Today's Blog with Wood

Prayer Poem

I am so anxious to learn more about how to pray so God will hear.

April 25, 2008

Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Today on the Back to the Bible program we cleared up a lot of misconceptions about what it means to be filled with the Spirit. 
 
One of the things I like most about this idea of the filling of the Spirit is that it's something that happens on a daily basis. Some of the Holy Spirit's work in my life happened once--and only needs to happen once. But the filling with the Holy Spirit is a daily, ongoing reminder of the presence of God in my life. 
 
I hope you had time to listen to this series on the Holy Spirit. You can find the transcripts here on our site, or better yet, order a CD copy for your own. Thinking back over the last couple of weeks, what did you learn about the Holy Spirit that you didn't know before? How has that impacted your life?

Student Pastor

I always enjoy hearing your program. It's amazing to me that the most difficult challenge that I face in my churches is getting people into God's Word on a daily basis. Needless to say, without the Holy Spirit's guidance and His understanding, much of what we read in the Bible is just a bunch of nice words. Take the Beatitudes, for instance. Until a few years ago, I thought they sounded nice, and learned them as a child, but didn't really get it. Just by being disciplined in reading the Bible daily, I began to understand that there was so much more to them than just the poetic sounds of the words. This year, I have encouraged my congregations (I have 4) to join me in the daily Bible challenge. My Christmas gift to them was a daily lectionary plan that we can come together and discuss. I love seeing what God is doing in their lives because of their own time spent with Him. Thanks for your encouragement and the scholarly yet spiritual background that you bring to each lesson. It helps me keep a firm grasp on reality as I weave my way through the maze of scholarship at seminary (some of which is less than spiritually satisfying). 
God Bless you all at BTTB.

Filled

So appreciated yor study today.I haven't heard you in awhile and just wanted you to know I really like the format. Your message today was especially encouraging tome as well as enlightening. 
10,000 Blessings .

other people

I would like to respond to Pat's question, if I may. I was greatly disburbed about some people I knew, no way could they be saved acting like that. The Holy Spirit took me to JOHN 21:15-24. This is where Peter is told to feed the sheep 3X. Peter looking behind him said "but Lord what about him"; the Lord replied back saying "if I want him to remain till I return what is that to you." What the Holy Spirit was telling me was Phil. 2:12 YOU WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING before GOD and mind my own business. He wasn't rebuking me {or was He?}He was doing part of His job correcting and teaching me and keeping me away from sin. I hope I didn't offend anyone but that was a powerful lesson for me to learn.

Holy Spirit series

I have really been enjoying listening to the series about The Holy Spirit. I listen to it every morning at 5 AM on Bott Radio Network in Springfield, MO.

April 24, 2008

Sanctification! Now's there a big church word you can use to impress your friends and co-workers. But if they asked you, "What does it mean?" would you know how to respond? 
 
Well, if you listened to today's program, you know that sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit by which we become more like God. It's a process. It's the daily surrendering of our will and desires to the will of the Holy Spirit residing in us. It's the spiritual version of those home makeover shows where a professional comes in and renovates a ruined house. 
 
Sanctification is the way we hold up under the pressures of the world too. Can you think of any events or times in your lives where you made it through, but you know it was only because of the Holy Spirit inside you? That's sanctification at work. I'd love to hear about your experiences.

Response to Question

This is a response on Dr. Kroll's behalf regarding the question about losing your salvation in the blog below. The response comes from a Back to the Bible staff member. 
 
We always need to keep in mind that it's not "saying the sinner's prayer" or "making a profession of faith" that saves a person. Those are only outward acts that reflect an inner change of heart brought about by the Holy Spirit. There are those who are depending on these actions thinking that because they said a prayer or walked forward at a meeting, they are saved. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Salvation comes through faith in Christ, not by outward acts. 
 
On the other hand, it is possible for Christians to return to sinful ways (it used to be called "backsliding"). Doing so does not cause a Christian to lose his or her salvation; but it does invite God’s discipline. The apostle Paul tells those at Corinth who were acting disgracefully at the Lord’s Supper, "For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep" (1 Corinthians 11:30). The word "sleep" in this verse is a euphemism for death. God’s discipline can go so far as removing a Christian from this life. 
 
Ultimately, however, only God knows for sure whether another person is a fake Christian or a sinning Christian. In any event, our responsibility is to make sure that we don't fall into either of those categories.

Response to Question

Dr. Kroll, 
I have been listening to your program for a couple of weeks now. I think it is really good. However, I am confused because I learned in church that you can lose your salvation if you do not have a relationship with God and you do not display the fruit of the Spirit. I realize that you cannot get to heaven by works. I was wondering though if someone asks the Lord to be a part of their life and confesses this with their mouth and asks for forgiveness of their sins but goes back to living the way that they had been living and does not ask for forgiveness of their sins, does not have a relationship with God, does not pray or attend church, can this person really be saved? I know that we do not know exactly what people do in their personal lives but I am pretty sure there are those who have said the "sinners prayer" and have gone back to their old way of life and have not wanted to come back to God.  
 
Would you still consider this person to be "saved" have salvation? 
 
Just wondering what your thoughts are. Thanks!

April 23, 2008

You, parents, out there today can certainly relate to the subject of today's message on Back to the Bible. We were talking today about influence. And if you've ever scrutinized your children's friends trying to discern whether or not they'll be a good influence, you know what I mean. 
 
That's why Linda and I made sure that each of our four children got to know the One who would be the biggest influence in their life as early as possible. That person, of course, is the Holy Spirit. 
 
Tell me about the influence of the Holy Spirit in your life or your children's lives.

April 22, 2008

You, parents, out there today can certainly relate to the subject of today's message on Back to the Bible. We were talking today about influence. And if you've ever scrutinized your children's friends trying to discern whether or not they'll be a good influence, you know what I mean. 
 
That's why Linda and I made sure that each of our four children got to know the One who would be the biggest influence in their life as early as possible. That person, of course, is the Holy Spirit. 
 
Tell me about the influence of the Holy Spirit in your life or your children's lives.

Miss

I truly believe in God's Holy Spirit guiding us. I have had many "divine appointments" as God has directed my life.

April 21, 2008

I made this point a couple times on today's broadcast, but I think many people have the wrong idea when they think of feeling convicted. Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. And it seems when people say, "I feel convicted about this," they're really saying, "I feel bad about this." 
 
But there's a lot more to real conviction. Real conviction means real guilt and real sorrow for the wrong thing done. But real conviction is necessary for real salvation. If you're saved today, you know about conviction and how awful it feels. But you also know about the joy of forgiveness. 
 
Tell me about the time you realized you needed forgiveness.

Mrs

Dr Kroll: 
Today as you taught about the Holy Spirit praying through us, I realized several years ago this is exactly what happened. You see I was on a airplane waiting our turn to take off. The jet before us turned and took off. We immediately turned and began rolling down the runway. I thought and prayed silently to the Lord. "Lord it seems like we are taking off too soon. If we are cause us to wait." The pilot immedediatley applied the brakes. After 3 hrs we took another airplane. Praise God!!

MIMILEE

I NEED forgiveness everyday....every moment!!!.....THE heart is so deceitful and even convince the sinner that he is doing great!.....God is faithful to convict us of sin and halleluah for that because we would go on our merry way never seeking His forgiveness. We know though that Sin separate us from God and our prayers are not answered if we do not confess our sins to Him. The day I surrender to God and asked His forgiveness for my sin was the GREATEST day of my life and I have found that His promises are true especially the one that says He will forgive our sins and renew our spirit and fellowship toward HIM! AMEN!

Conviction

I think people need to understand that conviction of sin is not the same as condemnation. In Romans 8:1 the bible states that there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. In addition to being important for forgiveness of our sins and being cleansed of all unrighteousness. Conviction is important to maintaining open and joyful fellow-ship with the Lord.

Response to Question

Here is Dr. Kroll's response to the blog immediately below concerning speaking in tongues. 
 
Let's first of all let's look at your Bible references. Mark 16:17 is frequently brought up as a verse that "proves" that speaking in tongues is normative for today. There is a problem here in the fact that most early manuscripts don't contain these latter verses of Mark 16. But let's assume for the sake of discussion that they are indeed part of the original manuscript. Mark 16:17-18 says, \"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." If these verses are proof that tongues are the norm for today, then we also would expect that handling snakes and drinking poison (not to mention casting out demons and miraculous healings) would be normative. Except for some small sect of snake handlers in Appalachia, I'm not aware of any churches that practice these other "signs" as widely as they do tongues. Why would one be normative and the others not? 
 
Next is the Book of Acts. The tongues in Acts 2 appear to be legitimate languages since the people who heard the disciples speak on the day of Pentecost "heard them speak in his own language" (v. 6). There is no reason not to believe that the other instances of tongues in the Book of Acts were of the same kind. The purpose of tongues in Acts (beyond Pentecost) was to be a sign to the Jews that God had accepted others on the same basis as He accepted them. Thus what happened at Pentecost (tongues as known languages) was being replicated in other places as though God was saying to the Jews, "Others are just as important as you are." 
 
Then we get to Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. This letter was written because, among other problems, there was confusion and discord taking place over tongues. A new kind of tongue had appeared--a tongue that was an ecstatic utterance. In actuality, this was not new. Ecstatic utterances were common in numerous pagan religions (and still are today).  
 
Were these ecstatic utterances part of the "gift of tongues"? I don't think so. Look at 1 Corinthians 12:10. Paul is talking about the gifts and says, ". . . to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues" (italics mine). It would not be logical for Paul to lump together known languages with ecstatic utterances. A better understanding of that phrase would be, "to another different kinds of known languages." 
 
In fact, it was not the speaking of legitimate languages that was creating problems at Corinth, it was the ecstatic utterances. In 1 Corinthians 14:22, Paul says, "Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers." Just like at Pentecost, when unbelievers heard their native language being spoken by people who shouldn't have known that language, it was a sign something miraculous was happening. On the other hand, if unbelievers walked into a church service where everyone was speaking in ecstatic utterances, "will they not say that you are out of your mind?" (14:23) 
 
Let me briefly comment on your other observations. I'm assuming that you are saying that everyone who is baptized by the Spirit will speak in tongues. Since baptism by the Spirit is a necessity for all believers (1 Cor. 12:13), all believers should be expected to speak in tongues (at least once). Yet Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:30, "Do all speak with tongues?" The implied answer is "no." Speaking in tongues has never been normative in the church. 
 
I would also have to wonder about the importance of tongues. In 1 Corinthians 14:19, Paul says "Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue." At least in the context of the church, speaking in tongues was neither the norm nor was it the highly prized gift that some would make us think it is. Perhaps that's why Paul places it at the end or near the end in his lists of the gifts (1 Cor. 12:7-10, 12:2. 
 
You also conclude, "If more people would seek the baptism with speaking in tongues they would be better equipped to handle the world today." But was that true for the Corinthians, the church best known for speaking in tongues? Obviously not. When I look at the church in Corinth, I see a church bogged down in sexual immorality (1 Cor. 5:1) and torn with strife and carnality (1 Cor. 3:1-4). It doesn't appear that speaking in tongues better equipped the Corinthians to handle the world.  
 
I hope my responses have been helpful to you. This is a very divisive subject but when properly appreciated the role of the Holy Spirit is always that of uniting the church, not dividing it. 
 
Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with you.

Christian

I was listening on the way to work and the ride is not long enough or the starting times regular enough to catch the whole series on the Holy Spirit. I will have to purchase the CD/DVD. Any way I am correct that you exclude the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues? My scripture reference is Mark 16:17, Acts 2:3 - 2:4 - 2:11 - 10:46 & 19:6, And Paul talks about speaking in tongues in 1 Cor. Chapters 12,13 & 14. As a believer and having received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with Speaking in tongues I get a little troubled with theology that excludes this important Gift. If more people would seek the Baptism with speaking in Tongues they would be better equipped to handle the World Today. I thank God that I am in a Church that teaches and encourages the Baptism with Speaking in Tongues.

April 18, 2008

We've been talking this week about the Holy Spirit and today specifically about being sealed by the Spirit. One way to think of this seal is like the brand ranchers will put on their cattle. Should that steer wander off, anyone who sees it will recognize that brand and know who owns that steer 
 
But there's another idea behind the being sealed by the Spirit that ought to bring a smile to our face and a spring to our step. It's the idea that no one would seal something that isn't valuable to them. 
 
You and I are important to God. Jesus willingly gave up His life so that we can have renewed fellowship with Him. And the Spirit puts His seal on us as a guarantee that we will be with Him forever. Now tell me that doesn't make you smile.

Praise God!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glory to God for sealing us in His Holy Spirit.

chosen by God

How grateful I am for the Lord preserving the Bible for us, so we do not have to rely on men to guide us. By His Spirit we can understand the Word and with humble servants such Mr. Kroll we can grow in grace and knowledge of the wonder of our salvation and the greatness of our God.

April 17, 2008

Here's what the Spirit of God does for me and for you. He not only regenerates me and baptizes me, He puts a seal around me that says, "Now, I'm going to make sure this stands the test of time. I'm going to make sure this sticks forever. I am actually personally, Myself, going to be the seal around you that says 'I identify you with God.' I, Myself, am going to be the seal around you that says, 'You belong to God. You are one of His children. He owns you.' I, Myself, am going to be the seal around your life that says to everybody, 'The person inside this seal has not been messed with. No contents have been taken away. They did not lose their salvation. They haven't lost anything because I have guaranteed it and My guarantee lasts forever.'" 
 
You can't buy life insurance that will do for you what the Spirit of God can do for you.

April 17, 2008

My eyes have really been opened,in reguards to seeing the involvment of the Godhead in the work of my savation and keeping me secure in Christ. even thou I have been a christian for a long time ,as the apostle Peter states, it is good for me to go over these fundamental truths of the faith. It brings a sense of peace to me when I do.

April 16, 2008

If you're reading this blog, you probably came through the main page of our Web site. While you were there you may have seen a slide for the book, The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit by R. A. Torrey. Let me share with you a quote from the first chapter: 
 
"I can think of no thought more humbling or more overwhelming than the thought that a person of divine majesty and glory dwells in my heart and is ready to use even me" (page 10.) 
 
How do you think of the Holy Spirit? Do you think of the Holy Spirit as a supernatural energy that you can use? Or do you think of Him as a divine person who earnestly seeks to use you for great things? There's a lot riding on that distinction.

Owner/operator

I listen to your program daily and am fed like no where else. 
 
Keep up the "Full Gosple" teaching! 
 
Brother Brewer