from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church http://bit.ly/2F7gL7H
via IFTTT Demonstration of the Spirit and of power, not persuasive words of wisdom. Does your church follow this example? Everywhere the apostles went, the Spirit of God manifest Himself in demonstration of power. What are these manifestations of power? They are listed later in the letters from Paul to this same church. Sadly, today we seem to have mostly moved away from the power of the Spirit and ask people to rest their faith on words of wisdom. Why? There is a variety of reasons, most not good. I grew up watching such demonstrations of power. As a teenager, I witnessed weekly or even daily miracles of all types. Healing, deliverance, words directly from Heaven, authority over evil, etc. It was a regular occurrence. It was commonplace. In the beginning these acts of God drew in people. "This is real!" Was the cry. Things were happening! Not just Bible teaching, but God was moving and proving Himself. Then, it changed. The constantly evil heart of man started looking for and praising the miracles more than the miracle worker. Men started thinking they possessed some supernatural power at their command. People craved the signs more than the sign giver. Greed, selfishness, idol worship. And the result? God quit. The signs and wonders quit. The miracles quit. So man decided to "keep it going" under his own power. Preaching, words of wisdom. Some even cheated and started fooling people to appear to still be walking in God's power. But it was a lie. Today we see the fruits of that lie. Big ministries rooted in cash flow and promises of blessing, not cross carrying. People who are no more sanctified than their neighbor, people who claim to be Christian but live like pagens. So now what? We live today in the aftermath of all this. Just like Israel. They were mightly blessed, but went astray. God left and they were defeated, exhiled until their hearts returned to God. Then they had to return and rebuild what once was. Today is that day. The church in America must rebuild. The people are hurting, suffering, desperate to find the truth, a touch from God. The hunger is back, the city now needs to be rebuilt. All across America there are small pockets of truth sweeping over the land. A call to return to the message of the cross, to lay aside the eloquent preaching of man and rely on the Holy Spirit and power. The city is being rebuilt. Soon, once again we shall see demonstrations of the Spirit and power at the center of the church, but God first must change hearts so that this new generation does not fall into the same trap of pride and sin. God is working on the exhiles, preparing us for the days ahead of building, of returning, of seeking God and His holiness first. What a glorious day! Pray that it come quickly, that our hearts are made ready, the harvest is ready, waiting for workers. It is time. Storm clouds are gathering threatening to wipe out the harvest. The stage is set. What will you do? Pray, seek to be ready. Submit your heart to the refining fire of the Holy Spirit. Lay aside all the entertainment, fleshy desires, world passions for money and pleasure. Ask God to make you ready to be a conduit of power from heaven to your neighbors. Seek Him first and all these things shall be added to you. Demonstrations of Spirit and of power.
