Wonderful Jesus!

Tag: speaking in tongues

• 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

  

  the-acts-of-the-holy-spirit_.mp3

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

• 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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  prayer-for-salvation.m4a

  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

• 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

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