Sat.night at Gen.conf

• Messages sorted by:[ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]

On Mon, 30 Sep 1996 15:37:28 -0700, you wrote:

>> > and some where cold saints who needed refilling.
>
>How do most of you feel about the term "refilling"? I know it's used 
>quite a bit, but is that an appropriate term? Does the Holy Ghost 
>diminish with time like gasoline in a car?

One's experience of, reliance in, and refreshing by the Holy Ghost can
indeed diminsh rather rapidly. 

I don't know if its a theologically correct phrases, but it sure keeps
us mindful that the first baptism or infilling is just the beginning.

Paul commands, "... be filled with the Holy Ghost".  Unless one is
deliberately dumping it on the roadside, it does make it obvious that
there is an ongoing requirement to see to and ensure our "fullness"
resulting simple from the passing of time.

Fullness implies the extent to which this spirit is likely to
influence our actions and thoughts. Less that fullness denotes a
presence of impurities, and the possibility that they will surface.
Fullness suggests that whatever is to spill from my vessel with be "of
the Spirit".

Praying in the Spirit and worshipping without inhibition are ways of
releasing your being, mentally and physically to God. We know from
scripture that it is He that desires to use us as His vessels and He
that fills us, if we allow it. We are instructed "quench not the
spirit". What quenches the Spirit ? We ask, where was the cloven
tongues of fire seen ? It was upon the heads of the disciples. When we
are FULL of the Holy Ghost the Holy Ghost is seen and evident. It
seems that dross tends to come to the top. 

We are to be lampstands filled with oil, and burning smokelessly
through the long night of living in this world. Let us be full and
ensure that the light will penetrate the night until the brightness of
His glory pentrates with the dawn of eternal day!

-mwb