Things That Pass, and Things That Endure

As I stated in my last blog, there a lot of people who like to post blogs to get other people fired up, and begin 'sword' fights.  There was a day when I enjoyed a fierce debate over the Word of God.  I don't enjoy it any more.  The purpose of a debate is to convince the other party that you are 'right.'  It requires intractability, as well as a stance that deserves defending.  In my younger days almost anything was worth defending.  That is no longer true.  I have purposely stopped posting what we've been studying because I know it raises the hackles on certain people's backs. Our men's study group is studying the Kingdom of God, and there are many things that we've been saying that we know are fiercely contended within the body of Christ, but none more so, than the 'Baptism in the Holy Spirit."  I don't want God's children posting hurtful comments over issues that have no bearing on eternity.  

At Real Ministries, we believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues. This already places us at odds (although it shouldn't) with a large group of evangelical Christians. So, I'm going to sum up very quickly what we've come to agree upon.

• the anointing of the Holy Spirit is always for a purpose that benefits men
• God doesn't need to prove himself to men
• our relationship to HIM is based upon faith that he provides
• demonstrations of power don't prove He exists, they force us to make a decision what we believe.
• God's ultimate purpose is to save
• God's anointing of the Holy Spirit is found throughout the Old and New Testaments
• All revelation of God's power is a revelation of His LOVE!
• God's purpose for the manifestation of the Holy Spirit is not for proof that He exists, it is because He exists. 
• Because HE hasn't stopped existing, His spirit continues to manifest Himself to all mankind in the same way Christ did while on earth, and before Christ was on earth.  
• God's anointing is to demonstrate His nature, not His power.  
• Old Testament demonstrations of His 'power' were demonstrations of His love.
• New Testament demonstrations of His 'power' were demonstrations of His love.
• Love is the greatest commandment, therefore, demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit is actually revealing God's love.  

While we're at it, lets just finish it up with some sweet icing.  

GRACE: The ability to LOVE, and be loved by God.  

Why would God stop healing when in the Old Testament, He gives his name as 'the one who heals?'  

Why would God stop delivering, when in the Old Testament, He made deliverance his major purpose?

Why would God stop talking to us in the 'moment', when he provided a 'tent of meeting' to the children of Israel.  

God did not stop manifesting HIS love, we stopped showing it.  We hid in catacombs, briar woods, forests, and ultimately cathedrals, and churches to escape persecution.  That is why the manifestations of the Holy Spirit ceased.  Then, we had to make up excuses for God, to make ourselves feel better.  

THE LOVE OF GOD IS REAL.  

The problem with saying all of this is, there will always be those who have to prove some theological viewpoint that only serves to deny God's love.  I wish we were more concerned with loving one another than 'being' right.  

Many things will pass, but the one thing that will endure is love.   We're hoping to endure.