Growth Only Comes One Way
Pastor J. R. Wilhite, author
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As with many of the studies you have read they started out as a study I gave to my off-line ministry staff. Malachi 4 (KJV) 1. For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2. But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as fat (anointed) of the stall. Remember the word Christ in English means anoint(ed)(ing). To be anointed is to have the Spirit of God, in, on and all through out you. 3. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. 4. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I comanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: {We know John the Baptist came to make way the path for Jesus. John came in the spirit of Elijah.} 6. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the sons, and the heart of the sons to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Remember in every word of the Bible there is a physical and a Spiritual meaning. In verse 6:
John 3 (KJV)
3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
We are all born of woman in water, and we are mostly composed of water. Therefore, Jesus was stating that this is only for mankind; not for Satan or fallen angels. This means only those first born of woman. In addition, the only authority here is of mankind. We allow Satan authority, and we give Satan power. Without us, he has neither authority nor power.
To be saved (born again), you must first be born of woman; but then you must be born again of the Spirit. Even John the Baptist knew that Baptism of the Spirit had to take place. Most misunderstand this by not remembering that John did not come after Jesus but before. Jesus, not John, was the final, on all subjects.
Matthew 3 (KJV)
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:
Acts 1 (KJV)
5. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
2 Thessalonians 2 (KJV)
{That, which restrains the antichrist and evil in general, is the Spirit of God. This is because the power of God is in Christ; and Christ is the Spirit of God in, on, and through us.}
1 Corinthians 1 (KJV)
24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Understand that for the antichrist to be revealed, for the antichrist to have power and do what he will come to do, the power must be removed. Now imagine how wicked the worse parts of this world are now with the Spirit of God here. Imagine how wicked it will be when that which restrains is removed.
Time Line:
The first 3.5 years of tribulation is man ruling man without God (via the antichrist). During this time, there will still be time for those, who have not repented, to do so. Then, for those extremely stubborn people, who do not get it in the first 3.5 years, Satan will be allowed to rule man without God.
What I mean by "get it" is that God uses tribulation to show mankind how it would be without God; so, mankind can make the right choice. However, since some are more stubborn than others are, it takes a bigger "2 by 4" to get their attention.
2 Thessalonians 2 (KJV)
7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The truth can only be found via the Holy Spirit, not by man. No man or woman alive can reveal to you the truth; that can only be done via the Holy Spirit. This requires a one-on-one relationship with God. Without this one-on-one relationship, you have no idea who or what anyone really is.
John 15 (KJV)
26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Do not be fooled as so many have been over time. Remember how many Germans were fooled by Hitler? Do you remember those, who followed Jim Jones to Africa…and died? Also, do not forget Waco and how many died their believing a man.
You cannot believe even what you are reading; no, not even me All you can do is ask God to verify it…as truth or lie. If it is lie, you cast it down; if it is truth, you embrace it. NEVERTHELESS, NEVER BELIEVE WITHOUT VERIFING!
2 Corinthians 10 (KJV)
3. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4. (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
I would recomend highly that any, who do not hear from God, start now. Yes, that is right…I mean actually hear His voice. To do this, you must dedicate 30 minutes every single day to listening to Him until you actually hear Him. Find a place that is quiet and free of distractions; and ask Him to help you hear His voice. Then, do it daily, no matter how long it takes, until you do hear His voice. Then verify it is God and not Satan.
1 John 4 (KJV)
1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
It takes some people on a few days; for others, it takes months. It does not matter how long it takes as long, as you do it. It is worth the wait. Now what options do you have?
Continue as you are and possibly fall away and end up in Hell; or hear from God, and know?
What will you know?
When you hear Him call you His child (as it is stated in Romans 8:16), any doubt of your salvation will be gone for good... no matter how small or large it was. In addition, at that point you just start growing. However, you never really grow until then; it is like doing kindergarten repeatedly just from different angles.
2-26-04 H.O.M.E.