How many times did you ask God for the Holy Ghost?

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Timmy

So, it's really that complicated? God has a whole slew of requirements (call them variables, if you like) and He's not even going to tell us what they all are?

Weird.

You distorted what I said again!?

lol

The bible says what to do. Repent, ask the Lord for the Holy Spirit. And if one refuses to repent, then guess what. We are not going to read of people seeking the Spirit while willing to indulge into sin, or any number of possible variables, when the bible said to repent and then ask for the Spirit.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

I think there are other things that may hold someone back from receiving the Holy Spirit.

Agreed. Who knows how many?

Distractions. You have to have your mind on God...one to one communication with Him to receive anything or for Him to receive your prayers. All the commotion that goes on at the altar can be very distracting. Instead of talking to God, the seeker is listening to those around him.

there is lack of faith. One who wavers in faith will nto expect to get anything from God, James 1 said.

Doubt. The slightest doubt can hinder a seeker from receiving the Spirit, afterall the we receive the Spirit by faith.

Right.

Commitment. There can't be any half heartedness. The seeker has to be seeking for the right reasons.

There may be other reasons.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by mfblume

You distorted what I said again!?

lol

The bible says what to do. Repent, ask the Lord for the Holy Spirit. And if one refuses to repent, then guess what. We are not going to read of people seeking the Spirit while willing to indulge into sin, or any number of possible variables, when the bible said to repent and then ask for the Spirit.

Yes, I see that your post included this:

. . . but it is only lack of repentance that keeps people back from receiving anything from God.

The slew of variables you mention: are they the many ways that a lack of repentance might actually occur?

Now, if you really mean what you say above, then we must conclude that every instance of someone asking and not receiving is an instance of someone not repenting. And by that you mean that they are willing to indulge in sin. This is no distortion. It's the conclusion from what you actually said. Unless you didn't quite mean that. Feel free to clarify.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Yes, I see that your post included this:



The slew of variables you mention: are they the many ways that a lack of repentance might actually occur?

Now, if you really mean what you say above, then we must conclude that every instance of someone asking and not receiving is an instance of someone not repenting. And by that you mean that they are willing to indulge in sin. This is no distortion. It's the conclusion from what you actually said. Unless you didn't quite mean that. Feel free to clarify.

It's ONE of the reasons people do not receive the Spirit. I already amen'd someone else who said lack of faith is another reason. There are more reasons.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by mfblume

It's ONE of the reasons people do not receive the Spirit. I already amen'd someone else who said lack of faith is another reason. There are more reasons.

OK. So the "only" in what I quoted was a slip of the keyboard?

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Like I said, there is no scripture that shows the million and one variables that could be holding people back from receiving from God.

••But it never happened in the bible

The world could not contain the books required to show all the variables.

••But it never happened in the bible

The fact is lack of repentance keeps people back.

••But it didn't happen in the bible

It did me.

••But not to anyone in the bible

You can interpret that any other way that allows you to shoot that thought down, but it is only lack of repentance that keeps people back from receiving anything from God.

••But it never happened in the bible.

I think it falls under the category of asking amiss. There is a state of being which does not consciously seek to sin that is required for reception of the Spirit.

••But there's no record of that anywhere in the bible.

Do you honestly think God will give His Spirit to someone just because they ask

••YES!!!! Let you quote you, THE BIBLE...."If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." Luke 11:13 NLT

even though they consciously want to sin?

••WE ALL WANT TO SIN!!!! Romans 7!!!

And the reason I raised the issue of OBEDIENCE is because it is associated.

••But it's not in the bible.

Consciously seeking to sin holds one back from the Spirit

••So you're saying that everyone in the bible that received the Holy Spirit had ZERO record of "seeking to sin", but now suddenly, all these thousands of people that "tarry for the Holy Ghost but don't get it" DO seek to sin? That's absurd. You're so stuck in your legalistic theology that you can't understand all the verses you've memorized.

and that is a matter of obedience. To know where you are coming from, do you believe obedience is necessary to receive the Holy Ghost? If so, what is the obedience?

I believe that if I seek, I find. Period. It's the promise of the Father to His children. It's no more complicated than that.

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

I think there are other things that may hold someone back from receiving the Holy Spirit.

Distractions. You have to have your mind on God...one to one communication with Him to receive anything or for Him to receive your prayers. All the commotion that goes on at the altar can be very distracting. Instead of talking to God, the seeker is listening to those around him.

Doubt. The slightest doubt can hinder a seeker from receiving the Spirit, afterall the we receive the Spirit by faith.

Commitment. There can't be any half heartedness. The seeker has to be seeking for the right reasons.

There may be other reasons.

Oh, undoubtedly there are multitudes of reasons. I'm sure we can make up all kinds of things.

Ok, so now we have:

1) Seeking to sin;
2) Distractions;
3) Doubt;
4) Lack of commitment;

Anyone care to add to this non-biblical list?

[proudfather]

Originally Posted by notofworks

I believe that if I seek, I find. Period. It's the promise of the Father to His children. It's no more complicated than that.

Okay, here we go:

You keep saying, "It's not in the Bible." Holy Ghost seekers in the New Testament had no reason to doubt the Holy Spirit experience, because they had never experienced it before. They were all curious, and once they were willing to submit, they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2: they looked at one another and said, "What meaneth this?" They had no idea what the Holy Spirit was. After Peter explained what was going on, they sincerely wanted to receive the same gift. "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

Acts 10: Would you deny that the Gentile believers didn't have the faintest idea what the Holy Spirit was before Peter came? Again, they were sincere seekers.

Acts 19: "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." Again, they were ignorant of the experience, but they were sincere seekers.

Now, look at Acts 8. Philip preached and baptized many, but they did not receive the Holy Ghost until Peter and John laid hands on them. Would you agree that there was a lapse in time between Philip preaching and the believers receiving the Holy Ghost? In this instance, we don’t even read of doubt occurring in their hearts, and yet, they did not receive the Holy Ghost immediately. How do you explain this?

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by notofworks

Oh, undoubtedly there are multitudes of reasons. I'm sure we can make up all kinds of things.

Ok, so now we have:

1) Seeking to sin;
2) Distractions;
3) Doubt;
4) Lack of commitment;

Anyone care to add to this non-biblical list?

I don't know what you mean by "seeking to sin" but the other three (2, 3, and 4) are hinderances to prayer so why would you think they would not be hinderances to receiving the baptism of the Spirit, afterall you have to pray to receive the Spirit. (and by lack of commitment, I mean being halfhearted or lukewarm ).

Nonbiblical??...would you like me to provide some scriptures?

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by proudfather

Okay, here we go:

You keep saying, "It's not in the Bible." Holy Ghost seekers in the New Testament had no reason to doubt the Holy Spirit experience, because they had never experienced it before. They were all curious, and once they were willing to submit, they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2: they looked at one another and said, "What meaneth this?" They had no idea what the Holy Spirit was. After Peter explained what was going on, they sincerely wanted to receive the same gift. "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

Acts 10: Would you deny that the Gentile believers didn't have the faintest idea what the Holy Spirit was before Peter came? Again, they were sincere seekers.

Acts 19: "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." Again, they were ignorant of the experience, but they were sincere seekers.

Now, look at Acts 8. Philip preached and baptized many, but they did not receive the Holy Ghost until Peter and John laid hands on them. Would you agree that there was a lapse in time between Philip preaching and the believers receiving the Holy Ghost? In this instance, we don’t even read of doubt occurring in their hearts, and yet, they did not receive the Holy Ghost immediately. How do you explain this?

The Holy Spirit is not given at faith. You have to ask for the Holy Spirit to come into your life.



It can be as simple as repenting of your sins and asking Jesus to come into your heart.