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The Spirit In The Wheels! By Pastor Bill Taylor A publication of My Father's House, inc. Volume 10/ Issue 5 In the struggle to achieve Spirituality in the church and the lives of individual believers it isn’t enough to merely “preach” the Word, but the teaching and preaching must be re-enforced in such a way that guarantees the hearers are actually becoming doers. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. (2Tim4:1-2) Whenever it’s apparent that the hearers aren’t “doing” the preacher must turn to reproving, rebuking, exhortations and even chastenings lest his labor be in vain – for if the church doesn’t respond to the preaching with faith that works in the believer to actually become Christ-like, then it’s all in vain and a waste! For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. (1Th2:13) Most so-called “churches” today are accomplishing nothing because they don’t require “obedience” to the Word. They are hearers only deceiving themselves. But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he’s like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and isn’t a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (Jms1:22-25) The following message was delivered at “My Father’s House” during a time when the struggle to attain true Spirituality in the believers was very intense. And is presented as an example and lesson to all who desire to be part of a real church – who can’t settle for merely “hearing” the Word but must press in to become doers. In “My Father’s House” right now we’re experiencing something that has very much to do with the Romans 7 man who Paul says desires to do good. And here at “My Father’s House” those desires are often being expressed in pretty songs, poems and prayers. Now we can look at the song or poem and think how holy this person is; how beautiful their desire is so they must have a pure heart. But when the time comes to do, so often they don’t do right because their flesh isn’t crucified. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. (Rom7:19) So I see all the pretty things Ms. B says and then I see what she does. I see all the pretty things Ms. L says then I see what she does. I see all the pretty things that my wife Elie sings and says and then I see what she does. And I’m telling you it’s Romans 7. You can sing all these pretty things; have all these lovely desires to do good but when the rubber hits the road you behave like a devil because your flesh isn’t crucified. Now I know everybody wants Elie back in the church (she was removed for disobedience at this time) but right now I’m dealing with you people. God has Elie where He wants her; she’ll be well taken care of. Miriam was outside the camp for a week. (Num12:14) Elie will be outside at least a week. Whatever disappointment Elie has been to me, she’s done no worse than the rest of you have in your continual disobedience to the Spirit. Day after day you listen to the preaching. You pray and make holy promises to God. Then when it comes down to actually doing it you fail! The doing isn’t there. Every one of you is as bad as Elie and this all has to change! You must actually take hold of the Holy Spirit with all of your heart and stop fooling yourselves into thinking because you have holy desires that makes you good. Holy emotions is Romans 7 not Romans 8. Romans 7 is death. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Rom7:24) Walking in the Spirit is life. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be Spiritually minded is life and peace. (Rom8:6) Walking in the Spirit is Romans 8 and that’s what you must have to be a son of God. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Rom8:13-14) Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. (Ezek1:5-6) And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the Spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went. (Ezek1:12) Because they have four faces; one on each side they never have to turn but whenever they change course they are already facing in every direction so they go straight ahead. This is symbolic in that there’s no shadow of turning in God. Because God sees in every direction therefore whichever direction He’s moving in, He’s always moving straightforward; there’s no turning in Him. When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When those went, these went; when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. (Ezek1:19-21) When the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also did not turn from beside them. When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when one was lifted up, the other lifted itself up, for the spirit of the living creature was in them. (Ezek10:16-17) Ezekiel’s vision contains an extraordinary revelation concerning Spirituality. Here God shows us that whatever spirit you’re connected to you’ll do what that spirit does. So if you’re filled with the Spirit of Jesus what Jesus does you’ll do. When Jesus stands up you’ll stand up. When Jesus sits down you sit down. When He goes forward you go forward. You go the way He goes, say what He says, and do what He does. That’s the whole point of this passage. The wheels have the same spirit in them as the Cherubim, so whatever the Cherubim do the wheels do. The true Christian has the same Spirit in him as Christ does; so whatever Jesus does the Christian does. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. (Ezek36:27) You see what God says in this verse doesn’t just arise out of nowhere. God’s already shown us early in Ezekiel what effect a spirit will have when a spirit is in something. So it isn’t hard to see the whole answer to the problem of mankind’s disobedience to God is found in the proper application of God’s Spirit. If God can put the same Spirit in man that’s in God Himself then God’s Spirit will control man and man will be completely obedient. In the contemporary “churches” there’s been a great misunderstanding and even deception concerning Spirituality. Most so-called “Christians” today seem to think they can have Christ’s Spirit in them even while they’re in disobedience to God. They think they can have the Holy Spirit or Jesus Christ dwelling in them even though they aren’t holy in behavior and they’re not doing at all what Jesus does. Well that’s completely contrary to everything the scriptures indicate concerning Spirituality. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1Jn2:6) When you’re not doing what the will of the Lord is it’s because you don’t have the Spirit of the Lord and the way to correct your dysfunctionality is to get the Spirit. When you have the Holy Spirit you’ll do the will of God. So whenever you get rebuked, whenever you’re exposed as not having the light to be in agreement with what God’s doing it’s because you don’t have the Spirit and your repentance isn’t just to say you’re sorry for doing wrong but it must take you back to where you have a good hold on the Spirit and you’re now walking in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a gift and the gift of the Holy Spirit has already been given but have you received Him? Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Act2:33,38) And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. (Act10:45) If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God? (Act11:17) The Holy Spirit is Christ’s gift, given to and available to His obedient saints. (Act5:32) If you’re a true believer you should be asking for Him. “Shall not God give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?” (Lk11:13) If you’re a true believer it’s God’s will you should be walking in the Spirit. Walk in the Spirit, and you’ll not fulfill the lust of the flesh. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:16,25) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Rom8:14) The two great purposes in Jesus’ coming were first that our sins might be forgiven and second that we can have the Holy Spirit. John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Lk3:16) And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (Jn20:22) And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Act1:4,5,8) Then why should there be any lack of Christ’s Spirit in your life? If there’s a lack something is wrong with your faith! You must believe you receive the Spirit! Or is it you just aren’t paying attention to Him? You’re not keeping yourself conscious of Him. You’re not asking for Him, looking for Him, depending upon Him. How many scriptures do we already know concerning the importance of the ministries of the Holy Spirit in and to the true believers? He teaches us. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (Jn14:26) He strengthens us. Strengthened with all might by His Spirit in the inner man for all long suffering with joyfulness. (Eph3:16;Col 1:11) Keep yourself in the love of God, praying in the Spirit. (Jude20-21) The Spirit keeps you in God’s love. The love of God is shed abroad in our heart through the Holy Spirit. (Ro5:5) He who is born of God keeps Himself. (1Jn5:18) The one that’s born of God is born of the Spirit. (Jn3:6) Now unto Him who can keep you from stumbling. (Jude24) How do you think He’s going to do that? It’s the Spirit who’ll keep you from stumbling. We’re sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (Rom15:16) What is sanctification? A very real aspect of sanctification is the Spirit keeps your thoughts clean! When someone is evil surmising they’re certainly not sanctified. When people start thinking things that aren’t true of other people, they can’t be sanctified; their thoughts are infiltrated by demons and lies. When the Holy Spirit sanctifies you He keeps your heart and keeps your thoughts in a place where you’re useful to God. Virtually everyday the Holy Spirit gets me up at the proper time. I don’t use an alarm clock. And even if I take a nap before church, He gets me up in plenty of time. If I’m very, very tired, when I know that I have to get up in time to prepare for service, I can pray just before I take a nap and say, “Lord, You know I need to prepare so please get me up in time,” and He wakes me up an hour and a half before service; right on time. Who’s doing that? The Holy Spirit! You know one of my responsibilities is feeding the family, putting meals together so we’re not wasting food, wasting money, but we’re eating decent. The Spirit comes through with an excellent menu that uses up all the leftovers so nothing’s wasted. (Jn6:12) And concerning more Spiritual things – the Holy Spirit shows us when and where to witness, what to say – what to teach, preach, testify – when we need to reprove or rebuke; all these things and even how to pray as we ought. (Rom8:26) Everything in my life comes out of my relationship with God where the Holy Spirit shows me what to do. Recently I needed a seven hundred dollar paint job for the roof of my van and the Spirit showed me how to do a professional looking job for thirty bucks. Everything we need comes from Him. And the Holy Spirit is as available to you as He is to me according to your faith. Even so I’m not satisfied that I’m getting the fullness of what can be found in Him. Like Paul, I’m looking for more. That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (Phil 3:10-12) I want to know Him even better. But I also know this; I’m a lot more conscious of the Spirit than most of you are and it’s from that consciousness that I have the presence of the living God to lead and guide and help and strengthen and sanctify me and fill me with right thoughts. If you have the Spirit you’ll have the fruit to show it. And when you don’t have the fruit it’s because you don’t have the Spirit. I’m the vine, you’re the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (Jn15:5) And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. (1Jn3:24b) This is what true Christianity is about; it’s a Spiritual religion. If you aren’t taking advantage of these wonderful things the Holy Spirit has been given to do with you and for you, you’re wasting your Christianity because real Christianity, every bit of it, is all to do with the operation of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer! The Holy Spirit brings everything Jesus has promised us to life. He makes it real. Now how many times have you people been rebuked because the Spirit moved and you didn’t? It’s been a continual fault of some people in this church that the Spirit moves and you don’t. It’s a shameful thing that you don’t know the Spirit. The Spirit is the real God who’s with us right now: the I AM God! And He’s the God you don’t know. The God of two thousand years ago, you can tell everybody all about Him. The God of the scriptures, you think you know Him and you can tell anybody anything the scriptures say about Him. But the God who’s “Where two or three are gathered in My name, I’m in the midst of them,” (Mt18:20) He’s the one you don’t know. And the reason I know you don’t know Him is when God with us, Christ’s Spirit, is moving in our services most of you sit there like a lump on a log with no idea what God is doing or how you’re supposed to respond to Him. You never move when He moves. And for those of you who I’m speaking of your religion is vain if you can’t move with the Spirit because everything in your Bible and concerning Christian faith is all designed to get you to know the God of the here and now. If you don’t know Him here it’s not because of a lack of teaching. We’ve taught you over and over how to recognize when the Spirit is moving and how to partake of the anointing and how to know what the Spirit is doing right now. For example, if the Spirit is convicting during the preaching are we as a congregation just supposed to ignore the conviction and move on to singing hymns in the music service – or are we to reciprocate to the Spirit of conviction and let the Spirit now bring forth prayers of repentance from all who’ve been convicted and need to repent? In our Bible studies with my boys I’ve tried to show them when they’re hunting for a scripture to share it’s wise to start with where the Spirit was in the service last night. Look into the subject the Spirit is already on until He changes the subject because God’s not the author of confusion. (1Cor14:33) God won’t just ignore last night’s service and start some whole new unrelated subject in today’s Bible study. You want to flow with the Spirit? Listen to what the Spirit has already been saying to the church. Start there. But there’ve been so many times when the boys have ignored my advice and perhaps you people ignore this a lot too! Which means what? It means you don’t know the Spirit because if you knew the Spirit you’d know where He’s at – what subjects He’s presently concerned with. You’d know to pick up with Him where He left off. We’re dealing with the living, present, right now God. So to be “in the Spirit” we must be part of what He’s doing right now! That’s what you need to get into. He who has ears let him hear what the Spirit is saying right now to the church. (Rev2:7a) When the Spirit is moving and He’s trying to get the church to move or members of the congregation to move and they’re not moving, you can’t be Spiritual – you haven’t received the Spirit or you’re not receiving him. And to be a Spiritual Christian or church you must receive the Spirit! Can’t you see how much Christ is trying to get you to receive the Holy Spirit and participate in what He’s doing as for example through Kimmy when she was standing up and interceding so powerfully and you as a congregation just sat there doing nothing when you should have stood up with her and raised your voices in one accord unto God. (Act4:24) But even though the Spirit was moving so powerfully upon you to join in – not even an “Amen” came out of you. “You do always resist the Holy Spirit” and we can see you don’t have Him – you haven’t been receiving the Holy Spirit and your dullness proves it. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (Jn20:21-22) Now are you going to OBEY Jesus concerning this or continue to disobey Him? Look at Until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen. (Act1:2) One of those commandments was to receive the Holy Spirit. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Act1:4-5) When Philip went to Samaria and preached Christ to them and many were baptized, then the apostles at Jerusalem heard about it. Who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Act8:15-17) The pertinent thing here is that as soon as those people received Jesus, the very next thing the apostles did for them was pray that they might receive the Holy Spirit. In all the praying that “My Father’s House” is doing both in our fellowships and at home how much of your praying for the brethren is that they would receive the Holy Spirit? And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Act4:31) Now these “believers” had already received the Holy Spirit in their initial baptism of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. (Act2:1-4) So what is shown here is it’s not enough to just receive the initial baptism of the Spirit but there has to be an ongoing receiving of more of the Holy Spirit. We must be receiving not just what the Spirit did yesterday but what He’s doing today. We must be receiving His leading at all times; continually receiving His strength, His joy, His love, His peace; the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal 5:22-23) We should be receiving His gifts more and more. But earnestly desire the best gifts. (1Cor12:31a) Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (1Cor14:1) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (1Cor12:7-11) Everyday for almost a month I’ve been teaching and preaching on the subject of the Holy Spirit here at “My Father’s House” and if there’s anything you ought to be understanding by now it’s that Spiritual Christianity is the only acceptable kind! To be a Spiritual Christian you must have as much of the Holy Spirit as you can get. The Holy Spirit should be involved in everything you do. And what I can see has been a terrible problem with your Christianity in the past is there’s been a grievous underestimation of the necessity and importance of the Holy Spirit in your lives! He’s been taken for granted and virtually ignored in your practice of Christianity whereas He ought to be an important participant in everything you’re doing. The reality is that as far as you’re concerned the Holy Spirit is Jesus to you and in you. He’s Jesus touching you. He’s as close as you can presently get to Jesus. So the measure of the Spirit being with you and in you is the real measure of Christ being with you and in you. John says we know we abide in Him, Jesus, by the Spirit He’s given us. (1Jn3:24b) If it’s the Spirit that tells you you’re abiding in Christ then you must be able to recognize when you’re actually in the Spirit or you’ll have no evidence that shows you’re abiding in Christ. It’s by knowing the Spirit that we know Christ. This is how I know I abide in Christ because I feel like I’m abiding? No, but because I know I have the Spirit. If I don’t have the Spirit then I’m not in Christ! (Ro8:9) So how absolutely necessary, essential and important is it that you have a solid relationship with the living Holy Spirit? It’s everything to do with your salvation! You should be looking for the Spirit to be involved in everything you do. And in everything you do the Spirit is to be boss; you’re to follow Him! You can’t be leading Him, because He’s God and you’re not God. And if He’s leading you it’s because you’re submitted to Him as Lord. (Jas4:7a) So you’re to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. Now one thing you ought to understand very clearly is no leader can lead someone who’s not obedient! With all my heart I’ve tried to lead Elie, the kids, and all “My Father’s House” church right but when someone won’t submit to you, you can’t lead them. So what’s the problem with your being led by the Spirit? Are you submitting? Submission includes being humble and desiring to be led by the Spirit and also refraining from anything that would interfere with His leading. If there’s any kind of argument, back talking, or reasonings in you against what He’s doing then you’re not submitted. If you’re to accept the leading of the Holy Spirit, you must recognize you need to be led by Him and that you’re not smart enough to argue with Him. When God presents Saul to the people He’s as well as saying “Receive your king.” When He presents David it’s a similar thing but for several years the Northern Kingdom wouldn’t receive David. David was anointed to be their king but they wouldn’t submit. Well now God has given Jesus to the people and said, “Receive your King.” (Ps2:6,10-12) And Jesus has given us His Holy Spirit and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (Jn20:22) It sounds like such a simple thing to say, “Receive the Spirit” but do you understand what Jesus is actually saying? “Submit unto the Holy Spirit” is what He’s saying! In this case to receive means to submit. So many people answer “Oh yeah, I’ll receive the Holy Spirit,” but they think of Him as a package of groceries they’re taking home. But to receive the Holy Spirit is to receive your King. You don’t do that by taking Him home like a bag of groceries but by bowing the knee to Him and letting Him lead you. For most “believers” today receiving the Holy Spirit is a whole different thing from submitting to the Holy Spirit. “Pray for the brethren that they may receive the Holy Spirit.” Well, we prayed and the Holy Spirit came but you people didn’t submit to the Spirit when He came so you didn’t receive. This time pray for one another that you’ll submit to the Spirit. Paul finding some disciples at Ephesus asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Act19:2) Their reply was they’d never even heard of the Holy Spirit. They’d only been baptized in John’s baptism. But I’m going to ask it a different way, “Are you receiving the Holy Spirit since you’ve believed?” Because I know you’ve heard of the Holy Spirit. Most of you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and you’ve even spoken in tongues. You had an initial experience with the Holy Spirit at which point you received Him at that time but what we’ve been seeing here is that since then something’s been going on in which you’re resisting the Holy Spirit and no longer receiving Him. You’re being continually rebuked because you’re continually resisting the Spirit. “You do always resist the Holy Spirit!” (Act7:51) It doesn’t take a genius to see the reasons. Just like mechanics, engineering, or physics – the basic principles of Spirituality are simple and all these principles are in the Bible. The main principle is flesh resists the Spirit. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you don’t do the things that you wish. (Gal 5:17) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it’s not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Rom8:7-8) And what do you think James means when he says the Spirit yearns jealously? (Jms4:5) The Spirit wants to have control of you; He jealously wants to lead you and guide you. The flesh however doesn’t want to submit, doesn’t want to give up its control. So flesh is fighting against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. Neither one wants to yield! But you’re the one who decides which wins the battle: flesh or Spirit! Are you receiving the Holy Spirit since you believed? At some point many of you did allow the Spirit to have some control for a time but you didn’t continue receiving the Spirit. You let the flesh rise up again and once the flesh is back in control he resists the leading of the Spirit. So you’re back to square one like before you were even baptized in the Spirit if the flesh is ruling again! The principle is flesh will reign unless you by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body. (Ro8:13) The principle is if you’ve received the Holy Spirit and you keep receiving the Holy Spirit, He’ll keep putting the flesh to death and thereby the Spirit will reign in you, you’ll be led by the Spirit and abiding in Christ. He who’s born of God keeps himself. (1Jn5:18) The Holy Spirit is Christ in you and He has both the power and ability to continue to keep your flesh crucified. If you’ve continued receiving the Holy Spirit since you’ve believed then the Holy Spirit has continually been keeping you since you’ve believed. And if that’s true then you’re a Spiritual believer; obeying the Spirit; walking in the Spirit; and bearing much fruit (Jn15:5) because you’re abiding in Christ. (1Jn3:24) Also if you’re walking in the Spirit there’s no condemnation to you. (Rom8:1) And the fruit of the Spirit will be manifesting in you. (Gal 5:22-23) But if you’re not receiving the Holy Spirit continually then no doubt your flesh has arisen again. Once the flesh arises he’ll not allow the Spirit to lead you, teach you, or comfort you. (Jn16:13;Act9:31) The flesh will resist the Spirit and fight against the Spirit. He may not fight against your pretty prayers and he may not fight against your pretty songs. Pharisees make long prayers (Mt23:14) and heretics all over the world are singing “Holy, Holy, Holy” and many of the other great Christian hymns. False “Christians” sing them all the time. The devil and the flesh don’t care what you say or what you sing as long as it doesn’t stop you from behaving carnally. The only thing the sin in your flesh doesn’t want to let go of is the power to make you do what you do. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I don’t find. For the good that I will to do, I don’t do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. (Rom7:18-20) What’s it matter to satan if you pretend to be Christian? He’s content to let you have the most noble thoughts and fine words and good intentions as long as he has control of what you do. And the only thing that can break his control is the Holy Spirit. The only one who can keep that sinful flesh under is the Holy Spirit! (1Jn4:4) What you need to realize is every time you let go of the Spirit and let the flesh gain control again you’ll have to fight a severe battle to overcome the flesh and get the Spirit back. I was a two pack a day smoker when I was an unbeliever. I really wanted to quit but I was badly hooked. I must have tried to quit smoking fourteen times and every time it was a terrible torture. Finally though I made up my mind, “This isn’t worth it. I’ve just got to quit for good and put an end to this torment.” I didn’t have the Holy Spirit helping me when I was a sinner like I do now. But when I made my mind up rightly, I got the victory. There’s a movie called Hamburger Hill, a true story about something that took place in Vietnam. There was a hill that the U.S. soldiers just kept taking and letting it go. The enemy would take it back every time we left it and then we’d take it back again and let it go again. But every time the U.S. army took it, it cost like a hundred lives. The rational of the stupid generals was, “We’re going to prove to the enemy how tough we are and that we won’t stop retaking this hill no matter how many men we have to sacrifice.” The rational of the soldiers was, “This is stupid. Why don’t we hold it once we take it? Why do we take it and leave it then let the enemy come back, take it again and keep doing this?” What am I telling you? It’s a real battle to crucify the flesh. (1Pet4:1) But once you’ve won the battle and got the flesh crucified now keep the Spirit in control. If you let the flesh rise up again, then you’ll have to fight the battle again. Once you’ve won the battle don’t ever let the flesh get the upper hand again. Stay in the Spirit. Receive the Holy Spirit continually! A Spirit led life is a permanent state that a mature Christian enters into and continually lives in. (Gal 5:25) We’re not to be salt-water one-day, fresh water the next! (Jms3:11) We’re to be continually abiding in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (Col 2:6-7) The word “established” as it’s most often used in the epistles means to get you into a state of continual abiding. And how many foolish “Christians” don’t have the sense to understand that the only way to fight the battle and win it is to stay in a place of victory once you’ve overcome the flesh instead of falling back again and again and having to fight the battle over and over. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Heb10:36-39) That’s the only way God can use you; the only way you can be fruitful is to abide in Christ continually. That’s what abide means, to stay in Him. (Jn15:5) If you’re in one day and out the next you’re not faithful, not trustworthy. God can’t use an unfaithful person. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. (1Tim1:12) If you’re not dependable you can’t be used in any kind of continuous ministry. At “My Father’s House” I’m in a ministry where I have to be here everyday in the Spirit. We meet daily and I preach and teach daily and I can’t afford to be in the flesh, not one day! I’ve been faithful to do this everyday for over twelve years and I’ve been in the Spirit everyday. Why can’t you do that? What makes me useful is that I keep abiding. If I didn’t stay in the Spirit God couldn’t use me. So I’m receiving the Spirit continually. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption (“Sonship” is the best translation) by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Rom8:15) Have you really received the Spirit of Sonship – the Spirit of Christ the Son in you? What we usually see in legal people is it seems they like the spirit of bondage. They’re afraid of breaking the rules so they’re continually looking for rules in hopes they can keep them and not break them. They don’t know how to be free. Freedom is too heavy a burden for them to bear, because in Godly liberty you have to judge for yourself what is the right thing to do in any given situation. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. (1Cor10:23) If you know God’s Word and are receiving the help of the Holy Spirit through faith this liberty is a real joy. (Phil 1:25) There’s no condemnation here (Rom8:1) and no fear. But to the “legal” who don’t know God’s Word or have real faith, to be led by the Spirit is mentally frightening and even laborious. It’s easier just to follow a rule. Rules don’t require you to think very much. You don’t have to watch and be alert to make sound judgments of right or wrong on your own. So it seems easier to follow rules. But it’s bondage – not Sonship. And that isn’t the spirit God’s given, bondage to fear. He’s given you the Spirit of the Son and if that’s not the spirit you have then you haven’t received the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of the Son like Jesus wants to supremely please the Father. And it’s not just an ineffectual Romans 7:15 want. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. (Rom7:15) But it’s God’s real Spirit that when the Lord goes up the wheels go up. This is the Spirit that causes me to do the will of God because I have God’s Spirit and He causes me to serve God willingly and gladly; not in bondage to fear – but in a joy to please God! It’s my delight to do His will is how it’s expressed in the Scriptures. (Ps40:8;Heb10:7) That’s the Spirit of Sonship. I delight that God has given me the ability to be a son by grace and the wisdom and the power to do His will. I delight that Jesus shows me God’s will and gives me the privilege and power to do it. There’s no friction or chaffing against Christ here! Now you see what Elie was going through? She was chaffing all the time. Doing things she didn’t want to do, in bondage to fear because she hadn’t received the Spirit of Sonship! “I’m afraid of Bill when I do something on my own initiative that he’s going to rebuke me!” That wasn’t in me! She was imagining these things. Because the spirit she received wasn’t the Spirit of Sonship it was the spirit of bondage she was totally unacceptable to God and very hard to get along with. Bondage makes you miserable; a miserable companion; a miserable servant. When you receive Sonship everything is joy. Which spirit do you have? The Spirit of joy? During the breakthrough one of the things Elie said was, “Bill I want permission to stay home today and not go out with you.” Here’s what I’m thinking, “You’ve always had that. What makes you think you didn’t have it?” But I replied, “I give you permission.” I set her free but I set her free from herself, it wasn’t me she was in bondage to. It was her own laws, her own rules, and her own wrong ideas about me that had her all tied up. In her mind she was accusing me of things that I never even thought. Why did she think that? I’m reasonable. You’ve got a reason to stay home? Sure stay home. Since God healed her thoughts she wants to go with me everywhere I go. I don’t even have to ask her, she asks me. I got up and tried to duck out of the house the other day and she jumped up and ran to the car. I mean she was in bed five minutes before I left but she got up and dressed and made it to the car in five minutes. She wants to be with me now! What spirit do you have? Joyful obedience to God? Or bondage? If you’re in bondage you’re headed for a bad fall and you need to receive the Spirit of Sonship. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Gal 3:2) The real question is did you receive the Spirit at all? And if you did receive the Spirit you received Him by faith. Baptists don’t have the Spirit. They think if you sing a pretty song and feel something that’s the Spirit. But it isn’t the Spirit. You can see completely wicked sinners break down and cry at a song like “Danny Boy” or a movie like “Love Story” or something. It’s just emotions. It isn’t the Spirit. The Spirit of God causes you to do the will of God. That’s how you know when you have the Spirit. He actually brings God’s will to life in you and makes it come to pass! Remember when Jesus said, “If I by the Spirit cast out demons,” (Mt12:28) the Holy Spirit can bring great manifestations of the power of God’s Kingdom and God’s will to heal, work miracles, and do marvelous things like that. But in every case it’s by the “hearing of faith.” (Gal 3:5) Somebody must have faith for God to lead them and speak to them what to do and when they obey what God says the power of God then manifests to back them up in what they’ve obeyed Him to do – so by the “hearing of faith” God brings forth something wonderful. You never get the Spirit by works of the law. (Gal 3:2) You never get the Spirit by anything except the kind of faith that expects God to speak and listens when God speaks. Now much of what we’ve had around here hasn’t been that kind of faith. The Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb11:6) So you may fast because you’re seeking Him, but what are you seeking Him for? What do you want Him to do? What are you expecting of Him? What’s the purpose of your fast? Stay focused on the thing you’re praying for until you get your answer. In many cases the answer comes when God tells you to do something and when you obey and do it that’s the “hearing of faith” that will bring about a blessed result. In the case with Elie, I held on to God by fasting, praying and waiting for Him to give me the right thing to say to her at the right time. It was a similar thing to the battle of Jericho. For a whole week I didn’t speak to her except about necessities and I’m sure she was very confused that I wasn’t jumping on her for her disobedience and such. But that was the very means by which God got her attention. He had to make her see she wasn’t understanding correctly the things she thought were going on. He did that by showing her things weren’t happening the way she expected. Then when He had her in the right mood He gave me His truth to speak at the right time and the walls of Jericho came down. Her restoration and rescue came because I had a “hearing of faith.” My fast allowed God to speak to me and in my “hearing of faith” God solved the problem. But right now, right here in “My Father’s House” some of you are having terrible problems with the flesh. By my fasting and praying for you God is leading you to see what you need to do to overcome your problems. Now if you’re fasting too what are you expecting from your fast? Are you expecting to hear God? That’s what I’m praying for. The foremost purpose of your fast should be that you’d come to know God, know His voice, obey His voice, and be led by His Spirit. You must have the Spirit in you so that you hear and do God’s will if you’re to be a people who fulfill the scripture “My sheep know My voice.” (Jn10:27) So when the Spirit moves you know it’s Him and you move with Him. Because the Spirit that’s in the Cherubim is the Spirit that’s in the wheels and the Spirit that’s in Jesus is the Spirit that’s in you and the Spirit that’s in Jesus is the Spirit in pastor and the Spirit that’s in Jesus is the Spirit in all of us. Whatever Jesus does we do because His Spirit is in us. Do you understand now how important the Spirit is to you? He’s your life because if you’re not doing what He’s doing you’re lost; you’re disconnected from Christ. You must have the Spirit to be led by the Spirit and you must be led by the Spirit to be a son of God. (Rom8:14) This should be your prayer for yourself, for your brethren, and for your church that we be led by the Spirit continually. Are you receiving the Spirit since you’ve believed or have you been resisting the Spirit? Prophecy: You can have no testimony apart from the leading of the Spirit. What gives you a testimony is when you can say, “The Lord led me to do this and I did it and this is the good that happened.” You can have no testimony apart from the leading of My Spirit and you can’t have the leading of My Spirit unless you have faith. A Christian without a testimony is not a real Christian. He’s christian in word only but not in reality. If you’re to be of My sons you must have continual testimonies that flow out of a life that’s lived by the leading of My Spirit where you’re continually giving thanks and praise to Me for what My Spirit is doing. And such a life, such a truly Spiritual life flows out of a continual faith that expects to be led. You must desire to be led, and ask to be led, and then look to be led by Me. I desire deeply to lead you My people. Now receive My Holy Spirit by faith that I may lead you in all things, saith the Lord. Prophecy: All life emanates from the Spirit. As a flower grows out of the earth yet men can praise the flower and not acknowledge the earth it springs from so all things in this world emanate and come out of the Creator yet men can see the creation so clearly and still have no knowledge of that which sustains it. But I’ll have a people who see through the creation to the source of their being for I am the source of their being. And as it’s said in My Word, “He came to His own but they did not receive Him but to those who did receive Him, He gave the power to become the sons of God,” so those who acknowledge when I come to them that I’m the source of all they are and all they can and will be, and they recognize that My Spirit is the source from which all things flow, I tell you these are those who I can lead by My Spirit. They alone worship Me in Spirit and in truth. And these are those who’ll take hold of the power from which My life emanates and they are My true sons and daughters, saith the Lord. For even a fool can see the creation. Even a fool can see the results of what I do, but I’m looking to have a people who know Me as the source of all I do and all they do, saith the Lord. (Prophecies delivered at "My Father's House") Epilogue Since the deliverance of this exhortation to the people of “My Father’s House” – many have grown greatly in Spirituality and obedience to the Word. When the church leaders and other Spiritual members “demand” real Christianity in their church and brethren, most of the less Spiritual believers will repent and rise to the call – and the Holy Spirit will lift them up wonderfully into the fulfilling of God’s will as His glorious church.
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