Saturday, July 22, 2023

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 22 July 2023

When the Spirit Turns You Into Another Man

“And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.” (1 Samuel 10:6)

Today’s Morsel: May I ask you a question? Have you received the Holy Ghost since you have believed? What changes can you see that have taken place in your life since you received the Holy Ghost. Samuel told Saul that once the spirit came upon him, He would prophesy and be turned into another man. Paul told Timothy: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” (1 Timothy 1:12-13) From the time that Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, was baptized in His name, and received the Holy Ghost, he was never the same. He became another man. And this is what surprised so many in the church during that time. They knew that he was out to capture them and kill them. He told the church at Galatia: “But they had heard only, that he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.” (Galatians 1:23) Paul was a changed man.  When you receive the Holy Ghost, you are not going to remain the same. If you are still smoking dope, drinking alcohol, fornicating, lying, cheating, stealing, dressing immodestly, and not seeing church and the things of God as a priority, you don’t have the Holy Ghost or you are not allowing the Holy Ghost to work in you. The Holy Ghost changes you into someone new. Old things are passed away. Listen to Paul's instructions to the church at Ephesus:  “If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Ephesians 4:21-5:5) Have you received the Holy Ghost since you have believed? It’s a free gift to help you become new. 

Sing: He’s changing me, my blessed Savior, I’m not the same person that I use to be.  Well it’s been slow going, but there’s a knowing, that someday perfect I will be.


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