Can A Person Be A Smoker & Still Be Saved

[U376977]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

If anyone has any doubts where this forum is heading we have 13 pages discussing if smoking is a sin? Good grief!!!!!
Anyone who smokes is NOT saved or folks who think smokers are saved are saved are not saved.

Bro. Epley, I just love the way you cut thru all the "stuff" and state it in a way that is so decisive.

A holiness minister pastor friend of mine was approached by an evangelist who asked for a meeting. While holding a pack of Malboros in his shirt pocket. The pastor said, "I can't have you preach in my church, you are not called to preach." The evangelist protested, "yes I am!" The pastor said, "you need to get the Holy Ghost, in fact you need to get saved and baptized." He explained that no one can claim the Holy Ghost sucking on a cigarrett-and certainly not claim to be a minister.
I think you and he would have gotten along quite well.

[Aquila]

Smoking is no worse than over eating or being overweight. Both show a lack of self control and bondage. Both come with built in judgments that will destroy the body.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Smoking is no worse than over eating or being overweight. Both show a lack of self control and bondage. Both come with built in judgments that will destroy the body.

Good grief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know folks as big as the side of a house that eats like birds and other skinney as refugees that puts the all you can eat buffets out of business.
I am not talking about self control I am speaking of a nasty filthy habit that anyone who has the Holy Ghost does not do.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Good grief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know folks as big as the side of a house that eats like birds and other skinney as refugees that puts the all you can eat buffets out of business.
I am not talking about self control I am speaking of a nasty filthy habit that anyone who has the Holy Ghost does not do.

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder, I am sorry, but I am enjoying your frustration right now. I will repent for it. I am anxious to see what will be defended by some next.

[Aquila]

I know a person who was filled with the Holy Ghost and water baptized...all the while still addicted to cigarettes. It took nearly a year for their deliverance to come. It was day before a Watch Night service just prior to Communion. The individual committed themselves to be clean at least a day or they wouldn't take communion, they were so convicted. They succeeded...and have been clean since. They were delivered by the convicting power of the Spirit.

They were saved before they quit. In fact, if they weren't, God should have been told... because he gave them the Holy Ghost. It's funny how so many treat the Holy Ghost like it's an impersonal energy that flows even into unregenerate hearts. Folks, the Holy Ghost is the SPIRIT OF GOD. God chose to dwell in this person before they were delivered from smoking. That tells me that if a person were still unsaved because of smoking...they couldn't get the Holy Ghost.

I would treat smoking like an alcohol problem. These are things that often hold on to some saints. These are things to get deliverance from. These are things that can cause us to loose out on all the blessings and rewards God has for us. These can shorten our lives and destroy the destiny God may have had for us. They can hinder our witness and keep us from experiencing the fullness of our salvation.

So if one were addicted to smoking I might not say they are unsaved...but I would say it disqualifies them from being an elder in the church. An elder wasn't to be given to wine...smoking is a similar bondage.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Good grief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know folks as big as the side of a house that eats like birds and other skinney as refugees that puts the all you can eat buffets out of business.
I am not talking about self control I am speaking of a nasty filthy habit that anyone who has the Holy Ghost does not do.

Have you ever been addicted to smoking? It's an addiction. Its a fact that nicotine addiction is stronger than heroine addiction.

It's not just a "habit" one can lay down. Such experiences are miraculous and wonderful deliveraces....but not everyone receives a miraculous deliverance from addiction. Some struggle with it until their deliverance comes.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Good grief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know folks as big as the side of a house that eats like birds and other skinney as refugees that puts the all you can eat buffets out of business.
I am not talking about self control I am speaking of a nasty filthy habit that anyone who has the Holy Ghost does not do.

So you can have the Holy Ghost and a judgemental attitude, but you can't have the Holy Ghost and smoke cigarettes? Is this what I hear all you haters saying? It's a good thing none of you get to decide who does and who doesn't have the Holy Ghost, regardless of what you may think. I smoked for a couple of years after I received the Holy Ghost, and started back up again a
few years after I had quit and still had the Holy Ghost the whole entire time. Amazing, ain't it? I suppose next you are going to try to tell me I didn't have the Holy Ghost while I was a smoker, as if God has given you supernatural Holy Ghost x-ray vision. Puhleeeze!


















BTW, you never did send me your address so I could send that certain thing we talked about to you.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I know a person who was filled with the Holy Ghost and water baptized...all the while still addicted to cigarettes. It took nearly a year for their deliverance to come. It was day before a Watch Night service just prior to Communion. The individual committed themselves to be clean at least a day or they wouldn't take communion, they were so convicted. They succeeded...and have been clean since. They were delivered by the convicting power of the Spirit.

They were saved before they quit. In fact, if they weren't, God should have been told... because he gave them the Holy Ghost. It's funny how so many treat the Holy Ghost like it's an impersonal energy that flows even into unregenerate hearts. Folks, the Holy Ghost is the SPIRIT OF GOD. God chose to dwell in this person before they were delivered from smoking. That tells me that if a person were still unsaved because of smoking...they couldn't get the Holy Ghost.

I would treat smoking like an alcohol problem. These are things that often hold on to some saints. These are things to get deliverance from. These are things that can cause us to loose out on all the blessings and rewards God has for us. These can shorten our lives and destroy the destiny God may have had for us. They can hinder our witness and keep us from experiencing the fullness of our salvation.

So if one were addicted to smoking I might not say they are unsaved...but I would say it disqualifies them from being an elder in the church. An elder wasn't to be given to wine...smoking is a similar bondage.

I do NOT believe anyone has the Holy Ghost that smokes y'all fill this thread with 10,000 testimonies and I won't believe ONE of them. Years ago repented folks quit smoking much less HYoly Ghost filled. Can you smoke pot and have the Holy Ghost?

[Aquila]

I do believe that God will convict and set a saint free of smoking. He will not leave them in bondage...even if he has to give them cancer to rattle their cage, by the time they go into glory, they will be delivered.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I do NOT believe anyone has the Holy Ghost that smokes y'all fill this thread with 10,000 testimonies and I won't believe ONE of them. Years ago repented folks quit smoking much less HYoly Ghost filled. Can you smoke pot and have the Holy Ghost?

If someone can't smoke pot and keep the Holy Ghost, then they can't take prescription pain killers and keep the Holy Ghost either. The level of ignorance among God's people amazes me sometimes.