The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

This very important event in the life of a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is also referred to in the Scriptures as "the promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4), "being endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49), "the Holy Spirit coming upon one" (Acts 1:8), "being filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4), "the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38), "receiving the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8), "the falling upon of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 10:44), "the Holy Spirit coming on" (Acts 19:6) and "the Spirit baptizing (immersing, including) one into the body of Christ" (I Cor. 12:13). Why important? Let us see. Not only is it important but crucial.

As with so many if not all other teachings and testimonies of the Scriptures, there is horrible confusion concerning all aspects of this teaching. Wicked and ignorant men wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction. Consequently they either do not receive the Spirit of God at all or they receive other spirits from the realm of darkness thinking they have received the Holy Spirit. The other spirits, of course, are counterfeit. There are false holy spirits, religious spirits who feign worship and praise, spirits which seduce people into thinking they have drawn closer to God because they are given various pleasurable feelings and emotions and spurious gifts such as visions, tongues, prophecy, words of knowledge and wisdom, faith, healing and miracles. All these gifts exist in the true but they are also being counterfeited by the false.

Besides these counterfeits, many other spirits come to bind, deceive, destroy. People receive laughing, shaking, screaming, convulsing, divining spirits and many other kinds in various ways, one prominent way being in prayer for presumably receiving the Holy Spirit or some other gift of the Spirit. This prayer may be with or without the laying on of hands by others but usually involves the laying on of hands of others who have evil religious spirits themselves (counterfeiting God, aspects of Him or worshipping of Him) and who come in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The truth of the matter is, as we shall see by the Scriptures, that very few, rare few have the Spirit of Christ and fewer still are granted by God to impart through prayer or preaching, the gift of the Holy Spirit to others. It is a horrible day in which we live with all the religious confusion and counterfeiting. Only that sincere, earnest repentant toward God will prevail to receive the Holy Spirit of God.

Let the reader be forewarned: With the baptism in the Holy Spirit comes the baptism with fire. God is a consuming fire and He will begin to purge you, to deal with your sin nature until it is no longer in a state of opposition to Him. "Every man will be salted with fire" said Jesus. This is not a pleasure trip but a path of suffering and sorrow. Don't be deceived by the counterfeit which promises otherwise. Nevertheless, when the Lord is done, you will rest and be very, very glad.

Let us clarify some things:

1) There is only one God, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of the Son is the Spirit of the Father. There is no such thing as receiving the Spirit of Christ and then the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost and Jesus Christ are one and the same person. There is One God, manifest in three offices or roles, but not three persons. However, simply believing in one God rather than otherwise is no guarantee whatsoever that one is in right standing with or accepted of God. As James says, "You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble." Satan also knows there is one God, not a trinity. So what?

2) It is taught that one receives Jesus "into his heart (or life) as Saviour" at conversion and that there is no more to receive. As the logic goes, if you have the Lord Jesus Christ in you, what further need do you have of any other experience if He is all there is? How true! The problem is that this truth is misapplied. First of all, I know of nobody who has come to a relationship with the Lord Jesus simply by "accepting Him as Saviour." That is a diabolical deception of the most insidious kind because it gives the victim a false hope and security, a false impression. The truth is that we are in no position whatsoever to accept or reject Jesus as Saviour as though we had authority of some kind. Who do we think we are?! Rather, we must acknowledge and submit to Jesus Christ as LORD, in everything, totally. Only then will He save us, that is, be our Saviour (although, it is impossible to submit to Him as Lord without His saving grace). But many have been deceived by evangelists and preachers (some famous) into thinking they have begun a genuine, new life in Christ but have instead gone through a purely psychological change. Some have made, in varying degrees, rather impressive changes in lifestyle even as have many of other religions who haven't confessed Christ. The point is that repentance from all sin and submitting to Jesus Christ as Lord is paramount. Such takes genuine faith and not merely a magical oral formula.

3) When one first repents or is converted, one does not receive the Holy Spirit, contrary to men's teachings. The Bible is clear. Examples:

a) The disciples in the day of the Lord were repentant but without having been baptized with the Holy Spirit until Pentecost. An argument you may give is that the Holy Spirit had not yet been given until Pentecost so that they could not receive. But let's go to another example:

b) In Acts 8, Philip preached to the Samaritans who repented, believed and were baptized in water. Devils had come out of them and they rejoiced. But it goes on to say that Peter and John had to come down and lay hands on them that they might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit "for as yet He (not "it" as some refer to God) was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus." Two things: There are clearly two spiritual events involved here for the Samaritans, and secondly, as full of faith and the Holy Spirit as Philip was, it was not given that he should lay hands on the Samaritans to receive the Holy Ghost. Peter and John had to come down to do so. As another example:

c) In Acts 9, Saul confessed Jesus as Lord (not Saviour, notice) and 3 days later received the Spirit by the laying on of hands by Ananias. Again 2 things: One is that we see 2 separate events, one of repentance or conversion and the other of receiving the Spirit. Secondly, it is commonly argued that only apostles had the commission to lay hands on people to receive the Spirit and that that is why they did so with the Samaritans. But Ananias was not one of the apostles! So that argument against the validity of a "receiving the Spirit" in a "pentecostal fashion" for today is false. This argument of gainsayers implies that if only apostles laid hands on people to receive the Spirit and assuming there are no longer apostles (the Bible does not say there are not), that therefore there is no "extra-conversion" experience today. In that argument they are wrong on more than one count but such must be discussed elsewhere.

d) In Acts 10, Cornelius, before receiving the Spirit, is clearly described as a repentant man. Many professing believers are put to shame by his "pre-baptism" conduct. Notice: "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always." He saw visions, addressed God as "Lord", the angel of the Lord commended him, he was obedient by faith thus sending men to Joppa immediately, he reverenced a man of God (Peter), had fasted and was earnest in all the things of God. (For those who don't think Cornelius was repentant, how would they measure up to him, I wonder). Again, 2 things: Already living a godly life in repentance, Cornelius then received the Spirit. Secondly, it took the ministry of another in order for him to receive. He could not do it by himself.

e) In Acts 19, years after the Ephesians in question had repented, they received the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands by Paul.

The main point I make in those five examples above is that there is a second step of the spiritual walk in God recorded by more than 2 or 3 witnesses in the Scriptures. (There is even a third but that is another subject).

4) We have another problem. There are those who think that they have experienced the filling of the Holy Ghost, taught to believe so in error, when they have only experienced repentance. Repentance, let it be said, is a very dramatic event in itself. By dramatic I do not refer to theatrical-type emotions and experience or show. Rather, there is significant, undeniable change in the life of one who repents. However, I am giving the benefit of the doubt here to some who have experienced something, whatever it may be. For myself, I could never truly believe that I had experienced the baptism with the Holy Spirit though repentance had dramatically changed my life in many ways. I was told I had the Spirit of Christ in that I had been converted, but the Lord quietly, gently urged me on in spite of those who tried to convince me otherwise, and He led me to receive His Spirit over a year and a half after my conversion. The truly penitent will not be deceived into thinking they have more than they have but will go on to receive the Spirit, knowing deep inside that there is more. Therefore, I would suspect that those who insist they have all, when clearly not having the Spirit, are not genuine penitents in the first place.

Now, what are the evidences of having received the Spirit? One of the points I must make here is that the Lord must reveal this. With outward appearance, one cannot tell at all. Firstly, fruits of repentance and a changed life confessing Jesus as Lord might lead some to believe someone has the Spirit and again, there is also the counterfeit to mimic the real. But under the discernment of God, here are indications:

1) There will be a genuine hunger for and enjoyment of the truth of Scripture. The scriptures will come alive almost instantly to the one having received the Spirit. Revelations will come; the Bible will open to the reader, not necessarily in all things but some or many.

2) Gifts will be manifest, as recorded in I Cor. 12. These gifts must be judged by others (elders) as to whether they are of God or are counterfeit or emotional, imaginary things. A point: There are those who teach that the gift of tongues is THE sign of having received the Spirit of God. Not so. While tongues are recorded as being manifest at Pentecost for the 120, with Cornelius and his household when they received the Spirit, and with the Ephesian disciples in Acts 19, tongues are not recorded for the 3000 in Acts 2, nor with Saul (Paul) when he received the Spirit by Ananias, nor with the Samaritans in Acts 8 when they believed by Philip and received the Spirit by Peter and John. Furthermore, not only tongues were mentioned with the Ephesians in Acts 19 but also prophesyings. Also, when Pentecost occurred, Peter bore witness to the event as having been prophesied of by Joel, and while Joel mentioned dreams, visions and prophecy (all gifts of the Spirit and tokens of the outpouring of the Spirit), he mentioned not a word about tongues. If tongues were THE sign of the outpouring of the Spirit of God, one might think Joel would have borne witness as strongly as those who are in error on this matter. But I do not say that a believer will never speak in tongues. Sooner or later, all those baptized with the Holy Spirit will pray or speak in tongues and so will all the other gifts be manifest as the Spirit wills from time to time. Finally, Paul says that the gift of tongues is the least of all the gifts. If so, why would God choose tongues as the "seal of authenticity"and not another more important gift?

It is very difficult for many to accept the fact that because they do not have the Spirit baptism that therefore they do not have the Spirit. "But I have the Spirit because I know I repented." To this the Scriptures also reply. The Spirit is WITH one if that one has truly repented but comes to dwell WITHIN that one when they are baptized with the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). There are many who say that at conversion (repentance), Christ comes to dwell IN, and when one is baptized with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit comes UPON that one. Foolishness! If Christ is IN me, why must I also have Him ON or UPON me? Can He get any closer to or more powerful by me than when He is IN me? There are also those who say that at conversion, we receive the Spirit of Christ and in the baptism with the Holy Spirit we receive the Holy Spirit, making a difference between the two. But I have already said there are not two.

Furthermore, it is argued that the baptism in the Spirit is an anointing for special ministry. While it is an anointing in that God comes to make His abode in one, it is not an anointing for a ministry, for the Scriptures point out that certain are anointed for ministry long after receiving the Spirit. Paul and Barnabas are an example (Acts 13:2,3,4). Another example is where the seven men chosen to serve in the mundane had already been full of the Holy Spirit (indeed, that was one of the qualifications for the choice) when the saints chose them, and the apostles laid hands on them for that ministry. Also, Paul instructs Timothy to not neglect the gift given him by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery (I Tim. 4:14). Timothy was Paul's son in the faith (I Tim. 1:2), born of the Spirit through Paul before being anointed for his calling. That now brings us to another term used for receiving the Spirit, one which, because of false doctrine prevalent today, will be controversial.

Timothy was BORN AGAIN as a son in the faith, that is, baptized with the Holy Spirit by the ministry of Paul and later by the presbytery he was anointed for his ministry of evangelism. The new birth and receiving the Spirit are one and the same. Jesus said "That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said to you, You must be born again" (John 3:3-5). This I know, that even though I had repented and had a new lease on life altogether, and even though from that point on I had some understanding of the things of God unlike before, still I could not "see the kingdom of God" and had not entered into it until I had received the Spirit. Again, if I am born of God, why should I need God to come upon me when He is already in me?

Back to further evidences that one has received the Spirit:

3) One will understand the things of the Spirit. As a convert, a repentant, I knew the law but not the Spirit, I knew to hand out tracts and "testify" but I was totally ignorant of being led by the Spirit. I was seduced or deceived by outward religious trappings and works, not having discernment. I was in no position to judge the things of the Spirit and couldn't tell false from true. I was overwhelmed by all that I thought I had to sift through to gather knowledge and truth. Where was I to look? With only one lifetime and part of one at that, which of the millions of books should I read, when, where, how? And of them, what was I to believe with thousands of voices contradicting one another in the Name of Truth? Calvin or Armenius? Luther or Zwingli? Billy Graham or Jimmy Swaggart? The Pentecostals or the Baptists?

Then I was baptized with the Holy Spirit! That did it! I was free, free, free! Knowledge of the truth was within. As it says "But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things" and "the anointing which you have received of Him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him." (I Jn. 2:20,27). I threw all the books out except for the Bible and from then on spent hours and hours in it. I began to discern between good and evil, between religious and real, between the works of darkness in Jesus' Name and the work of God, between the works of men and the work of God, between what the Bible really said and what men said it was saying, between the doctrines of devils and the doctrine of Christ. The Lord revealed to me the leaven of the Pharisees spread everywhere in "Christendom."

4) Perhaps this may be redundant because I have already mentioned experiencing the gifts of the Spirit but I must say it anyways. I was hearing the Voice of God! I was hearing Him personally speak to me. He wasn't speaking "to my heart" as wishful professors of faith would put it. He was speaking to ME! It wasn't just impressions or feelings. It was "Thus says the Lord!" It wasn't just quickening certain Scripture verses to me though there was that as well, but He was speaking to me directly, personally. As well, He spoke to me by others from time to time as He chose, through prophecy, visions, tongues, word of knowledge and word of wisdom. In short, the Lord became real.

5) The spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God and He also bears witness of us to others and others to us, that is, to those that are His.

6) The sons of God (those born of God) are led by the Spirit of God. The Lord was now leading us and we knew it. He would and does lead us both consciously and unconsciously but mostly the latter. Often we would be unaware until after the fact when events or revelation would occur demonstrating His having led us all along. Now, as we go along, 21 years later, we know God is sovereign and leading.

7) Perhaps redundant again, I know those who have the Spirit and those who don't, in other words, those who are His and those who aren't by whether they "hear" me or not, by whether they understand me in the basics of the things of God or not (I John 4:6). As John quoted Jesus saying, "Why do you not understand My speech? Even because you cannot hear My Word...and because I tell you the truth, you don't believe Me... He that is of God hears God's words: you therefore don't hear them because you are not of God" (John 8:43-47). John also said "Hereby you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antiChrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world..." If people receive me in the Lord, I know they are of God because I come in His Name, speaking according to His will. If they do not discern the Lord's body, if they do not say, "Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord" they are not of God. It's that simple. John also said "They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.." (I John 4:1-6).

Paul said, "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." You may therefore conclude that I say that if one is not baptized with the Holy Spirit, that one is not saved or is not Christ's. True! If a believer does not go on to receive the Spirit, any belief or repentance up to then is of little value. Of little value, I say, because there is value in putting away the cigarette and the bottle even if one does not get saved. But at the same time, repentance is the very first step to salvation, an absolute prerequisite to receiving the Spirit. It says that God gives the Holy Spirit (that is, He imparts Himself or commits Himself) to them that obey Him (Acts 5:32). The disciples did not have The Spirit before Christ's resurrection. Were they therefore none of His? Yes and no. If they had turned away and not received the Spirit as with Judas and the seventy and others, they would have been none of His. They had to go on. But they were chosen; they had repented; they obeyed in belief. Others had believed but their belief was in vain. (see John 2:23,24; 7:2-10; 7:31; 8:30 & f.; 12:42,43; Acts 8:13-23; I Cor. 15:2). By these Scriptural testimonies one can see that belief is not as simple as imposters make it out to be, beguiling silly souls in the process. Salvation begins with repentance but one is not saved unless one receives the Spirit of Christ and proceeds from there to the end.

8) Jesus said "You shall know them by their fruits. " While I did not hesitate to speak on the aforementioned fruits, I do so here because in the following is the greatest confusion of all and it seems to me that it is almost better not to get into it. Nevertheless, why should I permit counterfeiters to abolish the true? Just think of using the word "gay" today and you may then understand my feelings. It was once a word that evoked pleasant thought to all.

To begin with, the first 7 evidences ARE fruits but this 8th is what the false use as an ornamented, padded (ever so thinly) club to beat and to discredit the true. In Galatians, we read that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. The harlot church (all formal, man-made religion with substitution and self-righteousness) loves particularly the 1st word, "love." In Proverbs 7:18, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Harlot, the strange woman, says "Come, let us take our fill of love..." Hollywood preaches its concept of love. The world loves its own, Jesus said. The love seen in nominal Christendom is the love of the world (its kind of love). Smiles are cheap, handshakes easy, flatteries enjoyable to both giver and receiver; quoting Scripture and witnessing bring awe and respect, hopefully reward. Saying "I love Jesus" is impressive. But Jesus says: "He that has My commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves Me.." One who truly loves Jesus does not go around saying "I love Jesus." He can't and wouldn't, simply because it would be boastful, tantamount to saying "Hey, everybody, look at me!" One who loves Him will not boast of himself.

Jesus is also called the Prince of Peace yet could one tell outwardly of the One described as a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, from whom men hid their faces ( Isaiah 53:1-5)? Seldom is there mention of Jesus rejoicing but many times angry, frustrated, weeping. Did He not have joy? Reader, the life of the saint is hid in Christ, the fruit of the Spirit hidden to the carnal eye but the harlot displays the CARNAL, claiming it to be the true, thus deceiving the simple and ignorant.

But tell us, you who deem yourselves to have the fruit of the Spirit and to be able to see it in others? Do you keep the commandments in a way the rich, young ruler could not? Is there any truth in you? You quote Galatians 5:22 but what about Eph. 5:9? "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth: proving what is acceptable..." not to man, but "...unto the Lord." Read carefully and repeatedly chapter 5:1-18 and also know that the "wine" is that which the harlot gives. Who has the fruit? I will know them by the Spirit and not by appearance.

For those who have been able to put away their pet doctrines, preconceived ideas and prejudices while reading what has been written here so far, we come to this most important question. HOW DOES ONE RECEIVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD? or HOW IS ONE BORN AGAIN? Notice Jesus never gave specific instructions to Nicodemus. I believe this is so because the question is not really the right one. Rather it should be, "Will God be pleased to give me His Holy Spirit?" If so, the "how" will be put in place by Him as it was in the cases described in Acts. His is the timing, the place, and the instrumentality. He is sovereign. It is God Who reigns and determines all things, working all things according to the counsel of His own will. Nevertheless, we can certainly point out some crucial conditions that must be present for one to receive the Spirit, Lord willing. There is no formula but a right heart. Here are those conditions as put forth in Scripture which, if met, will guarantee receiving the Spirit of God. In our case, we prayed through these conditions as put forth by R.A.Torrey in a booklet called "The Baptism with the Holy Spirit." They are:

1) Repent. Turn from all sin. The very first word of command in the gospels is, "Repent." Acknowledge every sin and confess it, whether it be a sin of commission, omission, attitude, word, deed, desire or thought.

Restitution must be made in full to the reasonable satisfaction of the one wronged. Apology is not enough in many cases. What about their loss of goods, of peace of mind, of freedom, of general well-being? By the law God had commanded that in some cases fourfold was to be returned as compensation. How far above the laws of men are the laws of God! But if you hope to receive God, you had better prepare yourself for His holy laws. Confession? It will not be enough to whisper it to God in many instances. If your sins have been public, then the repentance and confession ought to be public. If you unduly embarrassed someone publicly without cause, you must make it right publicly, voluntarily. Other sins confess to a man of God as they confessed sins to John the Baptist or to appropriate persons. If you have hid adultery in your heart from your wife, you must confess it to her - specifically. Confession of sin must be specific - not this "I've been dishonest" stuff. How were you dishonest, why so, with whom, in what, when and where? Get real, get right. You will not deceive God, neither satisfy a Holy, Perfect God with half-heartedness or hypocrisy. In fact, you will disgust Him and possibly bring wrath rather than good.

You must forgive others their offenses against you or you will not be forgiven your offenses, all of which are against God as well as neighbour.

2) Turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. Have not some in the world quit smoking or drinking or swearing? Have not some "gone straight" after prison or fines? Have not some had impressive changes in lifestyles for the better upon changing religions or becoming religious other than believing in Christ? Certainly! But if it is the Spirit of God indwelling you that you are after, then it must be to God you turn in your repentance. Jesus Christ alone is Lord of lords, Saviour, God Himself. He alone laid down His life for us and took it up again so that He as God could come and dwell within those who receive Him - not only as Saviour but as Lord. When we submit to Him as Lord, He saves us. This notion of "accepting Jesus as your personal Saviour" is diabolical heresy. It is delusion fostering false security and belief. The very first thing Saul said at conversion was not "Jesus , I accept you as Saviour into my heart" but "Lord, who are You?" and "Lord, what will You have me to do? " The former really Says "Jesus, my will be done. I want to get." The latter says "Lord Jesus, Thy will be done; I submit to You; I fear You; my life is no longer my own but Yours." The former appears to be somewhat as the latter but is not. The fruit of such is a religious, self-righteous rebel taking upon himself the Name of the Lord in vain, drinking damnation to himself and becoming a vessel for others to drink from to the same end. They become children of hell, blaspheming and religious, evil in false virtue. It really boils down to motive and God sees the heart.

3) Water baptism. When the people on Pentecost asked what they should do, Peter said "Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.." (Acts 2:38). Water immersion is a symbolic act of identification, an expression of faith, picturing the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and basically saying, "Where You go, I go, even to death if must needs be." And it must be one way or another. We must all die to follow Him. Need it be very public? Was it so public with the eunuch in the desert? No. With others, yes.

4) Obedience. We must be prepared to do whatever is required of us. No longer do we entertain the silly notion that our lives are ours. Even before believing, they never were. All things are His, period. We accept this completely. We must forsake all that stands between us and the Lord. Upon committing to the Lord your way, the world, the devil and your own self will immediately oppose the move. Your family will turn against you, as will friends and other religious associations, including your church. You will be very surprised to find that those who profess Christ will become your enemies. You will discover how few friends you really had, and that nothing is as it appears. Are you prepared for that? It is not only sin that must be put away but good things must be left behind, like mother, father, wife, children, brothers, sisters, friends, lands, houses, dreams, aspirations, vocations. Everything must be forsaken. Paul said he lost everything and counted it garbage for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, his Lord.

There is the wicked notion that Jesus did it all for us and that all we must do is believe it. Yet the Bible clearly teaches that we must follow Him outside the city, without the gate, that we must forsake all, not only in theory or intellectual assent but actuality. We are called to take up the cross, die to self, meaning we no longer live to please ourselves and do what is convenient for us.

"All those that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Almost every professing "believer" suffers no loss or persecution. There is only one reason for that. They do not have the life they profess to have in Christ. For the most part, though some aspects may change, they continue with their lives as usual, with families, friends, jobs, clubs, entertainments of all sorts. Even their churches remain quite comfortable in this world. "He that keeps his life shall lose it." Is there anything in your life, as good as it may be in itself, that is more important to you than God? Honestly? Then you will not be baptized with His Holy Spirit. What fellowship has God with idols?

5) Intense desire. The lukewarm He spews from His mouth; the half-hearted He does not honor. "You shall seek Me and find Me if you search for Me with all your heart" says God by Jeremiah. That law is absolute, no exceptions. The widow seeking redress would have failed had she not persisted with all earnestness. So with all of us for whom the parable was told. Count the cost and be prepared to pay because pay you will. This is not an invitation to a picnic but to your cross and grave. However, beyond these is the resurrection and glory, a sure reward for all who overcome unto the end.

6) Ask. "You have not because you ask not," said James. "If you being evil, know how to give good things to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask?" said Jesus. By our hearts and not by lips do we ask. I have heard and known of others who have asked for the Holy Spirit but have received either nothing or devils instead. While they appeared or were heard to ask for something good, they were really asking for something evil. A preacher came and preached healing and salvation once in Winnipeg. A friend of mine went and saw this American preacher pray for a person's legs to be evened out as that person sat in a chair with one leg extended farther than the other. One leg appeared to grow to be of equal length to the other. While my friend marvelled at this, the preacher asked him if he would like to be able to do something like that. (Doesn't that remind you of Simon in Acts 8 without the money element?- except that this preacher, unlike Peter, was quite willing to sell his powers in that he took up collections.) My friend jumped at the prospect; the preacher laid hands on him and prayed that he would be "filled with the Holy Spirit." My friend was "slain in The Spirit", that is, fell to the floor and rolled around in ecstacy for what was, or seemed like, hours. He spoke of overflowing with love for everyone, full of joy and peace. Thereafter, dear readers, he was Satan's man for keeps. He had sold his soul to the devil in very real terms. He was not seeking the Lord Jesus Christ but power, glory and fame, as he surmised this preacher had possessed, as Judas had sought. He thereafter spoke of and praised Jesus (yes, Satan's men praise Jesus, and loudly too, with smiles and uplifted hands included---did Jesus not say "In vain, do they worship Me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me?"). He prayed in tongues, prophesied and laid hands on people to be healed and delivered from devils, pastored a church and travelled with other preachers, preaching with them. But he was Satan's man, lock, stock and barrel, fiercely opposing the Lord Jesus Christ while appearing to love and to serve Him. One asks with the heart and the heart is what is answered.

7) Believe. I quoted Luke 11:13. In I John 5:14,15 we read "And this is the confidence we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." Jesus said "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." All things of God are through faith. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. Those who seek signs will receive signs but not from God, Who gives no signs but the one of which He spoke. Other signs are from the enemy for the wicked.

There is so much more that can be said. I have written this paper for the sincere seeker of truth. It will be despised and torn apart orally and literally by those to whom these things are not given, just as the Scriptures have been. There are many obstacles for the religious-oriented and the indoctrinated to overcome in order to receive what is written here but God be praised, He is equal to, yes, more than able to perform the task on behalf of those who truly seek Him.

I mentioned confession of sin to a man of God. I must be fair and straightforward with you about this matter. I do not know of another man of God other than myself, not saying there aren't any. There are so many professing to be men of God or pastors in official positions, and evangelists, etc. but who serve only themselves and their organizations, works and not God. Of this I have no doubt and am prepared to speak on this and have done so both orally and in writings. The Lord has shown me that the world is flooded with the works of man in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, all being abomination to Him. All those who partake of those works will suffer unless they repent and are delivered. The wrath of God is on all church organizations, services, building projects, crusades and all religious activities presuming to serve Him.

From whichever side you are on, you will see what I am talking about. Many already see. Some ponder and can't believe their observations. Others see and are not willing to break with the false and hypocritical. Woe to them. Some are seeing and counting the cost. By the grace of God they will count the cost of choosing either way. The choice is really a matter of life or death.

Please do not assume your interpretation of what I say here is correct. In many cases it surely will not be. It takes revelation of God and dialogue with one that understands to understand even apparently simple statements. Truly it is God Who does the work, and causes one "to will and to do of His good pleasure." He calls and chooses. May His will and not ours be done. Amen!

Victor Hafichuk