❤️THE REALITY OF MODERN OCCULTISM. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. -1 Timothy 4:1. The Scriptures predict that there will be a great increase in demonic activity in the last days. Our age is characterized by an ever-increasing flood of Satanic wickedness ranging all the way from psychic afflictions to moral aberrations. This rapid expansion of the work of the kingdom of darkness is affecting and influencing the entire world, its governments, society, the church, and the life of the believer. Demonic activity is clearly seen in the alarming increase in crime, lust, deceit, moral depravity, suicide, war, homosexuality, fear, worry, anxiety, atheism, disease, psychic disorders, demonic oppression and possession, and drug and alcohol addiction, together with the growth and intensification of spiritism, occultism, false religious cults, and the work and doctrines of seducing spirits and demons. There has never been a time in history when the warnings against the dangers of occultism (all forms of fortunetelling, magic, spiritism, and false religious cults) were more needful than the time in which we live. Multitudes of people, Christian and non-Christian alike, find themselves suffering physical, mental, psychic, and spiritual oppression; yet few realize that it is because they have allowed themselves to become ensnared in the demonic web of occultism, which is under the influence and control of the powers of darkness. Practices such as witchcraft, sorcery, and spiritism, which were once conducted more or less surreptitiously and abhorred by the average person, are now being clothed with a cloak of respectability and popularized through religious literature, lectures, church groups, radio, and TV. Millions are being subjected to demonstrations of the powers of darkness by such occult practices as clairvoyance, telepathy, ESP, hypnotism, fortunetelling, divination, magic, seances, and many other psychic practices. The late James A. Pike, a well-known Episcopal bishop, participated in a televised seance, allegedly communicating with his dead son (a suicide) through the professional medium Arthur Ford, a Disciples of Christ minister! The daily lives of millions are being influenced by the horoscope, which is the ancient Babylonian pseudoscientific black art of astrology (Daniel 2:2). Occult games such as "Ouija," "Clairvoyant," "Horoscope," "ESP," "Mystic Eye," "Kabala," "Dungeons and Dragons," and "Voodoo" are now being sold everywhere and suggested as ideal gifts for children and adults alike. As a result of its unprecedented psychic interest, the public can also purchase such occult articles as the planchette, pendulum, horoscope charts, tarot cards for telling fortunes, crystal balls, books on ESP, party games involving mind reading, hypnosis, clairvoyance, precognition, and so on, as well as other objects of the black arts. We find that many persons in government circles presidents, prime ministers, congressmen, senators, generals and admirals, envoys, and members of the State Department–seek and welcome the counsel and advice of clairvoyants and psychic mediums such as Jeane Dixon, whose prognostications have been derived from fortune telling cards and the crystal ball, and Arthur Ford who has conducted seances while in a trance. Moreover, some law enforcement agencies unhesitatingly engage the services of psychics like Peter Hurkosand G. Croiset, who have used their occult psychometric and clairvoyant powers to aid in the solution of crimes. Hurkos, for example, has assisted the police on murder cases in many countries, including the notorious "Boston Strangler" case. Graphology, a form of fortune telling through handwriting analysis, is now being used by many business firms who regularly consult graphologists to analyze the handwriting of prospective employees in an attempt to "read" their character, personality, and other traits, and thereby to predict their potentiality and worth, or lack of it. The CIA is said to have used handwriting analysis along with other tests, as do banks, finance companies, sales firms, manufacturers, and many others. Multitudes, including business, government, and religious leaders, beset with problems, fearful and confused because of the present state of the world, and concerned about the future, are seeking help and information from fortune tellers and spiritualist mediums. Countless others have been subjected to the influences and deceptions of spiritualism, assuming everything supernatural is of God, and mistaking the powers of darkness for the power of God. The gullible are naively falling victim to the fallacious reasoning that since God can heal and perform miracles, then every case of healing and everything that passes for a miracle must be from God. Since God has spoken through men by prophecy and revelation, they believe that everyone who claims to have a prophecy or revelation from God must be accepted as a prophet and seer. Thus, psychic mediums and clairvoyants are finding increasing acceptance from every quarter by the multitudes who are clamoring for their help and guidance through the operation of their alleged "gifts of God." Many others are involved one way or another in the superstitions of magic in an effort to be healed or helped by it in some way, or in order to influence others through it. Such delusion is nothing new, for we find it recorded in Acts 8:9-11, and we are warned concerning its increase in the last days, in which we now live (I Timothy 4:1-3; II Timothy 3:1-9; Matthew 24:24; II Corinthians 11:14; II Thessalonians 2:7-12). The use of LSD and other hallucinogenic drugs, with their resultant damaging emotional, mental, and psychic effects, has become in our time a symbol of mankind's frustration with life in the present world and is an attempt to venture into the spiritual "unknown" by means contrary to God's will. The "hippie" movement had considerable interest in the occult, e.g., fortunetelling, telepathy, astrology, black magic, devil worship, and other forms of witchcraft. Reports from England, Africa, France, Germany, South America, Haiti, Vietnam, Switzerland, in fact, from all over the world, including the U.S.A ., reveal that occultism in all forms is rapidly on the increase. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent annually on the so-called occult sciences. Thousands of tons of occult books and other literature find their way into homes via the newsstands and booksellers each year. Occult influence can readily be detected in movies, plays, and stories, and in many reputable magazines which contain regular monthly horoscope columns. Some years ago a published estimate revealed that there were at least 5000 astrologers in the U.S.A. alone, who charted the heavens for over 10 million ardent American followers of this ancient black art. These numbers continue to increase. Millions more have become addicted to and are influenced by horoscope columns in daily newspapers. The sale of horoscope magazines numbers in the millions and is increasing yearly according to reliable sources. In America, four times as many women as men are devotees of fortune telling by means of astrology. Business Week magazine reported that "legerdemain is becoming big business." People everywhere are taking renewed interest in magic and sleight of hand deception, including doctors, dentists, psychiatrists, ministers, advertising men, and salesmen. Even manufacturers are using the magician's tricks to promote their wares. Capitalizing on the new interest in occultism, many companies offer magic kits as a premium for buying their products. Time magazine has reported a great upsurge in interest in the black arts with sales of occult items such as crystal balls, tarot fortune telling cards, and Ouija boards at an all time record high. In any city of size, one can purchase such articles of witchcraft as amulets, hexing dolls, ingredients for casting magic spells, charm powders, mystic incense, roots, herbs, charms, magic candles, love potions, and many other occult and voodoo supplies. Books on "self-hypnosis" are becoming increasingly popular as a sort of do-it-yourself psychiatry. They promise the reader that self-hypnosis can, by controlling the subconscious, "unleash explosive powers within" and make life give you what you want-more money, power, prestige, marital happiness, freedom from pain and depression; put an end to fear; conquer bad temper; or change bad habits. A popular movement known as "Concept Therapy," a form of psychic self-improvement similar in some respects to such mental sciences as Unity and Christian Science, is being promoted as a panacea whereby one may, through mental concentration and the observance of certain "laws," actually "heal with ideas." The mails are being flooded with advertisements offering the gullible alleged occult secrets on "how to claim one's full psychic estate" by developing one's ESP powers. Others promise instruction on communication with departed loved ones and spirit "guides"; on projecting one's "astral self" outside the body in order to travel anywhere at will; on the practice of metaphysical healing of the body; and on such topics as how to read minds, how to gain control over others by mental suggestion, how to make oneself irresistible to the opposite sex, and how to predict the future. In this materialistic age, full of uncertainty and unrest, when even the church has grown skeptical of the validity of the supernatural for today, multitudes are turning to the delusions of spiritualism, or to the fortune tellers for guidance. They are seeking spiritual enlightenment and comfort, not from the Scriptures, but from the literature of occultism, including metaphysics and spiritism, and from false religious cults such as Rosicrucianism, Theosophy, Christian Science, Unity, Swedenborgianism, Mormonism, Baha'ism, Jehovah's Witness, and so on. The quest for spiritual reality and meaning in this chaoticage is reflected in the tremendous popularity of such pseudo-Christian literature as A Gift of Prophecy: The Phenomenal Jeane Dixon and A Search for the Truth by Ruth Montgomery; Edgar Cayce, The Sleeping Prophet (over 6 months on coast-to-coast best-seller lists); Nothing So Strange (the autobiography of Arthur Ford, the medium); and The Search for Bridey Murphy. The market is flooded with all manner of metaphysical and parapsychological literature, including books on ESP, telepathy, yoga, reincarnation, astrology, psychic phenomena, flying saucers (UFOs), ghosts, witchcraft, black magic, communication with the dead, hypnosis, and the supernatural and paranormal in general. Psychic interest is so high that occult book clubs have been established to meet the demand. Sensing that the contemporary church lacks the awareness of the true spiritual dimension and its power, many are seeking spiritual understanding and direction from such organizations as the Inner Peace Movement (IPM); the Association for Research and Enlightenment (ARE); Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship (SFF); and the Religious Research Foundation of America (RRFA). The occult nature of these and similar organizations is seen in their stress upon psychic phenomena and experiences, clairvoyance, precognition, the development of one's powers of ESP, personal communion with the dead and spirit "guides," and many other practices similar to those of spiritism, cults, and occultism in general. In addition, multitudes are being deluded by the absurd and unscriptural doctrine of reincarnation, whereby one "atones" for his own sins through a cycle of rebirths. This fantasy is currently arousing unusual interest in the Western world, largely as a result of renewed interest in Eastern metaphysics and the writings of such groups as the Rosicrucian's and Theosophy. Psychics like Edgar Cayce and Grace Whittenberger have contended that one may find the meaning and purpose of their present life on earth through so-called "life readings," or "reincarnative readings," concerning one's alleged previous lives. An important factor in the present-day alarming upsurge of interest in psychic phenomena, ESP, clairvoyance, telepathy, hypnosis, and so on, is the work done by such organizations as the English and American Societies for Psychical Research, as well as the writings of such men as Dr. J.B. Rhine of Duke University, author of Reach of the Mind, who originated the term "Extrasensory Perception" (ESP). Researchers in psychic science and parapsychology, with their discoveries of the hitherto largely unknown psychic forces present in the world, and by encouraging the development in man of the powers of clairvoyance, telepathy, hypnotism, and psychometry, are unwittingly opening wide the flood gates for satanic influence and control of the minds of men. These psychic powers, which are erroneously thought to be "latent" within all men, and only need developing to bring them forth, are not forces within the individual at all. On the contrary, the powers of clairvoyance, precognition, telepathy, and other forms of extrasensory perception, occur as a result of an invasion by insidious spiritual forces from without, which move in and begin to function in and through that individual. He opens himself to these dark powers by seeking psychic experiences, and through his efforts to develop the powers of ESP, or through involvement in any form of occultism. Thus, parapsychologists, under the guise of advancing psychic research and knowledge, are encouraging young and old alike to experiment in the psychic realm, in violation of the will of God and His express commands to the contrary. Their purpose is to heighten one's alleged subconscious powers of clairvoyance, telepathy, and so on; but they ignore the emotional, psychic, and spiritual damage to those who open themselves to the influence and control of the powers of darkness. The interest in psychic experimentation has become so widespread that more and more universities are establishing parapsychological departments for psychic research. Those who wish to test themselves personally for powers of ESP can now purchase "kits" by mail for such experimentation. Occultism and the black arts in general are experiencing a phenomenal revival of interest, influencing more people today than at any time in history. Leading universities, because of the great interest in the occult, offer courses of study with titles such as "Witchcraft, Magic, and Sorcery"; "Parapsychology"; "Psychology of the Paranormal"; and so on. So-called "witchcraft parties," in which a palmist, psychic, or fortuneteller is invited to enhance otherwise mediocre social gatherings, are becoming increasingly popular. Moreover, where the youth once gathered to play innocent party games, now they will amuse themselves, as likely as not, with such bizarre pastimes as table-tipping, levitation of bodies, seances, fortunetelling, hypnotism, playing with the Ouija board, and any number of other occult practices and psychic experiments. Leading sources have reported an open revival of witchcraft in England, as that nation is plagued with the greatest increase in sorcery and occultism since the Middle Ages. Thousands of confessed witches and devotees of witchcraft meet regularly to perpetuate pagan rituals and fertility rites, and to invoke and worship pagan gods (demons, cf. Deuteronomy 32:16-17; I Corinthians 10:20). In San Francisco, the First Satanic Church was founded and led by Anton La Vey, the self-proclaimed "priest of Satan." Devil worship is practiced throughout the world today in Germany, Mexico, England, America, France, and elsewhere. Practitioners of occultism can be found in every city of the world. The gullible seek them for guidance concerning their problems; "spirit" healing; readings of their alleged "past lives"; the location of lost persons and objects; predictions regarding everything from personal matters (marriage, career, love, etc.) to business affairs; and communication with the dead. The powers of darkness are sweeping across the earth to deceive and destroy, as Satan knows his time is short (Revelation 12:12). False prophets are rising to deceive many by making accurate predictions concerning historical events. Seducing spirits speaking through false teachers and writers are leading the gullible astray with their subtle teachings of religious error (I Timothy 4:1). Psychics, who claim their "gift" is from God, are deluding multitudes, including many professing Christians, ministers, and religious leaders, who naively accept everything supernatural as divine, oblivious of the fact that Satan also can perform great signs and wonders (II Thessalonians 2:9-12). Psychic and "spirit" healers, counterfeiting the gifts of the Holy Spirit, are performing many miraculous cures by occult power. For example, Tony Agpaoa, a "psychic surgeon" in the Philippines, made headlines when several well-known Americans, notably from the field of sports, went to have him perform drugless, painless surgery on them using no instruments to make incisions except his bare hands. Harry Edwards, a "spirit" healer in England, has had spirit "guides" heal through him, often without him touching the patient. Edwards, we are told, has even treated members of the royal family, as well as many of England's clergy. The current widespread scientific interest and developments in psychic research; the growing acceptance of parapsychology as a science; the use of hypnotism by psychiatrists and medical doctors; and the acceptance by scientists of extrasensory perception as a legitimate manifestation of the mind, are unmistakable evidence of Satan's success in gaining access to man's spirit, as a necessary step in his invasion of humanity on a scale unheard of in history! Furthermore, we are witnessing an increase in occult literature geared to influence business and professional men and women, stressing that the key to success and personal achievement is "psychic self-improvement"; development of one's "cosmic powers"; "tuning in on the creative intelligence of the universe"; learning "how to make ESP work for you"; and so on. Organizations such as the Inner Peace Movement (whose stated goal has been to help men develop their powers of ESP), have offered programs along the lines of "leadership training utilizing extrasensory perception" to business, industrial, professional, and academic leaders, in order to develop "self-understanding" in executives and supervisors. This is supposed to help them recognize and develop potentials in their employees. The growing influence of astrologers who specialize in forecasts concerning stock market conditions, labor and management, production, taxes, and politics, as well as business and financial matters in general, is unlike anything seen before, as countless business and professional people seek their advice and counsel. Show business people are notoriously superstitious and especially addicted to astrology for guidance concerning their professional careers. But businessmen who are consulting the horoscope are quickly overtaking them, both in numbers and fervor! The success of the powers of darkness in influencing religious leaders is nowhere more evident than in the contemporary liberal and neo-orthodox emphasis in religious schools and theological seminaries. Demonic activity and influence are not limited to the violent behavior we see in the Gadarene demoniac (Mark5). Satan often works in subtle ways, i.e., under the guise of modern scholarship, or through the religious cults. "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness" (II Corinthians 11:14-15). Among ministers and religious leaders, there is an increasing interest in occult literature, ESP, and communication with the dead, as well as other occult practices and psychic phenomena. The Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship is an association of ministers and laymen interested in psychic phenomena, communication with the dead, and so on. Founded by Arthur Ford, a Disciples of Christ minister and trance medium, it is an example of the growing occult interests of ministers in America. The membership of the Churches Fellowship for Psychic Studies in England includes many religious dignitaries who are interested in the relationship between extrasensory experiences and religion. The widespread influence of psychics and other occult practitioners upon government, military, and political leaders has already been shown. Nor can we fail to mention the rise of the New Age movement, a demonically inspired, humanistic religion of rebellion against God, which sets up man as a "god" unto himself. Surely one cannot mistake the devilish source which drove a well-known movie starlet to run naked up and down a beach, screaming, "I am god! I am god!" in the name of the New Age! There has never been a time in history when occult involvement has been more widespread. Millions are deluded, including many professing Christians, ministers, and religious leaders, both as to its satanic character and its resultant psychic and spiritual damage to those who participate. Important questions to consider. Have there ever been any occult contacts or involvement in your personal life or family history? Are you aware that the Scriptures say that God condemns such participation without reservation? If you have ever practiced or participated in any of these things, then consider the following questions carefully. They may well be the doorway to your deliverance from occult subjection and oppression. 1. Have you ever visited a fortune teller, who told your fortune by the use of cards, tea leaves, palm reading, or other occult means? 2. Has anyone ever hypnotized you, or have you ever practiced self-hypnosis or yoga? 3. Do you read or follow the horoscope? 4. Have you attended a seance or spiritualist meeting at any time? 5. Have you had a "life" or "reincarnative" reading? 6. Have you consulted a Ouija board, planchette, cards, tea leaves, crystal ball, and such like (whether "in fun," out of curiosity, or in earnest)? 7. Have you played with any so-called "games" of an occult nature (ESP, Telepathy, Kabala, etc.)? 8 ). Have you ever consulted a medium? 9. Have you ever sought healing by any occult means, either voluntarily as an adult, or involuntarily as a child? This would include the removal of warts, or the treatment of burns or other disease by magic conjuration or charming; by a Spiritualist, Christian Scientist, or other "spirit-healing" practitioner; by psychic healing, hypnosis, or metaphysical healing; by the use of the pendulum or trance for diagnosis; or by any other occult means. (Such practices are not to be confused with divine healing through faith as taught in the Scriptures.) 10. Have you ever sought to locate missing objects or persons by consulting someone who has psychic, clairvoyant, or psychometric powers? 11. Have you practiced table-lifting (tipping), levitation, or automatic (spirit) writing? 12. Have you ever been given or worn an amulet, talisman, or charm for luck or protection? 13. Have you, or has anyone for you, practiced water witching (sometimes called dowsing or divining for water, etc.) using a twig or pendulum? 14. Do you read or possess occult or spiritualist literature, such as books on astrology, interpretation of dreams, metaphysics, psychic phenomena, ESP, self-realization, religious cults, fortunetelling, magic, or clairvoyance, and especially such occult magical books as Secrets of the Psalms, and the diabolical so-called Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses? 15. Have you experimented with or practiced ESP or telepathy? 16. Have you used the psychedelic drug, LSD? 17. Have you ever practiced any form of magic charming or ritual? 18. Have you had your handwriting analyzed, practiced mental suggestion, cast a magic spell, or sought psychic experiences? 19. Do you possess any occult or pagan relics, artifacts, or religious objects which may have been involved in pagan temples and religious rites, or in the practice of sorcery, magic, divination, or spiritualism? 20. Have you ever attended meetings such as those of the Rosicrucian's, Spiritualists, Mormons, Christian Scientists, Baha'i, Theosophy, Unity, Inner Peace Movement, Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship, Association for Research and Enlightenment, Religious Research Foundation of America, Jehovah's Witnesses, Unitarians, or others of an occult nature? 21. Do you realize that all these practices, as well as any participation in them, are condemned by God in the Scriptures? 22. Do you realize that divination, fortunetelling, magic practices, false religious cults, and spiritism in all forms are an abomination to God and are under His curse? 23. Do you realize that, if you ever practiced or participated in any form of occultism (whether intentionally or innocently), you opened the door to oppression from the powers of darkness, even if your occult activity occurred before you became a Christian? 24. Do you realize that you may now be the victim of demonic subjection or oppression because of this, even though you have been unaware of the source and cause of your problems? The direct connection between occult involvement and physical, psychic, mental, and spiritual oppression was shown in the previous study on “Demonism in the Light of Scripture” We urge you to give careful attention as you read it, for many have found the way of liberation when shown the occult cause for their oppression. I hope you join us next time for our further studies on these topics. Edited. Shared. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.

❤️THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The doctrine of the Holy Spirit is usually studied under three headings: His personality, deity, and work. Teaching on the personality of the Holy Spirit is significant because the cults and the liberals, contrary to the Bible, contend that the Holy Spirit is not a personality, but He is merely to be equated with a power. To support their view they quote Acts 1:8, where Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit to empower man's witness. Others say the Holy Spirit is only an influence that God exercises in people's minds. They quote John 14:26 where Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit to teach the disciples. THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The Scriptures show that the Holy Spirit is a personality—not a mere power, or influence, or an impersonal attribute of God. This is obvious because personal pronouns, which indicate personality, are used in reference to Him. Although the Greek term "pneuma," meaning "spirit," is a neuter noun, whenever the Scriptures speak of the Holy Spirit, masculine pronouns (He, Him, Himself) are used. The Greek language is quite complex, and if the Holy Spirit were simply a neuter power or influence, the writers would have used neuter pronouns; but instead, whenever the Holy Spirit is spoken of, masculine pronouns are used of Him, indicating that He is a personality. The term "paraclete," which is used in John 14:26 of the Holy Spirit, is the same one used in 1 John 2:1 of Christ, the man. The Holy Spirit has attributes of personality such as wisdom and knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:10-12; 12:8). In Romans 8:26-27 Paul spoke of the "mind of the Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:11 shows that He wills to do things. He teaches (John 14:26); He can be grieved, indicating that He has emotion (Ephesians 4:30); He reproves the world of sin (John 16:8); and He appoints, commissions, and commands (Acts 13:2; 20:28). Paul was forbidden by the Holy Spirit in Acts 16:6-7 from going into certain areas to preach, but was sent instead to other places. The Holy Spirit was active in creation (Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4). A mere influence or power could not speak, but He spoke in John 16:13 and Acts 13:2. In Revelation 3:22 Jesus said, "Let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." The Scriptures lend no support to the error that the Holy Spirit is just a power or influence. If they did, it would result in tautology, that is, needless repetition in many passages. For example, Acts 10:38 reads, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power." Substitute the word "power" for the Holy Spirit, then it would read, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with power and with power." The matter is settled in Zechariah 4:6 where spirit and power are contrasted. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The deity of the Holy Spirit is a truth which is denied by the cults and the liberals, but is seen throughout the Word of God. First, in the triune passages the Holy Spirit's deity is shown in that He is equated with God. The Great Commission given to the church by Jesus in Matthew 28:19 says, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Also see 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2. Secondly, the Holy Spirit is called God in certain passages. For instance, in Acts 5:3-4 Ananias and Sapphira sold their property and brought a certain part of the money to the church. They said they were giving all they had received, but they were only giving part. Peter said to Ananias, "Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." In verse 3 Peter said they lied to the Holy Spirit, but in verse 4 he said they lied to God; so obviously, the Holy Spirit is God. Other passages in the New Testament where the Holy Spirit is equated with God are: 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:4-6; Ephesians 2:22. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit is revealed to be God by the fact that He possesses divine attributes. He is said to be omnipresent in Psalm 139:7. "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" The Holy Spirit is also omniscient, all-wise (1 Corinthians 2:10). His omnipotence is shown in that He created the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:2), and He is the agent of the new birth (John 3:7-8) THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT When speaking of the work of the Holy Spirit, one should avoid the error of dividing God's activity into dispensations to such an extreme that it borders on Sabellian-ism or the "oneness" error. This heresy, which confronted the early church and is still present today, teaches that God existed in three successive modes. Those who believe this say that in the Old Testament was the ministry of the Father; in the New Testament was the ministry of the Son; and in the present church age is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Stated another way, this would mean that God is not one divine Spirit who eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; but He has existed in three successive modes: first, the Father; then, the Son; and now, the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, in every work and activity of God, the eternal, triune God is personally and actively present. While it is true that each personality or personification of the triune God occupies certain offices or has specific functions within the unity in the Godhead, the Godhead cannot be divided. One never works without the entire Godhead acting. In John 14:16 Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit; in verse 18 He said, "I will come"; then in verse 23 He said, "We [the Father and I] will come unto him, and make our abode with him." In this passage it is clearly shown that Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, which He did on the day of Pentecost; but it would be He, Himself, who would be coming back, and not only He, but the Father also. Jesus was saying that when the Spirit is present, then the Father and Son are present. This may be difficult to comprehend; nevertheless, it is true. God is what He reveals Himself to be in His Word; He is one divine Spirit who eternally personified Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's work in relation to the Old Testament is threefold. The Holy Spirit was the agent in creation (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:24,30; Job 33:4). In Colossians 1:16 Paul revealed that Jesus Christ was the creator of all things, which is confirmed in John 1:1-3. How did He do it? He created by the Spirit of God; therefore, there is no contradiction. The Holy Spirit, as the agent in creation, actually did the forming. Secondly, the Holy Spirit empowered men by anointing them for special functions or work, as seen all through the Book of Judges. The Holy Spirit fell upon Samson, for example, and he was supernaturally empowered to do mighty works on behalf of God. It is interesting to note that there is a distinction between the work of the Holy Spirit with respect to believers in the old dispensation and in the New Testament. There are numerous cases in the Old Testament where He would anoint individuals for a certain task; He would be with them, and then He would leave after the work or function was finished. In the New Testament, however, when a believer received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit would indwell him permanently. Jesus said in John 14:17 that the Holy Spirit "dwelleth with you, and shall be in you," referring, of course, to the initial outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and also to those in later times who would receive this experience. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit inspired men with wisdom, knowledge, and skills. This empowering enabled the men to implement the plans that God gave Moses for the tabernacle and the later temple and its furnishings. God gave skills by His Spirit to those He had chosen to perform these works (Exodus 31:3). He also inspired the prophets to speak (Zechariah 7:12). In Nehemiah 9:30, for example, God spoke to the Israelites through the prophets by His Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who inspired the Old Testament Scriptures. David was inspired to write the Psalms, for he said, "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue" (2 Samuel 23:1-2). The apostle said in 2 Peter 1:21 that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17 all Scripture is inspired by God—both Old and New Testaments. The Holy Spirit's work in relation to the New Testament dispensation is fourfold. First, with respect to Scripture, it was He who inspired the writer. In John 16:13 Jesus was even more specific. He said, "When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come." This is a direct statement of the fact that the Scriptures are inspired. In other words, "I will show you things to come by my Spirit. I will teach you all things by my Spirit." Secondly, the work of the Holy Spirit was inseparably related to Jesus from His birth. According to Luke 1:35, Jesus' birth was to be a virgin birth by the Holy Spirit. Luke 3:22 says that after Jesus was baptized, "the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him." When Jesus began His ministry as teacher, He said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach" (Luke 4:18). In Matthew 12:28 Jesus said He cast out devils by the Spirit of God. Further, He warned that if someone spoke against His works, he would be blaspheming the Holy Spirit, because Jesus did the works by the Spirit of God. The Bible also speaks of the Spirit's work with respect to the resurrection of Christ; it was the Spirit of God who raised Him from the dead (Romans 8:11). Thirdly, the Spirit of God has a ministry in relation to the church. He is seen to be the creator of the church, which had its beginning when the believers were baptized by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:13 that all believers are baptized by one Spirit into one body, speaking there of the Spirit's work of regeneration, not of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:22 says that Christians "are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." The Holy Spirit directs the church's ministry, as seen, for example, in Acts 13,16,20, as well as throughout the New Testament. It is evident in those passages that He is the sovereign agent in evangelism, for He told Paul to go one place and not to go to another. The Holy Spirit was not only empowering the church's witness, but He was also directing where they were to witness, just as He will today if Christians will look to Him for guidance. Fourthly, the Holy Spirit's ministry in relation to the individual Christian is quite extensive. He convicts of sin, according to John 16:8; then, upon belief of the gospel, He gives regeneration—the new birth. He then enables the new convert to make a saving confession of Christ. "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3). As stated earlier in this text, that does not mean man cannot say those words, but he cannot make a saving confession from the heart except by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also the one who sanctifies; that is, He sets believers apart unto service in God's kingdom (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2). Further, He educates and illumines the minds of His children (John 14:26; Mark 13:11; 1 Corinthians 12:8). The Holy Spirit also empowers the Christian with respect to his ministry, witness, and walk with Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 Paul shows that the Holy Spirit empowers the believer's ministry through the gifts of the Spirit. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said the Holy Spirit would empower the church's witness. In Galatians 5:16,22-23 the fruit of the Spirit is manifest through the saints. Paul taught that disciples of Jesus are to walk in the Spirit, and he listed the fruits of the Spirit which should be evident in their lives. The Holy Spirit intercedes for Christ's followers, according to Romans 8:26. Finally, He preserves the elect, according to Ephesians 4:30; and will resurrect them as He did Christ (Romans 8:11). CLARIFICATION OF THE TERMS REGARDING THE HOLY SPIRIT In the study of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, there are a number of terms and concepts which are sometimes confused or misunderstood. These include the gift of the Spirit contrasted with the gifts of the Spirit, as well as the earnest, sealing, anointing, baptism, infilling, fulness, and indwelling of the Spirit. Some of these terms are used synonymously—being baptized in the Spirit (Acts 1) is being filled with the Spirit (Acts 2:4). The first term to be discussed is the gift of the Holy Spirit which is the "baptism of the Holy Spirit." In Acts 2:12 the Jews were amazed when they heard the disciples speaking in tongues or other languages, and they inquired of Peter, "What meaneth this?" Peter replied that what they were observing was that which had been spoken by the prophet in Joel 2:28, and that they could also "receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Many people confuse regeneration with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They think a person automatically receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit when he is saved; however, they are not the same. In Acts 1:4,5,8 Jesus' promise was not "Wait to be born again," but was in essence, "Wait to be empowered; wait for the Holy Spirit." In regeneration the Holy Spirit imparts life or the new birth, as seen in John 1:12, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power [the authority or right] to become the sons of God." The Greek term, translated "power," is "exousia." The term used in Acts, however, is "dunamis," from which the word "dynamite" is derived. In Scripture it is the enabling to do mighty works. Jesus said, "Ye shall receive power [dunamis]" in Acts 1:8. In the one case the promise is for the authority and right to become a son of God; in the other case, it is for empowering. Just as the gift of the Holy Spirit is not to be confused with regeneration, neither is the gift of the Spirit to be confused with the gifts of the Spirit. The gifts (plural) are supernatural manifestations of the Spirit through the body of Christ, and are described in 1 Corinthians 12; 14; and Romans 12. The gift of the Spirit, as it is called in Acts 2:38, is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:45 and 11:15-17 speak of the gift of the Holy Spirit being poured out upon the Gentiles. Another term used regarding the Holy Spirit is the earnest of the Spirit, which occurs in 2 Corinthians 1:22. Paul said, God "hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." This signifies that God has given a down payment, an earnest or a part, as a pledge or guarantee that the remainder will be given. There are two aspects of the earnest of the Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is God's pledge of full redemption; and it is also the prospect of the fulness of the Spirit, which will be mentioned later. A third expression is the sealing of the Holy Spirit which occurs in 2 Corinthians 1:22, as well as in Ephesians 1:13-14 and 4:30. The earnest of the Spirit is God's pledge of full redemption, and the sealing is God's assurance of this. It is like an envelope—God put the promise inside and then sealed it. Another term is the anointing of the Spirit, which is also called the unction of the Spirit in the King James Version. 1 John 2:20 says, "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things," and verse 27 continues, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you." Paul also spoke of the anointing in 2 Corinthians 1:21. What is the meaning of anointing! In the Old Testament the prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with oil to signify that they were being set apart for service unto God, a ritual which depicted the Holy Spirit being put upon them. In the New Testament the anointing is said to be within the believer (John 14:17). What is the purpose of the anointing! It brings illumination to the essential truths of Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 John 2:20,27; John 16:13). The anointing enables Christians to witness effectively (Acts 1:8 with 2:37-47). The anointing is the enablement to minister the gifts (1 Corinthians 12; 14; Romans 12). The anointing is an empowering to preach and teach the Word, as in Luke 4:18 where Jesus was anointed to preach. The anointing gives believers the power needed to walk and live a consecrated life. Those who are baptized in the Spirit will experience the anointing in these various ways. The Bible shows that being baptized in the Spirit is to be filled with the Spirit. These two terms are used interchangeably in the Book of Acts. However, the fulness of the Spirit is manifested in the Christian's life to the extent he yields himself to the Spirit after he is baptized in the Spirit. The baptism is an instantaneous experience received with the asking (Luke 11:13), but the fulness is a growth (Ephesians 4:11-16). The fulness is not a once-for-all experience, but is a gradual maturing unto the likeness of Jesus Christ. The command in Ephesians 5:18, "Be filled with the Spirit," was given to saints who had already received the infilling of the Spirit; but Paul knew that they needed to go on to the fulness. Since Acts 1:5 and 2:4 equate the baptism of the Spirit with being filled with the Spirit, obviously a deeper meaning is implied by Paul's exhortation to be filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18. Shared. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.

chapter 17 EPHESIANS 5 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. ONE WEDDING AND A WHITE SUIT Arriving back in China in early October, we had to organise the wedding, lots of friends helped us, people from Helen's church did the photos and the video, my friend from Chinese class Adam who was already in China, came and was best man. Another church leader was host and our Pastor Ji Tai, married us. In China, you can get legally married very quickly, as the country is not Christian, you can get marriage certification in a few minutes, but many couples want and have a ceremony, which usually takes place in a large hotel. So Helen and I along with our friend Samuel, organised the wedding, we had photos taken at a photo shop and ordered a cake from the local cake shop, which we managed to transport to the venue, but not before, it had half collapsed. Helen had a beautiful wedding dress and she looked stunning, she took a long time, getting made up, I took thirty seconds, although I had my hair dyed and it was now orange! Samuel decided to come in a white suit, he looked very dapper, I expected everyone to come in formal wear, but everyone came in fairly casual clothes. We said our wows and then I was invited to speak, Helen's father spoke, as did Adam (in fluent Chinese) and Pastor Ji We had our own little choir made up of church members and some friends sang our favourite songs. There were twelve tables and everything had a good feed, well except us, we had to go round and toast everybody (twice), so we ended up having nothing to eat. At Chinese weddings, instead of giving gifts, people give red envelopes filled with money, the usually amount is 500 -1000 Yuan (around 80 -150 English pounds). Our wedding was on the 28th October 2012 and this year, it will be 14 years, we are still happy, despite many obstacles and challenges, I thank God for the gift of my wife. Devotional thought Things are very different at Chinese weddings, we will have a full update of our daughter's wedding, later in this book.. Getting married to Helen is probably the second best thing I have ever done, after trusting Christ. Marriage has not been easy for both of us, remember that marriage is between two sinners. Christian marriage is a challenge as the devil hates it and tries all he can to disrupt it. The only difference in a Christian marriage is that the Lord is right in the middle of it, he is the controlling factor. What is the thing that helps beyond anything else, it is to pray together, we find that praying together helps us greatly. This allows us to focus on the same things. When we don't pray together, we have problems. Recently we have gone out together sharing the gospel, to do things together is the best thing, we make dumplings together and have just been to Vietnam together. So do things as one and pray together and that will make a happy marriage. CHAPTER 18 A PIGEON, KING AND MICHAEL JACKSON Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. So now I was living in Nanjing, but what was I going to do, I hadn't grasped the language, so it was suggested that I help Chinese students grasp mine. Our friend Chen said she knew of some teenagers who would like to learn English, so I went along to her house one Saturday morning accompanied by Samuel for moral support. We met eight young teenagers and to break the ice, I suggested they introduce themselves with their English names, Girls were first and we started with Catherine, then Celia, all good English names. Then Pigeon, who calls themselves pigeon, Ok I thought, who's next....Michael.. good.. the guy sat next to him. Is Jackson. So I had Michael Jackson in the room and he could actually moonwalk. The final boy introduced himself, as KING. Yes that's right, my first class had a pigeon, a king and Michael Jackson in it! I remember I asked them to describe a way they would get to class, and Jonah, came on a motorised elephant, I actually thought he would of come by whale power. I started to have some students, there was an Australian Chinese couple in the complex and they had two sons, their sons said to their Chinese mother, I saw an Englishman in our complex, she didn't believe him, until we bumped into each other a few days later. I started to have some students, I remember with fondness Fiona, Seven , Andy, Rain and others, all of which are now in their twenties. When I came Helen was always bumping into old students, now I am doing the same. At one point, I had thirty students and had 4-5 classes at the weekend, Now I have lessened those classes, but I give thanks to the students and their parents, who have allowed me to teach them, I can't say enough of my time, with students such as Sophia, Anthea, Kevin, Rose x2, Adam (who I taught for six years), Jack and Jerry, to name but a few. I am slowing down my teaching now and gradually reducing numbers, but will continue to do the teaching as long as God brings the students to me, My current students especially little Rui, Bowen, Joy, Jerry and Mary. I charge a little, I could charge more, but I want to help Chinese children learn English. Thanks God for all his blessings in allowing me to touch many lives. DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT God has a sense of humour, you remember that Keith was a terrible student, he drove his teachers totally nuts, so can you imagine, Keith is now a teacher. What would some of his teachers think, Keith a teacher, are you kidding me! I hope he gets back what he gave.. ha-ha Whenever I have a badly behaved student, who won't listen, I think to myself, well that was you many years ago. Being able to help Chinese children learn English is a great honour and privilege, but it is nothing to teaching them the precious word of God. Parents, it is your responsibility to teach your children, the buck stops with you, it is not the responsibility of the church. If you don't teach them the bible, the world will mould them into it's own image, the school system will fill their heads with atheism and humanism. The place where all these ISM'S can and should be challenged is the home, you can not be an absentee parent, always seeking to gain to more money or another promotion, whilst leaving your family to manage with one parent. So many families in China are controlled by the mother, that is not God's ideal, the man is the leader. Are you as a man, leading your family? By setting a godly example. By leading the family altar By providing protection for your family by prayer and sacrifice. Men, it's not all about money. The next generation has to be taught about the scriptures, we must pass on the truths of the bible to our children and grandchildren, if we don't fill their minds and hearts with bible truth, someone else will fill them.

Good morning to everyone. Grace and peace be with you. This has truly been a fantastic runaway for my husband and me. One that we genuinely needed to re-center ourselves and our relationship. Our last few months have been anything but boring. Work schedules, parental duties, parental care … then just regular and everyday life … Though we are centered in Christ, the enemy continues to weigh on us as try to wear us out. This weekend was just what the Father ordered for us to breathe. Many times yesterday, I got chills or an awe-filled feeling about what we were encountering. The multitude of questions that always surround the story of Noah and the Ark… was really spelled out in this magnificent display. I highly recommend that if the opportunity arises, you take the Ark experience and (EXPERIENCE) the Ark. Today we get the privilege of returning home in the rain. It rained last night, and it appears that a good portion of our trip will be traveled in the rain. How fitting, don’t you think? We visited the Ark, and now we get to drive in the rain. Haha. Oh…here is a funny for you. Me and my squirrel-ism. I did the Virtual experience as well. I was a little disappointed in the visual quality, but I assumed that the pixels were meant to be that way. I can be such a goofus…I wear tri-focals…it wasn’t the pixels … it was that I was looking through the wrong lens. Duh. How easy is it to see something in the wrong light or lens? When we walk into a chaotic scene, instantly, we assume whoever is the loudest is the aggressor and needs to be restrained…however, without knowing the facts, they could simply have been defending themselves. Naturally, if we enter into a situation like this, we need to quiet the tones so that everyone can be heard correctly. We should never take sides without first encountering or discovering the truth. Many conflicts with friends to friends I have been invited into. In each, I explain that I am on the side of Truth and Truth alone, so if your version is not truthful, I will not take your side. I do my best to impartially listen to both sides and then attempt to offer an equal solution. Because I enter a conflict in this manner, each side knows where I stand. Rarely have there been hard feelings at the end that did not pass in time if I did not ‘side’ with one or the other. The enemy loves to cause division. If he can put a chasm between two long-time friends, who were once rock solid together in the Word, then he has done his ‘good’ deed for the day. Splitting churches over silliness. Splitting friends from rumors. Splitting a country with differences of opinion. That is his entire game. Because once he starts the split, then he fills that area with innuendo and false (but logical) facts. Sound familiar? Today is His day. Today I encourage you, wherever you are, to have a conversation with Him about areas that may have an opening for the enemy to motivate you in the wrong direction. Have a conversation with Him about areas that need your forgiveness. Have a conversation with Him about a hurt that is not healing. Just have a conversation with Him and seek out YOUR truth in YOUR situation. Ask Him to reveal what you need to see. I encourage you to find the clear lens…with Him. Be blessed today my friends. ***Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! – Matthew 7:9-11

Catechism and Celebrity Church Culture from: Breakpoint Recently, musician Tiffany Arbuckle Lee announced in a social media post that she has deconstructed at least a part of her faith. Lee sold a half-million records as a Chrisitan singer. In the video, she shared her doubts on the reliability of Scripture. In an earlier statement, she took an “affirming” stance on LGBT issues. Lee is the latest in a growing list of Christian celebrities to deconstruct aspects of their Christian faith, including Kevin Max of DC Talk, Derek Webb of Caedmon’s Call, and Joshua Harris of I Kissed Dating Goodbye. Lee’s doubts about the Bible could have been corrected in a decent Sunday morning youth group class. Questioning the reliability of the Bible, Lee said she never knew that Jesus and Paul never “hung out,” or that the Apostle was reporting events that had happened decades before he wrote. Of course, neither of these facts are a secret. While it’s possible that a very young Paul could have met Jesus, there’s no record of that in the Bible or church history. What we do know is that Jesus met Paul on the Road to Damascus, not long after the Resurrection. And that Paul met with Peter and James, both of whom had spent years with Jesus. And that Paul was present with all the leaders of the Church at the Council of Jerusalem. In other words, even if the idea of God’s Spirit guiding Paul is dismissed as irrelevant, Paul was closely connected with people who knew Christ well. Lee also claimed that the Bible was written by “mostly white dudes.” However, the only books of the Bible written by a westerner are Luke and Acts, written by the physician Luke. “White people” barely show up in Scripture and are often the villains. The Philistines of the Old Testament may have come from the Aegean Sea region and the Romans from Italy. The vast majority of the Bible’s authors and cultural context came from what is now known as the Middle East. Lee also is troubled that Moses did not witness what he wrote about in the Torah, which is only partly true. He is a primary character of the events described in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Only Genesis records events before his life, and it is remarkable how accurate his account is. As Kenneth Kitchen argued in his classic work On the Reliability of the Old Testament, the numerous details of the Bible’s description of ancient life point to a deep knowledge of the times. And, of course, if witnessing the actual events is a requirement of trust, we should dismiss every work of modern history and embrace the Gospels. That’s if we don’t accept the first premise that an all-powerful God who created everything wanted to give us a reliable historical record. Lee also questioned why other writings were not made part of the Bible, like the Gnostic book of Thomas. This is a topic often repeated by online skeptics and thoroughly refuted by apologists like Wes Huff, Gavin Ortlund, and The Colson Center’s “What Would You Say?” There’s a real danger in letting baby Christians grow up to be pop-stars. Mimicking the wider culture of celebrity-ism, a select group of talented believers are put on a pedestal without checking if they know the basics and have the required character for fame and fortune. This is not an indictment of Christian celebrities as much as it is the way the Church disciples its people. How many young people are sideswiped by the shallow claims of former Christian celebrities, college professors, and online skeptics parroting challenges to the Christian worldview that have been thoroughly addressed and answered for decades? It’s a shame when a Christian is convinced that some very answerable claim about the faith is unanswerable simply because they were never exposed to the questions or answers that are there. Not to mention, how many people go through decades of church life without knowing even the basics of the Bible? The call for the Church to go deeper has been clear for some time. I’m encouraged by the dozens of churches that offer Colson Fellows training as cohorts, and those that have gotten serious about challenging young people to ask hard questions about faith and the world. The truth is big enough for our questions.

Dear Minister of the Gospel? Pastor Chris is inviting all Ministers of the Gospel to register for the upcoming ISM Global Ministers Classroom Holding on Friday, 23rd May - 24 May 2025 Time: 2pm (GMT+1) Register via below: https://kingsforms.online/form/respond/LWF-QP838851010479 #ISM #GMC #PastorChris #christembassy #GMC2025 #GMCwithPastorChris #PREACH