"The temptation seems to be toward empty manifestations. This does not require any particular cross, or death to the self-life. Hence it is always popular." - Frank Bartleman - Azusa Street Awakening.
STRONG TRUTH right there, my friends. Reader beware and take heed.
"The temptation seems to be toward empty manifestations. This does not require any particular cross, or death to the self-life. Hence it is always popular." - Frank Bartleman
Brother,
Thank you for sharing this. If you had the context to share that would be a blessing. From my perspective even seeking God's presence as a feeling can be less them HIM, his gifts and not the giver.
What pleases God is faith, this is how Abraham of old followed God, having intimacy with God but at times taking the cross and following no matter how he felt or the circumstances.
"The temptation seems to be toward empty manifestations. This does not require any particular cross or death to the self-life. Hence, it is always popular. We may not put power, gifts, the Holy Ghost, or in fact anything ahead of Jesus. Any mission that exalts even the Holy Ghost above the Lord Jesus Christ is bound for the rocks of error and fanaticism. There seems to be a great danger of losing sight of the fact that Jesus is "all in all.” The work of Calvary, atonement, must be the center of our consideration. The Holy Ghost will never draw our attention from Christ to Himself, but rather reveal Christ in a fuller way. We are in danger of slighting Jesus””getting Him "lost in the Temple,” by the exaltation of the Holy Ghost and of the gifts of the Spirit. Jesus must be the center of everything. The Lord Jesus becomes a stranger among His own people when they give the Holy Spirit preeminence over Him, when they praise Him but will not fellowship with Him, and when they seek His power rather than Him who embodies all spiritual things. Put another way, the upper room should never overshadow the cross or the empty tomb."
Frank Bartleman
Dear brother,
Thank you for sharing this further context, what a powerful exchoration.
Jesus and Him alone!
A strong exhortation here; and a reminder of the importance of understanding the doctrine of the Trinity properly. Many errors and slippery paths, and have been travelled down due to having a flawed understanding of the Trinity.
Put another way, the upper room should never overshadow the cross or the empty tomb."
Amen, instead the upper room should empower us to take up the cross daily and to be a living witness of the empty tomb.
Yes it is true that there are many fake manifestations of the upper room. On the opposite side of the spectrum there are teachings against these manifestations to gather those who run away from these manifestations. Instead there is a big lack in Christendom on what the actual manifestation of upper room is and how it glorifies Jesus Christ in our life.
That is why teachers like Zac Poonen who preach against both these extremes and are a true witness of upper room are very important.
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