Have you received since you believed?

The gift of discernment is not operated by the fleshly outward appearance nor can it be turned on and off by the will to do so. It manifest light to the spiritual mind who can receive the things of God. As the apostle Peter found Simon the sorcerer and rebuked him with blindness, so we have examples of the acts of those called to be saints, executing the judgement written. That is, binding kings with chains and nobles with fetters of iron. Shining as a light in a dark place, revealing things that are hidden from the carnal minded. Now we see more clearly now that evil men and seducers have waxed worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. While the assemblies of the gods make merchandise of the people, speaking lies in hypocrisy. What worship is this that fornicators and adulterers can gather together praising the gods of silver and gold? Is it not iniquity? The whole head is sick, and the body full of purifying sores. 

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Jesus is the LORD

What great promises God has given to his little flock preserved from all evil! The Lord prepares a table of blessings for people purged from all iniquity through the Blood. The Lord has opened up his armory with weapons mighty through God to the rooting out and pulling down and destroying things that oppose the Christ of God to execute the judgement written. Binding kings with chains and mockers with fetters of iron. Let the heaven and earth be full of the glory of God and high praises be in the mouths of the saints.

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To his surprise and to my amazement

Let me share a true story that happened decades ago in a Assemblies of God church where I attended regularly, seeking refuge for my wretchedness nigh unto hypocrisy.  A renown professor degreed in divinity, was lecturing a class on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Scriptures like, "there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" and "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, SAITH the LORD of Hosts" and "have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed" and "these signs shall follow them that believe: they shall cast out devils and speak in new tongues. And if they pick up any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them" and "As many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God" and "ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost shall come upon you" These are great promises for one who is struggling with besetting sins as the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7: "the good that I would, I do not. And the evil that I would not, that I do. O wretched man that I am! Who can deliver me from the body of this death?"  The doctor of divinity, in all his degrees, spoke with authority as he shared with us the holy scriptures. Until he inserted, " nobody's perfect" several times after quoting scriptures that cut to the heart. I suppose it was to console us wretched sinners that everybody sins Even when filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire. But I was troubled at the contradictions of the professor who seemed to excuse sinning though grace may abound. So I asked him after the lecture, when everyone had left: Do you believe everyone sins even when sanctified by the word and filled with the Spirit? He said yes, "nobody's perfect". I then said, Jesus taught concerning faith that there are stages of growth. "First the blade, then the ear. After that, the full corn in the ear." and in another place he said regarding receiving blessings when denying ourselves and taking up our cross, leaving behind ore friends and kin. That some faithful servants receive 30, and some 60, and others a hundred fold blessing, "when there obedience has been fulfilled" so I ask the doctor: Do you believe anyone in the body of Christ sins less than you do? Without hesitation he blurted out, "NO!" To his own surprise and to my amazement. 

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