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| ? WROTE: Question-Comment: What is the difference between the 6 spirits mentioned in isaiah 11:2 and in DON WROTE: Hello, Thanks for taking the time to WRAP with us. Before I answer your question, let's look at the Scriptures you've mentioned. First, let's look at Isaiah 11:2 in its context.
Now, let's look in context at the verse in Revelation 1 that mentions, not six, but seven Spirits: .
I'll begin my answer by looking at the things that are in common concerning the two passage: i.e., they both are talking about Jesus, about the Holy Spirit, and about the Kingdom Age yet to come. In the passage from Isaiah, the prophet is not actually talking about six spirits, but six attributes of the Holy Spirit. In the passage from Revelation we have a somewhat similar situation. Let me bring over a quote from our study in Revelation:
I hope that this answers your question. P.S.
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| Pastor Gideon Wrote: Question-Comment: Dear Pastor, Would you please pray with us about the possibility of Coming to Africa some day if the Lord allows and maybe do some God bless you and keep you. Don Wrote: Thanks for the good word! We are confident that God uses our site for we built it under the unction of the Holy Spirit. Still, it is encouraging when we get a word of confirmation. Also, we thank you for the invitation to come and minister. However, that doesn't seem possible at this time; but it is possible that our Lord Jesus can use our site to minister to your people if you can provide computers so that they can get to it. Let me explain our approach to feeding the Lord's sheep. We do not feel that it is our job to spoon feed His babes any longer than is necessary. The only reason that one would spoon feed someone who is grown in years would be because he or she is an invalid. We feel that we are to provide the sincere milk of the Word to new converts and teach them that Christ wants them to trust in Him and His Spirit to finish their Biblical/spiritual education. One of the short comings of most denominational churches in the U.S. is that the local pastors, either purposely or unknowingly, try to stifle the spiritual growth of their membership so that they will remain babes-in-Christ and dependent upon them. It is no wonder that the our churches have failed to evangelize the United States; for evangelization is a warfare, and no one can win a war with babes on the front line. If we as pastors/ministers/teachers do the work to which we are called, we will help our Master train up mature, adult soldiers for the spiritual warfare at hand. Hopefully, everyone that we are privileged to teach for Christ will surpass our faith and our position in Him; and as long as we sincerely minister from this stance, we can know that Christ Jesus will use us and bless those in our charge. With this in mind, we can minister to your people via the Internet, maybe even better than if we were there in person. I say this because of the teaching tools on our site that can be used by the Holy Spirit to prepare each believer to be soldier of Christ. Those among you who have a minimal education, if they can get to a computer, can get into the Word of God with the help of the many, many devout men and women of God who have donated their time and expertise to building web pages full of study helps. If you will click on the following link, you will find a treasure chest full of such Bible-study tools. http://doweknow.com/frames/frametools.htm ON-LINE DICTIONARY The first link on the page is to a first-class, on-line dictionary. The dictionary will not only give you correct spelling, definitions, synonyms (words with similar meanings) and antonyms (words with opposite meanings); but it also has a thesaurus (a collection of words with similar meanings). In addition, it will actually pronounce the words for you. ON-LINE ENCYCLOPEDIAS The next two links go to on-line encyclopedias that can be used as a source of information for most any subject or person of renown. THE BIBLE GATEWAY The next link takes you to the BIBLE GATEWAY site which has a wealth of Biblical helps. It's primary focus is on different translations and versions of the Bible. However, if you will search through the site, you will also find various helps. CHART OF THE AGES The next link is an on-line CHART OF THE AGES of the Bible. It can be used on-line or printed out and kept with your Bible. This chart is a powerful tool for "rightly dividing the Word of Truth" for it will help you to place Biblical characters and/or events on a time line and to understand the "dispensations" involved. ON-LINE STUDY BIBLES The next two links, the BLUE LETTER BIBLE and the BIBLE STUDY, are actually on-line libraries of Bibles and Bible related books. BLUE LETTER BIBLE Like the BIBLE GATEWAY, there are two ways to search THE BLUE LETTER BIBLE: i.e., you can search for chapter and verse or you can search for words and phrases. To search for a verse or passage, type in the book and chapter. When the page comes up, you are given many options. For example,
On the left of each verse of Scripture you are given links labeled K, C, L, I, V, D. These are especially helpful because: K links you to other verses/passages that are related to the verse you are reading. C takes you to the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance with the Greek and Hebrew. L goes to a list of other men's thoughts. However, I would recommend that you give the Lord opportunity to speak to your spirit before letting another man influence you. The Apostle John wrote: "...the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him" (I Jn. 2:27). I know that God calls men and women to teach His Word, but I also know that there is a lot of silliness being taught in the name of the Lord. I , when available, contains images and maps. V goes to other versions or translations. D takes you to a wealth of dictionary aids. Also, you'll notice that the the book, chapter and verse before each verse is underlined. This will take you to another page where you can choose from a list of commentaries. But as I've already said, I would go to these only after I was satisfied that I had gleaned on my own all that I could. BIBLE STUDY The BIBLE STUDY site has a different approach and it is especially good for pastors and those who have studied the Bible for a while. The introduction on the first page says: The KJV Bible with Strong's References (Includes links to Greek and Hebrew word definitions). The study page is in 3 parts:
I hope that you will take advantage of these space age tools that will allow you to search the Bible at your own speed with a minimum of hassle; and then share them with others. |
| Tjarko Wrote: Question-Comment: Hello Don, Hello Tjarko, Thanks for taking the time to WRAP with us. I visited your web page, but I had trouble getting my mind into it. Let me try to explain why. To my finite way of thinking, there are only only two kinds of religions and two types of worship in the earth--that is, there is God's and then there is man's. First, let's consider religion. The Dictionary defines religion as a personal set of or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices and/or a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith. It would seem that your beliefs would certain qualify as your "religion." I'm not sure just how your religion would rate with all of the other religions in the world. I suppose that if one were to look at a religion that is set up to do good, that it could be said to be better than a religion that causes hurt and grief. However, from the Bible's perspective, all religions in the world fit into the same classification: that is, they are man's attempts to appease or to please an unknown creator/god. But the Bible is also very clear and emphatic that God will not accept any worship that comes from man's religion--be it a self-developed religion or one that is perpetuated by indoctrination. Nevertheless, the Bible does speak of a "true religion," which we will look at after we consider the two kinds of worship in the world: i.e., self-willed worship and true worship. The first conflict of self-willed worship and true worship is recorded for us in the Book of Genesis.
In this passage we are told that Abel kept the flocks while Cain's job was to till the ground. We're also told that both men brought an offering to God; but that Abel's was accepted while Cain's was rejected. Of course, Abel's offering was accepted because it was a blood offering (which pointed forwarded to the spilled blood of Christ Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God); while Cain's was rejected because in disobedience, he brought the fruit of his own labors rather than the blood of an animal as commanded by God. We can also see in this passage the conflict between those who submit themselves to the will of God and those who want to force their will on God and on the rest of mankind. Cain was of the bully spirit of man-made religion--and prompted by rebellion, anger, pride, and jealousy; he even killed his own brother. Consequently, Cain now serves as a "type" of those who worship from a self-will who can be recognized because they will manifest one or more, if not all, of Cain's attributes--including the murder of those who disagree with their beliefs. Let's look, now, at what Jesus had to say about "true" worship. In this passage Jesus is at "Jacob's Well," speaking to a woman of Samaria. (Samaria was a city in close proximity to Jerusalem. Its people, though not of Abraham's seed, had adopted the Jewish form of religion--much to the Jews' chagrin. However, the Jews wanted nothing to do with their "inferior" neighbors, even though they were supposed to "evangelize" them [Num. 9:14; Num. 15:14]. The attitude of the Jews towards the Samaritans demonstrates how that the Jews' hearts were far from God and how that they had fallen into a self-styled worship [Mark 7:6].)
So, there is only one type of worship that God will accept! He requires that men and women worship Him in "in spirit" and in truth. This can not be speaking solely of the spirit of man, for men of all religions worship in their spirits. It is speaking of the Holy Spirit which, in our age, limits the worship of God solely to those who have been "born again" and have become one in their spirits with Christ Jesus and God, His Father. And it goes without saying, if one is worshipping God in the Spirit, then he is worshipping in truth! Consider the following Scriptures.
And now, just as there is only one "true" worship, there is also only one "pure" religion.
But how can one practice this pure religion? It's simple. When one is born again of the Spirit of God, the Spirit takes residence in the believer's body so that he or she can walk in obedience to the Spirit and bring forth the "fruit of the Spirit" which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, and temperance (See Galatians 5). One might ask, if God is so selective in the religion and worship that He will accept, then how does one enter into this narrow way?
O.K., the way to please God is so restrictive that there is only ONE WAY; and that way is JESUS who became the DOOR to heaven by His death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. So how does one walk through this DOOR? First, there is an attitude...
And then there is repentance of sin, believing that Christ Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross for our sin and confession of that belief with our mouth..
I'm trying to find a way to cut this WRAP AROUND short, but I still want to give you some examples of people who were converted to Christianity so you can have a frame of reference. For you see, being born again is not a mental exercise or some emotional experience. It is actually an encounter with God which, by the way, is always initiated by God. I'll start first with some examples from the Bible. THE DAY OF PENTECOST The first believers to be born-again were Jews who had followed Christ while he walked the earth in His flesh form. After His resurrection from the dead and His return to be with His Father in Heaven, His close followers were all filled with the Holy Spirit at the event which is synonymous with the birth of the New Testament Church. (See Acts 2.) The conversion of these Jews and the subsequent birth of the Church was accompanied with signs that would later be used by the Holy Spirit to signify that the New Testament Church was to be for the Gentiles as well as Jews. This was accomplished in Acts the 10th chapter with the new birth of a Gentile named Cornelius which was accompanied with signs given at the birth of the Church. THE PHILIPPIAN JAILOR In the 16th chapter of Acts, we're told of the conversion of a Jailor from Philippi. In the account, Paul and Silas were whipped and put in a prison in stocks. As Paul and Silas were singing praises to God, there came a great earthquake which opened the prison doors and freed all the prisoners from their bonds. The jailor asked what he had to do to receive this Christ that they served who could free them in such a way. They Bible says: "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." The jailor and his whole house were saved and later baptized. There is nothing mentioned about any outward signs given at the time of their conversion. THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH In the 8th chapter of Acts, we're told that the Holy Spirit spoke to Philip, one of the Lord's disciples, and sent him into the desert to minister to a eunuch from Ethiopia who was sitting beside the road in his chariot reading from the Prophet Esaias. The eunuch was reading a prophecy about the passion and death of Christ on the Cross. Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading. The Eunuch said, No. Philip proceeded to tell him about God's plan of salvation and the eunuch was saved and then baptized in some nearby water; after which, "...the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:39b). THE APOSTLE PAUL Paul's conversion was this wise. Being a devout Jew who thought that Christ was not their Messiah, but an imposter; Paul (whose name had not yet been changed from Saul to Paul) was imprisoning and putting to death the early Christians. He was on his way to Damascus with a writ in his hand that gave him authority to capture Christians and take them to Jerusalem when the Lord Jesus appeared to him in a blinding light. The account of how he eventually got his sight back and how he was called to be a preacher for the Christ that he had been persecuting is found in the 9th chapter of Acts. THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING
The first example of souls being saved by the preaching of the Cross was on the day of Pentecost, the same day that the Church was founded. Peter preached the resurrected Jesus to the same Jews who had cried for His crucifixion and about 3,000 of them accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. (See Acts 2.) Since that time, only God knows the multitude of souls that have been converted by the "foolishness of preaching"; and when listening to the testimony of those converted, no two conversion experiences sound the same. Some conversions seem to be powerful and life changing while some seem to be sweet and gentle, filling the recipient with faith and love. And by the way, the conversion does not necessarily have to be at the time that Christ is preached. I know a brother who went home from a service but couldn't shake the message. Later that week, he was saved on a ladder in an orange tree as he reflected upon the sermon. MY OWN CONVERSION If you will, let me briefly share my own experience. I was raised in a small community that had two churches; and as a lad, every now and then I would attend their services. In fact, one of the Sunday School teachers talked me into memorizing John 3:16.
During this time, I had fallen in love with music and I dedicated myself to that love. I became proficient with my instrument and soon became a professional nightclub musician/entertainer. Sadly, that lifestyle was filled with opportunities to indulge in the sordid things of this life. After some six years of this existence, I learned that the promises of sin are nothing but a lie. The "fun" that sin promised only led to hurt for myself and those for whom I cared. With this realization also came the conviction that I was in trouble with my Maker and needed to somehow make amends. It was at this time that the seed planted in me as a youth (i.e., John 3:16) began to sprout. I knew I needed forgiveness and to me this was found in a church when you walked the aisle and confessed your sin. So, I went to a little country church close to the nightclub where we were playing and surrendered my life to Christ. There was no way I could be prepared for what happened next. I took one step out of my seat and the power and glory of heaven entered my being. It seemed that I floated the rest of the way down the aisle. I had heard about Jesus and the Cross and about heaven; but now, like the songwriter put it, "heaven had come down and glory filled my soul." I tell you all of this to make a point; for you see, if you live and die by your religion, then you will have no one but yourself to speak up for you on the day that you stand before God and are judged for what you have done in this life. This presents a problem, for the Bible says: "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God" (Romans 3:19). Let me close with these words from a song that the Lord has given to our family. WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR ME TO CROSS DEATH'S CHILLY SEA. WHEN THERE'S NO HELP FROM MAN WHO CAN STAND BY ME? OUR GOD IS ABLE, OUR GOD IS ABLE. AND AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF GOD WILL THERE BE ONE WHO CAN SAY "FOR HIM I SHED MY BLOOD, HE'S MINE, THE DEBT IS PAID"? OUR GOD IS ABLE, OUR GOD IS ABLE. YES, OUR SAVIOR IS ABLE, WILLING AND ABLE. P.S.
Yours in Christ, Don |
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