For those believers in NA and AA that are trying to keep their commitments and are failing...place your trust in Jesus that He will do it.Matthew 5: 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.The probelm with NA & AA is that it is double-minded. The focus is split between a higher power and doing the best you can by yourself and through the unreliable support of others that cannot always be there for you when you need it. Essentially, it is making a vow or a commitment to do something by the flesh by forswearing it under a belief in a higher power... which NA & AA gives a broad application for anyone to choose any higher power to live by and to swear by in making and keeping those commitments in the NA & AA.Making a commitment to do something by a higher power means forswearing as you are saying you are going to do it.That is what making a vow mean to the Lord.Numbers 10:2If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.It is a boasting of self will. Look beyond the hype of success stories and look at your own. If successful, those in NA & AA will congratulate you as you did it, not your "higher power". You did it by keeping your commitment to overcome. You receive tokens of rewards by length of time for doing it. That is to your glory, but how long is that glory lived? For if there were any assurances that man can do it by keeping those commitments, then why the tokens of rewards and support from others?Here be the promises of God to rest in Jesus to do His work in you:Matthew 11;28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.John 6:28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.Philippians 1:6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:Galatians 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.Philippians 3:2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.2 Corinthians 3:3Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.4And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.Mathew 28:Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.Hebrews 2:18For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.1 Corinthians 10:12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.Romans 6: 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.Psalm 118:8It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.Psalm 100:3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.1 John 3:3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.Jude 1: 24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.May the Lord enrich your relationship with Him as you find Him helping you to live as His by grace so that you may give Him all the glory and praise and thanksgiving for what He has done that man by the flesh cannot do.... though some glory in themselves for a short time as some do even falsely. Trust Jesus to be Your Good Shepherd as well as Your Saviour. That is why the just shall live by faith.1 Peter 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. You are not alone in your trials as others have gone through it as well as through other kinds of trials and have gotten through them thanks to Him. AND He is with you always so that you are never alone as our hope is in Him and thus our victory is assured.Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
For Believers Failing In NA & AA
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WhiteKnuckle
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Amen! That's why I quit going to AA. There were people going there for 20 years and still struggling. The Lord showed me that it was because they didn't put their trust in him. I didn't like holding hands and praying to Jesus while the guy next to me might be praying to the chair in front of him, another a tree, and still another allha and so on.As soon as I read in some of the AA books, like, "The world as Bill sees it" I decided, I don't care how Bill sees it. Then I wondered how Jesus saw it. And, I didn't like the book it said, "If you're an atheist, then AA can be your higher power"Addiction has nothing to do with being weak or strong willed or minded. It all depends on faith in Jesus Christ, and he's the one that took my addiction away from me, and he's the one that can take the addiction away from anyone else.
Many believers still struggle with alcohol & drugs (incl. nicotine) because they have not received the new life, they are trying their sincere best to be something they are not yet.Just because a person believes in Jesus or "the gospel" as best they understand it dosn't mean they have actually received the Spirit.In Acts 19:2 Paul asked "have you received the Spirit since you believed" before he knew what exactly they believed about Jesus.That question also shows there must be a way of knowing that one has received.Sure enouugh, Paul knew precisely when they received - when they spoke in tongues (v6).Similarly in Acts 8:12-16 the believers were known not to have received the Spirit, and when they had received!The same apostles were preaching the same as in Acts 2:33, 39, see also 10:44-48.We are warned that many who claim to represent Jesus are in fact false teachers, they preach a words-only "gospel" that saves no-one.Calvary was to enable the Spirit to be given. Get the receiving of the Spirit wrong and you com[pletely undermine and frustrate what Jesus did at Calvary.I know many people that can & will testify of complete freedom from alcohol and drugs since receiving the above.http://www.revivalusa.org
For Life answered it, but "thinks" it is. Just confirming that NA is Narcotic Anonymous as AA is Alcoholic Anonymous.I apologize for that oversight in not explaining what those initials meant.
I thank the Lord for your testimony in regards to the faith we have in Jesus Christ and your confirmation to the Word given in the OP.
I am going to rebuke you harshly so that you may be sound in the faith. Believers are not to use the Book of Acts to preach another spirit to receive which in your case is this "another baptism of the Holy Spirit that comes with evidence of tongues". This specific reference to Acts 8 cannot be used to figure out what had happened to you when you had another spiritual/ supernatural encounter. Here's why.#1. Gentile believers in Acts 10.. which was after Acts 8, were receiving the Holy Spirit the moment they had believed way before water baptism was applied.#2. Other believers like you have used Acts 8 to preach this another baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of tongues and yet failed to note that they are bouncing back and forth between not having received the Spirit yet at salvation and having received the Spirit at salvation but this was something else of the Spirit for what they were referring to in this other baptism of the Holy Spirit that comes with evidence of tongues.#3. Luke bothered to give the background on the area, its people, and the tormentor that has bewitched the populace to such a point, he was infamous in the area AND yet, he was among them that believed. Being how the Lord was casting out unclean spirits through Phillip, the new believers in Acts 8 were not going to be ready to receive the Holy Spirit as He was going to be received by the Gentile believers in Acts 10. Put yourself in their shoes. I can see what would happen if the Holy Spirit came on them in the same manner in Acts 10. Fear. False accusations flying towards Simon the supposed repentive scorceror, but now a supposed believer, bewitching them again with unclean spirits. See teh reason for the laying on of hands here which was not necessary in Acts 10? But yet preachers of a baptism of the Holy Spirit that is evident would ignore these scriptures written plainly for the eedification of the church as believers are not to seek after a sign. Period.Galatians 3: 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good report.....6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.Ephesians 1: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,Galatians 3: 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.Believers are to live by faith without signs and wonders. It is signs and wonders that follow believers.. not the other way around. Signs are for unbelievers, and yet wayward believers would hype believers up to seek after a sign by seeking another baptism of the Holy Spirit that comes with evidence of tongues, voiding the faith for all those that come to Jesus as well as their rest in Him by labouring in unbelief and suffering their houses to be broken through by a thief.Do you believe in the promise of God in Ephesians 1:12-15 or not? For by seeking after a sign, you deny Him as able to deliver the Holy Spirit by His promise for coming to and believing in Jesus Christ. Don't bother pointing to Acts 8 which is an event you nor other wayward believers understand because I can point to Acts 10 and say this is how we have received the Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ Whom has baptized us with the Holy Ghost by promise the moment you did believe. You cannot make God keep His promise. Either He does it or He is a liar, but He is not a liar, but this false teaching of seeking another baptism of the Holy Spirit that comes with evidence of tongues is a lie just because wayward believers refuse to see why Luke gave the background in Acts 8. Did Luke give a background to other places in Acts?When one is born again, the event is not always precipated by signs as in tongues which was given to the believers for the unbelievers. The letters sent to the churches plainly speaks of that as well as Jesus' own words.John 3:6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.But yet when preaching another spirit to receive as in calling that spirit, the Holy Spirit, strangely YOU CAN tell WHENCE it COMETH and whither it GOETH. May the Lord give you discernment and recover you from this rudimentary preaching which is and has already been in the world before the Gospel came as tongues that are gibberish are given by those that seek after other spirits to receive. That is teh deception in the churches that ignore the commandment of John 14:6 as the Son is the only Way to God the Father, not by way of the Holy Spirit for there are false spirits in the world and thus the reason why it is written that we will know the Holy Spirit by Him dwelling in us and abiding in us as promised for coming to and believing in Jesus Christ.. not out there in the worship place where other spirits reign, coming and going as they please.John 14:16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.1 John 4: 1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. And yet those that preach another baptism of the Holy Spirit fail to discern their supernatural experience by the Word that plainly states our faith.1 Corinthians 12:13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.Ephesians 4: 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.This is what is happening when believers expereince another spirit coming over them that they have failed top test them by as they depart from the faith in Jesus Christ.2 Corinthians 13:5Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?1 Timothy 4:1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;If any doubt as to how God the Father wants us to worship IN spirit and IN truth and not OUT of the Spirit and APART from the Truth:1 Corinthians 6: 19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.Thus any manifestation given as listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 are for bringing about this report as well as to profit the body withal.1 Corinthians 14:20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
I also know that history speaks of such deliverance as temporary for as long as this "other" spirit keeps coming. Once it stops, then those "delivered" go right back to alcohol and drugs, thus proving that this spirit is after the flesh... and those delivered just exchanged their temporary "high" of drugs for another temporary "high"of another spirit which is not the indwelling promised by Jesus.Did you know that the reason the American Indians took to alcohol was because it reminded them of being in the Great Spirit which they chant and dance for to come? Such rudiment already found in the world before the Gospel came are being repackaged and delievered for believers to engage in.Religious Psychics & The Charismatic New Wave Peter preached a words only Gospel as the Gentile believers heard the Gospel and have received the promise from Jesus as Jesus gave the gift by promise. If you note the exact words Peter used in preaching to them in Acts 10:34-44, the Gentile believers heard that Jesus was baptized by the Holy Ghost, but they didn't know they were going to be baptized by the Holy Ghost. Peter did not mention the promise and yet Jesus did baptized them when they came to and believed in Him. And did you note verse 36?Acts 10: 36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all
37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;They were preaching a words only Gospel, as they certainly were NOT preaching peace by signs and wonders which is the cause by which you are preaching for. Deliverance can only be had in Jesus Christ. There are no invitation given by God to go after the Spirit for we have received the Spirit by faith and by promise in Jesus Christ.Repent, brother, for you are not serving the Lord Jesus Christ but voicing a false teaching of another spirit to receive. I had to rebuke you sharply so that those struggling with addictions do not follow after that which is not the Gospel which is not after Christ Jesus. You either are preaching Jesus Christ and him crucified.. or you are NOT! And I'd say you are NOT!May the Lord deliver you from this snare of the devil and return you to your first love, our resting place.Nonsense!There is only one faith, so it must be the same as that first delivered unto the saints, as detailed in Acts.
Why do you mention water baptism?I never mentioned "water baptism".
How did they know precisely when people received the promised Holy Spirit?Can they judge other people's hearts?Can you say when you became a Christian, thereby judgeing your own heart?
Jesus said "you hear the sound thereof", what does this refer to?
By preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ... not signs and wonders or preaching another spirit to receive.
To illustrate my point that by believing in Jesus Christ, one receives the Holy Ghost by promise.
Jesus said we will know Him for He will abide in us forever.
And yet apparently you can if they don't speak in tongues without interpretation. Can one judge the heart of one faking it from those that do speak the gibberish language gained by seeking after another spirit to receive as the world does? Can one discern the difference ebtween a world's tongue speaker and those in christainity that errantly believes that tongues comes as a prayer language and not always to be interpreted? How can believers stand apart from the world which God calls us to do?
Thw wind... nothing more. If you apply that to the receiving of the Holy Spirit ALL the time, then you are not reading John 14:16-17 carefully in regards to how the world receives spirits.. and that is by seeing it.
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