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Jack Van Impe Ministries
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each day on our A MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE The past three lessons dealt with the Person, the presence, and the power of the Holy Spirit. We now want to discuss the program of the Holy Spirit for believers. First, I want to make it unquestionably clear that ALL - ALL - of God's children are born into the family of God and BAPTIZED by the Holy Spirit the moment Christ is received. John 3:5 states: . . . Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. This second birth makes all the newly born ones members of the family of God. John 1:12 says: But as many as received [Christ], to them gave he power to become the sons [and daughters] of God. Since one can only be a son or daughter through birth, it is clear that the placing into God's family by a second birth takes place at salvation. However, there is more to it because one is also BAPTIZED into the Body of Christ as the birth occurs. First Corinthians 12:13 states: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body . . . . This baptism takes place at salvation and happens to every believer. Theological accurateness will not allow the BAPTISM to be a subsequent or second work of grace but the original work of grace that occurs at salvation. It is erroneous for one who is saved to seek the BAPTISM when one's salvation produced the BAPTISM. In fact, . . . if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Romans 8:9) and we . . . have been all made to drink into one Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13). Since ALL means ALL and since this text has to do with salvation, then ALL who are saved have the Spirit or they are lost. This Holy Spirit dwells in every believer, but He does not necessarily control each believer. Hence, there is a "filling of the Spirit" which every believer, after salvation, may enjoy many times. There is one BAPTISM, but many fillings. That is why the literal Greek for Ephesians 5:18 is: Be being filled with the Spirit. Now the filling and the baptism are two distinct things. The BAPTISM is the placing of a redeemed sinner into the Body of Christ at salvation, and the FILLING is one's yielding to the INDWELLING Spirit's control. Let's delve deeper into the subject. Not only does every believer receive the BAPTISM at salvation, but he receives one or more of the GIFTS as well. Much is heard today about the Charismatic Movement. May I shock you and boldly say that every Christian is a charismatic! You see the word charismatic or charisma only means a gift from the Holy Spirit. Every believer is a partaker of the Holy Spirit at salvation when the Holy Spirit baptizes him into Christ's body. It is at this baptism that the Spirit bestows a gift or His "charisma" upon every newborn child of God. Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 are the "charismatic" or "gift" chapters. Ephesians 4:11 describes gifted or charismatic ministers: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. The apostles were first because the church was built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20). Once the foundation was laid and the original apostles died, this gift ceased. Prophets were next and the gift was not only foretelling the future but forth telling the facts of the gospel. Today gifted preachers giving forth the "good news" manifest this evidence of the Spirit. Evangelists, pastors, and teachers are self-explanatory and are also recipients of the Spirit's gifts. This often explains the failures of men who seek the ministry as a vocation. They have never been called and "charismatized" by the Spirit and therefore fail. It is not a job; it is a holy calling. Gifts For All Believers The gifts that follow are signs all believers possess. I want to again emphasize that every believer receives at least one of the gifts of the Spirit. They are freely presented to all believers as a result of the BAPTISM that placed the gifted believer into the Body of Christ. Romans 12 speaks about this Body into which all God's children are placed and states in verses 4-8: For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing [yes, differing] according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity [or liberality]; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Now verse 3 states: . . . God hath dealt to EVERY man the measure of faith (emphasis mine.) Some have one of the gifts mentioned already. Others must find theirs in I Corinthians 12:8-11: For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: BUT ALL THESE [Hear it again: ALL THESE] worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to EVERY MAN [How many? - EVERY MAN] severally as he [the Holy Spirit] will (emphasis mine). It is not the gift one seeks that is important but the gift the Holy Spirit wills to give by grace. Please stay with the Book. Different Gifts For All Believers It is not God's will that all members of the Body should have the same gift. When one has three eyes or seven fingers, he is a misfit. So it is with the Body of Christ when there is an improper balance of gifts. That is why Paul says in I Corinthians 12:15-18: If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, l am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, l am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. Every part of the body is needed and every member in Christ's body has a gift that fits into the program as needed. So we again find in verse 28: And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. We will consider the gifts in their totality before concluding the book. The point I want to make now is that every believer has at least one gift, and each believer's gift differs. Verses 29-31: Are all apostles? [The answer is obviously `No!'] are all prophets? [No!] are all teachers? [No!] are all workers of miracles? [No!] Have all the gifts of healing? [No!] do all speak with tongues? [No!] do all interpret? [No!] But covet earnestly the best gifts . . . . The gifts described as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers lead to prophesying, ministering, teaching, exhorting, giving, ruling, and showing mercy. Clergy and laymen may experience these gifts. These are so understandable that we will only explain the final listing of nine gifts, described in I Corinthians 12:8-10.
In the next lesson I will discuss the filling of the Spirit. Although we have all of the Holy Spirit, He does not always have all of us. When He does, holy living becomes the believer's experience. One can have the baptism and the gifts and still be carnal because he does not have the filling. One can minister the gifts and be out of fellowship with God - evangelists, pastors, and teachers often do. It takes a Spirit-filled Christian to minister properly. The gift is for service; the filling is for spiritual service. CHANGED LIVES-one at a time "I am writing to let you know that I have found my way back to the Lord. I was into drugs and witchcraft for so long but I started watching you on TV and it was as if the Lord Himself took me by the hand and broke my chains and brought me home...Thank you again for being there and opening my eyes so I could see what I was doing was so wrong." S.D.
"I would like very much to let you know that your program has made a huge difference in my life. I was a strong atheist who had no belief in God or Christ. By listening to your TV program, I was changed. I am newly married and my wife has also put her faith in Christ because of your program. We are both in our 20's and want you to know you are touching young people such as us, who come from the 'ungrateful generation.'" C.K.
"My wife and I are 27 years old. When we got married seven years ago, we were not in church. But one night, I remember turning on the TV and there you and Rexella were talking about end timeÆs prophecy. This caught my interest and attention. I had never really stopped to look around and see how bad our world had become. Your show has opened my eyes, and now I am saved and going to church. I donÆt fear the end times because I know I have a Savior, and His name is Jesus Christ. My wife and I now have a son, and we pray daily for GodÆs protection over him. Thank you for making your show and videos. They help a lot of people like us!" E.G. and S.G and little C.G. HIGHLIGHTED PRODUCT OFFERS Startling
Revelations: Pope John Paul II Part 2 The Bible predicts that Satan's end time global ruler, the Antichrist, and his associate, The False Prophet, arise out of a revived Roman empire. Now in a gripping video presentation, Dr. Jack and Rexella Van Impe report on their investigation of startling developments occurring within Catholicism. "The Church is in shambles and it's
irreversible." Repeatedly Pope John Paul II exposed the liberalism and apostasy
presently infiltrating and inundating his church, priests, and
bishops. He cited 30 issues, including: "The Judas Complex," "The
prevailing Spirit of Antichrist," "The End time Millennial Game","
"The Russian Global Scourge," plus "An Apostate Cardinal as Pope." Startling Revelations: Pope John Paul II Part 2 is based on
hundreds of pages of information, in five volumes, penned by the
eminent Catholic Theologian, Malachi Martin, a close friend and
advisor to the last four popes. Martin was an expert on
Catholicism, a former Jesuit, and a professor at the Vatican's
Pontifical Biblical Institute; His opinions are regarded as
authoritative. This video proves that Christ's return is imminent. Startling
Revelations: Pope John Paul II Part 2 is must-viewing for all who
love His appearing (II Timothy 4:8). Beyond
the Grave In this exciting video Dr. Jack Van Impe
answers questions such as: Discover the truth about your future life after death - as
well as the truth about the future foretold for all in Bible
prophecy! WE ACCEPT PRAYER
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