How Do You Know, It’s the Holy Ghost?
2 Words in 1
Humbling Ourselves, Brings Deliverance
God’s people, have been in trouble, many times. Most often, it came from turning away from Him, and worshipping and loving other things, more than loving and serving Him. If you read the sacred texts, you’ll find that it happened over and over again. But since He is a merciful and forgiving God, He would hear their cry and turn back their persecutors, and accept them back. However, there was something they had to do first; they had to humble themselves before Him.
As most of you have, for so many years now, I have loved that old verse we all have heard quoted so frequently; even in these last days. And that is in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people.” We loved being encouraged by this one particular promise, but we too often fail to realize, it begins with an “If.” It seems, that too many times, we want the last part, without doing the first part. And it doesn’t happen that way. Yes, God is indeed so very merciful and compassionate, and sometimes, He brings us out anyway. But I feel, that God has grown weary, of us not doing our part. We haven’t complied.
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, spoke something that many need to be reminded of today; and it’s this. “For whosoever exalteth himself, shall be abased, and he that ‘humbleth himself,’ shall be exalted.”
I think we all know, it seems that the Lord has blessed some folk, in spite of all their constant and determined intention, to exalt themselves. Years ago, I found a scripture that I’ve never let go of. It says, “God is not a man, that He should lie.” God, manifested in the flesh, spoke the above declaration, that if we puff ourselves up and glory in ourselves, one day, we are going to be brought down. It may come sooner, or it may come later. But it will come.
There is another verse that I’ve mentioned before; I pray this absolutely one of two times, every single day of my life. It says, “The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” I love that, and I cling to it daily, with all that I have. But I learned a long time back now, that there is also a requirement to obtaining this promise. It’s in some small words; “them that fear Him.”
This deliverance, that so many of us need, is not promised, if we do not fear the Lord. His arms are surely stretched wide with mercy and grace; but we must hear this. He is not bound to honor His part, if we do not honor ours. We must revere Him.
If we humble ourselves, and pray, and seek His face, He will answer. Many of us, have not grown enough or matured enough through the years, to know what our ‘wicked ways’ are. Most of us, didn’t think we had any. If we truly humble ourselves and pray, and seek His face, He is going to show us the things we need to work on.
I don’t know about you, but I am working harder on me today, than I ever have in my life. No matter what the trials, the tests or the tribulation we are going through, He may not move it out of the way if it is His purpose; but he will surely give us the strength to go thru it. If we, the Body of Christ, will humble ourselves, deliverance is at hand.
How Do You Know, It’s the Holy Ghost?
Can we tell, if someone is really in the Spirit, or not? In this hour, we are going to have to deal with some things; whether we want to or not. If it’s true, and I believe it is, that many are being deceived in this hour, how can we make sure, we are not one of them. We will have to be real about what we see today. There is no longer any doubt, that much of what we see and hear, is not of the Holy Ghost. If that’s judging, so be it. Is it of God, or is it not? How do we know?
Just how can we decide, if others are truly preaching the Word, or if they are using their own interpretation, or some form of tradition? Some of our people, are wrong; forget this denial that permeates our assemblies, by trying to call everything judging. The term “old school,” is considered very antiquated, but this ole school, wants to speak something here. What are we discerning today? There is a real dilemma that faces a great multitude of God’s people now. They know, what is real, what is truly of the Spirit, and what is not. The Holy Spirit of God, is calling them to task; right now.
It seems very likely, that we have birthed, at least one or perhaps even two generations, that do not know, what the genuine move of the Spirit is. And many who once knew better, have allowed progress, to replace perception. I truly do not want to say this, but we have children and grandchildren, who do not know how to discern the things of the Spirit. I seriously don’t know how, we thought that coasting along, and just going with the flow, would not cost us further down the road. I beg of you to forgive me if I sound like I’m coming across to negatively or harshly. But, shake yourself. Can we not see how the forces of darkness, are arising at such a disastrous rate now?
If many of our adults can no longer discern, what chance do we think that those coming behind us will have. We’ve argued over many things for far too long. All of this pomp, this hype, this atmosphere of producing what is none other than entertainers, all of these electronic gadgets and the latest, totally distracting, light shows and video on the platform, screams at those, who are actually sensitive in the Spirit. People saw the change beginning, years back now, but were not allowed to speak up or question it. It was so subtle; just keep everybody, jumping and running; let men, call the shots.
I don’t want to try and answer the question of this topic. I feel, that each and everyone of us, need to answer this for ourselves.
The Temple, was rebuilt after it was destroyed; many rejoiced, danced and shouted. But do we remember, that there were also others who wept and did not dance. Why? Because they had seen the original structure, and the glory that was now exhibited, was nothing close to what the former had been.
We were told years ago now, that if we did not allow the Holy Ghost to have free reign and move as He desired, He would move on. If staying on my face before Him, is the only way I can be sure, then that’s, where I’ll stay.
~ Robert Blackburn
You are right about it, Holy Spirit is on the move, and He moves very quickly..