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"Distributing the Good Gospel Materials of the Pioneer Tract Society"
=20
PO Box 2392 Daly City, CA 94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752 =
Fax: 1-650-757-5750
Webpage: http://www.isaiah58.com E-Mail:
=20
Have Ye Received the Holy Ghost Since Ye Believed?
"Paul, having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus. =
And finding certain disciples, 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 unto 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 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 =
prophesied. And all the men were about twelve." (Acts 19:1-7)
Paul's question, "Have ye received the holy Ghost since ye =
believed?", was asked of a group of Ephesian disciples who had, as shown =
by the inquiry, "believed". Not only had they believed, but they had =
also been baptized with water; yet, according to their own testimony, =
they had "not so much as heard whether there be any holy Ghost." What a =
picture of thousands upon thousands today who, in reality, have not =
heard about the holy Ghost! Think of the multitudes today who have =
believed and been baptized with water; still, they are without the =
promised Comforter - the holy Ghost!
The principal reason so many followers of Christ now have not yet =
received the Comforter is the same reason that the twelve Ephesian =
disciples had not yet received it; that is, they were taught by a man =
who himself had not yet received the holy Ghost. Namely, "Apollos, born =
at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures. This man =
was instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in the spirit, =
he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the =
baptism of John" (Acts 18:24-25). Of course, "when Aquila and Priscilla =
[a Spirit-filled man and his wife] had heard [him teaching], they took =
him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly"; =
that is, they explained the truth concerning Jesus's perfect baptism, a =
truth that is unquestionably needed among multitudes today who have been =
taught only a form of repentance and water baptism.
There are other examples in the Bible of believers who did not =
(for a short time) have the holy Ghost. For instance, when "Philip went =
down to Samaria, and preached Christ unto them . . . the people with one =
accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and =
seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud =
voices, came out of many that were possessed with them, and many taken =
with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy =
in that city." Moreover, we are told that "when they believed Philip =
preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of =
Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. . . . Now when the =
apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, =
they sent unto them Peter and John, who when they were come down, prayed =
for them, that they might receive the holy Ghost, for as yet it was =
fallen upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the =
Lord Jesus. Then [Peter and John] laid their hands on them, and they =
received the holy Ghost."
The early church did not wait until the new believers had grown =
cold and disheartened because of the disappointments and defeats they =
encountered in the start of their journey, but straightway they brought =
them into the fullness of the holy Ghost. My friend, those early =
believers were never left to go their own way, but were made partakers =
of the blessed holy Ghost - the most marvelous experience that can =
happen to us this side of heaven. Oh, that it were so today with all =
those who have believed the message concerning Jesus! God has provided =
for His children the power to live a rejoicing life through the holy =
Ghost. This life was not for the apostles and early church alone, but =
for every believer in every generation. Reader, this includes you and =
me. The coming of the holy Ghost into one's life does not bring a =
burdensome responsibility to live up to some disagreeable command, as =
many seem to think; on the contrary, it brings God's gracious offer for =
a victorious life here among men. And this life is not only the =
believer's privilege, but it is also God's command (Acts 1:4; 17:30).
Christianity labors under the handicap of what may be called, "the =
Apollos spirit": ministry without the power of the holy Ghost. Oh, how =
we need more workers with the experience that Aquila and Priscilla =
possessed - a fullness of the Spirit and power of God! And how we need =
more men like Apollos, who wasn't too proud to repent when more light =
was given to him! He became one of Paul's best helpers, spreading the =
light of the gospel to others!=20
John the Baptist
John the Baptist's ministry was intended to prepare Israel to =
receive Christ Jesus and his baptism. He baptized with water all Jews =
who repented, thus making them candidates for Jesus's baptism with the =
holy Spirit. John's message was this: "I baptize you with water unto =
repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes =
I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and =
with fire." Water baptism was offered to the Jews with the understanding =
that it was only a preparation for the baptism of the holy Spirit. Isn't =
it quite strange that so many have received the testimony of John =
concerning water baptism; yet, at the same time have rejected it with =
regard to the baptism of the holy Ghost! For as John administered the =
one, he promised that Christ would administer the other.=20
This being true, we can understand why Paul told the twelve =
Ephesian disciples that they had not actually received John's baptism. =
If they had, they could not have said, "We have not so much as heard =
whether there be any holy Ghost", for John's baptism always included the =
promise of the baptism of the holy Ghost. Paul explained that John =
baptized with water, "SAYING unto the people, that they should believe =
on [that is, receive the baptism of] him which should come after him, =
that is, on Christ Jesus." Thus we see that John truly baptized "in the =
name of the Lord Jesus" - the same baptism which Peter preached to the =
Jews on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38), and the baptism which our =
Ephesian friends finally were given before they received the holy Ghost.
Now, neither John nor any apostle made a ceremonial form of =
repeating the name of Jesus while administering water baptism, but they =
all made it crystal clear that baptism in water was only a token of the =
baptism of the Spirit which Jesus gave - and still gives to all men who =
truly repent, Jew or Gentile.=20
No, my reader, the first baptism that those Ephesians received was =
not really John's baptism. Neither is the one you have, unless you heard =
these words, or their equivalent, deep in the recess of your heart =
before you were put into the water: "I indeed baptize you with water, =
but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not =
worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with =
fire." If you have not yet received the holy Ghost, my friend, it is =
either that you need to be re-baptized, as those Ephesians were, or you =
haven't fully repented, for those are the only two conditions which =
Peter gave in Acts 2:38 for all who would receive the gift of God: the =
holy Spirit.=20
Many today have been spiritually conceived, that is, have had the =
word of God sown in their hearts, yet they are living in condemnation - =
condemnation that light has come and they have not walked in it. They =
know that the Bible teaches that believers should receive the baptism of =
the holy Ghost, but they have not met God's conditions to receive it. =
Why haven't they? Only God can say. But one thing is certain: God will =
not give them the holy Ghost until they do. Those who have been =
spiritually conceived, or convicted of sin by the word of God, are =
required to walk in the light, or they will live in constant =
condemnation. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the =
world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds =
were evil."
"Have ye received the holy Ghost since ye believed?"
If it was appropriate to ask first-century believers this =
question, it is appropriate to ask believers now. A believer today who =
hasn't received the holy Ghost is, in this regard, no different from =
Jesus's disciples before they received it. The followers of Jesus had =
been conceived by the word of God (Jn.16:20-24) and were told by Jesus =
that their names were written in heaven (Lk.10:20); nevertheless, they =
did not yet have the holy Ghost in them (Jn.14:17). There is, and there =
always has been, a believing before receiving the holy Ghost. Indeed, my =
reader, the baptism of the Spirit is an experience that every sincere =
believer will pursue. In the earliest church this was the case. No one =
who was conceived by the word of God ever stopped seeking until he =
received the baptism of the Spirit, the gift of God.
May I ask you now, "Have you received the holy Ghost since you =
believed?" Our Lord declared, "He that believeth on me, as the Scripture =
hath said `Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.' (But =
this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe in him should =
receive)" (Jn.7: 38-39). This age in which we live is especially the =
dispensation of the holy Ghost, for just as certainly as Jesus made his =
advent into the world at Bethlehem, even so, the holy Ghost made its =
advent into the world at Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost. Those who =
rejected the Savior when he was sent into the world lost their souls. =
Those who reject the holy Spirit which he sent as his Vicar will lose =
theirs as well.=20
To All Who Obey
The commandment to submit to Jesus's baptism was not given to the =
first generation of believers alone. Listen to Peter in his great sermon =
on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38,39): "Repent, and be baptized every =
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye =
shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, =
and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the =
Lord our God shall call." Reader, the phrase, "all that are afar off" =
includes you and me, does it not?
Some consider the baptism of the holy Ghost to be merely a =
privilege. But I must tell you, my friend, that to submit to Jesus's =
baptism is a commandment of God. And since it is His command, we must be =
obedient. We read in Acts 5:32, "And we are his witnesses of these =
things, and so is also the holy Ghost, which God hath given to them that =
obey him." Now, reader, can't you see that if you haven't yet received =
the holy Ghost, it is because you have not been obedient? And if you =
have not been obedient, then you have been disobedient, have you not? =
Disobedience, as students of the Bible know, is "as the sin of =
witchcraft". Such sin, my friend, brings condemnation to the heart; and =
condemnation will destroy any believer if he doesn't repent and rid =
himself of it.=20
The baptism with the holy Ghost is the prime credential of Jesus, =
proving that he is indeed Israel's Messiah, according to John's =
testimony; and we believe what John said. In other words, if Jesus had =
not bestowed the baptism of the holy Ghost, John's testimony concerning =
him would have fallen to the ground, since his clear declaration was =
that the Christ would bestow this baptism of the Spirit. Then, whoever =
it is who administers the baptism of the holy Ghost is the Christ, the =
Savior of the world. That person is Jesus.=20
If the early disciples needed this endowment of power, how much =
more do the disciples of today? If Mary, the mother of our Lord, had =
need of this precious gift of God, what about you and me, my reader? =
Education cannot bring this gift to us, though we be eloquent and =
well-versed in the Scriptures. Apollos is proof enough of that. Neither =
money nor station are useful in attaining it. Jesus, alone, bestows this =
blessing. And he bestows it upon all those who "repent and believe the =
gospel". The holy Spirit is an invisible treasure of peace and joy. And =
we thank God that, as Paul said, "We have this treasure in earthen =
vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
Questions? Log onto the Internet, Click Here,
and you can E-mail them to: GSAVELLI@aol.com=20
=20
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<P>
<CENTER><FONT face=3Darial size=3D3><B>"Distributing the Good Gospel =
Materials of=20
the Pioneer Tract Society"</B></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER>
<TABLE width=3D550 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR height=3D35>
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<CENTER><FONT face=3Dverdana size=3D1>PO Box 2392 Daly =
City, CA=20
94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752 Fax:=20
1-650-757-5750<BR>Webpage: http://www.isaiah58.com =
=20
E-Mail: </CENTER></FONT>
<P>
<CENTER>
<TABLE width=3D600 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD><IMG height=3D241 hspace=3D10=20
src=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
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<CENTER><FONT color=3Dpurple>
<H1>Have Ye Received the Holy Ghost Since Ye=20
Believed?</H1></FONT></CENTER><FONT size=3D4>
<P><B><I>"Paul, having passed through the upper coasts, came to =
Ephesus.=20
And finding certain disci
les, he said unto them, `Have ye =
received the=20
holy Ghost since ye believed?' And they said unto him, `We have =
not so=20
much as heard whether there be any holy Ghost.' And he said unto =
them,=20
`Unto what then were ye baptized?' And they said, `Unto John's =
baptism.'=20
Then said Paul, `John verily baptized with the baptism of =
repentance,=20
saying unto the people that they should believe on him which =
should come=20
after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.' When they heard this, they =
were=20
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his =
hands=20
upon them, the holy Ghost came on them, and they spake with =
tongues, and=20
prophesied. And all the men were about twelve." (Acts =
19:1-7)</B></I>
<P>Paul's question, <B><I>"Have ye received the holy Ghost since =
ye=20
believed?"</B></I>, was asked of a group of Ephesian disciples who =
had, as=20
shown by the inquiry, "believed". Not only had they believed, but =
they had=20
also been baptized with water; yet, according to their own =
testimony, they=20
had "not so much as heard whether there be any holy Ghost." What a =
picture=20
of thousands upon thousands today who, in reality, have not heard =
about=20
the holy Ghost! Think of the multitudes today who have believed =
and been=20
baptized with water; still, they are without the promised =
Comforter - the=20
holy Ghost!
<P>The principal reason so many followers of Christ now have not =
yet=20
received the Comforter is the same reason that the twelve Ephesian =
disciples had not yet received it; that is, they were taught by a =
man who=20
himself had not yet received the holy Ghost. Namely,<B><I> =
"Apollos, born=20
at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures. This =
man was=20
instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in the =
spirit, he=20
spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only =
the=20
baptism of John" (Acts 18:24-25)</B></I>. Of course,<B><I> "when =
Aquila=20
and Priscilla [a Spirit-filled man and his wife] had heard [him =
teaching],=20
they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God =
more=20
perfectly"</B></I>; that is, they explained the truth concerning =
Jesus's=20
perfect baptism, a truth that is unquestionably needed among =
multitudes=20
today who have been taught only a form of repentance and water =
baptism.
<P>There are other examples in the Bible of believers who did not =
(for a=20
short time) have the holy Ghost. For instance, when <B><I>"Philip =
went=20
down to Samaria, and preached Christ unto them . . . the people =
with one=20
accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and =
seeing=20
the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud =
voices,=20
came out of many that were possessed with them, and many taken =
with=20
palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy =
in that=20
city."</B></I> Moreover, we are told that<B><I> "when they =
believed Philip=20
preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name =
of Jesus=20
Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. . . . Now when the =
apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of =
God,=20
they sent unto them Peter and John, who when they were come down, =
prayed=20
for them, that they might receive the holy Ghost, for as yet it =
was fallen=20
upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord =
Jesus.=20
Then [Peter and John] laid their hands on them, and they received =
the holy=20
Ghost."</B></I>
<P>The early church did not wait until the new believers had grown =
cold=20
and disheartened because of the disappointments and defeats they=20
encountered in the start of their journey, but straightway they =
brought=20
them into the fullness of the holy Ghost. My friend, those early =
believers=20
were never left to go their own way, but were made partakers of =
the=20
blessed holy Ghost - the most marvelous experience that can happen =
to us=20
this side of heaven. Oh, that it were so today with all those who =
have=20
believed the message concerning Jesus! God has provided for His =
children=20
the power to live a rejoicing life through the holy Ghost. This =
life was=20
not for the apostles and early church alone, but for every =
believer in=20
every generation. Reader, this includes you and me. The coming of =
the holy=20
Ghost into one's life does not bring a burdensome responsibility =
to live=20
up to some disagreeable command, as many seem to think; on the =
contrary,=20
it brings God's gracious offer for a victorious life here among =
men. And=20
this life is not only the believer's privilege, but it is also =
God's=20
command (Acts 1:4; 17:30).
<P>Christianity labors under the handicap of what may be called, =
"the=20
Apollos spirit": ministry without the power of the holy Ghost. Oh, =
how we=20
need more workers with the experience that Aquila and Priscilla =
possessed=20
- a fullness of the Spirit and power of God! And how we need more =
men like=20
Apollos, who wasn't too proud to repent when more light was given =
to him!=20
He became one of Paul's best helpers, spreading the light of the =
gospel to=20
others!=20
<P>
<CENTER><FONT color=3Dpurple>
<H2>John the Baptist</H2></FONT></CENTER>
<P>John the Baptist's ministry was intended to prepare Israel to =
receive=20
Christ Jesus and his baptism. He baptized with water all Jews who=20
repented, thus making them candidates for Jesus's baptism with the =
holy=20
Spirit. John's message was this: <B><I>"I baptize you with water =
unto=20
repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose =
shoes I=20
am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost =
and with=20
fire."</B></I> Water baptism was offered to the Jews with the=20
understanding that it was only a preparation for the baptism of =
the holy=20
Spirit. Isn't it quite strange that so many have received the =
testimony of=20
John concerning water baptism; yet, at the same time have rejected =
it with=20
regard to the baptism of the holy Ghost! For as John administered =
the one,=20
he promised that Christ would administer the other.=20
<P>This being true, we can understand why Paul told the twelve =
Ephesian=20
disciples that they had not actually received John's baptism. If =
they had,=20
they could not have said,<B><I> "We have not so much as heard =
whether=20
there be any holy Ghost", for John's baptism always included the =
promise=20
of the baptism of the holy Ghost. Paul explained that John =
baptized with=20
water, "SAYING unto the people, that they should believe on [that =
is,=20
receive the baptism of] him which should come after him, that is, =
on=20
Christ Jesus."</B></I> Thus we see that John truly baptized "in =
the name=20
of the Lord Jesus" - the same baptism which Peter preached to the =
Jews on=20
the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38), and the baptism which our =
Ephesian=20
friends finally were given before they received the holy Ghost.
<P>Now, neither John nor any apostle made a ceremonial form of =
repeating=20
the name of Jesus while administering water baptism, but they all =
made it=20
crystal clear that baptism in water was only a token of the =
baptism of the=20
Spirit which Jesus gave - and still gives to all men who truly =
repent, Jew=20
or Gentile.=20
<P>No, my reader, the first baptism that those Ephesians received =
was not=20
really John's baptism. Neither is the one you have, unless you =
heard these=20
words, or their equivalent, deep in the recess of your heart =
before you=20
were put into the water:<B><I> "I indeed baptize you with water, =
but one=20
mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy =
to=20
unloose. He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with =
fire."</B></I>=20
If you have not yet received the holy Ghost, my friend, it is =
either that=20
you need to be re-baptized, as those Ephesians were, or you =
haven't fully=20
repented, for those are the only two conditions which Peter gave =
in Acts=20
2:38 for all who would receive the gift of God: the holy Spirit.=20
<P>Many today have been spiritually conceived, that is, have had =
the word=20
of God sown in their hearts, yet they are living in condemnation - =
condemnation that light has come and they have not walked in it. =
They know=20
that the Bible teaches that believers should receive the baptism =
of the=20
holy Ghost, but they have not met God's conditions to receive it. =
Why=20
haven't they? Only God can say. But one thing is certain: God will =
not=20
give them the holy Ghost until they do. Those who have been =
spiritually=20
conceived, or convicted of sin by the word of God, are required to =
walk in=20
the light, or they will live in constant condemnation. <B><I>"And =
this is=20
the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved =
darkness rather than light, because their deeds were =
evil."</B></I>
<P>
<CENTER><FONT color=3Dpurple>
<H2>"Have ye received the holy Ghost since ye=20
believed?"</H2></FONT></CENTER>
<P>If it was appropriate to ask first-century believers this =
question, it=20
is appropriate to ask believers now. A believer today who hasn't =
received=20
the holy Ghost is, in this regard, no different from Jesus's =
disciples=20
before they received it. The followers of Jesus had been conceived =
by the=20
word of God (Jn.16:20-24) and were told by Jesus that their names =
were=20
written in heaven (Lk.10:20); nevertheless, they did not yet have =
the holy=20
Ghost in them (Jn.14:17). There is, and there always has been, a =
believing=20
before receiving the holy Ghost. Indeed, my reader, the baptism of =
the=20
Spirit is an experience that every sincere believer will pursue. =
In the=20
earliest church this was the case. No one who was conceived by the =
word of=20
God ever stopped seeking until he received the baptism of the =
Spirit, the=20
gift of God.
<P>May I ask you now, <B><I>"Have you received the holy Ghost =
since you=20
believed?" </B></I>Our Lord declared,<B><I> "He that believeth on =
me, as=20
the Scripture hath said `Out of his belly shall flow rivers of =
living=20
water.' (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe =
in him=20
should receive)" (Jn.7: 38-39)</B></I>. This age in which we live =
is=20
especially the dispensation of the holy Ghost, for just as =
certainly as=20
Jesus made his advent into the world at Bethlehem, even so, the =
holy Ghost=20
made its advent into the world at Jerusalem, on the day of =
Pentecost.=20
Those who rejected the Savior when he was sent into the world lost =
their=20
souls. Those who reject the holy Spirit which he sent as his Vicar =
will=20
lose theirs as well.=20
<P>
<CENTER><FONT color=3Dpurple>
<H2>To All Who Obey</H2></FONT></CENTER>
<P>The commandment to submit to Jesus's baptism was not given to =
the first=20
generation of believers alone. Listen to Peter in his great sermon =
on the=20
day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38,39): <B><I>"Repent, and be baptized =
every one=20
of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and =
ye shall=20
receive the gift of the holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, =
and to=20
your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the =
Lord our=20
God shall call."</B></I> Reader, the phrase, "all that are afar =
off"=20
includes you and me, does it not?
<P>Some consider the baptism of the holy Ghost to be merely a =
privilege.=20
But I must tell you, my friend, that to submit to Jesus's baptism =
is a=20
commandment of God. And since it is His command, we must be =
obedient. We=20
read in Acts 5:32, <B><I>"And we are his witnesses of these =
things, and so=20
is also the holy Ghost, which God hath given to them that obey=20
him."</B></I> Now, reader, can't you see that if you haven't yet =
received=20
the holy Ghost, it is because you have not been obedient? And if =
you have=20
not been obedient, then you have been disobedient, have you not?=20
Disobedience, as students of the Bible know, is "as the sin of=20
witchcraft". Such sin, my friend, brings condemnation to the =
heart; and=20
condemnation will destroy any believer if he doesn't repent and =
rid=20
himself of it.=20
<P>The baptism with the holy Ghost is the prime credential of =
Jesus,=20
proving that he is indeed Israel's Messiah, according to John's =
testimony;=20
and we believe what John said. In other words, if Jesus had not =
bestowed=20
the baptism of the holy Ghost, John's testimony concerning him =
would have=20
fallen to the ground, since his clear declaration was that the =
Christ=20
would bestow this baptism of the Spirit. Then, whoever it is who=20
administers the baptism of the holy Ghost is the Christ, the =
Savior of the=20
world. That person is Jesus.=20
<P>If the early disciples needed this endowment of power, how much =
more do=20
the disciples of today? If Mary, the mother of our Lord, had need =
of this=20
precious gift of God, what about you and me, my reader? Education =
cannot=20
bring this gift to us, though we be eloquent and well-versed in =
the=20
Scriptures. Apollos is proof enough of that. Neither money nor =
station are=20
useful in attaining it. Jesus, alone, bestows this blessing. And =
he=20
bestows it upon all those who "repent and believe the gospel". The =
holy=20
Spirit is an invisible treasure of peace and joy. And we thank God =
that,=20
as Paul said, <B><I>"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, =
that the=20
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."</B></I>
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<P><FONT face=3Dverdana size=3D2><I><A=20
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Click=20
Here,<BR>and you can E-mail them to: =
GSAVELLI@aol.com</A></I></FONT>=20
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