HowYouCanBeLedByTheSpiritOfGod

KennethE.Hagin

Contents

1.TheLampoftheLord

2.Man:AnEternalSpirit

3.Spirit-Conscious

4.WhatIstheDifferenceBetweenSpiritandSoul?

5.TheSavingoftheSoul

6.PresentingtheBody

7.NumberOne:TheInwardWitness

8.Know-SoSalvation

9.Fleeced!

10.FollowingtheWitness

11.NumberTwo:TheInwardVoice

12.EffectsoftheSpirit'sIndwelling

13.TwoExperiences

14.GodInside

15.DependonYourSpirit

16.Tenderhearted

17.Feelings:TheVoiceoftheBody

18.HelpFromWithin

19.NumberThree:TheVoiceoftheHolySpirit

20.JudgingBytheWord

21.MySpirit?TheFlesh?OrTheHolySpirit?

22.IPerceive

23.SpectacularGuidance

24.TheSpiritBadeMeGo

25.GuidanceThroughProphecy

26.GuidanceThroughVisions

27.ListentoYourHeart

28.HowToTrainTheHumanSpirit

29.PrayingintheSpirit

Preface

InFebruary1959inElPaso,Texas,theLordappearedtomeinavision.Hecameintomyroomat6:30intheevening,satdowninachairbymybedside,andtalkedwithmeforanhourandahalf.Itellmoreaboutthisinthebook,butIwanttoemphasizesomethingherefirst.

He talked to me about the ministry of the prophet(Eph. 4:11,12). Then He said, "I did not put prophets in theChurchtoguidetheNewTestamentChurch.MyWordsays,'AsmanyasareledbytheSpiritofGod,theyarethesonsofGod.'Now if youwill listen toMe, I am going to teach you how tofollowMySpirit.ThenIwantyoutoteachMypeoplehowtobeledbytheSpirit."

IamashamedthatIhaveletmanyyearsgobywithoutteachingtoomuchalongthisline.OccasionallyIwouldgetintotheedgeofit,butIdidnotreallyteachonit.

So in recent times, theLordhas stirredmeup andnow I ambeginningtoteachmoreonthissubject.Thisbookisapartofthatstirring.

Chapter1

TheLampoftheLord

ForasmanyasareledbytheSpiritofGod,theyarethesonsofGod.

—Romans8:14

TheSpirit itself [Himself]bearethwitnesswithourspirit, thatwearethechildrenofGod.

—Romans8:16

The spirit ofman is the candle of the Lord, searching all theinwardpartsofthebelly.

—Proverbs20:27

ChildrenofGodcanexpecttobeledbytheSpiritofGod.

AnothertranslationofProverbs20:27reads,"ThespiritofmanisthelampoftheLord...."Hadthisversebeenwrittentodayitmight have read, "The spirit of man is the light bulb of theLord." What it means is this: God will enlighten us—He willguideus—throughourspirits.

Many times, however,we seek guidance bymeans other thanthe way God said. When we do, we get into trouble. Wesometimes judge how God is leading by what our physicalsensestellus.ButnowheredoesGodsaythatGodwillguideusthroughourphysicalsenses.Toooftenwelookatthingsfromamental standpoint and endeavor to reason out things. Butnowhere does the Bible say God will guide us through ourmentality. TheBible does not say that the body ofman is thecandleoftheLord,northatthemindofmanisthecandleoftheLord.ItsaysthatthespiritofmanisthecandleoftheLord.

Godwillguideus—Hewillenlightenus—throughourspirits.

NowbeforewecanunderstandhowGoddoesleadusandguideus through our spirits, we have to understand the nature ofman.Wehavetounderstandthatmanisaspirit,thathehasasoul,andthathelivesinabody.

Chapter2

Man:AnEternalSpirit

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after ourlikeness:...SoGodcreatedmaninhisownimage,intheimageofGodcreatedhehim.

—Genesis1:26,27

Manisaspiritbeing.HeismadeinthelikenessofGod.JesussaidthatGodisaSpirit(John4:24).Somanmustofnecessitybeaspirit.

Manisaspirit,hehasasoul,andhelivesinaphysicalbody(1Thess.5:23).

When the physical body ofman is dead and in the grave, thespiritliveson.Thatpartofmaniseternal.Spiritscanneverdie,andmanisaspirit.Paulisspeakingofphysicaldeathhere:

PHILIPPIANS1:23,24

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire todepart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24Neverthelesstoabideinthefleshismoreneedfulforyou.

Paulisgoingtolive.Whetherinthebodyoroutofthebody,heis still going to live. If he abides, or lives in the flesh he canteach the church at Philippi and be a blessing to them. Thatwouldbemoreneedfulforthem.ItwouldbefarbetterforPaulhimself, however, to depart and be with Christ. Paul wasactuallysaying,"IamgoingtoliveinthebodyorIamgoingtodepartandbewithChrist."

Whoisgoingtodepart?

"I"amgoingtodepart.Paulwasnottalkingabouthisbody.Hisbodywasnotgoingtodepart.Paulistalkingabouttheinwardman,thespiritman,wholivesinsidethebody.

Peoplesometimesask,"WillweknowoneanotherinHeaven?"

Ialwaysquicklyask,"Doyouknowoneanotherdownhere?"

Yousee,youaretheonewhoisgoingtobethere.Ifyouknowoneanotherdownhere,youwill knowoneanother there.Youaretheonewhoishere,andyouwillbetheonewhoisthere.

"Iamgoingtodepart,"Paulsays,"andbewithChristwhichisfar better." I like that! If he had just said it was better, thatwouldhavebeengood.Buthesaid,"Itisfarbetter!"

Somefalsecults teachthatwhenamandieshe isdead likeadog isdeadwhen itdies.No,man isnot.Man ismore thanabody.Heisaspirit,hehasasoul,andhelivesinabody.Otherssaythatwhenmandiesheisin"soulsleep."TheBibledoesnotteach that. Some say the spirit does depart all right—but itcomesbackasacow,adog,orassomeoneelse.Reincarnationisunscripturalandunbiblical.StaywiththeWordofGodanditwill solve all your problems along this line. Paul said, "I amgoing to depart. I amgoing to bewith the Lord,which is farbetter."

Paulpreachedthesametruthsandtaughtthesamefactstoallthechurches.Hereheusesdifferentwords to teach thesameblessedtruthtothechurchatCorinth:

2CORINTHIANS4:16

16...butthoughouroutwardmanperish,yetthe inwardmanisreneweddaybyday.

Thereisaninwardman.Andthereisanoutwardman.

Theoutwardmanisnottherealyou.Theoutwardmanisonlythehouseinwhichyoulive.Theinwardmanistherealyou.Theinwardmannevergrowsolder.Heisreneweddaybyday.Theinwardmanisaspiritman.

Whatisourspirit?Keepinmindourintroductorytexts.

Romans8:14says,"...asmanyasareledbytheSpiritofGod,theyarethesonsofGod."Thenverse16givesusalittleinsightintohowtheSpiritofGodleadsus:"TheSpirititself [Himself]beareth witness with our spirit, thatwe are the children ofGod." Inotherwords,theSpiritofGodbearswitnesswiththespirit of man. Proverbs 20:27 says, "The spirit of man is thecandleoftheLord...."

According to these scriptures God will guide us through ourspirits;therefore,wemustfindoutwhatourspiritis.

Jesus said toNicodemus, "...Except aman be born again, hecannotseethekingdomofGod"(John3:3).

Nicodemus,beingnatural,couldonlythinknaturally.

Sohesaid,"...Howcanamanbebornwhenheisold?canheenterthesecondtimeintohismother'swomb,andbeborn?"(v.4).

Jesus was not talking about a physical birth. He said, "Thatwhichisbornofthefleshisflesh;andthatwhichisbornoftheSpiritisspirit"(v.6).Hewastalkingaboutaspiritualbirth.

The part of man that is born again is his spirit. Man's spiritreceiveseternallife—thelifeofGod,andthenatureofGod.Itisman'sspiritthatismadeanewcreatureinChrist.

Paulcallsman'sspirit"theinwardman."Petercallsman'sspirit"thehiddenmanoftheheart."

1PETER3:4

4Butletitbethehiddenmanoftheheart,inthatwhichisnotcorruptible,eventheornamentofameekandquietspirit,whichisinthesightofGodofgreatprice.

In many places when the Bible speaks of the heart, it isspeakingof thespirit.This is the realman. Itwillhelpyou inyourbelievingand in your faith to think like that. In theNewTestament, wherever the word heart is used, substitute thewordspiritandyouwillgetaclearerpictureofwhattheBibleistalkingabout.Itisthespiritofmanthatisbornagain.

2CORINTHIANS5:17

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a newcreature: old things are passed away; behold, all thingsarebecomenew.

This is talking about the inward man. It couldn't be talking

abouttheoutwardman.Whenyouarebornagainandbecomeanewcreature,youdonotgetanewbody.

The outward man is just like it was before. If you were baldbeforeyouwerebornagain,youarestillbaldafterwards.Ifyouhadbrowneyesbefore,youstillhavebrowneyes.Theoutwardman does not change. God does not do anything with theoutwardman.(Youhavetodosomethingwiththeoutwardman.You findoutwhatGodwantsyou todowith theoutwardmanfromtheBible—andthenyou do it.)Goddoes somethingwiththeinwardman.HemakesthemanontheinsideanewmaninChrist,anewcreature—anewcreation.

Chapter3

Spirit-Conscious

...IprayGodyourwholespiritandsoulandbodybepreservedblameless....

—1Thessalonians5:23

In this scriptural passage, Paul begins with the inside, theinnermost part of man, the heart of his being, which is hisspirit,andcomestotheoutside.

Yetmostpeoplemisquote thisverse.Theysay,body,soul,andspirit.Whydo theyput thebody first?Because theyaremorebody-consciousthanspirit-conscious.

Naturalthingsmeanmoretothemthanspiritualthings.Sotheyputphysicalthingsfirst.

Sometimeswearemoremental-consciousbecausewelivemoreinthementalrealm.

But man is a spirit being. We need to be spirit-conscious.Spiritual things will become more real to us the more spirit-consciouswebecome.

IfwearegoingtobeledbytheSpiritofGod,wemustbecomemore spirit-conscious, or we'll miss out on the whole thing.God'sSpiritleadsusthroughourspirits.

Put spirit first. Becomemore spirit-conscious,more consciousoftheinwardman.Realizethatyouareaspiritbeingandthatyoubecameanewcreation createdbyGod inChrist Jesus. Itwillhelpyougrow—spiritually.

Manyyearsago Ibeganto think like this,andat first Iwouldsayittomyselfoutloud:Iamaspiritbeing.Ihaveasoul.AndIliveinabody.

Sayingthathelpedmebecomemorespirit-conscious.Ithelpedmyfaith,becausefaithisofthespirit,ortheheart.

Chapter4

WhatIstheDifferenceBetweenSpiritandSoul?

For thewordofGod isquick,andpowerful,and sharper thananytwo-edgedsword,piercingevento thedividingasunderofsoulandspirit....

—Hebrews4:12

Thespiritandthesoularenotthesame.

Many years ago, back in the early 50's, I began an intensivestudyonthissubject.IgotbooksfromtheleadingBibleschoolsand seminaries, both Pentecostal and denominational, to seewhat they taught on the subject of man. None satisfied me.Nonewereactuallyscriptural.

Theywereonlyscriptural,as theBiblesays, "inpart." Iaskedleading Bible scholars and ministers across the nation. Youwould recognize some of their names if I mentioned them. Ieven heard someone ask one of today's most well-knownministers, "What is the difference between the spirit and thesoul?" He looked startled and said, "I thought they were thesame."ThatwastheanswerIgotfrommostoftheministersIasked.

Yethowcouldtheybethesame?Paul,bytheSpiritofGod,saidtheycanbedividedbytheWordofGod(Heb.

4:12).Ifyoucandividethem,theycannotbethesame.

Only the Word of God can divide the spirit and the soul,however. The reason we have not been able to distinguishbetweenthemis thatwehavenotdugdeeplyenough intotheWord.Yearsago,inthewesternpartoftheUnitedStates,theyhadwhatwecall"thegoldrush."

PeoplerushedoutWest.Theyweregoingtogetrichinahurry.Most panned a little gold out of creeks. Some found a fewnuggetslyingontheground.Butifyoureallywantedtostrikeitrich,youhadtodigforit.Thesameistrueinspiritualmatters:Youcan skimalongon the surfaceof theBible andpanout alittlegoldhereandthere—andevenfindanuggetoccasionally.But if you really want to strike it rich, you have to dig downdeepintotheWordofGod.

For 15 years I studied carefully, burning the midnight oil. Ifthere was anything I desired to know it was the difference

betweenthespiritandthesoul.Eventually,Iwentthroughthisprocessofelimination.Iwroteitdownlikethis:WithmybodyIcontactthephysicalrealm.(Thatgoeswithoutargument.)WithmyspiritIcontactthespiritualrealm.That leftonlyoneotherpartofmethatmadecontactwithanyotherrealm.IknewthenthatithadtobewithmysoulthatIcontactedtheintellectualorsoulish realm (which includes the emotions and the intellect).SoIwrote:WithmysoulIcontacttheintellectualrealm.Hereisascripturethathelpedme:

1CORINTHIANS14:14

14ForifIprayinanunknowntongue,myspiritprayeth,butmyunderstandingisunfruitful.

TheAmplifiedtranslationreads,"ForifIprayinan[unknown]tongue,myspirit [by theHolySpiritwithinme]prays,butmymindisunproductive...."

Our understanding, our natural humanmentality, is a part ofoursoul.

NoticewhatPaulsaid."Myspiritprays,butmyunderstandingis unfruitful." He did not say, "When I pray in an unknowntonguemysoulprays."Hedidnotsay,"WhenIprayintongues,Iprayoutofmyintellect,oroutofmymind."Hesaidineffect,"IamnotprayingoutofmysoulwhenIprayintongues;Iamprayingoutofmyspirit,myheart,myinnermostbeing."DoyourememberwhatJesussaid?

JOHN7:37-39

37Inthelastday,thatgreatdayofthefeast,Jesusstoodand cried, saying, If anyman thirst, let him come untome,anddrink.

38He that believeth onme, as the scripture hath said,OUTOFHISBELLYshallflowriversoflivingwater.

39(BUTTHISSPAKEHEOFTHESPIRIT,whichtheythatbelieveonhimshouldreceive:fortheHolyGhostwasnotyetgiven;becausethatJesuswasnotyetglorified.)

Asaresultof receiving theHolySpirit, Jesussaid, "outof thebelly shall flow rivers of living water." Another translationreads, "out of the innermost being will flow rivers of livingwater."

AFullGospelpastor'sdaughterwassixyearsoldwhensheandsome of the children were off by themselves one night at arevival. Some of these youngsters were filled with the HolySpiritandbegantospeakwithothertongues.

This little six-year-old, holding her stomach, ran up to hermother, saying, "Momma,Momma, that came right out of mybelly."

Shewasbeingscriptural.Shewasspeakingintonguesfromherbelly—her spirit, her innermost being. That's where tonguescomefrom—theHolySpiritwhoresidesinyourspiritgivesyourspirittheutteranceandyouspeakitout.

Consider these scriptures together now. "The spirit ofman isthe candle of the Lord, searching all the INWARD PARTS OFTHE BELLY... OUT OF HIS BELLY shall flow rivers of livingwater...."

AlltheleadingsIhaveeverreceivedhavecomefromoutofmyspirit.AndmostofthemhavecomewhileIwasprayinginothertongues.Youcanunderstandwhy.Yourspiritisactivewhenyouareprayingintongues.

Onereasonthechurchworldasawholehasfailedsomiserablyisthatithasdonesomuchofjustonekindofpraying—prayingwith the understanding, or mental praying. Christians haveendeavoredtofightspiritualbattleswithmentalabilities.

I have learned this through thesemany,many years. In everycrisisoflifeIhavelearnedtolooktomyspiritinsideme.Ihavelearned topray in other tongues.While I ampraying in othertongues,guidancecomesupfrominsideme.Thisisbecausemyspiritisactive.Mybodyisnotactive,mymind(mysoul)isnotactive, butmy spirit is active, and it is throughmy spirit thatGodisgoingtoguideme.

Sometimes I interpret what I am praying in tongues, andthroughthe interpretationIreceive lightandguidance(1Cor.14:13).Butmost of the time, that isnot so.Most of the time,justwhileIamprayingintongues,fromsomewherewaydowninside, I can sense something rise up inme. It begins to takeshape and form. I cannot tell anyonementally how I know it,becausemyunderstandinghasnothingtodowithit.ButIknowontheinsideofmewhattodo.

I followthat. I listentomyspirit.Becausethespiritofman isthecandleoftheLord.

Chapter5

TheSavingoftheSoul

...receivewithmeeknesstheengraftedword,which isable tosaveyoursouls.

—James1:21

Thespiritofmanisthepartofmanthatisbornagain.Itisthepartofmanthatreceiveseternal life,which is thenatureandlifeofGod.ItisthespiritofmanthatbecomesanewcreatureinChristJesus.Thesoulisnottheinnermostbeingatall.It isnot the soul that is born again. The saving of the soul is aprocess.

James 1:21 used to bother me when I was a denominationalpreacherbeforeIwasfilledwiththeHolySpirit.Ididn'tknowwhat I know now. I used spirit and soul interchangeably—referring to the spirit as the soul, and thesoulas the spirit. Ididn't divide them as the Bible does. But I did have enoughsense to leave this verse alone until I grew so that I couldunderstandwhatitissaying.

TheEpistleofJameswasnotwrittentosinners.Jamesdidnotwritea letter to theworld;hewrote this letter to theChurch.Weknow thatbecauseof James5wherehe says, "Isanysickamongyou?lethimcallfortheeldersofthechurch..."(v.14).Inotherwords, if there isanysickamongtheChurch, lethimcallfortheeldersoftheChurch.

AlsoreferringbacknowtothefirstchapterofJames,let'spickupwithverse18:

JAMES1:18-21

18Ofhisownwillbegatheuswiththewordoftruth,thatweshouldbeakindoffirstfruitsofhiscreatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man beswift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For thewrathofmanworkethnottherighteousnessofGod.

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluityofnaughtiness,andreceivewithmeeknesstheengraftedword,whichisabletosaveyoursouls.

James is talking to born-again believers. Of the Father's ownwill,hewrites,wewerebegotten,orbornagainbytheWordofTruth. He calls them "my beloved brethren," so they were inChrist.Yetheencouragestheseborn-again,Spirit-filledpeopletoreceivetheengraftedWordwithmeekness,"...whichisabletosaveyoursouls."Evidently,theirsoulswerenotsaved.

You see, a man's spirit, the innermost man, the real man,receives eternal life and is born again. But his intellect andemotions—whichcomprisehissoul—stillhavetobedealtwith.Theyarenotbornagain.Theyaretoberenewed.

Paul speaks about the renewing of the mind, writing to thesaintsatRome.

ROMANS12:2

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be yetransformed by the renewing of yourmind, that yemayprovewhatisthatgood,andacceptable,andperfect,willofGod.

ThePsalmistDavidspokeoftherestoringofthesoul:

PSALM23:3

3Herestorethmysoul...

TheHebrewwordtranslatedrestoreintheOldTestament,andtheGreekword translated renew in theNewTestamentmeanaboutthesamething.Thesoul—themind—istoberenewedorrestored.

Mymotherleftmeachairwhichsheinheritedfromhermother.Idon'tknowexactlyhowoldthatchair is,butit isquiteold.Icanrememberwhenmygrandmotherhaditrestored.Theyputnewupholsteryonit.Theyrevarnishedit.Itwasstillthesamechair;itwasjustrestored.Itwasrenewed.

IntheWorditisneverwrittenthatGodrestoresourspirits.Ourspiritsbecomebrand-newcreatures inChristJesus.Oursouls,however,mustberenewedorrestored.

How?Wehavethesescripturesrelativetothesoul:receivewithmeeknesstheengraftedword,whichisabletosaveyoursouls...benotconformedtothisworld:butbeyetransformedbytherenewing of yourmind, that yemayprovewhat is that good,andacceptable,andperfect,willofGod...Herestorethmysoul(James1:21;Rom.12:2;Ps.23:3).

Man's soul is saved, or restored, when his mind becomesrenewedwiththeWordofGod.ItistheWordofGodthatsavesoursouls,thatrenewsourminds,thatrestoresoursouls.

Whenourmindsbecomerenewedwith theWordofGod, thenwe think in line with what God's Word says. We are able toknow and prove the permissive and the perfect will of God—becausetheWordofGodisthewillofGod.

Wedon'thavesomanyquestionsaboutthewillofGodoncewegetoursoulssaved.

The greatest need in the Church today is to have mindsrenewedwiththeWordofGod.

Chapter6

PresentingtheBody

Ibeseechyoutherefore,brethren,bythemerciesofGod, thatyepresentyourbodiesa livingsacrifice,holy,acceptableuntoGod,whichisyourreasonableservice.

—Romans12:1

It is the inward man—not the outward man—that becomes anew creature in Christ. We still have the same body we hadbeforewebecameanewcreature.Whatwemustlearntodoistoletthatnewmanontheinsideofusdominate.Withthatnewman,wecontrolthefleshanddosomethingwithourbodies.

Let's look again at Second Corinthians 5:17 whichsays,"ThereforeifanymanbeinChrist,heisanewcreature:oldthingsarepassedaway;behold,allthingsarebecomenew."Onetranslationreads,"IfanymanbeinChrist,thereisanewself...."

Sometimesinchurcheswehearpeopletalkabout"dyingouttoself."ThereisnosuchstatementintheBible.

Wedon'tneedtodieouttoself ifwehavebecomeanewself.What we need to do is crucify the flesh. The Bible does talkaboutthat.

CrucifyingthefleshisnotsomethingGoddoesforyou.

It is something you do for yourself. "I beseech you therefore,brethren, "Paulwrote to theChurch, "by themercies ofGod,thatyepresentyourbodies..."(Rom.12:1).

Whopresentsyourbody?

Youdo.

Whoisyou?

That'sthemanontheinsidewhoisbornagain,andhasbecomeanewcreature.

Youdo somethingwith yourbody. Ifyou do not do somethingwithit,nothingwilleverbedonewithit.

1CORINTHIANS9:27

27ButIkeepundermybody,andbringitintosubjection:lestthatbyanymeans,whenIhavepreachedtoothers,Imyselfshouldbeacastaway[disapproved].

HerePaulistalkingaboutthefactthathedoessomethingwithhisbody."Ikeepundermybody.Ibringitintosubjection."

WhoisI?

That'stherealman—therealPaul—themanontheinsidewhohasbecomeanewcreatureinChristJesusandisfilledwiththeHoly Spirit. "I do something with my body. I keep it under. Ibringitintosubjection."

WhatdidPaulbringhisbodyintosubjectionto?

To the inward man. Instead of letting the body dominate theinwardman,Paulsawtoitthattheinwardmandominatedtheoutwardman.

Now notice this. Here is this great apostle, this holy man ofGod,thismanwhowrotehalftheNewTestament,amanwhoisa spiritual giant—yet evidently his body wanted to do thingsthatwerewrong.Ifithadn't,hewouldnothavehadtokeepitunder.Hewouldnothavehadtobringitintosubjection.

Just because your bodywants to dowrong, doesn'tmean youarenotsaved,orthatyouarenotfilledwiththeHolySpirit.(Ifthat were the case, Paul was not saved.) You will have tocontend with the body, the flesh, as long as you are in thisworld.

"BrotherHagin,Iwantyoutoprayforme,"onemansaid.

"Whatfor?"Iasked.IliketoknowwhatIamprayingfor.

Alookofseriousness,eventears,cametohiseyes,"IwantyoutopraythatIwillneverhaveanymoretroublewiththedevil."

Isaid,"Doyouwantmetoprayyouwilldie?"

"No,no,Idon'twanttodie."

Isaid,"Theonlywayyouwon'thaveanymoretroublewiththedevilistogetoutofhereandgoontoHeaven."

Youwillhaveproblemswiththedevilaslongasyouareinthislife.Youwillhaveproblemswiththefleshaslongasyouareinthe flesh.But, blessedbeGod, themeans, theability, and theauthority havebeengiven to you through theWord ofGod todealwiththedevilandtodealwiththeflesh.

Pauldidnotlethisbodydominatehim.Themanontheinsidethat was born again and filled with the Holy Spirit—mustdominatetheoutwardman.

Youcandoit.WhatIwantyoutoseeisthis—youaretheonewhomustdoit.PauldidnotsayGodwoulddoitforyou.HedidnotsaytheHolySpiritwoulddoitforyou.

He said, "You present your bodies." He said, " You be notconformedtothisworld."Hesaid,"Yoube transformedby the

renewingofyourmind."Youpresentyourbody.Youdo it.YougetyourmindrenewedwiththeWordofGod.Youdoit.

ThelifeandnatureofGodisinsideyourspirit.Letthatmanontheinsidebethedominantone.Listentohim.ItisthespiritofmanthatisthecandleoftheLord.ItisthroughyourspiritthatGodwillguideyou.

Chapter7

NumberOne:TheInwardWitness

TheSpirititself[Himself]bearethwitnesswithourspirit....

—Romans8:16

Youwillfindthatbeingledbytheinwardwitnessisthenumberoneway,ortheprimaryway,thatGodleadsallofHischildren.

Letmegoback—Isaid Iwould in theprefaceof thisbook—towhatJesussaidtomeinFebruary1959inElPaso,Texas.Itwas6:30 in theevening. Iwassittingup inbedstudying.Myeyeswerewideopen.(Therearethreetypesofvisions.Thehighesttypeisanopenvision.Inanopenvision,one'sphysicalsensesare not suspended, and his physical eyes are not closed. Hepossessesallofhisphysicalcapabilities,yetseesintotherealmofthespirit.) Iheardfootsteps.Thedoortomyroomwasajartwelve to fourteen inches, so I looked to seewhowas comingintomyroom.Iexpectedtoseesomeliteral,physicalperson.

ButasI lookedtoseewhoitwas,IsawJesus. Itseemedas ifthehaironmyneckandheadstoodstraightuponend.

Chillbumpspoppedoutallovermybody.

I sawHim.Hehadonawhite robe.HeworeRoman sandals.(Jesushasappearedtomeeighttimes.Everytime,exceptthistime,His feetwere bare. This timeHe had on sandals; that'swhatIhadheardasHeapproachedmydoor.)Heseemedtobeabout5 feet11 inches tall.He lookedas ifHeweighedabout180pounds.

He came through the door and pushed it back until it wasalmost shut.Hewalkedaround the foot ofmybed. I followedHim with my eyes—almost spellbound. He took ahold of astraightchairandpusheditupclosetomybed.

Then He sat down on it, folded His hands, and began Hisconversationwithmeby saying, "I told you in the automobiletheothernight...."

The automobile hadbeen full.Mywife and I and otherswere

drivingalongwithintwoblocksofwhereInowwas,asJesussatbymybedsidetalkingtome.Inthecar,IhadheardtheSpiritofGodspeaktome.IthoughteveryoneinthecarhadhearditandIsaid,"Didyouallhearthat?"

Theysaid,"No,wedidn'thearanything."

IntheOldTestamenttheprophetswouldsay,"AndtheWordoftheLordcameuntomesaying...."Didyoueverwonderhowitcame? It could not have been literally audible. If it had beenaudible everyone present would have heard it—the prophetwouldnothavehadtotellthepeoplewhattheSpiritsaid.TheWordoftheLordcametotheprophet'sspiritfromtheSpiritofGod.Itissorealthatitseemsaudibleatthetime.TheWordoftheLordwassorealtome,Ithoughteveryoneinthecarwithmehadheardittoo.

As Jesussatatmybedside,Hesaid, "I spoke toyou thenightbeforelastintheautomobileandtoldyoucertainthings.Itoldyou,bymySpirit,thatlaterIwouldtalktoyoufurther.SonowIhavecometotalktoyouaboutthis..."

Itwasconcerningtheministryoftheprophet.Jesussatthereinthatchairandtalkedtomeforanhourandahalf.

AndItalkedtoHim.IaskedquestionsinreferencetowhatHewas saying. He answered them. I will not go into all He saidabouttheprophet'sministry;thatisanothermessage.

ButIwillgetintosomeofit.

Jesus said tome, "The prophet of theNew Testament is verysimilartotheprophetoftheOldTestamentinthattheprophetof the Old Testamentwas called a 'seer' because he saw andknewthingssupernaturally.TheprophetoftheNewTestamentalsoseesandknowsthingssupernaturally.

ButtheprophetoftheNewTestamentdoesnothavethesamestatusastheprophetoftheOldTestament,inthatIdidnotsetprophetsintheChurchtoguidetheChurch.AChristianundertheNewTestamentneednotseekguidance throughprophets.Hemightreceiveguidancethroughprophets,butheshouldnotseek it. It is unscriptural to do so. The ministry of the NewTestamentprophet in thisarea isonly to confirmwhatpeoplealreadyhaveintheirownspirits.

"UndertheOldCovenant,onlythepriest,theprophet,andthekingwereanointedbytheHolySpirittostandinthoseoffices.What you would call the laity did not have the Spirit of Godupon them or in them. Therefore, under the Old Covenant,people would seek guidance through the prophet because hehadtheSpiritofGod."

UndertheNewTestament,thanksbetoGod,wenotonlyhavetheSpiritofGoduponus—wehaveHiminus!

Jesusalsosaidtome,"UndertheNewCovenant,itdoesnotsay,'Asmanyasareledbyprophets,theyarethesonsofGod.'TheNewTestament says, 'For asmany asare led by the Spirit ofGod,theyarethesonsofGod'"

(Rom.8:14).

Then He said, "The number one way, the primary way, that IleadallofMychildrenisbytheinwardwitness.Iamgoingtoshowyouhowthatworkssoyouwon'tmakethemistakesyouhavemadeinthepast."

Jesusexplainedtomethattostandintheofficeoftheprophet,oneisfirstofallaministerofthegospelseparatedandcalledtotheministrywiththecallofGoduponhislife.

Secondly,hehasatleasttwooftherevelationgifts—thewordofwisdom,thewordofknowledge,thediscerningofspirits—plusthegiftofprophecy,operatinginhisministry.

Then He called my attention to something that had beenhappeningtomeforthepreviousthreedays.Forthepastthreedays,Ihadsatdowntowritea lettertoapastorconfirmingadate to hold ameeting for him. Somehow, the first day, I gotabouthalfapagewritten,thenItoreitupandthrewitintothewastebasket.ThenextdayIdidthesamething.ThethirddayIdidthesamething.ThenitwasthedaythattheLordwashereintheroomtalkingtome.

Jesussaid,"YouseeMesittingheretalkingtoyou.

ThisisamanifestationoftheSpiritcalleddiscerningofspirits.(Discerningofspiritsisseeingintothespiritrealm.)Thisistheprophet'sministryinoperation.Youareseeingintotherealmofthespirit.YouseeMe.YouhearMetalking.Iambringingyou,through the vision, a word of knowledge and also a word ofwisdom. I am telling younot togo to that church.Thepastorwould not accept the way you would minister when you gotthere. But I am never going to lead you this way again. (Henever has, and that was many years ago.) From now on, I'mgoing to lead you by the inwardwitness. You had the inwardwitnessall thetime.Youhadacheck inyourspirit.That'sthereasonyoutoreuptheletterthreetimes.Youhadsomethingonthe inside,acheck,ared light,astopsignal. Itwasn'tevenavoicethatsaid,'Don'tgo.'Itwasjustaninwardintuition."

ThenJesusremindedmeofanotherinvitation.Ihadpreachedaconvention for one of the Full Gospel denominations theprevious year. Nearly every pastor there askedme if I would

comeandholdameeting.Ihadhundredsofcalls,Isuppose.

Onefellowcameuptomeandsaid,"BrotherHagin,doyouevergotosmallchurches?"

Isaid,"IgoanywheretheLordsaystogo."

"Well,weonlyrunseventytoninetyinSundaySchool.

ButifGodeverspeakstoyou,wewantyoutocome."

Idismissedthatconversationalongwithmanyothers.

Severalmonthslater,however,whileprayinginthechurchonedayaboutmyservicesthatnight,thatconversationcamebacktome.Theneverydayitcontinuedtocomebacktome.Finally,afteraboutthirtyorfortydays,Isaid,"Lord,doYouwantmetogotothatlittlechurchforameeting?"

The more I would pray about it and the more I would thinkaboutit,aswesay,thebetterIwouldfeelaboutitontheinsideofme. Itwasn't a physical feeling, but itwas a feeling inmyspirit.

Sitting by my bedside, Jesus referred to this: "The more youthoughtaboutit,thebetteryoufeltaboutit.Youhadavelvety-likefeelinginyourspirit.That'sthegreenlight.

That'sthego-aheadsignalThat'sthewitnessoftheSpirittogo.NowyouseeMesittinghere,youhearMetalkingtoyou,andIamtellingyoutogotothatchurch.ButIamnevergoingtoleadyoutogoanywhere like thisagain. (Heneverhas.)Fromnowon,IamgoingtoleadyoujustlikeIdoeveryotherChristian—bytheinwardwitness."

ThentheLordsaidthistome,whichisnotjustformybenefit,but also for yours: "If you will learn to follow that inwardwitness,Iwillmakeyourich.Iwillguideyouinalltheaffairsoflife, financial as well as spiritual. [Some think God is onlyinterestedintheirspiritualwell-being,andnothingelse.ButHeis interested in everything we are interested in.] I am notopposedtoMychildrenbeingrich;Iamopposedtotheirbeingcovetous."

IhavefollowedthatinwardwitnessandHehasdonejustwhatHesaidHewoulddo.Hehasmademerich.

Someoneasked,"Areyouamillionaire?"

I didn't say that. Some people fail to realize what the Word"rich" means. It means a full supply. It means abundantprovision. Ihavemore thana full supply. Ihavemore thanan

abundantprovision.ItisbecauseIlearnedtofollowtheleadingoftheSpiritbytheinwardwitness.

WhatHedidforme,Hewilldoforyou.Itwon'tcomeovernight,or by next Saturday night. But as you learn to develop yourspiritandfollowthatinwardwitness,Hewillguideyouineveryareaofyourlife.

IknewamandowninTexas.Hehadneverwornapairofshoesuntilhewas12yearsold.Heonlyhadafifthgradeeducation.Butwaybackwhenmoneywasmoney,hewasamillionaire.

Two different people, one from California and the other fromMinnesota who had been frequent house guests in his home,toldmethatthismantoldeachofthemthesamething.

He said to them both, "In all these years and in all theseinvestments[that'showhemadehismoney],Ihaveneverlostadime."

Thatbeatsmyrecord.Howaboutyours?

"Everything Ihaveever invested in,hasmademoney,"he toldeachofthemondifferentoccasions.Thenhetoldthemhowhedidit.

"I always do this. When someone comes along with an idea,wantingmetoinvestinsomething,myfirstreactionismental.Now I knowwhen Jesus said, 'Whenyoupray, enter into yourcloset,' thatHedidn'tnecessarilymeanyouhave toget intoaclosettopray.IknowHemeantforustoshutthingsout.ButIhave a large closet inmybedroomwhere I go to pray. I prayabout it. Iwait longenough—until Ihearwhatmyspirit says.Sometimes Iwait threedays.Now I don'tmean that I stay inthere 24 hours a day. I might come out and eat one meal.Usually Imissa few. Icomeoutandsleepa littlebit.But themajorityof the time Iamwaiting, justbymyself,until I knowinsidebyaninwardwitnesswhatIamtodo.

"Sometimesmyheadsays,'Boy,youwouldbeafooltoputyourmoney in that. You'll lose your shirt.' But my heart says, 'Goaheadand invest in it.'So Ido.And inall theseyears, Ihaveneverlostadime.

"Then again, someone comes along with a deal and my headsays,'Boy,youhadbettergetinonthatone.'ButIdon'tpayanyattentiontomyhead. Iget in thatclosetandwait.SometimesallnightlongIwait.I'llprayandreadmyBible,butalotofthetimeIjustwait.IjustgetquietuntilIcanhearinsidewhatmyheartsays.Whenmyheartsays,No,don'tdoit,'andmyheadsays,'Yes,you'dbettergetinonit,'Idon'tdoit."

Whathadthismandone?Hehadlearnedtofollowtheinwardwitness and God had guided him in his business, until in thelate 1930's and the early 1940's he was already worth twomilliondollars.Thatdoesn'tsoundbignow,butitwasbigthen.

DoyouthinkGodlovedhimmorethanHelovesyou?

No,butthismantooktimetolistentoGod.HetookstepsandmeansandmeasurestowaituponGod.

Iwaswithagroupofministersandweweretalkingpersonally,and conversing with one another. Someone asked a certainindividualwhoisaverysuccessfulminister,"NowweknowthatGod called you and that the anointing of God's Spirit is uponyou. But from your standpoint, is there any one thing you dothatyouwouldsayhascontributedmoretoyoursuccessthananyotheronething?"

Thatmansaid,"Ialwaysfollowmydeepestpremonitions."

Whatwashesaying?Hewassimplysaying,"Ialwayslistentomyspirit.Idowhatmyspirittellsmetodo.Ifollowthatinwardwitness."

Theinwardwitnessisjustassupernaturalasguidancethroughvisionsandsoon;itisjustnotasspectacular.

Many people are looking for the spectacular and missing thesupernaturalthatisrightthereallthetime.

Chapter8

Know-SoSalvation

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness inhimself....

—1John5:10

ForasmanyasareledbytheSpiritofGod,theyarethesonsofGod"(Rom.8:14).ThesonsofGodcanexpecttobeledbytheSpirit of God. Hallelujah! They are not led by someone elsetellingthemwhattodo.TheHolySpiritisgoingtoleadus.WehaveScripturethatsaysso.

HowdoesHe lead?Verse16givesusaclue:"TheSpirit itself[Himself]BEARETHWITNESSwithourspirit, thatweare thechildrenofGod"(Rom.8:16).

Inthemostimportantaspectoflife,andinthemostimportantthing that can happen to you—becoming a child of God—Godlets you know that you are His child by His Spirit bearingwitnesswithyourspirit.Thenyoucanunderstandthatthefirst

and foremost way God will lead you is also by that inwardwitness.

YoudonotknowthatyouareachildofGodbecausesomeoneprophesiedthatyouare.Youwouldn'tacceptthat.

YoudonotknowthatyouareachildofGodbecausesomeonesaid,"Ifeellikeyouare."Youwouldn'tacceptthat.YouarenotachildofGodbecauseyouhadavision.

Youmight,oryoumightnothavehadavision,butavision isnotwhatwouldmakeyouachildofGod.That isnotwhattheBiblesays.ThatisnotthewayyouknowyouareachildofGod.

Howdoes theBiblesayweknowwearechildrenofGod?HisSpirit,God'sSpirit,bearswitnesswithourspirits.

Sometimes you can't really explain how you know you are achildofGod,butyou justknowit, rightdownonthe insideofyou.Youknowit!Youknowyouarebytheinwardwitness.

IwasbornagainasateenageronthebedofsicknessApril22,1933.Sincethatday,thethoughthasneveroccurredtomethatImightnotbesaved.YetevenasayoungChristian I ran intopeoplewhosaid,"You'renotsavedbecauseyoudon'tbelongtoour church." Or those who would argue, "You're not savedbecauseyouhaven'tbeenbaptizedourway."AndmanygavemeotherreasonswhytheythoughtIwasnotsaved.

Butnoneofthatdisturbedme.Ilaughedatit,becauseIhadthewitness!AndIhadthelove!

1JOHN3:14

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life,becausewelove....

Chapter9

Fleeced!

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I putwithin you: and I will take away the stony heart out of yourflesh, and Iwill giveyou an heart of flesh. And Iwill putmyspiritwithinyou....

—Ezekiel36:26,27

In 1941 I didn't know as much as I know now. Please don'tmisunderstandme;Idon'tknowasmuchnowasIamgoingtoknow.IwouldhatetothinkIknowallIamevergoingtoknowinthislifeaboutGodandabouttheBible.

No,wedon'tknoweverything,butpraiseGod forwhatwedoknow.

Anyway,in1941MywifeandIwerepastorsofachurchintheblacklandofNorthCentralTexas.AnotherchurchdownintheoilfieldofEastTexaswantedmetocomeandtryoutaspastor.SoIdrovedownandpreachedoneSunday.Thechurchaskediftheycouldvoteonmeforpastor,andIsaidyes.Travelingbackhomeaftertheservice,Iputoutafleece.

Now I was born and raised Southern Baptist. I startedpreachingasaSouthernBaptist.In1937IwasbaptizedintheHoly Spirit as a Baptist preacher. In 1939 I accepted thepastorateofa littleFullGospelChurch. Itwas inMarch1941thatthischurchinEastTexaswantedtoconsidermeaspastor.I had beenwith Full Gospel people long enough by that timethatsomeoftheirmisconceptionshadrubbedoffonme.Don'tmisunderstandme;a lotofgood things rubbedoff onme too.Butthisonewasbad.Ikepthearingthemtalkaboutputtingoutfleeces.SoIputoutafleece.

I really knew better. But at the time it seemed as if it wouldsavemea lotof the troubleofpraying,andgettingaloneandwaiting on God, and maybe some fasting—just to put out afleece.

Inputtingoutafleece,oneprayssomethinglikethis:"Lord,ifyouwantmetodothis—thenYoudothat."

Or,"God,ifyouwantmetodothis,thenhavethathappen."

Or,"Lord,shutthatdoor,andopenthisdoor."

Someofthosedoorsthedevilmightshut,andsomeofthemthedevilmightopen.Theyare inhisterritory.TheBiblecallshimthegodof thisworld (2Cor.4:4).Thatwouldbe likepraying,"Lord,ifyouwantmetogotoKansasCitynextweek,YouopenBrotherHagin'sfrontdoor."Imightopenitmyself.Ilivethere.Yousee,Satancanmoveinthesenserealm.

GodhasabetterwayofleadingHischildrenthanbyahit-and-missmethodsuchasfleeces.TheNewTestamentdoesnotsay,"Asmanyasareledbyfleeces,theyarethechildrenofGod."

"Yes,"someonemightsay,"butGideonputoutafleecebackintheOldTestament."

Why go back under the Old Covenant? We have somethingbetter.TheOldCovenantisforspirituallydeadpeople.Iamnotspirituallydead.Iamalive!IhavetheSpiritofGodinme.

RememberGideonwasnotaprophet,apriest,oraking.Only

thosethreeoffices,undertheOldCovenant,wereanointedbytheSpiritofGod.TheSpiritofGodwasnotpersonallypresentwiththerestofthepeople.

That'swhyeverymalehadtopresenthimselfat thetemple inJerusalem once a year. The Shekinah glory—the Presence ofGod—waskeptshutupintheHolyofHolies.

Butwhen JesusdiedonCalvary, thecurtain thatcurtainedofftheHolyofHolieswasrent(torn)intwainfromtoptobottom—andGodmovedout.Hehasneverdwelledinearth-madehousessince.Hedwellsinus!

It is dangerous for New Testament, Spirit-filled Christians toputoutfleeces.IknowthatfromtheWord.

AndIknowitfromexperience.

Backtherein1941IsaidasIdrovealong,"Lord,Iamgoingtoputoutafleece.IamjustgoingtoturnitovertoYou.(Ididn'trealizethatIwasn'tturningitovertotheLord.)Iftheyelectmeas pastor one hundred percent, I am going to accept that asbeingthewillofGod,andIamgoingtoacceptthatchurch."

I got every vote! That was my fleece. They elected me 100percent.TheymissedGod.ImissedGod.Theygotfleeced.Igotfleeced.IgotoutoftheperfectwillofGod—andGodjustletmedoit.

We moved into the parsonage. Many things were morecomfortable than what we'd had before, from the naturalstandpoint.Wehadmoremoney.Welivedinabetterparsonage.Wedroveabetterautomobile.

ButIwouldstudyandprayandgetamessage—andbejustallonfire.ThentheminuteIsteppedinsidethechurchdoor,itwasasthoughsomebodypouredabucketofcoldwateronme.Ilostitall. In fourteenmonths Ididn'tpreachadecentsermon.Noinspiration.

My wife was reluctant to say anything. She finally did say,"Honey,you'vegottowhereyoucanmakeaprettygoodtalk."

That was all I was doing, making "talks." I wasn't preaching.Whenmyagreed-upontimewasup,Ileft.Ididn'twaitforsomesignaltoleave;Ijustleft.

Later on in pastoring, I alwayswanted to goback there for ameetingbecauseIwantedthosepeopletoknowIcouldpreach.Theyhadneverreallyheardmepreach.

Finally, in the course of time, Iwent back and held a revival.

Folks'mouthsfellopen."Wedidn'tknowyoucouldpreachlikethat,"theysaid.

I said, "Oh, yes, I preached like that before I came here topastor,andIpreachedlikethatafterIlefthere."

"Well,youdidn'tpreachlikethatwhenyouwerehere."

Isaid,"No,becausewewerealloutofthewillofGod.

IwashereoutofthewillofGod,andyouelectedmeoutofthewillofGod."

I learnedaboutthatfleecebusiness.Onetimeoughttocureafellow.Butsomefolks—eventhoughnoneoftheir fleeceshaveeverworked—stillputoutfleeces.

Inevermisseditagainingoingtoanyotherchurchaspastor.And Ididn'tputoutanymore fleeces. IprayedandwaitedonGod. I talked toGod long enough so that I knew right on theinsidewhatIwastodo.

Chapter10

FollowingtheWitness

For thouwilt lightmycandle: theLordmyGodwill enlightenmydarkness.

—Psalm18:28

We left that church. We were asked by leaders of adenominationtotakeanotherchurchtofillintemporarily,sowedid.

Later, while I would be in my study praying, I would get aburdentogobacktothechurchI'dleftasaresultofthefleece.Ihadn'tfinishedwhatGodwantedmetodothere.

Usually this happened when I was praying about my sermonandtheSundayservicesinothertongues—becauseremember,whenIprayintongues,myspiritprays,andthespiritofmanisthecandleoftheLord.IwouldgetsuchaburdenforthechurchIhadleftmorethantwoyearsbefore,Iwouldjumpupandrunoutoftheroomtogetawayfromit.

Once I came to myself out in the street beside the churchwondering,Howdid I get out here? To get out there I wouldhavehadtorunoutofthechurchstudy,acrosstheauditorium,andoutthesidedoor.ButIdidn'trememberdoingthat.Iwasunder such a burden for that church, and Iwas trying to getawayfromit.Ididn'twanttogobacktheretopastor.

Finally,afterabout30daysofthat,Isaid,"Lord,areYoutalkingtomeaboutgoingbackthere?AreYoutryingtogivemesomeguidance?"ThenIsaid,"Talktomywife.

Shecanlistentoo."

Onemorningwhilewewasheddishes,Isaidtomywife,"Honey,iftheLordsaysanythingtoyou,letmeknow."Ididn'ttellheranythingmore.

How YouCan Be Led By The Spirit Of God Then Iwaited 30days. Youdon't have to get in a bighurry about some things.TheBiblesays,"...hethatbelievethshallnotmakehaste"(Isa.28:16). Faith doesn't get in a hurry. Thedevilwill try to pushyou.Hewillsay,"Hurryup.Hurryup.Hurry,hurry,hurry."Hewilltrytomoveyououtoffaith,moveyouintodoubt,moveyouintounbelief,andgetyouawayfromtheleadingofGod.

Thirty days later, as I washed the dishes and my wife driedthem,Isaid,"HastheLordbeentalkingtoyou?"

"IfHehas,Idon'tknowit."

Igotalittlemorepointedinordertobringherout.Isaid,"HastheLordsaidanythingtoyouaboutgoingbackto____?"Icalledthenameofthecitywherethechurchwas.

"Oh,"shesaid,"Ithoughtthatwasjustme."

"Well,"Isaid,"let'sanalyzewhatyoumeanwhenyousayme."

If youmean the flesh, then thatwouldn't be right. But if youmeanthereal"me,"themanontheinside—therealyou—thenthatisright.RememberthatthespiritisthecandleoftheLord.Thenitisnotjustyou,theoutwardman,itistheLordlightingthecandleforyou—theinwardman—themanontheinside.

"I want to ask you a question," I said to her, "so we canascertainjustwhichthisis.Fromthephysical,fromthemental,justnaturallyspeaking,doyouwanttogobackthere?"

"Oh,no!"

"Itcouldn'tbeyouthen,couldit?(Itwouldhavebeenbettertosay, it couldn't have been the flesh, the natural man, theoutward man.) You're not going to be thinking about doingsomethingyoudon'twanttodo."

IsawshehadtheinwardwitnessjustasIdid.

Sometimes the inward witness is there and people don'trecognizeit.

"Iamconvinced,"Itoldher,"thatGodisleadingusthatway.Itwillhave tobeGodtoopen itupandgetusback there.Let'sjustletHimdoit."

He did. Within a few months, without my doing anything towork it out, I was invited to preach a week in that church.Afterwards,theboardaskedifIwouldbeinterestedincomingbacktopastor.

Ididn'ttellthemIhadsomethingfromGod.Ijustsaid,"Imightbe."

Theysaid,"Wehaveallbeentalkingandthechurchwantsyouback."

"Well," I said, "theywouldhave to vote onme.So I'll tell youwhat I'll do—just go ahead and vote, and I will tell youafterwards."

FromthenaturalstandpointmywifeandIstilldidnotwanttogobackthere.Althoughwelovedthepeople,wedidnotwanttolive in that town.Wedidnotwant to live in thathouse. Inmyheart I wanted to obey God, but everything about my fleshrecoiled. Inmynaturalman,myoutwardman,and inmyownnatural human thinking and mind, I did not want to go backthere.

Soreally,asIkeptprayingandfastingwhilethechurchboardwasmakingall theproperannouncementsandadvertisingtheelection,IwasactuallysayingtotheLordthatIdidn'twanttotrustthatinwardwitnessIknewbothmywifeandIhad.

I was over into the third day of a fast. I wanted the Lord tomoveinsomespectacularway—Iwantedsomekindofaword,tonguesandinterpretation,aprophecy,orGodjusttowriteupin thesky, "GOTOTHATPLACE." Iwasonmykneesbawlingandsquawlingandbegging—becauseIdidn'tknowanybetter.

God also leads by an inward voice as well as by an inwardwitness. That inward voice said, "Get up from there and quitactinglikethat."

I got up. Then I said, "Lord, if You could just give me somesupernaturalsign,Iwouldfeelbetteraboutthis."

He said, "Youhaveall I amgoing togive you.Youdon'tneedanysupernaturalsign.Youdon'tneedanysupernaturalwritingin thesky.Youdon'tneedany tonguesand interpretation.Youdon'tneedanyprophecy.Youknowontheinsideofyouwhattodo.Nowdoit."

Isaid,"Okay,Iwill."

Manytimesweignoretheinwardwitness.Wewantsomethingout in the sense realm.We seek the sensational andmiss thesupernatural.

Let's learnthatGod leadsallofHischildren,primarily,by theinwardwitness.

Chapter11

NumberTwo:TheInwardVoice

I say the truth inChrist, I lienot,myconscience alsobearingmewitnessintheHolyGhost.

—Romans9:1

ThenumberonewaytheSpiritguidesusisthroughtheinwardwitness.Numbertwoisbytheinwardvoice.

The inwardman,who isa spiritman,hasavoice—justas theoutwardmanhasavoice.Wecallthisvoiceoftheinwardmanconscience.Wecallthisvoicethestillsmallvoice.

Yourspirithasavoice.Yourspiritwillspeaktoyou.

In September 1966 we moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, fromGarland,Texas,asuburbofDallas.Wehadlivedthere17years.Themovecameaboutlikethis:MywifeandIwereinTulsaonbusiness.Theministrywasgrowingand Ihadalready figuredout in my head what I would do withmy office and home inTexastoaccommodatethegrowth.ButafriendwithwhomwewerestayinginTulsa,said,"BrotherHagin,yououghttomoveto Tulsa. Brother T. L.Osborn's old office building is for sale.His businessmanager askedme to sell it for them." Then hequoted their price. It was extremely low. But I was notinterested.

Finally,hesaid,"Let'sgolookatit."Iwentalongjusttohumorhim.

TheminuteIstoodinsidethatbuildingabuzzerwentoffinsideofme.(Sometimesthat inwardwitness issoreal itcanalmostsound like an inward "buzzer.") I knew as well as I knewmyname,thisisit!ButIdidn'twanttolistentoit;IwantedtostayinGarland.

(That'swhywedon'thearalotoftimes.Wedon'twanttohear.Wesaywedo,butwedon't.)

HowYouCanBeLedByTheSpiritOfGodBackatourfriend'shome,mywifeaskedmeaboutthebuilding.

"Oh,no.I'vealreadygotitallfiguredout.We'llstaywherewe

are.We'llturnourwholehomeintoanoffice.

Andwe'lljuststayinGarland."

Wewenttobedthatnight,butIcouldn'tsleep.

Ordinarily, I have no trouble sleeping. The Bible says, "... hegivethhisbelovedsleep" (Ps.127:2).IamHisbeloved.Soareyou. "...hehathmadeusaccepted in thebeloved'' (Eph. 1:6).So IalwaysclaimthepromiseofGodandsay, "Lord, I'mYourbeloved.SoItakeYouatYourWord.IthankYouforsleep."AndIalwaysgotosleep.

Butthistime,Icouldn't.Myconsciencewashurting.

Myconscienceisthevoiceofmyspirit.MyspiritknowsIdidn'tlistentoit.

Lying therequietly in thenighttime, I said, "Lord, if youwantmetomovetoTulsa,Iwill.Inthenatural,Idon'twanttomovethere,butIwouldn'twanttostandinYourway."

ThenontheinsideofmeIheardthestillsmallvoice.

NowI'mnottalkingabouttheSpiritofGodspeaking.

When theHolySpirit speaks it ismoreauthoritative.The stillsmallvoiceisthevoiceofourownspiritspeaking.ButourownspiritpicksitupfromtheHolySpiritwhoisinus.

Thatstill smallvoice, that inwardvoice,notauthoritative, justsomethingontheinsideofmesaid,"Iamgoingtogiveyouthatbuilding."

Ilaughed.Iknowthereisalotofunbeliefaboutthis,butIsaid,"Okay.Whenyoudo,I'llbelieveit."

That inward voice, picking up on what the Holy Spirit wassaying,said,"Youwatchme."

Without going into all the details, it would surprise you howGodgaveusthatbuilding.

Chapter12

EffectsoftheSpirit'sIndwelling

And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men andbrethren, I have lived in all goodconscience before God untilthisday.

—Acts23:1

It is interesting to go through the Epistles Paul wrote to theChurch and see what he said about his conscience. You willnoticethathealwaysobeyedit.

Isyourconscienceasafeguide?

Yes,ifyourspirithasbecomeanewmaninChrist,itisbecauseyourconscienceisthevoiceofyourspirit.

2CORINTHIANS5:17

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a newcreature: old things are passed away; behold, all thingsarebecomenew.

Thesethingstakeplaceinman'sspirit,intheinwardman.Heisfirst a new creature—a brand-newman inChrist. Second, oldthingshavepassedaway—thenatureofthedevilinhisspiritisgone.Third,ALLthingshavebecomenewinhisspirit—notinhis body or in hismind—nowhehas the nature ofGod in hisspirit.

Therefore,ifyourspiritisanewmanwiththelifeandnatureofGodinit,itisasafeguide.

A person who has not been born again could not follow thevoice of his spirit. His spirit is unregenerate. His consciencewouldpermithimtodoanything.

When you have the life and nature of God in you, yourconsciencewill notpermit you todo just anything.And if youarebornagain,youhavethelifeofGod.

JOHN3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his onlybegottenSon,thatwhosoeverbelievethinhimshouldnotperish,buthaveEVERLASTINGLIFE.

ROMANS6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God isETERNALLIFEthroughJesusChristourLord.

Someonesaid,"Thatjustmeanswearegoingtoliveforeverupinheaven."

No,itdoesnotonlymeanthat.Considerthisscripture:

1JOHN5:13

13These thingshave Iwrittenunto you that believeonthe name of the Son of God; that yemay know thatYE

HAVEETERNALLIFE....

Have is present tense.We have eternal life now. If you are aborn-againChristian,youhavethelifeofGodinyourspiritnow.YouhavethenatureofGodinyourspiritnow.

Oh! Ifpeoplewould learn to followtheirspirits! If theywouldlearntotakeadvantageofthelifethatisinthem!

I joined the church and was baptized early in life—but thatdidn't make me a Christian. My spirit was still unregeneratewhenIbecametotallybedfastwithaheartconditionattheageof 15. I was truly born again during the 16 months I wasbedfast. Then in August 1934, as a Baptist boy readingGrandma'sMethodistBible,Iwashealed.

Iwentbacktohighschool.Ihadmissedoneschoolyear.BeforeI was born again, I just barely got by in some classes. Backthen, if you made a "D" it was failing. And if you failed onesubjectyoustayedinthatgradeandtookthewholethingoveragain.Two teachers in twosubjects said tome, "Wegaveyoutwopointsoryouwouldhavehada'D.'"

ButafterIwasbornagain,Inevermadeanythingbutastraight"A"reportcard.AndInevertookonebookhometostudy.

NowIdidn'tknowathingaboutthebaptismoftheHolySpiritthen,butdoyouknowwhatIdidknow?IknewIhadthelifeofGodinme!

As Iwalkeddown the street to school everymorning, I hadaconversationwith theLord.Unconsciously, Iwasbeing ledbytheSpirit;myhearttoldmetodoit,andIlistenedtomyheartinsteadofmyhead.

I said, "Now, Lord, I read in theOld TestamentwhereDanieland the threeHebrewchildrenwere in school inBabylonandYou gave them favor with the dean of the school (Dan. 1:9).God,givemefavorwitheveryteacher.

ThankYouforit;Ihaveitnow.Ialsoread,thatwhentheirthreeyearsoftrainingwereover,thethreeHebrewchildrenweretentimessmarterthantherest(vv.18-20).Lord,IhaveYourlifeinme.John1:4says,'Inhimwaslife;andthelifewasthelightofmen.'Lightstandsfordevelopment.

Impart tome knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdomthatImaybetentimesbetter...."

Everydayas Iwalked to school Iwouldconfess, "InHimwaslifeandthelifewasthelightofmen.Thatlifeisinme.ThelifeofGod is inme.That life is the light—it is thedevelopmentof

me. It isdevelopingmy spirit. It is developingmymentality. IhaveGodinme.IhaveGod'swisdominme.IhaveGod'slifeinme.ThatlifeofGodinmyspiritdominatesme.Ipurposeinmyhearttowalkinthelightoflife."

NowIdonotmeanthatIjustskippedby.InstudyhallperiodsatschoolIstudied.Ilistenedintentlyinclasstoeverythingthatwassaid.Butbyreceivingeternallifeintomyspirit,andgettingmymind renewedwith theWord,mymentalitywas increasedfrom30to60percent.

ThelifeofGodwilldothatforanyone.

The most amazing miracle I have ever seen of eternal lifeaffectingsomeone'smentalityoccurredinagirlIwillcallMary.Hermentalitywasincreasedbyatleast90percent.

Marystarted toschoolatsevenandwentsevenyearswithoutgetting out of the first grade. In those seven years she neverlearned to write her name. Finally, they asked her parents totakeheroutofschool.

In thechurch Ipastored,Marywasat that time18yearsold,althoughshebehavedlikea2-year-old.Shewouldgetdownandcrawlaroundonthefloorlikeababy.Ifshehappenednottobesittingwithhermother,shewouldslideunderthepews,orliftupherskirtandstepoverthemtogettowherehermotherwas.Herclotheswerealwaysasight.

Herhairwasnevercombed.

Then one night during an evangelistic revival meeting, Marycametothealtar.Thereshereceivedeternallife—thenatureofGod. A drastic change occurred instantly. The very next nightshe sat in the service and behaved like any other 18-year-oldyoung lady. She had fixed her hair and dressed up. Hermentalityseemedtohaveincreasedovernight.

YearslaterIwasbackinthecitytohelpwithafuneral.

"What everhappened toMary?" I asked the church secretary.Sheledmeoutonthefrontporch.

"Seeallthosenewhousesgoingupoutthere."

Isaid,"Yes."

"That'sanadditiontothecity.Maryisbuildingthat.

She'sawidownow.Shehandlesallherownmoney.Sheisherown financier. She has three lovely children. They are on thefront pew every Sunday. They are the best-dressed, and the

mostwell-mannered children in church.As church secretary Ican tell you that Mary's tithes and offerings are here everySunday."

ThelifeofGodcameintoher!

Iamconvincedwehavenevercompletelylearnedwhatwehavereceived.MostofushavethoughtthattheLordjustforgaveus,sayingthatwe'rethesameoldcreaturewealwayswere.We'lljusttrytoholdoutfaithfultilltheend.

Ifwegetenoughpeopletoprayforus,maybewecanmakeit.

No, thank God, the life of God has been imparted into ourspirits! The nature of God is in our spirits. TheHoly Spirit islivingandabidinginourspirits.

Chapter13

TwoExperiences

Then Philip went down to the city ofSamaria, and preachedChrist unto them ...when they believed Philip preaching thethingsconcerning thekingdomofGod,and thenameof JesusChrist, theywerebaptizedbothmenandwomen...Nowwhentheapostleswhichwere at Jerusalemheard that Samaria hadreceivedthewordofGod,theysentuntothemPeterandJohn:Who,when theywere comedown, prayed for them, that theymightreceive theHoly Ghost: (For as yet hewas fallen uponnoneofthem:onlytheywerebaptizedinthenameoftheLordJesus.)Then laid they theirhands on them, and they receivedtheHolyGhost.

—Acts8:5,12,14-17

Under theNewCovenant every child ofGod has the Spirit ofGod.Ifyouarebornagain,theSpiritofGodisinyourspirit.

We do need to differentiate between being born of the SpiritandbeingfilledwiththeSpirit.Theborn-againChristiancanbefilledwiththesameSpiritthathealreadyhasinhim.AndwhenheisfilledwiththatSpirit,therewillbeanoverflowing.HewillspeakwithothertonguesastheSpiritgiveshimutterance(Acts2:4).

Bible scholars know thatwater is a type of the Spirit ofGod.JesusHimselfusedwaterasatypeoftheSpirit.HeuseditasatypeofthenewbirthwhentalkingtothewomanatthewellofSamaria.

JOHN4:10,11,13,14

10Jesusansweredandsaiduntoher,IfthouknewestHowYouCanBeLedByTheSpiritOfGodthegiftofGod,andwhoit is that saith to thee,Giveme to drink; thouwouldesthave asked of him, and hewould have given thee livingwater.

11Thewomansaithuntohim,Sir, thouhastnothing todrawwith, and thewell is deep: fromwhence thenhastthouthatlivingwater?

13Jesusansweredandsaiduntoher,Whosoeverdrinkethof this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoeverdrinketh of the water that I shall give him shall neverthirst;butthewaterthatIshallgivehimshallbeinhimawellofwaterspringingupintoeverlastinglife.

Jesusalsousedwaterasa typeof theSpirit in the infillingoftheHolySpirit:

JOHN7:37-39

37Inthelastday,thatgreatdayofthefeast,Jesusstoodand cried, saying, If anyman thirst, let him come untome,anddrink.

38He that believeth onme, as the scripture hath said,outofhisbellyshallflowriversoflivingwater.

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they thatbelieveonhimshouldreceive:fortheHolyGhostwasnotyetgiven;becausethatJesuswasnotyetglorified.)

Thesearetwodifferentexperiences.Thenewbirthisawellofwater inyou,springingup intoeverlasting life.TheinfillingoftheHolySpirit is rivers— not just one river. Thewater in thewell is foronepurpose.Thewater in thewell is foryourownbenefit. It blesses you. The water in the rivers is for anotherpurpose.Theriversflowingoutofyoublesssomeoneelse.

Some people say, "If you are born of the Spirit, you have theSpirit, and that's all there is." But, no, just because you havehadonedrinkofwaterisnosignyou'refullofwater.ThereistheexperiencesubsequenttothenewbirthofbeingfilledwiththeSpirit—andasaresult,outofthebelly(theinnermostbeing—thespirit)riversoflivingwatercanflow.

Others say that people who are not filled with the SpiritspeakingwithothertonguesdonothavetheHolySpirit.

Thatisnottrue.IfIdrinkhalfaglassofwater,Imaynotbefull,butat least Ihavewater inme. If one isbornof theSpirit ofGod,hehastheSpiritofGodabidinginhim.

Chapter14

GodInside

... foryeare the templeof the livingGod;asGodhath said, Iwill dwell in them,andwalk in them; and Iwill be theirGod,andtheyshallbemypeople.

—2Corinthians6:16

If you are born again, theHoly Spirit is living and abiding inyourspirit.

He'slivingandabidingwhere?Inyourhead?No.Inyourbody?Inasense,yes,butnotexactlyinthewaywemightthink.TheonlyreasonyourbodybecomesthetempleoftheHolySpiritisbecause your body is the temple of your own spirit. TheHolySpirit abides in your spirit. And He communicates with youthroughyourspirit.

Hedoesnotcommunicatedirectlywithyourmind—Heisnotinyour mind. He is in your spirit—He communicates with youthrough your spirit. Of course, your spirit does reach andinfluenceyourmentality.

Evenasanewbornbabe inChrist, still bedfast, Iwouldknowthingsbyaninwardwitness.IknewnothingaboutbeingfilledwiththeHolyGhostandspeakingwithothertongues—butIwasbornof theSpirit. I had thewitnessof theSpirit righton theinsideofmethatIwasachildofGod.

Ihadbeenbedfastaboutfourmonthswhenmymothercametomy bed one day and said, "Son, I hate to bother you, butsomethingiswrongwithDub."

Dub ismy oldest brother. Hewas 17 at the time and hewasgone.Wedidn'tknowexactlywherehewas.

Shesensedsomethinginherspirit.Shethoughtmaybehehadgottenintotroubleandwasinjail.Shesaid,"I'vebeenprayingforhimforthreedays,butIneedsomehelp."

I said, "Momma, I thought you already had enough problemswithme being bedfast. I've known thatmyself about Dub forseveral days. He's not in jail, though. It's not that kind oftrouble.Hisphysical life is indanger.But I'vealreadyprayed,andhewillmakeit.Hislifewillbespared.

I'vealreadygottheanswer."

I didn't knowhow toget the answer onhealing right then—itwasayear laterbeforeIwashealed.ButIknewsomethings,

praiseGod,andGodwillmeetyouasfarasyourfaithgoes.

Threedays later,Dubcamehome in thenighttime.Yousee, itwas1933andtherewasnowork.MenwereoutonthestreetswithnojobsinthosegreatDepressionDays.

DubhadgonedowntotheRioGrandeValleytolookforwork.Hedidn'tfindany.Sohedecidedtohopafreighttrain—lotsofpeoplewereridingtherailsinthosedays—fromthebacksideoftheValleyrightonthroughtoMcKinney.

About50milessouthofDallasarailwaydetectiveknockedhimintheheadandthrewhimoffthattrainwhileitwasgoing50or60milesanhour.Hewentsailingdownthetrack.Theyburnedcoal in those days and they would put the cinders along thetrack.Hehitthosecindersandwentscootingonhisback.It'sawonder it hadn't broken his back. It would have if we hadn'tknownaboutitbytheinwardwitnessandprayed.

Helayoutintheditch,andthencametoafterawhile.

His shirtwas completely torn off, and the seat of his britcheswastornout,sohecouldonlytravelatnight.Inthedaytimehehidoutinthetreesinthefield—itwasthetimeofyearhecouldfind fruit—and during the nighttime he walked up the railtowardMcKinney.Itwasnightwhenhegothome.Mommaputhimtobedandhewasallrightinafewdays.

Momma and I were not Spirit-filled Christians—but we wereChristians.Andwehadawitnessinourspiritsthatsomethingwas wrong—an inward intuition. This is something everyChristianoughttohave.ItissomethingeveryChristianshoulddevelop.Weshoulddevelopourspirits.

Inlessthantenyears'timeaFullGospelministerfriendofminewas in threeseriousautomobileaccidents.peoplewerekilled.Hiswifewasalmostkilled.Hewasseriouslyinjured.Carsweredemolished.ButtheywerebothhealedbythemercyofGod.

Heheardmeteachalongsomeoftheselinesandhesaidtome,"BrotherHagin, everyoneof thoseaccidents couldhavebeenavoidedifIhadlistenedtothatinwardintuition."

Yetinsimilarinstancespeoplewillsay,"Idon'tknowwhythathappened to such a good Christian. He's a preacher."(Preachers have to learn to listen to their spirits just like youhavetolearntolistentoyourspirit.)ThentheylayitoffonGodandsaythatGoddidit.

This preacher said to me, "If I had listened to that inwardsomething—Ijusthadanintuitionthatsomethingwasabouttohappen—Iwouldhavewaiteda littlebitandprayed. Instead I

thought,I'mbusy.Idon'thavetimetopray."

Many times, ifwewouldhavewaited,Godwouldhave shownus.Wecouldhaveavoidedmanythings.Butlet'snotmoanandgroanaboutpast failures.Let's just takeadvantageofwhat isours and see to it that it doesn't happen again. We can donothingaboutwhat ispastanyhow.Let'sbegin todevelopourspirits,andlearntolistentothem.

TheHoly Spirit is abiding in your spirit. It is your spirit thatpicksupthesethingsfromtheHolySpiritandthenpassesthemontoyourmindbyaninwardintuition,orinwardwitness.

Jesussaid,"...Ifamanloveme,hewillkeepmywords:andmyFatherwilllovehim,andwewillcomeuntohim,andmakeourabode with him " (John 14:23). In this passage of scripture,Jesus is talking about theHoly Spirit's coming. Jesus and theFatherinthePersonoftheHolySpiritcometoabideinus.Anabode is the place where one lives. Another translation says,"Wewillcomeuntohim,andmakeourhomewithhim."

TheHoly Spirit, through the Apostle Paul said, "Know ye notthat ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of Goddwelleth inyou?" (1Cor.3:16).Another translation says, "TheSpiritofGodisathomeinyou."That'swhereHelives—inyou!

TheBible says, "... for yeare the templeof the livingGod; asGodhathsaid,Iwilldwellinthem,andwalkinthem;andIwillbetheirGodandtheyshallbemypeople"

(2Cor.6:16).

Putthosethreescripturestogether:

JOHN14:23;1CORINTHIANS3:16;2

CORINTHIANS6:16

Jesusansweredandsaiduntohim, Ifaman loveme,hewillkeepmywords:andmyFatherwill lovehim,andwewillcomeuntohim,andmakeourabodewithhim...KnowyenotthatyearethetempleofGod,and60

HowYouCanBeLedByTheSpiritOfGodthattheSpiritofGoddwellethinyou?...foryearethetempleofthelivingGod;asGodhathsaid, Iwilldwell in them,andwalk inthem;andIwillbetheirGod,andtheyshallbemypeople.

We have never yet plumbed the depth of what God is reallysaying: "Iwilldwell in them. Iwill live in them. Iwillwalk inthem."IfGodisdwelling inus—andHe is—thenthat iswhereHewillspeaktous.

Chapter15

DependonYourSpirit

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto thismountain,Bethouremoved,andbethoucastintothesea;andshallnotdoubt inhisheart,butshallbelievethat thosethingswhichhesaithshallcometopass;heshallhavewhatsoeverhesaith.Therefore I sayunto you,What things soever yedesire,whenyepray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shallhavethem.

—Mark11:23,24

Yourspiritknowsthingsthatyourheaddoesnotknow,becausetheHolySpiritisinyourspirit.

Whenmedicalsciencegavemeuptodieasateenagerandsaidthey coulddonothing further forme, I knewsomehow that iftherewashelpformeanywhereitwouldbeintheBible.

IstartedwiththeNewTestamentbecauseIknewIdidn'thavemuchtime.EventuallyIcametoMark11:23and24.

When I came to Mark 11:24, something from outside mesomewhere said to my mind, That doesn't mean what thingssoeveryedesirephysically,ormaterially,orfinancially.Thatjustmeanswhatsoeverthingsyedesirespiritually.Healinghasbeendoneawaywith.

I triedtogetmypastor tocomeandtellmewhatMark11:24didmean.Hedidnotcome.Onepreacherfinallydidcome.Hepattedmyhand,putonaprofessionalvoiceandsaid, "Justbepatientmyboy.Inafewmoredaysitwillallbeover."

Iacceptedtheverdictandlaythereexpectingtodie.ItwastwomonthsbeforeIgotbackintotheBibleandbacktoMark11:23and24.

Isaid,"Lord,ItriedtogetsomeonetohelpmeandIcouldn't.SoIamgoingtotellYouwhatIamgoingtodo.Iamjustgoingto take You at YourWord.WhenYouwere here on earth, Yousaid it. Iamgoingtobelieve it. IfYoudidn't lieabout it, Iamcomingoffthisbed,becauseIcanbelievewhatYousaidIcanbelieve."

Then Ihit on this idea. (It tookmea long timebecause Ihadlimiteduseofmyhands.TheyproppedtheBibleinfrontofmeand I just sort of "scooted" the pages.) I decided to run myreferenceonfaithandhealing.IcametoJames5:14and15.

JAMES5:14,15

14 Is any sickamongyou? lethimcall for theeldersofthe church; and let them pray over him, anointing himwithoilinthenameoftheLord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and theLord shall raise himup; and if he have committed sins,theyshallbeforgivenhim.

I thought all the rest of the healing scriptures and prayerpromises hinged on that—I thought you HAD to call for theelders of the church. (You don't have to—you just can if youneedto.)SoIbegantocry,"DearLord,ifIhavetocallfortheeldersof thechurchtoanointmewithoil tobehealed, thenIcan't be healed. I don't know any elders of the church thatbelieveinthat."

Ihadbeensavedabout sixmonths,and Ihadneverheardaninwardvoice. I amnot talkingabout thevoiceof theSpirit ofGod—that is more authoritative—I am talking about that stillsmallvoiceofmyspirit.

My spirit said tome, "Did you notice that verse said that theprayeroffaithshallsavethesick?"

I had to look again. I'd had my mind on the elders and hadmissedthat."Yes,"Isaidaloud,"thatiswhatitsays!"

Itcameasarealshocktome.

Then on the inside ofme thesewordswere spoken, "You canpraythatprayeraswellasanyonecan."

Hallelujah!

Butmyspiritualeducationwasslow—justlikeyours.Istayedinthat bed ninemoremonths before I finally saw that I had tobelieveIreceivedmyhealingbeforeitwouldbemanifested.

ItwaswhileIwasprayingandsaying,"IbelievethatIreceivemyhealing,"thatIsawwhatImustdo.Isaid,"IbelievethatIreceivehealingfromthetopofmyheadtothesolesofmyfeet."Then Ibegan topraiseGodbecause Ibelieved that I receivedmyhealing.

Again, on the insideofme, I heard thesewords—thiswasnotthat authoritative voice, but just a still small voice, so faint Iwould not have heard it if my mind and body had been veryactive—"Nowyoubelievethatyouarewell."

Isaid,"Isuredo."

That inwardvoicesaid, "Getup then.Wellpeopleought tobe

upat10:30inthemorning."

Ihadbeenparalyzed.Itwasastruggle.Ipushedmyself.Finally,I got up to where I was draped over the bedpost. My kneessaggeddownnot far from the floor. I had no feeling frommywaist down. But draped over that bedpost I said it again, "Iwant to announce in the Presence of Almighty God, the LordJesusChrist,theHolySpirit,andtheholyangelspresentinthisroom,andIwant tocall thedevil torecordandallevilspiritsthatmaybepresentinthisroom,thataccordingtoMark11:24,IbelievethatI64

HowYouCanBeLedByTheSpiritOfGodreceivemyhealing."

When I said that, physically, I felt something. It felt likesomeoneabovemewaspouringapitcherofhoneyonme.Ifeltit strikeme on the top ofmy head. It seemed to pile up likehoneywould,andthenitbegantooozedownoverme.Ithadawarmglowto it. Itspreaddownovermyhead,downmyneckandshoulders,downmyarmsandout theendsofmy fingers,anddownmybodyandouttheendsofmytoes.

All of a sudden I was standing straight! I have been straighteversince.

ButIwantyoutoseethis.Ilistenedtomyspirit.Faithisofthespirit.Yourfaithwillnotworktoitsfullestuntilyoulearnsomeof these things. Learn to depend on Him—the One who is inyou.Learntodevelopyourownspirit.

HavefaithinthefactthatyourfaithinGodworks.

Chapter16

Tenderhearted

Forifourheartcondemnus,Godisgreaterthanourheart,andknowethallthings.

Beloved,ifourheartcondemnusnot,thenhaveweconfidencetowardGod.

—1John3:20,21

Does the Holy Spirit condemn you if you do wrong as aChristian?

No.Itisyourspiritthatcondemnsyou.

You need to learn that. It's a hard lesson to learn, however,becausewehavebeentaughtincorrectly.

TheHolySpiritwillnotcondemnyou.Why?BecauseGodwon't.

StudywhattheHolySpiritthroughPaulwroteintheEpistletothe Romans. He asked: Who is it that condemns? Does Godcondemn?No,itisGodthatjustifies.

JesussaidthattheonlysintheHolySpiritwillconvicttheworldofisthesinofrejectingJesus(John16:7-9).

It is your own conscience—the voice of your own spirit—thatknowswhenyouhavedonewrong.

I have found that even when I do wrong, though my spiritcondemnsme, theHoly Spirit is there to comfortme, to helpme,toshowmethewayback.YouwillneverreadintheBiblewhere the Holy Spirit is a condemner. Jesus called Him theComforter.Theseven-foldmeaningofthatwordfromtheGreekisbroughtoutinTheAmplifiedBible:JOHN14:16Amplified

16AndIwillasktheFather,andHewillgiveyouanotherComforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate,StrengthenerandStandby)thatHemayremainwithyouforever.

TheHolySpiritisallofthose!Hewillstandbyyouwhennooneelsewill.Hewillhelpyou.HeisaHelper!

It is your own spirit that knows the moment you have donewrong.IamgladI learnedthatearly. Ithaspaidoffrichly formeinlife.

Iwasbarelysavedandhealedandbackinhighschoolwhenthefollowing incidentoccurred: I reallydon'tknowwhy it slippedout—nooneinourfamilyusedprofanity.

Butwehadaneighbor,blesshisheart,whocould—aswesayinTexas—"cussupastorm."Youcouldhearhimalloverourendoftown.IsupposeIpickeditupfromhim.

Anyway,Isimplysaidtooneoftheboys,"Hell,no...(somethingorother)."

TheminuteIsaidthatIknewontheinsideitwaswrong.Whatwasitthatcondemnedme?theHolySpirit?

No.Itwasmyspirit.Myspirit,thisnewcreature,thisnewmandoesn't talk thatway.TheLifeandNatureofGoddoesn't talkthatway.Nowthe flesh, theoutwardman,maywant togoondoing some things that he did before, and talking inways hetalkedbefore,butyouhavetocrucifytheflesh.Agoodwaytocrucify the flesh—the outwardman—is to bring yourmistakesrightoutintheopen.

Ididthatrightthen.Ididn'twaituntilIwasmoved.Inmyheart

Isaid,"DearGod,forgivemeforsayingthat."

TheyoungmanIsaidittohadwalkedaway.Ilocatedhimandasked him to forgiveme. He hadn't noticedwhat I'd said; hewasusedtopeopletalkingthatway.ButIhadtogetitright.

It was the voice of my spirit. It was my conscience. Myconsciencewastender,andIdidn'twanttoviolateit.

Unless you keep a tender conscience, spiritual things will beindistincttoyou.That'sbecauseyourconscienceisthevoiceofyourspiritandit isyourconscience—thevoiceofyourspirit—thatwillrelatetoyourmindwhattheSpiritofGodissayingtoyoudowninyourheart.

TheBiblespeaksaboutChristiansevenhavingtheirconscienceseared:

1TIMOTHY4:2

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their consciencesearedwithahotiron.

ThefirstchurchIpastoredwasacommunitychurchoutinthecountry.IusuallywentoutSaturdaynight,spentSaturdayandSunday nights, and cameback into town onMonday. I stayedquite often in the home of a dear Methodist man. This finespiritualman, a greatman really,was 89 years old.He and Ididn'tgetupasearlyastheothersdidonhisfarm.Theywouldbe out doing chores or be out working in the field when thisoldergentlemanandIhadbreakfasttogetherabout8o'clock.

Ididn'tdrinkcoffee,butthisoldgentlemandid.Nowyoucouldscarcely believe it unless you saw it, but he had one of thoseold-fashionedcoffeepots—thiswas themid-30's—sittingonanold-fashionedwoodstovewithcoffeeboiling in it. Ihave seenhimtakethatboilingcoffee,pour it intoabigthickmug—andwhenitwasstillsohot itsimmeredinthatmug—turnituptohismouth,anddrinkthewholecup.

The first time I sawhimdo it, Ihollered. I felt likemymouthandthroatwereburning.

How could he do that? I couldn't. The tissues ofmy lips, theinsideofmymouth,mythroatandesophagusaresotender,justone teaspoonfulwould have burned all theway down. But hedrankawholemugwithouttakingit68

How You Can Be Led By The Spirit Of God away from hismouth.

He couldn't do that to begin with though. Through years of

drinking coffee that hot, his lips and mouth, and throat andesophagus became seared. Eventually, he could drink it thathot,anditdidn'tbotherhim.

Spiritually,thesamethingcanhappen.

Learntokeepatenderconscience.Learntheminuteyoumissitand your conscience condemns you, to correct it right then.Don'twaituntilyougotochurch.

Immediatelysay,"Lord,forgiveme.Imissedit."Ifyouhaveto,ifsomeoneelsesaworheardyou,tellthatpersonrightaway,"Ididwrong.Pleaseforgiveme.Ishouldn'thavesaidthat."

Youwillhavetokeepyourspirit tender ifyouaregoingtobeledbytheSpirit.

Chapter17

Feelings:TheVoiceoftheBody

TheSpirititself[Himself]bearethwitnesswithourspirit....

—Romans8:16

Too often people think that the witness this verse is talkingabout is a physical something. It is not. It is a spiritualsomething. It is the Spirit of God bearing witness with ourspirits.Hedoesnotbearwitnesswithourbodies.

Youcannotgobyphysicalfeeling.

We confuse things by the way we talk. We say, "I feel God'sPresence."No,wedon't.WesenseHisPresencespiritually.Usethewordfeelingadvisedly;itleavesthewrongimpressionthatitisaphysicalfeeling.Don'tmixthephysicalwithit.

Feelingisthevoiceofthebody.

Reasonisthevoiceofthesoul,orthemind.

Conscienceisthevoiceofthespirit.

To go by feeling is to get into trouble. That is the reason somanyChristiansareupanddown(Icallthemyo-yoChristians),andinandout.Theygobytheirfeelings.

Theydon'twalkbyfaith.Theydon'twalkbytheirspirits.

When they feel good, they say, "Glory to God, I'm saved.Hallelujah, I'm filledwith theSpirit.Everything is fine."Whentheyfeelbad,theirfacesarelongandtheysay,"I'velostitall.Idon'tfeellikeIdid,soImustbebackslidden."

I hear people, bless their hearts, talking about being in thevalley,thenbeingonthemountaintop,thengettingbackdowninthevalleyagain.Ihaveneverbeeninthevalley.IhavebeensavedmorethanfiftyyearsandIhaveneverbeenanywherebutonthemountaintop.Youdonothavetogetdowninthevalley.

HowYouCanBe LedBy The Spirit OfGod People talk about"valley experiences." I haveneverhadany valley experiences.Oh, yes, there have been tests and trials, but I was on themountaintop all the time, shouting my way through—livingabovethetestsandthetrials!

Awomanwehadpastoredinyearsgonebycametoameetingwhere we were and told us about her 39-year-old daughter.Theywere about to operate on herwhen they discovered shehad a tumor. Then they also found throughhospital tests thatshe was a diabetic. They were trying to get the diabeticcondition under control when she went into a coma. Threedoctorssaidshewouldneverregainconsciousness;shewoulddie.

This mother said, "Will you lay your hands on thishandkerchief?"Idid,andweprayed.Thenthatmothergotonabusandrode300milesbacktothehospitalwhereherdaughterlay unconscious. She reached under the oxygen tent and laidthe handkerchief on her daughter's chest. The minute ittouched her, she revived. She was healed, born again, filledwith theHolySpiritandbegan tospeak in tongues,all inoneapplication.

Thenursesgotexcitedandcalled thedoctor.Thedoctor said,"Thisiswonderfulthatshehasregainedconsciousness.Butshemustremainquiet."Hegaveherashottoquietenherdown—but it never did take effect. She just kept on speaking intonguesandshouting,"I'mhealed.

I'mhealed.I'mhealed."

The next day they began to run tests.Her bloodwas perfect.Shenolongerhaddiabetes.Thentheycouldn'tfindthetumor.Ithaddisappeared.Afterseveraldaystheydismissedher.

Thiswomantoldmywifeandmesometimelaterthatthedoctorsaid,"Wewon'tchargeyouanything.Wedidn'tdoanything.AHigherPowerthanusdidit."

Now, three years later,when shewas 42 years old, her sisterbrought her to our door at 2 o'clock one morning. She hadanothertumor.

I thought she had come to be healed. So I said, "You can behealedagain.Wewilljustlayhandsonyou."

Shesaid,withtears,"BrotherHagin,Idon'treallycarewhetherI get healed or not.Really, if I could just get back towhere IwaswithGodIwouldjustassoondieandgoontoHeaven."

Whenshesaidthis,Iassumedshemusthavebackslidden.Shelooked so sad, I just knew she must have committed someterriblesin.SoIsaid,"TheLordwillforgiveyou..."AndIwentthroughwhat theBible saysabout that.Then I said, "We'll alljustkneeldownherebythecouch. (Mywifeandthewoman'ssisterwere there too.) Iwill kneel beside you.Now you don'thave to confess tome, but tell the Lord about it andHewillforgiveyou."

Shelookedupatmeandsaid,"BrotherHagin,I'vesearchedmyheart,andasfarasIknow,Ihaven'tdoneanythingwrong."

Igotaggravated.I'dgottentobedlate—Iwasdrivingadistanceandholdingmeetingseverynight.Andjustright inthemiddleofgoodsoundsleep,early inthemorning,camethisknockingat thedoor thatwokeus. Iguess Ididspeaksharply toher; IknowIdid.

Isaid,"Getupfromthefloor.Sitdownthereonthatcouch."Iwasdisgusted."Ifyouhaven'tdoneanything72

HowYouCanBeLedByTheSpiritOfGodwrong,what intheworldmakesyouthinkyouhavetogetbacktoGod?"

"Well,"shesaid,"Idon'tfeellikeIusedto."

I said, "What has that got to do with it? If I were going byfeeling,halfthetimewhenIgetuptopreachIwouldannouncethatImustbebackslidden."

Shelookedatme."Doyoumeanpreachersarethatwaytoo?"

I said, "Yes, we're just as human as anyone else. In fact, if Iweregoingbyfeelingsrightnow,Iwouldbehavingyouprayforme. I don't feel a thing. I haven't felt a thing since you gothere."

Shesaid,"Whatdoyoudothen?Howdoyoupraythrough?"

I said, "I don't pray through. I'malready through.AChristianoughttowalkthrough—heoughttobethrough—

living in fellowship with God, every day, every minute, everyhour."

Shesaid,"Whatdoyoudothen?"

"Well," I said, "just sit thereandwatchme. I'mgoing toclosemyeyesandpray,butyoukeepyoureyesopen."

ThenIprayed,"DearLord,I'msogladthatI'machildofGod.I'm so glad I'm saved. I'm so glad I have been born again. Idon't feel anything—but that has nothing to do with it. Myinwardmanisanewman.MyinwardmanisanewcreatureinChrist.IwanttothankYouthatnotonlyamIbornagain—butIamfilledwiththeHolySpirit.GodtheFather,GodtheSon,andGodtheHolySpiritresideinme.

IwanttothankYouforthat.Hallelujah!"

I didn't feel anything, but I said it anyhow. Then, when Iconfessed that, in my spirit (He was in there all thetime)somethingbegantobubbleupinsideofme.Itwasamoveand manifestation of the Spirit of God. I still did not feelanything,butinmyspiritIcouldsensethatbubbling.Itgotupinmythroat.Ibegantolaugh—thereisalaughintheSpirit.Ibegantospeakintongues.

Thisladysaid,"Theexpressiononyourfacechanged.

Yourfacejustlitup."

Isaid,"Thatwasinthereallthetime.PaultoldTimothytostirupthegiftthatwasinhim.IjuststirredupwhatIhadinmeallthetime."

Shesaid,"CanIdothat?"

Isaid,"Yes,youcan."

Shedid—shestirredupwhatwasinherallthetime.

I do not remember even praying about the tumor. The lastaccountIhadofher,ithaddisappeared.

BaseyourfaithontheWord—notonyourfeelings.

Romans8:16doesnotsaythattheSpiritbearethwitnesswithourbodies,orwithourfeelings.

SmithWigglesworth,thegreatEnglishapostleoffaith,said,"IamnotmovedbywhatI feel. IamnotmovedbywhatIsee.Iammovedonlybywhat Ibelieve. IcannotunderstandGodbyfeelings.IunderstandGodbywhattheWordsaysaboutHim.IunderstandtheLordJesusChristbywhattheWordsaysaboutHim.HeiseverythingtheWordsaysHeis."

Youcannotunderstandyourselfbyfeelings.

Understand yourself as a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian bywhattheWordofGodsaysaboutyou.AndwhenyoureadwhattheWordsaysaboutyou—then,whetheryoufeellikeitornot,say,"Yes,that'sme.Ihavethat.TheWordsaysIhavethat.Ican

dowhattheWordsaysIcan74

HowYouCanBeLedByTheSpiritOfGoddo. Iamwhat theWordsaysIam."

Youwillbegintodevelopspirituallythen.

AnditiswithyourspiritthattheHolySpiritbearswitness.

Chapter18

HelpFromWithin

Howbeitwhenhe,theSpiritoftruth,iscome,hewillguideyouintoalltruth:forheshallnotspeakofhimself;butwhatsoeverheshallhear,thatshallhespeak:andhewillshewyouthingstocome.

—John16:13

Let'snoticesomethingsJesussaidabouttheHolySpiritinJohn16:13."...hewillguideyouintoalltruth...."

Hewillleadyou.Hewillguideyou.

"... for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shallhear, that shall he speak.... " The Holy Spirit does speak.WhateverHehearsGod say,whateverHehears Jesus say,Hewill speak to your spirit.Where isHe to speak?He is in yourspirit,andthatiswhereHespeaks.Hedoesn'tspeakoutintheairsomewhere.Hespeaksontheinside.TheHolySpiritpassesGod'smessageontoyourspirit,eitherbyaninwardwitness,bythestillsmallvoice

—thevoiceofyourconscience,orbyan inwardvoicewhich isthemoreauthoritativevoiceoftheHolySpirit.

"...hewillshewyouthingstocome...."IdonotbelievethisjustmeansthattheHolySpiritwillshowusaboutfutureeventsasrecordedintheWordofGod.ItalsomeansthattheHolySpiritwill show you things to come. In my own individual life, forinstance,therehasneverbeenadeathinourclosefamilythatIdidnotknowaboutinadvance.Iknewtwoyearsaheadoftimethatmyfather-in-lawwasgoingtodie,soIbegantopreparemywife forhisdeath.Shewashisonlydaughter, thebabyof thefamily, and very close to her father. I knew shewould take ithard.

SoIbegantosaytoher,"Honey,youknowMr.Rookerisgettingolder.ThenoverthenexttwoyearsIdroppedawordhereandthere,justgettingherready.

Iwasawayinameetingwhenthetelephonecallcame.

Aftertheserviceonenight,Iwassittinginthehotel.Thephonerang. Something inme said, "That's for you. This iswhat youhavebeentalkingaboutfortwoyearsnow."

Within twenty-eight days he was in Heaven. You are notunpreparedwhenyouknowthingsaheadoftime.

JOHN14:26

26ButtheComforter,whichistheHolyGhost,whomtheFatherwillsendinmyname,heshallteachyouallthings,andbring all things to your remembrance,whatsoever Ihavesaiduntoyou.

TheHolySpiritshallteachyou.

Heshallbringallthingstoyourremembrance.

PeopleoftenaskmehowIrememberthings.AtonetimeIcouldquotethree-fourthsoftheNewTestament.

"Howdoyoumemorizescripture?"

Ialwaysanswer,"Inevermemorizedscriptureinmylife.Iknownothingaboutmemorization.Isupposeyoucoulddevelopyourmindifyouworkedatit.ButIjustgettotalkinganditrisesupin me. The Holy Spirit brings it to my remembrance. He isinsideofme."

TheHolySpiritwillshowyouthingstocomeandbringthingstoyourremembranceifyouwilllearntocooperatewithHim.

Chapter19

NumberThree:TheVoiceofthe

HolySpirit

While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him,Behold,threemenseekthee.

—Acts10:19

Godleadsusbywhatwecallthestillsmallvoice.ButHealsoleadsusbythevoiceoftheSpiritofGodspeakingtous.ThisisthethirdwayweareledbytheSpirit.

(Number one is by the inwardwitness.Number two is by theinward still small voice. Number three is by the moreauthoritativevoiceoftheHolySpirit.

There is a difference between the inward voice of the HolySpiritspeakingtoourspirits,andthatstillsmallvoicewhichis

thevoiceofourownspiritspeakingtous.WhentheHolySpiritwithinyouspeaks,itismoreauthoritative.

Sometimesit issorealitalmostseemstobeanaudiblevoice;youmayeven look around to seewho said it. Itmay seem soaudiblesometimesthatyoumaythinksomeonebehindyousaidsomething.Butthenyourealizeitwasinyou.

Remember in the Old Testament how the young boy Samuelheardavoicecallhisname,"Samuel,Samuel?"HethoughtEliwascallinghim.HejumpedupandrantoElitofindoutwhathewanted.Elisaid,"No,Ididn'tcallyou."

Samuel went back to bed. Then again he heard, "Samuel,Samuel."AgainherantoEh."No,Ididn'tcallyou."Ithappenedthethirdtime.Finally,itdawnedonEliwhatwashappening.Elisaid, "The next time the Lord calls you, answerHim." So thenext time it happened, Samuel answered that voice, and theLordspokefurthertohim(1Sam.Chapter3).

HowYouCanBeLedByTheSpiritOfGodAllofGod'sleadingsaresupernatural;some,however,arenotsospectacular.But Ihavefound inmorethanfiftyyearsofministrythatwhenGodmovedinamorespectacularway—whenHehasspokentomeinwhat seemed tome to be an audible voice—itmeant therewasroughsailingahead.IfHehadnotspokensospectacularlyIwouldnothavestayedsteady.

ConcerningthelastchurchIpastored,forexample,Iheardthepastoratewasopenand Imadearrangements topreach thereoneWednesdaynight.DuringtheperiodoftimebeforeIwastogo there to preach, I held a three-week revival in Houston.During this revival, the pastor, his brother (who was also apreacher),andImetatthechurcheverydaytoprayaboutthenight services. The church with the open pastorate was theirhomechurch.Everyday thepastorandhisbrotherwouldaskme,"Haveyouprayedaboutthatchurchyet?"

Finally,Ididprayaboutit.IjustsaidtotheLord,"I'mgoinguptothatchurchnextMondayandI'mgoingtopreachWednesday.Idon'tknowwhetherYouwantmetopastorthereornot.Idon'tknowifIevenwanttopastorit.

ButwhateverYousayaboutitisfinewithme."

That is all I said. Then I heard a voice speak so plainly, Ijumped. I looked behind me. I really thought that one of thepreachershadheardmeprayandwasjokingwithme,becauseIheardthisvoice,andtomeitwasaudible.Thevoicesaid,"Youare the next pastor at that church, and that will be the lastchurchyouwilleverpastor."

(Youcouldinterpretthatathousanddifferentways!

You could let thedevil tell you that youweregoing todie, orthatyouweregoingtobedefeated.But itactuallymeantthatmyministrywouldchangetoafieldministry.)Aboutthenthosetwopreacherswalkeddowntheaisle.

Asusual,theyasked,"Haveyouprayedaboutthatchurchyet?"

Isaid,"Youtwofellowsarelookingatthenextpastor."

"Oooh, if you knew that church likewe know it, youwouldn'tsay that. It's split right down the middle. Anything half thechurchisfor,theotherhalfisagainst.Ittakestwo-thirdsofthevotetogetelectedaspastor,andwe'lljustbehonestwithyou,youwon'tbeabletogetelected."

"Idon'tknowaboutthat.IjustknowI'mthenextpastor."

"Well,youdon'tknowthatchurchlikewedo."

I said, "No, but I know Jesus.And I know theSpirit ofGod. IknowwhatHesaidtome."

AfterIpreachedthefirsttime,IsawwhyGodmovedinsuchaspectacularway.EverywordIspokebouncedrightbacktomelikearubberballbouncingoffthebackwall.Itwastough.

I thought Iwas only going to preach one night, but they hadmadearrangementsformetopreachseveralnights.

Each night my wife and children and I had to move to adifferent place to stay. We were at one deacon's house onenight,andanotherdeacon'shousethenextnight.

Onedeacontoldus,"Ifyoustayedwithmeallthetime,someofthe rest of the congregation would probably get jealous andthinkI'mforyouandtheywouldvoteagainstyou."

Wekeptallourthingsinthecar,andeverynightwewouldgetoutjustenoughforthenextday.Andeverynightwhenwegotofftobed,Iwouldsaytomywife,"IfGod80

How You Can Be Led By The Spirit Of God hadn't spoken sospectacularly tome, Iwould justgetup,get the children,getintothecar,andleavewithoutsayingawordtoanyone."

Myfleshwantedtoleavesobadly.Mymindwantedtoleave.MyspiritheldmesteadybecauseGodhadspokentomeinsuchaspectacularway.

Theyhadtheelection. Igoteveryvote.Everyonesaid, It's thegreatestmiracleofthecentury—thatanyonecouldgetthatkind

ofvotefromthischurch."

IknewallthetimeIwouldgetit.TheSpiritofGodhadtoldmeIwould.

Chapter20

JudgingBytheWord

Proveallthings....

—1Thessalonians5:21

Alwaysrememberthis:theBibleteachesthattheSpiritofGodandtheWordofGodagree.AnytimetheSpiritofGodspeakstoyou,itwillalwaysbeinlinewiththeWord.

People have heard "voices" and have gotten every kind of"revelation"youcanimagine.Somepeoplearealwaysclaimingtohearavoice.

You can, and you should, judge these things. You can judgewhether spiritual experiences are right or wrong simply byjudgingthembytheWord.

SeveralyearsagoIwaspreachinginCalifornia.Awomanwhohad invited the pastor, his wife, and me to her home for thenoonmealsaid,"BrotherHagin,IwanttotellyouwhattheLordsaidtome.Iwanttogiveyoumyrevelation."

BeforesheopenedhermouthIsensedbytheinwardwitnessinmyspiritthatsomethingwasnotright.Butshepersisted,andIagreed to listen. She had fed us in her lovely home, and nowshewantedtogivemethis"revelation."ShebegantorelateitandshetalkedforabouttenminutesbeforeIstoppedher.Ijustcouldn'tstandanymore.

"Please," I said, "wait a minute. There's a Bible there on thetableby thechair.Pick itupandopen it to ____" IgaveherachapterandverseintheNewTestament."Readthat."

Shereadit.ThenIgaveheranotherverseofscripture.

Shereadit.Ipointedhertoseveralscriptures.Everythingshereadcontradictedwhatshesaid.

Isaid,"See,Icannotacceptwhatyouaresaying.ItisnotinlinewiththisBook.ThereforeitcannotbetheSpiritofGod."

"But,BrotherHagin,Iwasprayingatthealtar."

Isaid,"Idon'tcareifyouwereprayingontopofthechurch.It'sstillnotright.ItisnotinlinewiththeWord."

"Yes,butIknowGodgavethistome."

Isaid,"No,Hedidn't.ThisisHisWordandwhatyouaresayingis indirectopposition towhat theWordofGodsays.Canyougivemeanyscripturetosubstantiatewhatyouaresaying?"

"No.ButIknowIheardthisvoicespeaktome."

"Ijustgaveyoufivescriptures,andwithalittlethoughtIcouldhavegivenyoutwenty,thatcontradictwhatyouaresaying."

"Well,yes,"shesaid,"butBibleornoBible,IknowGodspoketomeandIamgoingtostaywithit."

Asweleft,thepastorsaidtome,"Ididn'twanttosayanythingtoyoubefore,butthisdearwomanwasafinesaintofGod,onfirefortheLord.Shewasablessingtothechurch.NowshehasbeenputoutofeveryFullGospelchurchinthecitybecauseshepersistsinpushingthisrevelationoffoneveryone."

Wearenottoseekvoices.

Weshouldnotfollowvoices.

WeshouldfollowtheWordofGod.

IpreachedameetinginOregoninthesummerof1954.

At thecloseofoneof the firstservices, Iwas layinghandsonthepeoplewhostoodinthelongprayerline.Iaskedeachonewhat they had come forward for before Iministered to them.When Icame toonewoman,herhusbandwhohadherby thearm said, "We have come for my wife's healing." He told meshe'dhadamentalbreakdown.

IdidnotknowthiswomanwasaformerSundaySchoolteacherin that church, nor that her husband was a deacon in thechurch.

ButwhenIlaidhandsonher,inasecondoftimejustlikeitranoffonatelevisionscreen,Iknewallaboutthissituation.Iknewit by the spiritual gift called the word of knowledge (1 Cor.12:8). I saw this woman in a large tent meeting in one ofOregon's largest cities. I saw her sitting in the congregationwiththousandsofpeople.SheheardtheevangelisttellhowGodspoke to him in an audible voice and called him into theministry.

Idonotdoubtthat.Thiswomanfailedtorealize,however,thatthisevangelistdidnotaskGod to speak tohim thatway.GodjustdiditonHisown.WehavenorighttoseekthatGodwouldspeaktousinanaudiblevoice.IfGodtoldusHewouldinHis

Word, then all of us would have a right to claim it. But thisevangelist hadn't even particularly expected God to speak inthatway—butifGodwantsto,Hecan,andHesawfittodosointhatparticularcase.

Atthetimethiswomanheardtheevangelist tell that,shewasallrightmentally.But thenshebegantoseekGodtospeaktoher inanaudiblevoice—andthedevilaccommodatedher.Shebegan to hear voices. They drove her insane. She was nowabouttobetakentotheasylumforthesecondtime.

Ialsosawthisinthespirit:Herhusbandhadtakenhertothissame evangelist for deliverance. She did not receivedeliverance.Nowherhusbandblamedthatevangelist.

Thenherhusbandhadtakenhertoanotherleadingevangelist.She had failed to be delivered. Now her husband was angrywith that other evangelist too. I knew she would not bedelivered if I laid hands on her, and then he would be angrywithme.SoItookmyhandoffofher.

Isaidtotheman,"Takeyourwifeintothepastor'sstudy.Waitthere.WhenIfinishthisline,Iwilltalkwithyou."

Afterwewere finishedwith the healing line, the pastor and Iwentintothestudytogether.

"Firstofall,"Isaidtothiscouple,"IhaveneverbeentoOregonbefore.Ihaveneverseenyoufolksbefore.Idon'tevenknowifthepastorknowsyou."

Thepastorsaid,"He'soneofourdeacons."

"Well," I said, "the pastor will tell you he has not told meanything."

ThenIrelatedwhatIhadseen.

Thedeaconsaid,"That'sexactlyright."

"Now,"Isaid,"IwilltellyouwhyIdidn'tministertoyourwife.Yousee,shewantstohearthesevoices."

ThenIsaid,"Sheisnotthatfargonementallythatshedoesn'tknowwhatIamsaying."

Shespokeup,"Iknowexactlywhatyouaresaying."

Isaid,"Sister,youarenotgoingtobedelivereduntilyouwanttobedelivered.Aslongasyoulikeitthewayit is—aslongasyouwanttohearthesevoices—youaregoingtohearthem."

Shesaid,"Iwanttohearthem."

Aslongasasinnerwantstoliveinsin,Godwilllethimliveinsin.But if hewants to change,Godwillmeethimanddeliverhim.

AndeventhoughapersonisaChristian,thatdoesnotmeanheloses his free moral agency. He does not become a robot—amachinewherebyGodpushesabuttonandheautomaticallyhastodowhateverGoddesires.He is still a freemoral agent.Aslongashewants things like theyare, theywill stay thatway.ButifhewantstocooperatewithGod,hecanbehelped.

Thiswomansaid,"That'sthewayIwantit."

Isaid,"IknewthattheminuteItouchedyou.That'sthereasonI didn't minister to you. As long as you want it this way, it'sgoingtobethisway."

DONOTSEEKVOICES!

1CORINTHIANS14:10

10There are, itmay be, somany kinds of voices in theworld,andnoneofthemiswithoutsignification.

WearenottoacceptanythingwithoutexaminingitinthelightoftheWordofGod.

I am glad that I learned some of these things early in life. ImentionedIreceivedmyhealingasayoungboybyjustactingonMark11:23and24.

I was bornwith a deformed heart. I never ran and played asother children did. I became bedfast four months before mysixteenth birthday. My body became practically totallyparalyzed.IwastedawayuntilIweighedonly89pounds.

One day I asked the fifth doctor on the case, "Is somethingwrongwithmyeyesight,orwithmyblood?

WhenDr.Mathistookbloodfrommyfinger,itdidn'tlookred."

Thisdoctorsaid,"Iwilltellyouthetruth,son.AndIwillexplainit toyou in layman'sterms.Thewhitebloodcorpuscleseatupthe red corpuscles faster than you can build them up, or we,medically,candoanythingaboutit.

If you didn't have the heart condition, if you didn't have theparalysis,thisincurableblooddiseasealonewouldprovefatal."

Iknewnothingaboutdivinehealing.Ididn'tknowanyoneinallthe world believed in divine healing. When I found it in theBible, I thought I had found something no one else knewanythingabout.AndIactedonGod'sWordandwashealed.

The members of my family were what we call nominalChristians. Literally, they were baby Christians. They weresaved, but they were not taught beyond that. They wereignorant of theWord of God concerning healing. (Our churchtaughtGodcouldheal,ifHewould.OtherstaughtnotonlythatHewouldnotheal,butthatHecouldnotheal.)SowhenIbegantoseecertainthingsintheBibleandbegantotalktomyfamilyabout them, they discouragedme. I had enough sense just tostaywiththeBibleandkeepthosethingstomyself.

NoonewasintheroomwhenIreceivedmyhealing.Ihadbeengetting up andwalking around the room for a couple of daysbeforeIsaidtoMomma,"Pleasebringmeapairofshoesandsocks,someunderclothes,andapairofpantsandashirt.(Ihadwornnothingbutbedclothesfor16months.)Iamgoingtogetupandgotothebreakfasttableinthemorning."

"Oh,son,doyouknowwhatyou'redoing?"

It tookme45minutesto talkher intothenotionof layingoutthoseclothesforme.

Wemadeourhomewithmygrandparentsonmymother'sside,andIaskedmymothernottotelltherestofthefamily.

Nowyoucouldjustmarkitdown.Grandpagotupearlyandsatoutontheporchswing.Whenyouheardthatporchswingcreakashegotupandheaded toward thebackof thehouse to thediningroom,therewasnouseinlookingatyourwatch;itwas7:30.Grandpa ranon schedule. If youdid lookat yourwatch,anditdidn'tsay7:30,youhadbettersetit.Itwas7:30.

Mybedroomwasinthefrontofthehouse.At7:30thatAugustmorningIheardthatporchswingcreak.Iheardhisfootstepsashewalkedtothebackofthehouse.Iwasalreadyfullyclothed,sittinginachairinmyroom.Igavethemtimetogetseatedatthe table. Then I walked out of my room, across anotherbedroom,andintothediningroom.

Theydidnotexpectthat.Grandpa,amanoffewwords,lookedupandsaid,"Isthedeadraised?IsLazarusraisedup?"

Isaid,"Yes,theLordhasraisedmeup."

Thenheaskedmetooffertheblessing.Iprayed.Andweate.Itisamazinghowquicklyyoucaneat if youdon't talk somuch.You didn't talk atGrandpa's table—especially the young folks.Within15minuteswewerefinished.

Iwentbacktomyroom.Itwastenminutestill8o'clock.IknewMomma would come in about 8 o'clock to make up the bed.Usually I was in it and she would givememy bath. Just two

days before, the day I was healed, she had bathedme. I wasthathelpless.SothisThursdaymorning,eventhoughmyheartwasbeatingright,Ifeltweakfromexertingsomuchenergy.

SoIthought,I'mjustgoingtoliedownacrossthebedandresttillMomma comes to clean the room. Then I'll goout and sitwithGrandpaintheswing.Ihadinmindtowalkuptownabout10o'clock.

I dozed off to sleep and slept ten minutes. At 8 o'clock Isuddenly became wide awake. I thought Momma was in theroom.Someonewas in theroom. Ididn'tseehim,but Iheardthisvoice—tomeitwasaudible.

The voice spoke in a slow, deep monotone and even quotedscripture.Itsaid,"ANDWHATISYOURLIFE?

IT IS EVEN A VAPOR THAT APPEARETH FOR A TIME, ANDTHENVANISHETHAWAY."

Therewasapause.

Thenthevoicesaid,"ANDTODAYTHOUSHALTSURELYDIE."

EveryvoiceisnotGod.ThefirstaudiblevoiceIeverheardwasthe devil, but I didn't recognize that then. I thoughtGodwasrightthereinthatroom.

I sat up in the bed. Thoughts came intomymind faster thanmachine gun bullets fly. I knew James said, "Forwhat is yourlife? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, andthenvanishethaway" (James4:14). Iknewthatwasscripture.And I knew the Lord told Isaiah to tell Hezekiah, "Set thinehouseinorder:forthoushaltdie,andnotlive"(Isa.38:1).

Also, for the first six months of being bedfast, before I hadknown about divine healing, I had prayed the only way Iunderstood. The doctors had said I had to die and I hadaccepted it,so Ihadprayed,"Lord, just letmeknowaheadoftime,soIwillhavetimetotelleveryonegood-bye."

SowhenIheardthisvoicespeakingtome, I thoughtGodhasmovedinthissupernaturalwaytoletyouknowyouaregoingtodie so you will have time to tell everyone good-bye. Divinehealingisright.Youhavebeenhealed.

(Thedevilcouldn'targuethat.IalreadyhadtheWordonthat.)Yourfamilyknowsyouhavebeenhealed.Theycanseethat.Butremember,theBiblesaid"Itisappointeduntomenoncetodie,"andyourappointedtimehascome.Youaregoingtodietoday."

I got up off the bed and I tiptoed across the room (I thoughtGodwasstandingrightinthatroom)andIsatdowninachairbythewindow.ThereIwaited,fromabout8:30inthemorninguntil2:30intheafternoon,todie.

About2:30,stillsittinginthatchair,somewordscamefloatingupfromsomewheredowninsideme.Ididn'tknowthenwhatIknownow.ButIwasbornoftheSpirit.TheHolySpiritwasinmyspirit.AndHeistheOnewhowrotetheBible.Holymenofoldwrote as theyweremoved by the Spirit ofGod. TheHolySpiritknowswhatisinthatBook.BecauseHewasinme,thenmyspiritknewsomethingsthattheHolySpiritknows.

So these words came floating up from somewhere inside meintomymind,WithlonglifewillIsatisfyhim,andshowhimmysalvation.

Ididn'tlistentothem.Ijustletthemfloatawayfromme.Istillsattherewaitingtodie.

Thesecondtime,thesewordscamefloatingupfrominsidemeintomymind,WithlonglifewillIsatisfyhim,andshowhimmysalvation.

Ipickedthemupandturnedthemoveracoupleoftimesinmymind. Then I thought, Yes, but God has moved in thissupernaturalwaytoletmeknowIamgoingtodietoday.WhenIgotmymindonthat,thosewordsdisappeared.

Thethirdtime,asIsatthereandthesewordscamefloatingup,that inward something said to my mind,With long life will Isatisfyhim,andshowhimmysalvation.

Foramoment,Ipickedthemupandrepeatedthemjustinmymind.ThenIsaid,inawhisper,"Yes,butGodhasmovedinthissupernaturalwaytoletmeknowthatIamgoingtodie."Again,whenIgotmymindonthat,Imissedit.

The fourth time,a littlemoreauthoritatively, theSpiritofGodspoke.Ijumped.Ithoughtsomeonehadslippedupbehindme.ThevoiceoftheSpiritofGodsaid,"WithlonglifewillIsatisfyhim,andshowhimmysalvation."

Isaid,"Whosaidthat?"Imeant,Whoisinthisroomtalkingtome?

Butthevoiceansweredandsaid,"The91stPsalm."

MyBiblewasonthefloorunderthechairIhadbeensittinginallday.Ihadn'tevenlookedatit.IpickeditupnowandturnedtoPsalm91.WhenIgotdowntotheend,sureenough,itsaid,"WithlonglifewillIsatisfyhim,andshewhimmysalvation"(v.

16).

Butdoyouthinkthedevilwillgiveupthatquickly?

Oh,no.Anothervoice—itseemed likesomethingsittingonmyshoulder—said inmynatural ear andmind, "Yes, but that's intheOldTestament. That's just for the Jews.That's not for theChurch."

Isatthereandthoughtforamoment.ThenIsaid,"IknowwhatI'll do. I will runmy references. If I can find anything in theNewTestamentlikethatIwillknowitbelongstomeandtotheChurch."

IstartedwithPsalm91.Areferenceto"withlonglife"

ledmeintoProverbs.ThentheWordbegantoenlightenme.InProverbs Ibegan to see that that firstaudiblevoicecouldnothavebeenGod.

The voice had quoted Hebrews 9:27, "And as it is appointeduntomen once to die, but after this the judgment, " but hadmisinterpreted it. Because the devil knew I didn't know anybetter, thevoicehadsaid,"Everyonehasanappointedtimetodie." You hear people say that all the time. Even born-again,Spirit-filledChristianssay,"Whenyourtimecomes,you'regoingtodie."Thatisnottrue.Youdonothaveanappointedtimetodie.

I read in theBookofProverbs again andagain that if youdocertain things, your days will be shortened. But doing otherthingswilladduntoyoulengthofdays.IknewGod'sWordwasright.Iknewthateventhoughthatvoicepickedaverseoutofachapterandgaveittome,itcouldnothavebeenGod,becauseitwasnotinlinewiththerestoftheWordofGod.

I continued to run references. This brought me over into theNewTestament.IcameovertoEphesians6:1-3.AndthenintoFirstandSecondPeter.AndIfoundthatPaulandPeterquotedtheOldTestamentconcerninglonglife(1Peter3:8-12;2Peter1:3).

I jumped up out of that chair with my Bible in one hand. Idoubledupmy fist, kickedwithmy foot, and said, "Devil, yougetoutofhere.Thatwasyoutalkingtome.

That was you that spoke to me in that supernatural voice. IwantyoutoknowthatI'mnotgoingtodietoday!AndI'mnotgoingtodietomorrow!AndI'mnotgoingtodienextweek!AndI'mnotgoingtodienextmonth!AndI'mnotgoingtodienextyear! And I'm not going to die the next 5 years! And I'm notgoingtodiethenext10years!AndI'mnotgoingtodiethenext

15years!AndI'mnotgoingtodie thenext20years!AndI'mnotgoingtodiethenext25years!AndI'mnotgoingtodiethenext30years!AndI'mnotgoingtodiethenext40years!AndI'mnotgoingtodiethenext50years!AndI'mnotgoingtodiethenext55years!

God'sWordsays,"WithlonglifewillIsatisfythee"

(Ps.91:16).AndI'mgoingtogoonlivinguntilIamsatisfied!

Chapter21

MySpirit?TheFlesh?OrTheHolySpirit?

ThespiritofmanisthecandleoftheLord....

—Proverbs20:27

Someonemightask,"HowcanItellwhetheritismyownspirit,ortheHolySpirittellingmetodosomething?"

ThespiritofmanisthecandleoftheLord.

"Butitmayjustbemewantingtodoit."

Defineyourterms.Ifby"me"youmeantheflesh,ofcourseyoucannotalwaysobeytheflesh.Butifby"me"

youmean the inwardman, the real you, then it is all right toobey the inwardman.Goaheadanddowhathewantsyou todo.

If your spirit is a new creature inChrist Jesus and old thingshave passed away and all things are become new, and yourspirithasthelifeandnatureofGodinitandtheHolySpiritinit, andyour spirit is in fellowshipwithGod—it isnotgoing totell you to do something that is not right. If you are a Spirit-filled Christian, your inward man has the Holy Spirit in Hisfullness—not in a measure, but in His fullness—making Hishomeinyou.

ItisnottheinwardmanoftheChristianthatwantstodowrong—itistheoutwardman.Yououghttobeabletotellwhetheritisthefleshwantingtodosomething,orthespirit.Hereisatextthathasbeenapuzzletomany:

1JOHN3:9

9WhosoeverisbornofGoddothnotcommitsin;forhisseedremainethinhim:andhecannotsin,becauseheisbornofGod.

Thisistalkingabouttheinwardman.Physicallywearebornof

humanparentsandwepartakeoftheirnature.

SpirituallywearebornofGodandpartakeofHisnature.

God'snatureisnotthenaturetodowrong.

I havemissed it a lot of times as a Christian. Butmy inwardmandidnotsin.Hedidn'tevenagreewithmewhenIdidsin.Hetriedtogetmenottodoit.MyheartweptbecauseIsinned.I allowedmy flesh to dominate and Imissed it, butmy spiritnever did consent to it. God's seed is inmy spirit, not inmyflesh.

If you continue to allow your flesh to dominate you, you willcontinue to miss it. If you continue to let your natural minddominate you, and do not get your mind renewed with theWord,youwillcontinuetomissit.

That's why Paul wrote born-again, Spirit-filled Christians atRome and told them to do two things: First, they were topresent their bodies, and second, they were to renew theirmindswiththeWord(Rom.12:1,2).

Until yourmind is renewedwith theWord of God, your fleshandyourunrenewedmindwilldominateyourspirit.

ThatwillkeepyouasababyChristian—acarnalChristian.

PaulsaidtothechurchatCorinth,"I,brethren,couldnotspeakunto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as untobabesinChrist"(1Cor.3:1).

"Foryeareyetcarnal..., "hesaid (v.3).One translationsays,"Foryouareyetbody-ruled."

Thenhetoldthem,"...and[ye]walkasmen"(v.3).

Another translationsays, "Yewalkasmeremen."Whatdidhemean?Hemeant theywerewalkinganddoing things just likeunsavedmendo.

When you get your mind renewed with the Word, then yourmindwillsideinwithyourspiritinsteadofwithyourbody.Andthe two of them—your spirit through your mind—will controlyourbody.

Myspiritwillnottellmesomethingwrong.IthasthenatureofGodinit;ithasthelifeofGodinit;ithastheloveofGodinit;andithastheSpiritofGodinit.

2PETER1:4

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and

preciouspromises:thatbytheseyemightbepartakersofthedivinenature....

WearebornofGod.Thenwe feedon theWordofGod.Bysodoingwearepartakersofthedivinenature,God'snature.Ifwehave the divine nature in us, our spirit will not tell us to dosomethingwrong.

Whateveryourspirittellsyouwillberight.

Chapter22

IPerceive

Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was nowdangerous, because the fast was now already past, Pauladmonishedthem,Andsaiduntothem,Sirs,Iperceivethatthisvoyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of theladingandship,butalsoofourlives.

—Acts27:9,10

Paulsaid,"Iperceive...."Hedidnotsay,Ihavearevelation.Hedidnotsay,theLordtoldme.Hesaid,"Iperceive."

Howdidheperceiveit?

Bytheinwardwitness.Hedidnotperceiveitmentally.

He did not perceive it physically. In his spirit he had thiswitness.

Afamilyofsevenhadgoneouttoeat.Thefamilyhadnotbeenat the restaurant very long when the father suddenly said,"Let'sgohome."

"Why?"

"Idon'tknow.Ijusthaveanurge,aperception,thatweshould."

They rushed home. A fire had started. If they had waited,everythingwouldhaveburned.Buttheinwardwitnesswarnedthemintime.

Iftheirhomehadburneddown,someonemighthavesaid,"Goddidthat.Hehadsomepurposeinit."

No,wehavemisseditbecausewehaven'tlistenedontheinside—inourspirits.Wehavenotbeenspirit-conscious.

YoucannotfindanywhereintheBiblewhereGodcausesthesethingstohappentoteachHispeople96something.Ifthoseonthat shiphad listened toPaul, they couldhave saved the ship

andthemerchandise.Asitwas,theylosteverythingandalmostlosttheirlives.Theywouldhavelosttheirlives,too,iftheyhadnotstartedlisteningtoPaul.

Godisnotanenemy!Heistryingtohelpus!Heisnotworkingagainstus!Heisworkingforus!

Aswebecomemorespirit-consciouswecanlearnhowtobettercooperatewithHim.

Remember that the primarywayGod leadsHis children is bytheinwardwitness.

Chapter23

SpectacularGuidance

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto theheavenlyvision.

—Acts26:19

GodleadsustodayjustlikeHeledthefirstChristians.

HisWordworks now just like it did then. It has not changed.TheSpiritofGodhasnotchanged.Goddoesnotchange.

TheearlybelieversdidnothaveoneChurchbackthen,andwehaveanotherChurchnow.Wehavemadeamistakeinthinkingthat.Weareinthesameagetheywerein—theChurchAge.Weare in the sameChurch.Wehave the sameHolySpirit. Ithasseemedtous,however,thattheyhadawholelotwedon'thave.Notso.

"ForasmanyasareledbytheSpiritofGod,theyarethesonsofGod"(Rom8:14).TherearesonsofGodtoday.

AndtheSpiritofGodisstillleadingsonsofGod.

Sowe look into theActsof theApostlesandelsewhere in theBible to see how the Spirit of God led them. At times somereceived guidance through a vision.Others received guidancefromanangelwhoappearedandtoldthemwhattodo.

Suchphenomena,however,didnothappeneveryday in thesepeople's lives. They occurred once or twice in a lifetime formost.SothesearenottheordinarywaysGodleads.Wegettheimpressionthatnearlyeverydayanangelappearedtosomeoneandtoldthemsomething.Thatisnotso.

Toomany times while God is trying to bear witness with ourspirit,tryingtoguideusthewayHesaidHewouldinHisWord,wedonotlistenbecausewewantsomethingsuchasavisionor

anangeltoappear.

Wehavenorighttoseekavision.Wehavenorighttoaskforanangel.Therearenoscriptureswhichsaythatweshould.WedohavearighttoclaimwhattheBiblepromises.IfGodwantstosendanangel,fine.IfHewantstogiveavision,fine.

AsayoungministerIdidthesamethingmostChristianshavedoneinthebabyhoodstageoftheirChristianity.Iheardpeopletalking about visions and angels, and I prayed something likethatwouldhappentome.Itneverdid.

ThenImaturedspirituallysothatIneverexpectedittohappen.Ididnotpraythatitwouldhappen.Ididnotexpectit.Butbackin1949,IwasprayingonedayinthelastchurchIpastored.IhadshutmyselfupinthechurchtowaitonGodbecauseIhadawitnessinmyspiritthatIshoulddoso.ThentheHolySpirit—notmyspirit—spoketome.

BeforeItellyouwhatHesaid,lookatthefollowingpassageofscripturewithmeandseehowPetersawavisionandthenwasledbythevoiceoftheSpiritofGod:

ACTS10:9-11

9Onthemorrow,astheywentontheirjourney,anddrewupnighuntothecity,Peterwentupuponthehousetoptoprayaboutthesixthhour:

10Andhebecameveryhungry,andwouldhaveeaten:butwhiletheymadeready,he fell intoatrance,11Andsawheavenopened,andacertainvesseldescendinguntohim,asithadbeenagreatsheetknitatthefourcorners,andletdowntotheearth.

GodshowedPeterthroughavisionthatHewasgoingtobringintheGentiles.Nowwewillskiptoverse19:

ACTS10:19,20

19WhilePeterthoughtonthevision,THESPIRIT

SAIDuntohim.Behold,threemenseekthee.

20Arisetherefore,andgettheedown,andgowiththem,doubtingnothing:forIhavesentthem.

Thesewere threemen fromCornelius' household. After Peterwent to Cornelius' house in Caesarea and preached to theseGentiles,hewentuptoJerusalemwheretheBiblesays,"...theythatwereofthecircumcisioncontendedwithhim" (Acts11:2).InActs chapter11,Peter is rehearsingwhathadhappened to

himinActschapter10.

ACTS11:11,12

11 And, behold, immediately there were three menalready come unto the house where I was, sent fromCaesareauntome.

12 AND THE SPIRIT BADE ME GO with them, nothingdoubting....

The Holy Spirit spoke to Peter. It may have been that Peterlookedaroundtoseewhohadspokentohim,Idon'tknow.ButheknewthattheSpiritofGodbadehimgo.

TheSpiritspoketomeasIwaswaitingthereinmychurch.TheHolySpiritsaid,"Iamgoingtotakeyouontorevelationsandvisions."

Immediately,revelations,inlinewiththeWord—I'mnottalkingabout something out of line with the Bible—began to come.Thenin1950thevisionsbegantocome.

Jesus Himself appeared to me and talked to me on variousoccasions.Therewerealsoothervisions.

Chapter24

TheSpiritBadeMeGo

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certainprophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that wascalled Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which hadbeen brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As theyministered to the Lord and fasted THE HOLY GHOST SAID,SeparatemeBarnabasandSaulfortheworkwhereuntoIhavecalledthem.

—Acts13:1,2

TheHolyGhostsaid.Itwouldbeofinterest,firstofall,tonoticeunderwhatconditionstheHolyGhostsaidsomething."As theyministeredtotheLord,andfasted,theHolyGhostsaid...."

Iamconvincedweneedtohaveserviceswhereweministertothe Lord. Too often we just minister to one another. Biblestudiesaregood;weneedthem.Specialsingingisfine.Buttoomany timeswearenot singing to theLord;weare singing tothecongregation.Let'shavesomeserviceswhereweministerto the Lord; where we wait on Him. In that kind of anatmospheretheHolyGhostcanspeaktous.

Thiswasagroupoffiveministers.IdonotknowhowtheHoly

Ghost spoke to them. It could have been that one of theprophetsspokeitout.OfthisIamsure—theyallheardandtheyallagreedthattheHolyGhostwastalking.

TheHolyGhostsaid,"SeparatemeBarnabasandSaul for theworkwhereuntoIhavecalledthem"(Acts13:2).

Petersaid,"...TheSpiritbademego..."(Acts11:12).

After I had been in theministrymany years, death came andfasteneditselfuponmybody.Iknowwhendeathcomes;Ihavebeendeadtwiceandcameback.Iknowhowitfeels.Actually,Istarted to fall into the arms of death, when the Spirit of Godcameonmeandliftedmeup.

I heard a Voice speak. Tome it was audible. I believe it wasJesus.IknowthatitwastheHolySpiritspeaking.WediscussedearlierhowtheHolyGhostspeaksnotofHimself,butwhateverHehears,thatshallHespeak.SotheHolySpiritheardGodorJesussaythis,andHerepeatedit.

It sounded likeaman'svoice. It said, "Thoushaltnotdie,butthoushalt live. IwantyoutogoteachMypeople faith. IhavetaughtyoufaiththroughMyWord.Ihavepermittedyoutogothrough certain experiences. You have learned faith boththroughMyWordandbyexperience.

NowgoteachMypeoplewhatIhavetaughtyou.GoteachMypeoplefaith."

ThemomentthatvoiceceasedspeakingIwasperfectlywell.

IhaveendeavoredtobeobedienttothatheavenlyVoice.ThatisthereasonIteachfaithsomuch—Iamsupposedtodoit.

IwillreferagainnowtothetimeJesusappearedtomein1959inElPaso,Texas.ItwasduringthisvisionthatHetoldme,"GoteachMypeoplehowtobeledbyMySpirit."

I have been dilatory about this. But I am going to do moreteachingonthisfromnowon.Thisisthereasonforthisbook.

Chapter25

GuidanceThroughProphecy

Followaftercharity,anddesirespiritualgifts,butratherthatyemayprophesy.

—1Corinthians14.1

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are allworkersofmiracles?

—1Corinthians12:29

Paul, speaking to the elders of the church at Ephesus in hisfarewell message, said, "And now, behold, I go bound in thespirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befallme there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city,sayingthatbondsandafflictionsabideme"

(Acts20:22,23).

Then in chapter 21,while on his journey Paul landed at Tyrewheretheshipwastobeunladen.Luke,thewriterofActs,waswith Paul. He wrote, “And finding disciples, we tarried theresevendays:whosaidtoPaulthroughtheSpirit,thatheshouldnotgouptoJerusalem”(v.4).

Paulcontinuedonhisjourney:

ACTS21:8-14

8 And the next day we that were of Paul's companydeparted, and cameuntoCaesarea: andwe entered intothehouseofPhilip theevangelist,whichwasoneof theseven;andabodewithhim.

9And the samemanhad four daughters, virgins,whichdidprophesy.

10Andaswetarried theremanydays, therecamedownfromJudaeaacertainprophet,namedAgabus.

11Andwhenhewascomeuntous,hetookPaul'sgirdle,andboundhisownhandsand feet, and said,Thus saiththeHolyGhost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalembind theman that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him intothehandsoftheGentiles.

12Andwhenweheardthesethings,bothwe,andtheyofthatplace,besoughthimnottogouptoJerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and tobreakmine heart? for I am ready not to be boundonly,but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the LordJesus.

14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased,saying,ThewilloftheLordbedone.

SomehavethoughtthatPaulmissedit.However,whenPauldidgouptoJerusalemandwasarrested,JesusstoodbyPaulinthenight.Heappearedtohiminavision.HedidnotrebukePaul.JesusdidnottellPaulthathehadmissedit.Hesaid,"...Beof

goodcheer,Paul:forasthouhasttestifiedofmeinJerusalem,somustthoubearwitnessalsoatRome"(Acts23:11).

No, Paul did not miss it.What God was doing was preparingPaulforwhatwasaheadofhim.

Noticethatwehavetwodifferentthingsoperatinghere:(1)thegiftofprophecy;(2)theministryoftheprophet.

They are different. They are not the same. It is a mistake toconfusethetwo,yetthisisoftendone.

Thefactthatoneprophesiesdoesnotmakehimaprophet.TheWord of God plainly teaches that everyone should desire toprophesy(1Cor.14:1).However,ifjustprophesyingmadeyouaprophet, then it would seem that the Lord was saying thateveryoneshoulddesiretobeaprophet.YetPaulasked,"Areallapostles?areallprophets?..."(1Cor.12:29).Theanswerisno.Sinceallcouldnotbeprophets,Godwouldnot tellus toseeksomethingwecouldnothave.

Thesimplegiftofprophecyisspeakinguntomentoedificationandexhortationandcomfort(1Cor.14:3).

Prophecyisasupernaturalutteranceinaknowntongue—yourowntongue.(Speakingintonguesissupernaturalutteranceinanunknowntongue—atongueunknowntoyou.)Prophecycanbeusedinprayer,aswellastongues.

Sometimeswhenyouareprophesying, itseemsas if therearetwo of you. It seems to me as if I am standing right besidemyself. You see, it is coming frommy inwardmanwhere theSpiritofGodwhoisprophesyingabides.IlistenwithmynaturalearstoseewhatHesaid.

There is the office of the prophet. Without going into detailabout it, we will touch the office of the prophet brieflyconcerningguidance.Foronetobeaprophet,hestandsinthatoffice and uses that ministry. Other spiritual gifts besidesprophecy must operate in his ministry. The simple gift ofprophecy, as we have said, is for speaking unto men foredification,andexhortation,andcomfort. Inthissimplegiftofprophecy there is no foretelling— no prediction whatsoever.However,intheministryoftheprophetthereisforetellingandprediction. A prophet has the revelation gifts (the word ofwisdom, the word of knowledge, and/or the discerning ofspirits)inoperationalongwithprophecy.

It is important to realize that spiritual things can bemisusedjust as natural things can bemisused. Some folks have neverrealizedthat.Theythinkthatjustbecauseit isspiritual, ithastobeperfect—thatitcannotbemisused.

I have known people who were at one time wealthy who arenowbankruptbecausetheylistenedtosomeoneprophesyhowtoinvesttheirmoney.

Irememberadearmanwhowasinoneofmymeetings.Iknewwhohewas,butIdidn'treallyknowhim.

I did not know that he would never make a business dealwithoutcallingaso-called"prophet"toprophesytohimwhattodo.

Isaidtohim,"Iseemtobeimpressedtosaythistoyou.

You are going to lose everything youhave andgobankrupt ifyoukeeplisteningtowhoeverisadvisingyou."

Hedidn'tlisten.Thepoorfellow,whowasverywealthy,losthishomeandeverythinghehad. Ihaveseen thishappennot justonetime,butmanytimes.

Ihaveseenministerswhohavelosttheirministriesbecauseofwrongprophecies.

YouhavetojudgepropheciesbytheWordofGod.IfprophecyisnotinlinewiththeWordofGod,itisnotright.

Secondly, you have to judge personal prophecies bywhat youhave in yourownspirit. If youdonothave something in yourownspirit,donotacceptapersonalprophecy.

ForyearsIhavetraveledextensivelyintheministry.

Everywhere I go there is always someone who has a "word"from the Lord for me—sometimes two or three. In all theseyearsonlyoneortwoofthemhavebeencorrect.

Donotbuildyourlifeonprophecies.Donotguideyour lifebyprophecies.BuildyourlifeontheWord!Letthoseother thingsbesecondary.PuttheWordofGodfirst!

Peoplesometimessay, "Well, ifGod isdoing it, ithas tobeallright."

Youhave torealize that it isn'texactlyGoddoing it. It ismenprophesyingundertheinspirationoftheSpiritofGod.Anythingthat man has to do with, is not perfect. The Spirit of God isperfect. The gifts of the Spirit in themselves are perfect. Buttheycertainlyarenotalwaysperfectinmanifestation,becausethey are manifested through imperfect vessels. This is thereason prophecy and tongues with interpretation need to bejudgedbytheWord.

1CORINTHIANS14:29,30

29Lettheprophetsspeaktwoorthree,andlettheotherjudge.

30Ifanythingberevealedtoanotherthatsittethby,letthefirstholdhispeace.

"Lettheprophetsspeak...."TheBibleistalkingaboutprophetshere—notjustanyonewhoprophesies.Donotacceptsomethingjust because a prophet said it. It is to be judged according totheBible.Wedonotjudgepeople.Wejudgewhatwassaid.

Now notice verse 30. "If any thing be revealed to another[prophet]...." Prophets have revelations. Others mightoccasionally,butprophetshaveaministryalongthisline.

1CORINTHIANS14:32

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to theprophets.

Somehavesaid,"Godmademedothat.Icouldn'thelpbutsaythat." The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.Thatmeansapersondoesnothavetosayit.Itcomesoutofhisspirit.Itissubjecttohim.Thegiftoftongues,theinterpretationof tongues, and prophecy operate under the unction of theSpirit.And itmightbethatGodthroughthesemethodswouldgiveusawordofknowledge,awordofwisdom,orrevelationasweneedit.

But we initiate the operation of prophecy. We initiatethe operation of tongues and interpretation. We are the oneswhohavetospeakitout.

ManytimeswhentheSpiritofGodismoving,anyonewhocanprophesycoulddoso—butthatdoesnotmeanoneshould.Also,whentheSpirit is inmanifestation,anyonewho isused in theministry gift of tongues and interpretation could speak—butthatdoesnotmeanheshould.HavethatunctionoftheSpirittodo it—otherwise just sit there and let God move throughsomeoneelsewhohasit.

Iheldaseven-weekmeetinginachurchyearsago.

Everysinglenightaboutthesametime,atthesamespotintheservice, justas theygot ready topass theofferingplates, thiswomangotupandspokewithtongues.Shesaidthesamethingintongueseverynight.AfterawhileIcouldhavesaidthesamethingsshesaid.Ifnooneelsewouldinterpretit,shewould.Itwas like someone poured cold water over the crowd. Itdeadenedtheservice.

ThepastoraskedmetoteachtheauditoriumclassoneSunday

morningwhenhehadtobeoutoftown.Thiswasunusual—butIfinishedbeforethebellrang.Oneofthedeaconssaid,"BrotherHagin,mayIaskaquestion?"

"Well,yes,"Isaid.Ithoughtitwouldbeinlinewiththelesson.

He said, "When messages in tongues with interpretation aregiven in public assembly, shouldn't they be a blessing to thecongregation?Shoulditkilltheservice?"

Thatdearwomanwassittingrightinfrontofme.

I said, "That is beside the lesson. I'd rather not get into thatrightnow."

But others, some of the leaders of the church, said, "BrotherHagin,weoughttoanswerthat."

SoIsaid,"IfitisintheSpirit,itwilllifttheservicehigh.Itwillnotpushitdown."

Thatwomanwasintelligentenoughtocatchontothat.

Shecametomeandsaid,"Ihavebeenwrong,haven'tI?"

Isaid,"Yesma'am,youhave."

Shesaid,"Ithoughtsoallthetime.Therewasawitnessontheinsideofmethatknewthat.ButIwantedtobeusedofGod.Iamgoingtostopthat."

Isaid,"Thankyou.Youarearealblessingtothechurch."

Others might have gotten angry about it saying, "They won'tallowGodtomove."

Sometimes folks do speak out, like this woman, without theunctionof theSpirit.Thisdoesnotdoawaywith the fact thather tongues were real. However, they were in imperfectoperation.Theyweremisused.

Iadmonishpeopletobeverycarefulaboutpersonalprophecies.Somanyliveshavebeenshipwreckedandruinedbynotbeingcarefulregardingpersonalprophecy.

Don'tmarrysomeonebecausesomeoneprophesiedyoushould.Ihaveseenmanysuchso-called"prophecies"

through the years. I have never seen one of those marriageswork out yet. Homes have been broken up by so-calledprophecies.

Also, don't go into theministry because somebodyprophesied

you should. Get it on the inside of you for yourself. Then if aprophecyconfirmswhatyoualreadyhave,that'sallright.Jesussaid to me when He appeared in that vision in 1959, "If theprophecyconfirmswhatyoualreadyhave,accept it. If itdoesnot,don'tacceptit."

TheHolyGhostsaid,"SeparatemeBarnabasandSaul for theworkwhereuntoIhavecalledthem"(Acts13:2).Hehadalreadycalledthem.Thiswasjustaconfirmationofit.

InthelastchurchIpastoredtherewasacertainyoungpersonwhowasbeautifulspiritually.Mywifesaidtome,"IbelievethehandoftheLordisonhim.Godiscallinghimintotheministry."

I said, "I have that conviction myself. But I am not going to"call"anyone.Iamnotgoingtotellanyonetheyarecalled,evenifIknowtheyare."

This iswhy.Whenonegets out in theministry, it isn't alwayseasy. Paul told the youngminister, Timothy, "Endure hardnessasagoodsoldier"(2Tim.2:3).Whenthewaygetshard—anditwill—youcanhavethevictory.Butitwillgethardandsomeonewhoisnotconvincedofthecallforthemselvesmaysay,"IjustwentbecauseDaddysaidso."Or,"Someoneprophesiedtome;Ireally don't know that I am called." But one who makes thatdedicationfromhisownspirit,whoknowsGodcalledhim,willstandthroughhellorhighwater.

SoIdidnotsayanythingtothisyoungperson.ThenoneSundaynightwewereallprayingaroundthealtar. IwentaroundandlaidhandsonpeopletoprayasGodwould leadme. Istoppedbesidethisyoungmanwhowaskneelinginthealtarinintenseprayer. I opened my mouth to pray, but I heard these wordscome out, "This is a confirmation of what I said to you at 3o'clock this afternoon as youwere praying down in the stormcellar.

You asked for a confirmation and this is it. That was Mespeakingtoyou."

AftertheprayerserviceIasked,"Wereyouprayingdowninthestormcellarat3o'clockthisafternoon?"

(Iwanted tocheckup—if Iamwrong, Iwant toget right. If Imiss it, I just admit, "I missed it." Don't be afraid to say, "Imissedit."WhenIfirststartedlearningtodriveacarImisseditafewtimesandranupoverthecurb.ButIdidn'tquitdrivingjust because Imissed it. Did you?We ought to have asmuchsenseaboutspiritualthings.JustbecauseImissedit,Iamnotgoingtoquit.Iamgoingtokeepgoing.IwilljustseetoitthatIdon'tmissitagain.SoIwascheckinguponittosee.)

Thisyoungpersonsaid,"Yes,Iwaspraying.Youknow,BrotherHagin,IhavefeltforsometimethatGodhadacallonmylife,butIdidn'tsayyesorno.SoIwasspendingtimedowninthecellar (which was fixed up like a nice basement) praying,meditating, reading the Bible, waiting on God. I felt that theLordspoketomeandsaid,'Ihavecalledyoutotheministry—and Iwill confirm it tonight in the service.' But I didn't knowhowHewould."

Remember—if it does not bearwitness, or confirm somethingyoualreadyhave,donotacceptapersonalprophecy.

Aslongasthegiftofprophecystaysintherealmofspeakingtomen for edification, exhortation, and comfort, it is wonderful.Encouragethat.Butmanytimessomeonewhoprophesiesmayseeaprophetministerwithawordofforeknowledge.Thenhebegins to think, "Iprophesy,so Icando that."Thenhemovesoutoftheplacewhereheshouldbe,intotheotherrealmwhereheshouldnotbe.

A woman came up to me in one of our seminars we held inTulsa.Shehadcomewithagroupfromanearbycity.Shesaid,"Brother Hagin, this is all new to us. In our town we have aweekly prayer group. I want to ask you something about it.SomeofthemthinkIamwrong,butIdon'tthinkwhatwearedoing isright.Actually, Idon'tknowif Iwouldcall itaprayermeeting—all they ever do is lay hands on one another andprophesy. They spend all afternoon prophesying over oneanother.AndIdon'tevergetanythingbutabadprophecy.

"They prophesied thatmymotherwas going to diewithin sixmonths. That was eighteen months ago and she is not dead.Thentheyprophesiedthatmyhusbandwasgoingtoleaveme.He'snotsavedbutheisafinemanandIlovehim.Heisagoodprovider. We don't have any trouble. Those are just twoexamples.Ialwaysgetpropheciesthatsomethingbadisgoingtohappen—butnothingbadhaseverhappened."

Isaid,"No,anditwon'teither.YouareachildofGod."

Shesaid,"Isn'tthatamisuse?"

Isaid,"Yes,itis."

Weneedtoknowthesethings. It isveryeasy forbabies tobemisled and misguided. We can get off track. That's why PaulwrotetothechurchatCorinthaboutthesethings.

Chapter26

GuidanceThroughVisions

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, acenturionofthebandcalledtheItalianband,adevoutman,andonethatfearedGodwithallhishouse,whichgavemuchalmsto the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a visionevidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of Godcomingintohim,andsayinguntohim....

—Acts10:1-3

SometimesGodleadsthroughvisions.

Corneliuswasadevoutman,buthewasnotbornagain.

HedidnotknowaboutJesus.HewasaJewishproselyte.

Theangelwhoappearedtohiminthisvisioncouldnotpreachthegospeltohim.Goddidnotcallangelstopreachthegospel;God calledmen to preach the gospel.However, the angel didtellCorneliuswheretosendforsomeonewhocouldpreachthegospeltohimandtellhimhowtobesaved.

Corneliussawanangelinavision.Angelsalsohavetheability,asGodpermits, to takeupon themselves a visible formwhichcanbeseenwiththenaturaleye,justasyoucanseeaphysicalperson.

HEBREWS13:2

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for therebysomehaveentertainedangelsunawares.

ThescripturecallsCornelius'experienceavision(Acts10:3).Itwasaspiritualvision.Corneliussaw into thespiritworld,andthereareangelsoutthereinthespiritworld.Ifothershadbeenpresent,theywouldnothaveseenanything.Yetiftheangelhadtakenonavisibleform,anyonecouldhaveseenit.

Therearethreekindsofvisions:spiritualvisions,trances,andopenvisions.

In a spiritual vision, you seewith the eyes of your spirit—notwithyourphysicaleye.WhenPaulsawtheLordinActs9,itwasaspiritualvision.HedidnotseeHimwithhisphysicaleyes.

ACTS9:8

8AndSaularosefromtheearth;andwhenhiseyeswereopened,hesawnoman:buttheyledhimbythehand,andbroughthimintoDamascus.

WhentheLordspoketoSaul,hiseyeswereshut.

Therefore,whateveritwasthatPaulsaw,hedidnotseeitwith

his physical eyes. We know this because the Bible says thatwhenhiseyesWEREOPENED,hewasblind.

The second type of vision is when one falls into a trance.Corneliusdidnotfallintoatrance—butPeterdid.

ACTS10:9-11

9Onthemorrow,astheywentontheirjourney,anddrewnigh unto the city, Peter went up upon thehousetop toprayaboutthesixthhour:

10Andhebecameveryhungry,andwouldhaveeaten:butwhiletheymadeready,he fell intoatrance,11Andsawheavenopened,andacertainvesseldescendinguntohim,asithadbeenagreatsheetknitatthefourcorners,andletdowntotheearth.

Whenonefallsintoatrance,hisphysicalsensesaresuspended.Hedoesnotknowwherehe is rightat themoment.He isnotunconscious, but he does not know what is going on aroundhim. He is more conscious of spiritual things than physicalthings.

ThethirdtypeofvisioniswhatIcallanopenvision.

The vision that occurred in El Paso in 1959 (which Ihavereferredtointhisbook),wasanopenvision.Myeyeswerewideopen.Myphysicalsenseswereintact.Ididnotfallintoatrance.Jesuswalkedintomyroom.IsawHimwithmyphysicaleyes.

OfallthevisionsIhavehad,onlytwowereopenvisions.ThreeofthemoccurredwhenIfellintoatrance.

Therestwerespiritualvisions.

ThereweredifferenttypesofvisionsintheActsoftheApostles.Therearedifferenttypesofvisionsnow.

For example, in visions, sometimes things are symbolic. InPeter'svisiontheywere.Hesawallmannerofcreepingthings,bothcleanandunclean.Hehadtothinkonthevisioninorderto understand it (Acts 10:19). The Spirit spoke to him as hethought upon the vision and bade him go with three men toCornelius'house.Peterstilldidn'tknowexactlywhatthevisionmeant. Butwhen hewent, things happened, and he began tounderstandthatGodhadcalledtheGentilesintoredemptionaswellastheJews.

ACTS8:26-29

26And the angel of the Lord spake untoPhilip, saying,Arise, and go toward the south unto theway that goethdownfromJerusalemuntoGaza,whichisdesert.

27Andhearoseandwent:and,behold,amanofEthiopia,aneunuchofgreatauthorityunderCandacequeenoftheEthiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, andhadcometoJerusalemfortoworship,28Wasreturning,andsittinginhischariotreadEsaiastheprophet.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and jointhyselftothischariot.

SomechurchpeopleadmitthatGodspoketotheapostlessuchasPeter,buttheysaythatsuchdivinevisitationswereonlyfortheapostles.ButPhilipwasnotanapostle.Hewaselectedasadeaconfirst(Acts6:5).Thehighestofficeheeverfilledwasthatof the evangelist (Acts 21:8). Isn't it sad that in the churchworld we have been robbed of the blessings and thesupernatural manifestations we should have had becausepeopleclosedthebookonthesupernaturalandsaid,"Thatwasjust for the apostles.All that ceasedwhen the apostles of theNewTestamentdied."

ACTS9:10-12

10AndtherewasacertaindiscipleatDamascus,namedAnanias; and to him said the Lord in a vision,Ananias.Andhesaid,Behold,Iamhere,Lord.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into thestreetwhichiscalledStraight,andenquire inthehouseof Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, heprayeth,

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananiascoming in, and putting his hand on him, that hemightreceivehissight.

Ananiaswasnotadeacon.Hewasjustadisciple.Hewaswhatwewouldcallalayman.YettheLordusedhim.

WeshouldallputourselvesinapositionwhereGodcanuseusasHeseesfit.Wedon'thavetowaitforavisionbeforewedosomethingforGod.Godmaygiveusavision,orHemaynot.Anangelmayappeartous,oronemaynot.

It was a great privilege for me to speak in the church of acertain greatman of Godwhen hewas past seventy years ofage.HehadbeenfilledwiththeSpiritwaybackattheturnofthecenturyandhadgoneouttoChinaasamissionaryin1912.Hetoldmeofmanymarvelousexperienceshe'dhad.

HehadaBiblestudyeveryFridaynightinhischurch.

(Ibelievehewasoneof theworld's foremostBible teachers—andIhaveheardmostofthem.)Herelatedthistome:Hesaidhe would teach certain subjects as the Lord directed, but healso let the congregation suggest subjects by writing themdownon a slip of paper.On one occasion, themajority of thecongregationwrote, "Wewould like some teaching on angels.Wehaveneverheardanyteachingonthatsubject."

He had spent a number of years teaching in one of the bestPentecostal Bible schools, and he thought he could cover thesubject in two weeks. But he said, "The more I studied, thebigger it got. I taught six weeks and still did not cover thesubject."

ThismanwasanofficialofhisFullGospeldenomination.Soonafterthisteachingonangelshewasinabusinessmeetingwithleaders of that denomination. One matter of discussionconcerned the report that a minister of their denominationclaimedtohaveseenanangel.Hesaidthattheangelinstructedhimconcerninghisministry.Theywereabout tobarhimfromthedenomination.

ThisBible teacher said, "I just sat there and listened. I didn'tevencomment.IneverdidtalkunlessIwascalledontotalk.Icould see the trend; theywere about ready to turn this otherministeroutofthedenomination."

Finally,onebrothergotupandsaid,"IbelieveweoughttohearfromBrotherS.Hehasbeenwithusfromthebeginningofthemovement.HeisoneofourmostableBibleteachers.Let'shearwhathehastosay."

Hetoldmehebeganbytellingthemaboutthestudyofangelshehadjustcompletedandtaughtinhischurch.

Thenhesaid,"Iamnottheleastbitconcernedbecauseoneoutofseveralthousandofourministershasseenanangel.

The thing that disturbsme is whymore of us are not seeingthem.

"Thensecondly,"hetoldthem,"ifwearegoingtoturnthismanout for seeing an angel who instructed him concerning hisministry,whatarewegoingtogiveourpeopleintheplaceofit?Do we have anything better? anything more supernatural?anythingmoreScriptural? Ifwedonot, I thinkwehadbetterstaywithwhatwehave."

Quickly,someonejumpedtohisfeetandsaid,"Imovethatwetable this and forget all about it." They voted unanimously to

leaveitalone.

In 1963, my office occupied only the den of my little framehome in Garland, Texas. It wasn't really much of an office atthat.Somemeninanothercitycontactedme.Theysaid,"Ifyouwillmoveyourofficetothiscity,wewillsetupanofficeforyou.Wewillbuyall theofficeequipment,hire the secretaries, andpay their salaries. You won't have to pay anything. Let's getsomeofyourmaterialpublished."

Anotherman,whowasanelectronictechnician,said,"BrotherHagin,ifyouwillletme,Iwillmaketapesofallyoursermons.Itwon'tcostyouathing.Iwillfurnishallthematerialsfreeofcharge."

Those offers sounded good. You would think God must be inthem.Butabout that timeIwasprayingwithacertaingroup.WewerehavingspecialtimesofministeringtotheLord.Itwasthe kind of atmosphere Acts 13:1 and 2 speaks of—anatmospherewhereGodwillmove.

I was sitting on the platform beside a chair, praying, whensuddenlyJesusstoodrightinfrontofme.Ihadmyeyesshut.Itwasaspiritualvision.Ididnotfallintoatrance.StandingrightbehindJesus,abouttwofeettoHisrightandthreefeetbehindHim, was a large angel. I had seen angels before—but neveronethatbig.Hemusthavebeen8feettallormore.

Jesustalkedtomeaboutsomethings.(AndeverythingHesaidcametopass.)Occasionally,whileHetalked,Iwouldglanceatthat angel. When I did, the angel would open his mouth andstarttosaysomething.WhenI lookedbacktoJesus,hewouldnotsayanything.

AfterJesusfinishedHisconversationwithme,Iasked,"Whoisthatfellow?Whatdoesherepresent?"

Jesussaid,"That'syourangel."

Isaid,"Myangel?"

"Yes,"Hesaid,"yourangel.YoureadinthescripturesthatIsaidconcerningthelittlechildrenthattheirangeliseverbeforeMyFather's face.Youdon't loseyourangel justbecauseyougrowup."

(Isn't that comforting! I have that big fellow following mearound.PraisetheLord!)

Isaid,"Whatdoeshewant?"

Jesussaid,"Hehasamessageforyou."

ThenIgotso letter-of-the-WordconsciousIcouldhavemissedtheSpirit.Isaid,"Youaretalkingtome;whydon'tYougivemethemessage?WhydoIhavetolistentoanangel?Besidesthat,theWordofGodsaysasmanyasare ledbytheSpiritofGod,theyarethesonsofGod. IhavetheHolyGhost.Whycouldn'ttheHolyGhosttalktome?"

Jesushadmercyonme,andpatiencewithme.Hesaid,"DidyoueverreadinMyWordwheretheangeloftheLordtoldPhiliptogodowntothewayofGaza?Wasn'tthatdirection?Wasn'tthatguidance?Didn'tmyangelappear toCornelius,andhewasn'tevenaborn-againman?

Didn'ttheangeltellhimwhattodo?"

HegavemeseveralmoreNewTestamentexamples.

Finally,Isaid,"That'senough.Iwilllisten."ThenIlookeduptothisbigfellowandsaid,"Whatisit?"

Hestartedthisway,"Iamsent fromthePresenceofAlmightyGodtotellyounottoletthesemen(andhecalledtheirnames)setupanofficeforyou.Theyhaveanulteriormotive.Theywillcontrol your ministry because they will have put in all themoney."

Then he called the name of the man who was the radio andelectronictechnicianandsaid,"Don't lethimhaveanyofyourtapes.Hehasanulteriormotive.Ifhegetsthemintohishands,hewillcontrol them. Iamsent fromthePresenceofAlmightyGodtotellyouthat.

"ThenIamsentfromthePresenceofAlmightyGodtotellyouthis: The money will come so that you can set up your ownoffice,haveyourownbooks,haveyourowntapes.Youwillbetheheadofit,thesoleboss,becauseIamgoingtotellyouwhattodo,andnotsomeman.Withinfourmonths,aftereverythingispaidandclearedout,youwillhaveenoughmoneytogetyouheadedthisdirection.

ForIhavesentmyangelsouttocausethemoneytocome."

When that time came, I had $4,000 which was enough to dowhattheLordhadtoldmetodo.Thatwasthebeginningofthisministry.

I could tell more, but this is enough to illustrate that thesethings do happen. But let me emphasize this—although Goddoes lead us through visions and other supernaturalmanifestations, I would encourage you NOT to seek a vision.YoucouldgetbeyondtheWordwherethedevilcandeceiveyou.Weoftenprefertohaveamoredirectwordofguidance,butwe

don'talwayshaveit.Sodon'ttrytomanufacture it, if it isnotthere.NowhereintheBibledoesitsaythatanyonewasseekingavisionwhenonecame.VisionsjusthappenedwithoutanyoneintheBibleseekingthem.

Be content, if it is all you ever have, to follow the inwardwitness.Buteducateand trainanddevelopyourhumanspiritsothatinwardwitnessbecomesmoreandmorerealtoyou.

Then, if God sees fit for supernatural visitations andmanifestations,justthankGodforthem.

Know that the angels ofGod arewith you. Your angel iswithyouwhetheryoueverseehimornot.

Chapter27

ListentoYourHeart

Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was nowdangerous, because the fast was now already past, Pauladmonishedthem,And saidunto them,Sirs, I PERCEIVE thatthisvoyagewillbewithhurtandmuchdamage,notonlyoftheladingandship,butalsoofourlives.

—Acts27:9,10

Paul did not say, "The Lord toldme" that this voyage will bewithmuchhurtanddamage.Hesimplysaid,"Iperceive"thatitwill. In his spirit, Paul had an inward perception, an inwardpremonition, an inward witness that the voyage would bedangerous.ThisistheprimarywayGodleadsallofus.

Pauldidnotperceiveitmentally.Hedidnothavesomekindof"vibration" or psychic experience. I don't like this "vibration"business.Spiritualperceptionsarenotinthepsychicrealm.YoudonotfindpsychicphenomenonintheBible.Also,Pauldidnotperceivethisphysically.Inhisspirithehadawitness.

Thatbelongstoallofus.TheHolySpiritabidinginourspiritsmustcommunicatewithusthroughourspirits—notthroughourminds.That iswhyyourspiritknowsthingsyourheaddoesn'tknow.Butwehavenotbeentaughttolistentoourspirits.Andsometimeswearereluctanttodoso.

ThereasonthatweasSpirit-filledbelieverscontinuallymissit,make mistakes, and fail is because our spirits, which shouldguide us, are kept locked away in prison, so to speak.Knowledge,orintellect,hastakenthethrone.

Anypersonwhoshutshis spiritawayandnever listens to it—because the spirit ofman is the candle of the Lord—becomes

crippled in life and becomes an easy prey to selfish anddesigningpeople.

MywifeandIheldameetingforacertainladypastor—averyspiritually beautiful woman—who related this story to meherself:

Anevangelistwascomingtotown.Hegotall thechurcheshecouldtocooperatewithhiminacity-widemeeting.Herentedthe city auditorium. It is a sorry thing to have to say, buteveryoneintheministryisnothonest.

Becausethismanhadapoorcreditrating,thecityauditoriumdemandedpaymentinadvance.Sohewentthroughthiswomanpastor.Shewasgullibleenoughtosayherchurchwouldstandresponsible for $3,000 rent and all newspaper advertising.Crowdsof2,000to3,000attendedeverynight.Hetookupalotofmoney,buthelefttownwithoutpayingonebill.Thiswoman'schurch had to take $5,000 out of their building fund to coverthisevangelist'sexpenses.

Thisladypastortoldme,"BrotherHagin,ifIhadlistenedtomyheart,Iwouldneverhavedonethat."

Isaidtoher,"Iheardyourecoveredyourmoney."

She said, "I sure did. I found out where he was holding ameeting in another state. I got an airplane ticket and wentthere.Theservicehadalreadystarted.Iwaited.JustwhentheywereabouttoturntheservicetohimImarcheddowntheaisleandtowardtheplatform.Anushertriedtostopme.Isaid,'No,I am aminister of the gospel. Iwant to see this scoundrel.' Iwalked right up on the platform and plopped myself downbesidehim.

"I said, 'I have come aftermy $5,000. Iwill take the offeringtonight.Ibroughtmyattachecasealong.Wewilldumpalltheoffering inthere.AndIwillstayaroundhereeverynightuntilmychurchrecoversallofourmoney.'

"Hesaid,'Well,nowwe...'

"I said, 'No, if you don't giveme back all ofmymoney,whenthey say they are going to turn the service over to you, I amgoingtotakethepulpitandtellthepeoplewhathappened.Andnotonlythat,Iamgoingtofollowyoufrommeetingtomeeting.Ineverymeeting, I amgoing to comeupon theplatformandmakethesameannouncementandtellthepeoplewhatyoudid.'"

Needlesstosay,intwonightsshehadhermoneyandshewasonherwayhome.Igloryinherspunk.

But thepoint Iwant tomake is this.Shesaid tome, "BrotherHagin, if I had listened to my spirit, this never would havehappened.Idon'tmeanifIhadlistenedtoavoice;Idon'tevenmean a still, small voice. I just mean if I had listened to theinwardwitness.Ihadacheckinmyspirit.IfIhadlistenedtoit,Iwouldn'thavestoodgoodforhisdebts."

If we as individuals would have listened to our hearts—to aninwardwitness, or an inward voice—wewould not have donesomethingswedid.

I have lost money by not listening to that inward witness. IknewontheinsidethatIshouldnotdosomethings.WhydidIdoit?Well,whydoanyofusnotlistentotheinwardwitness?

Butjustbecauseyoumakeamistake,don'tquit.Youdon'tquitphysicallyjustbecauseyoumakeamistake.Ifthephoneringsinthemiddleofthenightandyoustumbleoverastoolandfalldowntryingtoanswerit,youdon'tjustliethere.Yougetupandanswer the phone. Just because you bust your shins or stubyour toe physically, you don't quit. And just because you bustyourshinsorstubyourtoespiritually,youdon'tquiteither.

AsIsaid,thepersonwhokeepshisspiritshutawayandneverlistenstoitbecomescrippledinlife.Thepersonwholistenstohis spirit is theman orwoman, boy or girlwho climbs to thetop!

IfChristianswouldjustcheckupontheinsideofthem,inmostoftheaffairsoflife,theywouldknowwhattodo.

Youdonotneed to seekguidancewhen theBiblehasalreadytoldyouwhattodo.Goaheadanddoit.TheBibletellsyouhowto act in every circumstance of life. It tells husbands how totreatwives.Ittellswiveshowtotreathusbands.Ittellsparentshowto treat theirchildren. It tellschildrenhowtorespondtotheir parents. The Bible tells all of us to walk in love—divinelove. And that divine love, which seeks not its own, is also amatteroftheheart.

Chapter28

HowToTrainTheHumanSpirit

ThespiritofmanisthecandleoftheLord....

—Proverbs20:27

TheLordenlightensusandguidesusthroughourspirits.Ifthatbe the case—and it is—then we need to become more spirit-conscious.Weneedtobecomemoreconsciousof the fact thatwearespiritbeings,andnotjustmentalorphysicalbeings.We

need to train our spirits so they will become safer and saferguides.

OnethingwhichhasheldbacktheChristianworldasawholeisthatwearemorephysical-conscious(body-conscious)andmoremental-conscious(soul-conscious)thanwearespirit-conscious.Wehavedevelopedthebodyandthesoul,butwehaveleftthespiritofmanalmostuntouched.

I have a cassette teaching tape which has helped manyChristiansinthisarea.Inoneofourmeetings,oneyoungmanIknowquitewellgavehistestimonyofhowithadhelpedhim:

Just a few years ago, when he was 31 or 32, he went intobusiness.Helefthissalariedjobwithatotalof$5,500.

Hewas single at that time and he had to use thismoney forlivingexpensesaswellasforcapital.Atonepoint,hisnesteggdwindledto$50.

He gave this testimony: "I listened to Brother Hagin's tapes.Therewerethreeonfaithandconfession,andonecalled"HowToTraintheHumanSpirit."Iwenttobedeverynightlisteningtothattape.IputitoninthemorningandlistenedtoitwhileIshaved.Ilistenedtoitoverandoverandoveragain—probablyhundredsoftimes—untilthatmessagegotintomyspirit.Thenbylisteningtomyspiritandusingmyfaith,myassetsnowtotalinexcessof$30million."

This young man is only about 38 years old now. He is not apreacher.He is a businessman.Hehas toldmehowhis spirithasspokentohimandtoldhimhowtoinvestandbuyland.

I will give the essence of the teaching contained on thatcassetteinthischapter:HowToTraintheHumanSpirit.

Yourspiritcanbeeducatedjustasyourmindcanbeeducated.Yourspiritcanbebuiltupinstrengthandtrainedjustasyourbodycanbebuiltandtrained.Herearefourrulesbywhichyoucantrainanddevelopyourownhumanspirit.

1.BymeditationintheWord

2.BypracticingtheWord

3.BygivingtheWordfirstplace

4.Byinstantlyobeyingthevoiceofyourspirit

1.BYMEDITATIONINTHEWORDOFGOD

ThemostdeeplyspiritualmenandwomenIknowarethosewhogivetimetomeditationintheWordofGod.Youcannotdevelop

spiritualwisdomwithoutmeditation.GodmadethatfactknowntoJoshuajustafterthedeathofMosesattheverybeginningofJoshua'sministry.

JOSHUA1:8

8Thisbookofthelawshallnotdepartoutofthymouth;butthoushaltmeditatethereindayandnight,thatthoumayest observe to do according to all that is writtentherein:forthenthoushaltmakethywayprosperous,andthenthoushalthavegoodsuccess.

IfGoddid notwant Joshua to be prosperous,why didHe tellhimhowtoprosper?IfHedidnotwanthimtosucceed,whydidHetellhimhowtohavegoodsuccess?

He wanted Joshua to be successful—and He wants you to besuccessful.

Paraphrasingthis truth inNewTestament language,wewouldsay, "TheWordofGod—particularly theNewTestament—shallnot depart out of your mouth. But meditate therein day andnight, that you may observe to do according to all that iswritten therein: for then you will make your way prosperousandyouwillhavegoodsuccess."

Ifyoueverwanttodoanythinggreatinlife,ifyoueverwanttoamounttoanythinginlife,taketimetomeditateintheWordofGod. Start out with at least 10 or 15 minutes a day—thenincreasethetime.

IleftthelastchurchIpastoredin1949andIhavebeenoutinthe fieldministry ever since. I used to domuchmore fastingandadifferentkindofprayingthanIdonow.(Youlearnthingsasyougoalong.)Running twoservicesaday—which Ialwaysdid—andsometimes three, takesa lotoutof youphysicallyaswellasspiritually. Iwould teacheverymorning,prayout loudallafternoon,andpreacheverynight.Iateonlyonemealadayduringmymeetingsandbyexertingsomuchphysicalenergy,Iwouldgrowweak.

Then two days a week were my fast days—Tuesday andThursday.Iatenofoodanddranknowaterfor24hours.

OnedaytheLordsaidtome,"Iwouldratheryouwouldliveafastedlifeinsteadofhavingdaysandperiodsoffasting."

Isaid,"Whatdoyoumean?Ineverheardanyonesaythat!"

TheLordsaid,"Insteadofhavingcertaindaysyoufastandthengoing back and eating all you want, just live a fasted life.Fastingdoesnotchangemeanyhow.Iamthesamebeforeyou

fast,whileyoufast,andwhenyougetthroughfasting.ItdoesnotchangeMyWord.Ithelpsyoukeepyourfleshunder.Sojustdon'tevereatallyouwant.

Justkeepyourfleshunderallthetime."

Then He said, "Don't spend all that time in the afternoonprayingandwearingyourselfoutbefore thenightservice.Lieonthebedandmeditate."

SoIbegantohethereintheafternoons,meditating.

AndIgotfurthermeditatingthanIeverdidprayingandfasting.Igrewmorespiritually.

ThatiswhatGodissayinginJoshua1:8:"...forthenthoushaltmakethywayprosperous...."Iwantedtobeprosperousintheministry. "... and then thou shalt have good success.... " Iwanted to have good success in the ministry. This workswhetheryouare in theministry,whetheryou raisecattle, sellautomobiles,orwhateveryoudo.

ThisWordofGodshallnotdepartoutofthymouth.

TalkabouttheWord.Butthoushaltmeditatetherein.

ThinkontheWord.

TheHebrewwordtranslatedmeditatealsocarriesthisthoughtwithit:Tomutter.MuttertheWord.Speakittoyourself.

The Lord led me, before I ever heard anyone teach onmeditation,tolieonthebedandmuttertheWord.Ijustsaiditto myself. And I would have some of the most tremendousservices. I developedmyself spiritually, and at the same timeconservedmyphysicalstrength.

I like another translation of Joshua1:8. The last phrase readslike this: "... you shall be able to deal wisely in the affairs oflife."Youcouldnothavegoodsuccessifyoudidnotknowhowtodealwiselyintheaffairsoflife.

How can you know how to deal wisely in the affairs of life?Because youmeditated in theWordofGodandwalked in thelightofthatWord.

2.PRACTICINGTHEWORD

PracticingtheWordmeansbeingadoeroftheWord.

JAMES1:22

22Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly....

We have many "talkers about the Word," and even many"rejoicersabouttheWord,"butwedonothavemany"doersoftheWord."

Begin to practice being a doer of the Word by doing in allcircumstanceswhattheWordtellsyoutodo.

SomehavethoughtthatbeingadoeroftheWordmeanttokeepthe Ten Commandments. That is not what James 1:22means.After all, under the New Covenant we have but onecommandment—the commandment of love. Jesus said, "A newcommandment Igiveuntoyou,That ye loveone another; as Ihavelovedyou,thatyealsoloveoneanother"(John13:34).

AdoeroftheWordwilldothat.Ifyoulovesomeone,youwon'tsteal from him. You won't lie about him. The New Testamentsaysthatloveisthefulfillingofthelaw.Ifyouwalkinloveyouwon'tbreakanylawwhichwasgiventocurbsin.

Being a doer of theWordmeans that we are to do primarilywhat iswritten in theEpistles.Theyare the letterswritten tous,theChurch.AsanexampleofdoingtheWord,letuslookatsomeinstructionsgivenusinoneoftheEpistles.

PHILIPPIANS4:6

6Becarefulfornothing;butineverythingbyprayerandsupplicationwiththanksgivingletyourrequestsbemadeknownuntoGod.

Sodo that!Nowwedon'tmindpracticingpartof thisverse—thepartthatsaystopray.Butifyoupracticejustthatpartandnotthefirstpart,youarenotpracticingtheWord—youarenotadoeroftheWord.

TheAmplifiedtranslationofPhilippians4:6begins,"Donotfretorhaveanyanxietyaboutanything...."Firstwearetoldnottofret. If you are going to fret and have anxieties, it will do nogoodtomakerequests.Thatkindofprayingdoesnotwork.Anover-anxiousprayerfulloffretfulnessdoesnotwork.

Ifeltverysorryforaministerwhocametomesomeyearsago.(But sometimes it doesn't give a man the answer just tosympathizewithhim.)Hislifewasfullofstormsandtests.Hisstomach was upset; he couldn't keep down what he ate. Hecouldn't sleep. His nerves were shot because of a particularincident.

Hecametomeforhelp.IbegantotellhimwhattheWordsaidandhow to pray about this circumstance.When I encouragedhimtotakethisscriptureanddoit,herebelled.Hesaid, "Oh,yes,buteveryonedoesn'thavethefaiththatyouhave."

I told him it was not a matter of having a lot of faith, but amatter of endeavoring to practice the Word. I told him if hewouldpracticetheWord,hisfaithwouldbebuiltup.

AndItoldhimhowIpracticethisparticularverse.

WhenIgetalone,IreadthisversealoudandItelltheLordthatHisWordistrueandthatIbelieveit.

Itoldthisministerthathewouldbetemptedtosayhecouldn'thelpworryingandfretting.ButthatGodhadnotaskedustodosomethingwecannotdo.WhenGodsaidnottofret—thatmeanswecankeepfromfrettingandbeinganxious.GodisajustGodandHewillnotaskustodosomethingwecannotdo.

WhenI firstbeganpracticing thisverse itwaseasy tobelievethatIcouldmakemyrequestsknownuntoGod—butitwashardto believe that I could not fret. However, since God says wedon'thavetofret,thenIwouldsay,"Irefusetofretorhaveanyanxietyaboutanything."

ItelltheLordthatIbringmyrequestsuntoHim.ThenIthankHim for the answer. This quiets my spirit and pacifies thetroubledspiritthedeviltriestomakemehave.

ThenIwouldgoaboutmybusiness.BeforeIknewit,however,thedevilwastryingtogetmetofretagain.Iwouldsimplygorightbackandreadthisverseagainandkeepclaimingit.

ThisministerbegantopracticePhilippians4:6.Hetoldmelaterthattheproblemworkedoutanddidnotgetasbigashewasexpecting.Hewasabout tobesuedoveracertainmatter,butGodhelpedhimoutofit.

It is possible to become so fretful over something that youcannoteatorsleep.ButallyouhavetodoispracticetheWordandyouwillgetresults.

Philippians4:7isaresultofpracticingPhilippians4:6.

PHILIPPIANS4:7

7AndthepeaceofGod,whichpassethallunderstanding,shallkeepyourheartsandmindsthroughChristJesus.

Many people want what verse 7 talks about—but they don'twanttopracticewhatverse6saystodotogetit.TheAmplifiedtranslation of verse 7 says, "And God's peace . . .whichtranscends all understanding, shall garrison andmount guardoveryourheartsandmindsinChristJesus."

God'speacewillkeepguardoveryourheartandyourmind.

But can you reap these results and have this peace withoutbeingadoeroftheWord?No,youreallycannot.

Verse 6 tells us not to fret. People who worry and fret,continuallythinkonthewrongsideoflife.Verse8tellsuswhatwearetothinkabout.

PHILIPPIANS4:8

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,whatsoeverthingsarehonest,whatsoeverthingsarejust,whatsoeverthingsarepure,whatsoeverthingsarelovely,whatsoever things are of good report; if there be anyvirtue,andiftherebeanypraise,thinkonthesethings.

DO verse 8.Practice this verse. Think about the right things.Manypeoplethinkaboutthewrongthings.Youknowwhattheythinkaboutbecauseofwhattheytalkabout.TheBiblesays,"...outoftheabundanceoftheheart,themouthspeaketh"(Matt.12:34).Theycontinuallyworryandfretandthinkonthewrongsideoflife—andtheycontinuallytalkunbelief.Youcannotbeadoer of theWordand continue to talkunbelief. Themore youtalkaboutsomethings,thebiggertheyget. Ifsomethingdoesnotmeetallofthesequalifications—ifitisnottrue,honest,just,pure, lovely, of good report—do not think about it and do nottalkaboutit!

The Amplified translation of First Corinthians 13:7 reads,"Love...iseverreadytobelievethebestofeveryperson."Ihavefound through the years thatmost of the stories I haveheardaboutpeopledonotevenmeetthefirstqualification.Theyarenot even true. So don't talk about the stories you hear. Don'teven think about them. Some things you hear might even betrue—buttheymightnotbepureandlovely,andnoticethis—ofagoodreport.

Thereforewearenottothinkaboutthem.

By thinkingabout such things,wegiveplace to thedevil.Hisgreatest weapon is the power of suggestion. He is everendeavoringtoenteryourthoughtlife.ThatiswhywearetoldinGod'sWordto,"...thinkonthesethings."

Particularly in theEpistles,God theHolySpirit is speaking totheChurch. Someditate on these letters andwhatHe has tosay—andbeadoeroftheWord.Youwillgrowspiritually.

3.GIVETHEWORDFIRSTPLACE

Thetraining,thedeveloping,theeducatingofourspiritscomesbygivingtheWordofGodfirstplaceinourlives.

PROVERBS4:20-22

20Myson,attendtomywords;inclinethineearuntomysayings.

21Letthemnotdepartfromthineeyes;keeptheminthemidstofthineheart.

22Fortheyarelifeuntothosethatfindthem,andhealthtoalltheirflesh.

Godsaysinthispassage,"...Attendtomywords[Giveheedtothem—Putthemfirst];inclinethineearuntomysayings[Listento what I have to say]. Let them not depart from thine eyes[KeeplookingattheWordofGod];keepthem[myWords]in ...yourheart."

Therearerichdividendsfordoingthis.WhyisitthatGodtellsustoputHisWordfirst,andtolistentowhatHehastosay,tokeeplookingatHisWord,andtokeepHisWordinourheart?Itisbecause "... they [HisWords]areLIFE unto those that findthem,andHEALTHtoalltheirflesh."

ThemarginoftheKingJamessaysthewordtranslatedhealthistheHebrewword formedicine.God'sWord is "medicine toalltheirflesh."ThereishealingintheWord.

InthetwelveyearsIpastored,therewerechurchmemberswhowouldgetsick,gotothehospital,andthenaskforprayer.Iamnotsayingitiswrongtohaveadoctor,certainlynot.Webelieveinhospitalsanddoctors.ThankGodforthem.ButIamsaying,why not put God's Word first? Sometimes as a last resort,ChristianswillturntotheWord.

ABaptistminister,whodidn'tevenparticularlybelieveindivinehealing at the time, told of how he'd had problems with histonsils.Hisdoctorkept insisting that theyberemoved.So thedatewasfinallysetforhistonsilstoberemoved.

Itwashis family'scustomtoreadtheBibleandpray togethereachmorningbeforethechildrenwenttoschool.

On the very day this minister was scheduled to enter thehospital,thisfamily'sdailyscripturepassagewastheonewhichtells ofKingAsa,whogot adisease inhis feet and insteadofseeking theLord, he sought physicians andhedied (2Chron.16:12,13).

Theministersaidhewasstruckbythis.Herealizedthathehadnotevenprayedabouthistonsils.Hesharedthiswithhiswifeand children and asked that they pray together about histonsils.

Whentheyprayed,theLordtoldhimnottohavethemremoved.Tohisastonishment,theLordhealedthetonsilsandhehashadnomoretroublewiththem.

Thereisa lessontobelearnedhere.TheBibledoesnot implythatKingAsadiedbecauseheputthephysiciansfirst.However,itdoesimplythatheshouldhaveputtheLordfirst.WeshouldtrainourselvestoputtheLordfirst.

We should train ourselves to ask ourselves concerning anymatter, "What does God's Word have to say about this?" WeshouldaskourselveswhatGodhas tosayaboutanything thatmaycomeupinourlife—andthenputthatWordfirst.

Sometimesfamilyandfriendswilltrytorushyouintothings—but you need to think about what theWord of God says. PutGod'sWordfirstineveryareaoflife.

4.INSTANTLYOBEYTHEVOICEOFYOURSPIRIT

The human spirit has a voice. We call that voice conscience.Sometimeswecallitintuition,aninnervoice,orguidance.Theworldcallsitahunch.Butwhatitis,isyourspiritspeakingtoyou.Everyman'sspirit,savedorunsaved,hasavoice.

The human spirit, as we have seen in previous chapters, is aspiritualman,aspiritman,aninwardhiddenman.Heishiddento the physical senses. You cannot see him with the physicaleyes,nortouchhimwithyourphysicalhands.

This is the man who has become a new creature in Christ(2 Cor. 5:17). When a man is born again, his spirit becomesanewspirit.

GodprophesiedthroughbothEzekielandJeremiahthatatimewouldcomewhenHewouldtaketheoldstonyheartoutofmenandputinanewone.HesaidthatHewouldputHisSpiritintous.UndertheNewCovenantthisnewbirthbecameavailable.

The new birth is a rebirth of the human spirit. As SecondCorinthians5:17 tellsus, ifanymanbe inChrist,he isanewcreature—everythingthatwasoldinhisspirit,theoldnature,istakenaway,andallthingshavebecomenew.

As yougive this newborn spirit theprivilege ofmeditating onthe Word of God, the Word becomes the source of itsinformation.Yourspiritwillbecomestrongandtheinwardvoiceof your conscience, educated in the spirit,will become a trueguide.

DidyounoticethatmeditationintheWord,practicingtheWord,givingtheWordfirstplace,allcomebeforeobeyingyourspirit?

Yousee,ifyourspirithashadtheprivilegeofmeditatingintheWord, of practicing theWord, of putting theWord first—thenyourspiritisanauthoritativeguide.

"Thespiritofman is thecandleof theLord. ..." (Prov.20:27).YournewbornspirithaswithinitthelifeandnatureofGod.TheHolySpiritdwellswithinyourspirit."...greater ishethat is inyou,thanhethat is intheworld" (1John4:4).TheHolySpiritdwellsinyourspirit.Godhastocommunicatewithyouthroughyour spirit because that is where He is. Your spirit gets itsinformationthroughHim.

Learntoobeythevoiceofyourspirit.

Ifyouarenotaccustomedtodoingthat,ofcourse,youwillnotget therequickly.Aswehavesaid, your spirit canbebuiltupand strengthened just as your body can be built up andstrengthened.Yourspiritcanbeeducatedjustasyourmindcanbe educated. But just as you did not begin school in the firstgradeoneweekandgraduate fromthe twelfthgradethenextweek,yourspiritwillnotbeeducatedandtrainedovernight.

However,ifyouwillfollowthesefourpointsandpracticethem,afterawhileyoucanknowthewillofGod theFathereven inthe minor details of life. You will receive guidance and willalwaysinstantlygeteitherayesorano.Youwillknowinyourspiritwhatyoushoulddoinalltheaffairsoflife.

Chapter29

PrayingintheSpirit

For if Ipray inanunknowntongue,myspiritprayeth,butmyunderstandingisunfruitfulWhatisitthen?Iwillpraywiththespirit, and Iwill praywith the understandingalso: I will singwiththespirit,andIwillsingwiththeunderstandingalso.

—1Corinthians14:14,15

One of the greatest spiritual exercises there is, is to pray intongues every single day. Your spirit is then in direct contactwiththeFatherofspirits.

1CORINTHIANS14:2

2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speakethnot untomen, but untoGod: for nomanunderstandethhim;howbeitinthespirithespeakethmysteries.

It is your spirit praying when you pray in tongues—the HolyGhostgivestheutterance,butitisyourspiritpraying.

Paulsaid,"ForifIprayinanunknowntongue,myspiritprayeth..."(1Cor.14:14).

Ihavealwaysfollowedthepolicyofdailyprayingintongues.ItkeepsmyspiritincontactwiththeFatherofspirits.Ithelpsmebecomemorespirit-conscious.

Whenyouprayintongues,yourmindgrowsquiet—becauseyouarenotprayingoutofyourmind.Andonceyourmindisquiet,youbecomemoreconsciousofyourownspirit,andofspiritualthings.

Getoutofthesenserealm.Getoutofthefleshrealm.

Getoutofthehumanreasoningrealm.

Getoverintothefaithrealmandintothespiritrealm.

Faithisofthespirit—andthat'swheregreatthingshappen!

DocumentOutline

HowYouCanBeLedByTheSpiritOfGodCopyrightContentsPreface1-TheLampoftheLord2-Man:AnEternalSpirit3-Spirit-Conscious4-WhatIstheDifferenceBetweenSpiritandSoul?5-TheSavingoftheSoul6-PresentingtheBody7-NumberOne:TheInwardWitness8-Know-SoSalvation9-Fleeced!10-FollowingtheWitness11-NumberTwo:TheInwardVoice12-EffectsoftheSpirit'sIndwelling13-TwoExperiences14-GodInside15-DependonYourSpirit16-Tenderhearted17-Feelings:TheVoiceoftheBody18-HelpFromWithin19-NumberThree:TheVoiceoftheHolySpirit20-JudgingBytheWord21-MySpirit?TheFlesh?OrTheHolySpirit?22-IPerceive23-SpectacularGuidance24-TheSpiritBadeMeGo25-GuidanceThroughProphecy26-GuidanceThroughVisions27-ListentoYourHeart28-HowToTrainTheHumanSpirit29-PrayingintheSpirit

TableofContents1-TheLampoftheLord2-Man:AnEternalSpirit3-Spirit-Conscious4-WhatIstheDifferenceBetweenSpiritandSoul?5-TheSavingoftheSoul6-PresentingtheBody7-NumberOne:TheInwardWitness8-Know-SoSalvation9-Fleeced!10-FollowingtheWitness11-NumberTwo:TheInwardVoice12-EffectsoftheSpirit'sIndwelling13-TwoExperiences14-GodInside15-DependonYourSpirit16-Tenderhearted17-Feelings:TheVoiceoftheBody18-HelpFromWithin19-NumberThree:TheVoiceoftheHolySpirit20-JudgingBytheWord21-MySpirit?TheFlesh?OrTheHolySpirit?22-IPerceive23-SpectacularGuidance24-TheSpiritBadeMeGo25-GuidanceThroughProphecy26-GuidanceThroughVisions27-ListentoYourHeart28-HowToTrainTheHumanSpirit29-PrayingintheSpirit