Hopefully some more questions answered
by Vincent Imperial
My brother just recently sent me an old article written by C.S. Lewis on the subject of pride. I believe that this is what the Lord is really after……….the burning up of our pride. I like what a new pastor friend of mine said to do, to ask the Lord for a revelation of His humility. I like that.
Our wilderness experiences, our frustrating friends, relatives and co-workers, and the moves of the Holy Spirit with all of the manifestations, I believe is largely to deal with our pride and get us to respond in humility and love.
Pride, however, can still rear its ugly head at any time. For me, one of the worst case scenarios of pride is spiritual pride, especially when it comes from the Pentecostal/Charismatic side of Christendom. I personally loathe it, first in myself, then in the ministers that are steeped in it. Having been schooled (disciplined) by the Holy Spirit for quite some time now, I am more keen to see when it rears up in me and in others. We have to always “stay low”. Dr. Jones’ teaching on Saul and David exposed spiritual pride in me. I quickly repented of it.
On a quick side note, what drew me to Dr. Jones and now to Dr. Bruggeman, is not their intellect and revelation as much as it is the child like faith and humility they exude. For all of you followers, I would exhort you to FIRST glean that from them, then their writings.
As I am reading the various emails that are coming in, I can immediately tell who is child-like and humble and who is not. You see, God moved largely in part the way He did on Sunday for those who have never been exposed to God’s Presence and anointing in that way before, and also for those that have, but not in a long, long time. It was a time of impartation and refreshing. For those who have been abused or seen abuses in the Charismatic scene, if you have not forgiven and released, it will prevent you from receiving a fresh infilling and make you critical/judgmental of Sunday’s outpouring.
So what does all of this have to do with the ministry time and the move of the Spirit on Sunday at the close of the conference? Everything. Allow me to explain.
Act 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Rom 1:11
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
There is much more to the infilling/baptism of the Holy Spirit than just dealing with pride. But the Dove (HS) needs a lowly place to dwell in, not just to visit. The Spirit of Christ is humble (Philippians 2). Sunday was a visitation for an invitation to be the place of habitation. If you have been touched, it is time to guard what you received and ask for more. If you did not feel anything, don’t be discouraged, continue to ask, seek and knock…….and don’t stop!
Luke 11:9-13
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if
he ask
a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall
your
heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
The above verses in the amplified bible state to ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, knock and keep on knocking. There is something about divine pursuit that God just loves. He loves to be sought after. Remember, the Holy Spirit is being given to children in the above verse.
Mat 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Heb 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
He rewards us with an outpouring and infilling of HIS Holy Spirit. This is the highest reward to be culminated in the age of Tabernacles with our glorified bodies(unbroken walking in the Spirit)
1Co 14:1
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
Desire: G2206 ζηλόω zēloō dzay-lo’-o
From G2205; to have
warmth of feeling for or against: – affect, covet (earnestly), (have) desire, (move with) envy, be jealous over, (be) zealous (-ly affect).
The word gifts was added later in the above verse. It was not in the original translation.
Spiritual: G4152 πνευματικός pneumatikos phyoo-mat-ik-os’
From G4151; non-carnal, that is, (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (daemoniacally) a spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate, religious: – spiritual. Compare G5591.
So, the above verse could be translated, “Follow after love and covet, earnestly desire to the point of envy or jealousy all of the manifestations of God’s Spirit.”
And allow me to add, NO CHERRY PICKING with such thoughts and sayings as, “I believe in prophecy and healing, but not in tongues and falling down”. Or, “I believe God is a God of order and all of this yelling, running around and jerking/shaking stuff is not of Him” To what I reply, “OH REALLY”?!
Allow me to close with some scriptures to ponder:
You can read Act 2: 1-12 first if you like to give you some background.
Act 2:13-17
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:
Eph 5:17-19
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Paul equates being filled with the Spirit with being drunk in the natural. I have experienced this many times. I was getting a “buzz” during the ministry time on Sunday. It was great! Notice how the church at Ephesus was exhorted to keep getting filled to the point of divine inebriation. Do we have the Spirit as Christ did, without measure? So it’s time for another drink! 
They already “had” the Spirit, yet they were exhorted to keep getting filled.
Have you been to a bar lately? Do you see how drunken men and women act? I understand there is flesh with all moves of the Spirit. I personally try to yield to the Holy Spirit as best as possible and not hype anything or get carried away emotionally. We will all deal with flesh until the Tabernacles age. To which I say, “Relax”! “Take a chill pill”. If this was going on 2,000 years ago, and God seemed okay with it, how did we get so pompous, religious and uptight? 1Th 5:19
Quench not the Spirit.