1Jn 1:9. Then you can be filled with the Spirit. Blessings, Randy > Jerry K, > >>>>>> Do you know if Billy Graham was 'filled with the holy Spirit?' > > I cannot attest for any spiritual experiences that Mr Graham experienced. > > However, he did write and publish a good book on the subject with some > excellent teaching regarding activating God's power in your life. There is > much that he writes that, IMHO, is based on denominational tradition, yet > there is a lot of good in his book. > > On page 140 in chapter 8 (The Fullness of the Spirit) he states, "In my > own > life there have been times when I have also had the sense of being filled > with the Spirit, knowing that some special strength was added for some > task > I was being called upon to perform." > > He goes on to state," To be filled with the Spirit is not an option, but a > necessity. It is indispensable for the abundant life and for fruitful > service. ... It is intended for all, needed by all, and available to all. > That is why the Scripture commands all of us, "Be filled with the Spirit." > > I might add, the "filling with the Spirit" is not automatic. The Bible > tells us that we are to ask for the power of the Holy Spirit. Even then, > it > is still not automatic, ... there is a "receiving" that we must do. > > Acts 8:14-15 > 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had > received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: > 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive > the Holy Ghost: > > Acts 8:17 > 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. > > Acts 19:5-6 > 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. > 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; > and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. > > God has already sent the Spirit, He has done His part in "giving" the > power > of the Spirit, ... it is up to us to do the "receiving." > > Jerry L > "Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who > was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders > to > be done by their hands" (Acts 14:3). > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jerry Krewson" <pastorjerry@...> > To: <pastorsforum@...> > Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 2:39 PM > Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Baptist Stigma > > >> Jerry, >> Do you know if Billy Graham was 'filled with the holy Spirit?' >> jerry k >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Jerry Lewis" <jlew0@...> >> To: <pastorsforum@...> >> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 7:48 AM >> Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Baptist Stigma >> >> >>> Charles, >>> >>> There is a stigma to the label "Pentecostal" also. And to the label >>> "holiness church." >>> >>> Many Baptists are scared of the word "Pentecostal" and seek to avoid >>> it. >>> >>> I like the quote from John Osteen, a Baptist pastor for 19 years before >>> he was filled with the holy Spirit. He said, "Pentecost is not a >>> denomination but an experience God intended for every blood-bought >>> child >>> of His." >>> >>> The feast of Pentecost was related to the harvest, and the power of >>> Pentecost is to enable us to reap a harvest of souls for the Kingdom of >>> God!!! >>> >>> Jerry >>> "Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, >>> who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and >>> wonders to be done by their hands" (Acts 14:3). >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "JoynCharles" <joyncharles@...> >>> To: <pastorsforum@...> >>> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:10 AM >>> Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Baptist Stigma >>> >>> >>>> Jerry, >>>> I thought it was the Pentecostals that had a stigma. >>>> When I started pastoring in a very problemed church it was suggested >>>> to >>>> change the name to Baptist. >>>> The Baptist church had more people and more adhering people than all >>>> of >>>> the others combined. >>>> I must be the area! We were in East Texas. >>>> We changed the name to Abundant Life Church and put a AG logo on the >>>> sign. >>>> All of that was to no avail. >>>> Only when we started once a month cell (home) groups did we start to >>>> have explosive growth. >>>> My overseers thought it was the name change that effected the growth. >>>> >>>> Rev. Charles Cockroft >>>> Associate Pastor >>>> First Assembly of God, Denison, Texas >>>> A Church Without Walls >>>> >>>> >>>> -------------------------------------------------- >>>> From: <shieldwolf@...> >>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 8:50 AM >>>> To: <pastorsforum@...> >>>> Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Baptist Stigma >>>> >>>>> If I am not mistaken, a few years back Barna did a study on how >>>>> churches >>>>> were viewed in general in America. The most loved church: Baptist. >>>>> The >>>>> most hated church: Baptist. The best known church: Baptist. >>>>> >>>>> What was funny: Least loved: Lutheran; Least hated: Lutheran. The >>>>> only >>>>> thing that was known about us is that we don't have conniption fits >>>>> if >>>>> you >>>>> drink. >>>>> >>>>> SO, you Baptists have it harder than we Lutherans. You are either >>>>> already >>>>> loved or already hated. Whereas for we Lutherans, the playing field >>>>> is >>>>> wide open. No one knows about us because in general we stink at >>>>> evangelism other than Lutheran Hour Ministries. >>>>> >>>>> BTW, those who hate you, do so for the legalism, not the doctrine. >>>>> Those >>>>> who love you, do so because you cared enough to tell them about >>>>> Jesus...or >>>>> at least that is what I remember from what was related to me from the >>>>> study---this was back around 1999 or 2000ish. >>>>> >>>>> Blessings, >>>>> Randy >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Gary gave a great answer.I'll add my 2 cents about "Baptist stigma". >>>>>> >>>>>>>From the unbelievers I have met in person or read, many (not all) >>>>>>> have >>>>>>> the impression that Baptists are more narrow-minded in their >>>>>>> beliefs >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> convictions than other denominations. There is an assumption that >>>>>>> Baptists don't drink, dance, or have fun (unless no one is >>>>>>> looking). >>>>>>> Their minds are made up on most issues already, so there's no use >>>>>>> discussing things with them. >>>>>> >>>>>> The more "tolerance" is the cultural cry, the more Baptists and >>>>>> Fundamentalists and any group with clear biblical theological >>>>>> positions >>>>>> will be stigmatized. >>>>>> >>>>>> An Immersionist, non-Baptist, >>>>>> Jimbo >>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>>> From: Jerry >>>>>> To: PASTORS FORUM >>>>>> Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 5:31 PM >>>>>> Subject: [PastorsForum] Baptist Stigma >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Gentlemen, >>>>>> >>>>>> I had a middle-aged couple visit our church last night. They left >>>>>> the >>>>>> church they had been members of because of several changes that were >>>>>> made. >>>>>> >>>>>> One major change was a name change for the church. They dropped >>>>>> the >>>>>> word >>>>>> "Baptist" from the church's name. It was stated that there was a >>>>>> "stigma" with the name "Baptist," and that some people would not >>>>>> attend >>>>>> if the name "Baptist" was on the sign. They wanted outreach to the >>>>>> people in the community. >>>>>> >>>>>> Do you agree or disagree that there is a "stigma" associated with >>>>>> the >>>>>> name "Baptist"? >>>>>> >>>>>> The church also changed their worship style from "Blended" to >>>>>> praise >>>>>> and >>>>>> worship with a praise band supplying the instrumental music for >>>>>> worship. >>>>>> >>>>>> Instead of having a Sunday evening worship service, they have >>>>>> multiple >>>>>> home-group cell meetings in people's homes. >>>>>> >>>>>> Attendance at this church dropped for a bit, but now it has grown >>>>>> considerably. >>>>>> >>>>>> BTW, my wife and I were members of this church years ago. >>>>>> >>>>>> Jerry >>>>>> "Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the >>>>>> Lord, >>>>>> who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and >>>>>> wonders to be done by their hands" (Acts 14:3). >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> To subscribe, send a message to: pastorsforum-join@... >>>>>> >>>>>> To unsubscribe, send a message to: >>>>>> pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>>>>> Checked by AVG. >>>>>> Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.21/1454 - Release Date: >>>>>> 5/19/2008 7:44 AM >>>>>> >>>>>> To subscribe, send a message to: pastorsforum-join@... >>>>>> >>>>>> To unsubscribe, send a message to: >>>>>> pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> To subscribe, send a message to: pastorsforum-join@... >>>>> >>>>> To unsubscribe, send a message to: >>>>> pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... >>>>> >>>> >>>> To subscribe, send a message to: pastorsforum-join@... >>>> >>>> To unsubscribe, send a message to: >>>> pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>>> Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.21/1456 - >>>> Release Date: 5/20/2008 6:45 AM >>>> >>>> >>> >>> To subscribe, send a message to: pastorsforum-join@... >>> >>> To unsubscribe, send a message to: >>> pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... >>> >>> >> >> To subscribe, send a message to: pastorsforum-join@... >> >> To unsubscribe, send a message to: >> pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... >> > > To subscribe, send a message to: pastorsforum-join@... > > To unsubscribe, send a message to: pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... > >