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Category: Revival is At Hand
Kingdom Business, Praying In Tongues, Revival Forthwith, Revival is At Hand, Spiritual Growth, The End Time Church, Uncategorized
FIRE IN THE HOLY
Strong’s Concordance defines FIRE as “supernatural fire (accompanying theophany)”. Theophany is defined on Dictionary.com as “manifestation or appearance of God or a god to a person”.
Last night’s dream went like this. A group returning from an outing included a young boy who was about eight years old. The report about the child was that he had been unruly during the trip.
When a senior lady of the organization pulled the young man aside to discuss his behavior with him, he pulled out a cigarette lighter and began to flick it to light it. Somehow this action dramatically scared the lady, and she ran off hysterically.
A second counselor of the organization had no success in getting the kid under control. Upon seeing this and as the boy continued to try and ignite the lighter, one of the male counselors of the organization shouted, “call the cops”. The counselor reconsidered though. The dream was over.
This dream comes on the heels of a revival meeting that I attended last night at a local church. The denomination was not apparent but there was a Baptist flavor present. As I believe it to be custom at revival meetings, the speaker was a visiting one. His scriptural reference was 2 Corinthians 12 — Paul’s thorn in the flesh.
Ministers of Churches such as this one is prone to flow into a method of preaching that is referred to as “hooping”. This service was no exception. Preaching of this type is soulical arousing the emotions of the folks. The “feel good” is short lived. Lots of flicking takes place but no Fire happens.
Given the title of this post, let me just say that I have come to know that there are two ways to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These are expository or expositional and Spiritual. Expository preaching in done in the strength of man and his knowledge of the Bible. The logos word (letter) is present but the Rhema Word (Spirit) is not. Lots of flicking but no fire.
Spiritual preaching in done in the Strength of or by the Anointing of Jesus Christ through and co-laboring with the believer. Essentially It is God speaking, being tempered by an earthen vessel.
The Eternal Fire Himself is manifest empowering them that hear.
AWAKENING, Kingdom Business, Kingdom Thought, Praying In Tongues, Revival Forthwith, Revival is At Hand, Spiritual Growth, The End Time Church, UTTERANCE
THE LIGHT MAN
There once was (and still is) a man. An ordinary man. This man had a glimmer of light in his heart – in the center of his being. Faint it was, hardly noticed by anyone except his parents. It stayed that way for years and years but was obtaining a solid position in there – kind of like a tree as it stretches out its root system to be able to stand even to reach the clouds.
One day this nice gentleman was made aware of an outside source of light. One that was exterior to him but that is very much like the light which he had. This Light is the greatest of all light. It is the Light of the world. It is the Source of all life in the universe.
He somehow knew that that light was beckoning him to let It come into him. It wanted to join him and grow in him. This most powerful Light would be largely subservient to the light of our friend whom we mentioned first in this little story. It would be a Helper. The Great Light is a source of Eternal information and Jethro; let’s call our friend Jethro, can access this information and increasingly so as he builds his relationship with the Light.
Once electing to cohabitate with the Light – join his light with that Light – change was swift and exponential. The light that was in him was no longer just a flicker. It had grown, filling his abdominal cavity to an explosive ability. His cranial cavity became alive and radiant with activity because of the Light. He began to know things, to see and hear more clearly. His sense of right and wrong became keener. Key components of the two referenced systems are now more aware of each other and working together. Compassion and love are intrinsic in his personality.
His thoracic cavity is also infiltrated by the Light giving him increased ability to spew out words of encouragement here and there and upon those whom he chooses or when he is petitioned to do so. His message is one of love. That Light shown throughout his whole body. His movement is more graceful and displays positive intent.
The Light is no longer contained inside his body. It emanates from his body and becomes somewhat like a force field of love and all that is positive. Those meeting him senses this Power (that’s what it is, power) not fully, if at all, understanding what it is.
But, that’s not all. Remember that I said that that Light is external to that of Jethro. Well the Great Light while it works within Jethro, It (He) also has a life and agenda all His own. That Light is always everywhere Jethro goes; even if the atmosphere appears to be dark. In fact, there are times when the Light will choose, for example, to intervene in the ordinary course of nature to bring about some change. An example of this might be to open blind eyes or to cause a cripple person to walk.
The Light (you probably noticed the upper-case L) now that He has opened a line of communication (communion even) with Jethro is able to conduct such work in the natural realm using a natural person.
AWAKENING, Kingdom Business, Kingdom Thought, Praying In Tongues, Revival Forthwith, Revival is At Hand, Spiritual Growth, The End Time Church, Uncategorized, UTTERANCE
What Are You Waiting For?
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
When Ananias communicated to Paul his commission from Jesus it was clear that time was of the essence. Let the Church agree that the same Spirit of urgency should apply to us now.
See Acts chapter 22.
AWAKENING, Kingdom Thought, Praying In Tongues, Revival Forthwith, Revival is At Hand, Spiritual Growth, The End Time Church, UTTERANCE
A Higher Plane
A few days ago I heard a preacher proclaim his hope and belief that believers are approaching a time of a higher level of Spiritual existence. While many believers are anticipating another (final perhaps) revival or awakening before the rapture; the speaker called it a higher plane. The essence of what I am currently writing about, Utterance and Spiritual Gifts, concern the path to Spiritual growth. I capitalize the S in the word Spiritual to distinguish the Divine Spirit from the human spirit.
I greatly pondered the idea of a “higher plane” to an extent that was somewhat grandiose. My thinking was that somehow the Lord would graduate us to a level of independence where we could operate with great, great power from Heaven without having to wait for the “Spirit upon”, that supernatural Power of the Holy Spirit that comes upon the believer as God determines.
This morning though, I am back down to earth as I read “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).
The key to Spiritual growth is the sanctification that results from dying to self and being resurrected with Christ. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8:11 KJV).
Kingdom Business, Kingdom Thought, Praying In Tongues, Revival Forthwith, Revival is At Hand, Spiritual Growth, UTTERANCE
I BEG YOU BROTHERS
Praying in Tongues Renews Your Mind. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
“If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:21-24).
For as he thinketh in his heart (or mind), so is he (Proverbs 23:7).
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).
Simply stated, renewing you mind is changing your “Mindset” from the natural disposition of that of the fallen man to that of the Supernaturally, Holy Spirit-taught individual. It could be said that Paul is pleading with believers to yield to the Holy Spirit, turn away from the world and be renewed in the spirit of the mind in the similitude of God.
The spirit of man just like the Spirit of God does not work on its own accord but processes instructions or information that it is charged with from the soul, be it worldly or Godly. Serving up the Word of God to the human spirit produces the “mind which is also in Christ Jesus.” Praying in Tongues (as it is the language of the spirit) additionally aids in the renewal of the mind. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13).
Again, Again, Again
Revival Now!
Kingdom Business, Praying In Tongues, Revival Forthwith, Revival is At Hand, Spiritual Growth, The End Time Church, UTTERANCE
THE INNER MAN
The inner man is the spirit of man. It is said that “man is a spirit, he has a soul and he lives in a body.” “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;” (Ephesians 3:16).
Man is a tripartite creation. Man is spirit, soul and body. “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). The two above scriptural passages show that spirit and soul are distinct one from the other.
The foundation of our relationship with God, the spirit is called the element (member) of God-consciousness. God dwells in the spirit, self dwells in the soul and senses dwell in the body.
Hierarchically, “the order which God presents to us is unmistakable: “your spirit and soul and body” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). It is not “soul and spirit and body,” nor is it “body and soul and spirit. The spirit is the pre-eminent part (member), hence it is mentioned first; the body is the lowest and therefore is last mentioned; the soul stands between, so is mentioned between” (Nee).
Spirit, Soul and Body are presented in reverse order here since our topic is Speaking in Tongues (UTTERANCE) which is a function of the spirit and the Holy Spirit (so we deal with the spirit last).
1. The body is sometimes referred to as the Outermost Man. It is the sheath of the soul. It is the corporeal aspect of man. It is through the corporal body that man contacts the material world. It is that part of us that gives us world-consciousness.
2. The soul; “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7).
• The soul of man consists of his mind, will, intellect, emotions and self-consciousness. The soul is sometimes referred to as the outer man. It is the sheath of the spirit. It is the organ of our personality.
• The soul is the meeting-point of spirit and body. The soul makes it possible for the spirit and the body to communicate and to cooperate.
• Man’s prime factor is the soul.
• We are told to present our bodies unto God and to renew our minds. This renewal of the mind comes through our spirit from the Holy Spirit as we read the Bible, hear the Word and Pray. Instructions, guidelines, Light and Revelation are deposited into our spirits whereby we are transformed as our minds (souls) are renewed by the perfect will of God. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
3. Spirit, Soul and Body; “Of these three elements the spirit is the noblest for it joins with God. The body is the lowest for it contacts with matter. The soul lying between them joins the two together and also takes their character to be its own. The soul makes it possible for the spirit and the body to communicate and to cooperate. The work of the soul is to keep these two in their proper order so that they may not lose their right relationship—namely, that the lowest, the body, may be subjected to the spirit, and that the highest, the spirit, may govern the body through the soul. Man’s prime factor is definitely the soul. It looks to the spirit to give what the latter has received from the Holy Spirit in order that the soul, after it has been perfected, may transmit what it has obtained to the body; then the body too may share in the perfection of the Holy Spirit and so become a spiritual body” (The Spiritual Man).
The three primary attributes of the human spirit are:
• Conscience; the conscience is the discerning organ which distinguishes right and wrong. “And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst” (John 8:9).
• Intuition; is the sensing organ of the human spirit. The intuition of the spirit differs from that of the soul and body. Believers must heed the voice of conscience and the teaching of intuition. “And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives” (Acts 27:10).
• Communion; worshiping God. “The organs of the soul are incompetent to worship God. God is not apprehended by our thoughts, feelings or intentions, for He can only be known directly in our spirits. Our worship of God and God’s communications with us are directly in the spirit. They take place in “the inner man,” not in the soul or outward man.”
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
The human spirit is said to be regenerated when one receives salvation. The Holy Spirit resides within this regenerated human spirit. “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;” (Ephesians 3:16).
The spirit is subject to many conditions i.e. fervent, contrite, joyful, poor, afflicted, broken, quiet and broken are a few examples. Beyond being aware that we have a spirit, being conscious of our spirit and its condition is essential for spiritual growth. Tempering our spirits (renewing our minds) are can be intentionally accomplished.
The inner man (human spirit) is often referred to in the secular world as the subconscious mind as it is not understood secularly. The supposed functions of the same are those of the inner man.
The spirit of man is akin to the Spirit of God in that he does not speak of himself but that which he hears, he speaks (John 16:13). He conducts that which he (the inner man) discerns to be his instructions from the soul. It is extremely important that what the spirit receives from the mind (soul) is tempered by the Word of God as indicated in Romans chapter 12 verse 2 (renewing the mind). Hearing and reading the word (Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God; Romans 10:17) are also pertinent to edifying the human spirit.
UTTERANCE flows through our spirit.
Kingdom Business, Kingdom Thought, Praying In Tongues, Revival Forthwith, Revival is At Hand, Spiritual Growth, The End Time Church
DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES
“To another Divers Kinds of Tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues” is an excerpt from 1 Corinthians chapter 12. The original Greek text did not include the word “divers”. The translators added it. “Kinds of Tongues” is how it read with the distinct connotation of diversity (different nations). Diverse Kinds of Tongues is one of the Spiritual Gifts. It is a ministry gift and is prophecy when coupled with The Interpretation of Tongues.
Tongues the Spiritual Gift (Diverse Kinds of Tongues) is distinguished from Tongues the sign. Tongues the sign is for communing with God and not for presentation in public. Tongues the sign is also for the edifying or building up one’s self spiritually. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself (1 Corinthians 14:4). “For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God: for no man understands him; howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries” (1 Corinthians: 14:2). Speaking in Unknown Tongues is the only manifestation of the Spirit that has the direct aspect of worship; said to be “not unto man, but unto God.”
“To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another Divers Kinds of Tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:” (1 Corinthians 12:28).
The tongues that were spoken at Pentecost were Divers Kinds of Tongues. The Pentecost outpouring of Tongues were dual purposed; they also were the initial indications that the Pentecost believers were filled with the Holy Spirit.
We know, too, that they were referred to as Other Tongues as well. A demonstration of believers speaking a language that they didn’t know that was understood by others that were standing by as occasioned in Acts chapter 2. “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?”
Divers Kinds of Tongues is a Supernatural Spiritual Gift manifested by God through a yielded believer. He (God) confirms as much by offering the accompanying gift of The Interpretation of Tongues.
Tongues with interpretation is prophecy and is given for the exhortation, edification and comfort of the Church.
INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).
Paying very careful attention to the following phrases from the above scripture is essential; “diversities of gifts”, “differences of Administrations”, “diversities of Operations” and “the Manifestation of the Spirit.”
Simply stated, the Supernatural Manifestations of the Holy Ghost are varied and don’t always look the same. The nine Gifts of the Spirit are all examples of God doing Ministry in conjunction with a Believer.
If there is the Interpretation of Tongues, the Speaking of Divers Kinds of Tongues need to have occurred. The Manifestation of God moving upon the speaker or speakers would be in evidence. Interpretation of Tongues, as do the other Spiritual Gifts, flow from Heaven.
Here is a case in point. The other day I observed two believers discussing a testimony. They belonged to the same Church and had participated together in a prayer meeting. One of the men laid his hand upon the stomach of the other man and prayed in tongues as he was led by the Spirit. Normally this would be a questionable demonstration of Speaking in Tongues, as there was no accompanying interpretation. Both men are English speaking.
A few days later, at a subsequent meeting, the man receiving the prayer in the unknown language thanked the other man for prophesying into his life. The man who prayed was dumbfounded. All he knew is that he had prayed for his friend in An Unknown Tongue. He had been led by the Holy Spirit to do so.
The prayer was heard by the man being prayed for in English. He had heard some very specific words regarding his life, his calling and some family matters. The two of them rejoiced and thanked and praised the Lord for this blessing. This occasion of the manifestation of Tongues is like that of the Acts chapter two Pentecost event. There was the speaking in Tongues and the hearing in one’s own language.
Fundamentally, there was Tongues and there was the Interpretation of Tongues. In both cases it is evident that the manifestation was of the Holy Spirit.
One note regarding the example that we used; in a case where the two subjects are acquainted, there is little need to question the nature of the spirit at work as they were both Spirit Filled Believers.
In the example given, the “administrations” concept leaves room for the speaker to have outpoured the Tongues and given the interpretation, or the recipient of the outpouring could have interpreted, or a stander-by could have interpreted.
From a “diversities” standpoint the same prophetic end could have been accomplished by the Word of Wisdom, the Word of Knowledge or Prophecy. The manifestation of the Spirit would be causal in either case.
“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; “To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another Divers Kinds of Tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).
The previous paragraph gives the complete list of the Spiritual Gifts. The Interpretation of Tongues is last on the list. Speaking in Tongues with the Interpretation of Tongues equals Prophecy. It is ministry for edification, exhortation and comfort to the Church.
When there is a demonstration of Speaking in Tongues, there should be the Interpretation of Tongues. It is expected that such Interpretation would accompany the Outpouring by the speaker. The example that we presented shows that the operation must be discerned and sometimes waited for.
The Interpretation of Tongues should be expected when Diverse Kinds of Tongues are presented. Early on in his discussion on Spiritual Gifts in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul says this: “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” John sums this up by saying: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
This admonition is given by the Holy Spirit for good reason; “If any man speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God” (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).
OTHER TONGUES
Other Tongues are Utterances given by the Holy Spirit through a Spirit filled individual in a language or tongue that is not known to the speaker. The first mention of man speaking in Tongues in the bible is found in the Book of Acts Chapter 2 verse 4. It reads, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” “Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language” (verse 6).
To put this into better context, verses 1-3 are most helpful; thus “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”
The afore mention is the very first incidence of so called “speaking in tongues” found in the bible. This phenomenon didn’t just happen. Further down in Acts chapter two we find Peter explaining what had just happened. He said in verses 16-18, “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” Peter was quoting from Joel chapter two. The promise of Spiritual endowment was made good.
Other Tongues means another language; a language that is spoken by some other group of people. The Holy Spirit gives the Utterance. He in effect puts the words on the tongue of the cooperating Saint as a supernatural sign to a close-by unbeliever in the unbeliever’s language. He works through the spirit of that believer. “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not” (1 Corinthians 14:22).
Other Tongues is literally God speaking through a yielded believer. The likely (but not exclusive) setting for Utterance in Other Tongues is in the open Assembly. As Interpretation of Tongues should always accompany a display of Tongues in the open assembly, the Holy Spirit will always orchestrate the same by another using the initial speaker, a standing-by Saint or perhaps in some other way making it known to whom the message of edification and exhortation and comfort was meant.
THE MANDATE
It is recorded in all four Gospels that after the crucifixion of Christ, and His Resurrection that He appeared to the Disciples with instructions that they were to follow in continuing to carry out the work that He had started.
Chapter 28 of Matthew, verses 18-20 reads “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
Chapter 24 of Luke, verses 36-49 gives greater detail regarding the preparing of His followers for things to come; “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of a honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
The previous passage is lengthy but add needed context to this meeting and dialogue between a Risen Savior the disciples some of whom still had doubt.
In the book of John, chapter 20 we see that the disciples are assembled in a locked room when Jesus appeared to them apparently by walking through the wall. Interestingly, He showed them, too, the scars on His hands. “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained” (vs. 21-23). Basically, to remit is to forgive and to retain is to not forgive. It appears that He provided this group a precursor of that which was to come in the way of the Holy Ghost.
Further instructions were given to them in Acts chapter 1, verses 6-8 where they were told to wait in Jerusalem where He said “ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
In the book of Mark, chapter 16 and verses 17 and 18 it is recorded that the Lord said this to the Disciples: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
“They shall speak with new Tongues.”
THE HOLY SPIRIT, INDWELLING, FALLING UPON AND OUTPOURING
A source of much confusion in the Church is the question of whether a believer is baptized with the Holy Spirit at the time of Salvation, or not. Salvation happens when one makes the decision to repent of his sins and confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. A separate chapter regarding Salvation is included in this book.
At the time of Salvation, the Holy Spirit regenerates the previously dead spirit of the believer. The human spirit, separated from (dead to) God because of the fall in the Garden of Eden, is now quicken (made alive again) by the Holy Spirit Who has come to live within it. This is sometimes referred to as the New Birth or having been Born Again.
John 14:17 says this: “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.”
The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit comes with great power and benefit. Having the Holy Spirit living within is having a direct connection to the infinite wisdom and infinite power of God.
Theologians teach that seven attributes of the spirit are “The Spirit of God, Wisdom and Understanding, The Spirit of Counsel and Might, The Spirit of Knowledge and of The Fear of the Lord” (Isiah 11:2).
The Book of Revelation makes mention of the Seven Spirits of God in several passages. The Seven Spirits of God are all inclusive within the Holy Spirit. He is that same Holy Spirit that resides within the believer. Look again at the referenced attributes in the previous paragraph. They are an on-board resource for the Born-Again Believer.
When the Holy Spirit comes to live within a believer, He brings with Him the nine fruit of the Spirit from the book of Galatians, chapter five. They are “love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.”
The Lord tells us in John chapter 16 that the Holy Spirit of Truth will guide us to all truth. He says that the Holy Spirit will take that which is His and show it to us. The Apostle Paul writes in the eight chapter of Romans that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are the children of God.
The Holy Spirit leads and teaches the believer. The indwelling presence of The Holy Spirit sharpens the intuition or discerning abilities of the believer. Conscience or the propensity to “do the right thing” is strengthened. Ezekiel chapter 36 speaks prophetically of the New Birth and the renewing of the Spirit Within. It speaks of the “sprinkling of clean water and cleaning the believer of all filthiness and from all idols.” The Lord goes on to say: “And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them.”
The Holy Spirit within the believer makes the believer intrinsically like God. Second Peter says that the believer is a partaker of “the divine nature.” The believer is become innately like God once again; “In His Image and after His Likeness.”
The indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost is the Baptism by Jesus Christ. It is for fruit bearing. Jesus referred to it in John chapter four as “a well springing up to everlasting life.”
Given that the blessings mentioned above are are only an overview of those that are imparted to the believer, it is not difficult to understand how the companion working of the Holy Spirit is overlooked.
God expects and has made provisions for a two-fold development in His Spirit Filled Children. Firstly, the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Remission of sin, The New Birth, Receipt of the Spirit of Christ and The Fruit of the Spirit are accomplished.
The work of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit happens within the believer. The believer has received the Holy Spirit but has not yet been Baptized with the Holy Spirit. The two are different.
Baptism with the Holy Spirit began at Pentecost and fulfilled this Promise by Jesus to the Disciples: “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8).
Acts 2:4 is the first New Testament example of the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit when the 120 believers that were assembled in that upper room spoke with Other Tongues as the Spirit gave the UTTERANCE.
Baptism with The Holy Spirit begins with a decision. The decision to receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and to submit to Him should ideally accompany Salvation.
Speaking in Tongues requires that the believer be yielded to the Holy Spirit. It is the gateway for the further Outpouring of the Spirit and for the manifestations (exhibitions or expressions) of the gifts of the Spirit and UTTERANCES for ministry.
In preparation for The Revival and The Rapture of the Bride, every local assembly of the Church must unify and come into compliance with the instructions of the Lord i.e., “The Great Commission.”
After Jesus Christ had risen from the Grave and before ascending back to Heaven, He gave these final instructions to the disciples: “And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:15-18).
These instructions will be performed by an anointed outpouring of UTTERANCE.
Preface
It has been 2000 years since Jesus Christ ascended to His Throne at The Right Hand of the Father. His purpose for becoming incarnate in the world was to make right wrongs committed by the devil. “He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
The devil deceived man, causing him to disobey God resulting in the relinquishing of man’s dominion of the earth. Man died (spiritually) and was separated from God.
God, having given said dominion to man now was at a disadvantage (of sorts) in terms of ruling the earth as the devil had become “the prince of this world” (John 12:31). God had to conduct all His business in the earth through man who was now severely handicapped because of the fall.
For about 4000 years God accomplished this through men such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham (to whom He made The Promise) and Moses (The Law). Too, the old testament prophets were vital mouthpieces of God.
Jesus Christ, during the time that He walked the earth was limited in what He could accomplish. He was restricted (primarily not wholly) to working within the geological location where He was present. He taught and displayed an example of how those that would follow Him should conduct themselves.
Before His ascension, The Lord promised His followers that He would send another Comforter. He stated that that Comforter would “abide with them forever” (John 14:16). He further stated that the Comforter would “dwell with them and be in them” (John 14:17). He was speaking of the Holy Spirit.
This indwelling presence in the Saints by the Holy Spirit is a step toward returning believers to a spiritual state much like that of the first man (Adam).
The stage is set now for believers to become fully immersed in the Spirit of God carrying out his instructions from Mark 16:15 i.e. “And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
“These signs” when demonstrated by the Church at lodge will signal Revival. Revival will happen when the Saints of the Church have become spiritually mature. Spiritually maturity begins when believers have received the Holy Spirit and are baptized in the same. They are become co-laborers with the Spirit of Jesus Christ and conduits of the Anointing of Heaven in this world.
UTTERANCE (Speaking in Tongues) is an essential step toward spiritual maturity.