Church of God a cult?

[ready-as-ever]

As my post stated before there was something, an outward manifestation that was seen immediately when those in the Bible were filled with the Holy Spirit. The only indication the Bible gives to what that might be is tongues. Now, some say that Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit was upon Him by the evidence that He gave in Luke 4:17-19 when Jesus read from Isaiah 61. When those who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit they were empowered to do the same ministries that Christ spoke of in Luke. A teaching of R.A. Torrey is that you have proof of the baptism if you have a successful ministry. But I believe God can do all things with or without those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit.

There are those within my church that would say that you are not baptized in the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit is working through you much like He did in the Old Testament. He would come upon a prophet, do the work of God, and then leave the person.

If there is some other indication spoken of in the Bible that prove that one was baptized by the Holy Ghost please show me where.

[FaithWalker]

ready-as-ever....I am not trying to be argumentative.....just trying to learn. Iron sharpens Iron...right! I see your point about how the Holy Spirit could work through you and then leave as it did in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament were are told in 1 Corinthians that tounges, healing, prophecy, etc. are gifts:

1 Corinthians 12:4
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

My understanding of a gift is something that is given to keep. If it is taken back away then it is not a gift. If I give you a car and then take it back was it a gift or just something I let you use? Also in 1 Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

To me this verse show that everyone recieves the gifts of the Spirit and they are all different. You recieve the Spirit by accepting Christ. That is why
1 John says "4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world".

Who is he that is in you? It's the Spirit of God and if the Spirit of God lives in you then wouldn't when you recieved him be the Baptism?

[MovingforJesus]

ready-as-ever
You are doing a great job so don't stop. This was the problem I had with the other board. But you have some great people here and they will not make fun or blaspheme the Holy Ghost. Most outside of Pentecostals truly don’t understand. Guess thats why we are here.:scripture

How long have you been in the MIP program? It was a great program and a blessed one.
Congregations on stepping out to the work God has placed before you.
Last year for me in the MIP with Congregational Holiness.

[Enoch]

Can someone clarify this. I used to attend a Church of God and it was not a cult. So are you talking about something different?- Not the denomination Church of God? I'm confused.

Sahm

Some take Armstrong's teachings as the infallible Word of God but if you wanna get really technical, some take Wesley's teachings in the Methodist Church like that as some Catholics use the Pope.

I've attended the Church of God and saw alot of praise and on fire for the Lord. I'd much rather attend that type of Church than one that seems like a funeral.

Church is not the Way and you have to take what you can get and leave the rest. I've yet to attend a Church where I agree 100% on everything and every wor dthe Pastor said. If I did, I guess I would have died and gone to Heaven.

Seek and ye shall find, the Lord said. You can find Him anywhere if you look just as you can also find fault wherever you look. It's what's in your heart imho.

[ready-as-ever]

FaithWalker
ready-as-ever....I am not trying to be argumentative.....just trying to learn. Iron sharpens Iron...right!

I completely understand. I wasn't trying to be defensive either. It is hard sometimes to convey compassion through typed words on a message board.

I had a hard time discussing this with my wife last night. She could not understand how one could possess a gift but not the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The only way I could explain was to point out that you can choose to do these gifts (not the supernatural ones). Teaching is a gift of the Spirit but not all teachers are filled with the Holy Spirit or even saved. I can choose to be hospitable and caring but that does not mean I am saved nor baptized.

She also asked the same type of question you asked; "if the Spirit of God lives in you then wouldn't when you received him be the Baptism?" For clarification lets say there are only two types of Christians. One group believes in Christ, that He is God's Son, and that He died for our sins; they are saved. The other group has been baptized in the Holy Spirit; they have submitted all there body and will to the Holy Spirit. Now it is not they that do the work, but the Holy Spirit is now working through them. You separate yourself from the world and become a vessel to which the Holy Spirit can work through.

[ready-as-ever]

ready-as-ever
You are doing a great job so don't stop. This was the problem I had with the other board. But you have some great people here and they will not make fun or blaspheme the Holy Ghost. Most outside of Pentecostals truly don’t understand. Guess thats why we are here.:scripture

How long have you been in the MIP program? It was a great program and a blessed one.
Congregations on stepping out to the work God has placed before you.
Last year for me in the MIP with Congregational Holiness.

Thank you. I wish I could do better. There is so much mystery to the Lord that one cannot simply have all the answers. I try my hardest to base all my opinions on scripture, though sometimes the word is silent in some areas.

I started CAMS at the beginning of the year. They have changed everything from what you are probably going through. I will be finished with that in next couple of weeks, and then I will be able to start MIP in the fall. What do you mean by "MIP with Congregational Holiness"?

[ready-as-ever]

Some take Armstrong's teachings as the infallible Word of God but if you wanna get really technical, some take Wesley's teachings in the Methodist Church like that as some Catholics use the Pope.

I've attended the Church of God and saw alot of praise and on fire for the Lord. I'd much rather attend that type of Church than one that seems like a funeral.

Church is not the Way and you have to take what you can get and leave the rest. I've yet to attend a Church where I agree 100% on everything and every wor dthe Pastor said. If I did, I guess I would have died and gone to Heaven.

Seek and ye shall find, the Lord said. You can find Him anywhere if you look just as you can also find fault wherever you look. It's what's in your heart imho.

You won't find God just anywhere. I don't know who Armstrong is.

I never believe anyones opinion unless they have scripture in context to back it up. Nor do one persons writings need to replace the Bible.

[MovingforJesus]

ready-as-ever
The MIP is Minister Intern Program. We are with the Congregational Holiness Church but we do all are training though the Church of God.
They are collage courses, we go through 2 years. The first year is for Local Ministers Licenses the second year is Ordination Licenses. Praise God will get Ordination License issued July 14. Have they changed it in the last 2 years? We have a friend that went through COG last year but he only went the 1 year.

[CountryBumpkin]

But I believe God can do all things with or without those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit.

There are those within my church that would say that you are not baptized in the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit is working through you much like He did in the Old Testament. He would come upon a prophet, do the work of God, and then leave the person.

If there is some other indication spoken of in the Bible that prove that one was baptized by the Holy Ghost please show me where.

Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

[CountryBumpkin]

FaithWalker


I completely understand. I wasn't trying to be defensive either. It is hard sometimes to convey compassion through typed words on a message board.

I had a hard time discussing this with my wife last night. She could not understand how one could possess a gift but not the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The only way I could explain was to point out that you can choose to do these gifts (not the supernatural ones). Teaching is a gift of the Spirit but not all teachers are filled with the Holy Spirit or even saved. I can choose to be hospitable and caring but that does not mean I am saved nor baptized.

She also asked the same type of question you asked; "if the Spirit of God lives in you then wouldn't when you received him be the Baptism?" For clarification lets say there are only two types of Christians. One group believes in Christ, that He is God's Son, and that He died for our sins; they are saved. The other group has been baptized in the Holy Spirit; they have submitted all there body and will to the Holy Spirit. Now it is not they that do the work, but the Holy Spirit is now working through them. You separate yourself from the world and become a vessel to which the Holy Spirit can work through.


So are you saying that the Holy Spirit does not work through the Christians that have not been "baptised" in the HS?