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Message 14 - By Jerry D. Green

Endued with Power

Introduction

Since this message was first written, I see the need for the power which comes with the baptism of the Holy Ghost more than ever before in my lifetime. Never before have I seen the anti-God, anti-Christ powers of darkness came against God, His Son Jesus, who is the Christ, and the truth of the gospel (as it is in Him) with such ferocity as I see today. The truly born again children of God who are the body, the true church, of Jesus, the Christ, are also included in this last day attack. The power which comes with the baptism of the Holy Ghost is not given for our pleasure, that is, to give us a good feeling, nor to clean up our sinful lives, which is the work of the shed blood of Jesus; but, it is given that we may be effective witnesses and ministers of the true gospel of Jesus Christ, with great power and boldness, to a lost and dying world. This power includes signs, wonders, and miracles, but is never given to lift up anyone, other than God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I sincerely hope this message will open the eyes of each and every child of God to the great need which each and every one of us have for the power that comes with the baptism of the Holy Ghost; to be effective witnesses and ministers of Jesus Christ and the gospel of Him. JDG

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Endued with Power

Luke 24:49

“And, behold, I send THE PROMISE of MY FATHER upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be ENDUED WITH POWER from on high” (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21; Acts 2:38-39).

Message 13 was concerning being born again, of and by the Spirit of God; but as truly born again children of God, there is another very important need which we all have. We all desperately need to be endued with power from on high; the power of the “Holy Ghost” (or, “Holy Spirit” if you prefer, because they are one and the same). In this message I would like to explore the need of that power. The enduing of power is as essential to the propagation of the true church of God, and, of Jesus, the Christ, as being born again of the Spirit of God is to true salvation. The propagation of the church of Jesus Christ is brought about by the preaching, teaching, and witnessing of Jesus Christ and His gospel by the individual members of His church, “...which is his body...” on this earth (Ephesians 1:22-23). The success of the body of Christ to reach the lost, both as individuals and collectively, is altogether dependent upon it being “...endued with (the) power (that comes only) from on high. Without this power there is no reproof of sin, no conviction (John 16:8), no drawing (John 6:44), and no anointing; because this power of which we speak is the anointing. Without this power, there can be no miraculous works. Without this power the church is utterly helpless to effectively fulfill the great commission. That being to preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ and the great love and justice of God that is revealed therein, to all the world (Romans 1:16-17; Acts 4:29-31; Matthew 24:14). Let’s look, for a few minutes, into this great “promise of the Father” and see why the church is falling so short of that which God has called it to be, and to do, when the true outpouring of His Spirit is not happening (Acts 2:16-17).

First, let’s look in Strong’s Greek Dictionary at the definition of the Greek word which was translated endued. The Greek word was “enduo ([en-doo’-o]),” #1746 in the dictionary, and Mr. Strong says this word means, “(...in the sense of sinking into a garment); to invest with clothing (literally or figuratively).” To be endued with power is literally to be clothed or enveloped with power. Power here is dunamis “(doo’-nam-is),” #1411, “force (literally or figuratively); special, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself).”

Why was it so important that they tarry (sit, stay, wait) in Jerusalem until they were endued with this power? First, it was because they needed life; a new Divine nature. They needed to be born again of God by the creative power of His Holy Ghost (the Holy Spirit). Secondly, they needed boldness.  They were under great persecution and stress. And even though they had witnessed the resurrection of Jesus, they still, as His disciples and followers, feared for their lives. They were confused and discouraged and some, perhaps all, felt somewhat betrayed by Jesus because He had not fulfilled the role which they had expected in their minds, that “the Messiah” (“the Christ”) would do when He came. Their carnal thinking simply could not comprehend either a crucified, or risen, Messiah who would not “...restore again the (natural) kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1:6).

Nevertheless, the commandment was to tarry (sit, stay, wait) in Jerusalem until they were clothed or enveloped with that miraculous force or power from on high. That power, which comes only from God Himself to bear witness both to and through those who “...hear the word of the gospel (of Christ) and believe” (IT; Acts 15:7-9; Romans 1:16). “And they went everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word (of the gospel) with signs following… (Mark 16:20).” Paul says of himself, “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed.” (But) “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the POWER of the Spirit of God; ...I have FULLY preached the gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:18-19).

Let’s discuss FULLY PREACHING the gospel of Christ. The gospel has been so perverted in the years since those first (eyewitness) apostles, that there is hardly a true gospel message anywhere; but even when a true gospel message is preached, it is not FULLY preached without the power of the Spirit of God. There is still the absolute need for the anointing that reproves (convicts) of sin and convinces of righteousness and of judgment (John 16:7-13). The Greek word, Strong’s #1651, which was here translated reprove, was also translated convince in Titus 1:9 and Jude 1:15, and convicted in John 8:9). We must have the anointing that guides into all truth (which is Jesus, the Christ, and His gospel). It is imperative that the world be reproved (convicted) of sin and convinced of righteousness (justice, or, equity) and of judgment. This reproof and convincing however, are the work of the “...power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Strong’s says the Greek word for reprove, #1651 means to confute, or admonish, and “The American Heritage Dictionary” says that confute means:

1. “TO PROVE TO BE WRONG OR IN ERROR” (that is to say, to convince of sin; while admonish means) “TO REPROVE MILDLY OR KINDLY, BUT SERIOUSLY.”

2. “TO COUNSEL AGAINST SOMETHING; CAUTION; WARN.”

3. “TO POINT OUT SOMETHING FORGOTTEN OR DISREGARDED, BY MEANS OF A WARNING, REPROOF, OR EXHORTATION.”

All of this sounds like the perfect prescription for today’s church. Could the church be infiltrated by the world to the point that it is in need of such reproof? The answer is an emphatic yes, but it is the fault of the church. It is the lack of the power from on high working in, through, and with us. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them who obey not (those who believe not; or, those who willfully and perversely disbelieve) the gospel of God” (Strong’s #544; I Peter 4:17; the same Greek word was also mistranslated obey not, in I Peter 3:1)? “For if we would judge ourselves, we… (would) not be judged (I Corinthians 11:31). In America today, there is virtually no reproof of sin, no righteousness (justice; equity), and no judgment (judging or discerning) in the church itself. How then, can the world possibly be reproved and convinced (convicted) of these? How desperately we need the power from on high to be poured out upon the dry and desolate church, for only then will, first the church and then, the world be convinced (convicted) of sin. How greatly we need those rivers of living water that can not be passed over (Ezekiel 47; Revelation 22; John 7:38), the enduing of power from on high, the Lord working with us.

The devil’s messenger’s are very bold. To meet their challenges we need holy boldness to stand for the truth. What is the answer for this? It is to be truly born (again) of the Spirit of Christ, and to be endued with the holy anointing, the power the Holy Ghost, which performs the miraculous works of God, including what we call, the gifts (manifestations) of His Spirit (I Corinthians 12:8-11). This new life, together with the enduing power of the Holy Spirit, was what gave the disciples such great boldness. Peter stood on that first day of the outpouring and proclaimed Jesus to be both Lord and Christ to those who had participated in, as well as those who were responsible for His death. And after the miraculous healing of the lame man (Acts 4:16-22) he again stood boldly in the face of certain persecution from the religious crowd, and preached Jesus, the Messiah; again pointing out that it was because of them, that He had been crucified (Acts 4:10-16). Later they prayed, “...now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word” (How?) By stretching forth thine hand to heal...” (Acts 4:29-30). Healing here speaks not only of physical healing but of the spiritual degradation of the nation in general, brought on by the sin of the people (This is most certainly the case today, in America and in all the rest of the world; II Chronicles 7:13-14 and Revelation 22:2). “...And that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child (Son and servant) Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost” (some being refilled, for this is not a one time, forever, thing) “and they spake the word of God (preaching the good news; the gospel of the new covenant of God by Jesus, the Christ) with boldness” (Acts 4:31). Praise God! When you absolutely know that God is in you and working with you, there is greater boldness.

As much as we need the power of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, I feel that I must point out some things we should be aware of when we seek. First of all, the Holy Ghost will never fill an unclean vessel. Secondly, contrary to what many believe, the Holy Ghost is not given to clean unclean vessels. Our vessels must first be cleansed (sanctified) by the body and blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:10; 13:12; Revelation 1:5; 7:14). This cleansing only takes a moment of time once we truly repent of our sin, hear and believe the true gospel of Jesus, and submit ourselves unto Him and to it. All this is prerequisite to new birth (being born again) which Jesus must (and will) authorize once His conditions are met (see message 13). And, this new birth is prerequisite to the baptism of the Holy Ghost. There may also be physical and /or emotional manifestations accompanying this experience, but there will be a change in the countenance and lifestyle of the person who receives this new life. This new life, which is “...Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27; Galatians 2:20-21), which we are born (again) of, will ever be with us as long as we live (remain; abide) in Him and do not “...crucify to... (ourselves) ...the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:6).

The baptism of the Holy Ghost is not something we feel or experience at all times; but this power of God, this Holy Ghost anointing, this “enduing with power” is with us at all times to do the works of God.  And “...the manifestation(s; gifts) of the Spirit... (are) ...given to every man to profit withal. ...But all these WORKETH (by) that ONE and...selfsame Spirit (the Holy Ghost), dividing to every man severally as HE will(s) (I Corinthians 12:7-11). This is the same power or anointing that came upon the men and women of the Old Testament to do mighty works and miracles (Hebrews 11), but they could never know the joy of being born (again) of and by that Spirit because Jesus had not yet come and suffered for us. These two (2) experiences, being born of the Spirit, and being baptized with His Spirit, sometimes happen so closely together that they are construed to be the same experience; but they are in fact, two clearly defined and separate works. The first work is regeneration, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing (of the blood of Jesus, and) of regeneration(,) and (by the) renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). This is true conversion, being born again (born of God, and) of Jesus Christ through faith in the washing, cleansing power of the shed blood of the lamb of God; preceded by a Godly sorrow for our committed sins (which we have done, and, of the fact that we are sinners by birth) before we can receive His authorization to become a Son of God. Our very heart’s cry should be, Jesus forgive me and cleanse me from all sin. This includes the inbred sin which we were all born with (the nature to sin). We must literally be sick of sin in any and every form. Our foremost desire should be, to be filled with “...the Kingdom of God (Jesus Christ) and His righteousness...” (Matthew 6:33). When our heart and motives are right, and our utmost desire is the love the truth, we need never fear receiving a wrong spirit. For, “If you 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?” (Luke 11:13). If it’s a pouring out of His Spirit, it will be GOOD (Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:16-18).

I mentioned motive. There are so many reasons that flesh would like to see miracles of healing and great signs and wonders. First, everyone would like to be healed of their physical pains, sicknesses, diseases, distresses, limitations of any and all kinds, etc., but, how many would like to see these things done strictly for the glory of God? Too many would like to see these things just to promote their own health, happiness, kingdom and/or glory, not because they have Godly compassion for the person who is in need of the miracle. Yes, there are true signs, wonders, and miracles wrought by God. But, I must warn you that there are also many lying, signs, wonders, and miracles being done (in the church) through the power of false spirits (Revelation 16:14). All the more reason we need a true outpouring of God’s Spirit in our churches. Paul warns us of one (actually those) in II Thessalonians, Chapter 2, “...whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause (because they received not the love of the truth) God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (And) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in (Strong’s #2106; to approve of something; to approbate [American Heritage Dictionary; to officially authorize or sanction]) unrighteousness.” The delusion (the error, the deception, the lie) will be so strong and complete, that except those days be shortened, no one will be saved (Matthew 24:21-24). Only the shortening of the days will save the very elect from the depths of the delusion (the error, the deception, the lie), and I believe with all my heart that we are in those days. How we need the outpouring of His Spirit and the true gifts which He brings; especially the gift of discerning of spirits.

Let us not seek physical manifestations. That is, the sound as of a rushing mighty wind, the cloven tongues like as of fire, the speaking with other tongues, the miracles, the shaking or quaking, being slain under the power, the gifts, or any other outward sign or manifestation. The devil will always be there with his counterfeit manifestations to answer sign seekers (Matthew 12:38-39; I Corinthians 1:22). Some of these things may happen, but they are not the proof of God’s Spirit. The devil has a counterfeit for every one of these. So above everything else, let us seek “...the kingdom of God and His righteousness…. Godly hunger, true holiness, and reproof (conviction) of sin and sins are signs of the real Holy Ghost that the devil cannot counterfeit. Please join with me and many others who are earnestly seeking God for one last great ingathering of souls before Jesus returns. To see this, we must, once again, have a mighty out pouring of His Spirit. We must all be filled with the Holy Ghost. So whether it’s being filled, or refilled, we must all be “...endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49), the Lord working with us.

Message 14 - Endued with Power

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