Admonishment about the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit”

Delivering an admonishment is seldom joyous. Receiving one can be grievous. Yet we are told to admonish each other. And so, the time “to warn of a fault and reprove kindly, but seriously” is now.

First, allow me to set the scene. Yesterday I sat down and waited at my desk for inspiration from Yahweh. I had prayed for words for your edification. I thought of the Pentecostals and charismatics, whose defining characteristic is the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” experience. And I wondered why I never hear them share any of what the Spirit is showing this vessel from the scriptures of truth.

And then, as it were, a silent voice spoke to me. “Hey, Wayneman, why don’t you just tell your readers to get baptized in the Holy Spirit? All these things you are telling them—the additions to the faith, purge out the old leaven, continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, the using the sacred names of Yahshua and Yahweh, obeying all of Christ’s commandments, and putting on the armor of God. Look. We just want Jesus. We don’t want doctrine.”

I replied with a question. “Are these teachings I share scriptural? Are they in the Holy Bible? The answer is ‘yes.’ But you are saying that basically all you need is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that that is the ultimate prize. Boom! Just receive it! But the Holy Spirit is not an ‘it.’ The Spirit is the Father Himself, the eternal invisible One. That is also in the scriptures (1Tim. 1:17; John 4:24; II Cor. 3:17-18).

I continued. “You say, Just receive it, and then you will be right with God. That’s all there is to it. The irony is this: You say that you want the same experience that the early apostles received at Pentecost, and yet, these very apostles taught all the things that you think is unnecessary for a 21^st Century walk with God.

There are no shortcuts. There is a “strong delusion” happening in Christendom. Many have been deceived into thinking that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a be-all end-all. But it is not. To grow into the “manifestation of the sons of God,” it will take much more than a singular experience with God. The experience may be a wake-up call. But there is so much more knowledge needed to do His will “in earth as it is in heaven.”

Peter and the Additions (I Peter 1:1-10)

It is none other than the apostle Peter who tells us to “add to your faith” seven facets of God’s nature. This is the disciple who had seen it all. As one of the original twelve, he was an eyewitness of countless miracles done by Christ. He was there at the Mount of Transfiguration. He spoke with Christ after His resurrection. And most importantly for the Pentecostals and charismatics, he was definitely “baptized in the Holy Spirit.”

And Peter is the one who tells us to add to the faith. Through studying out the seven additions, we receive “exceeding great and precious promises that “by these [promises] you might be partakers of the divine nature” (v. 4).

There is something more profound than having an experience with God. God uses those experiences to help call us to His service. They get our attention. I never argue with a person’s experience. For they will say, But I know the baptism in the Holy Spirit is real!

I am not refuting that. But did God show you through that experience the meaning of Christ’s parables? Did the experience give you knowledge of how to grow into spiritual maturity? Did it prepare you to sit with Christ on his throne? Did it take you through the cross experience where your old nature has died? Did your experience give you all the knowledge of God–knowledge that the Spirit through Peter told us to have?

Peter was a major recipient of the baptism of the Spirit and fire. Fire. Since we today did not get to walk with Yahshua for three and a half years, we need to study out the teachings that they were privy to. After all, where did Peter get this knowledge about the seven additions? It was from Christ’s teachings during those three and a half years.

Peter says that if those seven additions “be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (Yahshua)” (verses 3-10). The Spirit through Peter says that if you have added these seven divine attributes, then you will be fruitful in the knowledge of Christ. But if you don’t add them, you “are blind and cannot see afar off.” The same God who gave you your experience is the same God who’s now telling you that you must add more of his divine nature to the faith that he’s given you. And that takes study.  

I could go on and on. In fact, I have published six books on these subjects. They are a distillation of 50 years of study. It was the Spirit in the apostle Paul who admonished us to “study to show yourself approved unto God” so that you won’t be ashamed when you appear before Him (II Tim. 2:15). What to study? Start with the additions. They are in my latest book, The Additions to the Faith.

The admonishment comes to us from Peter and Paul: Don’t be deceived by the “strong delusion” of a spiritual shortcut via a “baptism in the Holy Spirit” experience where one gets a wonderful feeling that, alas, does not last. Like an electric car, the feeling must be recharged every Sunday. For the charismatic experience just does not cover what the Holy Spirit in the early apostles has told us to do.

There is so much more than what the churches teach. The banquet table is set. He has given us six books now. They contain much on these subjects and have your name on them. “Come. Buy without money” (Isa. 55:1). [The books are free to you with free shipping. Just ask through my email, wayneman5@hotmail.com Include the name of the book, your name, and your mailing address.

But most do not want these books. They must feel that they have no need for this knowledge.  This reality places an aching in my heart, for I know that the knowledge contained in those books will help you grow spiritually, which in turn will glorify the Father.

But first, one must believe that they need more truth. And then they must believe in the source of the truth. The source is the Spirit of truth who has come and is guiding us into all truth (John 16:13).

Christ’s Admonishment

Christ Himself, gives us this huge admonishment: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot… so, because you are lukewarm… I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth [spiritual riches] and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; And white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent” (Rev. 3:14-19 NIV). The Spirit is speaking to us in this last church age.

To those who overcome—to those who heed this warning from the lips of Christ—Christ has incomprehensible promises of power and glory awaiting them when He establishes His government here on earth.

Question: Has the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” experience shown you how to buy from Christ “gold tried in the fire”? or how to obtain the white raiment that covers spiritual nakedness? Or how to get the eye salve that will cure spiritual blindness? Remember Peter’s warning: “But he that lacks these things [the seven additions to the faith] is blind…” (II Peter 1:9). But adding them confirms your calling and election.

Christ is knocking on the door of our hearts. If we open the door, He will come in and break bread with us. To those of us who overcome, He will invite them to sit with Him on His throne. The caveat? We must have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to us (Rev. 3:20-22).

Delivering an admonishment is at times not joyous. Receiving one is sometimes grievous. He admonishes us because He loves us and is helping us take a deeper walk with Him.      Kenneth Wayne Hancock

King David—A Man After God’s Own Heart

Oh, to have our Savior say that about us! What did David say or do to garner such a testimony from the Father? For God “gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart.” David was “after” God’s heart; he was in accordance with God’s desire. But most stop right there when quoting this passage. However, God continues in the next breath, “which shall fulfill all my will.”

These last six words of Acts 13:22 are revelatory. King David is a man after God’s own heart because God knew that David would fulfill all of God’s will. He would champion all of His desires. AndGod desired to have His name glorified through the destruction of Goliath.

God would use the giant as a symbol of the evil world system headed by Satan. Goliath would come on as an undefeatable foe, too big and powerful to conquer and destroy. I am talking about the current world system in which we live. They have it sowed up. The system is rigged, and it looks like they are going to win. Remember how the Israelites said that the “giants are too big” to try to conquer.

David, a Type of God’s Elect Today

Then God would use David, a “stripling,” a “ruddy” complexioned youth, to battle the giant. David loved Yahweh, and it showed. God wanted Goliath confronted and killed. No soldier in Israel’s army stepped up to fight him; they were all afraid. At this, David said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” Then David said to King Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” [Look at David’s belief in Yahweh.]

“And Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for thou art but a youth and he a man of war from his youth.” [This is the unbelief of the world.]

Then David tells of his adventures in killing a lion and a bear to protect his flock of sheep. “Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” [David has had experiences of doing battles with God by His side.]

You know the rest of the story (I Sam. 17:32-54). David defends the God of Israel and says to Goliath, “You come to me with a sword and with the spear and shield, but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of host, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied. This day will Yahweh deliver you into my hand, and I will smite you, and take your head from you, and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, unto the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that Yahweh saves not with sword and spear, for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give you into our hands.”

This miraculous defeat of Goliath by a mere youth has been discussed by people for over 3,000 years, thus fulfilling the purpose of God: “That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” And this same God shall return on a white horse in magnificence and shall call to the “fowls of the air” to come to the “supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains and the flesh of mighty men…” (Rev. 19:11-18).” [Note David’s statement about giving the carcasses of the Philistine army “to the fowls of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth.” His words are a living prophecy as to what will happen to all who follow the beast system at the time of the end.

David is a type of the elect of God for these end times. Satan’s world looks too big, too corrupt, too unbeatable. But the elect sons and daughters will rise and answer their calling like David did. Only this time it won’t be with a physical sling, stone, and sword.

It will be a spiritual battle. We will put on the spiritual armor of God. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but… against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12). Our battle today is with satanic spirits who rule the masses here on earth. The time of their deliverance draws nigh. “And saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S” (Obadiah 1:21). [Christ called out and exposed the “mount of Esau” in John 8:44.]

It is our honor—you and me—to be used by Yahweh to do His will like David did. He answered the call and set the precedent for us today. David’s faith in our God Yahweh is palpably stirring. He tells the bully Goliath that he is fighting Yahweh. This is the same faith that Christ walked in, the faith of the Son of God. Study this belief in Yahweh that David walked in and spoke of. Study it good, for it holds the keys to becoming “a man after God’s own heart” (That goes for women, also, for “He called their name Adam.”). David believed that it was God’s fight and that he was the vessel that God was using. No pride. David was defending the name and honor of His God, as well as defending God’s army. He was doing the will of God.

New Book Back from the Printers–Order Your Copy Today

“The Additions to the Faith” explains how we are to grow spiritually. Growing is a process, and this book explains the process. This book is for those who believe they are called and chosen to be like the early apostles.

The apostle Peter admonishes us to add to our faith certain spiritual qualities of the King. In order that we may “partake of the divine nature,” we are to add virtue to our faith, and “to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness charity (agape love).” He goes on to say that we will be blind without them. But with them we will “make [our] calling and election sure, and that will ensure our entrance “into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 1: 3-11).

Today, Peter would tell us that these additions are not little romper room words to be pasted on a bulletin board. Rather they are facets of a jewel of great price, and that jewel is His very character. These additions are aspects of God’s divine nature. A shallow perusal will not do. They must be studied and prayed over and sought with a whole heart in reverential awe.

Peter sums it up by saying, You better take heed to what I am saying to you. I have a “more sure word of prophecy.” I know what I am talking about because I was there with our Savior on the Mount of Transfiguration, and I beheld His glory. I am speaking to you now as “a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts” (1: 16-19).

God has miraculously preserved Peter’s words to us for all these 2,000 years. The Spirit still speaks through him to us. We need to study this out thoroughly, or we are going to miss something very big in God’s plan.

To order your free copy [with free shipping], send your name, mailing address, and name of the book to my email address: wayneman5@hotmail.com

[For more on the additions to the faith go here: https://immortalityroad.wordpress.com/category/additions-to-our-faith/ ]

God’s Will/Desire Is to Bring His Kingdom to Earth–Christ to Share His Throne with Us

We have seen that God’s will is His desire. God’s desire springs from His purpose, which is to reproduce Himself, Agape Love, in us. God has a plan that will fulfill His desire for you, me, and the rest of the inhabitants of earth. His desire will come to pass. It will supersede all of man’s self-centered yearnings. His desire is to have His government here on earth, a kingdom so full of wonder that it will erase the memory of mankind’s miserably failed epochs and eras.

The border of Christ’s Kingdom will not be entered illegally. He will bring order, His divine order. To help the interlopers, Christ will send ambassadors to the far-flung territories of the earth. These ambassadors will institute God’s righteous government, helping the people build a life of loving the King by loving and helping each other. After the Tribulation period, He will have rulers, judges, and officers carry out in love His desire for the people of this world. For all the citizens of earth will be taught about our righteous King’s wishes. We will teach them God’s will, desire, and intention.

Our King Yahshua is not a chump. He does not come this time as a Lamb sacrificed for the world’s sins. He comes back as the “Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David,” ruling with a “rod of iron” (Rev. 5:5; 2:27).

There are many openings right now in the King’s royal army who carry neither sword nor shield. He has a promise for those who answer His call to overcome all deceptions and delusions thrown their way. Here is His promise to His elect: “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in my throne…” (Rev. 3:21). It is the Spirit speaking to us. Are we able to hear and comprehend the vastness of His promise that He, in His infinite love, has given us a chance to really know Christ, to be loved by Him like the disciple John was loved by Him. To know Him as a real friend, as well as our Captain.

I just take my cap off now as I write this and bow my head in the presence of One so kind and humble. He is so gracious that He would offer this vessel a chance to be with Him, a chance to repent from diving into rabbit holes, and an opportunity to become like King David, a man after God’s own heart. To have one heart—Christ’s heart. To be one with Him, thus fulfilling His will/desire.

We are not talking about being saved. We are talking unabashedly about being used by Christ to rule the earth! Becoming a governor in His kingdom, a “ruler over ten cities,” is the big bait that I am casting out into the sea of mankind. He did say that He would make us “fishers of men.” So, no more casting the minnows of just-walking-the-aisle-and-accepting-Jesus. No. That will not fulfill Christ’s will/desire, which is this: You and I are to be the “big fish” that His Spirit is angling for. Big fish like King David.    Kenneth Wayne Hancock