He...not it. If we referred to Him as it, HE would be just a part of our plans. If we refer to Him as a person...then a line has to be drawn. If we refer to the Holy Spirit as He, then we must decide who's in charge. The fact of the matter is, He IS!
There is no choosing over whether He is a thing or a person. That's why we have so many spiritists who have power instead of a person. We don't like to be governed! I called the kids at our church into a huddle last night and said, "Okay kids, I have three RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULES..." You would think that someone had slowed down my voice when that last word came out! After I said that, I heard one kid grunt, one kids eyes rolled back almost like he was having a seizure, and one of my girls said what they were all thinking..."I hate rules..." Seriously folks, when someone says, "Don't look!" What's the first thing we want to do? Look! This is why the He versus the it is so important. We cannot have power without a person Who not only is a person, but Who is a partner, but Who is not only a partner, but the presiding partner between the two. The Holy Spirit wants you to be His partner; but someone has to be the decision maker. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed" (Amos 3:3)? When Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me" he was referring to a double yoke. We are to take part of the yoke as he takes on the other part, and we are to walk together. He wants us to be partners, but we must decide who will be the presiding partner. Isn't it interesting how the Bible says "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me?" One of the greatest signs of poor education in a person is their unwillingness to submit to authority. And I heard someone else recently say that it was also a lack of trust. The two go hand in hand when it comes to God! A person who cannot follow the pastor is a person who does not know his God. If we recognized that it was God we were obeying when it came to following the pastor, more people might be inclined to follow their pastor. If people recognized what their orders were from God in a church, they might would serve a little more. If people recognized that they were giving their money to God and not the church, we might have more giving. LEARN OF ME! And if you do, Jesus says, you'll find that peace you've always wanted to find when you tried drugs, relationships, possessions, money...all of which could never afford you that peace you thought it could. LEARN OF ME! Just give Him a try! It'll be just like the Lay's Potato Chip commercial: "Bet you can't eat just one!" My friend, He's GOOD! That being said, once you've learned that He's good, then you'll be more inclined to follow him! As I continue this evangelistic outreach here in Tarboro, I see a powerful opportunity headed out way! We have prepared the way for Jesus to show up! We've got the red carpet laid out for Him! We've got all everything planned out for a King's arrival...but here's what a lot of churches are doing. They get all of this pomp and circumstance laid out...the deck the halls and the tables and prepare great feasts...but they never invite the King!!! Isn't that sad? He's the one that's going to make the difference! Oh sure! Everyone will enjoy the festivities, and the gifts, and the music of our special day in November...but if there's no King, why did they come? I was out talking to the King about this, and I began to say, "Lord, we've worked so hard, we've gotten this huge mail list set up! We've got so many people coming! I've got this terrible feeling that this is going to be just that, a big day! I want what we are doing to go beyond November 23. And all of a sudden, it was almost as if the angels of heaven began to sing the song, Brethren We Have Met to WORSHIP. I began to think about that song...Worship! What? The Lord Our God! And as the words played over and over in my heart, one phrase in particular stood out from among the rest, "ALL IS VAIN UNLESS THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLY ONE COMES DOWN. How does that happen? "Brethren pray, and holy manna will be showered all around! I think of how the two disciples constrained The Lord saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent." My friends, no matter what we do in preparation of the King's arrival; He ain't coming until we invite Him! And so, if you are praying for us, or have been...pray that He will be there. Because...all is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down...All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down...All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy one comes down... Folks, please help us to Fan the Flame in November. I believe God wants to do something magnificent... but it won't happen unless His people pray to Him and invite Him and ask Him to do it!
He...not it. If we referred to Him as it, HE would be just a part of our plans. If we refer to Him as a person...then a line has to be drawn. If we refer to the Holy Spirit as He, then we must decide who's in charge. The fact of the matter is, He IS!
There is no choosing over whether He is a thing or a person. That's why we have so many spiritists who have power instead of a person. We don't like to be governed! I called the kids at our church into a huddle last night and said, "Okay kids, I have three RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULES..." You would think that someone had slowed down my voice when that last word came out! After I said that, I heard one kid grunt, one kids eyes rolled back almost like he was having a seizure, and one of my girls said what they were all thinking..."I hate rules..." Seriously folks, when someone says, "Don't look!" What's the first thing we want to do? Look! This is why the He versus the it is so important. We cannot have power without a person Who not only is a person, but Who is a partner, but Who is not only a partner, but the presiding partner between the two. The Holy Spirit wants you to be His partner; but someone has to be the decision maker. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed" (Amos 3:3)? When Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me" he was referring to a double yoke. We are to take part of the yoke as he takes on the other part, and we are to walk together. He wants us to be partners, but we must decide who will be the presiding partner. Isn't it interesting how the Bible says "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me?" One of the greatest signs of poor education in a person is their unwillingness to submit to authority. And I heard someone else recently say that it was also a lack of trust. The two go hand in hand when it comes to God! A person who cannot follow the pastor is a person who does not know his God. If we recognized that it was God we were obeying when it came to following the pastor, more people might be inclined to follow their pastor. If people recognized what their orders were from God in a church, they might would serve a little more. If people recognized that they were giving their money to God and not the church, we might have more giving. LEARN OF ME! And if you do, Jesus says, you'll find that peace you've always wanted to find when you tried drugs, relationships, possessions, money...all of which could never afford you that peace you thought it could. LEARN OF ME! Just give Him a try! It'll be just like the Lay's Potato Chip commercial: "Bet you can't eat just one!" My friend, He's GOOD! That being said, once you've learned that He's good, then you'll be more inclined to follow him! As I continue this evangelistic outreach here in Tarboro, I see a powerful opportunity headed out way! We have prepared the way for Jesus to show up! We've got the red carpet laid out for Him! We've got all everything planned out for a King's arrival...but here's what a lot of churches are doing. They get all of this pomp and circumstance laid out...the deck the halls and the tables and prepare great feasts...but they never invite the King!!! Isn't that sad? He's the one that's going to make the difference! Oh sure! Everyone will enjoy the festivities, and the gifts, and the music of our special day in November...but if there's no King, why did they come? I was out talking to the King about this, and I began to say, "Lord, we've worked so hard, we've gotten this huge mail list set up! We've got so many people coming! I've got this terrible feeling that this is going to be just that, a big day! I want what we are doing to go beyond November 23. And all of a sudden, it was almost as if the angels of heaven began to sing the song, Brethren We Have Met to WORSHIP. I began to think about that song...Worship! What? The Lord Our God! And as the words played over and over in my heart, one phrase in particular stood out from among the rest, "ALL IS VAIN UNLESS THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLY ONE COMES DOWN. How does that happen? "Brethren pray, and holy manna will be showered all around! I think of how the two disciples constrained The Lord saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent." My friends, no matter what we do in preparation of the King's arrival; He ain't coming until we invite Him! And so, if you are praying for us, or have been...pray that He will be there. Because...all is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down...All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down...All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy one comes down... Folks, please help us to Fan the Flame in November. I believe God wants to do something magnificent... but it won't happen unless His people pray to Him and invite Him and ask Him to do it!
Very nice write-up. I absolutely appreciate this website. Keep it up!