Can A Person Be A Smoker & Still Be Saved - Page 16

Aquila · #**151** 07-09-2008, 12:58 AM

Eply...it's the presence of the Holy Ghost in the smoker that convicts them of the sinfulness of the destructive habit. If the Holy Ghost departed on the very next drag...they'd be left to their own devices without hope of deliverance.

I thank God that His Spirit abides with the addict...because it's this abiding presence of a loving God that convicts the soul and delivers.

For some it's miraculous and instantaneous. For others it's a process.

Steve Epley · #**152** 07-09-2008, 12:59 AM

Fill the thread up with testimonies and chatter in some kind of tongues like a chipmunk but I don't believe ONE word of it. Cigarrette suckers and booze drinkers don't have the Holy Ghost.

Aquila · #**153** 07-09-2008, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Fill the thread up with testimonies and chatter in some kind of tongues like a chipmunk but I don't believe ONE word of it. Cigarrette suckers and booze drinkers don't have the Holy Ghost.

And if that's so... neither do over eaters or fat preachers.

It's all a sin against the body.

Rico · #**154** 07-09-2008, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Fill the thread up with testimonies and chatter in some kind of tongues like a chipmunk but I don't believe ONE word of it. Cigarrette suckers and booze drinkers don't have the Holy Ghost.

Brother Epley, you can scream it as loud and as long as your heart desires. It still won't make what you are saying true. I know for a fact I had the Holy Ghost during my time as a cigarette smoker. Neither you nor anyone else is going to be able to take that away from me either. So go ahead with your wolflike huffing and puffing in your efforts to tear down my house, but you're only blowing hot air.

Steve Epley · #**155** 07-09-2008, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquila

And if that's so... neither do over eaters or fat preachers.

It's all a sin against the body.

Is there ONE passage that speaks of FAT being wrong? Gluttony yes however Fat?

AbundantGrace · #**156** 07-09-2008, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquila

Eply...it's the presence of the Holy Ghost in the smoker that convicts them of the sinfulness of the destructive habit. If the Holy Ghost departed on the very next drag...they'd be left to their own devices without hope of deliverance.

I thank God that His Spirit abides with the addict...because it's this abiding presence of a loving God that convicts the soul and delivers.

For some it's miraculous and instantaneous. For others it's a process.

Amen! Amen! Amen! I know that this one will certainly blow his mind, but I'll put it in there anyway. I was a meth-addict for a number of years... Finally had a major overdose and my heart stopped at the age of 30 years old. After being revived, I was a broken man and wanted my life changed then and there. My dad, a UPC pastor came... I was placed into drug rehab (Still an addict)... While there, I prayed through to the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Still an addict)... After spending nearly 3 months in treatment, with a burning desire to get better and with the amazing grace and strength of my God, I came out a changed man. However, I had not been delivered nor able to kick the cigarette habit. I wanted to, but my body would not allow me too. Finally, after about 4 weeks of being out of the treatment facility, I felt the Holy Ghost tell me to throw them away. The moment I felt that in my spirit, I obeyed and instantly, the addiction was gone. God delivered me, but it was about 3 months following my receiving the Holy Ghost!

I don't care if Brother Epley or anyone else for that matter wants to tell me that it couldn't, wouldn't or didn't happen, I WAS THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED, SO I GUESS I OUGHT TO KNOW!

Today, God has allowed this ex-addict and ex-smoker to plant a church in Mississippi, which is rapidly growing under the anointing of the Holy Ghost and through the Grace of God. I even have some people in my church who are young Holy Ghost filled saints, still struggling with cigarettes.

Smoking is FAR more addictive than Crystal Meth or Cocaine. You're talking to someone who truly knows first hand.

Rico · #**157** 07-09-2008, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbundantGrace

Amen Brother Rico! It blows my mind and I've got to got to repent right now for my horrible attitude. I've allowed this to get under my skin and I'm about to blow my stack. Lord forgive me!

Don't let Brother Epley get under your skin. He's not nearly the judgmental, arrogant, holier than thou he likes to portray himself as at times.

Aquila · #**158** 07-09-2008, 01:09 AM

Let's look at a verse in CONTEXT....

I Corinthians 3:1-23
1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
10According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
23And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

The primary point here is about division within the body, meaning THE CHURCH. If we cause sectarian divisions within the body through cults of personality we destroy the body (i.e. the church) and those causing this division God will destroy!