Get Wisdom #2

   Prov.4:5(Amp) says, "Get skillful and Godly Wisdom."  Wisdom from God far out weighs man's wisdom. Much of our interpretation of God's Wisdom has been filtered through man's wisdom. Many things the Church has discarded are things that man's wisdom deems unnecessary to our lives.

  Paul wrote in 1Cor.2:12-13(Amp), "Now we have not received the spirit (that belongs to the world), but the Holy Spirit Who is from God, (given to us) that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the Gift of Divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly bestowed on us by God. And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Holy Spirit, combining and interpreting Spiritual Truths with Spiritual languages (to those who possess the Holy Spirit)."

  Paul plainly brings into the light that there's a great difference between the Wisdom of God and man's wisdom. We all have human wisdom, but no matter how much we have, it still goes against the Wisdom of God. God's Wisdom is available to all who have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Sadly though, the Church has allowed man's wisdom to override God's Wisdom. God instructs us in Prov.4:5(Amp) to, "Get skillful and Godly Wisdom, Get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the Words of My mouth." God's Word is Wisdom, but human understanding won't reveal the full Truth of what it is. Comprehension, discernment and interpretation come by listening and fellowshiping with the Holy Spirit and meditating on the Word.

  We can read God's Word and have an intellectual knowledge of it, but still have no comprehensive insight into what it truly says. Many of the things today's Church walks in, are from surface knowledge and far below where God intends us to be and do. We expect skill and wisdom from those we deal with in this world. We expect any surgeon, doctor, lawyer or even a teacher to be skilled and knowledgeable. Shouldn't we expect the same from God's children? 

  God tells Joshua in Joshua1:8(Amp), "This Book of the Law (the Word of God) shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written within it. For then you shall make your way prosperous and you shall do wisely and have good success." In other words, God instructs Joshua to speak His Word and meditate on it at all times. You might say, "Well, I don't believe we need to watch what we say." God does. He said if we do this, then we will make your way prosperous. Is it too much to do as God says or do we know better than He does? God "watches over His Word to perform it." He doesn't watch over our words, we're required to do that.

  John3:34(Amp) speaks about Jesus, saying, "For since He Whom God has sent, speaks the Words of God (proclaims God's Own Message) God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the Gift God makes of His Holy Spirit." Jesus spoke only God's Words. If we're born-again, then we're God's sons and daughters and have received the same Holy Spirit. Do we have the Holy Spirit boundlessly or do we still have Him by measure?

  Do you suppose that if we watched our words, then we would and could have a greater measure of the Holy Spirit, because God could confirm what we say? Do the words we speak make a difference in our lives? God seems to think so and His Word backs that up. We can use man's wisdom and deny that or we can yield to the Holy Spirit and bridle our tongues. This doesn't mean we can't carry on a conversation, but we let the Holy Spirit watch over our conversations and keep them in line with God's Words.

Get Wisdom #1

   Prov.4:7(Amp) says, "The beginning of Wisdom is, Get Wisdom (skillful and Godly Wisdom)."

  1Cor.1:30(Amp) says, "But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, revealed to us a knowledge of the Divine Plan of salvation, (manifesting itself to us as our Righteousness) (Thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God) and our Consecration (making us pure and holy) and our Redemption (proving our ransom from eternal penalty from sin)."

  God instructs us in Prov.4:5(Amp) to, "Get skillful and Godly Wisdom." We all have a need for skillful Wisdom in our journey through this life. Skill is something demanded even in God's Word, although it's been lost to us over the centuries. No one wants a brain surgeon to operate on us, unless he/she is skilled in that work. No one wants to fly on an aircraft, unless it's being flown by a skilled pilot. You might have enough wisdom to change a breaker in your home's fuse box, but you'd better be skillful if you want to work on the power lines. 

   The Lord continues His instructions in Prov.4:6(Amp), saying, "Get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the Words of My Mouth." Some have forgotten and turned back from some of the things they once knew when they first received the Source of Wisdom, Jesus, in their lives. They're still saved and are going to Heaven, but they somehow lack the understanding any longer. 

  Wisdom and understanding are more than just intellectual knowing. We must have discernment, comprehension and interpretation, like God says. Our vehicle give us directions as we drive today, but we need the intelligence in order to drive that vehicle. When we're behind the wheel of that vehicle and in traffic, then we'd better have enough understanding to navigate that car. 

  God continues in Prov.4:6-7(Amp) saying, "Forsake not Wisdom and she will keep, defend and protect you; love her, and she will guard you. Skillful and Godly Wisdom is the principal thing, and with all you have gotten, get understanding, discernment, comprehension, and interpretation." Most of us would like to know that we can be guarded, protected and kept, but all these come by the understanding and skillful knowledge of Wisdom. There's more to Wisdom than just reading God's Word. How much of the Wisdom have we discarded over the years, because we had no understanding?

  I heard a teaching about the importance of the words that Christians speak. As I heard this teaching, I set my heart to knowing and getting discernment and comprehension about this. I've seen the results of this teaching in my life and the promise in my family. Some who heard this teaching have turned back and have forgotten what was being taught. Some simply dismissed it as "Blab it and grab it" or "Name it and claim it."

  I also know there are pulpit parrots""who preached this message, without having understanding or comprehension or skillful and Godly Wisdom. We can't forget or turn back from the benefits of having Godly Wisdom. Too many have mocked the Wisdom when they heard it, and have suffered loss because of it. 

Let The Redeemed of the Lord Say So #5

    Ps.107:2(Amp) says, "Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so whom He has Redeemed from the adversary." 

    Gal.3:13(Amp) says, "Christ purchased our freedom (redeeming us) from the Curse (doom) of the Law (and its condemnation) by (Himself) becoming a curse for us; for it is written (in the scriptures) cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)."

    When we "Say so," what do we say? Can we go to what is written in the Curse and stand against it, by saying what the word says? If a disease comes to you, then can you go to God's Word, find that disease, then say, "I am Redeemed from that," expecting to be delivered from that disease? When you were a sinner, you believed Rom.10:9(Amp) which says, "Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips and  in your heart your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the Truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" and you were saved. You received Jesus as your Lord and Savior and became a new creation in Christ. God's Word says, "Your sins and iniquities I will remember no more." Is that true? 1Cor.2:12 says, "You have now become a child of God and He has given you the Holy Spirit." Is that true?

    When God instructs us to "Say so whom the Lord has delivered from the hand of the adversary," then why wouldn't we believe and stand, repeat His Word and stand on His Word about our healing? Which part of God's Word is true and which is not true? It is all True! We haven't been taught all that the Redemption Jesus provided, so we never put our faith in this. Every believer must learn and practice saying what the Word says, so we won't believe when others say, "God doesn't do this for everyone" or "You never know what God will do." If we attended a school that never taught addition, does that take away the fact that addition works and that it works for everyone who will believe and use it?

    Paul told Timothy in 2Tim.2:15 to, "Study and show yourself approved." There were people all around who were still teaching The Law and traditions of The Law, to Christians. Timothy needed to distinguish between the Truth and the wrong things being taught. Paul wrote to the church in Gal.1:6(Amp), "I am surprised and astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade and deserting Him Who invited and called you by the Grace (unmerited favor) of Christ (the Messiah) (and that you are transferring your allegiance) to a different (even an opposition) gospel."

  Just because we haven't been taught some of these Truths of God's Word, doesn't mean they're not for us today or that they've passed away. God's Word will never pass away according to Ps.119:89(Amp) which says, "Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven (stands firm as the heavens)." 

   Have you noticed how in these Last Days, everything is constantly changing and what was once true, isn't true any longer? The little knowledge we gleaned will not sustain us in these times. We must study God's Word, in order to show ourselves approved before God. This doesn't mean that we're not saved or that our faith is void, but that we need to keep learning God's Word to keep us from certain things while we're still here.

    It's time we began to believe God for His Protection from things here on earth, as well receiving us into His House, when we leave here. We have work to do while we're still here on earth and need to learn to believe God will take care of us, while we work for the Kingdom. Read the scriptures quoted above and find out what we are to "Say So."

Let The Redeemed of the Lord Say So #4

     Ps.107:2(Amp) says, "Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say so, Whom He has Redeemed from the adversary."

    The Lord was speaking to a nation and to the people of that nation in 2Chron.7:14(Amp), saying, "If My people who are called by My Name will turn from their ways and seek My Face and pray; I would hear their prayer and heal their Land."  I've never understood how we read God's Word, but don't seem to take it personally. We always assume it's "for someone else." God was personally inviting us and  not just others in this nation in 2Chron.7:14. Was Jesus speaking to His followers or speaking in general, when saying, "Now you go into all the earth and preach the Gospel to every creature" in Mark16:15,17? When Jesus said, "These signs will follow those who believe," was He speaking to you or someone else? Are you a believer?

    Can you stand on God's Word or is the Prayer of Salvation the only part of it, you take personally? The Church needs to enter into this battle for our national, for the world and for ourselves and for the Glory of God. This isn't left only for preachers and pastors, but for "all who believe." When was the last time we led someone to the Lord or spend time interceding for this nation to be "One nation under God" again? When was the last time we prayed and voted for Godly leaders in our nation? Do we care that some of our leaders don't know the Lord and we're suffering under the penalty of a declining national leadership?

    The Bible is a personal letter to you from your Heavenly Father. We must each do our part according to His Word. We can give money to send large ministries to go forth and that's good. But, they probably won't come and minister to those we work with or to our neighbors. This is a personal ministry for the entire Body of Christ to do, not just a few.

    I can stand behind a pulpit and minister God's Word to you, but there are people you know, live with or work with, that I don't know and see every day. It's your responsibility to minister to those around you. The job is too big for just a handful of people to do. Even Jesus  instructed others to go on His behalf into the world. You're certainly a part of the ministry, even if you're not part of the five-fold ministry. There is truly only One Ministry and that's the Ministry of the Lord Jesus, which we all have a part to take. We've taken our eyes of the prize and began looking at the Reward. The Reward comes at the end of the finish line and the Reward is the Prize in every life.

    The same Holy Spirit Who was in John, Peter, Paul and Jesus, is the Same Holy Spirit Who lives in each of us. The Same Holy Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead, now lives in you and still able to do what the Father sent Him to do. He only needs someone to believe that He can still do the same things He's always done and do it through you.

    The only thing we're required to do, is to believe. God didn't tell us to heal the sick, Jesus said that "These signs would follow those who believed; They would lay hands on the sick and they will recover," in Mark16:17. Do you have hands? Are you a believer? God will do the healing, when you believe, speak His Word and lay hands on the sick. We know that "God watches over His Word and is faithful to perform it." We just need to do our part. 

Let The Redeemed of the Lord Say So #3

    Ps.107:2(Amp) tells us, "Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary." Many know this scripture, along with Gal.3:13 which tells us that we've been "Delivered from the Curse of the Law" and "The Blessing is now upon us through Jesus Christ." Do we know what is in this Curse, so`that we know what to stand against?

    Just because we've been redeemed, doesn't mean the adversary will not stop his attacks against us. This why we've been instructed by the Lord to "Say so."  Satan has no right to take our children into captivity, but we must take a stand on their behalf. We have the Power of the Redemptive Blood of Jesus and the Authority in His Name, in order to stand against the adversary.  

    We have a Just and Righteous Judge Who sits on the Throne and we have an Advocate or Righteous Lawyer (Jesus) Who will stand in our defense. He is the High Priest of our confession. Do you plead according to your new creation covenant, so that Jesus pleads before your Judge? Or do you plead guilty? The plea is up to us and I want Jesus to be my defense lawyer (or Advocate).

    No person in their right mind, would go to court without a defense lawyer who tell us what to plea and make our defense. Our Heavenly Father is the Righteous and Just Judge. He will judge us in the Righteousness of the court of Heaven, by His Own Word. How do you plead? Let us Say so, who have been delivered and found innocent by the Word and the Lamb of God, declaring to the adversary, "You have no right to bring this on us."

    Confession is a very important part of our relationship with the Father. The Lord didn't put these things in His Word in order to take up space and fill in chapters. He put them there for us to know and use in our own behalf. Jesus didn't defend Himself when He was taken to trial. If He had, then He would have so perfectly defended Himself, He would have been set free. He would have used God's Word on His behalf. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus delivered Himself to God's will. In the natural, Jesus knew what His fate was. Jesus could have been delivered because He was without sin or contempt of the Law. He remained silent for us.

    The adversary knows we've been delivered from his hand, but he wants to know if we know that. He'll use every tool in his toolbox, to try confusing and condemning God's Church, so we fall into his hands. 1Pet.5:8(Amp) says, "Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for the enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring (in fierce hunger), seeking someone to seize upon and devour." 

   How can he devour those who will say God's Word concerning our Redemption? He has no legal ground to bring to pass anything in our lives that we don't relinquish to his hands? We must know our rights in God's Covenant and the Blood of our Sacrifice Lamb, Jesus. The adversary can't declare his own word on us, but must have us stand in agreement with his accusations in front of the Judge, Who is God. Do you stand on God's Word or do you agree with the adversary?

    If Jesus is my Redeemer, then I have every right to stand in the enemy's face and declare my Redemption. The Judge will always find me innocent in His Court in Heaven, by the Blood of Jesus in His Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies. He is Righteous and through Jesus, we are found righteous and just by His Own Righteousness. How do you plead? Guilty or by the Blood? If you're redeemed, then when the adversary comes at you by something under the Curse, then you don't be afraid to say, "No, I'm Redeemed from that by the Blood of Jesus Christ my Savior." Say so.

Let The Redeemed of the Lord Say So #2

     Gal.3:13(Amp) says, "Christ purchased our freedom (redeeming us) from the Curse (doom) of the Law (and its condemnation) by (Himself) becoming a curse for us, for it is written (in the Scriptures), Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)." There are so many things that our Lord paid for when He was made a curse for us, that we don't take advantage, as the new creation Body of Christ. We read the scriptures, but don't "study to show ourselves approved," like Paul told Timothy in 2Tim.2:15(Amp) which says, "Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing (rightly handling and skillfully teaching) the Word of Truth."

    One of the things we've been redeemed from that is dear to my heart (and your's too), is found in Deut.28:32(Amp) which says, "Your sons and daughters shall be given to another people and your eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all the day, and there shall be no power in your hands to prevent it." As a father, grandfather and great grandfather, one of the most fervent times I spend in prayer, is for my family. 

    The culture of our nation (and the world) has changed so much, and I never had to deal with the things our kids are facing. I see and hear so many pitfalls in front of my family, that are difficult to explain. My consolation comes from Jesus' Words in Luke10:2(Amp), where He says, "The harvest indeed is abundant (there is much ripe grain), but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to sent out laborers into His harvest." Even though my family doesn't always pay attention to what I say, I know that "God's Word is a Seed that will produce according to kind." The corn seed doesn't know how, but will grow up into the full corn in the ear. I put faith in God's Word and won't be swayed by things that my natural eyes see. I'm standing on God's Truth for all my family.

    There's a laborer out there and God know who it is. The laborer will water that seed into the harvest is complete. As the redeemed of the Lord, I will say, "My children and family will not go into captivity to another people" and "I stand on the fullness of my Redeeming Lamb of God and not in fear." I pray for a laborer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to put the right laborer in their path. 

    There are so many voices in today's world that try pulling people away from God and the words we've told them throughout the years. We can trust that the things we told them about salvation and the Lord Jesus Christ will bring a harvest, because "God watches over His Word to perform it," according to Jer.1:12. God loves them even more than we do. We must stand against the lies of the enemy and as the redeemed of the Lord, we must say so. We must confess that, "My family will not go into captivity, because Jesus has redeemed me from that on the cross."

    We must use God's Word against sickness and disease that would come up on us through the Curse. I don't wait to get sick, before I say so about my redemption. God's Word says, the Lord has redeemed us from the hand of the adversary," according to Ps.107:2.  Why not stand on your healing while you're well, instead of waiting until the adversary makes you sick? We must stand on the Blessing and against the Curse, in our daily walk with the Lord.

    We must keep our eyes on Jesus and His Promises to us, instead of the things going around us. Most of our parents probably never thought we'd be saved, but they prayed and allowed God to perform His Perfect work. The Seed of of the Word was only a Seed, but took root and became a sprout. Then it became an ear and brought forth corn in that ear and the fullness of the seed became a harvest.

    Find out what we've been redeemed from in the Curse and then say so, like the Lord has instructed. Don't be fearful or dismayed and definitely stop saying, "It's not working." The Word of God always works. Look at the heavens, earth and the cosmos and see if they're doing anything other than what God told us to do. If we're going to say anything, then let's say it as the redeemed of the Lord, like God instructs us to do.

Let The Redeemed of the Lord Say So #1

    Ps.107:2(Amp) tells us, "Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary." 

    Many Christians don't seem to understand what the above scripture is saying to us. As the New Testament Church, we are the Redeemed of the Lord.  Gal.3:13(Amp) says, "Christ purchased our freedom (redeeming us) from the Curse (doom) of the Law (and it's condemnation) by (Himself) becoming a curse for us, For it is written (in the scriptures), Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)." Deut.21:14(Amp) says, "To the end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus, the Blessing (promised) to Abraham might come up on the Gentiles; so that we through faith might all receive (the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit)."

    The Promise God made to Abraham and his Seed, was the Promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was the Seed and this was the Promise that God made. It wasn't just receiving of the Holy Spirit on The Day of Pentecost the speaking in new tongues, like many believe. The Promise of the Holy Spirit is the "fullness" of Jesus Himself.  Gal.3:16-17(Amp) says, "Now the Promises (covenants,agreements) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed (his Offspring, his Heirs); He (God) does not say, And to his seeds (descendants,heirs) as if referring to many persons, but unto Your Seed (Your Descendant, Your Heir), obviously referring to One Individual (Who is none other) than Christ (the Messiah)."

    We're no longer under the Law, but under Grace. Jesus said in Matt.9:17-18(Amp), "Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo, but to complete and fulfill them. For truly I tell you, Until the sky and earth pass away and perish, not one smallest letter nor one little book (identifying certain Hebrew letters) will pass from the Law until all things (it foreshadows) are completed."

    We're no longer under the Law, but under Grace. This doesn't mean that we can live any way we please, without consequences. We're under two Laws only, according to Matt.22:36-40(Amp) where Jesus' follower asks, "Teacher, which kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? Some commandments are light-which are heavy? And He (Jesus) replied unto him; You shall love the Lord they God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second one is like it; You shall love your neighbor as you do yourself. These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the prophets."

    We've been given a new Law, which is the Law of Love. It must be fulfilled by God's Grace and our love for Him, which has been shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Spirit. Rom.5:5(Amp) tells us, "Therefor, we have been now Redeemed from the Law through His Redeeming power, and have come into a new covenant and a new being through Jesus." Jesus fulfilled the Law and if we're in Him, then we've perfectly fulfilled the Law in Him and are out from the Curse of the Law.

     We no longer make sacrifices of goats and bulls and we no longer live under condemnation, because in Jesus, we have fulfilled the Law in the eyes of God. We are Redeemed from the Curse of the Law. We should read about the Blessing in Deut.28:1-14 and then read further about the things we tolerated under the Curse. We should read further and begin quoting scriptures, saying, "I am Redeemed from the Curse of the Law. Hallelujah, Amen!"

One On One #34

     I'm writing this blog to thank the American people for their prayers, hope, faith and determination. Thank you for trusting the Lord on behalf of America. We stand one on One with the Father and one on one in unity for our country. I'm certain that there are many who are disappointed with the election results. I bet he Philistines were disappointed too, when David chased them home with the head of their champion. God has a way of "being God" when it comes to His Word and His covenant.

    This isn't the time to back up or back off in prayer and faith for President Elect Trump and our nation. Jesus told His followers to "occupy" until He returns. This term means to advance in the army. We are at war for the salvation and the hearts of millions of people, as well as the stability of our nation. God's Word never tells us to surrender to anyone or anything, other than Him. Letting the Lord fight the battle, doesn't mean we're to sit down and await the rapture. We're to stand fast on God's Word and He always wins. Rom.4:3(Amp) tells us that "Abraham hoped on in faith that God could and would perform that which He Promised."

    Before there was an America, our first and greatest American was a man of God. George Washington prayed and dedicated our nation to God, at his inaugural speech saying, "You will be our God and we will be Your people." That covenant still is in the heart of God. The enemy has tried to turn the hearts of people away from God, using all the things of the world. God's Word though, is "forever settled in Heaven" and His Kingdom rules over all, according to Ps.119:87.

    As we thank God for His intervention in the saving of America, remember the war isn't over but just renewed. We must pray for God to give wisdom to Donald Trump and to protect him and his family. After fasting in the wilderness for forty days in Luke4, satan tried to tempt Jesus offering all the kingdom of this world. Jesus is our Redemption and these things have already been delivered into God's children again. 

    Thank you for joining with the rest of God's children in one on One time with the Lord. God bless you.

One On One Lesson #33

    It doesn't matter what others think about Jesus and His Heart towards humanity. It only matters what you think and perceive about Him. We've recently reviewed the stories of "The lady with the issue of blood" and "Blind Bartimaeous" from Mark 5 and 10. Note though, that neither have an infirmity or are blind. No one else in these chapters received anything else from Jesus, even though Jesus came through their town and knew or thought they knew Who He was.

    Bartimaeous was blind and couldn't attend the meetings where Jesus spoke. He apparently had no one to help lead him to those meetings and they were quite a travel to get to. When he heard that Jesus was near, his HOPE was made full at that time. He HEARD and believed that Jesus was indeed a Miracle Worker and he put FAITH in what he'd heard. When he realized Jesus was in his presence, the hope that Bartimaeous had swelled up and he began crying out for Jesus. Mark10:49(Amp) tells us that, "Jesus stopped and said to call Bartimaeous."

    Was Bartimaeous the only one in the crowd who needed healing? We don't know, but Heb.11:1(Amp) tells us that, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things we HOPE for; being the proof of things we do not see, and the conviction of their reality; faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses." The man had heard and hoped for his sight and upon realizing that his hope was right in front of him, he was not going to be denied. We don't read about any other person being healed in this passage.

    The same was true about the woman with the issue of blood. She was considered unclean in the eyes of the Mosaic Law, so she had no right to go hear Jesus preach. She still heard about Him and when He was almost within reach, she was not going to be denied. When she touched Jesus, Jesus stopped and asked, "Who touched Me?" in Mark5:31(Amp). His disciples kept saying to Jesus, "You see the crowd pressing hard against you from all sides, and You ask, Who touched Me?"

   The only other account in this chapter,  was about Jairus, who was believing for his daughter's healing. Was Jesus' healing for every person there or was it for those who believed? Some might say, "God doesn't heal everyone." Healing was for those who by faith, had hope and Jesus was moved by their faith and hope. They received accordingly. We can't let hope pass us by, when we're in a position to have a miracle in our lives. Rom.4:21(Amp) tells us that, "Abraham hope against hope and was strong in faith and was fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He had Promised."

    When we hope against hope, it means that things in the natural seem hopeless. Abraham placed his hope in the Promise, until faith brought it to pass in his life. When the doctors tell you that it's hopeless, you still have hope in God's Word that His Promises, "By Jesus' stripes we are healed" and "All of God's Promises are Yes and Amen to the Glory of God." 2Cor.1:20(Amp) says, "For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes Answer in Him, Christ. For this reason we also utter the Amen (So be it) to God through Him (in His Person and by His Agency) to the Glory of God."

One On One #ge

     We hear so many differing thoughts about what is true and what isn't true about God's Word. We don't come out and say, "I think God's Word isn't true," but we might think that. Anyone who calls themselves a Christian, would not say, "I think God is a liar" or "God's Word isn't true." We might though use more subtle words by saying, "That's passed away, that's only for certain people, that was only for the early Church and the apostles, you never know what God might do, or that might not be God's will."

    Ps.119:89(Amp) says, "Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven (stands firm as the heavens)." Jer.1:12(Amp) says, "Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My Word to perform it." Jesus tells us in Luke21;33(Amp), "The sky and the earth (the universe, the world) will pass away, but My Words will not pass away." These are only a few scriptures that show the faithfulness of God's Word and His Promises. Paul was questioned about the validity of God's Words in Rom.3:4(Amp), where he answered, "By no means! Let God be found true though every human being is false and a liar, as it is written, That you may be justified and shown to be upright in what you say, and prevail when you are judged by sinful men."

     Many struggle with Rom.3:10(Amp) which says, "None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one. No one understands (no one intelligently discerns or comprehends); no one seeks out God.We need to continue reading Verses22-24, which says, "Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance of Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and it is meant for all who believe for there is no difference [between Jew and Gentile] Since all have sinned and are fallen short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. All have been made justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His Free Grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the Redemption which is provided in Christ Jesus."

    We mostly misunderstand righteousness, because of our personal failures and shortcomings. We must keep our faith in Jesus, Who has no shortcomings and failures. I would much rather walk with God based on Jesus' success, instead of my own ability to be righteous. I don't need to get born-again every time I fall short in my walk with God. We can rely on God's Word to keep me and His mercy to keep me, through the Redemption in Jesus.

   We don't purposely set out to sin, but we're still learning and growing in God's knowledge and His Grace of Who He has called us to be. When we're born, both physically and spiritually, we don't walk in the knowledge of adulthood. We don't throw children away, because their diapers need changed or their bottle is empty, because we know they will learn. We know too that love and grace will bring them into maturity.

    Let's take God at His Word and stop trying to change His Word, in order to match our inefficiencies. When we see another believer fall sick, we can't disregard Is.53:5(Amp) which says, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement (needful to obtain) peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes (that wounded) Him we are healed and made whole." Even if we're currently sick, we must determine in our hearts what we will believe and stand on it.

    Don't fall under condemnation because you've missed it. Get back into God's Word, until it's more true than anything else. We, the Body of Christ, were never called to surrender to anything but Jesus. If we continue to fight, then we will win, because we're already over-comers in Him. Let's look unto the "Author and Finisher of our faith," because His faith is now our faith too. Find hope in God's Word until it pushes out hopelessness. Is it easy? Not always, but it worked when you called upon Him when you were dead in trespass and sin. Didn't it? God's Word tells us in Eph.2:6(Amp), "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the Heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."

    God's Word will help us learn to function as citizens of Heaven and walk as His sons and daughters here on earth. We don't grow up instantly, but 2Cor.3:18(Amp) we "Go from glory to glory and from faith to faith." Don't get discouraged and become content where you are, because God has so much more for you to experience in Him, while we're on this earth. Paul encourages believers in Heb.12:1(Amp) to "Run the race, keep the faith and finish the course, endure until the end."

One On One #31

    1Cor.13:13(Amp) says, "And so faith, hope and love abide (faith-conviction and belief respecting man's relationship with God and Divine things; hope-joyful and confident expectation of Eternal salvation; love-true affection for God and man, growing out of God's Love for us and in us), these three, but the greatest of these is love." 

    Paul received the Revelation of Jesus as the Messiah and the Last Sacrifice directly from Jesus, so why does he only list these three things as "abiding?" Paul went on to say in Rom.10:17(Amp), "So faith comes by hearing what is told, and what is heard comes by the preaching of the Message that comes from the lips of Christ, the Messiah Himself."

    We've heard the Word of God preached, whether in church, the airwaves or from family members and when we heard it, faith came. The Word was sown in our from hearing, even if we did or didn't receive Jesus as our Lord. And, because God's Word is "incorruptible Seed," it remained in our hearts. Like the prodigal son, when we decided God's Word is true and wanted to be freed from our old lifestyle, HOPE CAME. When we received Jesus as our Lord, God's unconditional Love accepted us, without any reservation. James2:17(Amp) tells us, "So also faith; if it does not have works, deeds, and action of obedience to back it up, by itself is destitute of power, inoperative, dead."

    We read about the condition of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark5:25-34. She had this issue of blood for twelve years, even though she had seen many doctors and had spent all of her money. If I had been in her shoes, then I would have no hope. She though, heard Jesus' Message and that produced faith, which inspired hope. Heb.11:1(Amp) says, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things we hoped for; being the proof of things we do not see; and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses)."

    We're instructed to put hope in God's Word, when we're confronted with situations in our lives. When we put hope in God's Word, then faith can bring it into being. James2:14(Amp) tells us that, "Faith without works is dead." The woman with the issue of blood, heard Jesus' Message, had hope and that hope produced faith that Jesus could heal her. She then, pulled herself up and pushed through the crowd surrounding Jesus and touched the hem of His garment. She heard His Words and that brought forth faith. Her faith then, brought to pass what hope had inspired.

    We've all probably heard lots of teaching and preaching about faith, but did you know that hope had to be a companion to your faith? Did you know that you need to see yourself coming out of that hopeless place and step into what faith promised? I heard the Word of salvation, but didn't become a doer of it all at once. Until my life was broken into pieces, hope in what I had heard about Jesus came alive in my heard. When in hope, I used faith that Jesus could and would change my life and I responded to that faith in hope that God is True to His Word. Then, that thing I hope for became the substance and reality, resulting in my life being gloriously saved. 

    I've found that when we read of hear God's Word, faith comes, but if we don't use hope as a blueprint for faith to work with, then it's still something dead and without hope bringing it to pass. God told Abraham in Rom.4:18-23 that "he would be the Father of a multitude," then faith came, even though hope in the natural realm was gone." Abraham was past the age of becoming a father and his wife was barren. Thus Verses 18 tells us, "For Abraham, human reason for hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been promised, So numberless shall be your descendants." Verse21 says, "Fully satisfied and assured God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He had Promised."

    Abraham hoped against hope for twenty-five years, until the promised came and his son was born. We can't let the world's hopelessness to stop our hope in God's Word, because when we turn loose of hope, faith is "inoperative and dead and destitute of power," according to James2:17. 

    We're trusting that we'll go to be with the Lord when we die. We believe this by faith, but hope is what keeps this promise alive and operative in our lives. I haven't seen or been there, but hope in that promise keeps my faith alive and faith is the "title deed and substance of my hope," according to Heb.11:11. Whatever you're setting your faith on, allow hope to remain the blueprint for faith to build from and you'll receive it. Let's be like Abraham who believed that God was able and mighty to perform what He Promised.

    

    

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One On One #30

     Prov.18:14(Amp) says, "The strong Spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but  weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?"

    All of our strength comes through our spirit, if we're born-again. In John6:63(Amp) Jesus says, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatsoever (there is no profit in it); the Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life." We don't always take time reading God's Word and praying in the spirit, like we should.

    We don't do these things as religious exercises, but we do these things in order to feed Strength and Life  into our new Spirit. We're actually feeding on Life Itself. Sadly, many Christians believe that salvation is only about going to Heaven when we die. Other Christians have disregarded things like Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the speaking in other tongues, fasting and praying, saying that these things have "passed away."

   There has been such a change from what our Christian walk is from what our nation was founded upon. It looks we've even lost so much of what our great nation, that we might not be able to regain it. Too many things that God's Church was founded upon, have become obsolete in many churches. Many of us in the Body of Christ, have become complacent and comfortable with just going to Heaven when we die, instead of standing up for Righteousness. Jesus told His followers to "Occupy until I come." This is a military term, which means to "advance and hold." We're to raise up disciples who will take what is taught in God's world, into all the world.

    We need to accept all that the Holy Spirit is calling us to be. When the Holy Spirit teaches something that our denominational teachers haven't taught, then we must pray and go before the Lord, so He can confirm that teaching. We can't simply receive everything that is taught, but we must go to the Word and to the Lord for the answers. Too many times we rely on the Sunday service to feed us, instead of feeding on God's Word for ourselves. When I got saved in the Jesus Revolution in the 1970'2, I learned from Charles Capps about the words we speak. I learned about deliverance from Lester Sumrall. Many of my drinking buddies and family members (outside of my nuclear family) scoffed at this. 

    I didn't know anything about God, but the Lord called me to go into nursing homes and pray for the elderly there. I laid hands on a lady whose hands were tightly closed into a fist, but nothing happened. I asked the Lord, "You said I could lay hands on the sick, if I believed and they would recover, so why didn't she recover?" God told me there's a difference between healing and losing. Then He took me to Luke13:10-13(Amp) which says, "Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had an illness caused by a spirit (demon). She was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called over to her and said to her, Woman, you are released from your illness. Then He laid His hands on her; and immediately she stood erect again and she began glorifying and praising God."

    The woman I laid hands on had a infirmity that was brought on because of her decades long intense unforgiveness she held against her neighbor. You might ask,"What's the difference?" Jesus taught us in Matt.6:33(Amp), "But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His Kingdom and His Righteousness  (His way of doing and being right-the attitude and character of God), and all these things will be given to you also." I returned to that nursing home the very next day and loosed that woman from her infirmity. Her hands were immediately open and she was well.

   In Is.55:9(Amp) God says, "My ways are higher than your ways And My higher than your thoughts." We must learn to do things God's way, just like Jesus did.

    

One On One #29

    We've been learning why spending private, one on One, time in fellowship with the Lord is so important. 1Cor.14:2(Amp) says, "For one who speaks in an unknown tongues speaks not to men but to God; For no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding." Jude1:20(Amp) says, "But you beloved, build yourselves up founded on your most holy faith, make progress rise like an edifice higher and higher praying in the Holy Spirit."

    The secret truths and hidden things aren't obvious to the understanding, but are Revelation knowledge that our minds haven't yet conceived. The Holy Spirit has been sent to us, in order to reveal the things of the Father, that only He knows. The Holy Spirit has all the answers for things that seem to have no answer. The Holy Spirit has every answer that pertains to life and Godliness. Although we're saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, there are so many things that we don't understand on our own.

    It's great that we attend church services or have fellowship with our pastor, but the pastor doesn't know all the plans God has for every individual. It takes spending one on One time with the Holy Spirit to receive God's directions. When the Lord called me into the ministry, I was the only one who heard Him. I spoke with my wife, she prayed and the Lord confirmed it to her from His Word saying, "The two become one flesh," from Gen.2:24. When the word was confirmed by her, we could strike out on that word without conflict in our relationship.

    God could have used a prophet to give me His direction, but it was so much greater when He spoke to me one on One. I've known many people who stepped out after someone told them, "This is from God, He wants you to..." and they ended up in a real mess. The Father plans for all His children to follow His ways of doing and being right, so we can be a light and witness for Him. God also has specifics for all of us, that pertain to our individual walk with Him. We're not all called to the five-fold ministry. Some are called to build businesses or work in an outreach ministry across the globe. Whatever we're called to do in our personal walk with God, we must hear that call from the Holy Spirit.

    Sometimes, even after being born-again, we think there's more for us and seek God's assurance, but that assurance never comes. When the Holy Spirit speaks this secret truth into your heart, it's the only assurance you'll need, in order to step out into His leading. Even after hearing, you'll need to have continued guidance from the Lord. One can't just decide "this is okay" or "I've got this," because it might just mess up the entire process. All these things are spiritual, but might reach into the natural, lost world, because these are those God has called us to reach.

    God's Anointing will supply all that is needed for us to walk upright before the world, without seeming haughty, offensive or superior. We can be in a place of no compromises while reaching people, without coming down to the world's level. We don't need to tell everyone that they're sinners and stuff that down their throats. All we need to do is be a light that never goes out and be a stability for them while the Holy Spirit deals with them.

    If we remain in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, then He will lead us into all the Truth and reveal the Words of the Father to us. Jesus tells us in John16:7(Amp), "However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I Go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you (in close fellowship with you); but if I go away, I will send Him to you (to be in close fellowship with you)."

    The secret truths aren't hidden from us, but FOR US. The things God has for you are hidden in the Holy Spirit for you. If we had the answers for every situation or person in our lives, then we wouldn't need the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, we sometimes have that attitude and never ask the Holy Spirit's guidance. We need to return to praying and spending one on One time with the Holy Spirit.

One On One #28

     When sharing God's Word with a congregation, we're not just talking to a group of people, but to every individual. Every person has different needs, with only the same Source for an answer. God's Word can and will answer every need, if we will only go to Him one on One, for that answer. God doesn't give the pastor an individual answer for every person there, but He will give the answer in His Word for every person.

    We live in a world where there seems to be no hope. The real hope can only come from God's Word. Jesus spoke about the woman who suffered twelve years with an issue of blood, in Mark5:25-34(Amp). She had a flow of blood for all those years and the doctors couldn't cure it and instead she was getting worse. She had heard "good reports" about Jesus and after touching His garment, she was made whole.

    She wouldn't have been allowed to be near other people, according to the Law. She was probably very tired after losing blood for so long. I would have felt hopeless, alone and exhausted. Heb.11:1(Amp) tells us that, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The woman had no hope, until she heard about the healings Jesus had done. When she heard that maybe Jesus would and could heal her, hope rose up in her. After twelve years of despair and hopelessness, faith began to grow because she had hope. When faith came, she moved on that faith towards Jesus with the confidence that the hope God inspired in her and she was healed.

    God's Word is always there to inspire us to hope against hope, like it did in Abraham's life. When there was no hope in the natural, Abraham held out hope that God's Word and His Promise would come to pass. Faith rose up in him and God's Promise came forth in Abraham's life. You might find yourself in the place like the woman of blood or Abraham, and believe there's no hope for you but. God's Word though, is full of multitudes of Promises that can inspire hope, even when the world cannot do so. Jer.12:1(Amp) tells us that, "God watches over His Word to perform it." When the world has no hope, then we must go to God's Word and find hope, so that faith has something to perform and bring substance in our lives. 

    God has made Promises concerning our healing, health, our family including our children and even our great great grandchildren. 2Cor.1:20(Amp) tells us, "For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes (answer) in Him (Christ). For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him (in His Person and by His Agency) to the glory of God." People aren't trying to be mean when they tell us "There's no hope." They just don't see the way out. Our help doesn't come from this world, but from God Himself.

    Your life and your future doesn't depend on what others say about, but what our Heavenly Father says about you. If you're like the woman with the issue of blood and everyone has given up hope, then you must put hope in Jesus and His Word, like she did. You must let hope bring forth faith to put substance to and let God's Word work for you. The alternative is to stop hoping and trusting and quit. If I'm to lose anything, I will at least be fighting and not quitting. Paul writes to Timothy in 1Tim.6:12(Amp) saying, "I have fought a good fight, I have run a good race and I have kept the faith." Don't quit and wait for the rapture, but let's fight the good fight of faith, like Paul did.

    

One On One #un

     Hope is an almost forgotten factor in our walk with the Lord these days. The hope of The Bible isn't the same listless despair way of thinking found in the world. 1Cor.13:13(Amp) tells us, "So then, faith, hope and love abide, Faith-conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and Divine things. Hope-joyful and confident expectation of Eternal salvation; Love-true affection for God and man, grows out of God's Love found in us, these three, but the greatest of these is LOVE."

    So, according to God's Word, "hope" is a "joyful and confident expectation of Eternal salvation." Do you know that Eternal salvation is abiding within you right now? Why would it be something we can't have in our lives while here on earth? Heaven is part of our Eternal salvation and we can have joyful and confident expectation in it while we're here on earth. 

    In Heb.11:1(Amp) Paul writes about hope like this, saying, "Now faith is the assurance, the confirmation, the title deed of the things we HOPE for; being the proof of things we do not see, and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as a real fact what is not revealed to the senses)." Faith is the assurance of what we hope for. When hope is gone, faith has no substance on which to build. If the doctor tells you that "it's hopeless," then you must have hope like the Word says and that gives faith in God's report, over the hope doctor's. Without hope, faith is left without a purpose in our walk with God. Rom.4:18-20,21-22(Amp) tells us about Abraham and his faith, saying, "For Abraham, human reason for hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the Father of many nations, as he had been promised, so numberless shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the utter impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sara's womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver, doubtingly question concerning the Promise of God; but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God."

    Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Abraham kept his joyful and confident expectation, until faith brought forth the substance of the Promise. We sometimes lose hope by the words, circumstances or reports about our bodies, children or marriages, until faith has nothing to work with. One might ask, "What if I hold out faith for my healing, even when the doctor said it's hopeless and my healing doesn't come?" The Promise of our Eternal salvation is still there and we'll got home to be with the Lord, if we don't get our healing. So, what do we have to lose if the doctor said it's hopeless? We can sit down and accept it or we can stand on God's Word and hope against hope, just like Abraham did.

    Everything was against Abraham in the natural and his condition was hopeless, but he still hoped against hope. Paul continues saying in Verses21-22 saying, "Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He had Promised. That is why [Abraham's] faith was credited to him as righteousness, right standing with God."

    I'm not saying that the doctor was wrong when he said things are hopeless, I'm just reminding you that God says He will and is able to and mighty to do what He Promised. Joel Osteen's mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and sent home to die in 1981. She hoped against hope and put faith behind that hope until God raised her up. That was over twenty years and she's still glorifying God for her healing. She laid in her blood soaked bed and in pain for a long time, but she wouldn't turn loose of God's Promises. She still witnesses about God's mighty work in her life.

   Don't give up hope, because it gives the vision of your faith, until it becomes what we see in this realm.

One On One #26

    The Holy Spirit leads Paul to write about the believer's covenant with the Holy Spirit, through Jesus in Heb.2:1(Amp), saying, "Since all this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past them and slip away." 

    We previously discussed the use of our spiritual languages, speaking in unknown tongues. Sometimes, the things we've learned and received from the Lord, "slip from us and drift past us" in our daily walk with Him. Paul writes in 1Cor.14:18(Amp), "I thank God that I speak in strange tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together." 

    Paul was actually taken into the Third Heaven, into the Presence of God Himself, where He was given this Revelation that we call The New Testament. If Paul needed the Awesome Gift of God, then how much more do we this Gift, in order to understand and receive the Revelation for ourselves? In 1Cor14:2(Amp) Paul writes, "For one who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding."

    These aren't secret truths or hidden things to God, but to our natural minds. These are hidden things that our spirit is seeking direction for our lives. When we pray in the Spirit, we're speaking one on One with God Himself and He is revealing all these hidden secrets to us, to help us understand them even in this natural realm. Jesus said in John6:63(Amp), "The Words I speak to you are Spirit and they are Life." Paul wrote a lot about renewing our minds and about not being carnally minded.

    He writes in Rom.8:12-14(Amp), "To be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace, while being carnally minded is death." Even though we're truly born-again and have been made one with Christ Jesus, we still think like we did and need to renew our minds. We were educated by the world and thought like the world, good and bad alike. Of course we needed to learn how to count, read and deal in this natural world, but these things had no Spiritual Revelation in them. 

    Paul never told us to forget how to read, write or think. Paul did instruct us to allow God's Word to direct our thinking about Spiritual things and to receive direction from the Father. Jesus told His disciples in John15:3(Amp), "You are cleansed and pruned already because of the Word which I have given you, the teachings I have discussed with." These teachings are the hidden things our spirits are seeking direction for. They are not hidden from us, but hidden for us to understand. Jude1:20(Amp) says, "But you beloved, build yourselves up, founded on your most holy faith, make progress rise like an edifice higher and higher, praying in the Holy Spirit."

   We can read God's Word and have enough education to comprehend the words, but still not have Revelation as to what they mean for us in this natural realm. This is what helps us to renew our minds. As the Holy Spirit reveals these things into our spirits, they become not only information but Revelation. The Promise of the Holy Spirit is one of the greatest things we have received from our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus told His followers in John16:13-15(Amp), "But when He (the Spirit of Truth, the Truth Giving Spirit comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth); For He will not speak His Own Message, on His Own Authority, but He will tell whatever He hears of the Father, and He will give the Message that has been given to Him, and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come, that will happen in the future. He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine, and will reveal, declare, disclose and transmit unto you. Everything the Father has is Mine, that is what I meant when I said that He (the Spirit) will take the things that are Mine and will reveal, declare, disclose, transmit them to you." 

    These are the mysteries and hidden things Paul wrote about in 1Cor.14:2. The Gift of the Holy Spirit is almost a forgotten gift in the lives of too many believers. We've allowed the Gift of the Holy Spirit to slip passed us in certain times. The Holy Spirit is an open doorway into the very Heart of God for us to enter and receive guidance around the enemy's traps. The Holy Spirit gives us a path in which God's Word has planned out for our walk with Him.

One On One #25

    Do you still pray like you did when you received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and your new language of the Spirit? We prayed without ceasing (nearly) after that, but now we hardly use this precious gift. There are many things we don't know how to pray about, but we can pray about them in the Spirit. 

    Rom.8:26-27(Amp) says, "So to, the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; For we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Holy Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings to deep for utterance And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the Holy Spirit, what His intent is, because the Spirit intercedes and pleads before God in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will."

    The enemy has fought against believers knowing about and using the Gift of the Spirit, because it's man's entry into the Wisdom and will of God for our lives. 1Cor.14:2(Amp) says, "For one who speaks in an unknown tongue, speaks not to men to but God; for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding." The Holy Spirit gives insight to things we need, but don't know how to pray about. When we pray in the Spirit, God gives us knowledge of what we need to do into our spirits.

    So many times in this natural realm, we don't know how to pray or even what to do, but the Holy Spirit can and will give us wisdom when we pray in the Spirit. He will provide guidance and wisdom in out time of need and uncertainty. Even when we feel weak in our faith walk and feel like we're falling short of what we're called to do, the Holy Spirit is always there to build us up. 1Cor.14:4(Amp) says, "He who speaks in a strange tongue edifies and improves Himself, but he who prophesies, interpreting the Divine will and purpose and teaching with inspiration, edifies and improves the Church and promotes growth in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness and happiness."

    When we speak in an unknown tongue in the congregation, with an interpreter, we can reveal God's Wisdom to His Church. When we spend one on One time praying in the spirit, God builds us up and gives us direction for our lives. When preaching and teaching in church, I don't deliver my message in tongues, because without an interpreter, the congregation doesn't understand what I'm saying. So, I would rather say ten words that the congregation understands, rather than speak ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. This doesn't mean that speaking in tongues isn't important, but it's to be used properly.

    The Holy Spirit inspires Jude to write about dangerous times and how to rise above them in Jude1:20(Amp), saying, "But you, beloved, build yourselves up founded on your most holy faith, make progress rise like and edifice higher and higher, praying in the Holy Spirit." In troubled times, we make progress and rise like an edifice higher and higher, when we pray in the Holy Spirit.

    I don't know about you, but I see the troubling times around us today. I deal with them like God's Word instructs us, by praying in the Holy Spirit and seeking His direction, Revelation and His edification. Praying in the Holy Spirit isn't just for when we first received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but is to guide and direct us throughout our entire walk with the Lord.

   

    

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