A Cry For A Visitation

I love to read the book of Isaiah it is one of my favorite books. One time when reading this text just seemed to jump off the page to me. “Rip the heavens apart! Come down, LORD; make the mountains tremble. Be a spark that starts a fire causing water to boil. Then your enemies will know who you are; all nations will tremble because you are nearby. Your fearsome deeds have completely amazed us; even the mountains shake when you come down. You are the only God ever seen or heard of who works miracles for his followers. You help all who gladly obey and do what you want, but sin makes you angry. Only by your help can we ever be saved.” Isaiah 64: 1-5 Contemporary English Version (Emphasis Mine) In this text the prophet is calling for a visitation of God, reminding the Almighty of His previous encounters with His chosen people; and based on those encounters calling for what he is expecting to come.

I see five particular visitations that the prophet cries out to God for: verse 1 - A Visitation of Awe, verse 2 – A Visitation of Fire & Respect, verse 3 – A Visitation of Unexpected Amazement, verse 4 – A Visitation of Miracles For His Own and verse 5 – A Visitation of Salvation. All five of these visitations are visitations that we the Church of Jesus Christ need today.

Let us consider the first cry the prophet makes. “Rip the heavens apart! Come down, LORD; make the mountains tremble.” The Complete Jewish Bible renders this same verse: “We wish you would tear open heaven and come down, so the mountains would shake at your presence!” (Emphasis Mine) This was a manifestation of God from Israel’s past. When He met Moses on the mountain and came down, the very mountains shook at His presence, which caused awe amongst the people. The awe of God is something that has been lost to most of the church world today…we are too flippant with God without proper awe and respect.

In the Old Covenant we have many examples where the people where in awe of God. “When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.” Exodus 14:31 New Living Translation (Emphasis Mine) I believe that this type of visitation is one that we need today…one of awe.

The second cry the prophet makes in verse 2 is for the fire of God, which will bring respect. “Be a spark that starts a fire causing water to boil. Then your enemies will know who you are; all nations will tremble because you are nearby.” (Emphasis Mine)  Another translation renders verse 2: “It would be like fire kindling the brush, and the fire then makes the water boil. Then your enemies would know your name, the nations would tremble before you!” The Complete Jewish Bible (Emphasis Mine) Fire was not a new manifestation to Israel, Moses and the burning bush, Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Even in the book of Acts the church was birthed in cloven tongues of fire.

Notice in this verse it declares the result of the visitation of fire is that the nations (The Hebrew meaning of the word nations in this text is: people not of Hebrew descent or people who are apart from the covenant) will tremble because He is nearby, they will know who He is. We could say for us today a current application would be all unbelievers would know that your God is with you and respect you when the fire of God comes upon you. This is definitely one that we need today.

Then the prophet makes another in verse 3 for God to once again do for them what He has done in the past; worked on their behalf unexpectedly amazing them. “Your fearsome deeds have completely amazed us; even the mountains shake when you come down.” Contemporary English Version  (Emphasis Mine) A different translation renders verse 3 this way: “When you did tremendous things that we were not expecting, we wished that you would come down, so that the mountains would shake at your presence!” The Complete Jewish Bible (Emphasis Mine) God did things for them that they did not expect. He totally amazed them. I don’t know about you…but I am ready for this one. I am ready for God to amaze me, unexpectedly!

The Psalmist declared: “He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:3 New Living Translation (Emphasis Mine) All throughout the Gospel of Matthew they were amazed at something Jesus either said or did: amazed at His teaching 7:28, amazed that the wind and sea obey Him 8:27, amazed that a demon was driven out and a mute man spoke 9:33, amazed at His wisdom and miraculous power 13:54, amazed at His healing ministry as all were healed 15:31, amazed at the withered fig tree 21:20. This is a visitation we definitely need to cry for.

The next visitation the prophet cries for is found in verse 4 is actually a declaration that God has done what no one ever heard of or saw before. “You are the only God ever seen or heard of who works miracles for his followers.” Contemporary English Version (Emphasis Mine)  Another translation renders verse 4: “No one has ever heard, no ear perceived, no eye seen, any God but you. You work for him who waits for you.” The Complete Jewish Bible (Emphasis Mine) Israel’s history was full of the accounts of God’s miracle working power on their behalf. Not only is this concept Old Covenant Theology…it is also New Covenant Theology. The Apostle Paul declared: “But just as it is written, ‘THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.’" 1 Corinthians 2:9 New American Standard Bible (Emphasis Mine)

Several years back  I delivered a prophetic word at church on a Sunday morning, which was right along this same line. “…These are the days of the fulfillment of My word. Eyes have not seen and ears have not heard and neither has entered into the heart of man the things I have prepared for those that love Me. This is the day for that scripture to be made manifest. This is a day for things that will literally blow the minds of the saints that will be transpiring within the earth. These are the days of the outpouring of the Spirit of God. These are the days of a new measure of anointing and a new realm of glory to be operated in, and there are things that you could not dream or imagine that shall be common place that I will do by my Spirit in these days saith God…” (September 30, 2007) I am ready for God to blow my mind, by doing what we have not seen or heard before.

The final cry the prophet makes is found in verse 5 and is a cry for a visitation of salvation; while our sin displeases Him, yet He is our salvation. “You help all who gladly obey and do what you want, but sin makes you angry. Only by your help can we ever be saved.” Contemporary English Version (Emphasis Mine) While another translation renders verse 5: “You favored those who were glad to do justice, those who remembered you in your ways. When you were angry, we kept sinning; but if we keep your ancient ways, we will be saved.” The Complete Jewish Bible (Emphasis Mine) The Hebrew word here for saved implies: to be liberated, saved or delivered; It is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek word Sozo.

Again this is not an unknown concept at the time of Isaiah’s writing. Israel’s history is full of instances where God was angry with them for their sin, yet He still delivered them. It is no different for us. He is displeased with our sin, but thank God the blood of Jesus Christ His Son still cleanses us from all sin. We as His children, washed in His blood are walking in our salvation as far as our names being written in the lamb’s book of life is concerned…but we still need to pray for a visitation of salvation because many are in need of deliverance.

In these five verses we see five different visitations that Isaiah is calling for. He is rehearsing the past and asking for them again afresh and anew. We too can use all five and should ask for them as well, we need them, and so does this world whether they know it or not!

Jesus' Proof

A while back I was having a conversation with a dear brother in the Lord discussing having “Kingdom Vision” and seeing the big picture. When to my surprise, a scripture that I had not been meditating on, or even heard a sermon or teaching on that I could recall, rose up out of my spirit and came out of my mouth. Since that day however, I think about and meditate on it quite frequently. I am reminded of a statement that a man of God from my past used to make: “The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing!” Sometimes I think we lose sight of what the main thing is. This Blog is meant to stir up your remembrance to the main thing.

“And it came about that when Jesus finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to TEACH and PREACH in their cities. Now when John (the Baptist) in prison HEARD OF THE WORKS OF CHRIST, he sent word by his disciples, and said to Him, ‘Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?’ And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and report to John what you hear and see: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the LAME WALK, the LEPERS ARE CLEANSED and the DEAF HEAR, and the DEAD ARE RAISED UP, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.’”  Matthew 11:1-5 NASB (emphasis mine)

Several things in this text strike me. First it was John who boldly declared:

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29 NASB

John seemed to be the only person alive at the time of the beginning of the earthly ministry of Jesus who had a revelation of who He was. He was also the one who declared:

“After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1: 7 & 8 NASB

You would think that John because of being the greatest prophet under the Old Covenant (see Luke 7: 24-28), next to Jesus, and the revelation that he walked in, surely understood who Jesus was and what He was all about. Yet from our text we see that even he had doubts if Jesus was indeed The Messiah, The Christ, and The Anointed One!

I believe that when John declared: ‘behold the Lamb of God’ he was speaking from the anointing of his office as Prophet; and when he asked are you the one he was speaking from his depression and flesh while incarcerated. It could also perhaps be that John became unsure of who Jesus was because like the other Jews of his day he was looking for The Messiah to come and deliver them physically from the oppression of the Roman Empire. They were a people who were more concerned about physical oppression while Jesus was more concerned about spiritual oppression. Remember the Apostle John wrote in his Epistle:

“The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8 NASB

Jesus did not come to establish a physical kingdom in His first coming that will be established in His second coming. They knew that Messiah would establish a physical kingdom, but did not understand that the enemy had to be dealt with first, before that physical kingdom could be set up. They did not have the benefit that we do of Apostolic writings of the New Covenant like:

“For we not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 NLT

So it could be that because of this John was asking are you really the one? In essence he was saying Jesus, what is your proof?

The next thing that strikes me is what Jesus said His proof was. We see the answer to this in the words that He spoke to John’s disciples. In actuality we could sum up what Jesus said His proof was in two words: POWER and PREACHING. Notice that the first things that Jesus talks about are the miracles of healing and deliverance that are taking place in His ministry. He speaks of healing of the blind, lame, lepers, and deaf while even the physically dead are being raised. This is always the first proof of Jesus, the demonstration of the power of God! The second proof was that He was preaching the Gospel.

I cannot help but wonder if we as the body of Christ in the earth today are supposed to be carrying out the same ministry that He began 2000 years ago, what would be our proof that we really are His ambassadors. If Jesus could say His proof was the power of God that He demonstrated and His preaching of the Gospel, we should be able to say the same thing, however in most cases I really don’t believe that in reality we could without being guilty of lying. This should not be! Either the Word of God is true or it isn’t. I believe we need to go back to the basics of New Testament Christianity and keep the main thing, the main thing. Jesus said:

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1: 8 NASB

Jesus also said:

“Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.” John 14:12 NASB

Either what Jesus said is true or it isn’t! Where is our proof?

Unfortunately, I think we have been drawn away from the basics of things that we used to hold dear and be excited about. We have allowed culture and intellect to play a greater role in our thinking and expectancy than the power of God, which should never be! We need to be reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul:

“My teaching and preaching were not with words of human wisdom that persuade people but with proof of the power that the Spirit gives. This was so that your faith would be in God’s power and not in human wisdom.” 1 Corinthians 2:4 & 5 NCV

Jesus said:

“Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Or believe because of the miracles I have done.” John 14:11 NCV

The point is simply this, if we don’t preach the Gospel in the power of the Spirit with signs and wonders accompanying us we have no proof. Jesus had proof! Most of us don’t! The sad indictment of the body of Christ that I see in the earth today is that we have in general become the church that Paul warned his spiritual son Timothy to stay away from:

“Holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these.” 2 Timothy 3:5 NASB

Let us purpose in this hour to not be that church anymore. Let us be like Jesus who boldly declared:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18 & 19 NASB

God give us a generation who will in holy boldness preach the Gospel and demonstrate the Gospel. That is what this world is looking for. When Jesus commissioned His disciples in Mark chapter 16, He told them to go preaching everywhere to every creature and to demonstrate God’s power by the signs that would follow them.

“And they went out and PREACHED everywhere, while the LORD WORKED WITH THEM, AND CONFIRMED THE WORD BY THE SIGNS THAT FOLLOWED.” Mark 16:20 NASB (emphasis mine)

Let it be said of us that we have Jesus’ proof, they Preach the Gospel, and demonstrate God’s Power, for that is New Testament Christianity at its finest.

The Synergistic Working of Apostles & Prophets

Apostles and Prophets have clearly been linked together in Scripture in the Epistles.

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers.” Ephesians 4:11 NASB

“And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:28 NASB

“Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.” Ephesians 2:20 NASB

• In all three of the texts listed above these two offices are linked.
• It seems like through much of the New Testament we see a linking of Apostles and Prophets together.

• The gift of Apostle along with the gift of the Prophet together make up the foundation that the church is built upon. (See Ephesians 2:20 above)

• God’s true Apostles and Prophets are not in competition with each other. They were designed by Christ to complement each other. They are the only two of the five that are paired together in ministry.
• “As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.” Ephesians 3:3-5 NLT
• It is God’s pre-ordained will for Apostles and Prophets to work together.
• Apostles and Prophets are like a team of two horses harnessed together and pulling one wagonload of anointed ministry.
• Peter Wagner in his writings declares that he loves the analogy of Apostles being “hitched” to Prophets…he explains; Apostles can do certain good things on their own, Prophets can do certain good things on their own, but hitched together they can change the world!
• In looking at the New Testament it seems that there are two types of Apostle - Prophet relationships:
• A Casual Relationship – much like that of the Apostle Paul and the Prophet Agabus, they were acquainted or “Tied Together”, but did not work close together.
• A Structured Relationship – much like that of the Apostle Paul and the Prophet Silas. Silas was Paul’s traveling partner and ministry companion. They are a great example of the biblical linking of Apostles and Prophets. We would consider them as being “Harnessed Together”.

The offices of Apostle and Prophet have been joined together by almighty God, and what God has joined together, let no man put asunder. In order for both the Apostle and Prophet to have maximum impact and effectiveness, they must be synergistically working together.

This word comes from the root word synergism - interaction of discrete agencies (as industrial firms), agents (as drugs), or conditions such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects. Webster’s Dictionary This word really came to popularity in the health supplement industry regarding the use of vitamins. Many were just popping handfuls of pills randomly, but after much research they discovered that it was better to have certain vitamins paired together in certain doses known as “SYNERGISTIC COMPOUNDS” which gave the user the maximum impact and benefit from the supplements they were taking. So it is with the Offices of Apostle and Prophet; when they are synergistically linked there is a maximum impact.

In order for us to get the maximum impact of these two offices of Apostles and Prophets not only must they be synergistically working together but they must also be mutually respecting, honoring and receiving of each other’s ministries.

“The ethical meaning of mutualism is interdependence as opposed to individualism. Mutual means that two people have so many things in common in their abilities, vision and ministries that they are interdependent on each other rather than independent of each other. There is no competitiveness, but a complementing of each other. Their callings, ministries and destinies are linked together. They give each other their mutual respect and honor with each having acceptance and appreciation of the other. The mutual ministries of Apostles and Prophets could be likened unto twins who have so much in common, but each has his or her own unique personality and abilities. But their methods and approaches seem to come from opposite directions, like the right and left hand, in fulfilling goals for their personal life and ministry.” Dr. Bill Hamon

• When the prophetic revelation of a Prophet is combined with the wisdom of an Apostle, there is a whole new level of strategic application.
• The insights Prophets receive into God’s strategy and timing for nations, cities and people are an incredible help to an Apostolic Church.
• The combination of prophetic anointing and the signs and wonders that accompany apostolic ministry creates an incredible atmosphere for Kingdom advancement.
• Even in a Paul – Agabus type relationship it is critical that Apostles be open to receiving prophetic ministry from “Proven Prophets” with whom they are NOT in a team relationship. (In fact many times a Prophet who is not intimately acquainted with a person’s life can speak more accurately because the “Word” is not affected by their natural knowledge.)
• Through the prophetic gift Prophets can bring Apostles revelation that is vital to their ministry; whether it is a warning, encouragement or comfort, this aspect of the Prophet’s ministry cannot be minimized.
• One of the hardest of all relationships to successfully negotiate is the relationship between peers. Even though God has placed Apostles in authority over Prophets, many times they will also be peers and even intimate friends. (In our case, My Mom & Dad, Apostles and me a Prophet, family members) When this is the case mutual respect, humility and submission to one another are even more critical.
• The fruitfulness of Apostles and Prophets can increase exponentially when they are willing to work as a team. Whether it is the revelation provided by the Prophet, or the wisdom and governmental grace of the Apostle, these ministries have an ability to complement one another that is unique in the Kingdom of God.

Thank God we are living in a day when God’s restorational truth is being explained, proclaimed, and received and being implemented in many circles. We are seeing greater alignment and working together of these two ministry gifts than I have ever witnessed in my 47 years in the church and 35 years in ministry. It is indeed an exciting and new day as Apostles and Prophets are Synergistically working together.

Looking Unto Jesus

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 KJV

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.” Hebrews 12 2 NLT

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 NASB

• We must always keep our eyes on Him.
• He is the author and the finisher of our faith. (KJV)
• He is the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. (NLT)
• He is the author and perfecter of our faith. (NASB)
• He is the Head of the Church.
• He is the Chief Cornerstone which the builders rejected that the whole foundation of the apostles and prophets ties into.
• He is the first and the last, the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end.
• He is the bread of life that came down out of heaven.
• He is the Prince of Peace.
• He is the bright and morning star.
• He is the Healer.
• He is the Baptizer in the Holy Ghost.
• He is the Redeemer.
• He is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God and Everlasting Father; and of His Kingdom there will be no end.
• He is the Son of Man and the Son of God.
• He is the one mediator between God and man.
• He is the living Word of God.
• He is the expressed image of the Father.
• He is the fullness of the Godhead in Bodily form.
• He is the way the truth and the life.
• LOOKING UNTO JESUS!
• KEEPING OUR EYES ON JESUS!
• FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS!
• What Are You Looking At?

The Whole Counsel Of God

We are living in a day when I dare say many a Preacher and many a Believer have no clue what the whole counsel of God is. The Apostle Paul was clear that in his ministry it was something that he preached.

“For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” Acts 20:27 NKJV

“For I never shrank or kept back or fell short from declaring to you the whole purpose and plan and counsel of God.” Acts 20:27 Amplified Bible

Before Paul stated the above he also said to those he was ministering to in Ephesus after spending three years with them and knowing that his physical assignment with them was concluded:

“And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.” Acts 20: 25 & 26 NKJV

Why was Paul innocent of the blood of all men? Because he preached the whole counsel of God to them. He declared that he did not shrink back from declaring or not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God. What does it mean to preach the whole counsel of God? That is a valid question. Simply it means to preach all the truth of the Word of God and all the Doctrines of the Bible.

Why is it so important that we preach the whole counsel of God? Paul gives us some dangers that could arise from not preaching the whole counsel of God.

“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” Acts 20:28-31 NKJV

The first danger that Paul points out is that savage wolves will come in not sparing the flock. The warning is for the Overseers (Leaders, Preachers, or Teachers) to shepherd the church of God. How do they do that? Looking at this passage contextually it would be by teaching and preaching the whole counsel of God. It seems that Paul was convinced that if the people had the whole counsel of God declared to them they would be spiritually strong and not susceptible to savage wolves.

The second danger Paul identifies is men rising up from within the church who will speak perverse things and draw disciples away and after themselves. This sounds very much like what Jesus warned:

“For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders so as to deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones).” Matthew 24:24 Amplified Bible

Notice Jesus said if possible even the elect, God’s chosen ones would be deceived and led astray. Why? Because they do not know the Word of God. They have not been taught the whole counsel of God.

Paul stressed to these Ephesian believers to remember that for three years he poured into them day and night. He wanted to make sure their foundation was solid and would not be led astray.

This sounds very much like what he later wrote back to this same church in Ephesus regarding the purpose of what we commonly call the five-fold ministry (the same ones he admonished in Acts to shepherd the flock of God):

“As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.” Ephesians 4:14 NASB

If leaders do their job by teaching and preaching the whole counsel of God the people will not be tossed around by every wind of doctrine nor by deceitful scheming; conversely if the whole counsel of God is not declared they will be.

In the day and age in which we are living this could not be more critical than it has been in all of my existence in the church. There has never been a greater need for the whole counsel of God to be declared unashamed than there is today because we find ourselves living in a day that Paul also declared would come:

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult (perilous KJV) times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NASB

This certainly is a picture of our day…and right in this context…Paul goes into Chapter 4 admonishing his son, the Apostle in training, Timothy with these words:

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled (having itching ears KJV), they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:1-5 NASB

What is the cure for these days of the perilous or difficult times? What is the cure for these days when they will not endure sound doctrine? What is the cure for those who want to have their ears tickled or having itching ears? It is the same cure in all cases…PREACH THE WORD!

Paul did not say preach part of the word. He did not say preach your favorite doctrine. He did not say to ride your hobby horse. He said to Preach The Word!

We have many today that do not preach the word; they preach parts of the word. They preach one or two pet doctrines. Many ride a hobby horse and nothing else. Notice that Paul said that we would REPROVE, REBUKE, & EXHORT in season and out. When we do we will keep folks being deceived. What Paul was saying in this admonition to Timothy is exactly the same thing as what he said he did in Acts 20 while he spent three years in Ephesus:

“For I never shrank or kept back or fell short from declaring to you the whole purpose and plan and counsel of God.” Acts 20:27 Amplified Bible

In this day of hobby horse riders, God give us Preachers that will Preach The Word! God give us Preachers that will Declare the Whole Purpose, Plan and Counsel of God! The spiritual wellbeing of the flock of God hangs in the balance.

Not Ready Yet

I remember when I was a student in Rhema Bible Training Center (now Rhema Bible Training College) back in the 80’s, Rev. Kenneth E. (Dad) Hagin used to tell us that there were things that he could not share with us. There were things that he was walking in as part of his revelation and personal walk with God that he said he could not share as much as he wanted to. He said that no one was ready to hear it yet.

Lately I have been thinking about this quite a bit. Every time I begin to think about it I am reminded of the words of Jesus:

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” John 16:12 NKJV

When Jesus walked the earth he had the same issue with His disciples. He had many things to share with them but they were not ready yet. So it was with Dad Hagin, he had many things to share with us, but we were not ready yet…nobody in the Body of Christ was.

I look at much of the revelation of the Apostolic & Prophetic Restoration, Worship Explosion & Emphasis on the Kingdom that has been released to the Body of Christ in the last 25 or so years and realize now that these were some of things that Dad Hagin was referring to when he spoke to us back in the 80’s. My first year at Rhema was 1983 and I graduated in 1987. Most of the real growth of the Apostolic and Prophetic began to be released around the early 90’s and forward.

Dad Hagin went to be with Jesus in 2003; and much of what was released in the Body of Christ from the early 90’s to the time of his home going were things I believe that he referred to when he spoke to us back in the 80’s when I was a student. It wasn’t that dad did not understand them, have revelation of them or walk in them; he just knew the timing of God and that we were not ready yet.

If Jesus knew that the disciples were not ready for certain things that He knew and walked in, and Kenneth Hagin knew that we as Bible school students were not ready for certain things that he knew and walked in; isn’t it quite possible that as leaders today there are things that we may know and walk in but we cannot share them yet? Why? Because those we are called to minister to are not ready yet!

There is timing and season to everything and that includes new things that we are experiencing and walking in that maybe others are not. Do we always have a green light to share what we see and know? Or do we need to get the timing of God?

I can look back over my life and ministry and can remember around 1993 - 1995 I was working with a group of men doing Revivals, Leadership Seminars & Holy Ghost Meetings. We saw some things in the Word and were walking in them and began to share them and try to bring them to folks who were in the circles we were in, but most were not ready yet. In retrospect I can see that we were ahead of our time.

As God continues to give us revelation and show us new things to walk in and experience…before we begin to release them to our circles…let us keep in mind Jesus and Kenneth E. Hagin…and make sure that they can bear them…because sometimes…they are not ready yet.

Confusion Over Tongues

One of the things that I constantly marvel over in today’s New Testament church is the widespread confusion over Tongues. The Apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to the church at Corinth:

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.” 1 Corinthians 12:1 NKJV

I find it so interesting that the very thing that the Apostle Paul said that he did not want the church to be ignorant about; seems to be the very thing that most people in the church are ignorant about. When I was attending Rhema Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma back in the 80’s Rev. Kenneth E. (Dad) Hagin used to tell us that there were two reasons for this ignorance:

1.      No Teaching

2.      Poor Teaching

If we have no teaching on a subject, we will be ignorant on that subject. If we have poor teaching on a subject, we will also be ignorant on that subject. Both are bad, and both are prevalent in the church today regarding Tongues.

It has been my observation over the last thirty-seven years since I was first filled with or baptized in the Holy Spirit at fifteen years of age, that most of the confusion stems from the fact that most folks don’t recognize or understand that there are two different manifestations or operations of Tongues in the New Testament:

1.      Your Prayer Language (what I call ‘Private Tongues’) – used in prayer and worship for your benefit. (Special note this type of Tongues can also be interpreted)

2.      The Public Gift of Tongues (what I call ‘Public Tongues’) – which must be interpreted by either you or someone else who has the “Gift of the Interpretation of Tongues”.

Let us first deal with your prayer language or ‘private tongues’:

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

“For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.” 1 Corinthians 14:14 & 15 NKJV

In Acts chapter two on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was first poured out fulfilling Joel’s prophecy and beginning the Church Age we see that it says speaking of those that those who were gathered in the upper room who were obedient to the Lord’s command in Luke 24:49 to wait to be endued with power by the Promise of the Father; “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Notice that this manifestation of Tongues that these folks displayed has no mention of any Interpretation. Now if Tongues always needs to be interpreted to be in order by the teaching of some; then these folks who birthed the church were out of order. Now if we take the account in context we will find that they were speaking of “the wonderful works of God.”

So this was a manifestation of Tongues that was not interpreted and was used to give glory to God. If we look at what Paul said in 1 Corinthians chapter fourteen we find that the Apostle Paul is talking about praying in Tongues…then he calls it Praying with the Spirit and Singing with the Spirit.

Notice that Paul said that when I pray in a Tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful, or does not understand what I am saying. One of the lies that the enemy has used against praying in Tongues goes something like this: “Well that is just gibberish; you don’t even know what you are saying.” WELL DUH! Paul clearly stated that I would not understand what I was saying when I prayed in Tongues, but that my spirit was praying. Sometimes I think this translation of this verse can help us in our understanding:

“For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody].” 1 Corinthians 14:14 Amplified Bible

Notice in the Amplified it brings out that my spirit by the Holy Spirit in me prays. So even though our mind may not have understanding of what we are praying, we are praying by the Holy Spirit within us. Notice this was first manifested in Acts chapter two when the Holy Spirit was poured out. Also notice Paul’s conclusion in verse 15: “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.”

Paul said that he would pray with the spirit, (tongues) and pray with his understanding as well as sing with the spirit (tongues) and sing with his understanding. Notice that Paul made this determination which means that he controlled both operating by tongues that which he did not understand as well as operating from his understanding. From our text in Acts we see that it was the Spirit who gave the utterance, but the individual believers were the ones that did the actual speaking, or we could say the Holy Spirit gives the ability to operate this way but we must still open our mouth and give voice to that prompting within us. It does not say that the Holy Spirit spoke…they did. Paul did not say that the Holy Spirit prayed, he said that he prayed by the Holy Spirit (enabling him).

Now we will deal with the Public Gift of Tongues:

“…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.” 1 Corinthians 12: 10 NKJV

“In the law it is written: ‘With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,’ says the Lord…How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.” 1 Corinthians 14: 21, 26-28 NKJV

In these two texts of Scripture we find Paul giving instruction on the Public Gift of Tongues. Notice here in both texts it stresses the importance of the Tongue being Interpreted (special note that it is an interpretation not a translation, which we don’t have time to teach on here) where when the Prayer Language was talked about there was no such mention. So it is imperative that any Public Message given in Tongues MUST BE INTERPRETED! Tongues & Interpretation working in tandem equal the Gift of Prophecy…Tongues & Interpretation of Tongues does it in two steps; Prophecy does it in one step.

Did you notice that Paul quoted Isaiah 28:1 saying that God would speak to men through this Manifestation or Gift?

“For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people.” Isaiah 28:11 NKJV

God chooses to speak to men through this Public Gift of Tongues. Whenever we come together Paul says that everyone should participate with something to share and that some would have a Tongue and some would have an Interpretation. Again he stresses that if there isn’t an Interpreter the message in Tongues should not be given. A Mike Rule…NOT a Bible Rule is: “If you can’t give the Interpretation yourself…Don’t give the Message!” If this was adopted it would solve a lot of issues and problems.

The last point I want to tackle regarding the Public Gift is where it speaks of two or at the most three and each one in turn. Most who teach this interpret it to mean that there should only two or at the most three messages in Tongues in a particular meeting. Allow me to submit to you contextually that is an incorrect interpretation. All the through this whole context Paul is speaking about people using words like ‘each one’; so why would he all of sudden shift his focus from people to the number of messages? I submit to you that he is speaking in terms of two or three people allowed to give messages; there is no limit to the amount of messages, and each one in turn with it being Interpreted.

Finally, this is by no means an exhaustive study on the two different manifestations of Tongues. There is much more that could be shared, but the purpose of this Blog was simply to try and remove some of the confusion that is so prevalent in the Church regarding Tongues because folks are trying to make the rules that apply to the Public gift to the Prayer Language and vice versa. If we could just those two things we will go a long way towards eliminating the confusion over Tongues.