The Holy Spirit & Your life In God: The Reflowable Edition
By L.G. Carter
()
About this ebook
Classic Spirit-Filled Teaching
This is the pure teaching from the beginning of the movement which changed Christianity in the 20th century and on to today. Before the emotional excesses, headship, prosperity, and the rest of the aberrations were the original lives changed by direct daily walking with the Lord by His Holy Spirit. As Jesus told us:
You will receive power when the Holy spirit has come upon you. acts 1:8 NASB
This book will teach you how to receive and use this power. This is practical teaching after 40+ years of experience. These insights can literally transform your life.
Section 1: In The Beginning
Looking for deeper understanding of God?
This book is the first book in a seven-book series which will expose you to a method of communicating with the Lord much more intimately. You will discover, not a stern disciplinarian, but a warm friend who knows you better than anyone else and likes you. More than that, He is committed to helping you become who you really are.
Your life in God is a beautiful unfolding of yourself into your full potential under the love and protection of an almighty king. This leader has the wisdom to help and to satisfy your deepest longings. It’s a life of adventure, satisfaction, and fulfillment.
Section 2: My Sheep Know My Voice
Learning how to hear the voice of God
In the cacophonous blare of the world we live in, a kind voice of wisdom and truth is needed—desperately. The Good News is that such a voice is available to help each one of us. All we have to do is trust and listen.
No! It can’t be that simple
Believe it or not, this is why we were created. Mankind was designed for the purpose of producing close personal friends for God Almighty. He sent His son, Jesus, to make that possible in a deeply intimate way. Everything has been done to make that incredible relationship possible for each of us, individually. What could be more wonderful than a close, loving relationship with a father and brother who was willing to die for us?
All you have to do is trust & listen!
Section 3: Salvation and the Holy Spirit
Coming to know who Holy Spirit is
One of the first things we learn about this walk with the Lord Jesus is that is a supernatural thing. We are dealing with the Creator—Almighty God in the flesh. He can do whatever He wants to do.
Seemingly impossible, Jesus came to show us how to live, and how to have access to the same power he had while he was on the earth.
No! That cannot be true!
Believe it or not, this is also part of how we were created. Mankind was designed to have powerful, loving dominion over all the earth. We have no idea how magnificent Adam and Eve were before the fall. One of the worst aspects of the Fall and mankind’s expulsion from the Garden was the loss of the spiritual connection with the Father.
Jesus came to fix that with our rebirth and his Indwelling Spirit. John the Baptist told us that Jesus came to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire.
It only gets better in the rest of the book...
Related to The Holy Spirit & Your life In God
Related ebooks
In The Beginning: The Holy Spirit & Your Life In God, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLeviticus - Handbook of the Priests Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Book of Numbers - In the Wilderness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGod in a Word: Five Meditations on the Incarnation of Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Supremacy of Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Book of Joshua - Conquest and Settlement Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Book of First Samuel - Samuel the Prophet Ruled Israel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Power of the Holy Spirit in You: Understanding the Miraculous Power of God Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Seven Signs of John’s Gospel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Book of Exodus - Deliverance: Book Two- Bible Book By Book Series Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Book of Deuteronomy - Preparation for the Promised Land Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWritten That You May Believe Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRevelation - God's Word Revealed Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Book of Genesis - Beginnings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWho Do You Say That I AM Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Christ-centred Faith Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNew European New Testament Christadelphian Commentary: John Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An Open Letter to a Jehovah's Witness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Windows to the Word Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBack To The Bible Bible Basic: Commentary by Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSparkling Facets: Bible Names and Titles of Jesus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Deity of Christ: A John MacArthur Study Series Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The End Game: An Exposition on the Revelation of Jesus Christ in Layperson’s Terms Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBelieving on The Name of Jesus Christ (What Every Believer Needs to Know) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Names of God Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGod's Redemptive Plan for Mankind Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIs Jesus God in John 1:1 That Says “and the Word was God”? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAn Introduction to the Holy Spirit Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNames Of Christ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Layman’s Guide to the Book of Revelation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Christianity For You
Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Less Fret, More Faith: An 11-Week Action Plan to Overcome Anxiety Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wild at Heart Expanded Edition: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Grief Observed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Law of Connection: Lesson 10 from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Undistracted: Capture Your Purpose. Rediscover Your Joy. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table: It's Time to Win the Battle of Your Mind... Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5NIV, Holy Bible Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Holy Spirit & Your life In God
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Holy Spirit & Your life In God - L.G. Carter
The Holy Spirit & Your Life In God
The Reflowable Edition
L.G. Carter
Copyright @ 2016 by L.G. Carter: All Rights Reserved No part of this booklet may be reproduced or transmitted in any form electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the Publisher, apart from reviews and commentary with clear attribution.
For information contact Radiqx Press:
This version has been produced by Radiqx Press: We are responsible for the editorial changes and corrections. The design is also ours.
Email: info@radiqx.com
Contact the author: carter@radiqx.com
Website: http://radiqx.com
Snail mail: Find this under the Contact Us page on the Website after 2016. Currently our address is: 314 Van Brunt Street, Mankato MN 56001
Translation used
NKJV: New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Editorial comments: You will find a few places where the Author or the Editor has made comments in the middle of quotes from other sources. This will be denoted by [Ed.] and will appear in italics. Please be assured that here are no changes in actual quoted sources
Section 1: In The beginning
In some Christian circles, there are questions about the use of Word
. Many believe it is the Bible. Others believe it is another name for Jesus. In a search for what the Bible tells us, I have discovered what follows.
The Holy Bible begins with a wonderful statement:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, The earth was without form, and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep .And the Spirit of God was hovering ‘over the face of the waters.
[Genesis 1:1 & 2 NKJV]
The Bible begins with the most important thing: God and the Spirit of God, or as we later come to know that person, the Holy Spirit. This is a critical point The key to the entire Biblical history and story is a choice each of us make for ourselves.
The choice? Do you believe that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it? If you don’t — or can’t believe this — then how will you believe in the supernatural and that God is all powerful?
Since God created and the Spirit hovered over that creation, God was before all things were created. As Christians know and believe, there is a Third Person who is also God. Because the Bible tell us of the three-persons-in-one Godhead, we have come to know Him. Them as the Triune God — Father God, Savior and Redeemer Jesus the Son, and Teacher and Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
But wait, if people are Christians, what about Jesus? Where did He come from? After all, did not the name ‘Christian’ come from what they called Jesus — the Christ? If He is God, when did He become ‘created’? We’ll look at that next.
As you will soon read there is a similar passage at the beginning of the first chapter in St. John’s Gospel, in the New Testament, that refers to One Person of the three, Jesus.
In several places in the Old Testament, we find certain figures who might represent the ‘yet-to-be incarnate’ (actually born as a man) Jesus, the Son of God. But we don’t truly get a definitive introduction to His character until we reach John’s Gospel, although we come to know His actions and deeds in the first three Gospels. Now that you see that, let’s move on to Jesus.
What or who is the Word
?
John, the ‘beloved disciple’, didn’t want to tell a chronological story, as the three other Gospel writers had done. The Synoptic Gospels, as the books of Matthew, Mark and Luke are called, are historical — following the life and actions of the One they came to know as Christ Jesus, God’s Son and Messiah. (The word, ‘synoptic’ is related to ‘synopsis’, meaning an overview.) But John wanted to tell a different story. He wanted to clearly delineate the divinity of Christ. In the prologue of his Gospel, (John 1:1–18) John begins with these verses:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him and without Him, nothing was made that was made. In Him was life and the 1ife was the light of men John 1:1-4 [emphasis added. Ed]
This very interesting passage has been interpreted in some different ways. Some theologians seem to takeWord
as meaning Scripture, but others believe it speaks of the Son of God. To understand the writer’s intent, let’s look at the derivation of this word, according to a concordance’ (a dictionary of words found in the Bible, with Hebrew and Greek definitions of those words).
In a partial definition from Strong’s Concordance the particular use for ‘Word’’ found in John, Chapter I, Verse I, follows :
#3056: logos (from 3004: logo (Greek) "Something said (including the thought), by implication: a topical (subject) of discourse;…specifically [with the article] In John, the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ)" [Emphasis added ed]
In this definition is a very rare thing to find in Dr. Strong’s book. He specifically states that the Greek word, logos can be defined in John’s Gospel as the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ)
. How often do we find such specific references to a particular section of Scripture? Rarely!
The definition portion underlined by this author in the excerpt from Dr. Strong’s book could clearly indicate that there is a reference to a person, particularly if you choose the definition, a topical (‘subject) of discourse. In this case, the subject
of discourse is Christ, and John was the ‘discourser’. We could also assume that Dr. Strong, in; producing this Concordance of the King James Bible, was expressing the century-held belief that ‘Word’ refers to ‘Jesus’.
Now lets repeat the first verse using the Greek word, logos.
"In the beginning was the logos, and the logos was with God, and the logos was God." [ed: Emphasis added]
We can take this a step further, and, using the peculiar note in the definition of Word
, we have Dr. Strong’s interesting definition: the divine expression (i.e.: Christ)
In the beginning was the Divine Expression (i.e.: Christ) and the divine expression (i.e.: Christ) was with God, and the Divine Expression (i.e.: Christ) was God.
Wow! Now we can see why the next three verses refer to the Word
as He and
Him. The derivation of
word in this passage seems clearly to be
Christ. Allow me to paraphrase by using
Christ for
Word".
In the beginning was the Christ, and the Christ was with God, and the Christ was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him and without Him, nothing was made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men."
To me this is a very clear statement that is connected by verses 1 and 2 — that the Word was and is Jesus. The Word was God
equates with He was in the beginning with God.
These verses cannot be separated if we are to understand exactly who and what the Word of God is — the Father’s only ‘begotten Son! He was in the beginning with God
(verse 2). There’s an important note here. To understand what the Bible says, remember this rule of thumb — most of Scripture will be corroborated by other Scripture. To be more succinct, Scripture interprets Scripture.
Another verse makes it even more clear. This verse defies misinterpretation by its very content. Let’s look at John:
"And the Word (Christ) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14 [ed: Emphasis added]
To continue this look at the definition of Word
in John’s Gospel, let’s look at the last book in the Bible, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, written by the same John who wrote the Gospel of John. This book is both a vision and prophecy. (note I saw
.) John was quite old when he wrote this book, and ‘imprisoned’ on the island of Patmos.
From The Book of Revelation, Chapter 19:
Now I saw heaven opened and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood and His name was called the Word of God. [ed: Emphasis added]
And the armies of Heaven clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepresses of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:11-16
(See Daniel 2:47) The king answered Daniel and said, ‘Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.’
No one but Jesus would be wearing a robe dipped in blood — the blood of His Crucifixion. Faithful and True
is a familiar term used to describe Jesus. When Jesus is called the Word of God
, it reveals part of the character and purpose of God in sending His Son to be born as a man. (see John’s Gospel: 1:1, 14, 18; 10:30; 14:9; I John 1:1)
John, the writer, was the ‘beloved disciple’, and probably as close to Jesus as His brothers, James and Jude. Who of the authors of the New Testament could have known more about the Christ than John, who repeatedly calls Jesus the Word of God.
One additional note: if Word
referred to the Bible, it probably would not be capitalized. Therefore, since scripture usually capitalizes any names of God, (Father, Son and Holy Spirit, (He, They, etc.) we could also assume that in this verse, Word
must be another name for God in Jesus form. (It states this in verse 14 John 1 and Revelation 19:13)
No wonder Dr. Strong defines Word
as ‘the Divine Expression (i.e.: Christ)’.
What is the Bible?
The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by many authors, living at different times in Jewish and Christian history. The word ‘logos’ is sometimes used to denote the Books of Scripture, more commonly called the Bible. Is this a proper use of this Greek term? Perhaps, though, logos
true meaning in this instance probably is more as a subject of topical discourse, using mental faculties. Many words have several meanings, so this is appropriate.
To me the Bible is God’s history (His story) of His relationship with humans. It is the story of how God created, peopled, and rules the Universe omnipotently and how the fallen human race has reacted to Him in spite of God’s plan. The Bible fits this description, logos
perfectly because the subject of the entire Bible is God, and is ‘the topic of discourse’ .The Bible gives us the creation story first, followed by God’s history of interacting with the humans He created. Next is the section of the Law, followed by the Poetry books, then the major and minor prophets. All this comprises the Old Testament.
The New Testament, not nearly as long, begins with the story of the incarnation of Jesus, God’s Son, His ministry and His followers. This is followed by the one book of strictly history, the Acts of the Apostles. Then the thirteen Pauline Letters or Epistles, the general epistles by five other authors and lastly, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the only book of prophecy.
Believers use this ‘library’ to learn as much as they can about God. But it cannot teach anyone how to personally know God as a Person. That is another story.
Actually the Bible as we know it, is really a library that consists of many books. Compare the word ‘bible’, with a ‘bibliography’ such as you would find at the end of a serious article or book. The word, bibliography
applies because it lists the books used as research tools for the particular writing to which the list is appended.
The Bible then, is a collection of books, a library if you will, and is for our use as a resource and reference book to how God calls us to live when we believe in Him and especially to know His character. But as Rick Joyner has observed, we are not to worship the Bible.
"The Bible is a most precious and wonderful gift to His people. But the Bible was not meant to take the place of the Lord Himself, nor the Spirit whom He sent. The Bible is a means, not an end. Knowing the book of the Lord is not our goal. Our goal is to know the Lord of the book. There Were Two Trees in the Garden, page 11,©1986–1993 by Rick Joyner
The Bible is our guide book for traveling God’s universe, learning about it and God, as we study this manual for living righteous lives. However, it doesn’t tell us how to do every little thing. It is primarily a guide. It can be very explicit on some subjects, but it isn’t going to tell us what our career
is to be, who we are to marry, and so on.
All this is to say quite simply the quotes above from the first chapter of John’s Gospel defines the Word
as meaning or alluding to Jesus Christ. So when we think we should pray the Word
, we should actually be praying Jesus
! In other words, pray in the Name of Jesus, in His power and authority, however God guides you to pray by the Holy Spirit.
One of the main points here is to comment on the interesting comparison of the first verse in the book of Genesis and the first verse in John’s Gospel. Both are clear — In the beginning
." Both state facts about God — when He was, is, and always will be, and whether or not Holy Spirit and Christ Jesus were in existence from before the creation of the heavens and the earth. They were!
In the beginning. Jesus was!
God created; the Holy Spirit hovered over the waters, and Jesus was and is!
He was God and He is God. Not only is, but was and is! He was with God and He is God. Christ Jesus is defined very clearly in John I, but He is also alluded to in various places in the Old Testament, clearly as the ‘woman’s seed who will bruise the head of Satan (Genesis 3: 15) and as the very mysterious king-priest, Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 7:1-22).There are other places where it is believed Christ appears in the Old Testament. When we read the Angel of God
or the Angel of the Lord
(remember the importance of the article the
in the definition of logos) we may assume that is the pre-incarnate Christ (also remember the allusion to the use of capital letters to indicate deity).
In particu1ar we see Jesus as the angel wrestling with Jacob dislocating his hip, and renaming him Israel
. This same’ Angel of God’ appears in several other places, beginning with Genesis 16:7
So where does that leave us with sometimes hearing the Bible being referred to as GOD? If the first verse of John’s Gospel is referring to Jesus and verses 2-4, and 14 bear this out by referring to the Word as He and Him, and being made f1esh, then perhaps we might want to embrace a different concept of Scripture. We want to be careful we don’t supplant God’s position in His Universe and in our lives with a guidebook about Him. Unfortunately, we can make an idol of something which is not God, by idolizing the Bible and thinking of it as ‘God’.
The Supernatural World
In our world today, about the only ‘supernatural’ things many people seem to believe in are the occult, divination, horoscope, magic, sorcery — all those things that scripture says are anathema! (anathema means accursed). But Christians believe in a supernatural religion, though some don’t realize it! That means we believe things can happen that are outside of the normal ‘physical’ or ‘mental’ experience and knowledge of men. Supernatural occurrences are not explainable by known forces or the laws of nature such as the law of gravity. Who designed the natural laws? God! Who can supersede them? Only God can! He can make time stand still, halt the sun in its path, make the earth stand still, calm a storm, anything He wants or needs to do, He can do since He created it all and has the power to destroy it if He chooses.
Let’s go back to Genesis. Here we see, right from the beginning of the Bible, that there is a supernatural being — the Father — who decided to create the world, then all the things in it, including, as last and ultimate, the creation of man and woman. The thing He desired most was human beings with different capabilities — ability to think and feel — different than all other created plant and animal life.
I once had explained to me the scale of God’s creation. From the absolute largest (as far as we knew then) to the absolute smallest of His creations, say from stars to amoebas and microns — God placed man at the exact center as to size. So on a scale of 1 to 1,000 man is the 500 mark. Amazing!
Created for What?
When we see God creating male and female humans, in Our Image
, the image of the Triune God, (Genesis 1:26-28) we can conclude that humans must have been created for a different purpose than all the other things God created.
Do we have a clue about why God created humans? Of course! Just read on in chapter two of Genesis and we find God walking in the cool of the evening in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. He created them for companionship! He also had another purpose — for humans are to glorify Him.
Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory I have formed him [Isaiah 43: 7 NKJV]
But He also wanted them to trust Him, and to be under His direction but not by His dominance. Rather He wanted them to be obedient through their free will. They walked and talked with Him, asked Him questions, probably laughed, and perhaps even cried, though at that point all that had been created was perfect. If Adam or Eve needed answers, they asked God. He wanted them to depend on Him, He had created them that way, and they all enjoyed their fellowship. When we understand this, we then understand that Holy Spirit inspired and man wrote the Book which can never supplant the Holy God, our Creator, who longs for fellowship with us.
The Bible’s Role in Our Lives
Did Adam and Eve have a Bible to read? No. Did they need a Bible? No. They had God the Father who was their source. They had a close personal relationship with Him, one that was loving. And