Holy Spirit @ MindSay

            Laurie and I received a Christmas email greeting today from a woman—at that time, a university student—that we helped bring to the knowledge of God when we were in China. 

            Her English name is Steffi.  Let me tell you about her.

            We didn’t lead her to Jesus.  While we were in the university we taught in, there was a minor outbreak of God’s salvation and righteousness.  We were personally involved with some of it, but there were things going on that we had no idea about.  One of the students whose lives were touched without our influence was Steffi.  I’m not sure how it happened, but she ended up joining up with the group we were actively teaching and discipling.

            We set aside one Friday night in our apartment for a time that we would pray for them to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  I didn’t know Steffi very well, but she was the first one to ask for me to pray for her.  I asked her to lift her hands and begin to praise God.  I closed my eyes, put my hand on her head and asked the Lord to fill her.  Suddenly I felt a bonk on my head.  I opened my eyes, and there was Steffi, collapsed onto the floor.  She began to weep profusely and then to wail—and I mean loudly.

            As happy as I was that Steffi had obviously been overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit, I wished, to be blunt, that she would shut up!  There was a little Buddhist guard not twenty feet from our front door with whom everyone who visited us had to register by signing a book at the door of his little guard house.  However, thankfully, no one came knocking.

            Let me hasten to add that I am not an advocate of any kind of “slain in the Spirit” ministry.  By that, I mean a ministry that has this event as its focus.  I’m not enamored with some of the things I’ve witnessed in this regard in some areas of the Christian community.  However, being overwhelmed to the point of hitting the deck does have biblical precedent.  Steffi knew nothing of American Pentecostalism or the excesses I was familiar with.  She was genuinely overwhelmed by the presence of God’s Spirit.  It happens.

            The Holy Spirit continued to minister to this small group of young ladies for a few hours.  They wept.  They laughed.  They worshiped.  Laurie and I were merely overseers.

            Because of what happened that night and subsequent ministry, Steffi was bonded with our hearts.  I consider her my precious daughter.  She told us in the email that she wants to talk to us via Skype.  I responded and asked her, if and when that happens, to please be patient with me, because I’m sure, after over ten years, I would be crying.

            Does being led by the Spirit of God imply that the one being led will enter some kind of mysterious, ethereal world characterized by supernatural whisperings, where everything seems to flow together mystically in peace and tolerance?

            Um, no.

            Those who wrote about Jesus said that after He was baptized by John, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be…tempted by the devil.

            Not exactly a place one would ask their travel agent to put on their trip itinerary.

            But that’s exactly what happened.  The Spirit didn’t take Jesus to His “happy place.”

            So, a question.  Could it be possible that the Spirit of God might lead you to an uncomfortable place so you could be tested?

Here is Peter's account of the coming of Messiah, and how it relates to the last days. The emphasis is not mine but refers to Joel 2:28-32 prophecy of the last days.

(14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.

(15) For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

(16) But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

(17) 'AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAYS GOD, THAT I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH; YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS.

(18) AND ON MY MENSERVANTS AND ON MY MAIDSERVANTS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS; AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY.

(19) I WILL SHOW WONDERS IN HEAVEN ABOVE AND SIGNS IN THE EARTH BENEATH: BLOOD AND FIRE AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.

(20) THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS, AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND AWESOME DAY OF THE LORD.

(21) AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.'

(22) "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—

(23) Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

(24) whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

(25) For David says concerning Him: 'I FORESAW THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE MY FACE, FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, THAT I MAY NOT BE SHAKEN.

(26) THEREFORE MY HEART REJOICED, AND MY TONGUE WAS GLAD; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL REST IN HOPE.

(27) FOR YOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HADES, NOR WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.

(28) YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF JOY IN YOUR PRESENCE.'

(29) "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

(30) Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,

(31) he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.

(32) This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

(33) Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

(34) "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

(35) TILL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL." '

(36) "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

(37) Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

(38) Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

(39) For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

(40) And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."

God prepared a bloodline through which He would send His only begotten son of the seed of a woman (yes, it is a strange term, but the seed of man carried the inherited curse and therefore Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit and a virgin of the House of David).

God said that the soul that sins shall die. (Ezekiel 18:20)

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. (Hebrews 9:22)

All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

God, by His grace, has sent His son to be a propitiation for our sins. (Romans 3:35)

Here is the marvelous truth - He who knew no sin humbled himself to become one of us, to die a shameful death on the cross, so that we who were sinful could be reconciled to the Father through the blood of the son.

(17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

(18) Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

(19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

(20) Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

(21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Here Paul discusses the gift of salvation, and explains how in one man all have been cursed, but how in the son of God, all who will believe will be redeemed from the curse, and will become the sons of God.

(1) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

(2) through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

(3) And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;

(4) and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

(5) Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

(6) For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

(7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

(8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(9) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

(10) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

(11) And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

(12) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

(13) (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

(14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

(15) But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.

(16) And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.

(17) For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

(18) Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

(19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

(20) Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

(21) so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We must understand that God has had a plan from the beginning, and though much of it is a mystery to us, the parts which we do understand are overwhelming in their scope and power to set the sinner free. He who sees the end from the beginning knew that the world would go through its various growing pains, and then would begin to decay. His beautiful creation has been systematically destroyed by man, and yet God chooses to destroy the earth in the end - with fire - and to extend salvation to all mankind while there is yet time.

But the day is coming soon when we will see that the majority of mankind will reject the mercies of the Lord, and will by default opt for His justice. Those who refuse to humble themselves to the Lord God will pay the price for their own rebellion.

The following is Jesus' prophecy of the end times and the rebellion of man. The words of Jesus are in red.

(1) And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,

(2) and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.

(3) So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;

(4) for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."

(5) Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said,

(6) "These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."

(7) So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"

(8) And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them.

(9) But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately."

(10) Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

(11) And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

(12) But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.

(13) But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.

(14) Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;

(15) for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

(16) You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.

(17) And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.

(18) But not a hair of your head shall be lost.

(19) By your patience possess your souls.

(20) "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

(21) Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.

(22) For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

(23) But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.

(24) And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

(25) "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;

(26) men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

(27) Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

(28) Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

(29) Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.

(30) When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.

(31) So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

(32) Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.

(33) Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

(34) "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

(35) For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.

(36) Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

(37) And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.

(38) Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Note that in the last days, men's hearts will fail them because of fear. An increasing number of people will experience heart attacks, heart failure, anxiety attacks and such because of the fear they have regarding the times we are in, and their dismay for the future will cause them to weaken and loose heart.

How can we have peace in the face of the coming storms? We must surrender our lives to the ONE who is able to save us and keep us. We must believe in the Lord our God, Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is. We must believe in His son, Jesus, who was sent to cleanse us and to save us and to restore us to a relationship with the Creator. We must repent and be baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit, Who was sent to us to lead us into all truth, to convict us and to convince us concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. And we must give our trust to God so that we may lean on Him without fear for the days we are in, because these days are evil, but we are looking to the future with Him.

Prayer to Adonai God:

Dear Lord,

I look back on my life and realize that I am a sinner. I confess that I have done many things, thought many thing, said many things, and failed to do and say many things: I have failed in many ways, and I have a habit of being selfish. I have harmed others because of my pride and foolishness. I have failed to do things that could have helped others because I was filled with apathy.

I acknowledge that there is nothing truly noble or holy in me, and that I need you to cleanse me of my unholy and evil ways. I repent of my evil actions and words, and of my failure to act when I should. I repent of my unclean thoughts and the actions that they spawn.

I beg your forgiveness, and throw myself on your mercy. You are holy and righteous, merciful and just. I know I deserve to die because of my sin, but you have provided me with the way to everlasting life through the shed blood of your dear son, Jesus.

I accept now the freedom from sin that has been given as a gift to me through Jesus, your son. I confess my faith in Jesus, and I thank you for loving me so much that you sent your own son to be executed as my substitute.

Teach me your ways, teach me your truth, and help me find my light in your words. I put my trust in you.

Amen