WHAT MAKES A MAN OF GOD? ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: [Let’s see what “A Man of God” possess!] Then Peter said, Silver or gold I do not have, but WHAT I DO HAVE I GIVE YOU. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. (Acts 3:6) [What else can we expect to?] …enable your servants to SPEAK YOUR WORD WITH GREAT BOLDNESS. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and SPOKE THE WORD OF GOD BOLDLY. (Acts 4:29-31) [We are just getting started!] The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people…they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, MORE AND MORE MEN AND WOMEN BELIEVED IN THE LORD and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least PETERS SHADOW MIGHT FALL ON SOME OF THEM as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and ALL OF THEM WERE HEALED. (Acts 5:12-16) [How did they do these things? A few weeks earlier Peter was GIVING UP, he said:] I go [hupago: withdraw or RETIRE (as if sinking out of sight)] a fishing... (John 21:3) [Then Jesus told them to:] …wait [DO NOTHING. AND EXPECT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN] for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT…YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:4-5, 8) [So they all…] …went up into an upper room…THESE ALL CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD IN PRAYER and supplication (Acts 1:13-14) …they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be TONGUES OF FIRE that separated and CAME TO REST ON EACH OF THEM. ALL OF THEM WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT and began to SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4) [Is this the same Holy Spirit we have? Yes! Earlier Jesus “instructed” them to:] Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized WILL BE SAVED, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and THEY WILL GET WELL. (Mark 16:15-18) [Jesus goes on to instruct us:] Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me WILL DO THE WORKS I HAVE BEEN DOING, and they will do EVEN GREATER THINGS than these, because I am going to the Father. And I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU ASK IN MY NAME, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I WILL DO IT. (John 14:12-14) [Are these the same “instructions” Jesus gave to us? YES! Why are we not seeing these things “regularly” in our lives?] Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, Why could we not drive it out? And He said to them, Because of the LITTLENESS OF YOUR FAITH; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind DOES NOT GO OUT EXCEPT BY PRAYER AND FASTING. (Matt.17:19-21) [Jesus said to them…] …You of little faith, why are you so afraid? (Matt. 8:26) I do believe; HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF! (Mark 9:24) [This must be the problem because God’s word is “truth”! Could it be as simple as this?] …faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Rom. 10:17) …without faith it IS IMPOSSIBLE to please him, for whoever would draw near to God MUST BELIEVE THAT HE EXISTS and that HE REWARDS those who seek him. (Heb. 11:6) “…building yourselves up in your most holy faith and PRAYING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, KEEP YOURSELVES in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. (Jude 1:20-21) [Yes! Satan wants to keep us from being empowered and he is very good at his job.] But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning [trickery, craftiness], your thoughts will be led astray [shrivel or wither] from a sincere and pure [plainness] devotion to Christ. (2 Corin. 11:3) Be blessed as you praise The Lord, KNOWING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MAN, OR WOMAN OF GOD! -Bill Stockham
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:45:31 +0000