But Jerry,
What would the Bible say is the greatest hindrance of being filled with the 
Holy Spirit?
jerry k
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry Lewis" <jlew0@...>
To: <pastorsforum@...>
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 6:27 AM
Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Baptist Stigma


> In his book, Mr Graham denotes "sin" as the greatest hindrance of being 
> filled with the Holy Spirit.
>
> My answer would be "religious tradition."
>
> 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: <shieldwolf@...>
> To: <pastorsforum@...>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Baptist Stigma
>
>
>> 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@...
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>> 5/19/2008 7:44 AM
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
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