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'"The word of God - the truth - is the channel through which the Lord manifests His Spirit and power." If then, the powerful energy of truth has filled one's life, he has been baptized by the Holy Spirit with fire. When the Day of Pentecost came, the Spirit symbolized by tongues of fire, representing the organ of articulation, awakened the slumbering senses of the recipient, not only permitting truth to find its way into his life, but also enabling him to speak truth that pierced the stubborn hearts of the murderers of Christ, and lifted the darkness from their minds.
Jeremiah the prophet had received much abuse because he had spoken unflinchingly the word of the Lord to disobedient Israel. The burden had become so heavy that he decided the best course to follow was to keep his mouth shut and say nothing more. This he could not do for the word of God - the truth - according to his own testimony, "was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forebearing, and I could not stay." This is the baptism by fire so needed today, and can only become real, when men and women open their hearts to the life-giving energy of truth, which Christ wants to impart in unlimited power through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus declared, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." In the transforming power of truth, by which the divine nature is brought to us, there are those who would make this experience almost akin to a surgical heart transplant. They would have us believe that there must be an eradication of what is termed the "stony heart", and an implantation of a "new heart." But this life-giving energy of truth restores the powers of the mind by removing the darkness which sin has brought. Of this experience it is stated: The truths of the Word of God are the utterances of the Most High. He who makes these truths a part of his life becomes in every sense a new creature. He is not given new mental powers, but the darkness that through ignorance and sin has clouded the understanding, is removed. The words, "A new heart also will I give you," means, "A new mind will I give you." A change of heart is always attended by a clear conviction of Christian duty, an understanding of truth. He who gives the Scriptures close, prayerful attention will gain clear comprehension and sound judgment, as if in turning to God he had reached a higher plane of intelligence. Truth does not destroy or eradicate the mind by which eternal decisions must be made, but it restores the mind to its original capacity to discern the deceptive temptations of the enemy so that the trauma of Eden need not be repeated.' P63
The above excerpt was taken from the manuscript 'In the Form of a Slave' By William Grotheer. If you are interested in this manuscript you may go to the following website where it is possible for you to order a copy of it.
http://www.alfiowa.com/
My thoughts-
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
This is SPIRITUAL armor. God's truth, God's righteousness, God's gospel of peace, God's faith, God's Salvation, God's Word.
This is baptism in the Holy Spirit! This is living in the Spirit.
Joh_8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Eze_36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh
I particularly was impressed by this statement- 'Truth does not destroy or eradicate the mind by which eternal decisions must be made, but it restores the mind to its original capacity to discern the deceptive temptations of the enemy so that the trauma of Eden need not be repeated'
Eternal decisions. We all make them, and we make them daily. Our choice to follow Christ is a constant choice, a living choice. How else could we read throughout God's word about people making a covenant with God only to turn away from Him afterwards breaking that covenant. Our decision to accept Christ as our Savior is a decision we make constantly when we are faced with temptations to do evil, it's not a once and for all decision. It's not a decision set in stone that is unable to be altered. We can change our minds at any time. So, the idea of our having to make eternal decisions is a reality. Realizing our minds can be restored to their original capacity to discern the deception, the temptations of Satan, is so incredibly necessary otherwise we'd be lost to sin, choosing sin constantly. Christ through the Holy Spirit enables us to realize our shortcomings. And while realizing our manifold shortcomings can be cause for us wanting to despair of ever being acceptable, it also, and this is VERY important, is a CONSTANT reminder that we are ever dependent upon our Savior and His Righteousness and not ours. Not being able to discern our own propensities towards sins, having our eyes blinded to our sins is a horrific thing, because if we cannot discern our sins we cannot seek to repent and find forgiveness in our Savior! How important it truly is for us to be convicted of our sins, and the Holy Spirit will do this in us! This is a gift of the Holy Spirit, this is a baptism of the Spirit.
If we are waiting for some magical powers to be given to us we are looking for the wrong thing. The power is forever Christ's and He promises to give us the Spirit, and…
Joh_14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever
Joh_14:26 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.
Joh_15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me
Joh_16:7 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.
How marvelous is this?! The Spirit of TRUTH will come to US. The Spirit of TRUTH will testify of CHRIST and His glorious gospel of the kingdom, Salvation found in HIM. Every conviction of sin is an opportunity to seek forgiveness, not to despair as Satan would have us do. We are to grow closer to our Savior not further away. We aren't to fear that we will ever be sinless, because it is only when we are so close to Christ that we can truly see our horrific worthlessness and His amazing, wondrous worth, and it's only then we that we can live in Him by HIS grace fully! He is everything! And it's only by HIM we live! He is our constant HOPE.
He is our Truth!
He is our Way!
He is our Life!
Without Him we have no way to the Father!
Please LORD bless us with the Holy Spirit, guide us to all truth as it is found solely in YOU! Help us to seek you always, constantly seeking Your forgiveness for our sins, seeking always to grow closer, ever closer to You!
All in You, all in LOVE.
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