To attribute the works of God and the Holy Spirit to being works of the devil would be blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.
Jesus said: Mt. 12:31-32 All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
As a new Christian in 1975, I went to the church my best friend and her husband attended. The pastors of that church group were professors at Dallas Theological Seminary.
When I began attending this church, Believer's Chapel, the head pastor was teaching a seminar on the subject, "Tongues are of the devil."
One day, I was reading the Bible and saw the following:
The apostle Paul said, Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
(1 Cor. 14:39)
But at Believer's Chapel the pastor was teaching tongues to be of the devil.
The church I was attending at that time was being taught something exactly opposite to that which I was reading in the Bible!
I never went back to that church group.
I believe this pastor was committing blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.
A Baptist woman told me this story: She went into her neighborhood grocery and saw a young man and she said to the grocer, "Who is that?" He told her the name of the young man. She said, "I'm going to marry him." They did marry and they were married approximately 60-years until Jerry died.
I thought this was such a wonderful story and I said to my friend, "OH, that was a word of knowledge from God!"
My friend seemed frightened while I rejoiced.
I suspect she had been taught at her church group against the spiritual gifts of God. (I Cor. 12, Rom. 12, I Peter 4:11)
Some churches teach against the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
On this podcast, I will give examples of some of the great works done in the church by the Holy Spirit and some of the blasphemy against God and the Holy Spirit as presented in the Bible.
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The gifts of the Holy Spirit:
I Corinthians 12
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 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:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as HE (God) will.
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Romans 12
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
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At the end of the great tribulation, we read this:
(I suspect this form of blasphemy was cursing God.)
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After the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus set up the New Testament church from heaven by HIS Spirit.
We are born again by the Holy Spirit of God convincing us of our sin.
In 1975 the Holy Spirit spoke to me by bringing the following thought to my mind: "Joan, you know those mistakes you've been making all these years? Those weren't mistakes. Those were sins."
I was born again with that Word!
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My neighbor told me he had hated his stepmother all his life. One day he went out on his porch and all of a sudden all that hatred was gone. It was a miracle! He no longer hated her. He said "something" told him all this hatred he had carried against her was no good. (Holy Spirit)
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Jesus said:
John 14:16 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13 Howbeit 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.
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And the Holy Spirit searches the heart of God to reveal to us the will of God in the specific issues of this life.
I Corinthians 2:9-14 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by HIS Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by HIS Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
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Jesus, from heaven, sets HIS ministers into the NT church:
Ephesians 4:11-12 After Jesus arose into heaven, HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Acts 26 Paul tells king Agrippa what happened to him on the road to Damascus:
I heard a voice (from heaven) speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue. 15 I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
Jesus speaks today to those ministers whom HE has called by HIS Holy Spirit and instructs us by HIS Spirit.
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Jesus speaks directly to us today from heaven by HIS Spirit:
Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by HIS Son, whom HE hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also HE made the worlds;
In the Old Testament the people of God were not given the Holy Spirit of God and they had to go to a prophet of God to find out what God wanted them to do.
But in the New Testament church, all believers are given the Holy Spirit of God and that Spirit of God lives in each believer to show him the will of God by bringing scripture, thoughts, ideas to the mind of the believer. (I Cor. 3:16; I Cor. 6:16; II Cor. 13:5)
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We are born again by the Holy Spirit of Jesus when HE (Jesus) speaks to us from heaven:
John 3:3;5-6 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Acts 1:8 Jesus said: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto ME both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
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In 1975, the Holy Spirit spoke to me by bringing the following to my mind: "Joan, you know all those mistakes you've been making all these years? Those weren't mistakes. Those were sins."
I was very shocked!
I thought I was a Christian. I had gone forward at Church of Christ and had been baptized in water. But at that time I didn't know of my sins. I just didn't want to go to hell.
I was 37 when the Holy Spirit revealed sin to me and I certainly was in agreement and I was born again by agreeing with the Holy Spirit and I was instantly changed.
II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
My mother was born again when I read Deuteronomy 18:9-13 aloud to her. She had always love horoscopes and we had gone to town monthly where my mother bought the latest horoscope magazine which she read to me daily when I was a child.
After I read Deuteronomy 18 to her, she was very quiet for a few minutes, then she said: "Well ... I guess we'd better not do that any more."
She was born again instantly as she turned from evil and agreed with the Word of God.
(The Holy Spirit was there to convince her of her sin.)
The apostle Paul was born again as Jesus spoke to HIM from heaven.
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?
5 And HE said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
The Holy Spirit speaks to us to reveal Jesus to us and we are born again by that Word delivered to us by Jesus's spirit.
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Jesus sets HIS ministers into HIS church today as HE calls from heaven by HIS Holy Spirit to those ministers who are called as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers:
Acts 26, Paul speaks to king Agrippa:
Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And HE said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in ME.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And HE said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in ME.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
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The New Testament Bible is given by Jesus from heaven by the Holy Spirit after the crucifixion and resurrection:
And the New Testament Bible was given to the church from heaven as apostles were inspired by God to speak and write the books of the New Testament.
The early church had no NT Bible. The apostles wrote on "parchments" and sent these letters to the churches in various cities and countries, and these epistles became the NT Bible as the instructions from God came to them and they sent these "epistles" (letters) to be circulated among the various churches in their areas.
So they passed these epistles, which we know today as the NT Bible, from church to church.
These writings were inspired by God by HIS Spirit just as God inspires us today to write the blog and to record the words presented on Podcasts.
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To deny the Spirit of God when HE speaks is death.
Jude
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers (copiers/imitators) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
18 How that they told you there should be mockers (copiers/imitators) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
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