I want to Thank You for your web site. Keep up the good work.
I was raised as a child in the United Pentecostal type church, Apostolic.
As I got older I drifted away from my church, later I attended a church that
my husband belonged to. It was a Church of God, they believed in speaking in
tongues, but as a gift only. This confused me, but the more I listened to them
the more I thought that they were right. Eventually we quit attending
this church, and I started looking for something else. My sister was looking
too, she attended a Baptist church for awhile, then she started going back
to our childhood church where my cousin attended. She asked me to go with
her, so I went. I felt like I was in the right place finally, but was still
had questions. I thought about it for awhile, then I decided to get on the
Internet and see if I could find some reading material about oneness related
Pentecostal material. This is how I found you. I received some tracts and
cassettes on your broadcast. I liked what I heard, and I showed it to my
husband, who has never attended a oneness type Pentecostal Church. He said
"What you all are saying makes since, and he wished there was a church like
yours here." Do you have any listenings for other churches in our area?
If so please send me one. The way you teach is better than the church we
attended as a child. Thank you for your tracts, and good luck. God Bless You.
- Patricia L Caudill
Hey, I read the article "Do People Receive the Spirit 'Twice'" and it really
bugged me. I'll give you a little background info on me: I've been a
Christian since I was 4, raised in a Standard church (that doesn't teach
baptism w/ tongues) and received the Holy Spirit w/tongues last December. My
family doesn't have it, a bunch of my friends do. Now, I've always been
taught this: "For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son
that whosoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life."
In other words, trust in Jesus' atonement on Calvary, and you're going to
heaven. Not, trust in Jesus AND speak in tongues, and you'll go to heaven.
What about people who devote their whole life to Jesus but are never taught
baptism w/ tongues and therefore never receive it? Are you saying that my
whole family is going to hell because they don't speak in tongues? I
***don't*** think so. Wanna explain this to me?
- Heather Ann Kaldeway
I have been reading some of the stuff here. I came across the tract "Is
Jesus God?" After reading it, I was wondering. I thought Pentecostals
believed in the Trinity. I guess my question is, "What kind
(denomination) of a church do you run/belong to?"
- Sal Pallotti
RECENT VIEWER'S COMMENTS:
Please send me your "sampler set". It's great to find this kind of site on the net. God
Bless!!
- Celia Weeks
Wonderful Site! I would like to make available to you free of charge tracts from the late
Elder B.E. Echols, an early Pentecostal Pioneer. I can provide printed and
E-versions of tracts, and have rights to said material. If you are not
familiar with him, please let me know, and I'll send you samples.
God Bless You.
- Rev. Rich Lyons
Gary, here is a testimony of what God has done for me and how I got started in this
truth. I could
write a book, as you know...I thank God every day for what He has done in my
life. I remember years ago when I was seeking God and saying, "God, there has to
be more to life than this." This, being a good and happy housewife, mother of two
beautiful girls, a job I enjoyed going to every day, going to church and being a good
Christian. You would think this would make anyone happy and be enough to fulfill your
life. Well it wasn't, and something was missing. I didn't know what, so I started praying
to God for answers. I got real serious with God, and He got real serious back. I was in
for a real surprise. A lady at my church told some of us that she could get the
teacher at the community college to come and teach the Old Testament class if we could
get enough to sign up for the class. We did, and the classes began. The teacher was
truly a man from God, filled with the holy Ghost, and anointed to teach the Bible. I
learned things I had never heard before, things I didn't even know were in the Bible.
Some things I thought were in the Bible, but weren't. It was a wonderful class, only I
could not finish taking the course. My husband of 25 years decided he wanted his
freedom and did not want to be married any more. I dropped out of the class to stay
home and try to make things better. It didn't work, he left anyway. Now at this point
some people might say, "that mean old devil, look what he has done." Well I say, "Praise
God, look what He has done!" Confusing? Could be, if I didn't know God was in
control of everything in my life. That is something I learned in the Old Testament class
after reading the Bible and seeing God in control of everything. I know God will move a
mountain for you if that's what it takes. Well, we heard that the same teacher was
having a Bible Study in his home on Monday nights, so a friend and I went. She had
taken the class too - Patsy - It was wonderful. We saw people praising the Lord, dancing
in the Spirit, lifting their hands in praise. I had never seen that before, but I had read
about it. These people had something I didn't and I wanted it. It felt good, clean,
refreshing, and peaceful. These people were not ashamed to praise God, and I liked
that. We learned the teacher also had services on Sunday mornings. Well, we started
going to the Monday night classes, and then going to my "church" on Sunday mornings.
Well, after a while I just couldn't keep going to "church", I had to go where I felt the
power of God. There was no life where I was going and it was robbing me of what I felt
on Monday nights. I started going to his meetings on Sunday mornings also, and never
went back to "church". After a few months I received the baptism of the holy Ghost, and
I was the "CHURCH". PRAISE GOD! Isn't that wonderful?! I knew I was where God
had wanted me to be at last. I knew what I was missing in my life. The Spirit of God
was missing. There is no life without the Spirit, because the Spirit IS life! I have
learned what God meant when He said, "come out of her my people" (Rev.18). I came
out, thank God. No more forms, no more church suppers, no more ceremonies, no
more communion services with crackers and grape juice, no more going to the altar and
trying to get saved (something you can't do in the first place). Now I have communion
with God every day. HE called me out of all that and put me with a real church family,
and a pastor that will be with me for the rest of my life. I praise God for that. Now my
time is spent more on God than the things "around" God. Coming out of "Christianity"
is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Gary, this is wonderful. This is how
it started with me. As I said, I could go on and on, because we know there a lot more to
this story. God never ceases to amaze me. We are free at last from the bondage of
man...AMEN. I sure to love you, Song and the girls. - Lou Finch, North
Carolina
I accepted
Jesus as my Lord and saviour and was immersed many years ago and have led other to
Him. I believe in needing to be born again through the baptism of the Holy Ghost, but
I don't know how to let go and let God. I feel His presence, He answers my prayers, I
have sought him and his gifts fervently - I've repented for anything I might have done
and have tried for years to live according to his will - it's like a mental block I guess.
How can I over come it? Do you have any suggestions? Thank you and God bless you.
-----------------
- Denise Gates, Ovalo, Texas
The only thing left to do is to get in touch with Jesus for yourself. That's how one receives His baptism...you have to meet Jesus - personally. The actual experience varies from individual to individual...and I don't know you well enough to tell you what the issue is, but I believe each person KNOWS (or can find out very soon) what is keeping them from receiving. God shows it to us. Sometimes we are not at first sure; sometimes we don't want to face a certain issue; sometimes we don't want to give up a certain thing or person....whatever. But Jesus knows, and He will complete what He has started.
Where to go? What to do? That is a wonderful question. To have those thoughts at all is a miracle from God. To WANT the holy Ghost is something that only God can give a person. Pity the souls who do not hunger and thirst for such things.
I have found that often, the greatest stumbling stones to the sincere of heart, are the wrong beliefs and errant doctrines about the holy Ghost and faith in Christ we hear around us. If we are taught we are already "converted" WITHOUT the Spirit's baptism, or that "accepting Jesus" is being made right with God, then there is no press to receive the Spirit at all. If we have already repented (in man's eyes), then why do more? We may not THINK that, but the thought is deeply embedded in our minds, whether we want it there or not.
I would say that if I was Denise, and I wanted the holy Ghost, I would study, and pray, and seek God with those who DO have it, and have it abundantly! Seek it among those who know what it is, and how to get it. Do it with all your heart. Search our pages of information, and you will be able to glean some things that will lead you to that wonderful blessed experience. And we are here to help you get there. We will help you get the truth... that's what makes a person free. God bless, and keep in touch. I hope these thoughts help. If you have any questions at all, ask them. Ask the hard ones, and the specific ones...those who seek will find!
VIEWER'S COMMENT:
Hi! This is Judy Simmons in Graham, North Carolina. I'm the one who recently
received the holy Ghost in Kentucky. Hey, things are really good. I bet people are
really checking this out!! Take care. - Judy Simmons, Graham, North
Carolina
Thanks for
sharing your W.W.W. page. Oh what "food" you are serving to those "hungry" souls
searching the net. It sure seems awesome to me., and what wonderful and exciting offers
you have on your "menu". I received the truth via radio. Only one of a few. And now,
so many more will have the opportunity using this media. How exciting! God will bring
all those who have His Spirit and have been scattered in Christianity together...somehow.
We just have to "find the way". I want to be established, grounded, and fit into the
"building" of God. Please pray for me, I never want anything to "move" me from the
truth. - Carol Newsome, Chico, CA
Dear Mr. Savelli:
This site has been a blessing to us. My husband and I were somewhat concerned about
the money we spent to purchase our computer, but we now agree that it was worth every
penny! We are very grateful that the Lord, with the help of Isaiah 58, has called us out
of Christianity.
I am a new believer, I have been with Lord for 14 months. Before I came to the Lord I
was a drug user and an atheist. One day, in December of 1996, I gathered all the drugs
and drug paraphernalia I had, put it in a bag and threw it in the dumpster. I have not
used drugs since and do not have the desire to. I thank the Lord that he took that
desire from me! I realize now that I used drugs (for 15 years) to fill an empty void. I
used to swear a lot and listen to now what I think is terrible music. The Lord took all
that away from me and I feel very blessed!
Up until about 3 months ago, my husband and I were attending a local Christian church.
We never felt 100% comfortable there, but we continued going because we thought it
was the right thing to do. After one particular service, I went up to the pastor and told
him that I did not feel like the Holy Spirit was in me, I felt Him around me but not in
me. He assured me that I did have the Holy Spirit in me and prayed over me so I would
not be concerned any more. I know now that he was lying to me.
I pray almost every day for Jesus to baptize me with His Holy Spirit. I feel I am not
doing enough, but I don't know what else to do. I ask Jesus that if there is something
that is holding Him back, if there is something wrong in my life, to please tell me or
show me what it is.
Do you have any advice for me? Should I have my Husband (he has been baptized)
pray over me or other family members? Or should I not be concerned because when the
Lord is ready to baptize me it will happen, and I should just wait patiently?
Sincerly, -------------------------
Julie Prater
It was exciting to read your testimony... would to God that all people seeking God would be as honest about how they feel as you have been. This kind of truthfulness is the "door" to freedom, and of course, to receiving the Spirit when it is God's time.
Just as a baby must remain in the womb to receive the proper nutrients, strength, and size before being born, so must a person remain "in the womb" after coming to the Lord, before receiving the holy Ghost. While some receive seemingly "soon" after believing, that may not always be the best thing. If a baby is born before their life can be sustained outside of the womb, they may not live. And so, we see every day, precious people being born (receiving the holy Ghost), only to have that life snuffed out by "Christianity" because they receive the Spirit before they come to the point of knowledge that is necessary to live a "healthy" life in God. My point is this: don't think that because you have not received the Spirit yet, that this is not the will of God for you right now. If you are happy in what you DO know, keep pursuing that love of the truth with zeal... it will keep you in the end.
I always tell people that they should come to the point that they absolutely cannot live another day WITHOUT the holy Ghost! That's what it takes to receive it - a desire beyond and above anything else on this earth. If we are not there yet, we should pray that God would get us to the point of attaining such a mind. When our "repentance" is complete, we will receive...every time.
So as far having others pray for you and such - if that's what you think will help, by all means do it. But the issue is between you and God, and so you must go to Him ultimately (though God may use others to assist us in getting to that spot). You have to have an experience with God, and that is what Christianity labors to keep God's children from doing: getting in contact with God personally. Keep them busy, tell them lies, divert their hearts and minds - anything but letting them touch the Father!
God will give the holy Ghost to all who ask Him. But if you read that story (Luke 11:9-13) you will see the kind of "importunate" heart that is seeking such... It takes "all that we have" - and it is worth it! Hope that helps, and feel free to ask any other questions if you have them. I will ask those of us here to be praying for you and your husband.
Best regards,
Gary Savelli
RECENT VIEWER'S QUESTION:
Gary, please correct me if I am wrong, but are you saying that God is
disgusted and angry with those who will not "come out" of Christianity,
to the extent that He considers His sacrifice to be null and void for
those who are "rebellious" in heart?
Also, do you feel (and have scriptural verses to affirm) that those who
are supposedly rebellious in their spirits and partake of "Christianity".... will go to hell?
Henry Williams
-------------------------
"Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft".... that's what Samuel said. And Moses said, "suffer not a witch to live"... If a person has heard the call of the Spirit, and REJECTED it - that person is in rebellion to the holy Ghost. They are no better than a "witch", spiritually speaking. They "flatter" God, but will not obey God.
Let us reason this matter through Henry, for clarity's sake: "if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins" (Heb. 10:26). If one of God's children will not reject that which God rejects, there is no sacrifice left to pay for the sin of one who rejects such truth. So yes, to the person who KNOWINGLY rejects what the Spirit is saying, the sacrifice of Jesus is made null and void. Not by God, for the sacrifice of Christ is sufficient for every soul who will obey - but it is made null and void to the rebel - the person who rejects the truth, even though their "appearance" is righteous (to men).
Regarding scriptures to support this position, of course there is the verse in Heb. 10:26 above, and really, there are tens, or perhaps hundreds of others. A few that come to mind are: Rev.18:1-4, 2Cor.6:17, 2 Cor.7:1, etc. The issue that Paul spent his life's work trying to get through to the church, was that the saints were not to be entangled with men's religion (religion that justified men who had not received the holy Ghost baptism) - especially that which claimed to be of him and was not (Galatians is a good example).
Christianity is not of God, though most of us were deceived by its appearance. Christianity is not the church. The doctrines you hear taught at your Assembly of God denomination, are for the most part, not of God. It is not that they are ALL lies, but they are PART lies, and that is what God hates. In the old testament the people worshipped Jehovah, but they also worshipped other gods. God hated it. In this new covenant, people receive the real Spirit of God, but they also receive a "spirit" that says people don't need the real spirit of God (to be saved in the end); and that is what God hates.
It is not so much a matter of "will they go to hell" Henry (in other words, making God out to be some hard hearted individual, with no love); as it is a matter of which spirit a person chooses to follow (the choice is the persons, and God's response to that is always reasonable and right).
And beyond that, hell itself will be cast into the lake of fire (in the end), so the result is far worse than "hell" for the disobedient. Your job is to obey God, and let him judge in the end who he will save and who he will not. But if you disobey God, what should a reasonable person expect God to do? What would be "righteous judgment" for the disobedient, who disobey willingly, after hearing the truth? You tell me...
Hope that explains it.
Gary Savelli
RECENT VIEWER'S QUESTION:
I reviewed some of your material. I was "born again" in a UPC church some 5 -6 yrs
ago; that is filled with the Holy Ghost (w/ speaking in tongues) and BAPTIZED in the
name of Jesus Christ as is commanded in the scriptures.
I moved to another state in the past 2 yrs. and have not found
another church that I am sure I want to attend regularly.
But, please tell me what it is that the UPC teaches that you consider to be a lie?
Looking forward to your reply.
kellya@-------
-------------------------
That is such a "big" question, I am not sure it can be "fully" answered in brief. But at this juncture, let's just center in on the "new birth", because all other error begins from, and is a result of our misunderstanding that issue alone.
The UPC teaches that a person can be born again (be born of the Spirit and a member of the true body of Christ) before, or without, being baptized with the holy Ghost (with the evidence of speaking in other tongues). Or, in other places, it "adds to this", teaching that the baptism of the holy Ghost is not enough, and one of their ministers must baptize a person in water, in Jesus name, in order to be converted (and saved in the end).
As I said, that is the beginning of their error, and is the common thread that links together all of the modern Christian denominations... Catholicism is the "mother" of harlots, the founder of a church "without the real Spirit of God", but the mother, according to the scriptures has "daughters" - which are the other denominations which welcome into its' midst, those who have never truly repented (those who have never obeyed God and received the holy Ghost - Acts 5:32).
When we do not know when a person is born again, we will by natural course, begin to teach other "works" are necessary which God does NOT require, and the spiral downward from that point is a deep one, certainly. That is why the UPC has "added" to the gospel, works which it deems as holy, (modes of dress, modes of water baptism, cans and can-not-do's, such as hair, jewelry, etc.) and these false "appearance of holiness" commandments are straightly condemned as heretical in the teachings of Paul and the other apostles.
It's not so much that we "condemn" the UPC, as it is that we are delivering a message which every holy Ghost baptized saint is already hearing by the Spirit in their hearts already: "come out of her my people" (Rev.18:1-4). If a person really loves God, and really loves the truth, they are sitting in a UPC place wondering why they cannot find the peace of God. Or, they cannot find a UPC church that they feel at home in, and wander about aimlessly looking for a place that does not exist! If a person is at rest in the UPC denomination, our message is not for them, because they are happy in spiritual harlotry.
Hope that helps, if you have specific issues you need to discuss, just let me know.
Best regards,
Gary Savelli, Isaiah 58 Broadcast
RECENT VIEWER'S QUESTION:
Hi , I recently stumbled across your web page. I'm a little curious....Should a person be
baptized in the name of Jesus? I was told that water baptism is when the blood is
applied, and receiving the Holy Ghost speaking with tongues as the spirit gives the
utterance is what will take the church out of here... the spirit of God in the saints??
I'm a little confused on all of this. Do you have any input before I make a decision
about all this?
Thanks :) - Betty
-------------------------
Yes, I do have some input before you make such a decision...
The "blood is applied" when God applies it, not man! Submitting to a man's watery baptism ceremony applies nothing to a person (except in their own imaginations).
God "applies the blood" (or "forgives" or "sanctifies" or "justifies" - it's all the same thing) a person, NOT when they are water baptized, but when they receive the holy Ghost. Sanctification is something that ONLY God can do, and he does it through the Spirit: "...but ye are washed, but ye are justified, but ye are sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1Cor.6:11).
In the Bible, there were only two baptisms that God ordained: 1- John's baptism (in water) 2-Jesus baptism (in Spirit). That is important. Why? Because men are still practicing a "baptism", that God has finished with. "The law and the prophets were until John" (Luke16:16). Water baptism was of John, for Israel, and always included a message when a person submitted to it, of the one who would come after with a "different baptism". When Jesus came, he brought with him after his glorification, a "new" baptism. It is the baptism of the holy Ghost (Luk.3:16), and John, the originator of water baptism, said he (Jesus) "would come after me, who is mightier than I..", and again, "he must increase, and I must decrease". Water baptism (in ANY name) was a part of the "law" (the OLD covenant), which was a shadow of what Jesus would do. And now, the obedient receive ONE baptism (Eph.4:4), not two!
It is by SPIRIT baptism, that we are put into the body of Christ (1Cor.12:13); and water baptism, as you know does not put anybody anywhere (regardless of whose name it is in) except into a tank of water!
The bottom line? "Water baptism in Jesus" name is a mere tradition (of the apostolic denomination of Christianity mainly) and it is now neither biblical, nor of the Spirit of God. You would do well to flee such error. It will only confuse you, and I assume you are already "resisting" what they have told you to some degree, or you would not have asked!
We do have a good article on baptism on our page at: http://www.isaiah58.com/baptism.html
Hope that helps.
Gary Savelli
RECENT VIEWER'S QUESTION:
I have a question on your doctrine...
You said: "If you have received that experience where the Spirit of God
came into your body, prompting tongues to come, that is the "New Birth"
experience. " (Ref: John 3:1-9)
This statement would conclude that one would need to (1) Repent
and believe (2) be Water Baptized and (3) be filled with the Holy Spirit
speaking in tongues before they were saved. Is that your doctrinal stand?
AND if so. . . . Do you believe in the Trinity?
Brother Gary Dent
-------------------
In answer to your conclusions above:
#1) Yes. A person needs to repent and believe.
#2) No. Water baptism is no longer necessary. Cornelius found that out, as he was the first Gentile to receive the Spirit, and he received it WITHOUT water baptism Here's a good article on baptism: http://www.isaiah58.com/baptism.html
The baptism of the holy Ghost is the only baptism necessary for the believer now, and is the only ONE that Paul practiced (Eph.4:1-4).
#3) Receiving the holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues doesn't "save" anybody. They that "endure to the end shall be saved". The modern idea that we are already saved is absolutely foreign to the scriptures. "Saved" is not the equivalent of "born again". Salvation is what Jesus will bring with him for the faithful (1Pet.1:5,9). Here's a good link to the issue of salvation: http://www.isaiah58.com/whatissalvation.html
Lastly regarding the trinity... If a person cannot receive the holy Ghost, and if a person cannot live without sin unless they believe in the trinity, then we ought to believe in it. But if a person can receive the holy Ghost (the born again experience), and if a person can live a perfectly holy life (a life with NO SIN) WITHOUT believing in the trinity, then it is a false standard of judgment imposed on the saints of God.
Here's a good link to this issue: http://www.isaiah58.com/isjesusgod.html
Hope this helps clear up your questions.
Gary Savelli