Consider Habakkuk Questions-

    Who are You?-

Everlasting, Lord, Sovereign, Infinite, Self-Existing, Majestic Ruler, Holy One, Strong One, Set A-Part from Sin, Mighty. When you cannot wrap your arms around Gods will, go back to what you know to be true about God. Such as: He is a man that cannot lie, powerful merciful!

    How Can You Do This?Habakkuk question arises out of conflict. However, understand that in Habakkuk’s questing processes-There is no conflict or contradiction in God’s Will.  When God Atoned for man’s sin with- HIS OWN BLOOD as his thoughts and ways are so superior. There are no contradictions with the Almighty, but it is true that he does things that see to us inconsistent. If God cannot tolerate wrongdoing, how then could he use the Babylonians to judge Judah?

    How Will this Last?Shall they therefore, empty their nets? We all want to know when our troubles will finally end. We must understand that we will always face trouble- There are more good days than bad days. Trouble does not last always. From the first DAY YOU PRAYED, God heard you and sent you answer, but sometimes the principalities hold up your answer. ( This occurs in the Spirit-

 If you remove his Sovereignty you will question his wisdom

• If you remove his loyal love you will question his faithfulness
• If you remove his Majesty you will question his power
• If you remove his protection you will forever question his goodness
• If you remove his Holiness then we question his fairness

Habakkuk does not like the answer he received. Because he did not like the answer, he thought God was ignoring Judah’s sin. (The 7^th Kingdom) thought that God would never use the Babylonians to judge Judah. He concluded that the sins of Babylon were greater.

• What do you do when you have prayed and don’t like the answer you’ve received?    
• Some have problems discerning an answer. Why?
• What is the next step when no answer is perceived? The next steps we tend to graduate towards are asking another person to pray for us.

Habakkuk has questions as to how God is dealing with iniquity. We have to trust God’s will when the answer differs from what we expect.

 What do you do when?

• You prayed for a job and the employer selected another candidate?
• You have sunk your life savings and
• You never intended to get a divorce, but here you are?

What do you do when you signed up for the worship team and you don’t hear anything back?

 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”

Know that rarely that or plans are in alignment with God’s will, although we pray God’s will be done in our lives. (Isaiah 55:8) The will of the flesh rarely aligns with “God’s Will”

Psalm 40:5-But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. If the Lord blessed you, nobody can curse you!

There once was a young girl who bragged that God answered all of her prayers. She told her friends that she was going to pray to God to bring her a new bicycle

 We do not deny the underworld, but we know that there is a power that “Supersedes” the will of all evil.

Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

What does the scripture reveal to us regarding the dispensation of Grace?

Gifts come by the Spirit, many times individuals get  Spiritual Gifts confused with Natural Gifts? Oratorical vs Teaching

The only person that qualifies to receive a or many Spiritual Gifts is one born of the Spirit. God does not pour out gifts to people who do not possess his Spirit.

The Gentiles were hearing those who called Jesus accursed, Paul tells him no man will ever call Him accursed, as He is the Lord by the Holy Ghost, as Jesus brought us all into the fold by the shedding of His blood.

1 Corinthians 12:4-8

Divers types of Spirit- one Spirit, but different operations, differences in administration, but the same Lord, there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God. This is a clear representation of the “God Head”

However, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyman to profit, not just that man, but to profit the Body. There is only one Body, gifts are not exclusive to one church, the gifts of the Spirit are to edify the Body of Christ. Therefore, you must be willing to release your gifts to benefit the Body.

 For to one is given wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of Spirits, diverse tongues, interpretations of tongues, all divided and worked as the Spirit will- The Function of the Holy Spirit from this passage is to impart Spiritual Gifts as He will.

The church needs the gifts of the Spirit exquisitely adorned by the fruit of the Spirit to operate effectively-references

 Hospitality, Leadership, Discernment, Knowledge, Giving, Tongues, Evangelism, Exhortation, Helps, Healing, Pastor, Teaching, Mercy, Service, Apostle.

Romans, 12, 1 Corin. 12, Eph. 4

1 Timothy 4:1-14- A Testimony to Training up A Child

 Paul is writing to Timothy, neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery

 You must discover your gift; Timothy’s gift was given by God and revealed through prophecy. The Lord knowing Timothy’s assignment placed within him the ability to get the job done. He sought God for direction

We must -Discover, Dedicate, Develop our Spiritual Gifts.

A gift without development will not be effective. It is your responsibility, once your gift is discovered to cultivate your gifts- you must discover what he has placed in you. Once you discover the gift you must dedicate it completely to God. Your gift must be cultivated and matured both Spiritually and Naturally.

The Function & Role of the of the Holy Spirit (Part 2)

The dispensational work of the Holy Spirit requires for us to know various dispensations.

Every student of the word of God notices various divisions- periods of time marked off in scripture. The concept of a dispensation deals with the arrangement of various divisions of biblical history.

How does the Holy Spirit Function and work in various dispensations time?

Dispensation- is a period of time in which man is tested regarding obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God.

 Dispensations-Man failed God and was judged in each dispensation-In every dispensation man could be saved by “Faith” Dispensationalism- is a method of interpreting the history that divides God’s work and purposes toward mankind into different periods of time.

 In Christianity, the meaning is a distinctive arrangement or period in history or framework in which God relates to mankind. In each dispensation it suggests that God is relating to man. In each dispensation God wants to relate to man. Dispensations then become a series of chronological successive periods-periods in specific order. The numbers of dispensations held are typically three, four, seven, or eight.

 The three and four dispensation schemers are often referred to as minimalist, as they recognize the commonly held major beaks within Biblical history. The seven and eight dispensation schemers commonly associate the announcement or the inauguration of certain biblical covenants- covenants are associated with dispensations. There are eight covenants-which mark a different time period or dispensation of time.

The variance in the number of dispensations relate to the extent of detail being giving by a particular author or speaker.

Covenant OVERVIEW of Dispensation Schemers

Innocence-Edenic, Conscience-Antediluvian, Civil-Government, Patriarchal-Promise, Mosaic-Law, Grace-Church Millennial-Kingdom, Eternal State-Final

Patriarchal, Mosaic, Ecclesial, Zionic

Law Grace Kingdom

 There is a distinct difference in the Holy Spirit that worked in the Old Testament vs. the New Testament-It came to strengthen, service, or work. The indwelling/filling of the Holy Ghost was not known in the Old Testament. This does not mean that the activities of the Old Testament were small and little known. It does not make their work less important in the Old Testament as we know men who have done mighty and great things, for they knew it was not by their own power. 

Ex. 31:1-5, 35:30-35-

 The Holy Spirit imparts brings wisdom-to work in gold, silver, and brass-this is a high level overview which describes the various manners in which we are all skilled-

gifts giving unto us imparted unto us through the Spirit-

 What are your natural talents and gifts?-Judges 3:10 The Spirit came upon Othniel, and he judged Israel. We must always equate that all things of grandeur unto those for which we perceive as insignificant are all given one to another through the Spirit.

Examples of How the Spirit brought wisdom and talent

Judges-11:29, 13:25 Gideon, Sampson

 In creation:  the Holy Spirit at work in the beginning-its work was to garnish the heavens-made beautiful with stars and suns (Gen-1:2) the Spirit moved upon the face of the deep. The Law of First Mention -a principal in biblical hermeneutics-

Hermeneutics is the study of the interpretation of the principles of interpreting the books of the bible –Learn Greek and Hebrew as meaning variations have changed for full understanding as we know language translation and meanings have evolved and do not necessarily hold the same meaning.

We must know the framework to apply the scripture this occurs in hermeneutics. The Law of first mention- sets the stage for how a principle should be understood in the rest of the word of God-Rachaph-in Hebrew to flutter, hover relax, brood.

Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep- And the Spirit of God (moved-Rachaph) upon the face of the waters.

 God wants us to get that the Holy Spirit is on the move.-restoring to the earth peace and tranquility out of chaos.

From the Fall of mankind to the Flood (Adam & Noah) Dispensation of Conscience –Gen 6:3 for the Holy Spirit - Strives with man through his conscience to live a better life.

  The Holy Spirit was very active before the day of Pentecost. The Lord will bear with man for 120 years longer-until Noah began to build the arch-Noah preached for 120 years telling the people to repent. If there be no repentance-Noah shared- God would send the flood. Only 8 souls were saved.

 From the Flood to the Birth of Jesus Christ –Dispensations of Promise, Mosaic, and Law

The Holy Spirit came upon men and women after the flood up until the birth of Jesus Christ and filled individuals for some special service without regard to character.  

Example: Scripture references of individuals with what we would call major character flaws, yet Jesus Christ filled these individuals with the Holy Spirit to work for some special service without regard to their character.

Balaam-Num 24-2-9

Samson Judges 13-24-25

King Saul 1 Samuel 10-6-13

Led by the Spirit into the wilderness-Matt 4:1 Luke 41-2

Performed mighty works Acts 10-38

Anointed to preach Luke 4:18

Die on the Cross Heb 9-14

Raised from the dead 1 Peter 3-18-Quickened by the Spirit- He gave resurrection by the Holy Spirit Acts 1:1-2

From Pentecost to the second coming of Christ-Dispensation of Grace-we live in the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. Formation of the body of Christ by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body. On the day of Pentecost it took residence. Prior to the day it was not know n that the Holy Ghost dwelled-take up residence in man. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

 Jesus Christ is the Presiding Officer of the Church-divides the gifts as he will (Acts 15-13-29 13 2-4, 5:3, 20:28)

St. John 18:25-27 *  Acts 22:14-21* Romans 5:10* John 15:15

God is not fickle in his love and grace. God is forever giving. Who are you praising? Do you know who died for you?

God commands  us to be  strengthen in the word. He needs to know that we are with him. God wants us to be convinced in our own mind that he loves us. This is because when the sheep are scattered, “He” knows that you are someone who can hold and bring them together.

Simeon (listen)/Peter (stone)

Can you endure? There is a contrast between Peter & Paul. Paul thought that he was doing something for God, Peter was on the right street, but he was going in the wrong direction.  God took the opposite of what Paul thought should happen by blinding Peter in the same. God was letting him know that he did not have a personal relationship with God. Paul thought he was going to Damascus to do something for God. Paul was blind for three days. God commanded Ananias to go and lay hands on  him. Get rid of the doubt that you have and belive God.  Sometimes God sends you to the worst of the worst, but God does not want you to have a spirit of fear. He wants to know, do you love “Him” like you say?

When God unction’s you to witness to someone honor the direction of the “Spirit.”

Gods grace is sufficient for you! Be careful as not to get comfortable in a bad situation that seems right, as this is the trick of the devil.

Then you begin to tell him secrets and he begins to tell you what you do. God has a way to get you to see yourself. There are some things that you know you are not supposed to do, allow God to keep your footsteps as he is A God of A second Chance!

Hold on and Hold Out!

 Prove It, in obedience that you Love "God" like you say you do!

The Function of the Holy Ghost-Highlights from Life School

Isaiah 6:1

The Lord is upon me as he has ordained those according to “His Word”

No ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which temple of God are you?

Acts 12:7-8

The Holy Spirit gives life. You must be born again. Gird thyself, cast thy garment about and follow the works of the Holy Ghost. We want God to deliver us.

Acts 18:9-10

Be not afraid and hold thy peace, for God shall protect you. Take the Lord with you wherever you go, as we need the protection of God all of the time. We are not in this by ourselves. The Holy Ghost spoke to Paul, in visions, dreams, and prophecy,

Try the spirit by the Spirit. You must seek the Lord in full repentance. If you are not saved, get saved! Live by the “Life Class of the Bible.”

The Holy Ghost gives us power, joy, discernment, revelation, peace, love, encouragement, forgiveness, meekness, teacher, wisdom, knowledge, of His word. 

The Spirit helps our infirmities, the Holy Spirit is an agent working on behalf of God the guide you. God is both the savior and judge. When you are married to Christ you cannot fulfill the lust of the flesh, as God desires for all man to live in peace. You must be conscience as to what you utter before God, do not follow the spirit of error, as the Holy Ghost makes intercession for us all. God’s power never runs out. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Truth. Let no corrupt communication come from your mouth. Be encouraged in tribulation as Gods is “Grace and Mercy” is made perfect. He is faithful and just to forgive you of all your sins. Confess and forsake your sins as to receive the mercy of God. The spirit of Truth guides you into all Truth.  In all thy ways acknowledge Jesus and he will direct your path. You must allow yourself to be led by the Spirit of God. Seek first the kingdom of God. He writes His laws upon your heart. Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard what God has prepared for them who love him.

Acts 2:4

St. John 16:13

St. John 14:26

Revelations 3:20

Psalms: 116-15

Isaiah 57:2

Luke 10:19

Romans 8:26-27

St. John 10:10

 Leviticus 18:22

Hebrews 10:16

Leviticus 20:13

Acts 2:17

2 Peter 1:21

John 10:10

Philippians 2:13