In The Comfort Of The Holy Spirit
Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. Acts 9:31
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us- that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:1-3
To be a true Christian we must not only know the word of God, the bible, but also Jesus Christ, the Word, and to have fellowship with the Holy Spirit just like the New Testament church did. They walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and were multiplied. Mind you they were not drunk 100 % of the time with the Spirit as some I know. They didn’t deny miracles, salvation, healing and deliverance but experienced them. However we have today amongst us "Bible deists" who are guilty of worshiping the Bible rather than God. They have no experience or very little with the Holy Spirit and are deceived that they know Jesus Christ, never mind the Father God.
For Bible deists, Christ cannot speak or be known apart from the Bible. So they merge Christ into the Bible and preach the Bible in the place of Christ. These people are also guilty of overemphasizing the importance of knowledge. When we make the goal of our lives to know the Bible, we exalt knowledge over experience—a tragic mistake. Yet, the truths of Scripture can only be fully known through experience. God never said that “Intelligence was the basis for entrance into the kingdom of God”? Rather Jesus told us:
"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:23-24
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:4-8
It’s important to abide in Christ to hear and obey His audible voice in our inner man or by dreams and visions. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had supernatural encounters with God that were outside of the bible but became part of the bible? Similarly not all experiences with God are recorded in the bible or can be discounted as invalid! The Bible is not "a book of abstract truths about God," but "a guide into the supernatural realm of God’s power" , "a guide to dynamic encounters with a God who works wonders." It was given to us that we might "hear God’s voice and respond to that voice with life-changing faith." We should have the experience of people in biblical times, who heard God speak "through an audible voice, dreams, visions, circumstances, fleeces, inner impressions, prophets, angels, and other ways as well as through scripture." The book of Acts represents normal Christianity, and it is filled with accounts of supernatural communication. Accordingly, the very same things should happen to us.
Bible deists believe that production of the Bible was the Spirit’s greatest work. They believe that the Holy Spirit exalts Christ by composing a book." They believe that the central message of the Bible is not the Holy Spirit and his gifts, but Jesus and his resurrection. Accordingly, the Bible defines the scope of God’s revelation to us, and provides the means for us to achieve knowledge of God. The Holy Spirit does not communicate to men independently of the Bible. All of this is bunk because the Spirit’s greatest work was not only the creation of heaven and earth but the resurrection of Jesus Christ without which there would be no need for a bible. Jesus Christ and His gifts including the Holy Spirit and His gifts inseparable because the bible tells us:
Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:18-23
Christ divided His spoils of war at Calvary with the strong, His bride, the church, in whom He has appointed first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and varieties of tongues. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, has put all things under Christ feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. It’s the church experiencing the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, having the eyes of understanding enlightened, knowing what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward those who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which is preeminent and important not a dead knowledge of the bible. Just like faith without works is dead so is love without any experience with God. God’s word is unchanging:
"To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ' These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent. Revelations 2:1-5
Bible deists believe that the New Testament itself supersedes the signs and wonders recorded in the New Testament, including the "sign gifts" of the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit’s primary work is to create the Bible, the fundamental purpose of the dramatic events its records is to confirm the unique value of the Bible, not to provide a precedent for further activities of the Holy Spirit. Vine is therefore a "cessationist." The gifts were given to the church for a limited time, and for a very specific purpose—to help launch the Christian church and provide a written guide for future generations. When the written Word was completed, the sign gifts ceased. What bible deists believe is all lies that have no basis in the word of God. The word of God doesn’t say or teach that apostles, prophets and gifts of the Spirit have ceased. Rather it states we are not to be ignorant of Spiritual gifts and are to pursue them:
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthains 12:1-11
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 1 corinthians 14:1-5
If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:37-40
Bible deists remove things from the word of God which in itself is sin. The truth of the word of God is that there is revelation continues beyond the Bible just like Jesus promised:
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: "of sin, because they do not believe in Me; "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:7-15
Bible deists deny that God has further things to say to his people. But God continues to reveal himself to human beings. The supernatural manifestations we read about in the Bible—prophecies, dreams, miracles, and so on, extend beyond biblical times on into the Christian era and right up to our own day. Accordingly, we should not be "Bible-bound." We should not limit our knowledge of God to what the Bible says. Just as people did in biblical times, we too can hear "the voice of God" and do the greater works that Jesus promised we would do. God’s word is unchanging:
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16:15-20
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:12-14
WALTER KAMBULOW
EXTRACT FROM Called To Inherit A Blessing
http://walthope.tripod.com/called.htm
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