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GWEA Monthly Messages
Do not Harden your Heart: Listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit
REVEREND GORDON WILLIAMS, AUGUST 2017
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There is “an appalling and horrible thing that has happened in the land" (Jer. 5:30-31) This is God's message to His people, and He is clearly warning us that we are in big trouble with Him, as was Israel!
"Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore, I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their hearts; they have known my ways.’ As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall never enter my rest’” (Heb. 3:7–11).
Israel was deceived by their "comfort doctrines, false prophets and hardened hearts." With "itching ears," they no longer feared God; they turned towards false teaching that fed their own evil desires and religious doctrines. People with "stubborn and rebellious hearts" (Jer. 5:23), "knew no bounds in deeds of wickedness; and they judged not with justice (Jer. 5:28).
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths" (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
We become "rebellious people" and develop a “hardened heart” when we refuse to hear God's voice and don't listen to the Holy Spirit. This is what's happening today in most churches, and in the lives of many of those who call themselves Christians. People are disobedient, and they desire to live out their own fleshly ways, without the guidance of our Counsellor, the Holy Spirit.
“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not... (Jer. 5:21); "there is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death" (Prov. 14:12).
How do we hear God's voice?
We need to hear God's voice daily. When we receive Salvation and the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" (Jn. 3:5; Acts 2:4), we hear His voice by consulting and listening to the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit speaks to us, we know that God is speaking to us also (1 Jn 5:6-9). The Baptism (or indwelling) of the Holy Spirit is the first step. By using His "Gift of Tongues," you edify or build yourself up (1 Cor. 14:4). Listening and cooperating with the Holy Spirit becomes possible, and your relationship with Jesus takes precedence in your life. Hearing the "Voice of the Holy Spirit" and cooperating with Him, are crucial steps to growing and walking in the Spirit (Jn 14:26).
What denotes a rebellious heart?
Each of the 15 Grace Gifts of the Holy Spirit expresses the "Voice of God" (Rom. 12:6–8;1 Cor. 12:8–10). ). The "Grace Gifts" or "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" meet people’s needs. They are Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Administration, Mercy, Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Discerning of Spirits, Gift of Tongues (other national languages), and Interpretation” (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10). The "rebellion" begins when a person denies that the "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" are still for today, and are spoken and used in ministry.
For example, when a message in tongues is spoken out or delivered in a worship service, it is given by the means of the "Gift of (speaking in) tongues," (a language spoken somewhere in the world today). It's then received and translated out loud to the church by another who has the "Gift of Interpretation."
Hearing the Voice of the Holy Spirit.
The "Voice of the Holy Spirit" (or God's message) can only be given and interpreted from someone who has been "Baptised in the Holy Spirit" (Mk. 16:16-17). When interpreted, it will provide direction and guidance to either individuals and/or the Church (1 Cor. 14:26-27).
But today, most church leaderships and memberships dismiss these messages believing that they were delivered by over-emotional persons or as emotional outbursts. These churches do not even believe in the "Gifts of the Spirit," let alone exercise them. Consequently, they do not hear the "Voice of the Holy Spirit," and the "Gifts" are ignored. When a message is given (by a believer "Baptised in the Holy Spirit"), it comes upon deaf ears, and isn't well received.
Just as old Israel, today's new Israel people (the church) continue to react badly to the Gifts. They deny the Holy Spirit's voice, and misinterpret scriptures telling others that Jesus stopped giving and equipping His Church with the Gifts when “love” (1 Cor. 13:8–13) was given to us. This is untrue, and misunderstood.
What is the difference between "Love" and the "Gifts of the Spirit"?
Love is the "Fruit of the Spirit" along with joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22,23). Love, is God in us (Jn. 4:7); it is characteristic of Him, and is the "fruit" that continually grows in a believer's life. But the "love" that is described in First Corinthians can only grow out of a person that listens and is obedient to the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16-25).
The "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" are given to a believer by Jesus, and distributed according to His own will (Heb. 2:4). The signs, wonders and miracles are evidence that the Holy Spirit has come upon us and given us power to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). "Unless we see signs, wonders and miracles, we will not believe" (Jn. 4:48). When we speak in our "tongues" languages, they are evidence that we have been filled or "Baptised in the Holy Spirit" (Mk 16:16-17; Acts 2:4).
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are necessary for Ministry.
The "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" are necessary for the Ministry of Jesus Christ, and remain until Jesus returns (1 Cor. 15:24). Any person who denies them has developed “a hardening of their heart and has lost their rest" - their Salvation. Clergy and those who have “hardened hearts” can never see God’s witness by the signs, wonders and miracles; and nor can they receive the "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" that are distributed according to His will. As Jesus said to each of the Seven Churches, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches” (Rev. 2:7,11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).
The Holy Spirit is our Counsellor (Jn. 14:16; 16:7–11), who guides us daily, and the only one who can give us the best advice. When we are obedient, and "Baptised in the Holy Spirit", we can be effective witnesses. But if we don't follow His advice, a “hardening of the heart" results. Apostle Paul warns us in Hebrews:
"Take care, brothers, lest (in case) there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort (urge) one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” (Heb. 3:12-15).
 Only you can decide to heed to God's warning! Don't delay! If you, a family member, loved one, and/or a friend, have not yet received Salvation, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, or need a miracle in your life, please contact me.
If you need prayer, guidance or encouragement to hear the "Voice of the Holy Spirit", please contact me. "He who has an ear, let Him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the church!"
Yours in Jesus Christ,
 Copyright © 2017. The Gordon Williams Evangelistic Association. All rights reserved
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We are the "Wells of Living Water!"
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, she was shocked when He had asked her to give him a drink of water (Jn. 4:7-16). She was shocked because the Jews and the Samaritans were enemies, and at war with each other. What this woman didn’t understand is, just like today, we need not to be impartial; we need to engage in open discussions with all Samaritans, including the people that come from other countries who don't know Jesus Christ personally as their Saviour and Lord; those who complain about being sick and tired of living with lives that have no real meaning or purpose – and especially those who are involved in religions that worship gods that are not gods (1 Cor. 10:20). We who have received the “living water," (the Holy Spirit) are intended to become the “wells of living water”. The Holy Spirit represents the "living water" and assures believers of eternal life. Our purpose as “wells of living water," is to offer a "drink of the living water" (the Holy Spirit) to people we don't know; to strangers, just as Jesus did. He ministered to the woman at the well: salvation, healing, grace and guidance. When we take up our cross daily, and model after what Jesus did at the well, Salvation and the "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" can come to all people we pray and minister to. Our ministry is like a "spring of living waters" that flows continuously; resulting in numerous Salvations, Baptisms of the Holy Spirit, healings, deliverances and many answers to prayer. Your prayers and partnership allow Gordon to freely accept invitations from any church in Canada, the U.S.A, or other countries, regardless of their size, and without charging fees. Because of your faithfulness, Gordon has the freedom to go where ever Jesus leads him.
Also, as a result of your faithful donations, we continue to see more ministry than ever before. Please continue to be a “cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7) and prayerfully ask Jesus how you can contribute.
Tasting the New Wine: The Holy Fermentation Process. Jesus tells us that when a person has been forgiven of sin at the time of salvation, he or she is made into a "new wine skin" into which the "new wine" of the Holy Spirit must be poured. "Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; if it is, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but the new wine (the baptism of the Holy Spirit) is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved" (Matthew 9:17). "And no one after drinking old wine desires new; for he says, "The old is good" [Greek: chrestos - better] (Luke 5:39). The Holy Spirit starts what I call a "Holy Fermentation Process" that actually works in us, cleansing out the works of the flesh and replacing them with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. He brings us into a relationship with Jesus and the Heavenly Father where Jesus moves from being Saviour to being the LORD of our lives.
As such, He has ministry plans for us to carry out which are very different from what is accepted in the traditional type of churches where people are expected to act and react according to the traditions of men [where people robotically respond to pre-organized "form(s) of religion"]. Today, the traditions of men are called "church denominations" which dispense or replace portions of the word of God, the Bible scriptures. |
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