Title:
Developing Spiritual Understanding ~ Part 4 ~ Some Conclusions

Word Count:
2031

Summary:
As a result of my former three "Developing Spiritual Understanding" articals, and the creation of them ~ the self study & prayer ~ I have come to a few conclusions. Obviously, I have much to yet learn. Yet, as the very Good and Great God has promised, I trust He will guide me to more of the Truth.

Keywords:
Developing Spiritual Understanding,Matthew Chapter 7,spoke with tongues and prophesied,we are weak,Spirit of God, these are sons of God,Holy Spirit,Jesus,russ miles,milesbooks.com,Holy Spirit baptism

Article Body:
Acts 19:5

5 When they heard [this,] they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.

Acts 19:5

The Bible records that Jesus received the Holy Spirit in “Full measure.”

(KJV) John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure [unto him].

(CEV) John 3:34 The Son was sent to speak God's message, and he has been given the full power of God's Spirit.

Coloss 1:19

For God in full measure was pleased to be in him;

Well, it appears to me, that the Spirit of God is distributed in measured amounts as determined by God himself.

Should I be afraid to ask God for what some people call “ The Holy Spirit baptism?”

Philippians 4:6~7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

(GodsWord) Luke 11:11

"If your child asks you, his father, for a fish, would you give him a snake instead?" 12 "Or if your child asks you for an egg, would you give him a scorpion?" 13 "Even though you're evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

Proverbs 28:1

"A wicked person flees when no one is chasing, but righteous people are as bold as lions."

Acts 2:17

'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.

Romans 8:14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Galatians 4:6

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

Romans 8:15

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:26

In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words.

I feel that one thing that we must remember is that “Gifts” are to be used for glorifying God’s Son, Jesus by up building His chosen body ~ the church. Some are for personal prayer and building oneself up, but they are not given for personal boasting or showing off.

I feel it it is important to remember that just because some claim to have spiritual gifts, or even heal others, it doesn’t mean they are necessarily in tune with God.

Perhaps this section of Matthew Chapter 7 will put some of this and other scriptures above into perspective?

12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13 " Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15 " Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor [can] a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 " Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' 24 " Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

Well, I have been saying some things that may not be embraced by everyone who reads this. This is all right because I trust some good seeds have been planted. It is up to my Lord Jesus Christ to see that they grow, if they are ~ in fact ~ good seeds. If they are not, I pray for a crop failure.

Now, I must look at ~ what might be considered ~ another sacred cow. With some trepidation, I realize that, like my understanding of Spiritual gifts, this one might cause others to wonder if I am a Christian at all. I ask that you examine the scriptures before passing judgment.

Wey NT
2 Cor 13:1

This intended visit of mine is my third visit to you. ("On the evidence of two or three witnesses every charge shall be sustained.")

1 Peter 1:2

You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by his Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be purified by his blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure.

(TEV) Philippians 2:6 He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to become equal with God.

Deuteronomy 6:4 (ASV & Darby))

Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah:

John 5:15 The man left and told the leaders that Jesus was the one who had healed him. 16 They started making a lot of trouble for Jesus because he did things like this on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus said, "My Father has never stopped working, and that is why I keep on working." 18 Now the leaders wanted to kill Jesus for two reasons. First, he had broken the law of the Sabbath. But even worse, he had said that God was his Father, which made him equal with God. 19 Jesus told the people: I tell you for certain that the Son cannot do anything on his own. He can do only what he sees the Father doing, and he does exactly what he sees the Father do. 20 The Father loves the Son and has shown him everything he does. The Father will show him even greater things, and you will be amazed. 21 Just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants to. 22 The Father doesn't judge anyone, but he has made his Son the judge of everyone. 23 The Father wants all people to honor the Son as much as they honor him. When anyone refuses to honor the Son, that is the same as refusing to honor the Father who sent him. 24 I tell you for certain that everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life.

Mark 12:29

Jesus answered, "The foremost is, `HEAR, O ISRAEL ! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;

James 2:19

You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God: and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus:

So, what about the “Trinity?” Well, when I study it, it appears that the teaching was not practiced in the early church. Shouldn’t something as important as dividing God into three parts or personages be addressed in the scripture? Certainly history records Constantine, not a believer then himself, forced the bishops to accept duality of God and Jesus in the 2nd century. The Holy Spirit was added later.

Perhaps a good determinant of how much “Peace” one has can be evidenced by how much one submits to God.

Romans 3:17

And the way of peace they have not known."

Romans 8:6

For to be carnally minded [is] death, but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.

1 Peter 3:11

Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.

Hebrews 12:11

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Ephesians 2:14

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

Ephesians 2:15

having abolished in His flesh the enmity, [that is,] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man [from] the two, [thus] making peace,

Philipp 4:7

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philipp 4:9

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

2 Peter 1:2

I pray that God will be kind to you and will let you live in perfect peace! May you keep learning more and more about God and our Lord Jesus.

1 Peter 1:2

You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by his Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be purified by his blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure.

What about feeling guilty about our old sins, and reminding others about their past mistakes and sinful ways?

Hebrews 8:12

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."

Hebrews 10:17

then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their misdeeds no more."

Heavens, If God doesn’t remember our sins and misdeeds, what right do we have to?

(NASB) John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

The Bible records that Jesus received the Holy Spirit in “Full measure.”

(Romans 8:15

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:26

In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words.

I feel it it is important to remember that just because some claim to have spiritual gifts, or even heal others, it doesn’t mean they are necessarily in tune with God.

Perhaps, it is our job to continue to search the scriptures and ask God for his wisdom that we may understand His will for us in our lives?