Follow the Spirit

As Earth from the Sun draws Rays each dawn.

Cleansing the air we breathe.

Food nourishes creatures each day.

Oceans to streams quench thirst.

Passion is to Marriage and

Cries to Infants.

Children at play.

World at Work.

Kindness and Care for Mankind.

As Your Grace is Overpowering

to Us, O God.

Your Son, Our Savior.

Divine Love, Eternal without End.

God Defends.

(Isa 1:24) Therefore the Lord says, The LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, "Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, And take vengeance on My enemies.”

(Deut 30:7) "Also the LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.”

Special Day at Market. Before I even set up at 8:30 am, people arrived coming for ministry, healing, and witnessing. The Holy Spirit was on a roll. Usually, I'm off to a slow start, but Jesus was off to a jump start. I prayed for bandaged arms, wrists, feet, wheelchair persons, kidneys, disabled, aged, and young, some dozen people. God pointed them out. A few pastors came by and talked at length to get witness ideas. People came by and chatted intermittently. Different cultures appreciate when I show them interest. I'm mixed with God's heritage in family anyway, American Puritan, Indian, Black. I've elbowed with Orientals, Spanish, Scandinavians, Hebrews. Muslims have saved my life. I love foreign food. My Dad taught me all are my Brothers and Sisters in the Family of Man. I contacted “420” men, women, and childre, a few pregnant ladies. I don't know why others won't join me. It's so easy and rewarding to witness in the sweetness of the Holy Spirit.

Giving generously is the key to receiving abundantly in God's Love.

Modern people don't know how to love sacrificially.

But never ask man for your needs, ask God to provide.

Giving money to the poor, but not just money.

Bless the ones you meet with God's Love,

a wise word, a kind deed, a caring hug, a true kiss,

a heart gift. Living in God's Love, seeking always to give yourself,

you will receive his surprise supernatural Miracles and Blessings.

Prove it to yourself. We have found this is absolutely true.

(3 John 1:2) “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things

and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”

Seek to give your spouse Joy;

make a happy spouse,

and he/she will make a happy union.

Notice, I didn't say “give things.”

“Give Joy.”

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Practice the art of giving to

seek God's blessings.

Market, Saturday. Grateful for Earl, Tina, Cassidy, Pastor, John Paul, Linda helping. “400” contacts made, Men, Women, Children. God is sending more and more. Special Blessings, God who Loves them all. God answers every prayer and touches every contact, even a resistant reply can't get by. One Veteran nicely made me a special cross of nails for ministry, I'll wear around my neck.

Market, special witness in the Jesus Harvest. “344” contacts to our quiet shady new corner. Earl, Tina, and Cassidy came to help. The Holy Spirit nudged instantly. Some came quick, very supportive, and friendly. “I'm glad you're doing this.” Some came bashful, but seeking prayer or ministry. Some dared to approach curiously and cautiously, not wanting to be church-caught. But our aim is to share Jesus. Some reluctant believers wanted not to involve themselves publicly with Jesus at all, and said so. Some feared God, afraid to even pass us. But I call out, “God bless you.” I always want them to know. You see, the Holy Spirit backs me.

"If the new crime be, to believe in God, let us all be criminals," said Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.

Couples relate together in a successful marriage. They discuss, they talk, they share daily life together. True, they sometimes differ, they argue. But they respect each other. They differ about issues, but they do not generally attack each other cruelly with name calling. Further, they forgive fast. “Kiss slow, Forgive fast.” They come to agreement on family issues and they respect their children fairly. Discipline, money, problems, troubles, difficulties, are treated the same way. No one is perfect. Jesus is perfect. Issues are can be slow in resolution, but mutual agreement is a goal. Peace is the objective.

“The main thing in a marriage is to live life together in Christ,” my wife of 47 years said.

Imperatively, this means to pray daily together, to read the Bible together, to worship in the same place or church together. “A family that prays together, stays together.” Also, we recommend holding family mini-worship or devotions at home. I remember my Dad always blessed us children each night on the way to bed. Something like, “May our Heavenly Father bless you in the wonder and power of his love, and give you a peaceful sleep in the Name of Jesus.” My wife and I now enjoy reading five psalms each morning or a scripture reading to start our prayers. As we grow older, it's our start time for the day with God.

Blessings to you,

Bill Hunt

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Perceiving the Divine Gift of the Holy Spirit

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

 

“He would have given you living water."

Jesus and Samaritan Woman by Guercino (PD)

Listening to God, John the Baptist, heard the purpose of the coming Messiah.

(John 1:33, All scriptures NKJV.) "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit'.”

To the Pharisee who came at night, Nicodemus, Jesus explains the need for the believer's divinely yielding life in the Holy Spirit.

(John 3:5-8) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

"Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

To the Samaritan woman he found at Jacob's well, the Messiah offers a special drink.

(John 4:10) Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

He tells her the wonderful qualities of this spiritual water.

(John 4:14) "But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

At the Feast of Tabernacles, He identifies the living water to his disciples.

(John 7:38-39) "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The World will not perceive the followers' indwelling Spirit of Truth.

(John 14:16-17) "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--

"the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

The Holy Spirit will teach and bring to memory all the instructions of the Messiah.

(John 14:26) "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

In the unity of the Godhead, the Spirit from the Father will testify to the Son

(John 15:26) "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”

The Son must return to the Father to send the Spirit.

(John 16:7) "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

The One Spirit will manifest various supernatural works in the Followers of Jesus. God, himself, gives the true anointings and ministries of the Holy Spirit, not man.

(1Cor 12:4-11) “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 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.

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

The Spirit appoints unique supernatural positions of duties in the congregation of followers. No, these are not prescribed by scripture to the same person but throughout the body as God determines. Although, some may overlap as experienced.

(1Cor 12:28-30) “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

“Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?”

Not least are the godly behaviors of the believers empowered by the presence of the Divine Spirit.

(Gal 5:22-25) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

“Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Seek the Face of God,

Bill Hunt

Oral Robert's Graduate Seminar on the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit, move on our World.

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (NKJV Heb 12:14).

 

Mary Hunt practicing classical organ worship music.

I hear the Holy Spirit, as others also say, calling us to new and surprising things. Pray and Witness daily. He will use us in new places of ministry, spiritually and physically. Do not seek provision for these, he will so provide his way. Also, prayer is very powerful, as incense rising to his Throne. Believe by faith, know he hears and acts on every prayer divinely, whether you see or do not see visibly. Tend to scriptural teaching. Rid yourselves of things that block God. Dwell in his Divine Love. “Forgive fast! Love slowly!” as some say.

A Gift. Your salvation or religious faith does not depend on church, doctrine, works, good deeds, prayer, reading the Bible. These things will not save you. Only your relationship with his wonderful person will save you, Jesus Messiah, the Son of God. He gives this to you as a free gift, you can not earn it. Ask him. Repent of your sins, and believe wholly in him. Receive the gift of his loving relationship. Practice the daily Presence of God.

Consider, 150,000-180,000 people die worldwide everyday. How many actually expect death today? Have you ever helped anyone prepare for death? How many live for Jesus Messiah? How many actually enter Heaven? Most people, I've seen, die as they live, in love or hate. Why is there a Hell? Who goes there? Who goes to Heaven? What does God's Word say? And what is your destiny?

Why these severe winter storms? The Northeast is the most unchurched attending, non-Bible believing section of the USA. Even TV News surveys have reflected this. Does God care? Time to turn to Jesus Messiah and reflect on God. Job writes,

“From the chamber of the South comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the North. By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen. Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds. And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, That they may do whatever He commands them On the face of the whole earth. He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for mercy” (NKJV, Job 37:9-13).

Pornography is a great deception gripping the world, society, and the church. Pornography hinders a man's love relationship with God, as it hinders and hurts the love relationship with his wife. Likewise, this occurs with women as well as men. This tears children, marriages, and families. Pornography is the addiction link to world prostitution and trafficking. God warns,

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (NKJV Heb 12:14).

Witness Report. My brother's feet and my hands were very cold this morning as we two friends ministered and prayed for healing in the town market barn. Jesus was standing with us from our starting prayer. We talked with many people, a Jewish man, Philippine woman, couple of Spanish ladies, a seasoned Veteran crew chief from a C-130, teens, singles, the elderly, mothers, children, dads, many women and many men. “I also send the children,” Jesus whispered to me earlier. They too are important. Oh yes, four or five truckers came in separately at different times to ask for red witness stickers for their trucks. Go figure! We used Arthur Blessitt reds as well as Way of the Master witness dollars and pennies. Adults and children loved them. We gave out 117 reds even in the cold. How can you be so cold and have so much fun?

Must Christians pray for the World? I call it World Power Prayer!

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for All Men, for Kings and All who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires All Men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for All, to be testified in due time” (NKJV 1 Tim 2:1-6).

Must Christians actively witness, teach, and preach the Word?

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.

“Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (NKJV 1 Tim 4:1-4).

Too many Police Officers are attacked. Lord, divinely protect our just officers who serve our neighborhoods and our nation to uphold our laws. Remind them to pray. Bring them home safely to their families each day. God bless our nation.

God of Love, I pray for your Spirit to move on this Whole World.

Power Pray for this World,
opendoorsusa.org
 

Bill Hunt
bill.hunt.108@facebook.com

 

Thoughts from the Holy Spirit

“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

One thing's for certain. The Creator created people to Love, like a child to a father and mother. Thus, he would Not create them to hate, abuse, and kill. Man's free will distorted that all by himself; then man turns and blames it on God! Makes no sense. God Loves his Creation like a master artist.

How does GOD regard you? God is Big! He created a Universe from nothing 14 Billion light years across precisely orbiting some 100 Billion Galaxies. Two primary qualities of God are infinite Holiness and Love. “Be Holy, for I am Holy,” says the Father (1 Pet 1:16). “Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) according to Our likeness” (Gen 1:26).

    To man Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). And God sent Jesus to redeem you and to cover your sin, to teach you how to love. When you turn to him, he forgives your sins perfectly, he forgets perfectly, and he cleans your sins perfectly.

    Put on the Savior Jesus in your body, mind, heart, and spirit as a cloak to stand before the all Holy God. He calls you to dwell constantly in his Holiness and Love. That's how God regards you.

Simply stated, God is perfect Light, Love, and Holiness. He can not sin. Justice is one of his perfections. As Master of all Creation, he is also the Healer. Jesus came to show us the Way to God, the Truth about God, and Life with God. God is divinely three persons in One God. He created Creation from Love.

    (To understand One God as Three Persons in the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, look at this number “123”. It's one number composed of three digits with different values or functions.)

    Satan, with his demons, is a rebellious angel who absolutely hates and deceives. He is the father of evil and lies. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. People often blame this work on the Holy God. God is Never the author of evil. Followers of Jesus can defeat the attacks of the devils with warrior angels to help.

   God gives us the gift of free will to choose between good and evil, but not without eternal consequences.

It is certain, when wicked men steal, abuse, kill, and destroy the Master Artist's creation, this evil arouses God's Wrath. Perfect Justice demands just punishment. Rebellion against the Eternal God and his instruction demands eternal punishment, itself. False gods, false doctrines, false priests, man's deceit and lies are no excuse against the Holy Divine Spirit of Truth or even his instilled truth in man's internal conscience. 

   As Jesus the Messiah warns, the wicked are sentenced to “where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” This is the lot of Hitler, Stalin, Mao Tze-Tung, and any unrepentant authors of rebellion, great or less, against the Creator.

To activate God's flowing Love, Man keys his mind with Faith, receives Divine Love into the chambers of his heart, and disperses it to the two-fold being of his body and spirit. Love is not just a manifestation of God; Love is the essence in the Divine Trinity. “God is Love.”  

    It is also termed God's Presence, God's Grace or Favor, the Anointing of the Spirit, his Healing Power, or his Life Force. All in reality is God's Love.

    God creates and sustains by his Love. His Love is the Gift of Life in man's body and spirit. Man's body contains some 80-100 trillion cells, each more complicated than a computer as seen under a high power electron microscope. The known Universe contains some 100 Billion Galaxies. All by God's Love. Conclusion: learn to pray and to love.

Why does God completely reject unforgiveness? Entrance to Heaven is locked from unforgiveness. (NKJV Mt 6:15) "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Imagine the putrid stink of a skunk; it is gagging. God will not admit such a smell into his House!

    Conversely, there is an aromatic perfume dominating Heaven. (Eph 5:1-2) “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

    To the Holy God, we are in our witness to Jesus His Son the sweetest smell existing. (2 Co 2:15) “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

    At one time, I smelled such an overwhelming perfume, I went to the door in my hallway to find the, I thought, “feminine” source of such beauty. No one was there! Returning to my desk, I now discovered the aroma stopped and started as I closed and opened my Bible! It was indeed the “fragrance of Christ,” the WORD.

Seek the Loving God,

Bill

Walk with Jesus

Wise men still seek him.

 

Jesus preached to the people.

(LaVistaChurchofGod.org)

Excerpts from Mark-1 Gospel (NIV):

John, the Baptizer, preached in the desert regions by the Jordan River. He said Jesus would baptize not with water, but with the Holy Spirit.

“You are my Son whom I love. With you I am well pleased.” A voice was heard from the heavens at Jesus' baptism.

“The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Good News.” Jesus preached in Galilee.

“Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” He said to Simon and his brother, Andrew. Then, he invited James and his brother, John, sons of the fisherman, Zebedee.

In the synagogue in Capernaum, he preached and cast out demons sternly. “Be quiet! Come out of him!” And the people were amazed.

In the home of Simon and Andrew, he took the hand of Simon's mother-in-law and raised her from bed, healing her fever. After sunset, he healed and cast out devils from many townsmen who gathered at the door.

Very early in the morning, Jesus left the house and went out to a solitary place to pray. When the disciples found him, he spoke. “Let us go somewhere else, so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Jesus met a leper who begged him on his knees. “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus touched the man. “I am willing. Be clean.” The man talked freely, spreading the news. The people came to Jesus from everywhere. 

 

--You, too, can walk with Jesus.

Wise men still seek him. Merry Christmas.

Bill

Praying Single-Minded

God is One, and we must be Single-Minded with Him

in Prayer.

“He wakens me morning by morning...."

(Photo, Mary Hunt c. 2012).

 

Dear Father in the Highest Heavens, You waken us early in the morning to hear your voice and to understand what you are saying. So, I thank you that you wake me, and I can hear you speaking instruction to me. Oh, I’m hearing the Lord talk to me! Listen....

“The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught” (Isaiah 50:4 NIV).

You say, you want us to get rid of all uncertainty and double-mindedness. Double-mindedness limits faith and productivity, the works that come from prayer. Double-mindedness steals our firm stand upon the spoken and written word of God. It immediately puts dark spirits on notice that there is an open door for temptation. We open ourselves to be led astray or to be lied to. When God instructs us, we must come into such sure agreement with God that we can act upon that word.

We obey. We say and declare what we hear from God, and we make the word our own. We become one with it. It builds our knowledge and faith in God, increased by God himself. Romans 10:17 instructs us that faith comes from hearing the word or the message. And hearing the word of God, we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth, the word of truth is revealed to us.

“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is the word of faith we are proclaiming”(Rom 10:8 NIV). Paul referred to Psalm 116 when he said, “I believed; therefore I have spoken” (2 Corinthians 4:13 NIV).

The word comes, we receive it. But it works its effectiveness in us when we speak it and declare it back to God, and to others. It grows in us by reason of use. We must take it up, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, both logos and rhema. The rhema word, spoken in faith, quickened, enlivened by the “electricity” of the Holy Spirit, truly generates faith and removes doubt.

In the hearing of that spoken, prophesied word, faith empowers. We know we are hearing the very word of the Lord. Our spirit witnesses to the Holy Spirit. That’s how we as the Body of Christ are able to judge any word spoken in the assembly. Does it generate faith? Does it confirm and unify? Does it unsettle and divide?

The confirming, prophesied word of the Lord produces electric faith and rejoicing that God, our Wonderful Father, has spoken personally and specifically to us. We never forget it, for we are changed by it.

– Mary Alice Hunt

Mary is a prophetess, an anointed worship organist, a concert pianist graduated cum laude from the University of Syracuse, School of Music. As her ministry, she teaches Adult GED to men of all ages as a career correctional educator. She and her husband, Bill, have raised their family of six children serving states including New York, Maine, Alaska, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, and Florida.

Freedom to Be

Can we be Free, really Free?

(Ballet Dancer by Al aka pintofaggs, flickr.com)

(creative commons)

 

Why can't we

just let our person go

in expressions of limitless glee?

Or let words dance

upon our ears and

see things pleasing

in our hearts

with no chains upon

our limbs?

Why can't I think of you

in anyway

I see your presence in

my delight?

Why do words have to constrict

my thoughts and I cannot

utter?

In these human shells of

here's and gone's,

you're always there –

interlocked charms –

in the golden locket of

my heart,

and there's no key.

The world can not see,

hear, feel, touch, or know,

everywhere, anywhere,

you'll be--

where the Spirit of the Lord is,

I am Free!

– bill hunt c. 2011

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What's So Special About the Gift of Tongues?

Man speaks to God in prayer through the Spirit, and God 

speaks to man in answer.

Jesus Teaches on His Sending of the Holy Spirit!

   (Artist Unknown)

Why tongues at all, we might ask? What is the true value of these varieties of tongues?

“Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 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... (1 Cor 14:13-15 NKJV).

“I will sing with the spirit, and

I will also sing with the understanding”

The individual who speaks or sings in unknown tongues is spiritually placing his prayer before God. The Holy Spirit will interpret back to his mind His divine message as he prays within the believer. This is the true purpose of the gift of tongues.

And we must add that a spiritual interpretation is not a word-for-word translation. The individual prays spiritually by the leading of the Holy Spirit. But God returns his own message or direction through the prayer. The message is God’s guidance.

“For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Rom 8:22-23 NKJV).

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom 8:26-27 NKJV).

“Let there be light”; and there was light.

“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light (Gen 1: 2-3 NKJV).

Look back on how the Spirit works in Genesis! The Spirit of God hovers over us and takes the chaos and void from the human spirit in the prayer of tongues and recreates it into praise, glorifying the Father. Out of the chaos and void, the Spirit glorifies the Father. 

 

“Lazarus, come forth!”

When Jesus approached the tomb of Lazarus who had been dead and buried for four days, “He groaned in the spirit and was troubled…. Jesus wept” (John 11:33-35 NKJV). Then Jesus spoke out the command: “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43 NKJV).

Out of the chaos and void, Jesus groaned in his spirit and spoke the command which raised the dead man back to life. This is how God uses the gift of tongues.

Through the gift of tongues, the Spirit takes the imperfections, hurt, frailty, wounds, and weakness deep in the human soul and forms it to praise and glory to the Father. And God says, “Let there be Light!” Man speaks to God in prayer through the Spirit, and God speaks back to man in answer.

“Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom 8:27 NKJV).

Man’s prayer and listening is imperfect. We are limited as to how or what to pray for, seeking to be in accord with the mind of God. But the Spirit of God knows exactly what to intercede for and exactly what to answer. That is what is so special about the gift of tongues. God speaks to the man or woman who listens.

--Bill Hunt

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Various Spiritual Tongues

Paul teaches on Tongues which he prayed more than others.

Paul Prays for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit in Ephesus.

  (Unknown Artist, ChristiansUnite.com)

“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). The initial manifestation of the Holy Spirit is a clear expression of the Spirit’s indwelling presence so promised by Jesus in the Gospels. Yet, seen in addition to tongues are prophecy, praise, bold proclamation of the Gospel, and healing.

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

Speaking to God.

However, a major understanding of tongues must come through the realization that there are, as Paul said, “different kinds of tongues” (1 Cor 12:10). Tongues can be used privately in personal prayer. “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God” (1 Cor 14:2 NKJV). As such, tongues edifies the individual. “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself” (14:4).

Tongues can be prayed jointly in common prayer in body worship by all assembled as we see at Pentecost in Caesarea and in Ephesus. “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).

Tongues can be spoken prophetically in public address to the church when there is a person present with the gift of interpretation. “For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification” (1Cor 14:5 NKJV). The implication here is the one interpreting may or may not be the same one speaking the tongues.

Revelation, Knowledge,

Prophecy, Teaching.

In fact, Paul indicates this public tongues may be used to bring a word of revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or a word of teaching. “But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?” (1 Cor 14:6 NKJV). Tongues is emphasized by Paul as an important function of the assembled church.

“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” (1 Cor 14:26 NKJV). Much of the misunderstanding or misdirection in tongues comes when people do not differentiate between the varieties or kinds of tongues.

“Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue” (1 Cor 14:19 NKJV), said Paul.

Worship in Spirit and in Truth.

Tongues spoken jointly in common prayer or in common singing as body worship gives glory to God. Indeed, the assembled church body should follow the leading of the Spirit in their worship songs and adoration. Jesus said--

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24 NKJV).

In the light of this, what a shame it is when modern, well-meaning churches substitute blasting power by electronic loudspeakers and overcome the power of the Spirit in congregational worship and adoration. When the believer can’t hear his/her own voice, or the voice of the Spirit within, something is wrong! The joyful noise of the instrumentation should complement and harmonize the body worship in the singing of songs or tongues, not exchange it.

Tongues spoken or sung in private, personal prayer can be prayed by the individual to seek God’s guidance. As Paul says, “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all” (1 Cor 14:18 NKJV). Yet, even with these scriptural guidelines, Paul cautions, “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor 14:39-40 NKJV).

--Bill Hunt

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God Not Under Man's Control

The more you walk with God, the more you realize 

“you cannot put God in a box!”

"His Vision was Brighter Than the Morning Sun."

  (Photo by Bill Hunt c 2011.)

God is Sovereign and not under man’s control; although, man appears to have a difficult time believing this.

One man told how the Lord called him by name vocally from sleep early on three successive mornings. He rose, prayed prostrate, and repented before him. On the third morning, as he prayed in repentance, he suddenly experienced a spinning, cannon-like ball aflame with hundreds of tongues of fire shooting towards him. 

 

The white light surrounding the cannon ball was so intense, even his spiritual eyes blacked out from looking directly at the center of the vision. His vision was brighter than the morning sun.

Tongues of fire spun off as the cannon ball came through his body, mind, and spirit. This caused a Pentecost explosion of incredible joy through his whole being. He knew instantly he had been baptized in the Holy Spirit. Soon after, he began to pray in the heavenly language, the gift of tongues.

Everyone experiences this indwelling 

 

of the Spirit in a unique and personal way.

The initial gift of tongues at the baptism of the Holy Spirit is received from God in a very personal way. The more you walk with God in your life, the more you realize you cannot “put God in a box.” You can not insist he work in some dogmatic way man determines.

One pretty young wife simply sat up in bed to pray in the middle of the night, opened her mouth, and prayed in tongues for the first time in her life. Her amazed, unbelieving husband next to her also awoke from his sleep and listened.

The way to receive the Holy Spirit is to repent wholly before God and yield to Him. He is the one who gives the gift! The Spirit cannot be forced, simply invited.

God’s love is so personal.

Jesus meets each person’s need in an individual way. Every one of us is totally unique and special to the heart of God. No two people are treated in the same way. The love of the Father is too wonderful to fathom.

“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you!” (1 Cor 14:18 NIV).

This is a KEY to the use of tongues, the comment the Apostle Paul made in his epistle. If Paul spoke in tongues more than anyone, does this not indicate it must have some significant value? Most theologians refer to it as the least of the spiritual gifts. But Paul indicates its importance. 

 

Tongues is seen at the coming of the indwelling Holy Spirit first in Jerusalem at Pentecost, Acts 2:4, then in Caesarea, Acts 10:46, and then in Ephesus, Acts 19:6.

Other manifestations are seen as well at the Spirit’s second visitation in Jerusalem, Acts 4:31, the indwelling at Samaria, Acts 8:17, and Paul’s infilling in Damascus, Acts 9:17.

What is the true value of the gift of tongues? Why did Paul pray so much in tongues? There must be more to this amazing gift.

--Bill Hunt

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