS DECREES AND ORDINANCES [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace. (Ephesians 2:15 AMP)

Please note that "the law" that is passed is that which came through Moses. Therefore whatever came before Moses is not what is (perhaps) referred to. There were things we can call instructions for certain men or societies before the law came. The Lord passed instructions to Noah; spoke to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob etc. That the Law is passed today does not mean you cannot have instructions in the New Testament. It also does not mean "now, you can sin". (Learn from Sodom and Gomorrah). We have admonitions from the epistles. In fact, Jesus COMMANDED us to go and preach the gospel (Matt 28:19-20), and to love one another (John 13:34).

So, we are not ruling out these: Jesus cannot fulfill preaching the gospel for us. These ones are not "the law": they are simply a reminder to us of our kingly responsibilities.

1Jn 2:21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.

Also there are certain principles (laws) which pre-existed Moses. Examples are the law of sowing and reaping.

WHILE THE EARTH REMAINETH, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night SHALL NOT CEASE. (Genesis 8:22 KJV)

This is not that which come by Moses, so be expectant to reap whatever you sow, good or bad.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:7-8 KJV)

Sow respect, get the same. Sow hardwork and diligence, reap it. Sow laziness: reap hunger. Invest your time watching ungodly scenes and careless talks; sorry, you'll get it back in form of ungodly meditations and sinful habits. It's basic.

Principles pre-existed Moses and remain. But that which came by Moses was until Christ.

And so the Law was in charge of us until Christ came, in order that we might then be put right with God through faith. Now that the time for faith is here, the Law is no longer in charge of us. (Galatians 3:24-25 GNB)

In conclusion, it is in fact one of the most important admonitions for us in the new testament to stand in the liberty of grace and we are STRONGLY charged to REJECT any form of the law. You must receive it! Remember, to God, obedience is better than sacrifice, to hearken is better than the fat of rams. (1Sam 15:22)

IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off]. (Galatians 5:1 AMP)

Accepting The Reality Of Matthew 5:17 Part 2

We are not under the Law

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17)

In the previous part, we saw how the above verse is not passing an instruction for the Christians to "keep the law", but rather Jesus stating His earthly mission. Today, we see church people whenever they want to "spoil" the Christian through the instrumentality of legalism, and they are tackled "sir, but we are not under the law", they quickly respond "even Jesus said He did not come to destroy the law…" and they usually don't complete the statement because it does not favour them. We saw in the previous part how that a FULFILLED law means a FINISHED law and dispensation. It's real and true! We are not under the law!

Whether you like it or not; whether you wish it were so or you feel bitter with it; the fact remains: we are not under the law but we are also not under lawlessness and licentious living: we are under grace. Alleluia! We are not under lust; we are not under addiction; we are not under any beggarly element of the world: we are under grace. He didn't leave us under futility, but under where His exceeding love and forgiving power glows in us and through us causing us to blaze in holiness and righteousness PERMANENTLY.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, but under grace. (Romans 6:14 KJV)

…because WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, but under grace? (Romans 6:15 KJV)

But if ye be led of the Spirit, YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW. (Galatians 5:18 KJV)

Choose one please: "led of the Spirit" or "under the law". You cannot be led of the Spirit and still be under the law. And also stop claiming to be a son if you are still under the law: because the spirit of His Son is sent by Him made under the law to redeem them that were under the law and create a new people no more under the law.

We are not under the law! Let everyone who finds it hard to swallow that truth remember he is rejecting God's concluded decision. "If ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart" (Hebrews 3:7-8)

When Stephen said of how he saw the heavens open and Jesus standing when he was being stoned, the bible said the people "stopped their ears". Stopping your ears at the truth does not stop the truth from being true. Let us cooperate with God and accept and enjoy the reality of Matthew 5:17. Alleluia!

Accepting the Reality of Matthew 5:17

JESUS NOT DESTROYING BUT FULFILLING THE LAW - Part 1

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17)

Many do not understand what this above bible verse is saying. Do you think it is instructing you to KEEP THE LAW? After now, you won't ever use this verse to instruct Christians to keep the law, because that's not what it's saying. Because the next verse says:

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18 KJV)

So is Jesus saying ALL jot or tittle of the law will be kept when He said all will be fulfilled?

Some others have said He is saying He has come to "enforce" or "raise the standard" of the law. Please stop twisting scriptures. Jesus said "fulfill"! Please let "fulfill" be "fulfill"! Now even if I don't know what "fulfill" means, since Jesus said HE (not me) has come to do that word, and He has come and gone now, then He must have done whatever that word means because He said on the cross "it is finished" (John 19:30).

When Jesus rose from the dead, this is what He said:
And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be FULFILLED, which were written in THE LAW OF MOSES, and [in] THE PROPHETS, and [in] the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44)

So He must be referring to Matthew 5:17 when He said "the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you" becaue that is where He said "ALL things (jot and tittle) must be FULFILLED, which were written in THE LAW OF MOSES, and [in] THE PROPHETS concerning me". So that Matthew 5:17 was never about me, but about Jesus' mission statement. Jesus said, "I did not come to destroy, but I (not you) WILL fulfill it" So whatever Jesus did in His lifetime on earth must be the fulfillment of the law and the prophets.

If that is understood, we must accept the reality that today over 2000 after the life and death of Christ that the law is long fulfilled and thus past. Hmm… this is where people run away. When something is fulfilled, then it means it is no longer required. Simple! "fulfilled" means "accomplished". The demands of the law have been satisfied today! Stop acting like Christ never ever came to this earth! Stop ignoring the impact and difference Christ made by His coming!

"[Therefore, I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.]" (Galatians 2:21 AMP)

WASHED SANCTIFIED JUSTIFIED ONCE AND FOR ALL!

There is NO SIN in you whenever the Father looks at you and this we have established in some of our past posts.
The price Jesus paid opened this new and living way where we DO NOT NEED to make any sacrifice for or confession of sins to access the throne. In the past even after offering for sins to enter the holies of holies, the high priest can still not be so bold because he cannot be so sure. Today its a different story. Alleluia!

The Father looks at you as sinless.
Yes! The believer is the man unto whom the Lord will not impute sin. "But I still committed a sin yesterday? How come I'm righteous still?" Because it is NOT OF WORKS. This righteousness is not according to how you have "followed" or not followed the law carefully.

*[[Rom 9:30-31]] KJV* What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

This righteousness is "to him that worketh not" for it

*[[Rom 4:5]] KJV* But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

It is given to you the day you believe. That is why the Bible uses the word "impute" for it, in order to show that it does not emanate from you, it only came to you.

*[[Rom 4:6]] KJV* Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God IMPUTETH righteousness without works,

the word impute is the Greek word logizomai which means to "take an inventory, that is, estimate". So he is saying there is a kind of people the Lord will not take an inventory or estimate sins unto, and that is the believers in Christ.

Even though he does not make the habit of sinning, nothing changes as for his righteousness when he does right or wrong because it is not according to his right or wrong doing.

Now, There is this erroneous notion in believers that says "you are righteous until your next sin instance". This is not true. The Bible teaches that the righteousness, forgiveness, sanctification you have today, it's by faith in the work Jesus did that day. And what Jesus did that day to bless you is ONCE AND FOR ALL THE TIMES!

Your sanctification from sin was not to be done and done again and again: Just once and it remains effective on you all the time! It didn't say you'll need to be doing something again to receive it! it is received ONCE AND FOR ALL.

[Heb 10:10] By the which will we are sanctified [made HOLY] through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.

BBE By that pleasure we have been made holy, by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE AND FOR EVER.

For all what? all days; all times; all circumstance; all trials where you'll fall and where you won't, where you know and where you thought it's not a sin.

*[[Heb 10:14]] KJV* For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

ISV For by a single offering he has perfected FOR ALL TIME those who are being sanctified.

EasyEnglish  As a result of one sacrifice, Christ has made his people completely right with God ALWAYS...

Let's stop making imperfect what Christ made perfect: stop making incomplete and inconclusive what Christ made complete and conclusive.
"for ever" means for all times. Just once is just enough. You don't come back because it remains effective and valid. No expiration! No renewal!

But even the Holy Spirit beareth us witness; for, after having said–– This is the covenant which I will covenant unto them after these days, saith the Lord,––Giving my laws upon their hearts, upon their understandings also, will I inscribe them,  [He] also [saith]––of their sins, and of their lawlessnesses, I will in nowise be mindful any more. But, wherever a remission of these is, there is, no further, offering, for sins. Heb 10:15-18 EBR

So that is the very basis why the Holy Ghost says "their sins and iniquities will I remember no more": because it's dealt with perfectly.

That is why Paul will say to the Corinthian Church:
*[[1Co 6:11]] KJV* And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

"ye ARE washed..", not "ye WERE washed" because it remains valid on them. And because it's such sanctification that is BY FAITH (Acts 26:18), you don't ever merit it: what you don't qualify for, no reason can be held onto to disqualify you. You don't ask for it. You don't pray for it. You receive by faith effortlessly.
So Jude is bold to say
*[[Jud 1:1]] KJV* Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

Paul is bold to say

*[[1Co 1:2]] KJV* Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus...

So I'm bold to say
O PERFECT redemption, the purchase of blood,
to EVERY believer the promise of God;
the vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
praise the Lord...