HS Baptism by Jesus (Matt 3:11) and HS Baptism by the HS (1 Cor12:13)

[WITDNM]

Hooah


Have you ever tested such a "miracle"... if so, then you would not allow such false signs/wonders afflict you from what God is doing.

I am not afflicted by this, but others are.

How can anyone in the Body of Christ who doubts and doesn't believe God does signs/miracles today, also be able to be surrendered to the Word of God in a way that will "enable" them to actually test the "spirits"?

Slug, here is where you are missing a very important point. The signs/wonders/miracles were to confirm the word. The word then took people with NO faith and built faith in them. The word also took people with SOME faith and increased their faith. In other words the signs were for unbelievers and believers. It's those who believe in signs/wonders/miracles who are being deceived by the false signs not those who doubt or don't believe. From the word of God, how do they test? My answer is below.

Take one of the latest PRAISE threads in the Praise Forum that is titled: God Answered me Immediately. <<Click

Here is a pastor that struggled with signs/wonders today. He couldn't even properly organize a sermon about this topic (signs/wonders) due to his doubts. He surrendered though, and the sermon came together and he humbled himself before his ENTIRE congregation.

That man would NOT be be able to "test" the spirits before that surrender because there are parts of the scriptures he didn't accept nor understand DUE TO his personal beliefs and doubts.

You ask to be taught... I ask, you must FIRST surrender and then teaching can come from others but first the Holy Spirit will teach. EXACTLY like the Holy Spirit brought understanding to that pastor Saturday night before the Sunday Sermon. The Holy Spirit ILLUMINATED the true meaning of the scriptures to that man... same as He will do with ALL who are IN surrender to God and don't put doctrine and what they "see" between themselves and God.

There is more to "see" than JUST holy toast

Now that pastor is in a position to teach his congregation CORRECTLY!! As more and more in the congregation also surrender to God... the Holy Spirit will have the freedom to move freely without Unbelief hindering the supernatural flow of the Holy Spirit. Just like when UNbelief hindered the flow of supernatural power of Jesus Himself when He was in Nazareth.

I would expect resistance from some and even some will leave the church and go to churches that have the service under complete control (order). Sometimes "order" is what is creating POWERLESS churches because should the Holy Spirit move supernaturally, then that is OUT of their specific order and can't be from God.

Ya ever experience the leadership of a church begin fasting then all link up together later at church, shut all the doors, LOCK up the church and JUST PRAY to God seeking HIS order for the services?

How about a worship team doing this same thing seeking God for WHAT to sing and also for NEW song from Him?

Not many church leaders do this because they set their OWN order and God is not allowed to move. They pick the songs that the "people" like.

Anyway... That is all I can even suggest now concerning your request... and pray for you.

To accurately address this, can you please define people. Are they worldly and not a part of the Body of Christ, or are you referring to those who are a part of the Body of Christ?

It's a mix of people. Some may be in the Body of Christ. Many BELIEVE they are in the body of Christ. Some probably have no clue.

Yet if God was truly not doing signs/wonders Himself... satan wouldn't be deceiving anyone, all he'd be doing is revealing himself if he's the ONLY source of supernatural power.

Since the word of God is for unbelievers and believers, the confirming signs/wonders/miracles were for unbelievers and believers. The test we apply must be one that can be applied by unbelievers and believers.

In Acts 8 when Philip arrived in Samaria, he found Simon, who all the people, from the least to the greatest, thought was the "great power of God". Philip preached, the signs/wonders/miracles followed him. Simon was amazed. What did Simon see? He saw the signs that follow believers, confirming the word. (Mark 16:17-20). He saw demons cast out. He heard Philip speak human languages he had not learned (Acts 2:4-6, I Corinthians 14 especially verses 10 & 11) He saw deadly snake bites without harm. He saw the drinking of deadly poison without harm. He saw hands laid on the sick, healing them without failure.

Unbelievers and believers can apply the test. "Is what I am witnessing, today, like what Simon witnessed?" If it is, praise God!

[Evangelist]

This thread caught my eye ... so this is my first post

I know there are 3 baptisms:
baptism into the church by the Holy Spirit as in 1 Cor 12:13
baptism in water by man
baptism (anointing) with the Holy Spirit by Jesus as taught by John in all 4 gospels

Without all 3 of these baptisms I would be totally useless as an evangelist.
I have a testimony, if anyone is interested.

[steelcurtain76]

This thread caught my eye ... so this is my first post

I know there are 3 baptisms:
baptism into the church by the Holy Spirit as in 1 Cor 12:13
baptism in water by man
baptism (anointing) with the Holy Spirit by Jesus as taught by John in all 4 gospels

Without all 3 of these baptisms I would be totally useless as an evangelist.
I have a testimony, if anyone is interested.

I'm interested. Please post or send an one to my inbox.

[Evangelist]

I'm interested. Please post or send an one to my inbox.

Okay, I posted it in the Testimonies section.

Administrative Edit by Slug1: Evangelist's Testimony is: Here <<Click

[Slug1]

In Acts 8 when Philip arrived in Samaria, he found Simon, who all the people, from the least to the greatest, thought was the "great power of God". Philip preached, the signs/wonders/miracles followed him. Simon was amazed. What did Simon see? He saw the signs that follow believers, confirming the word. (Mark 16:17-20). He saw demons cast out. He heard Philip speak human languages he had not learned (Acts 2:4-6, I Corinthians 14 especially verses 10 & 11) He saw deadly snake bites without harm. He saw the drinking of deadly poison without harm. He saw hands laid on the sick, healing them without failure.

Simon saw only this through the ministry that Philip brought through the area of Samaria:

Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the[a] city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

So based on this next scripture, the above signs/wonders were all that Simon witnessed:

v13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

So some of what you said above... is speculative.

Now... all of this did NOT impress Simon as he was IMPRESSED when the Apostles came around LATER and did NO signs/wonders but instead, all they did was pray over all those who were NOW in Christ as "believers" and had already been baptized in water.

WHAT Simon saw made a STRONGER impression upon him than all the signs/wonders that he saw through the ministry of Philip spreading the Gospel in that area. Let's read this scripture:

v15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

So, the Apostles did no signs/wonders at all. All Simon saw was the Holy Spirit FALL upon all those prayed over/laid hands on and THAT made a VERY STRONG impression upon Simon.

So what did he "SEE" that was more impressive than all the signs/wonders that he already saw through the ministry of Philip in that entire area???

[Slug1]

Slug, here is where you are missing a very important point. The signs/wonders/miracles were to confirm the word. The word then took people with NO faith and built faith in them. The word also took people with SOME faith and increased their faith. In other words the signs were for unbelievers and believers. It's those who believe in signs/wonders/miracles who are being deceived by the false signs not those who doubt or don't believe. From the word of God, how do they test? My answer is below.

How can you say any of this if signs/wonders have ended?

Unbelievers and believers can apply the test. "Is what I am witnessing, today, like what Simon witnessed?" If it is, praise God!

Then why ask in a previous post a need to be taught how to "test" the spirits?

[Slug1]

Okay, I posted it in the Testimonies section.

Administrative Edit by Slug1: Evangelist's Testimony is: Here <<Click

Hooah!! God's blessings in your life and the blessings in the lives of others as He works through you... PRAISE GOD and ALL the glory IS HIS!!!