When Holy Spirit Moves Upon Us!

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:2-4 NKJV

Today, I address (or tackle) the operation of Holy Spirit given to us, as promised by Jesus. There are only two occasions by which we speak in tongues when we are filled with Holy Spirit. There are a number of theological, hermeneutical, philosophical, etymological and other narratives about what it means to speak in tongues and only what God says really matters. 

First of all, it is absolutely abhorrent for anyone and I do mean anyone--to try to force someone to speak in tongues by having them positioned in prolonged prayer or by the repetition of any words or phrases. I defy anyone who uses these methods to validate them from the Bible. I can only conclude that those who use this method are simply not familiar with God’s Word and only do so out of misguided traditional efforts.

Then there are those who have training session for others to speak in tongues. Here again, we can find no evidence of this method aligned with The Word of God. Speaking in tongues cannot be taught–and when it is–it is simply an act to impress others; it is not movement by Holy Spirit within a person.

Here’s the difference between Holy Spirit moving and people attempting to force someone else to speak in tongues.  Holy Spirit moves from within–the evidence of being filled; when people speak in tongues because others have manipulated the event–it is external influence; not internal and it is them–not Holy Spirit.

The most obvious understanding of Holy Spirit moving from within is the fact that we–who are filled–understand that we speak as He gives utterance, not as we choose to speak. In other words, we don’t have a planned tongue as having learned a foreign language and speaking it. The language Holy Spirit speaks is from heaven and can be interpreted only by Holy Spirit–either through the one person speaking in tongues or by someone else who Holy Spirit chooses to use. (I Corinthians 12)

Now, speaking in tongues as a prayer language is decidedly different from speaking in tongues as a means of exalting and encouraging the masses. When we pray in tongues, the conversation is between us and God–no one else and no one else needs to understand what is being said.

Speaking in tongues as in “operating in the gift of tongues” is accompanied by interpretational and prophetic gifts operating collaboratively–by Holy Spirit--not people. These gifts are given to encourage the Body of Christ–and not intended for use as a spectacle (which occurs in many churches).

Since I am aware of the various approaches to speaking in tongues, I’m sure some people won’t agree with what has been said. That’s okay. I write by permission of Holy Spirit and according to The Word–not people.

Being filled with and allowing Holy Spirit to operate in our lives on a daily basis creates within us and around us–an environment that is permeated with His love. Without the infilling of Holy Spirit–we have no spiritual power and this is why Believers are weak in their faith and in their deeds–their strength wanes when attempting to do without Holy Spirit power. It is the power within that keeps us going and going and going and going. When we are drained from daily events, we remove ourselves from the fray of those things we cannot control, and allow Him to refresh us and energize us so we can keep going. We keep praying, we keep comforting, we keep exalting God and promoting the Gospel, and more importantly–we keep loving–even those who have proven themselves to be unlovable.

This is what happens when Holy Spirit moves upon us and operates from within us–we operate with His power.

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When God Pours Out His Spirit!

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams, Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:17,18, 21 NIV)

When Peter was preaching to the crowd–who heard those who were speaking and understanding their languages other than their own culture, he had to tell them the people were not drunk as with wine since it was only nine in the morning, but they were responding to the outpouring of God’s Spirit and functioning in His realm. As a reminder, Peter told them what the prophet Joel had already predicted–what would happen in the last days when God poured out His Spirit upon all–men and women–indiscriminately.

There is so much that can be said about this particular passage of scripture that it would take more than one posting, but I’ll try to stick with one primary theme–God is not biased and holds no one in greater esteem than another. In spite of continuing conflict within the Body of Christ as to the roles of men and women–particularly women–in ministry, we see a clear picture of God’s view of who can speak on His behalf and that would be-anyone upon whom God has poured His Spirit and they have received it.

Since Peter reiterated what Joel had said, we can infer that women were present at the time of the outpouring of God’s on the day of Pentecost and we know–there were women in the room from previous accounts as recorded in Acts. If the women were not functioning under the unction of the Holy Spirit--there would have been no need for Peter to remind those listening of what had been said by Joel. But he did and so we can accurately conclude that the women were speaking and ministering to the those in the crowd.

That was then and nothing has changed–in spite of male tendency to think that God will not use women in ministry, God knows who He will use and He doesn’t need permission or approval of any man.  I cannot begin to recount the number of times I was told that, “God don’t call women to preach.” I remember clearly when God woke me to tell me that I was to teach His Word at three o’clock in the morning and I lay in bed, arguing with Him—because I did not see myself worthy or knowledgeable. Later than morning, while in church service, He poured out His Spirit and I received Him with the evidence of speaking in  tongues, with discernment and interpretation. Imagine that! God pouring out His Spirit on me, who knew all the wrongs I had done, but He forgave me and moved me into position to accomplish His plans for my life.

Looking back on where I was and where I am today–I understand that God’s plans–those He purposed to accomplish great things to His glory–will come to pass; even if He has to wait on us to acknowledge Him. His plans never change, but He will not force us to do anything and will always honor our choices–to receive or reject, believe or not believe.“For I know the plans I have for You,” declares The Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29.11).

God’s plans for my life are continually unfolding and even though I don’t know what all of them entail, I am willing to trust Him and know that He only wants the best for me–as He does with all of His Children. For all who call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved and adopted into the family! Hallelujah!

Understand Who’s Talking!

“Do not quench the Spirit;do not despise prophetic utterances.But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;”(I Thessalonians 5:19-21 NASB).

When Holy Spirit is speaking to our hearts or speaking through someone in order to alert us, we should not disregard what is being said. The Word tells us that Holy Spirit will utterances will be heard, but may not be understood in one’s native language, but He will also give us the interpretation of what is being said. Whether or not people believe in “speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance” is not the issue. The real issue is whether or not we are willing to accept what we hear and are obedient to what was heard.

Speaking in tongues as evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit is “the evidence” not the tool by which any should use as a means to impress or influence others–as they will–not as Holy Spirit wills. We pray in “tongues” as Holy Spirit directs and when the “gift of tongues” operates in an environment of believers, the purpose is to edify (build-up) the body of believers. When the gift of tongues operates, so does the gift of interpretation and prophecy–these three work in harmony with one another. The gift of tongues is not an gift given for any individual use, but as Holy Spirit determines in order to keep believers moving forward in faith and hope of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 12).

At any rate, when people start uttering prophecy in various places–make sure you understand “who is talking”–Holy Spirit or them. If Holy Spirit is giving someone a prophetic word, the prophecy will align with the Word, not oppose or refute the Word. When prophecy does not align with the Word, know that the person who uttered it is acting out of flesh, not with the direction of Holy Spirit. This not a true prophecy, but a lie in the guise of prophecy (prophelying); the person is not prophesying. We are reminded in this passage of scripture to “examine” everything we hear.

When we determine that what is said aligns with the Word, we can accept it as good and “hold to that”. When it does not align with the Word, we have no obligation to receive it as from God. Of course, the only way we’ll know if the prophecy is of God is by knowing The Word for ourselves.

“Study to show yourselves approved unto God…” and to spot those who are prophelying–attributing what they say from God when it is not. Know that the enemy deceives others who are easily influenced with falsehoods and remember that he is the father of liars. Know who’s talking when they talk by knowing The Word and by submitting to the leading and direction of Holy Spirit–He’ll never lead you astray.