Sunday, December 15, 2013

Melody's Goodbye Note

I'm taking off for Southeast Asia!

Dear Friends and Readers, 

It is December 15 and it looks like my daily Morning Sonshine posts are about to come to an end, at least for now! Chelsey may continue to post here and there, but since I'm going overseas, I will not have e-mail access as much. So I simply cannot keep the blog going on a daily basis.  I return the end of January, so my hope is that come February I will start posting a "devotional thought" once a week….rather than once a day! ;-) 

I made the challenge to myself at the beginning of the year to post daily, but obviously I've had so much going on that I haven't been able to manage. Praise the Lord for Chelsey! ;-) She's added a different flavor and some great insights. 

Please pray for me while I'm overseas. I've pushed myself over the limit so am currently struggling with a bad head-cold which I'm hoping will not worsen during the next 24 hours of travel. Bangladesh has had some political struggles and uprisings this fall, so it's not as safe to travel here as in times past. But I'm not worried as I know that God is with me and He will take care of me! However, I still appreciate the prayers.

I'm taking 6 suitcases with me (4 pieces more than normal) so praying that I can get them all on the plane without paying an arm and a leg per extra piece. I would appreciate prayers for this as well. I'm taking lots of supplies, Bible and teaching materials, sanctuary model kit, warm clothes for the children, toys for Christmas, special food the kitchen asked for, and much more and have over-expended myself in the process. So if any of you would like to help me cover expenses for this trip, just e-mail and I'll tell you how. Some of you have already given funds toward this trip. Thank you soooo much! 

Some may question why I'm taking so much stuff…the reason is that it's hard to get a lot of this stuff overseas. I asked the founder how much extra luggage she takes when she travels and she said like 15 bags!!! Wow!! So I'm only taking 4 extra bags! But since I'm traveling alone, managing all my luggage could get interesting. So I solicit all the prayers I can get during this journey. 

Once I arrive in Bangladesh, I will be there a day then I travel for 5 days to Nepal to speak to church leaders about the power of United Prayer. I will be doing prayer training there. So pray about this as well! ;-) There's a lot that I need to be thinking and praying about between here and there!

If you wish to reach me personally, you can e-mail me at: revivethemission@gmail.com

I'm expecting great things from God on this trip! It will be an adventure, but I'm praying that God will use my feeble efforts to make an impact for eternity. I'm praying He will do this for all of us actually!

“The Lord is disappointed when His people place a low estimate upon themselves. He desires His chosen heritage to value themselves according to the price He has placed upon them. God wanted them, else He would not have sent His Son on such an expensive errand to redeem them. He has a use for them, and He is well pleased when they make the very highest demands upon Him, that they may glorify His name. They may expect large things if they have faith in His promises.Desire of Ages, p. 668


Thanks again for the prayers and to those of you who have written and let me know that you are praying. It means a lot. 

I will return end of January 2014. If I'm able to post anything between now and then, I will, otherwise, I will e-mail Chelsey and ask her to post. 

Blessings,
Melody

PS: Attached are pictures of my last trip to Bangladesh. This will be my 4th time to visit this country! It's one of the poorest and most populated countries in the 10/40 window. But even here, Jesus has people shining as lights for Him. I'm privileged to get to spend the next 6 weeks in this part of Asia!


Saturday, December 14, 2013

Let's FINISH the work!


We profess to be people of the Bible looking for our Lord’s soon coming. If this is true, we can no longer do business as usual. We can no longer do ministry as usual. We can no longer live our lives and build our careers as usual. We can no longer pray and study our Sabbath school lesson as usual. We cannot plan to be here for another 25 or 50 years as others do. We are not here on earth just to work, but to finish God’s work.

You know, there is a difference. When many people work, they often don’t worry if the work is finished or not. They are just on the job to put in their hours, and then they clock out and go home. But when our goal is to finish the work, we have a specific target. And everything we have in life is put on the line for the accomplishment of this goal. With or without a paycheck, we are here to see the task completed. We will keep moving forward, faithful to the finish line!

The greatest need of the church today is not more programs; it’s not more finances, not more institutions, not more media ministries or publishing houses, as important as all these things are. Our greatest need, our most urgent need, our most pressing need, is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Zechariah the prophet states, “’Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Zech. 4:6).

Time is running out. Probation is about to close. Let’s put away all “Christian pretense” and get serious about our calling. We waste much too much time in needless talk about superficial trivialities when we could be praying or working for the Lord. We only have a short time granted us. Let’s not waste another moment.  

Joel 2:17-18 says, “Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.”

Friday, December 13, 2013

Are you ready to go to TRIAL for your faith???


At ARME, one of the highlights on Sabbath is the "Mock Trial" that we hold. We ask people to defend their beliefs based on the Bible alone. It's inspiring and challenging and it helps everyone recognize their great need. 











We are told: "None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God’s immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?" Great Controversy, p. 593











Thankfully though, we don't have to defend ourselves if we've given our heart to Christ. He stands for us! He is our judge, but He's also our defender… 











My friend Dawn just sent this beautiful quote.

"We may reach up to Jesus Christ who is our Advocate in the heavenly courts. We need a friend at court. We have been sinning, been disobedient, been transgressors, and it is of the highest consequence to us that we have a Friend at court to plead our cases to the Father. He says, "If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto Me." Well, will all be drawn? Christ draws but will they respond to the drawing? Will they come? The invitation here in Revelation is this: " And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17). This Day With God, p. 223

Let's look up in Thankfulness that the Heavenly Judge is also our DEFENDER today! ;-)

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Our INEXHAUSTIBLE Storehouse…

This is Melody here and I'm back for a post or two before I leave for Bangladesh and Nepal. This past week I was in Florida with our team hosting our 17th ARME Bible Camp. (Can't believe we've had that many now!) God blessed us so abundantly, as usual. I could share testimony after testimony. However, for now this will be brief as I share my own…

This past month (actually the whole fall) has been a non-stop marathon for me-as you've probably guessed. That's why I've not been posting as much as I have been working on multiple projects and deadlines as well as trying to get ready for ARME and for Bangladesh. It's been one thing after another with no room for anything extra. Days have been long, nights short as you would expect. So arriving in Florida for our next ARMe, I was exhausted. Our pre-camp team was also smaller than usual. However, God is amazing! Not only did He help us have a wonderful event, but He really sustained me and gave me strength. 

Thursday night we hosted our all-night season of prayer. I told the Lord, "I don't have strength to even be here let alone help lead our all-night prayer. I really need you to help me and carry me if I'm to do this!" 

Well, you know what? God did it! He not only took away the headache that I'd been struggling with, but He gave me a clear mind and strength. I didn't feel tired at all, and we prayed for everyone that needed prayer. It was so powerful! After the night was over, I could only look up in wonder and awe! "God, you're amazing! Truly your strength is made perfect in our weakness."

Here's a quote that I think is especially fitting that I wanted to share. 

"We have an inexhaustible storehouse, an ocean of love in the God of our salvation. He has placed in the hands of Christ all the treasures of the heavenly resources and says, "All these are for man, in order to convince fallen, sinful man of My love!" That I May Know Him, p. 338 

So if you find yourself exhausted in ministry, or even exhausted in your family every day life…it's okay. But remember that our God has inexhaustible resources. So if you look to Him, He will supply and He will carry you through! Let's stop killing ourselves and trying to do it alone! Only with His strength can our weakness be made perfect. :-)

Note: Janet Page, my friend Ranela and I will be on 3ABN LIVE tonight (Dec. 12th, 2013) at 8-10pm Central time sharing ministry testimonies. Tune in if you can! Or you can watch online by clicking HERE!

Friday, December 06, 2013

How to NOT MISS the Latter Rain!


Do you feel a lack of spiritual power in your life and long for a Holy Spirit outpouring?

The Bible speaks about an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that is to come in the last days. “I will pour my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” Joel 2:28,29

Of course, we should pray as earnestly for the descent of the Holy Spirit as the disciples prayed on the day of Pentecost. If they needed it at that time, we need it more today. Yes, we need this gift more, so much more today!  However, just because we know it's coming, and just because we need it doesn't mean we are going to get it! Have you ever stopped to think about this?

Inspiration tells us:

“Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.”[i]

So let's not delay! While we cannot ever make ourselves pure and while we cannot ever be good enough to "earn" our salvation, much less earn the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, if we continue day by day to surrender to Christ, yielding up our selfishness and our sins and asking to be covered in His robe of righteous…when that outpouring comes, we will be ready! Why, because we've been yielding and allowing Him to change our hearts day by day. 




[i] Last Day Events, p. 195


Thursday, December 05, 2013

What's all the excitement about the Latter Rain anyway?


Unfortunately, a lot of misunderstanding exists today in regard to the person and work of the Holy Spirit—even in the church. Many do not understand the difference between the former and the latter rain—let alone what it means to be truly baptized by the Holy Spirit. So let’s review these terms. Each is profoundly significant.

In the Bible, God uses the illustration of the “former and latter rain” in successful harvesting of crops to represent the successful work of the Holy Spirit in our life. For example, in Bible times, just as today, the gentle rain of springtime was necessary to help the planted seed germinate and grow. This was the “former rain.” And so it is with us. When we first recognize our need of a Savior and come to Him in repentance, seeking forgiveness of sin and the gift of salvation, it is evident that the “former rain” is falling upon us, for the seed of God’s Word is coming to life in our heart. True biblical conversion is the result of receiving the “former rain.”

However, it was the latter rain that ripened the fruit so that it was ready to eat. In other words, the “latter rain” was necessary to bring an abundant harvest at the end of the growing season (See Duet. 11:14). Thus at the end of time a great corporate “latter rain” will fall on God’s people—those with whom the initial seed has already sprung up—completing the work of the Spirit in the believer’s life and preparing him/her to be ready for Christ’s second coming. This “latter rain” outpouring will also enable Christ’s followers to go forth sharing the gospel with power and glory. It’s important to note though, that this “latter rain” outpouring will only fall on those that have already received the “former rain.” As Inspiration cautions us, “Unless the early showers have done their work, the latter rain can bring no seed to perfection.”[i]

We are told that many “expect that the lack [of current spiritual power in their lives] will be supplied by the latter rain. When the richest abundance of grace shall be bestowed, they intend to open their hearts to receive it. [But] they are making a terrible mistake. [Even now] the heart must be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now.”[ii]

Let’s pause a moment. We don’t want to miss this significant point!

While there is a distinct “former rain” that happens at spiritual birth, it is obvious that there has to be a continual filling or indwelling of the Spirit in our lives day-by-day if we are going to be prepared for the coming latter rain outpouring predicted in Joel and Acts. As a result of this understanding, the question begs to be asked: Are we personally—individually—asking for and receiving this daily baptism of the Holy Spirit?  Are we ready for the Latter Rain to come?

[To be continued… ;-)]



[i] Testimonies to Ministers, p. 507
[ii] Testimonies to Ministers, p. 507

Wednesday, December 04, 2013

So what about us? Did we miss the boat?

If you've read the last two blog posts, you might be asking yourself the question: “Did Moody and Finney receive some magical supernatural outpouring that only a few have access to?” 

No, of course not! But the problem is, we read stories like his (and others like Charles Spurgeon, Evan Roberts, William Miller, and others) and we think, “Since I obviously have not heard a voice speaking to me, experienced meeting Jesus face to face, and am not accomplishing what they accomplished--winning thousands to the Lord, I must not yet have received that baptism of the Holy Spirit.”

This assumption is natural, but it is wrong!

God has called all of us to be His witnesses. And it’s quite clear, since His power is limitless, that there is much much more that He could do and would do in our lives if we were truly completely surrendered to Him. However, keep in mind that we are not all called to the stage as famous evangelist. We are called to be faithful in the field, or in the corner, where we are—right now. If we are faithful where God has placed us right now, and if we are daily seeking to abide in Christ and are examining our hearts asking, “Is there anything between me and the Savior,” and making changes in our life as the Holy Spirit leads, while there may not be huge fireworks and Holy Spirit drama, we have received that Holy Spirit Baptism. God will continue to use us and expand our influence. We may end up on the stage, or we may work behind the scenes, but still, God is working through us and He will guide and bless our steps if we keep surrendering day-by-day to Him.

Understanding that we aren’t all called to be Peter’s or Paul’s, or Finney’s, doesn’t mean we should stop seeking for more of the Holy Spirit though. Remember, God has given everyone a measure—at least everyone that believes. But we don’t want just a measure of His Holy Spirit! We want His fullness! So we never stop asking. We never stop seeking. God has much more that He longs to do in our lives today. In our lives, the feelings may come and go, but we move forward based on the facts of God’s Word, trusting in His unchanging truth. As we do this, we will receive fresh supplies of grace to meet our daily needs and His daily commands.

After Finney’s conversion, he continued to seek the Holy Spirit’s filling daily, recognizing that it was only through the Holy Spirit’s continual presence that he could continue to work. He was a humble man, and a believer in prayer, and attributed his success in ministry to his disabled prayer partner Abel Clarey, who prayed for him during each meeting, and often went into an area to pray before Finney arrived.

Later, near the end of Finney’s ministry, he had another personal outpouring. But it wasn’t so much outward as it was inward. Describing this experience in his Memoirs, he wrote:

“The Lord gave my own soul a very thorough overhauling, and a fresh baptism of His Spirit…I gave myself a great deal to prayer. After my evening services, I would retire as early as I well could; but rose at four o’clock in the morning, because I could not sleep longer, and immediately went to the study and engaged in prayer…my days were spent in searching the Scriptures; I read nothing all that winter but my Bible, and a great deal of it seemed new to me…the whole Scripture seemed to be ablaze with light, and not only light, but it seemed as if God’s Word was instinct with the very life of God.” V. Raymond Edman, They Found the Secret, p. 69

So let us admire what God did thru men like Finney. Let's not pitch our tent. But at the same time, rather than thinking we need to see fire-works and massive evangelism explosion, let's seek to follow God faithfully TODAY….right where we are!

[This excerpt is copyrighted material taken from our upcoming book: Daring to Ask for More: Divine Keys to Answered Prayer and Successful Ministry]

Tuesday, December 03, 2013

From Law Clerk to Powerful Preacher

Today I'm sharing one more excerpt straight from our upcoming book: Daring to Ask for More: Divine Keys to Answered Prayer and Successful Ministry. I think this story of how the Holy Spirit was poured out in one life will inspire you!


From Law Clerk to Powerful Preacher
Another well-known evangelist, perhaps one of the most iconic figures in American religious history is that of Charles G. Finney. Although born in the early 1800’s, before Dwight L. Moody, he has a similar testimony—and may have even been an influential figure in Moody’s conversion.

Dr. Ron Clouzet, in his book Adventism’s Greatest Need, shares Finney’s story.[i]

At the age of 26, Charles Finney was “almost as ignorant of religion as a heathen.” He owned a Bible and attended church, but he didn’t understand the sermons and he wasn’t sure that he believed in prayer because he didn’t see many answers. However, one thing he did know, and that was that he was a sinner and needed salvation.

Determined to give his heart to the Lord and receive salvation, he began reading his Bible and wrestling with the Lord in prayer. Within a few days, feeling no sign of blessing and thinking he may be lost, he was close to despair. Not long after, an inner voice challenged him. “What are you trying to do? Are you trying to work out your righteousness on your own? Did you not promise to give your heart to God? What are you waiting for?”

At this moment, Finney’s mind opened “like a thousand windows to the sunlight” and he was able to see the reality and fullness of the atonement and that salvation was an “offer to be accepted,” not something he could ever earn. With joy, he told God, “Yes, I will accept your gift today or I will die in the attempt!”

Rushing to a nearby wooded area, he began to pray. However, self-conscious lest someone might hear him, he felt restrained. Finally, recognizing his pride, he poured out his heart to God in deep consternation and repentance, begging His forgiveness.

At once the promise came to him, “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:12,13).

In Finney’s own words he recounts, “I instantly seized hold of this with my heart. I had intellectually believed the Bible before, but never had the truth been in my mind that faith was a voluntary trust instead of an intellectual state…I cried to Him, ‘Lord, I take thee at Thy Word.’”[ii]

Recognizing that God does not lie, He knew God had heard his prayer, and in peace, he finally returned to work.

Later that evening, back in his room at the office, where he worked as a law clerk, Finney met the Lord face to face. Describing the experience, he later wrote:

“There was no fire, and no light, in the room; nevertheless it appeared to me as if it was perfectly light. As I went in and shut the door after me, it seemed as if I met the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. It did not occur to me then, nor did it for some time afterward, that it was wholly a mental state. On the contrary, it seemed to me that I saw Him as I would see any other man. He said nothing, but looked at me in such a manner as to break me right down at his feet. I have always since regarded this as a most remarkable state of mind; for it seemed to me a reality, that He stood before me, and I fell down at His feet and poured out my soul to Him. I wept aloud like a child, and made such confessions as I could with a chocked utterance. It seemed to me that I bathed His feet with my tears; and yet I had no distinct impression that I touched Him.”[iii]

While the experience may have seemed like just a figment of his imagination, the reality of what happened that day—both in the woods and in his bedroom—was far from imaginary. Finney was a changed man, a surrendered man, and a Holy Spirit filled man, and as a result, his life began to bear fruit for the kingdom with astounding success.

The day following his conversion, he spoke with many of his friends and neighbors, and every one of them was soon converted. In fact, upon Finney asking the blessing over a meal, a young unbeliever at the table was so convicted of his sins that he fled to his room and came out the next morning a converted man.

Everywhere he went, the Holy Spirit followed him, bringing power to his words and changing hearts. At first he just preached in little schoolhouses and country churches, but soon his influence was felt more wide spread. While Finney’s “powerful preaching against sin and his stirring presentation of the claims of Christ” seemed overboard and harsh to some, in reality he was a man of tears and tender spirit. As a result, thousands came to Christ.

A convert in Rochester, New York, left a description of Finney’s revival ministry in that city in which more than a hundred thousand came to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus within one year. In his own words, this new convert writes the following:

“The whole community was stirred. Religion was the topic of conversation, in the house, in the shop, in the office, and on the street…The only theater in the city was converted into a livery stable; the only circus into a soap and candle factory. Grog shops were closed; the Sabbath was honored; the sanctuaries were thronged with happy worshipers; a new impulse was given to every philanthropic enterprise; the fountains of benevolence were opened, and men lived to do good. It is worthy of special notice that a very large number of leading men of the place were among the converts—lawyers, the judges, physicians, merchants, bankers, and master mechanics. These classes were more moved from the very first more than any other. Tall oaks were bowed as by the blast of the hurricane. Skeptics and scoffers were brought in, and a large number of the most promising young men…The whole character of the city was changed by that revival.”[iv]

Charles Finney spent over thirty years preaching, praying, and seeing thousands converted as he traveled up and down through the different towns in New York. In Boston, 50,000 accepted Christ in one week alone. In fact, the Holy Spirit was so notably a part of his life and ministry, that it was even reported that some gave their heart to Christ as the train went by in which Finney happened to be traveling. Estimates say that he was responsible for a half a million conversions during his lifetime.

Finney's story is true remarkable! But what about us? What if we haven't met Jesus face to face? What if we don't feel like we've received the fire? 

Well…I'll address this topic tomorrow! So come back next time for more Morning Sonshine! ;-)




[i] Ron E.M. Clouzet, Adventism’s Greatest Need, p. 113-115
[ii] Helen Wessel, ed. The Autobiography of Charles G. Finney (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1977), 8,10.
[iii] V. Raymond Edman, They found the Secret, p. 64-65
[iv] V. Raymond Edman, They found the Secret, p. 64-65

Monday, December 02, 2013

From Shoe salesman to Mighty Evangelist!


The next two days, I'm going to share excerpts straight from our upcoming book: Daring to Ask for More: Divine Keys to Answered Prayer and Successful Ministry. I think these stories will inspire you!

So what happens when one has that Holy Spirit outpouring in their lives?

While warm feelings and sensations may or may not be present at conversion, when one receives the Holy Spirit (the “former rain”) and continues to ask for the daily filling of the Holy Spirit, the desire to spread the gospel cannot be suppressed. It becomes the driving force in one’s life. As a result, God will cooperate with the weakest of human vessels in the grand task of giving the gospel to the world.

“Through the Spirit God works in His people ‘to will and to do of His good pleasure.’ Philippians 2:13. But many will not submit to this. They want to manage themselves. This is why they do not receive the heavenly gift. Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of God awaits their demand and reception. This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train. It is given according to the riches of the grace of Christ, and He is ready to supply every soul according to the capacity to receive.”[i]

Let’s look at a couple stories about how God worked mightily thru the lives of those that were willing to surrender all to Him.

From Shoe Salesman to Mighty Evangelist

During the wave of revival’s sweeping America in the mid 1800’s, we read about one young shoe salesman in Chicago who became converted. This young man had little education, but with great eagerness immediately went to work sharing the good news with anyone that would listen.  

So eager was he to share and help others come to knowledge of the truth that he went to the superintendent of the local Plymouth Congregational Church and asked if he might teach Sunday School. However, many also had the same eagerness to teach, and as a result, the superintendent told him, “I am sorry, young fellow. I have sixteen teachers too many, but I will put you on the waiting list.” So the young man went and got boys off the street and he took them to a beach on Lake Michigan where he taught them his own Sunday school class.

Eventually he was led to become an evangelist and began speaking to large audiences across America and the British Isles. Described by others as a “dynamo of feverish actively,” he appeared to be making an impact. Yet inside his heart, he felt that something was lacking. However, looking at his apparent success, he pushed the thoughts away.

Later on, while preaching some evangelistic meetings in Chicago, two godly older women began attending his services. As a result, they began to feel a deep burden for this young evangelist. Taking it upon themselves to pray, they began pleading with the Lord to baptize the young preacher with Holy Spirit power. Not long after, they approached him. “We are praying for you!” they told him. He smiled and replied, “Why don’t you pray for the people?” Their answer startled him. “Because you need power!”

I need power?” he thought to himself? “I though I had power.” At the time he was teaching at one of the largest congregations in Chicago. There were some conversions, and he felt satisfied. However, their statement deeply troubled him.

The two older women continued praying and not long after, the young evangelist invited them to his study. Right then and there, they all got down on their knees and the two women began pleading that God would send the Holy Spirit in fullness. As they prayed, the young evangelist began to cry as greater hunger for the Holy Spirit filled his heart. “I really felt [at that moment] that I did not want to live any longer if I could not have this power for service,” he later related.

While nothing significant happened that day, recognizing at last his deeper need, the young man continued to plead for the Holy Spirit’s outpouring. Time went on, and then one day he had an experience, which was so sacred that he could not speak of it for some time. “I can only say,” he later shared looking back, “that God revealed Himself to me, and I had such an experience of His love that I had to ask Him to stay His hand.”

The next time he went to preach, while the sermons were not different, the preacher was. “I did not present any new truths, and yet hundreds were converted,” he reported. As God’s Holy Spirit outpouring continued to flood his life and ministry, thousands flocked to hear his messages. Soon he was one of the most famous and sought after evangelists of his time.

Looking back, Dwight L. Moody often remembered with fondness the day the two older women first came to pray for him. While there was no sound of a mighty rushing wind in his study that day, he believed that this day was the turning point in his ministry—the day that he recognized his great need! His ministry went on to last for forty years and effectively reached tens of thousands for Christ.

Later when reflecting on the Holy Spirit’s outpouring in his life, he wrote, “God has got a good many children who have just barely got life, but not power for service. You might say safely, I think, without exaggeration, that nineteen out of every twenty of professed Christians are of no earthly account so far as building up Christ’s kingdom; but on the contrary they are standing right in the way, and the reason is because they have just got life and settled down, and have not sought for power.”[ii]

As Ellen White stated earlier, God sends the Holy Spirit, but only according to our capacity to receive. While the Holy Spirit has come in some measure into the life of all sincerely professing Christians, too many have grown content with their “first love” experience and have not continued asking for more! That’s why we are writing this book, challenging people not to be content with where they are, but to dare—and keep daring—to ask for more!

When describing the difference between Christians, Moody wrote:

“It seems to me we have got about three classes of Christians: the first class, in the 3rd chapter of John, were those who had got to Calvary and there got life. They believed on the Son and were saved, and there they rested satisfied. They did not seek anything higher. Then in the 4th chapter of John we come to a better class of Christians. There it was a well of living water bubbling up. There are a few of these, but they are not a hundredth part of the first class. But the best class is in the 7th chapter of John: ‘ Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’ That is the kind of Christian we ought to be.”[iii]

Although highly influential and sought after as a speaker, Dwight L. Moody remained humble throughout his life, continuing to pray daily for the Holy Spirit’s filling.

“Why do you keep praying to be full of the Holy Spirit when it’s obvious you already have it?” a young student reportedly asked him one day. “It’s because I leak.” Moody replied. “We are leaky vessels and we have to stay under the fountain all the time in order to keep full. If we are going to be used by God, we have to stay humble.”

There can be no genuine revival without a renewed passion for soul winning. When God does something in us, He will do something through us. When God does something for us, it is because God wants to do something with us. You see, like Peter, we too declare, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard,” as is related in Acts 4:20. With the apostle Paul we proclaim in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation.” And with the apostle John we cry out, “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you” (I John 1:3).



[i] Desire of Ages, p. 672
[ii] V. Raymond Edman, They Found the Secret, p. 103
[iii] V. Raymond Edman, They Found the Secret, p. 104

Sunday, December 01, 2013

So what is the Holy Spirit Baptism?


Now that we've talked about what the "Latter Rain" is all about (a specific outpouring of God's power at the end of time to help us finish the work and be prepared to meet Him), let's talk more specifically about what it means to receive the Holy Spirit baptism. This is a personal experience and we don't need to wait for the Latter Rain for this!

Unfortunately, there’s many confusing theories in Christianity regarding what it means to have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians equate receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit with ecstatic feelings and experiences: “Being slain in the Spirit,” having the “Gift of Tongues,” etc. For others, the idea of receiving the Holy Spirit is a very scary concept.  They don’t know what to expect and there is the fear that receiving the Spirit would put them out of control, kind of like being on a spiritual hallucinogenic drug. For a third group, receiving the Spirit is the Christian equivalent to becoming a spiritual superhero with supernatural powers. So what does it mean to receive the Holy Spirit baptism? Is it even something that we should seek?

Let’s look at what the Bible has to say.

First off, the Holy Spirit is what leads us into and convicts us of truth (see John 14:26; 16:13).  Discovering truth always happens through the medium of the Word of God (see John 17:17). Unfortunately, the acceptance of truth is not merely an intellectual process.  We have many emotional/psychological biases against it due to the love of sin, our pride and independence, or our esteemed traditions. Therefore, the Holy Spirit has to give us an additional “kick,” so that we have the ability to accept it (John 16:8-11). We receive the Holy Spirit when we understand, recognize, and grasp the importance of incorporating the Truths of God’s Word into our life. But it doesn’t stop here, we must act on this new understanding, and this is what sets us free from the deceptions and bondage of our sin(s).

The evidence that we have received the Baptism of the Spirit is the manifestation of the Fruit of the Spirit in our life.  Having the Fruit of the Spirit (not just one, but all) demonstrate that the Truth has indeed set us free (see John 8:32). 

In Galatians we read the following:

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, such as immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, magic arts, animosities, strife, jealousy, bad temper, outbreaks of selfishness, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousings and everything of the kind, of which I warn you as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Whereas the Holy Spirit demonstrates the Fruit of the Spirit: But the Spirit’s fruition is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, generosity, fidelity, gentleness, self-control. There is no law against these. Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal 5:19-24, MLB).

So in reality, when we ask for the Holy Spirit, we aren’t just asking for some supernatural outpouring of mystical power. Rather, we are asking that God will reveal to us our sinful spirit, our pride, our selfishness, and our weaknesses. We are asking that He will replace our natural sinful fruit of the flesh with His fruit of the Spirit.

You see, when we pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, what we are praying for is that our attitudes and thought processes will be radically and totally changed from that of the World.  We are praying for the mind of Christ to become our own. We are praying for His unselfishness, His love, His humility to replace our own sinful tendencies. 

Oftentimes, now days, when we pray for the Holy Spirit, our prayers turn into merely a repetition of the same request over and over again. “Please send us your Spirit! Lord we need your Spirit?” people pray. We need to pray this prayer, but we need to pray this prayer intelligently. Praying intelligently means that we are praying that the Spirit will have free reign in our life. Praying intelligently means that we are asking for the Holy Spirit to change us—our heart, thoughts, attitudes, habits, in short everything.

Some people think that when they receive the Holy Spirit, they receive the power of miracles.  They do receive power and it is a miracle! However the primary power that they receive is that their sinful, selfish, prideful human being can be made into something completely new—a body and heart that can fully manifest the power of God’s love!

So let's pray for this miracle today! :-)