Wonderful Jesus!

Category: Holy Spirit

• The Acts of the Holy Spirit!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on October 21, 2020

  Acts 4:33 – And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. NKJV

  

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  Traditionally, the book of Acts has been called the Acts of the Apostles. I’m not trying to rewrite biblical theology, but I am suggesting that this book, is more than the Acts of the Apostles, but it reveals the Acts of the Holy Spirit!

  From His great entrance in Acts 2, throughout the remainder of Luke’s writing, we see many scriptures filled with examples about what the Holy Spirit came to the earth for. It’s not surprising that we feel the apostles were the ones with power, who went about doing these greats things, because they did. However, the Holy Spirit had filled them full of Himself, distributing His power through gifts, to accomplish His will in the earth!

  Peter explained to Cornelius and his family how Jesus was able to do the wonderful miracles He did:

  Acts 10:38 – “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” NKJV

  This is the same method that the Holy Spirit used in the book of Acts. He was with the the disciples, allowing the power of God to flow through them, that they may be used by God to expand the kingdom of God, and He is doing the same thing for us! Let’s look at some things the Holy Spirit enabled some of the people in Acts to accomplish:

  • Peter’s first message, after receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit resulted in a great conviction coming upon the people and three thousand souls were added to the church. (Acts 2:41)
  • Peter and John went to the temple and a man who was lame from birth was miraculously healed when He looked upon Peter. Yes, the glory goes to the power of the Name of Jesus, but it was the Spirit of God who did the healing through the disciples. (Acts 3)
  • Peter gives another powerful message (because he was filled with the Holy Spirit) and was noted as having great boldness. (Acts 4) Remember, this is the same Peter who denied Jesus three times, and then went fishing after the resurrection. Now he’s boldly proclaiming His name, being that witness with power!
  • The disciples gather, after Peter and John’s arrest, and pray for boldness and that miracles will happen when He stretch out His hand. How? By the power of the Spirit through them. And He filled them again! (Acts 4:31)
  • Ananias and Sapphira lied to Peter about how much they sold their property for, and Peter said that they had lied to Holy Ghost. They dropped dead at that proclamation! (Acts 5)
  • These disciples were walking in so much power of the Holy Spirit that people brought the sick into the streets that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them so they might be healed. (Acts 5)
  • Stephen, full of the Holy Ghost, was full of faith and power and did great wonders and signs among the people! (Acts 6)
  • Philip was used by the Holy Spirit to do many miracles, including casting out demons and seeing the lame walk. (Acts 8)
  • The Holy Spirit told Philip to overtake the chariot that the eunuch of Ethiopia was in. After he completed his assignment, the Holy Spirit translated him to Azotus. (Acts 8). The commentators don’t agree on the distance, claiming it to be anywhere from 34 miles to 400, but however far apart they were, he was miraculously translated from one place to a different location.
  • Paul was miraculously converted and commissioned by Jesus to take the message to the Gentiles, but not before he was filled with the Holy Spirit. And Paul received a miraculous removal of the scales falling off his eyes.
  • Aeneas was healed of paralysis after being sick in bed for eight years. (Acts 9)
  • Peter was used to raise Dorcas from the dead. (Acts 9)
  • Handkerchiefs from Paul’s body were sent to others and they were healed, and evil spirits left them. (Acts 19:12)
  • Prison doors were opened, crippled people were able to walk, the dead was raised, demons were cast out, and a host of other things happened through the apostles, but by the work of the Holy Spirit!

  The point of the matter is this: that the disciples, after being baptized in the Holy Spirit became bolder in their life for Christ; and began to do the same things He did as the Holy Spirit moved upon them. This Holy Spirit is still alive and available to the Church today!

  I have personally seen the Holy Spirit do miraculous things. I have heard powerful testimonies of so much more. God is real! Jesus is real! The Holy Spirit is real!

  The whole reason for my blogs on the baptism of the Holy Spirit was to remind us that He is the same today, yesterday, and forever. What He required of the apostles and prophets in the Early Church, He is requiring of us in the last days Church. That we be filled with the power from on high! We can deny this is truth, but can we deny our continual inability to see a miracle because we don’t believe this? We can deny the tongue, but can we deny the supernatural testimonies of those who speak in tongues?What I suggest is this, let’s join Him in what He wants to do in these last days and believe for a great outpouring of His power upon all flesh! It’s time to see miracles! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Holy Spirit, miracle, supernatural, speaking in tongues | 2 Comments | Tagged Jesus, Salvation, Healing, testimony, Kingdom of God, miraculous, Holy Spirit, supernatural, God, speaking in tongues

• A Variety of Tongues!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on October 19, 2020

  1 Corinthians 12:28 – “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. NKJV

  

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  I understand that the topic of “speaking in tongues” is as controversial as the topic of the candidates for the presidency. Unfortunately, a vote won’t decide the outcome of tongues. It may not even decide the controversy over the presidency!

  In my previous blog, I shared about tongues as the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, that is not the only “tongue” that the Bible references, and I would like to shed some light on that in this blog.

  In our text, Paul makes mention of a variety of tongues. First, let me just say that “speaking in tongues” is supernatural. The Holy Spirit speaks through us. There is a documentary, filmed by ABC, that shares some amazing truths about the aspect of speaking in tongues. I have included that link for you. Suffice it to say, they have scientifically proven that when we use our natural language, our frontal lobe is active; however, when we pray in tongues, it is silent. This proves that the genuine “glossolalia” Hebrew for “speaking in tongues” is not babbling, as some say. I encourage you to check it out! If this link doesn’t work, just type in documentary about speaking in tongues in YouTube.

  A variety of tongues, includes speaking in a heavenly language that communicates with God, receiving the gift of “tongues”, as well as the initial tongues that’s evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I’ll try and separate them for you. My last post spoke of the initial tongues, so I will address the other two today.

  The disciples in the book of Acts, not only received tongues, but they also spoke in languages they had not previously learned, but others understood. When I read about the Azusa Street revival that happened in the early 1900s, there were many testimonies of people experiencing this same ability. Only with some of them, the language remained with them and they would go to that country as a missionary. For example, if they received a Chinese dialect, they would go to China as a missionary. So I have heard of people experiencing tongues to this degree.

  There is a pastor in Africa who went on an interview to enroll in Bible College after getting saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit. The knowledge of English was required, and when he sat down for the interview, he opened his mouth and out came English. He had never learned it, but he knew it, and understood it. As a matter of fact, I think he said that he thought he was speaking in his native tongue the whole time.

  Another wonderful testimony was of a young lady in Mexico. She was in a service when they asked if anyone could speak English well enough to translate for the speaker. I believe she knew a little, but not enough for translating. She had recently been baptized in the Holy Spirit and felt His prodding for her to go up. She was instantly downloaded with English and has been fluent ever since. I would love to be able to speak every language known to man, so I’m hoping for that ability one day!

  Another person, was led by the Spirit to stand up and speak in tongues in church. He obeyed, then sat down. After service, there was a man in the audience who spoke that language and received a word that encouraged him. Thinking the man spoke his language, he approached him after the service. The man had no idea how to speak that language, but it convinced the other person that God had spoken to him; and not only did he give his life to the Lord, but he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit!

  Our prayer language, truly can be an unknown tongue, or “glossolalia”. This is the tongue that Paul refers to as a language spoken to God:

  1 Corinthians 14:2 – “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” NKJV

  For the most part, this is a private language to be enjoyed in fellowship with the Lord. If in a prayer meeting, where you are encouraged to pray in the Spirit, this language will come forth at will, and the Spirit will give you utterance.

  But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, Jude 1:20 NKJV

  This is my favorite, the prayer language. It is a time of communion with the Father that is personal and intimate. Mysteries are truly opened up to you during or after this time and can be a strength. You can pray for 5 minutes to 5 hours in the Spirit, and enjoy the peace and blessings of praying in the Spirit!

  Nadia went missing from her front yard in Florida, in 2010. When the family couldn’t find her, they sent in a prayer request to the church. Four days had transpired, and she hadn’t been found. King, a member of the Church, was praying in the Spirit. As he prayed, He felt the leading of the Holy Spirit and went looking for her. God began to give him directions through a part of the swamp that was alligator infested. He found the girl. It was supernatural! It was in the newspapers and Christian magazines. Google it!

  When you don’t know what to pray, when you can’t find the words, pray in the Spirit! He knows!

  Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26 – NKJV

  Then there’s the language of tongues that is associated with the gift of tongues:

  1 Corinthians 12:10 – “to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” NKJV

  It’s been my understanding that this gift is different from just speaking in tongues in the sense that this gift comes with a variety of tongues, and can be interpreted with the gift of interpretation, to give a prophetic word to the Body. The individual with this gift may speak in tongues in an Asian language one time, then French, then Native American, or many others. This may be the gift operating in some of my above examples. Whatever the case, the gift of tongues is the one that Paul brings caution to the church about, when he shares a lot of warnings. If you speak in tongues in a church setting, and you don’t have the gift of interpretation, nor does anyone else, then his encouragement is that you keep silent. Trust the leading of Spirit, and you’ll be fine!

  I’ve tried to be thorough, while remaining brief and to the point. However, if you have questions or an interest to learn more, there are many great books out there to assist you as you pour over the Scriptures. If I can recommend one to you, I’d be happy to do so!

  What we don’t understand, we reject or criticize. What we need to do is ask God to lead us to truth. That will help you get the right answer. Don’t accept my word, or anyone else’ word. God’s word can stand alone. Check it out! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues | 0 Comments | Tagged documentary on speaking in tongues, glossolalia, Holy Spirit, miracles, miraculous, Prayer, speaking in tongues, supernatural, testimony, victory, word of God

• And They Spoke With Tongues!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on October 16, 2020

  Acts 2:4- “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” NKJV

  

  Photo from Unsplash

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  My last post found me with too much to say and too little space to say it in. Needless to say, this is a love topic for me. Today, I want to actually talk about speaking in tongues.

  It was the day of Pentecost. The disciples had remained in Jerusalem, as instructed by Jesus. It’s been almost 50 days since their last human contact with Him, but He was very specific to them: remain in Jerusalem until you receive power from on high. So they did.

  During this time, they chose someone to take Judas’ place, in order to have 12 apostles. They spent time in prayer and supplication. There were 120 disciples, men and women, in the place. They had a spirit of oneness among them as they sought the power the Lord had told them about. And when the power came, they knew it!

  Luke wrote, that when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were still all on one accord and in one place. Suddenly, there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and the whole house was filled. Many tend to think this was a little quiet prayer meeting, but last night when the wind was blowing, I thought we were in the midst of a rain storm. Wind is powerful, and I believe this rushing mighty wind, came with force, blowing things and possibly, people around.

  Luke goes on to inform us about this event by saying, that there appeared to them, divided tongues as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. There were 120 people, and 120 tongues, that appeared like fire. When this happened, Luke wrote, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

  We can’t stop there in the recount of what happened. Luke doesn’t! He informed us that there were all kinds of people in Jerusalem that day, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound happened, they all heard their own language. All the people in the house spoke the same natural language, yet now, they are all speaking supernaturally, all kinds of languages that they have not learned. The people who hear them are truly amazed at this strange event, wondering what did this mean?

  They didn’t have to wait long to gain insight to what was happening. Peter stood up and preached a powerful message that caused great fear to come upon every soul, resulting in many signs and wonders. They had come into contact with power from on high, just as Jesus had said. Peter’s key text, as we call it today was:

  “And it shall come to pass afterward
  That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
  Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
  Your old men shall dream dreams,
  Your young men shall see visions.
  ²⁹ And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
  I will pour out My Spirit in those days. Joel 2:28-29 NKJV

  Peter was basically saying, this day, this scripture is fulfilled in our midst!

  The fire is an important aspect of this baptism, because John the Baptist told the people that he baptized with water, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire! (Matthew 3:11) On this Day of Pentecost, He did just that! The baptism was so great, that after they were heard speaking with tongues, they became a different group of disciples. After the crucifixion they were fearful. After the resurrection they had joy mixed with apprehension. But after the baptism of the Holy Spirit, with tongues of fire, they became a mighty force against the kingdom of darkness. They were transformed!

  Today, tongues have become, just that, speaking in tongues. Not many speak of the baptism with the evidence of tongues and fire. But the fire was as much a part of the baptism as the tongues.

  Tongues were mentioned by Jesus before He left. In His great commission He said:

  ¹⁵ “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18 NKJV

  Notice that He said that one of the signs that would follow those who believe is “they will speak with new tongues”.

  When Peter was sent to Cornelius’ home to share the gospel, the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles as they listened to the gospel. Some argue that this baptism was only for the apostles, but not only were they not apostles, they weren’t even Jews. Yet, they heard the gospel, received it, and spoke in tongues! (Acts 10:44-46)

  There are many other examples of individuals receiving the Holy Spirit with tongues. Paul was such an individual. He even said that he not only spoke in tongues a lot, but he wished everyone spoke in tongues.

  The argument today, is that tongues has ceased. The same argument that says miracles have ceased because we are so advanced in medicine and don’t need miracles. That is a topic for another day and another blog. But just as I believe in miracles, I believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost, accompanied with tongues, fire, and signs and wonders!

  I am thinking that I will have to continue this in another blog. However, let me make this point: If the twelve needed this baptism, and Paul needed this baptism, then we also need it. It makes you stop and wonder if this lack of receptivity to speaking in tongues is why we have to work so hard to do the great commission? Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Holy Spirit, Jesus, speaking in tongues, supernatural | 2 Comments | Tagged Believer, Cornelius, God, great commission, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Joel 2:28, miraculous, signs and wonders, speaking in tongues, supernatural

• But You Shall Receive Power!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on October 14, 2020

  Acts 1:8 – “But 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. KJV

  

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  In Luke 24:49, Jesus told His disciples:

  Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

  The Holy Spirit executes the power of God. Jesus knew this! He also knew that the assignment He had given to the disciples, to preach the kingdom of God, would require that they walk in power. Therefore, His last instructions to them were to remain in Jerusalem until they received power from on high!

  Many people, mistakenly believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is all about speaking in tongues. Well, it isn’t! Speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of having received the Holy Spirit, but it is not the whole picture. The whole picture is that tongues is evidence of the presence of Holy Ghost power! My wedding ring is not my marriage, but it is the evidence of my marriage! (That may be too simplistic for something so amazing!)

  In the book of Acts, when the Holy Spirit was released, wasn’t His introduction to the world. The Holy Spirit has been present, since Genesis, where He hovered over the waters; to produce God’s will upon the creation of the earth. The Holy Spirit was at hand when the Red Sea was parted. The Holy Spirit was present at the conception and resurrection of our Lord. And the Holy Spirit was present on the day of Pentecost. The difference being that when He came on Pentecost, He remained on earth to assist Jesus’ Church in the work of the ministry!

  This time in which we are living is the appointed time, the chairos time, of the Holy Spirit. You can live a godly life in Christ and not be filled with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Your life will be blessed and you will meet Jesus in eternity. I’m not one who believes less of a person because they don’t speak in tongues or more of a person, because they do. I have, unfortunately, noticed in the Body of Christ, that there are many who believe that those of us who speak in tongues are of the devil. I think that is not only wrong, but it is shameful! That’s how the Pharisees acted towards Jesus!

  In order to be a Christian, we must accept the truth of the gospel. Simply stated, we must believe that through the blood of Jesus, our sins are forgiven and we are cleansed. We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, come in the flesh and that He is God. And we must believe there is no other way by which we can be saved. That’s it! Whether we speak in tongues or not, when we meet that first criteria and give our heart to the Lord, we are born again. For any Christian to look upon another Blood bought individual, and to accuse them of belonging to the devil, is pure nonsense!

  As I mentioned already, Jesus felt it necessary that the disciples, who had walked with Him, be filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. If they weren’t of the devil, then neither are the people who are filled today! The disciples were told to tarry, or wait; but after that, there are no other mentions of tarrying for the Holy Spirit. Although, many have tarried and made it a requirement for receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost, it is not; we just receive Him by faith!

  On the day of Pentecost, which was 50 days after the resurrection of our Lord, the disciples, 120 of them, were together in the Upper Room, praying, worshipping, and waiting for power from on high! As they sat in the meeting, the Holy Spirit came in the room, upon each of them. That’s for the next blog!

  Jesus told them that when they received this power from on high, they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth.

  When we think of being a witness, we think of the simplicity of sharing the gospel. It is typically how this verse is read and preached, and it isn’t necessarily incorrect. It just isn’t the whole picture! When Jesus was referring to us being His witnesses, He was also referring to us expanding the kingdom in the same way that He did it, by bringing heaven to earth in the lives of the people.

  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38 – NKJV

  He was a witness that God was real, and that He is the Son of God. As He went about the villages teaching, preaching, healing, casting out demons, and raising the dead, He demonstrated His power over everything in the earth realm.

  Paul said that he didn’t operate in just great preaching and being able to persuade people to his point of view, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)!

  So what witness was Jesus referring to?

  And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33 – NKJV

  Jesus knew that His disciples would have to operate just as He did, in order to witness to the truth that He is alive. Jesus had received the Holy Ghost on the day of His water baptism and the Holy Ghost never left Him. He was man, operating as God, by the power of the Holy Ghost! And so must we!

  The apostles couldn’t get a young man free from demons when Jesus was alive, without His authority. After the Holy Spirit came upon them, they operated in great power.

  And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people…And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women… Acts 5:12-16 – NKJV

  Now that’s some power! Throughout the New Testament, tongues was understood as evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but it was the power that gave greater proof and great witness about Jesus!

  Since I have been baptized in the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues, it has been a great pleasure, and an honor to experience God’s power. It has been an ever greater blessing to realize that the Holy Spirit is alive and well, and is still moving through countless believers, in countless situations, to bring witness to the resurrected Savior and the kingdom of God. Next time, I’ll talk more about the actual baptism of the Holy Spirit! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Baptism, Holy Spirit, Jesus | 2 Comments | Tagged Believer, God, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Kingdom of God, resurrection, Salvation, Sin, the Blood of Jesus, the devil, trust in God

• Hello Holy Spirit!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on October 12, 2020

  John 14:16-17 – “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” NKJV

  

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  It was a typical school day, but it changed my life forever! I was already a believer, and I enjoyed reading the Bible, even though I didn’t always understand it. Going to church was not just something that I did, but somewhere I enjoyed being; although few people could actually answer my questions about God. I taught Sunday School, I sang in the choir, and I had preached my first sermon. However, I was crying out to God for more of Him. I wanted to know Him, understand Him, and see the God of the Bible in my life. I was ripe for the Holy Ghost and didn’t even know it!

  I still remember walking down the walkway and running into my classmate and high school friend. She was different, yet the same. She went to a holiness church, and although she had a lot of restrictions about her dress, when she got to school she became “normal”. So here we are talking, and she says to me, “You need the Holy Ghost!” What? I thought! Where did that come from? I probably ragged her about that fact that she must need it too, because she didn’t believe what she was being taught, hence, the changing of the clothes. You know how we do, when we are uncomfortable with something, we deflect!

  That statement rang through my head so much, that I begin to try figure out, what did it mean to “need” or to “get” the Holy Ghost? Of course, as a Bible reader, I knew the Holy Ghost was in the Bible, but I didn’t know I could “get” the Holy Ghost!

  Not long after that, a different classmate invited me to his church. I agreed to go, and when I got there, these people also believed in “getting” the Holy Ghost, and “needing” the Holy Ghost! Instead of running, I started asking questions, and paying attention, and there was something special about these people who “had” the Holy Ghost.

  I tried to get the Holy Ghost. I went to the altar and tarried for the Holy Ghost. The things that I was told to do were pretty ridiculous in hindsight, but my heart was genuine. However, I didn’t “get” the Holy Ghost. I was saddened, thinking that it was so special, and I must be pretty unworthy. But I didn’t say anything.

  Time went by. Then one weekend our choir was invited to sing at another church. I really wanted to go, but I had a serious toothache. My dear sister in the Lord convinced me to go anyway. While we sang, I was completely pain free, but after it was over, the pain was pretty intense. We had arrived back at our church, when she asked the choir members to pray for me. As they laid their hands on me and prayed for me to be healed, I was filled with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues. It was amazing! Immediately, fluent words of a language I had no prior knowledge of, flowed from my lips. As these words flowed, I was healed. I didn’t understand all that was happening, but I felt so honored by God that I was filled with the Holy Spirit. Finally! I didn’t “need” Him, or have to “get” Him, because He just filled me with Himself and literally changed me.

  I know there’s a huge debate in “Christendom” about the authenticity of “speaking in tongues” and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but it matters not. All that matters is what God’s word says about this aspect of His Being! And I am a witness that it is true. When I was baptized, I didn’t become weird and flaky, I became solid and strong in my faith. Not only that, I began to “experience” God in new ways. Ways that I later discovered were “manifestations” of the Holy Spirit that Paul discussed in 1 Corinthians 12. I have been desiring for a while to write about the amazing possibilities that can happen in your life and through your life when you open yourself up to the Spirit of God. However, I didn’t feel it was the right time. Today, I will begin!

  My classmate was right! I did need the Holy Spirit! However, I think she spoke more prophetically than experientially! Having this second important experience in the Lord, has been rewarding, fulfilling, and life impacting for me. Here are a few things I now understand that I did not know:

  1. I didn’t have to tarry for the Holy Spirit to fill me. In Luke 24:49, Jesus told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. This He told them because the Holy Spirit hadn’t yet come. However, no one needs to tarry now because He has come! We just open our hearts and receive Him!
  2. Your initial “baptism” will be amazing, but He will fill you again and again! Why? In Acts 4:31, Luke wrote that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. These are the same people who were filled in Acts 2. After we minister, and as we live, we will find ourselves operating in our own strength, or no strength. This is a great time for a re-filling of the Holy Spirit for He adds strength, power, and even encouragement to the weary.
  3. Originally I thought that I could only speak in tongues when the Holy Spirit initiated the action, but Paul wrote that it was his wish that everybody spoke in tongues, even encouraging that we sing and pray in the Spirit.

  I would like to take some time to take the fear out of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and to introduce you to a more intimate fellowship with our God. For those of you who are already filled, but not as expressive, or new to communing with the Father through the Person of the Holy Spirit, I would like to help you walk with Him. I wish someone would have taken that time with me. I learned things about Him through trial and error at first. Later, I eventually met my sister in law who shared many wonderful truths with me about this communion with the Holy Spirit. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn, so I have read many books about Him, trying the Spirit by the Spirit and the Word of God.

  I won’t use religious terms or cliches that I don’t explain, and I won’t belittle you into thinking you have to agree with me. However, I will share the word, and then you be the “Berean” and search the Scriptures for yourself! I look forward to sharing my dear Friend, Holy Spirit, with each you! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Baptism, Holy Spirit | 0 Comments | Tagged Baptism, Healing, Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, tarrying, testimony, witness

• It’s in the Name!

  Posted at 4:03 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on May 30, 2020

  Matthew 1:20-23 – “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). NIV

  

  Have you ever stopped to wonder why Isaiah said that His name would be Immanuel, but He is actually Jesus? When I first came to know the Lord, it was one of those questions I had. Well, you may be in the advanced class and know this already, but I just wanted to share, in case there are those who are still wondering.

  In the Bible, names had meanings that represented a message that God was sending, or a calling/ministry on an individual’s life, or a memorial to something that was going on. I think of Ichabod, which means the glory has departed from Israel. So every time someone referred to him, or he heard his name, or thought of his name, he was forever reminded that on the day of his birth, his dad, his uncle, and his grandfather died, and the glory departed from Israel. Poor baby! Another interesting time of naming kids happened when Hosea and Gomer had children. He had a daughter named Lo-Ruhamah, which means “not loved” for God had decided that He would no longer show love to Israel. How messed up would a young lady be with this name today, if she knew that her mother had named her “not loved”? But for the record, God wasn’t saying the daughter was not loved, just that He would no longer show love to Israel.

  The name Jesus was a common Hebrew name. (Actually in Hebrew, it is Yeshua, and in the Greek, it is Joshua). When the Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, to calm his fears in regard to marrying Mary, and to inform him of the unique assignment he and Mary were being given, the Angel told him to name the baby, Jesus. The reason Joseph was to name the baby Jesus was because He, Jesus, would save His people from their sins. Then Matthew informs us that this is in fulfillment of the prophetic word given by Isaiah.

  Well, from what Matthew said, we can understand that the virgin conceived. After all, that was the whole point in the angelic visit, to assure Joseph that Mary hadn’t been dishonest with him. She was truly pregnant by Holy Spirit, and had never been touched by a man, in an illicit affair. So this point was made without a doubt, but the name isn’t Immanuel, it is Jesus. We are told that He will save the people from their sins, but not how He is God with us! And yet, he does!

  The truth that a virgin conceives is a supernatural occurrence. It is out of the norm. It can’t happen. But it did, because God made it happen. He placed the seed of Himself, into Mary, and when Jesus was born, “God with us” became a reality. Throughout the book, Matthew continues to share through the encounters of the Jews with Jesus that He is no ordinary man, but He is, in fact, God. He heals the sick, He multiplies food, He walks on water, and He expels demons; bringing God into the everyday lives of the people. Not the super religious, not the rich, but the lives of the common man. And so He is God with us!

  Matthew ends his book in a way that sums it all up; chapter 28, verse 20 – “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus proclaims to His disciples, and the world, that He is with us always. He, God the Son, is with us! Thus we have the proof, the solidarity of what God said through Isaiah, and what actually happened, that the virgin did conceive and His name is Immanuel. Remember, a name is as much about who we are called, as it is about what we are called to do. So although we call Him Jesus, for He saves us from our sins; we also call Him Immanuel, for He is God with us always!

  Back to the name Jesus! It was a common name, but once the Son of God took on this name, it became a holy name, a name above every name, the most powerful name known to man. Demons tremble at that Name, disease disappears at that Name, power is released at that Name. There is no other Name given amongst men, whereby we can be saved, but the Name of Jesus! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Holy Spirit, Immanuel, Jesus | 0 Comments | Tagged angelic visitation, Christmas story, dreams, God, God with us, Holy Spirit, Jesus, miraculous, names, Salvation, supernatural, virgin birth

• Under the Influence!

  Posted at 3:15 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 24, 2020

  Luke 4:1 – “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,”

  Today, we are influenced by many things. When someone is stopped by the police and that individual has been drinking, we say they are under the influence of the alcohol. When people are flying high and acting out of character, we say that they are under the influence of a drug, or a demon.

  Unfortunately, we can be under the influence of so much more! Influence is the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc. of others. Every where you look and everywhere you go, someone is trying to influence you.

  Whether that influence is for good or for evil; or whether that influence is direct or indirect, make no mistake, we are affected by the people and things around us. Other powerful influences on mankind include the music we listen to, the movies and shows we watch, the books we read. For example, when a young man wants to propose to his love, he sets the mood with music, flowers, and a meal to influence her decision positively. When in the store, different types of music is played to influence your spending. When you read the word of God your faith in Him grows. When you are in a church service, soft quiet music is played to put you in a reverential mood, and so forth and so on.

  But in our verse for today, Jesus is influenced by the Spirit of God and led to a destination. Luke wrote that Jesus was so full of the Holy Ghost that He led Jesus from Jordan and to the wilderness (Luke 4). The devil thought He had Jesus over a barrel. After all, He had been fasting for quite some time. But the Spirit of God led Him to fast and led Him to the wilderness to meet up with the devil, when the devil thought he was setting up the meeting. And because He was led of the Spirit, He whipped up on the devil with the Word of God!

  Jesus’ victory was assured because of the leading of the Holy Spirit. We can learn a very important lesson from this verse: If God leads us to a place or in a situation, our victory is guaranteed! And if He doesn’t lead us, and we find ourselves in a tough spot, we can turn to Him for direction to come out victorious! Hallelujah!

  Let’s return to the definition of the word influence and put the Holy Ghost in strategic places. When the Holy Spirit’s influence is upon your life, He is a compelling force on your behavior, your actions, your opinions, your words, and even your thoughts. His influence produces the desired effects upon every area of your life that you can name. He governs where you go, or don’t go; what you do or don’t do, what you say or don’t say, because you are under the influence. People worry about how to obey God’s rules. I like to say if we trust His leading, the rules will be taken care of! He will never lead us astray!

  Under the influence of the Holy Spirit we are able to live by faith as the word declares. Under the influence we are able to forgive others! Under the influence we can live a life free of sin! Under the influence we can operate in the supernatural. Under the influence we can do what God says we can do, we can have what He says we can have, and we can be all that He calls us to be! Under the influence!

  Don’t settle for a cheap imitation of influence when you can be influenced by the Spirit of God! Make up your mind today that His influence will have the greatest impact on your life, on your behavior, on your conversation, on your walk. The word tells us that those who are led by His Spirit are the children of God! Looking for proof that you belong to the Lord? Well, are you under His influence? Wonderful Jesus!!

  Posted in Attitude, Christian, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Luke 4:1, Victorious Living | 2 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, Faith, Forgiveness, Holy Spirit, Jesus, led by the Spirit, Luke 4, obedience, victory, word of God

• Faith is a Time Changer!

  Posted at 2:47 am by wonderfuljesus8, on June 24, 2019

  John 2:3-4 – And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

  I was sitting in Sunday School this morning when we were discussing the miracle of the water being turned into wine. During the discussion, different opinions were being given about why did Jesus say it wasn’t His hour and yet Mary told them to do whatever He said? As we were sitting there I heard the Spirit of God share something with me.

  Jesus was at the wedding feast with His family and disciples. The wine runs out and Mary, His mother, comes to Him and makes Him aware of the situation. Mary knows that she is talking to the Son of God, One who is capable of doing miracles. We can surmise all day long about maybe God gave her a dream, maybe He had already done a miracle, or it really was His time and she knew it; but scripture tells us that Jesus said it was not yet His time.

  So how did Mary get her son to perform a miracle when it wasn’t His time? Her faith! Mary very confidently and filled with faith looked to the servants and said, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” And at that moment, Jesus recognized her faith filled words and responded, because He always responds to faith.

  We see this happen when the Syro-Phoenician woman goes to Jesus on behalf of her daughter who had an unclean spirit. In Mark 7, starting at verse 24 we can read the account of what happened. She was a Gentile and she wanted healing for her daughter because she had heard about Jesus. Jesus tells the woman that the children must be fed first, meaning this was the time for the Jewish people, not the Gentile people. He even called the Gentiles dogs. But this woman was not to be deterred by the fact that she was a Gentile and it wasn’t her time. She responded in faith that even the dogs eat the crumbs from the children’s table. In other words, she wasn’t looking to be denied!

  I hadn’t seen this before, but I saw it today just as clearly as if Jesus Himself had explained it to me. Her faith caused Jesus to respond even though it wasn’t His time to heal the Gentile girl. That was Paul’s assignment!

  The Bible establishes a truth on the grounds of two or three witnesses, so I will add an Old Testament witness.

  Look at the life of David. He was an Old Covenant man with a New Covenant experience. He had the Spirit of God with Him while others experienced the Spirit of God when God needed them to do something. He initiated worship to the King, while others waited for those who served in the temple to lead them into worship. He had a personal relationship with God when it had’t even be thought to be possible. David’s faith pulled the God of the New Testament into his Old Testament life. God loved David and David lived as if he knew it!

  You may be saying at this point, okay, that’s fine, but what is the relevance? The point is simple, Jesus is greatly moved by faith and not by timing. A lot of the time, we place Jesus within the confines of time and say it’s not my time, it’s not your season, or whatever! But Jesus, while working within the timeframe given Him, can be moved upon by faith to grant you what you need now even if it is scheduled for a later time in life.

  I know that there are some fixed times in the Spirit realm and in Scriptures, but faith causes God to shift the calendar of events on our behalf. I thought that was news worth sharing! Don’t let time pass you by waiting on the right time when scriptures say, “Now faith is!” Believe He’ll do it today! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Faith, Healing, Holy Spirit, King David, Victorious Living | 0 Comments | Tagged Faith, Healing, Jesus, miraculous, witness

• The Spirit of Truth

  Posted at 11:33 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on April 6, 2019

  The Spirit of Truth

  John 16: 12-13- “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 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.”

  I recently taught on the Spirit of Truth and thought I would share a little on my blog today.

  If you are familiar with this portion of John, then you know that Jesus is about to be crucified. As a matter of fact, He has engaged in the Passover with His disciples and are giving them final instructions.

  In verse 12, He actually tells the disciples that He had some more things that He wanted to share with them but they were not able to hear it yet. Why? I can well imagine that they are on overload. Jesus has already revealed the betrayer to them, He’s told them of His soon crucifixion and therefore, departure. He has told them of some things that would even happen to them after He left; therefore, He senses that they can’t handle anything more at the moment.

  But then He tells them that He will send the Spirit of Truth!

  Now the interesting point about the Spirit of Truth is that this is the third time in this long discourse with the disciples that Jesus mentions the Spirit of Truth. And every time He mentions the Spirit of Truth, He tells them a little more about Him. He really wants them to recognize Him when He comes.

  In John 14:17-18, Jesus states the following in regards to the Spirit of Truth: “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you And will be in you.”

  So Jesus starts His description of the Spirit with this simple truth:

  • The Spirit of Truth is another Helper
  • He will abide with us forever
  • He cannot be received by the world
  • He dwells with us and will be with us

  In chapter 15, at the end of the chapter He mentions the Spirit of Truth again:

  “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

  • Jesus tells them the Spirit of Truth proceeds from the Father
  • The Spirit of Truth will testify of Him (Jesus)
  • And that we will also testify of Him

  In Acts 1:8- Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit would enable them to be witnesses! So the Spirit of Truth has a lot He will be doing on behalf of the disciples or in assistance to the disciples.

  In our key text, the Spirit of Truth will:

  • Guide us into all truth
  • Speak what He hears
  • And reveal things to come!

  We can certainly understand why at this time Jesus would mention that the Spirit of Truth would guide the disciples into all truth! He is truth, and therefore, will guide us into all truth! Some things are crystal clear in the logos (written word) of God; but some things we need the Spirit of Truth to guide us in. And Jesus didn’t have time to tell it all to us, or help us through it, so the Spirit of Truth used Paul and others to write some things out for our learning.

  People are still arguing today, if there be any Holy Spirit! And does He still operate as He did in Jesus’ day! Yes and yes!! But those of us who understand this truth had it revealed to us; and those who don’t, yet have a need!

  People are still arguing about tithing! Do we tithe or not? How much is the tithe? For me, and so many others who have had this truth revealed to our hearts, this is a silly argument. But the Spirit of Truth has assisted us in understanding the truth!

  What questions do you have? Does the logos make sense to you? Are you still arguing about the Word of God? Well, I have some great news for you! You can stop arguing! The Spirit of Truth has come to guide you into all truth! Jesus has much to say to you and to me, but He isn’t talking to us -as a rule – one on one. He’s talking through His Word by His Spirit! It’s time to open our hearts to hear what the Spirit of Truth hears as He reveals to us “things to come!” Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Holy Spirit, Jesus, Victorious Living | 0 Comments | Tagged Holy Spirit, Jesus

• The Promise

  Posted at 2:26 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on March 2, 2019

  Ephesians 1:13 -In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise

  Paul’s letter to the saints at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus has had my attention for the past several weeks. I’ve read it through several times and have memorized quite a few passages.

  We are also actually going through a study of the person of the Holy Spirit and since He is mentioned in Ephesians 1, I thought I would blog about Him.

  Paul is writing to the saints who have also trusted in Jesus. He makes mention of them having heard the word of truth, the gospel that produced salvation in their lives when they believed. Then he tells them that they were sealed with that “Holy Spirit of promise.” I want to look a little at that phrase, “Holy Spirit of promise.

  As I looked into this phrase, I found two interesting views that I will mention here: Some versions of the Bible translates this phrase as: “the Holy Spirit of promise; and others refer to this phrase, “the promised Holy Spirit”. I just want to show how they are both theological sound yet tell us two different things about the Holy Spirit.

  To bring clarity to my way of thinking, I would like to define the word “promise”. A promise is “a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen.” I googled it!

  In verse 14 Paul refers the Holy Spirit as an “earnest of our salvation”. Now when we purchased our home several decades ago, we were required to put down some earnest money. Earnest money says that I am serious about buying this house and I am sealing the deal with my money. Paul wrote the Holy Spirit of Promise was our earnest deposit for our redemption. So that’s a wonderful promise and God is saying to us that our salvation has been purchased and the Holy Spirit sealed the deal! That’s glorious news!

  Staying in that vein of thought, the Holy Spirit is the one who fulfills the promises of God in our lives. He is the One who makes things happen. When Paul prayed for the saints at Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus, he prayed that God would give to us the spirit of wisdom and revelation. It’s interesting to note all that Paul felt would accompany us having the Holy Spirit of promise: enlightened eyes, the knowledge of the hope of His calling, what the exceeding greatness of His power toward us is, and so on.

  Paul mentions that all the promises of God are yes and amen in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20. Why? Because the Holy Spirit of promise brings to pass all that God has said to us. He watches over His word to perform it! (Jeremiah 12:1) This proof positive that Holy Spirit is the assurance that God’s promises will be fulfilled in our lives because He is the One who will make it happen!

  The second view is the one we most often think of when we read this phrase. After all Jesus Himself referred to the coming of the Holy Spirit as the promise from God. “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.”- Luke 24:49

  Then there is the passage in Joel 2:28-29-“And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. and also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”

  Ezekiel 26:26- “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

  God in His wondrous love for us, sent His Holy Spirit, which He promised He would do, to transform us and our lives. When we are born again, we are born of the Holy Spirit. We become new creatures in Christ by His transforming power. He develops us, transforming us into the image of Christ Jesus! He walks with us and teach us how to live supernaturally in a world filled chaos and confusion. He, the promised One, fulfills the promise of God to us that we are overcomers! He, the promised One, fulfills the promise of God to us that by His stripes we are healed! He, the promised One, fulfills the promise to us that all the promises of God are yes and amen! He is the Holy Spirit of promise and the promised Holy Spirit! Yes and amen! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Ephesians study, Holy Spirit, Victorious Living | 0 Comments | Tagged Victorious Living

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