Sunday Sermon Summary: “We Need Thee Holy Ghost With Fire!”
Praise Tabernacle International, Plantation, FL
Pastor D.H.Dawkins
It is now the count down to Pentecost Sunday, and Pastor D.H.Dawkins is planning to teach under the umbrella of “Journey to Pentecost,” various topics concerning the Holy Ghost, for the next 50 days.
[Please note: Holy Ghost, and Holy Spirit may be used interchangeably.]
The key verses were from Matthew 3:11-12 (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:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Some may believe that Jesus came, and fulfilled His promised (dying for our sin on Calvary), and all have ended. Some are trying to live “holy,” without the Holy Ghost—causing them to have to rely on their own strength.
In the above key verse, John was saying how someone, Jesus, greater was coming after He. Jesus would come with fire!
We need the Holy Ghost for Earth. When we have the Holy Spirit, we do not need anyone to “wind us up.”
Please understand that GOD is immutable—never changing. No mechanisms are needed. So if the Holy Ghost has not changed, then what changed in 2016? Everyone is dreaming, speaking in tongues, receiving wisdom, but the Acts of the Apostles have yet been present. Again, Jesus, the Holy Ghost, Thee Word—these have not changed.
Something has changed.
Prayer is the least attended service. GOD did not call His house, the “House of Praise,” or the “House of Preaching,” but the House of Prayer.
Matthew 21:13 (KJV):
“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer…”
The name which He calls His house by, is what we do the least. SELAH.
This shows how the diet of the church has changed. The church is now conditioned to eat “fast food” filled with preservatives, MSG, additives, and so forth. You now the “high-five your neighbor,” or “preach to your neighbor.” Preachers used to preach until shackles FELL OFF!!! You needed power (what you speak), and demonstration (laying of the hands, accuracy), to be shown! There was a conviction FIRST before you were blessed.Before Jesus resurrected, He told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until you have power (Luke 24:29).
Some are afraid to be distinct, to stand out. You do not have the power of the Holy Ghost. Be who you are by the grace of GOD, and make no apologies about it. In the same token, we must not confuse confidence in Christ, with arrogance. It becomes arrogance when it is done outside of Christ. Being bold does not always mean being loud. As described in Acts four, know when to speak. Again, in Acts four, there was a boldness through the Holy Ghost—Peter, was able to accuse the Jews, received power and boldness to witness, preach, and minister. “You were Saved not to sit, but to witness.” When you have the Holy Ghost, you look for opportunities to witness. You become bold.
Next, through the Spirit of GOD, you are in a closer walk with Him. The breath of GOD is upon you. “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22, KJV). Do not limit yourself to what is seen in church (speaking in tongues, and falling on your face), but come to give POWER! It is how we live when it is just Him and us (our thoughts, and decisions we make). How do we combat these thoughts? You do so through your Bible; “It is written!” Find the verses to fight back your flesh, and the enemy's trick.
Where is the power to say no?
Where is the power to love your enemies?
When you have the Holy Ghost, it is a wrestling match. The flesh opposes the spirit (Galatians 5:17). You are NOT exempt from being tested, and tempted. The Holy Ghost will give you the answer, but you must sit through the test! SELAH.
The Holy Ghost brings light to the filthiness inside. The Holy Ghost will keep you convicted. You will have no time for other people’s past, because you will be too busy working out your own salvation (Philippians 2:12).
The Holy Ghost and Fire will keep you going and growing, but some of us have become stale with no fresh moves occurring in the inside. You cannot be filled with the Holy Ghost, and be a bench warmer.
Jeremiah 20:9 (KJV):
“Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”
The Holy Ghost will start a fire in the inside. In Genesis three, run back to GOD; He will get you through. More of the Holy Ghost needs to be manifested in people. "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; They will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:17-18, NIV). Signs of miracles would be the signs that people would believe. We need to be refilled, overflowing, and immersed in the Holy Ghost. We need to be enlightened, and consumed with FIRE!
A. Be Saved (accepting Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior, and believing He rose on the third day.)
B. Be obedient to Thee Word of GOD.
C. Continue hungering for the bread of life, and thirsting for the water of Jesus.
We need the Baptism of the Holy Ghost!
Life Application
WE NEED THE HOLY GHOST with FIRE!!! The Holy Ghost was given to us so that we could witness, and have POWER!!! The Holy Ghost is here to guide us during this time on Earth. It connects us to Heaven. We often become distracted by the world, and forget the POWER that lies within is. "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4, KJV). Do we not believe in ourselves? GOD? As the Body of Christ, we should be so ahead right now. The Holy Ghost was given to us to witness, and testify on the behalf of Jesus Christ, not to be used for entertainment and secret agendas. I pray that we WAKE up, and that GOD has mercy upon us. In a sense we are sinning, being disobedient in His Word. We have to do better!
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but have not already done so, please receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Become the man/woman—servant of GOD that we were all called to be!
-Selah
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(Picture courtesy of http://abundantlifewhippany.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Holy-spirit-featured-img.jpg)
Within the Trinity (The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), the Dove is the presentation of the Holy Spirit.
