YOU NEED THE HOLY GHOST

07.26.10
David Wilkerson Today

Some have been saved for a number of years, some perhaps a year, and some just months or a few weeks. Being saved from sin is wonderful! Old things fade away—and all things become new. I am so glad you're saved!

 

But in order to be a good soldier in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ, it's not enough just to be saved. There is much more for you! You need to be baptized with the Holy Ghost!

 

In Paul's time, some believers didn't even know there was a Holy Ghost. "He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost" (Acts 19:2). These people were saved, but it is clear they were not filled or baptized with the Holy Ghost.

 

I believe we are saved through the power and ministry of the Holy Ghost. But Scripture tells us that in addition to this, there is also a baptizing, an infilling, a possessing that the Holy Ghost does in us!

 

Jesus himself did not send his disciples and followers into the world until they were baptized with the Holy Ghost. Certainly his disciples had pure hearts. They had faith to heal the sick, to cast out devils. They had the Word of the Lord and already had been preaching Christ and gaining converts. They were witnesses to his resurrection. What more could there be? They were willing to die for Jesus! Wasn't their love for him enough to send them into the world to do his work?

 

Beloved, none of that was enough! Clearly, there was more. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

 

Do you really want the Holy Ghost? Do you want him to fall upon you and baptize you with fire? You have to be convinced this is for you. You must come to the place where you know you are nothing, have nothing and can do nothing without the power and leading of the Holy Ghost.

 

You must know he is still baptizing, still falling upon believers—possessing their bodies! "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is to unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:38–39).

Every hour of every day, multitudes worldwide are being baptized with the Holy  Ghost! They have read of this promise in the Bible or have heard it preached. So they have cried out, claiming the promise, and they have been baptized!

The baptism is especially for those living in the last days. "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh…. I will pour out in those days of my Spirit" (Acts 2:17–18). He is yours for the asking: "How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13).

 

God wants you to live and walk in the Spirit. You should not run to find someone else to meet a person's need. You are called to speak the Word of God as the Spirit moves on you, and to lay hands on the sick and cast out devils just as the apostles did. We are all called to be witnesses who are full of the Holy Ghost and power!

 

  

PRAYER IN TROUBLED TIMES

12.16.09

Pastor David Wilkerson

In perilous time like these, is the church powerless to do anything? Are we to sit and wait for Christ to return? Or, are we called to take drastic action of some kind? When all around us the world is trembling, with men's hearts failing them for fear, are we called to take up spiritual weapons and do battle with the adversary?

 

The prophet Joel saw a similar day approaching Israel, one of "thick darkness and gloom." According to Joel, the day of darkness that was approaching Israel would be one such as never seen in their history. The prophet cried, "Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come" (Joel 1:15).

 

What was Joel's counsel to Israel in that dark hour? He brought this word: "Therefore.saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping and with mourning: and rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him.?" (Joel 2:12-14).

 

As I read this passage, I am most struck by two words: "Even now." As gross darkness fell over Israel, God appealed to his people: "Even now, at the hour of my vengeance?when you've pushed me out of your society, when mercy seems impossible, when humankind has mocked my warnings, when fear and gloom are covering the land?even now, I urge you to come back to me. I am slow to anger, and I have been known to hold back my judgments for a season, as I did for Josiah. My people can pray and petition for my mercy. But the world won't repent if you say there is no mercy."

 

Do you see God's message to us in this? As his people, we can plead in prayer and he will hear us. We can make requests of him and know he will answer the sincere, effectual, fervent prayers of his saints.

 

Remind The Intruder

Written by Lois Williams

Friday 10.09.09

 

This body you fought so hard to process

may soon give away to your lust

but the mystery unfolds at the ending

says you will have nothing but dust.

 

When the last time you see her frail figure

no human will claim such a sight.

For the pride has been stripped from your honor

she changed at the twinkling of the eye.

 

He came at an hour unexpected,

no one knows the day nor the hour

the mystery still lies with the maker

something you can't devour

 

So what did you win in the garden?

with all your deception and lies

woe, your plan perfect, just back fired

when almighty God paid the price.

 

He sent his dear Son to redeem what was lost

yet in shame he hung high on a cross.

but he took back all that you stole from him

including an escape for the lost.

 

But just like his own, we've rejected him,

Now the time of redemption's a must.

either you will take hold of his offer

or with the intruder Bite the Dust.

 

 

 

 

 

Prayer Alert!

Please join with us here at Streams in the Desert Ministries

in praying for America,Israel & all the Nations 

throughout the new year of 2012...

For time as we know it is growing very short!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please consider supporting Streams in the Desert Ministries; financially with your Love Offerings;

So that we are able to continue to bring the love of God through his word to a lost and dying world by way of the power and anointing of his Holy Spirit which has been prepared and ordained;

"For Such A Time As This"

Shalom & Blessings,
Pastors Dana & Tom

 

 

 

 

 

 

Words of  Wisdom

Matt 3:11-15; John the Baptist speaking-

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

When Jesus was baptized his first words to the world were: "Suffer it to be so now": for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

 

Rev Lois Williams

 5-3-10