From: Francis Harper
wbfrmsup@iowatelecom.net
Francis Harper Message for 9/20/2019
Born of the Spirit
“Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God” (John 3:5). We previously emphasized the absolute necessity of being baptized in water to enter the Kingdom of God. Likewise John, called the Baptist, said: “I indeed baptize you with water, upon your repentance; and when he of whom I bear record, cometh . . . he may baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire” (Matthew 3:38 IV; 3:11 KJV).
Both water and fire are cleansing agents. Until we are cleansed by the baptisms of water and the Holy Spirit and fire, we cannot enter the Kingdom of God!
We must not neglect to testify and warn the people of their need to be baptized by water and the Spirit, “. . . and it becometh every man [person] who hath been warned, to warn his neighbor; therefore, they are left without excuse, and their sins are upon their own heads” (Doctrine and Covenants 85:22-a).
Those who have been warned are called to be watchmen even as Ezekiel was called, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman . . . therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning . . . to save his life . . . his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked . . . thou hast delivered thy soul” (Ezekiel 3:17-19).
A similar passage of scripture is found in The Book of Mormon. “I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph, had been consecrated priests, and teachers of this people by the hand of Nephi. And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads, if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence. Wherefore, by laboring with our mights, their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise, their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day” (Jacob 1:18-20).
Most people readily understand the words of Jesus when he said, ye must be born of water. They know he was saying they need to be baptized in water. It is more difficult for some to comprehend the meaning of being “baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire” (Matthew 3:38 IV; 3:11 KJV).
Many today are as the disciples Paul met at Ephesus. “He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized [rebaptized] in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues and they prophesied” (Acts 19:2-6).
We need to ask those who have been baptized in water; Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed and were baptized in water? I recall a young lady saying to me immediately after I had baptized her; even before we left the baptismal fount, “I do not feel any different.” Evidently she expected to be immediately filled with the Holy Ghost. I remember saying, “that will come later.” The bestowal of the Holy Ghost is not indiscriminately granted to all persons on the date of their baptisms, as the young lady expected. The Holy Spirit is given to those who earnestly covet [seek for] the best gifts [of the Holy Spirit] with broken and contrite hearts. “A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17).
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Dear Ones,
Our greatest need is to be filled with the Holy Ghost. This should be our greatest desire and daily prayer. Saints, filled with the Holy Spirit, is the key to Zion; the Kingdom of God upon the earth. “And when they had prayed, . . . they were all filled with the Holy Ghost . . . and [they] were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own” (Acts 4:31-32). And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and of one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there were no poor among them” (Genesis 7:23 IV).
John, the beloved apostle, wrote: “We know that, when he [Jesus} shall appear we shall be like him” (1 John 3:2). It is highly unlikely that we will be like him until we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Our most fervent daily prayer should be “Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit.” The twelve disciples of Jesus in Meso-America “did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them . . . and they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and with fire . . . ( 3 Nephi 9:10-14).
The Lord is anxious to fill us with the Holy Spirit. He said: “If a son shall ask bread of any of you who is a father, will he give him a stone? . . . If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give good gifts, through the Holy Spirit, to them who ask him” (Luke 11:10-14). “Therefore covet earnestly the best gifts [of the Holy Spirit] (1 Corinthians 12:31).
After Jesus commissioned his eleven disciples to go and “teach all nations” (Matthew 28:18), he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith he, ye have heard of me. For John [the Baptist] truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence . . . ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto [of] me both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:4-5, 8). “These all (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty) continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” (Acts 1:14) until Pentecost. It was a ten day prayer service. “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost . . .” (Acts 2:4).
Our calling is to be witnesses of Jesus. We cannot fulfill our calling until we are filled with the Holy Ghost. The priesthood shall teach, “as they shall be directed by the Spirit; and the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith, and if ye receive not the Spirit, ye shall not teach.” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:5-b). The Lord’s command has not changed: “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye . . . until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:48).
A woman from Okinawa attended the 2001 Barn Reunion. [This camp which was held on our farm (1997-2007), was for people of all faiths and denominations]. She shared this testimony. Before her conversion to Christianity this lady from Okinawa had been very angry, especially at the Americans. Her father and brothers had been killed by them during World War II. She had been born with a defective lip. Her heart was filled with anger and hate. She even hated an old banana tree because its fronds would rub against the outside of the house where she lived, keeping her awake at night. Once she had gone out and angrily removed the branches which had disturbed her sleep.
She worked for an American serviceman’s family. They were good to her and treated her as a member of their family. They often took her with them on picnics and special occasions. Eventually, they told her about their faith in Jesus.
She said, “It was a beautiful day when Jesus came into my heart on March 13, 1961. I cried like a baby. Everything became new and beautiful. I was filled with love and peace. My hate, anger and fear was gone. I even went out to the banana tree and said, Old banana tree, I love you!”
The lady from Okinawa finished her testimony by saying, “God did good job on me.” In the presence of the Holy Spirit lives are changed into Christ’s likeness.
My Love to All,
High Priest Francis Harper
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