A Stronghold is a lie built in the mind. The Bible says nothing about spiritual gifts being purified: James 1:17 says “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” That means God doesn’t take the gift he gave you away. The gifts of the Spirit can’t be tainted. Luke 11:13 says “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Also Matthew 7:11 says “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” We are the ones that need to be purified. God doesn’t repent or change his mind when he gives gifts to those he’s chosen: Romans 11:29 says “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” This means that God doesn’t change his mind, God doesn’t repent about calling or about gifting you. This is where we have a misinterpretation among many believers. Some believe that gifts and callings come without the PERSON repenting; but actually this passage is talking about God! Gifts and callings come without him repenting, that means they come without him changing his mind that he called you to salvation, or that he gifted you with gifts of the Spirit after salvation. Here is another translation of Romans 11:29 from TLB Which says “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn; he will never go back on his promises.” Romans 11:2 says “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew…” this passage is talking Israel, but the principle remains true of those whom the Father calls to salvation: Romans 8:29 says “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” If God called you to salvation, why would he change his mind? If he called you to ministry, why would he say “Oh, you’re not called anymore to ministry” We must repent before receiving the Holy Spirit or his gifts. We have all made mistakes, but when he gave you the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit Doesn’t leave if you fall, he helps you to get back up! The Lord promised David that he wouldn’t take his Holy Spirit away from him, this is fulfilled in the New Covenant: John 14:16 (KJV)
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVER!
-Anthony D. Booker
The GATHERING Place 