Dear One,
In the next two decades, more souls will come into the Kingdom of God than have since the day of Pentecost! Are you prepared and positioned to help bring in the harvest?
Please join us for our first ever FIRE HOUSE – EVERY COMMUNITY NEEDS ONE! – CHURCH CONFERENCE in Laguna Niguel CA August 30-31st! We have an amazing lineup of speakers: the young evangelist (and new mother) Courtney Stubbs; the ‘bearded prophet’ Adam Wittenberg from IHOPKC; and the international evangelists Hamilton and Helena Filmalter. Our hosts are our own Revs. Carl and Gabi Madison!
David Cranfill from Kingdom Flame Ministries will be live streaming the conference.
You have two options:
JOIN US LIVE! or LIVE STREAM THE CONFERENCE! by registering at lightbearers-ministries.com/
Be there! KRP
THE SPIRIT FILLED BELIEVER
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Cor 2:4-5 NKJV
WHAT’S AT STAKE
The purpose of the gifts of the Spirit is to demonstrate with scientific accuracy the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Considering the fact that perhaps only 14% of the world’s population are born again ones – do you realize the fact that more people could go to hell in our lifetime than have ever gone since Adam and Eve? – the great need is for every born again one to be fully capable to demonstrate in unimpeachable terms the reality of the Resurrection.
Now, it is easy to make the demonstration, if you are instructed in, and actively pursue, the gifts of the Spirit.
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled (Grk. PLETHO) with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31 NKJV
The setting sun filled the shed like structure while the believers poured in for the evening meeting. I noticed a dear one with a red blouse who was crawling in on crutches, as the Holy Spirit said, “You have an appointment with her later.” For what seemed like two hours I preached on the believer’s authority, as the light of Colemen lanterns chased the simmering shadows.
…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Phil 2:13 NKJV
Finally, it came time to pray for the sick. I turned to put my bible down and, turning around, the first one up was the girl in the red blouse. As I lay my hands upon her, with the pastor at my side to translate, I closed my eyes and began to see what BG Leonard called ‘bone theater.’ Against a red background I saw that the small of her back had a problem. I commanded the small of the back to be healed. Instantly, my background changed from red to green. I opened my eyes. Tears were streaming down her cheeks with a big smile. I said, “Are you ready to walk?” She nodded, yes. I took her hands and stepped backward. With that first step, she began to walk, and walk, and walk!
The tragedy of the night, in my mind, was when a pastor remarked later in the evening, “I’ve waited forty-five years to see the power of God like that!” The power of God is abundantly available to demonstrate the reality of the resurrection so that no one needs to wait.
Let’s develop our understanding of the theology of the Spirit filled believer. I’ve found over the years that when believers have two apparently opposite theological positions on the same subject that both have kernels of truth. On this subject, I may say that I am a Spirit filled believer because I speak in tongues and operate the gifts of the Spirit. Others may say that I am a Spirit filled believer but I do not operate any of those gifts, or even believe in them. Who is right? They both are!
DECHOMAI – LAMBANO – PLEROO – PLETHO
Here are two words that are translated ‘receive,’ and two words that are translated ‘filled.’
DECHOMAI is used primarily of receiving inwardly without any obvious manifestation. LAMBANO is translated ‘receive’ as well, and primarily refers to manifesting or demonstrating what you have received inwardly. Compare these two verses…
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received (Grk. DECHOMAI – receive inwardly) the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive (Grk. LAMBANO – receive outwardly, manifest) the Holy Ghost: Acts 8:14-15 KJV
Two usages – one referring to inward reception, the other referring to manifesting outwardly what you have received inwardly. To LAMBANO the Holy Spirit you must first DECHOMAI Him, in salvation, and you can DECHOMAI Him but never LAMBANO Him. Do you see? Now, why don’t believers who have DECHOMAIed the Holy Spirit learn to LAMBANO Him and His gifts? Some do, but for those who don’t I think you can narrow it down to wrong teaching or ignorance.
It’s the same reality with PLEROO and PLETHO. One refers to being filled full, and the other refers to being filled to overflowing. One must be filled full first before you can overflow, but you can also be filled full but never overflow. With the Holy Spirit, the gifts are the overflowing fullness of the Spirit of which each believer is filled full.
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled (Grk. PLEROO – filled full) with the (fruit of the) Spirit, Eph 5:18-19 NKJV
And they were all filled (Grk. PLETHO – filled to overflowing) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues (the overflowing), as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4 NKJV
In Lightbearers we believe that everyone needs to be PLEROO, and to be PLETHO with the Holy Spirit, to DECHOMAI and LAMBANO the Holy Spirit. Do you dislike your neighbor? Then get him born again and they will be PLEROO with the Holy Spirit, and He will clean them up! Do you dislike your neighborhood? Then get everyone born again, and your neighborhood will be transformed. Get them PLETHO with the Holy Spirit, and even more blessings will flow!
Do you see it? If not, go back and go over it carefully, and read the references in your own bible.
GIFTS FOR DEMONSTRATION AND FOR SERVICE
God’s solution to the world’s problems is to GET EVERYONE BORN AGAIN! Forget all the lesser causes that beckon you for your time and effort. Don’t try to save the whales, get the humans born again!
Now, how can I PLETHO/LAMBANO the Holy Spirit, and use the gifts of the Spirit to help people get born again, thus solving the world’s problems?
Through the WORD OF WISDOM, I can get God’s strategies on how to get people born again. One ladies pastor commanded her to plant house churches on each floor of the high rise building she lived in. She asked the Holy Spirit, “How can I do that?” The Holy Spirit said, “How do people get to their homes?” “Through the elevator!” she replied. “Then ride the elevator each day for an hour, and greet the people!” Within weeks she had planted house churches on each floor of the high rise.
Through the WORD OF KNOWLEDGE, I can get God’s practical advice on how to receive the promises of God in my life and others. One time I had promised a young man in our church that I would help him start a window cleaning business. One day, driving into town, the Lord told me to go to a certain business on a certain street. Long story shortened …the next day the young man had twenty two accounts with which to start his business! Another time, a man came to me and told me that they were barren. I prayed with him. Shortly after, as I walked to my room, the Lord told me He would give them children, and I was to walk with them through the process. After twenty-four years of waiting, they had fraternal twins and the boy was named after his ’uncle Kevin!’
Through FAITH, I can believe for the impossible, thus demonstrating the limitless of my God, and get people born again.
Through GIFTS OF HEALINGS, I can bring the compassion of Jesus to a sick and dying world and get people born again. One time a Hindu woman came to the Bible college where we were teaching. She was in extreme arthritic pain. Jesus came and healed her through me, and then she received Him as Savior, and got born again. I tell you; this stuff works!
Through the WORKING OF MIRACLES, we demonstrate the God who knows no bounds, and give people the evidence of the resurrection of Jesus, getting them born again.
Through PROPHECY, we speak by the Spirit of God and release faith, so that people CAN see that God is alive today. One time I laid hands on a dear old woman after church, who had come for prayer. The Holy Spirit said, “She wants to get married!” I opened my eyes, looked at her, and said, “Do you want to get married?” She grinned at me! “I’m going to pray this man into your life!” She left church, and stood in line at a restaurant. Behind her stood an old, retired pastor. Three months later, on my birthday, they were married…
Through DISCERNING OF SPIRITS, I can more fully discern the presence of the Holy Spirit, and following what He is doing, and lead people to salvation, thus positioning them to solve their problems.
Through DIVERSE KINDS OF TONGUES, I can pray by the Spirit of God, and see such great fruit in my life. I can get answers to prayer so much more easily. I can get built up in my spirit, and have faith renewed and enlivened in my soul, and even get quickened in my physical body. Oh, the innumerable benefits of praying by the Spirit of God!
Through the INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES, I can effectively hear from God and minister to others. It’s so glorious! One time I was in a meeting where one man spoke in tongues, another man interpreted, both with no knowledge of each other’s language, and a third man was there who understood both languages. He testified that what the first man spoke, the second man spoke as well, in interpretation in his own language. We were shocked and edified. I tell you; our God is real!
Every born again one needs to be filled and overflowing with the Spirit. We can quickly solve the world’s problems through the gifts of the Spirit by getting key ones born again, which may lead to getting everyone in the family of God. Have problems with anyone? Get them really born again, and watch the Holy Spirit work! You can do this because you are a Spirit filled believer…love you!
Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…