TheHolySpiritInTheNow1ByOralRobertsCopyright © 1974 By Oral Roberts University Tulsa, Oklahoma All

RightsReservedRevised1981

MyPersonalWordToYouFriend, Ibelieveyouare in fora spiritual learningexperience thatwill

enhance your relationship with Christ in a way you have never dreamedpossible.Thisstudyon theHolySpirit InTheNowcomesoutofmypersonalexperienceandover34yearsofprayerandstudyoftheWord.Beforeyoubegintoreadtheselessons,IwouldlikeforyoutogogetyourBible.IbelievethatyoucanmoresuccessfullystudythisseriesoflessonswithyourBibleatyourside.

Andasyoustudy,keepinmindthattheselessonsaretheveryfirstofaseries I taught to a class of approximately 1,500. These lessons are steno-graphicallyreportedandonlyslightlyeditedinsomeinstancestomakeathoughtclearer,ortoputitinmorelogicalsequenceforthepersonwhowasnottheretohearitbutwillbereadingit.Thisisvolumeoneofathree-volumeseries.

Iwould like to tell you about themiracle that brought this class aboutbecauseitisnowapartoftheestablishedcurriculaatOralRobertsUniversity.

Itwasthroughthegenerosityofmygoodfriend,thelateJ.ArthurRank,outstanding British businessman, member of the Parliament, and Methodistlayman,thattheOralRobertsUniversity’sfirstendowedacademicchairontheHolySpiritwasestablishedinthefallof1972.

I firstmetLordRank in1967while speaking at a luncheonof leadingChristianlaymenandbusinessmeninLondon.Attheendofthesession,asIwasshakinghandswithvariousindividuals,Iwasintroducedtohim.AlthoughIhadheardhisnamemanytimesandknewofhisChristianwitness,thiswasmyfirsttimetoseehiminperson.AtthattimeLordRankwasinhislateseventiesbuthestood tall and straightwith a clean look inhis eye, and strengthandcharacterstampeduponhim. I knew Iwas in the presenceof amanofGod. I tookhishandandsaid,"LordRank,I’mhonoredtomeetyou.”ThenacuriousimpulsecameuponmeandIadded..."IpraythatGodwillfillyouwiththeHolySpirit.”

TwoyearspassedbeforeIsawLordRankagain,atwhichtimeIlearnedhe had received the Holy Spirit. He then shared with me how this hadtransformedhisChristian lifeandhowJesusChristhadbecomesoreal tohimthrough theHolySpirit.He said, "I feel as though Jesuswerewalkingbymyside.”

BecauseofhisgreatinterestintheHolySpirit,LordRankdeterminedtoestablishthischairatORU.However,onthedayhewastosignthepapers,hepassed away. The trustees of his estate honored his desire and set aside a

generoussumforthenextfiveyearsforthispurpose.IamhonoredtobethefirstprofessorofthiscourseontheHolySpirit.

Asyoustudytheselessons,IpraythatGod,throughtheHolySpirit,willrevealJesustoyouinawaymorerealthanyouhaveeverexperiencedbefore.

Chapter1,HowGodCanTouchYourLifeThroughTheHolySpirit

SuggestedScripturereadingforthislesson:1Corinthians12TheHolySpirit in thenow isbeginninganewmarchacross theearth.

MillionsarebeingtouchedbyHismagnificentpower.PeoplearefeelingatouchoftheSpirit.It’scrossingalldenominationallines,allsocialbarriers,all levelsofeducation.It’sgreatandI’mthrilledaboutit.

ThereisnodoubtinmymindthattheHolySpirithassomethingunusualforYOU...

GodIsGoingToTouchYourLifeYouaregoingtofeelsomethingfromGod.Icannottellyouexactlywhat

itwillbe,buttheSpirithimselfwillmakeitknowninyourinnerbeinginawaysorealthatyoucannotdoubtit.

Nowlet’stalkaboutthecharismaticmoveoftheSpiritinthenow.Iwantyou to think about a funnel. The opening at the bottom of the funnel is verysmallbutitislargeatthetop.Thetoppartofthefunnelrepresentstheteachingon theHoly Spirit throughout theBible. Then it narrows down (small end offunnel)intimedirectlytotheindividual.Itcomesdowntoyouandtomeinthenow.Whathappenstoyouasanindividualhastobethemostimportantthingintheworld.Becauseunless it happens toyou,howcanyou reallyknow it, andhowcanyoushareitwithanyoneelse?

I’mveryinterestedinyourunderstandingtheteachingsoftheHolySpiritthroughouttheBibleuntilthebaptismintheHolySpiritexplodesinyourbeing.IwantyounotonlytohavetheexperienceofthebaptismintheHolySpiritinyour life but also to have an understanding of it — to have a workableknowledgeofit.IwantyoutoknowbetterhowtoapplythepoweroftheHolySpirittopracticalproblemsthatyoufaceinyourdailyexistence.

WhatDoesCharismaticMean?It seems everyone is paying a lot of attention today to the word

charismaticorcharisma.Butwhenweusethewordcharismawedonotuseitinthesamewaythatthesecularworlddoes.Forexample,theywillseeamanorawomanwithgreatpersonalmagnetismandsay,"My,hehascharisma.”Orifit’sanindividualofoutstandingtalentandgifts,theywillsay,"Heischarismatic,”

or"He’shighlygifted.”Thisisnotthebiblicalmeaningoftheword.Itisjustaderivationofthe

Greekwordcharisma.As you may know, our New Testament was written in the Greek

language.WhenSt.Paulspeaksofa"giftoftheSpirit,”theGreekwordforthatischarisma.Itmeans"giftfromGod,”or"afavorfromGod.”Itdoesnotrefertothe intellect of the individual or to his unusual endowments of personalmagnetism.Itmaybegiventoapersonwithsuchnaturalhumanendowments,andagainhemaynothaveanyunusualpersonalendowmentsormagnetismatall.

ThewordcharismaasusedinreferencetotheHolySpiritissimplyGODLOVING A HUMAN BEING. It is God believing in that human being andimpartingtohimagiftoftheHolySpiritagiftwhichhehasnotearned...agiftwhichhecannotbuy...agiftwhichisnotgivenbecauseofhisindividualmerit.

It is a gift given by the grace of God— unmerited favor. GODHASSMILEDUPONTHATINDIVIDUALSOTHATHE,INTURN,CANSMILEUPON THE WORLD. The gift works through him but he can never takepersonalcreditforit.

SamsonHadCharismaDo you remember the story in theOld Testament about aman by the

nameofSamson?HewasajudgeofIsraelandhewasgiftedcharismaticallybythe Holy Spirit.When the Spirit of God came upon him, he had strength farbeyondthatofanormalman.Hecoulddotremendousphysicalexploits,eventothedefeatingofanentirearmyofthePhilistines.

ButwhenSamsonturnedawayfromGodhebrokehisconnectionwiththeSpiritofGod inhis lifeand lost thatcharisma.Thegift thatgavehim thistremendousstrengthwasnolongerthere.Youmayrememberhowheyieldedtothe seduction of a beautifulwoman and how she lured him into revealing thesecretofhis tremendous strength.Thenwhenhewas sleepingshecuthishairandhisenemiescame in,gougedouthiseyes,and"hedidgrind in theprisonhouse”ofGaza,yearafteryear,untilherepentedandreturnedtoGod.

Upon his return to God the Spirit brought back the charisma andSamson’slastachievementonearthwasdonethroughthecharismaticpowerofthe Spirit ofGod.He pulled down the temple inwhich thereweremore thanthree thousand lords and ladies of the Philistines. Samson slew more of the

enemyathisdeath thanhehad inhis life.Andhedid this through thegiftofGodthathadreturnedtohim.Maybeyou’dliketoreadthisintheBible—it’sfoundinJudges16:1-31.

WhenWeSpeakofCharismaInThisDay,WeArespeakingOfaGiftofGod.

ThecharismaoftheHolySpirit,asSt.Paulexplainsin1Corinthians12,manifestsJesusChrist’slifethroughSpirit-filledChristiansintheninedifferentwaysSt.Paulreferstoin1Corinthians12:1-11:

1. thegiftofthewordofwisdom,2. thegiftofthewordofknowledge,3. thegiftoffaith,4. thegiftsofhealing,5. thegiftoftheworkingofmiracles,6. thegiftofprophecy,7. thegiftofdiscerningofspirits,8. thegiftoftongues,and9. thegiftofinterpretationoftongues.

(Inmy companion lesson on the nine gifts of the Spirit, found in TheHoly Spirit In The Now II, I reveal how these special nine gifts may workeffectuallyinyourlife.)

These are tremendous gifts of the Spirit.We are seeing themworkingtodayonalargerscalethaneverbeforeinthehistoryoftheChristianChurch.

Now,IwanttotellyouwhatIhavepersonallyobservedandexperiencedofthecharismaticmoveoftheHolySpirit.

TheHolySpiritCameUponMeIn1947Peopleoftenask,"HowdoestheHolySpiritcomeuponahumanbeing?

Howdoesoneknow?”Well,you justknowthatyouknowthatyouknowthatyouknow.That’show!I’mnotbeingfacetious.Butthisisthewayitis—andwhenyouexperiencethis,youjustknowthatyouknowthatyouknowthatyouknow.That’sthewayyouknow!

YouJustKnowThatYouKnow!There’saknowinginsidethattheSpiritofGodisthere.

Back in 1935 when I was a teenager, God raised me up fromtuberculosis.Hesaid:

"I’mgoing to heal you and you are to takeMyhealing power to yourgeneration.”

He might as well have been speaking Greek to me because I didn’tunderstandwhatHemeant.ButIneverforgotthewords.

Then in 1947 at Enid, Oklahoma, where I was attending PhillipsUniversity and pastoring a small church, God let me know thatmy time hadcome. My first reaction was, "How can I take God’s healing power to mygeneration?Idon’tknowHOW.”

IknewIhadbeenhealedmyself. Iknewthat Ibelieved inGod’sgreathealingpower,bothmedicalanddivinehealing.ButIdidn’tknowhowGodwasgoingtousemebecauseIdidnotconsidermyselfagiftedindividual.

Iwasbornastammerer.IwasnamedOral,whichIlaterlearnedmeansspokenword.Well, Iwas themostmisnamed person you ever saw. I’ll neverforget,asayoungboy,myfirstdayatschool.Theteacheraskedmemynameand I couldn’t say it. Those agonizing years of growing up with my tongueseeminglyparalyzedinmymouthgavemeaterribleinferioritycomplex.

However, when I was healed of tuberculosis I was also set free fromstuttering.AndeventhoughGodhadbroughtmesofar,stillIfeltaninadequacythatwas devastating. Itwas like a shot out of the darkwhenGod said, "YourtimehascometotakeMyhealingpowertoyourgeneration.”

By now I had read my New Testament more than 100 times. I hadvirtually lived with the New Testament. In fact, the whole Bible. I was nowkeyedinonJesus.IwasaskingGod,"How?HowcanIdothesethings?”

One day as I sat on the back row in a sociology class at PhillipsUniversity,listeningtomyprofessor,IsensedthepresenceoftheHolySpiritinmyheart.InsidemewerethesewordsfromGod:

Don’tbelikeothermen...belikeJesusandhealthepeopleasHedid."How,Lord?How?Whocan I turn to?Whocan I ask?Howcan I do

that?”Iasked.ThenHeimpresseduponmetoreadthefourGospels—Matthew,Mark,

Luke,andJohn—and thebookofActs through three times—consecutively,

whileonmyknees.AndHesaidHewouldshowmehow.During this time, as I studied again the life of Jesus, I made several

discoveries that were new to me. I discovered the two sides of Jesus—HishumansideandHisdivineside.

ISawTheHumanityOfTheMan,ThatHeEnteredIntoTheNeedsOfEveryHumanBeing.

IsawthatHebecameamantoshowuswhatGodislike.Isawthatit’sallrighttobehumanbecauseJesuswashuman—HewasalsoGod.

I saw something else in Jesus that I’d never been taught before. I sawthat:

Hesitswherewesit...Hefeelswhatwefeel...He’spartofourbeing...Hecametogiveuslife...andthatmoreabundantly.

ISawThatJesusWasAgainstFourThings—YouMaywanttounderscorethese:

1. HewasagainstSINbecauseitdestroyedpeople.2. HewasagainstSICKNESSbecauseitreducedaperson’slife.3. HewasagainstFEARbecausefearparalyzesahumanbeinganddissipates

hisenergies.4. AndHewasagainstDEMONS—becausewhenapersonispossessedofa

demonspirithetakesontheuncleananddestructivecharacteristicsofthatdemon,andonlyGodcansethimfree.

ISawThatChristWasAgainstSin,Disease,Demons,andFear,ButHeWasForHumanBeings.

Hewasagainsthell,butHewasforheaven.Hewasagainstsin,butHewasforsalvation.Hewasagainstsickness,butHewasforhealth.Hewasagainstfear,butHewasforfaith.

Hewasagainsthatredandbitterness,butHewasforlove.Thiswasrevolutionarytome.

ThenISawThatJesusHasHealingHands.Jesushasn’t got a hammerbut healing inHishand.He’shere tomake

youknowthatHecareswhathappenstoyou...thatyouarenotoutthereinalonely crowdedworldwhere nobody cares whether you eat or not, or have asteady income, or are healthy, or feel peace in your soul. Jesus cares. This isJesus. Jesus Christ is life, abundant life. He is not sickness or privation, ortorment or fear.He is joy, health, salvation, victory.Listen, JesusChrist lovesyou.Hediedforyouonthecross.Herosefromthedeadtoliftyouupfromthepowersthatareattemptingtodestroyyou.

Hedidn’tcometostrikeyoudown.Hedidn’tcometoafflictyouandmakeyousick.Hedidn’tcometotake

yourjobaway,oryourposition,oryourbusiness.Hedidn’tcometorobyouofthefruitofyouryears,ortocondemnyou

tolonelinessanddefeat.Hecametomakeyouawholeperson.HecametobaptizeyouintheHolySpirit.

ISawJesusWalkingOnThisEarthAsAMan.Withmy spirit, and then throughmy understanding, I sawHim asHe

walkedtheshoresofGalilee.IsawHimattractedtothepeoplewhoweresick,topeoplewhoweresuffering...financially,morally,spiritually,andphysically.IsawTHEMAN—asHeenteredintothesehumanneeds,asHerecognizedthateverypersonhadneeds—andHecametoeachoneatthepointofhisneeds.

ISawThePowerOfTheHolySpiritOnJesus.During those days of prayer and study, I would say, "God, letme see

JesusChristwithmyeyeslikethedisciplesdid,likePeter,James,andJohndid.LetmeseeHim.Letmehaveavisionof thisManphysicallyas theydidandthenIcangoandprayforthepeople.Icangowheretheyare.Icanenterintotheirsufferings.Otherwise,Idon’tknowhow.”

It was at this point that theHoly Spirit began to be real tome inmyunderstanding.InmyheartGodspoketomeagain.Hesaid,"DoyouhavethebaptismintheHolySpirit?”

I said, "Yes.” I had received this charisma— this gift of the Spirit—shortlyaftermyconversion.AndIhadalsospokenintonguesafewtimes.AtthattimeIdidn’tknowthattonguesaretheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit.

ThentheLordsaidtome,"Doyouknowwhatyouhave?”Inallhonesty,IhadtoreplythatIdidnot.Then He said, "When you have the baptism in the Holy Spirit, it’s

preciselyasifJesusiswalkingbyyoursideinthefleshandhavingHisinvisiblelimitlessformINyou.DoyouwanttoseeJesus?”

"Yes,”Isaid."Well, having the baptism in theHoly Spirit gives you a sense ofHis

physicalbeingaswellasHislimitlessspiritualbeing,andthat’swhatyouhave.Doyouunderstandthat?”

And,ofcourse, thishelpedme tostartunderstanding,butnot fully.Noonehadeverexplainedittomethiswaybefore.Jesushadsaid:

ItisexpedientforyouthatIgoaway:forifIgonotaway,theComforterwillnotcomeuntoyou;butifIdepart,Iwillsendhimuntoyou(John16:71..whentheComforteriscome...heshalltestifyofme(John15:26).

IbegantostudythoseScripturesagain.IlookedintheGreekandfoundthatinthisScripturethewordcomfortermeansParaclete.

ThewordparacleteistranslatedcomforterintheKingJamesVersionoftheBible,butitreallymeans"onecalledalongsidetohelp,onewhowarns,onewho admonishes, one who helps us over our rough spots.” So the divineParacleteisOnewhogivesuswhatweneedatthetimeweneedit.

OncewhenIwasteachingmyclasson"TheHolySpiritintheNow”atOralRobertsUniversity,Icalledupamemberoftheclassandillustrateditthisway:

Roberts:Will you open your billfold amoment, please, and take out adollarbill?Now,willyougivemethatdollar?

Student:Yes.Roberts:OK.I’mgoingtotakethatdollar.Student:Ithoughtyouwould.Roberts:Now,I’mgoingtogiveyouanotherdollar.Willyoutakeit?Student:Yes.

Roberts:Now,thatdollarisjustasgenuineastheoneyougaveme.ItisalsoprintedbyUncleSam—it’sagenuinedollar.Now,doyouhaveasmuchasyouhadbeforeyougavemeyourdollar?

Student:Yes.Roberts: I gave you another dollar. And that dollar has the identical

powerofthedollaryougaveme.Student:That’sright.Roberts:ThankyouforhelpingmetoexemplifywhatI’mabouttosay.Jesussaid,"IfIgoawayIwillsendyouanotherParaclete,anotherone

calledalongsidetohelp.”Hewassaying toHisdisciples, "Ihavebeenbyyour sidephysically. I

have been everything to you. Now you are distressed because I’m physicallyleaving the earth, but if I go back to My Father I will send you anotherParaclete.”

IwantyoutonoticethatwhenthestudentgavemehisdollarandIgavehimbackanotherdollar, hewas just aswell off ashehadbeenbefore. In thesameway,whenJesusphysicallyleftfromtheearthHesaidHewouldsendusanotherParaclete,Onecalledalongsidetohelp,andwewoulddobetterwithourlives than if Jesus had remainedphysicallywith us. Iwish youwould re-readthisillustrationandthinkaboutituntilitbecomesreallycleartoyou.

TheHolySpiritIsAPerson,JustAsJesusIsAPersonNowyouhave tounderstandperson ina spiritual concept. It speaksof

thebeingofGod.WhenwesaytheHolySpiritisapersonorJesusisapersonorGod is a person, here iswhatwe are saying— thatHe is not fragmented orbrokenasahumanbeingis.Heisawholeperson.HehasinHimatalltimesthewonderfulandessentialcharacteristicsthatwesometimespossesswhenweareatourverybest.Hisleastisgreaterthanourverybest.Remember,eachoneofusisbrokeninsomeway.

Wearefragmented inourpersonality insomeway,but theHolySpirit,thedivinePerson,isnotfragmentedorbroken.Heiscompletewholeness.

SobackinEnid,Oklahoma,thesethingswerehappeninginmyspiritandunderstanding;Ibegantorealizethat:

Idon’thavetoseeJesusChristasaphysicalman.Godhasfilledmewiththeholyspirit.Ihavethatcomforter,theparaclete,theonecalledalongsideto

help it’s as if Jesus Christ is walking by me in the flesh, except he is in hisinvisible,unlimitedforminsideme.Heisinme,thereforehecandothesethingsthroughme.

Thatwas the key that opened the lock. Thatwas the beginning ofmyunderstandingthatIcouldhaveahealingministry.Hewassayingtome:

"Oral,youcandoitbecauseIaminyou,andIamwithyou.”Theministry of the Holy Spirit is built around Jesus Christ. God is a

trinity.Nowthat’samystery.Yourintellectcanneverfigureitout.YoucanonlygraspGodasatrinitythroughyourspiritualdiscernment.Youhavetoacceptthisastruththroughfaith.

TheOldTestamentsays,"Hear,OIsrael:TheLordourGodisoneLord”(Deuteronomy6:4).YetfromtheverybeginningGodhasexpressedhimself intheplural.

InGenesis—thefirstbookintheBible—Hesaid,"Letusmakeman”(Genesis 1:26). Here He is talking about the plurality of the Godhead— theFather,theSon,andtheHolySpirit.ItisalwaysGod,whetherHe’sworkinginthe humanity of the person of Jesus Christ, or whether He’s working in thepersonoftheHolySpirit.It’sGodmanifestinghimselfasaFatherorasaSon—who takesonhimself ahuman form to identifywithyouandme—or as theinvisibleHoly Spirit. It’s simplyGodmanifesting himself to us in these threeways.Sowedon’tthinkofthreeGods;Hehassimplycometousinwaysandmeanswhichwecanunderstand.

So in 1947, when I really began to understand what I had receivedthrough this experience in theHoly Spirit, I stepped out in faith to begin thisministry of healing of thewhole person.The first person I prayed forwas anelderlyGermanwomanwhohadacrippledhandfor38years.Shethrewupherhandandbeganmovingitabout,cryingatthetopofhervoice,"Godhashealedme!”

I was so filledwith the power of theAlmighty that I seemed to havesupernaturalstrength.Itwasnearlysixo’clock,fourhourslater,whenIfinishedprayingforthelastpersonwhoneededdeliverance.WhenIleft,therewasnotadoubt thatGodhadcalledmeandwaswithme forwhatever the futurewouldhold.Not only hadmany people beenwonderfully healed, but alsomore hadcome to Christ that day than I had seen saved in the past year of pastoralministry.

Letme tellyou, Iknew that JesusChristwasmore real inme than I’d

everknownbefore. IknewsomethingaboutJesusChristafter thatservice thatcouldchangeahumanbeing—millionsofthem.IknewtherewasnoproblemthatGodcouldnotsolve.

Although I was to pray for thousands later, I knew I would face bothsuccessandfailure.But Ialsoknewthat ineverypersonGodhealed, itmeantthatJesuswaswalkingon thisearthagain in thepowerof theHolySpirit.HewasmakingGodrelevanttopeopleinthenow.

NowIwouldlikeyoutogooverthislessonagain—marktheScripturesthatyoufeelhelpyou.

Chapter2,HowJesusCanBeWithYouInTheNowSuggestedScripturereadingforthislesson:Genesis1and2Throughout the Bible we see the inexorable march of the Holy Spirit

acrossthecenturiesasHemovesinhumanlives.In Genesis 1:1, 2 we find a statement concerning the creation of the

heavensandearth:In the beginningGod created the heaven and the earth. And the earth

waswithoutform,andvoid;anddarknesswasuponthefaceofthedeep.AndtheSpiritofGodmoveduponthefaceofthewaters.

Now as this creative act begins to take shape we see that the firstmovementisbytheHolySpirit."Andtheearthwaswithoutform,andvoid”—it’sachaoticmass.TheSpiritbegins tomoveandbroodover thewaters ... toshapethisformlessmassandbringforthorderoutofchaos.

TheninGenesis1:26Godsaid:Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have

dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over thecattle,andoveralltheearth,andovereverycreepingthingthatcreepethupontheearth.

HereisGod—GodworkingastheTrinity:Father,Son,andHolySpirit—makingman.GodmademanfirstinHisownimage,thatis,Hisspiritualandmorallikeness,givinghimthestampofHisownbeingandpersonality.

SoGodcreatedman inhisown image, in the imageofGodcreatedhehim;maleandfemalecreatedhethem(Genesis1:27).

WhenGodmadetheheavenandearthandcreatedmanandplacedhimuponit,Hecalleditgood(Genesis1:31).Godmademanawholeman.Manhadno imperfections of mind, spirit, or body. He had a harmony of nature andpersonalityandspiritthatdefiesourimaginationtoday.Ifwecouldhavewalkedinto theGardenofEden and seenmale and female—manandwoman—asGod originally created them, we would have seen that God made man Hismasterpiece.Manwasable toworshipGodwithanunderstanding thatwas sointimate,sopersonalandreal,itishardforustoimagineittoday.Alsohecouldcommunicate—ortalktoGodinthemostnaturalway.

IntheGardenofEdenweseemanashewascreatedinthebeautyandperfection of God. There was perfect harmony in every department of his

relationships.And thenman rebelled. Sin reared its ugly head and all at oncetherewasadiscordantnote.

Thedevilenteredthegardenandtemptedman.Manlistenedtothedevil,tookthedevil’sadvice,rebelledagainstGod,andlosthisrelationshipwithGod.AtthattimeGodinHisgreatlovepromisedaRedeemer.

Godnowspeakstothedevilandsays:Iwillputenmitybetweentheeandthewoman,andbetweenthyseedand

herseed;itshallbruisethyheadandthoushaltbruisehisheel(Genesis3:15).ThisisperhapstheseedscriptureoftheentireBible.Godissayingtothe

devil, "You andmanwill be in conflict. Therewill always be this conflict ofinterest,thisdivisionbetweenyou.YouwillbruisetheSeedofthewoman.Youwillbruisetheheel—theheelwhichspeaksofJesus,theouterhumanityofthecoming Messiah — but the Seed of the woman whom I will send as theRedeemerwillbruiseyourhead.”

Now it’s important to point out that in the very beginning when Godcreatedtheheavenandtheearth,mademan,placedhiminaperfectenvironmentandmanrebelledandlosthisfirstestatethatGOD’SLOVEHELDSTRONG.AndGodsaidthatHewouldsendaRedeemer.ThisRedeemerwouldcome,butHewouldbestruckbythedevilandthedevilwouldbruiseorinjuretheheelorthehumanityoftheman,whichisnowreferringtothecross,whenJesushimselfwouldbenailedtothecross.ButGodsaysinessence:

Devil,youareadefeatedfoe.TheRedeemerwillcrushyourhead,yourbrainandmind,yourspirit—everything thatcomprisesyourknowingwillbedestroyed.TheSeedofthewomanwillsmashyourhead.

ThisisinharmonywiththescripturewhereourLordsaid:Beofgoodcheer;Ihaveovercometheworld(John16:33).And1John3:8:For thispurpose theSonofGodwasmanifested, thathemightdestroy

theworksofthedevil.InGenesis 6:3wenotice that theSpirit ofGodhad alreadybegunHis

purposeofredeemingman:AndtheLordsaid,Myspiritshallnotalwaysstrivewithman...UpontherebellionofAdamandEveandtheir falling tosinand losing

theirfirstestatewithGod,theSpiritofGodbegantomove,tostrive,torestrain

man.AndtheSpiritfoundthattheoffspringofAdamandEvehadthatsame

desire to rebel againstGod. It seemswe humanbeings are like that.The firstfeelingwe have is to say no toGod rather than yes. But the Spirit is alwaysstrivingwithustoobeyGod.

InNumbers 11:16, 17 you seeGod is working throughMoses byHisHolySpirit.

AndtheLordsaiduntoMoses,GatheruntomeseventymenoftheeldersofIsrael,whomthouknowesttobetheeldersofthepeople...AndIwillcomedownandtalkwiththeethere:andIwilltakeofthespiritwhichisupontheeandwillputituponthem;andtheyshallbeartheburdenofthepeoplewiththee,thatthoubearitnotthyselfalone.

It’sinterestingnowthattheHolySpiritbeginstoselectINDIVIDUALS.PeoplelikeMosesandtheseventy.TheSpiritcomesuponthesepeoplebutitisnot a mass movement. It is not the Holy Spirit coming upon the masses ofpeople,butuponselectedindividuals—menofdeepresponseandobediencetoGod.TheSpiritnowisgiven to70menwhobecomeeldersof Israeland theyshare in theministryofMosesashestarts leadingthepeopleofIsraelbacktoGod.

AnotherinterestingscriptureabouttheHolySpiritisIsaiah32:15.HeretheprophetIsaiahsays:Untilthespiritbepoureduponusfromonhigh.

Theprophet is lookingaheadandprayingthatGodwillpourHisSpiritfromonhighuponmen.

TurnnowtothebookofJoel,andyou’llseethewayGoddealswithyouand me today. You see, in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit was given toSamson,Samuel,David,Elijah,Elisha,Moses,Noah,peoplelikethis.Butnow,

I will pour out my spirit upon ALL FLESH; and your sons and yourdaughters shall prophesy, your oldmen shall dream dreams, your youngmenshallseevisions:Andalsoupontheservantsanduponthehandmaids in thosedayswillIpouroutmyspirit...

Anditshallcometopass, thatwhosoevershallcallonthenameof theLordshallbedelivered(Joel2:28-32).

NoticethatitsaystheSpiritwillbepouredoutuponALLFLESH.FromthattimeonwardWHOSOEVERwouldcallupontheLordshallbesaved.Youwillfindthatverse,Joel2:28,givenbyPeterontheDayofPentecostinthebook

ofActs,chapter2,verse17.InZechariah4:6youwillalsonotice that itsays:Notbymight,norby

power,butbymyspirit,saiththeLordofhosts.HereweseehowGodisgoingtowinthisbattle.He’sgoingtodoitby

HisHolySpirit.TheSpiritofGodthatmoveduponthefaceof thedeepin itschaoticcondition,andbrought light—that sameHolySpirit isgoing toworkthroughthepromisedRedeemer,theSeedofthewoman.

TurnnowtoHebrews11.Thisisthechapterwhichtalksabouttheheroesoffaith,menandwomenwhohazardedtheirlivesfortheirfaithinGod.Itsays:Thesealldiedinfaith[that’sAbraham,

Isaac,Jacob,David,Samuel—all thosepeoplebackthere],nothavingreceived the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded ofthem,andembracedthem,andconfessedthattheywerestrangersandpilgrimsontheearth(Hebrews11:13).

ThatmeansthattheywerelookingforwardtothecomingoftheSeedofthewoman—theoffspring—whowouldbeJesusChrist,theSonofGod.Welook back to His birth, death and resurrection but they looked forward. Theydidn’treceivethepromiseface-to-face.

Andtheseall,havingobtainedagoodreportthroughfaith,receivednotthepromise(Hebrews11:39).

Youwillfindthat"thepromise,”aswewillseelateron,isthepromiseoftheHolySpirit.Theyreceivednotthispromise...

Godhavingprovidedsomebetterthingforus...(Hebrews11:40).ThisisoneofthemostremarkablestatementsintheBible.Thatafterthe

comingoftheMessiah—afterHisbirth,deathandresurrection—that"somebetterthing”wouldbegiven.

TurnnowtoMatthew,chapter1,andwewillseehowGodbeginstodealtobringforththeSeedofthewoman—howthisManenterstheearth.Thenwesee in Acts 1 and 2 howHe returns to the Father and then reenters to abideforeverinthepersonoftheHolySpirit.

JesusIsConceivedByTheHolySpiritBehold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying,

Joseph, thou son ofDavid, fear not to take unto theeMary thywife: for thatwhichisconceivedinherisoftheHolyGhost.Andsheshallbringforthason,

andthoushaltcallhisnameJESUS:forheshallsavehispeoplefromtheirsins(Matthew1:20,21).

WhenourLordJesusChristenteredtheearthHebecameoneofus.Boneof our bone, flesh of our flesh. He was God in the flesh; He was born of awomanwithoutahumanfather,conceivedbytheHolySpirit.TheSpiritsimplyput theembryo,or thechild’shumanity,Hisearthlybody, in thewombof thisyoung,pureunmarriedgirl.ThisgaveHimHis connectionwithman.ButHisspiritwasnotbornofman,butoftheHolySpirit.ThisgaveHimHisconnectionwithGod.JesuswasGodINTHEFLESH.ThisistheIncarnation.HewasintheworldbutHewasnotofthespiritofthisworld.Hewalkedupontheearth,butHislifewasinheaven.HecombinedHisdivinenatureandHishumanbodyinaperfectrelationshipwithGodandman.

ThemostdramaticpartofJesus’lifeisthattheholyspiritcameuponhimandhedidnothingwithoutthepoweroftheholyspirit.

TherewerefourthingsthatChristhadtoaccomplishthroughthepoweroftheHolySpiritwhileHewasintheflesh:Hehadtobruisetheserpent’shead,Hehadtorisefromthedeadafterthreedays,hehadtobringcaptivitycaptive,andHehadtosendtheHolySpirit.

1. JesusHadToBruiseTheSerpent’sHead.Hehadtodestroythedevil’spowerandthatwasthroughthecross.Many

scholarsbelieve thatwhen thedevil inspiredmen toarrange thecrucifixionofChristthathethoughthehadkilledtheSonofGod.Butitwasthemistakeofallmistakes. For all he succeeded in doingwas killing Jesuswhich refers toHishumanity,andnottheChristwhichreferstoHisdivinenature.

It’s interesting that JosephofArimathaeabeggedPilate to lethimhavethedeadbodyofJesustoburyinanewlymadetomb(Matthew27:57,58).JesusChristwenttothecrosstofacedeath.Yousee,HewassubjecttodeathbecauseHedivested himself ofHis eternal glory.Hebecame aman andnowSatan isbruisingHisheel,orHisbody.JesusisfacingthemysteryandfearofdeaththesamewaythatyouandIhavetofaceit.ButwhenJesusChristdiedonthecross,Hesaid,"FatherintothyhandsIcommendmyspirit”(Luke23:46).TheycouldkillHisbodybutHeremainedincontrolofHisspirit,releasingittotheFather.

1. JesusHadToRiseFromTheDeadAfterThree

DAYS.He conquered death and said, "Because I live, ye shall live also.”The

greatestdreadofmanistodie.Inhisintellecthedoesn’tseemtoknowthatthereis an afterlife. He doesn’t realize that Jesus Christ has come and died on thecrossinhisplaceandthatHehasrisenfromthedead.Todaywecansay,withallauthority,thatJesusChristhasconquereddeath.

InHebrewsweread:Butone ina certainplace testified, saying,What isman, that thouart

mindfulofHim'?orthesonofman,thatthouvisitesthim?Thoumadesthimalittlelowerthantheangels(Hebrews2:6,7).Manismadelowerthanangels.Angelsareanorderofbeingscreatedon

ahigherlevel.Butwe see Jesus,whowasmadea little lower than the angels for the

sufferingof death ... that he by the graceofGod should taste death for everyman(Hebrews2:9).

Yousee,whenChristdivestedhimselfofHisgloryandbecameaman,Hevoluntarily acceptedaposition lower than the angels.Now remember this,thatLucifer, the great archangel, oneof the three archangels, fell.He rebelledagainstGod.You read this in Isaiah andEzekiel (Isaiah 14:12, Ezekiel 28:2).When Lucifer rebelled God cast him out and one third of the angelic beingsfollowed him. They lost their celestial bodies, they lost their spiritualillumination, and Lucifer became a deceiver, or the devil. And these angels,havinglosttheirdivineorcelestialbodies,becamedisembodiedspirits.

Webelieve that this iswhatdemons are.Webelieve that a demon is afallenangel,havinglosthiscelestialbody—hisspiritual illumination—andisnow in everlasting darkness. Because he is without a body, he seeksembodiment,primarilyhumanembodiment.BecausemanisGod’smasterpiece,manistheonedemonsstrikeat.Andenteringaman,theycanstrikeagainstGodandsofulfillpartoftheirownlustandanger.I’mjustsayingthatinpassingtopointoutthistremendousscripturehere:

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,[Christ]alsohimselflikewisetookpartofthesame;thatthroughdeathhemightdestroyhimthathadthepowerofdeath,thatis,thedevil(Hebrews2:14).

Yousee,Christhadtorisefromthedead.Hehadtoascendinorder to

destroythepowerofthedevil.Forverilyhetooknotonhimthenatureofangels;buthetookonhimthe

seedofAbraham(Hebrews2:16).Whenhebecameaman,itwasnotinthenatureofangelsbutasahuman

being.HelivedinthepoweroftheHolySpirit,wenttothecross,anddiedforoursins.Herosefromthedead;HeascendedandwhenHeascended,we’retoldthatHeascendedfaraboveallkingdomsandpowersandprincipalities.

Andaboveallangels.Whatdoesthismean?ItmeansthatwhenweareinChrist,thenweunderstandthescripturethatsayswesitwithChristinheavenlyplaces(Ephesians2:6).We,asredeemed,Spirit-filledhumanbeings,areraisedhigher than angels.We, who were made lower than angels, are raised aboveangels,notinourselvesbutthroughtheascendedChrist.

ItwastheworkoftheHolySpirittotakeJesusoutofthisworld.Thatis,toreleasetheChristSpirit,toreleasethedivinepartinHimfromthephysical.Inordertobeman,JesushadtolayasideHisheavenlyriches,Hisdivineglory,andheavenlypower.Jesusvoluntarilylimitedhimself.AslongasJesuswasinHisvisible,physical form,Hewas limited to timeand space.Hecouldonlybe inonecenturyatonetime,orinoneplaceatonetime.HewasalsosubjecttodeathandthegravebecauseHewasinthefleshasamanlikeus.

InordertogettheChristwholivedinthebodyofJesusoutofthisworldandbacktoGod,theHolySpirithadtoraiseHimfromthedead.AndthebodyofJesusChrist,uponbeinglaidinthetomb,wasraisedbytheSpiritonthethirdday. Now it was on that day, shortly after His resurrection, that He began toshowhimselfalivebymanyinfallibleproofs(Acts1:3).Infact,forseveraldaysHe made appearances to His disciples and to various others, such as MaryMagdalene.

3.JesusHadToBringCaptivityCaptive.Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity

captive,andgavegiftsuntomen.(Nowthatheascended,whatisitbutthathealsodescendedfirstintothelowerpartsoftheearth?Hethatdescendedisthesamealsothatascendedupfaraboveallheavens,thathemightfillall things)(Ephesians4:8-10).

In1Peteritreads:ForChristalsohathoncesufferedforsins,thejustfortheunjust,thathe

might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the

Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; whichsometimeweredisobedient,whenonce the long-sufferingofGodwaited in thedays of Noah. ...Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand ofGod;angelsandauthoritiesandpowersbeingmadesubjectuntohim(1Peter3:18-22).

JesusascendedintoheavenbutfirstHedescendedintothelowerpartsoftheearthandthereHepreachedtothesoulsthatwereinasortofprison.Whatitmeans is this: The souls of men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Samuel,Elisha—all thesemenhaddiedwithfaith in thecomingMessiah.Theywerelooking forward.TheyembracedHimbysimple faith,nothaving received thepromise,nothavingseenHimatall.Sotheywenttoanintermediateplace.TheHebrewwordforitisSheolandtheGreekwordisHades.

BeforetheresurrectionofChrist, thiswastheplaceforthesoulsof thedeparteddead.Itwasadividedplace—ononesidewashellandrightovernexttoitwasaplacecalledparadise.Betweenhellandparadisewasanimpassablegulf.Thosewhohaddied in their sinswere inhellandcouldnotpassover toparadise.ThosewhohaddiedwithfaithinGodwereinparadiseandcouldnotgointohell.

JesusmakesthisplainintheGospelofLukeconcerningthestoryoftherichmanandLazarus(Luke16).

WhenJesusChrist rose from thedeadandascended, the first thingHedidwastogotothisplaceofparadiseandproclaimHisvictoryoverdeath,hellandthegrave,sayingtothem,ineffect:

Idiedonthecross,Ishedmyblood,I’mgoingtorisefromthedeadandI’mgoingtotransferparadiseoutofthisplacerightintothepresenceofGod.

That thirdmorningwhenthewomencameto thetombtopaytheir lastrespects, the angel ofGod had preceded them.He had touched the stone andcatapulted it from its socket.TheChristSpirit had reentered thedeadbodyofJesusandJesusChristwalkedoutof that tomb.LayingasidethegraveclothesHelookedoverthesilentcitiesoftherighteousdeadandsaid,"BecauseIlive,yeshalllivealso”(John14:19).

WhenMarycameand recognizedHimandsaid, "Rabboni;which is tosay,Master”(John20:16)andstartedtotouchHim,Jesussaid,"Touchmenot;for I am not yet ascended to my Father.” And gathering up the souls of therighteousdead,Hecatapultedintotimeandspace.Heleapedabovetheplanetsandvaultedoverintoglory.ThereHelaidthesoulsoftherighteousdeadatthe

feetoftheHeavenlyFather,sothattodaywhenachildofGoddies,Paulsaysweare "absent from the body, and present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).Immediately thesoulsoarsandis instantlywith theLordandis thereawaitingtheresurrectionofhisearthlybody.WhatajoytobeachildofGodandknowourbodieswillberaisedfromthedead!

4.JesusHadToSendTheHolySpirit.Jesussaid:ItisexpedientforyouthatIgoaway:forifIgonotaway,theComforter

[Paraclete]will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you(John16:7).

Notice that Jesus is talking about His other self— the Holy Spirit isChrist’s other self. The Holy Spirit is Christ’s personal representative on thisearth.WhenJesuswas ready toascend togoback toGodandsiton the righthandoftheFather,HeturnedHisdisciplesovertoHispersonalrepresentative,overtoHisotherself.

AtthattimeitwasthepurposeoftheParaclete,theHolySpirit,tobringbacktheunlimitedgreaterChrist.OnewhoisfreefromHisphysicallimitation.Jesussaid,"IfIdepartIwillsendHimuntoyou.”SoJesuscomesbacktousinthepoweroftheHolySpirit.

NowthisisoneofthemoststunningaccomplishmentsoftheHolySpirit.ThatHewould:

Removethephysical limitationsunderwhichourLordJesuslivedonthisearthReinvestHimwiththepowerHehadbeforeHewasbornRe clotheHimwith thegloryHehadwith theFather beforeHe came toearthReendow Him with the riches that He voluntarily laid aside before Hebecameaman.

SothatnowPaulsaysitisGodwhowillsupplyallyourneedsaccordingtohisrichesinglorybyChristJesus(Philippians4:19).

As longasChristwasnotglorifiedorascended,Hewas inHis limitedform.HewasdivestedofHisglory.Yet,thankGod,evenwhenHewasdivestedofHiseternalriches,glory,andpower—throughthepoweroftheHolySpiritworkinginHim—

Hewalkedonthewater,Heraisedthedead,Hehealedthesick,Hecastoutdemons,Heforgavesins.

But now, when He goes back to heaven, going through death,resurrection, ascension and glorification, when He goes back, then the FathersendstheParaclete,theHolySpirit.

This iswhyJohn theBaptist said, "Heshallbaptizeyouwith theHolyGhost,andwithfire”(Matthew3:11).ThisiswhyJohntheBaptistalsosaidinverse14,"Ihaveneedtobebaptizedofthee.”(NoticeherethatJohntheBaptistwasthefirstoneevertoaskJesustobaptizehimintheHolySpirit!)

Jesushasbeen reinvestedwithHis eternal glory and riches andpower.HehascomebackbythepoweroftheHolySpirit,nolongerlimitedbytimeandspace,no longersubject todeath.He is INusso theworldcanneverget theirhandsonHim tocrucifyHimagain.While Jesuswashereonearth foronlyafew years, He can now abide with us FOREVER. It means that when theParacletecomes,theascendedrisenChristreturnsthroughtheHolySpirittoyouandme.AndwhenHereturnsHeisnolongerlimited.He’sthegreatercompleteChrist,sothattheScripturessay,"Greaterishethatisinyou,thanhethatisintheworld”(1John4:4).

Chapter3,HowToOvercomeProblemsYouFaceEveryDay

SuggestedScripturereadingforthislesson:Acts10and11I want to discuss one of the most remarkable demonstrations of the

poweroftheHolySpiritthissideofPentecost.ThestoryisfoundinActs10and11.Itvitallyaffectsyouandmeforinitisthesolutionto...

Ourreligioushang-ups...Racialprejudices,and...Anewwaytoreachouttoothers.Ifeelthisscripturewillgiveyousomeanswerstomanyoftheproblems

thatyoufaceeveryday.ReadActs10and11once, thenreadthemagainveryslowly.IbelieveitwillenableyoutofacelifewithawholenewoutlookoftheunlimitedpossibilitiesopenedtoyouthroughtheHolySpirit.

InActs10and11,wereadofamanwhosenameisCornelius.HeisacaptainintheRomanarmyovertheareaofCaesareaduringthetimetheRomangovernmenthadconqueredPalestine,andwastheoppressoroftheJews.

Cornelius also happens to be a God-fearing man but not with theunderstandingofGodthattheJewishpeopleorthenewChristianshave.Heisaman of prayer and a great giver. One day an angel came to him and said,"Cornelius, up in the presence ofGod amemorial to you has appeared in theformof your prayers and your giving . . .”This is a powerful statement.Theangel says, "But Iwantyou to sendamessengerup to Joppa.There is amanthere,aChristianwhosenameisPeter.He’sgoingtotellyouwhatyououghttodo.”

Well, in Joppa it’s noon and Peter is on the housetop waiting for themeal.He’sveryhungry,andashewaitshe falls intoa trance.Heseesagreatsheet,perhaps like thesheetonabed,comingdownand it’s justcoveredwithanimals, including both those the Jews considered clean and unclean. And avoicesays,"Peter,youarereallyhungry,aren’tyou?Comeon,getupandstarteating.”

Immediatelyall the theologyandphilosophy thathe’sbeen rearedwithcomesrushingintohismindandPeterbeginstosaytoGod,"Oh,no...notme.. . notme! I’mnotgoing tobe trapped like this. I’venever eatenanykindofmeatthatwetheJewsconsiderunclean.”

Peter didn’t understand that God had taken the whole human race,symbolically,andput iton that sheetandbrought it rightunderhiseyes, rightintohisheartandsaid,"Brother,Iwantyoutoacceptthesepeople.”

Hedidn’t understand that sohe arguedwithGod.Then thevoice said,"Don’tyoueverdothatagain.DON’TEVERCALLCOMMONTHATWHICHI’VECLEANSED.”

Nowthehumanraceisveryspecial.DoyouknowwhyMoses,wholedthechildrenofIsrael fromEgyptall thewayto thePromisedLand,wasneverallowedtoenterthePromisedLandhimself?GodhadJoshua,Moses’successor,to lead the people across Jordan.Why?BecauseMoses lost patiencewith thepeople of God and spoke sharply to them (Numbers 20:12). GOD WILLNEVER LETANYBODYGET BYWITHATTACKINGA HUMAN BEINGORANOTHERRACE,BECAUSEALLMENAREGOD’SCREATION.

InthisscriptureGodgathers themallupinHisarmsandsays toPeter,"Don’t you say anything against them.”ThenHe says, "I’m going to tell youabout this Roman army captain down in Caesarea who you don’t think isanything. In fact, you consider him your oppressor and you Jews hate him. IwantyoutogodownthereandIwantyoutosayexactlywhatItellyoutosay.”

SoPetergetsupandbythistimeherealizeshe’sonthespot.Iimaginehe’sthinking,I’vegottogodownthereandlayJesusonthesepeople.IhaveafeelingthatPeterwasstillprettyconfusedatthispoint.

ItreallyshakesyouupwhenyouunderstandthatGodlovesPEOPLE—whether a man is red, white, yellow, brown, black, all shades between —whetherhe isaRussian,oraJapanese,oraVietnamese,oranAmerican,oraJew,oranArab,oraChinese,orwhateverheis.

Itshakespeopleupwhenitreallycomeshome.I’mnottalkingaboutlipservice;I’mtalkingaboutwhenitreallycomeshome.

I’mnottalkingabouttheso-calledliberalAmericanwhosays,"Ilovetheblack people. I want us to integrate our schools,”while he’s on hisway to aprivate school to enroll his children so theywill never have any contactwithlittleblackchildren.I’mnottalkingaboutliberalslikethat.

I’mtalkingaboutGodgettingdowninsidethehumanheartandsaying:"Listen,Brother,weareallmadeofoneblood.Anddon’tyoucallanynationcommonorunclean.Don’tyoucallanymancommonorunclean.”

Youknow,Christianityreallyisaboutthetoughestreligionthereis.Theonlyreasonitseemssoftandeasyisbecausemanyofusdon’tknowwhatitisandwe’veseldomappliedittotheNOWofourlives.We’vemadeChristianityaSundaymorningtype,going-to-meeting-kindofareligion.

OnSundaywecansinglikeangelsandthroughtheweekwecanlivelikedevils.

SobythetimePetergetsdowntoCaesarea,theHolySpirithasworkedhimovergood.ThebeautifulpartaboutPeteris,previoustothishehadreceivedthebaptismintheHolySpiritinanauthenticwayandGodcouldgettohim.TheHolySpirithadshedHisloveabroadinthisman’sheart.

HeWasWrongInHisHeadButHeWasRightInHisHeart

Andthat’stheonlyhopewehaverightnowinthismomentofAmerica’shistory and in this moment of our world’s existence. Even if our heads arewrong,ifwecangetourheartsrightandfilledwiththeHolySpirit’slovethenwecangetdownhereon thishuman levelwhereGodsentHisSonJesusandbegantoexpressHislove.

TheBible says, "The love ofGod is shed abroad in our hearts by theHolyGhost [Spirit] which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5). So herewe see adifferentkindoflove—AGAPE—thekindoflovethatyouhaveforthepersonregardlessofhisvalue, regardlessofwhetherhe responds toyouor lovesyouback or not.NOWTHIS ISVERY IMPORTANTTOYOU—only theHolySpiritcanimpart thiskindof lovetoyourheart.Youcantryto lovetheagapewaybutyoucannotdoitunlesstheHolySpiritimpartsituntoyou.Itisadivinegift,freelygiven.

Forexample,ifyouareoutinyourgardenplantingseedandscatteringitabout,youare "shedding it abroad ...”This iswhat theBible is talkingabout.AGAPEloveiscomingatyoufromeveryside,fromeveryarea,outside,inside.Godissheddingabroadthisagapeloveinyourheart.

InMatthew3:11,JohntheBaptistsaid:I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he [Jesus] that

comethafterme...heshallbaptizeyouwiththeHolyGhost....ThewordforbaptizeinthisscripturemeansSUFFUSE.Inotherwords,

Johnwassaying,"JesuswillbaptizeyouorsendyoutheHolySpirit.TheHolySpiritwillflowlikeariver—likeriversof livingwater,completelyengulfing

your being. Itwill come unto you . . . within you . . . from every side, untilYOURENTIREBEINGiscompletelycoveredandfilledwiththeHolySpirit.”

This iswhy your spiritualman—your inner being, your heart— is soimportant.Jesussaid,..Outofhisbellyshallflowriversoflivingwater”(John7:38).When the Holy Spirit floods up in the heart and up into the head andtouches the reasonofman, thenyouaregoing to reallybeawholeperson—lovinglikeawholepersonshould.Youwillhaveawholemarriage;youwillbewholeparents;youwillhaveawholefamily.ThisisAGAPEloveshedabroadinyourhearts. It takes inotherhumanbeings. ItbringsGod into thewholeofyourlife.

Someoneasks,"Areyousomekindofareligiousnut?DoyouactuallythinkGodshouldbeineverypartofyourlife?”

I’lltellyouhowIfeel—GODISMYLIFE.ItisinGodthatIliveandmoveandhavemybeing(Acts17:28).WithoutHimIcouldhavenolife.

ThereWasCompleteIntegrationInTheEarlyChurchWhenTheyHadTheHolySpirit

TheBiblesays:Andthemultitudeofthemthatbelievedwereofoneheartandofonesoul

(Acts4:32).TheythatbelievedonJesuswereofONEHEARTandONESOUL.Take

twopiecesofsteel,puttheminthefireandtheybecomeone.Theyareweldedtogether inseparably.Theyareone. In thesameway, theearlyChristianswereONEintheSpirit.

These Christians had it in Jerusalem but they didn’t have it outsideJerusalem. Now they are beginning to have it where it belongs ... out in thestreet,outwherethepeopleare.

Themost importantmoment in your church service is not the openingprayer, or the choir singing, or the sermon, or the offering—as important asthosethingsare—it’sthebenediction.It’safteryou’veheardGod’sHolyWordandbeenfilledup—likeyourcaristakenintoaservicestationandfilledwithgasoline—andyoutakeGod’sWordtoothers.Whenyougofromthechurchbuildingtowheretheneedsof thepeopleare—thenyoubecometheChurch.SomepeoplewillgotochurchbutthegreatthingistobetheChurchandtaketheChurchwherehumanbeingsare.

Well, Peter had been there in Jerusalemwhere theywere all with oneheartandonesoulandhavingagreat time.All races representedwereone—therewasnodifference.Theyweretogetherhavingagreattime.Butnowhe’sinanotherpartoftheworld.ThisRomanarmycaptainhasinterruptedeverythingbecausehe’sgottenreligion.AndPeterdoesn’tknowwhethertoaccepthimornot.Hereallyfeltlikehewasincontrolbutinessence,Godsaid,"Listen,youmaybeoneofMybigapostlesbutyoujustsimmerdown.I’llgivetheorders.YougodownthereandyousaywhatItellyoutosay.”

So Peter arrives and the captain has his family and friends filling thehouse.Corneliusisreallyexcitedbecausehe’salsodonewhatGodtoldhimtodo.

ThefirstthingCorneliusdoesistodowhathewasaccustomedtodoing.You see,much of our strange behavior is based on our culture, not upon ourrelationship with Christ. It was the culture of the Romans to bow down toanyone they thoughtwasGod.Tobeginwith, theyallworshipedCaesar.HerecomesPeter—he’s so great he’s got to beGod,Cornelius thinks, so he fallsdownandworshipshim.Hewasjustdoing—notwhatGodsaidbutwhathisculturedemanded.

Peter lifts him up and says, "Look, brother, I’m aman and nomore.”Peter opens hismouth and he hearswords coming out of hismouth that he’sprobablyneversaidinhiswholelifetime.Hesays:"IPERCEIVETHATGODISNORESPECTEROFPERSONS.”

Did you know people have been gagging over that ever since? "IperceivethatGodisnorespecterofpersons.”

OneofthesedaysGodmaysaytoyou,"Oldbuddy,listentoMe,Iwantyoutogoovertheretoacertainplace.Theyarelearningabouttruereligionbuttheyneedhelp.You’ve received something that theydon’t havebutyouare alittle mixed up, too. You really thought that since you had the charismaticexperienceof theHolySpirit youwere in a select company.Andyou think iftheydon’thavewhatyouhavetheyreallyarenothing.Well,Iwanttotellyousomething,don’tyoucallcommonoruncleanwhatI’vecleansed.”

SoGodsaystoPeter,"RightnowwhileyouarethinkingthatCorneliusisanothing,I’vegotallhisprayersandhisgivingrightuphereinMyhands.ThatmandowntherehasbeenfollowingMethebestheknewhow.Hedoesn’thavethebaptismintheHolySpirit,likeyouhave,Peter.Hedoesn’tknowaboutJesuslikeyouknowaboutHim.SoIwantyoutogodownthereandtellhimtheGoodNews.”

By the timePetergets toCornelius,he is really ready.Heopensup toCorneliusandsays,"IperceivethatGodisnorespecterofpersons.”AndPetermeantit—that’sthenicething—HEMEANTIT!

SoPeterbegantopreach.Hebeginsbytellingthem(forhe’sconvincedbynow) thatGod accepts anyman— in anynation anywhere—whoworksrighteousness.HetellsthemaboutJesusbeingcrucifiedandresurrected.HetellsthemabouttheHolySpiritbeingonJesus.Hetellsabouttheremissionofsinsand that’s as far as he got in his sermon. It was at this moment a spiritualexplosionhappened.AndtheBiblesays:

WhilePeteryetspakethesewords,theHolyGhostfellonallthemwhichheardtheword.

Andtheyofthecircumcision[orJews]whichbelievedwereastonished,asmanyascamewithPeter,becausethatontheGentilesalsowaspouredoutthegiftoftheHolyGhost.FORTHEYHEARDTHEMSPEAKWITHTONGUES[intheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit],ANDMAGNIFYGOD(Acts10:44-46).

HowCouldItHappenSoEasily?TherewasnospecialdifficultytoreceivethebaptismintheHolySpirit.

I’ll tell youwhy!Because nobodyhadbeendown there to tell them itwasn’treal.Nobodyhadbeendown there toexplain itaway.Nobodyhadbeendowntheretosay,"NowtheBibledoesn’tmeanwhatitsays.”

TheyhadagroupwhoknewalittleaboutGodbutwantedALLGodhadtooffer.Theywere justsitting theresaying in theirheart,Hurryup,Peter.Getwithit.Getdowntothekeyissue.Wearereadytoreceive.Andreceivetheydid—justliketheChristiansontheDayofPentecost(Acts2:4).

SimonPeterisexcitedaboutitandhegoesbacktoJerusalemtoreportit.NowinJerusalemisthe"FirstChurch.”Alltheotherchurchesareoffspringsofit.Whenhearrivestheeldershearaboutit.PeterisexcitedlysharingwhatGodhasdone,thattheHolySpirithasfalleninCaesareaamongagroupofROMANSOLDIERS!

The leaders in the first church in Jerusalem immediately reacted.Theysaid, "Peter, word has come to us that youwent in among the uncircumcisedGentilesandateandsocializedwiththem..

ButPetersaid,"Nowholditjustaminute,letmeexplainthistoyou.Atfirst,Ifeltthesameway.”

(IwanttoshowyouhowwecanbefilledwithGod,evenwiththeHoly

Spirit, and our intellect can get in the way. We can put other people downbecausewelackknowledge.)

SoPetersaid,"Brethren,doyoubelieveinyourownbaptismintheHolySpirit?”

"Yes,sir.”"YouspokeintheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit?”"Yes.”"Well,GodgavetheseRomansthesameexperienceHegaveyou.Now,

how can you go against God? God gave them the same gift— THE SAMEGIFT—forweheardthemspeakwithtonguesandmagnifyGod.”

AndTHENtheybegantorejoice.That’sthebeautifulpartofhavingGod’sloveshedabroadinyourheart

bytheHolySpirit.Whenyoulearnthetruthyouacceptit.Youacceptit.Whenyouarewrongyouarewillingtosay,"Iamwrong.”

I’llneverforgetwhatafriendofminesaid—heisapastorofoneofthegreat churches inTulsa.He said, "Oral, it neverdegradesanypreacheror anyleader in the church to say, 'I made a mistake. I’ve been wrong!’ It neverdegradesanybodytoadmithismistakes.”

Rightnowinthiscountry, inourchurches,whatagreatrevivalof lovewecouldhave ifwecould just sit downand say, "We’vebeenwronghere—we’vebeenwrongthere.”

Forexample:ONEOFOURGREATESTWRONGSISTOFAILTOLOVEALLOF

OURPEOPLE,ALLOFOURRACES.Weshould justacceptaperson forwhathe isand lovehim.Godsays,

"YoumustnotcallcommonoruncleanwhatIhavecleansed.”Youcan’tdothat—notbecause I say it,butbecauseGodsaid it.Untilyouopenupyourheartandyourhouseandyourcommunityandletyourbrotherlivewherehewantstolive,therecanbenolastingsolution.Ifwedothis,then,

wecanworkatourjobsandbusinessestogether,wecangotoschooltogether,wecangotochurchtogether,wecanpraytogether,

wecanworshiptogether,wecanbeonetogether—oneashumanbeings.Thewholepurposeof thebaptism in theHolySpirit is to cause Jesus,

who isLove, toEXPLODE inourheartswithpower fromonhigh, to fillourinnerman until it’s like rivers of livingwater rolling up. This river of livingwater, or LOVE, covers our minds, our prejudices, our twisted thinking untilloveblotsthesethingsoutandthenwecanreachoutinrealloveandtrulyacceptourbrother—regardlessofhisrace,hisstationinlife,hisculturalbackground,orhispoliticalopinion.

GetYourHeadStraightToo!WhatGodisafteralsoistheINTELLECTofman—themind.Thereare

thousandsandmillionsinthiscountrywhoseheartsloveGod,butwhoseheadsaresofilledwiththeirculture—sofilledwithbiasandprejudice—until thisnationisreallysufferingoverit,andisbeingvirtuallytornapart.Thisworldalsoisbeingtornapart.

Jesussaid:ThisIsMyCommandment,ThatYeLoveOneAnother,AsIHave loved

you(John15:12).Idon’tbelievewecanfullylove,reallylove,untilweareallfilledwith

the Holy Spirit. I mean FILLED. I’m not talking about just speaking in theprayerlanguageoftheSpirit—I’mtalkingaboutgettingdownintheinnermanwith it.God’sHolySpirit love starts flowingupandwe lookat eachother ashuman beings. Then we love each other as human beings. Then we cometogether. Jesus came thatHemightgiveus this love. .. thatwemightbecomeLIVINGDEMON-STRATIONSOFTHATLOVE.Whenwehaveagapeloveinourhearts, thenweareable toreceiveanotherhumanbeing . . . friends, lovedones,evenstrangers.

ItBringsGodIntoTheWholeOfOurLivesAyoungmilitant of another race said tome, "You people say you are

ChristiansandyethowcanChristiansdothethingsyoudo?”Isaidverysimply,"WeareChristiansbutwearenotalwaysverygood

DISCIPLES.”There’sabigdifference.Yousee,youbecomeaChristianthroughnomeritofyourown.ThroughrepentanceandfaithinJesusChristyouarebornagainbytheSpiritofGod.It’sagift.YoualsoreceivethebaptismintheHoly

Spiritasagift (Acts2:38). Imeanyoucan’tevergetgoodenoughforGodtosaveyouandfillyouwithHisHolySpirit.It’sagiftfromGodwholovesyou.

Youdon’treceivethisgiftbecauseyourheadisright.Youdon’t get this becauseyouhave alreadybeen loving everybodyor

becauseyouhavetreatedeverybodyasahumanbeing.Jesusexplainsitlikethis,"Ifanymanwill[becomemydisciple],lethim

...takeuphiscrossdaily,andfollowme”(Luke9:23).Yousee,yougetsavedinonesecond.ThegraceofGodcansaveyoursoulinonesecondandyouaresaved. The blood of Christ covers you. If you were to die you would go toheavenbutthatdoesn’tmeanthatyouwillautomaticallymakeagreatfollowerordisciple ... or evenagreat citizen. Jesus said, "There’s somethingelse.YoumusttakeupyourcrossDAILY.Youmustbecomeadisciple,afollowerofMe.”ThatmeanstolearntobeafollowerofJesusINTHENOW.

Peter had accepted Christ, and been filled with the Holy Spirit, hadspokenintongueswhilehewasupthereinJerusalem,butNOWPeter’sdowninCaesareafacingthisissue.It’sawholenewballgame.He’sgottobelearningofJesus,becomingadisciple,adailyfollowerofChrist inCaesareaashewasinJerusalem.He’sgottoaccepthisbrother.Whoishisbrother?Hisbloodbrother?TheBible says that everybody is of one blood (Acts 17:26).Eachperson is abloodbrothertotheother.TheymaynotbebrothersinChristyet,buttheyarebloodbrothersbecauseGodmadeallofoneblood.

Peterhad thismarvelous transformingexperienceofhisheart— thankGod for that— and he goes back to Jerusalem and changes themind of thechurch. Imean there’s hope for the church. I am an optimisticman about thechurch. Idon’tbelievepeopleshouldcomeoutof thechurch. Ibelievepeopleshouldsupportthechurch,butIbelievetodoityouhavetobereallyFILLEDwith the Spirit. I believe you may have to help overcome your culturalbackground if it has led you to be prejudiced and bitter against other humanbeings. You have to believe and follow Jesus every day to become a betterdisciple of thisMan, JesusChrist ofNazareth.Discipleship is the real answerandthatmeansfollowingJesusdaily!

Jesus calls no man common or unclean ... He accepts ANY man whoworkethrighteousness(Acts10:15,35).

Noteverypersonwhoreadsthismayaccept theprayer languageof theSpirit as part of the baptism in theHoly Spirit. All I can say is, I personallyknowit’sreal.Ihaveit.ButI’mnotgoingtorunaroundputtingyoudownifyou

doordonot.IthinkyoucanandIthinkGodwantsyouto.IthinkifyoulearnhowtoreallyopenupyourselfinsideandlettheHolySpiritfloodup,asJesussaidinJohn7:37-39,thatitwilltakecareofitself.TheHolySpiritwillcometoyouandgiveyoutheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritwhichallofusneedsomuch.

What I’m really talking about is something a lot deeper. I’m talkingaboutLOVE.Iwisheachofuswouldlearntolovemore.TobeamoreChristlikeChristian,tobecomeadisciple.Wedon’thavetobesuchabadexampleofourLord,wecanbelivingwitnessesofHisLOVE.

THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE STORY OF CORNELIUS IS"AGAPE”LOVEWHICHPRODUCESSENSITIVITYANDOBEDIENCETOCHRIST.IfwekeepoureyesonChrist, theBaptizerandourLord,wewillbeabletoopenourheartstoallmen,toloveasChristloves...wecanbechannelsforChrist’slovetoflowthrough.

ADialogueBetweenOralAndEvelynRoberts(AtthecloseofthisclassmywifeEvelynandIhadadiscussionIthink

youwillenjoy.)Oral:WhendoyouthinkthatagapeorHolySpiritlovereallybeganto

workinPeter?Evelyn: I think it began towork inhimon theDayofPentecost but I

don’t think it really came to full fruition until after he had found out that theLordlovedotherracesbesideshisown.

Oral:Isthatagreatthingtolearn?Evelyn:Ireallydothinkso.Oral:Wheredoyouthinkwearerightnowinracerelations?Evelyn:Well,it’shardtosay.IthinkintermsofthewayIfeelmyself.I

thinkIloveeverybodybuttherearetimeswhenIdiscoverthatImayhavelittleprejudicesthatIdidn’tevenknowthatIhad.IthinkthisisoneoftheworksoftheHolySpirit—toshowusthoselittlespotsofprejudicewehave.

Oral:Youhaveprejudices?Evelyn: I hope not. If I do, it’s not because of the color of a person’s

skin.But itmaybebecauseof somethingelse. In fact, at times Ihave troublelovingpeopleofmyownrace,muchlesssomeothers.Ithinkallofushavetoworkonourselvesat thispoint.Thisagape love is somuchdifferent thananyother love we know. The Bible says that He will go with you to the end

(Matthew 28:20). A mother’s love goes only to the grave— it can’t go anyfurther, right?But this love—God’s love—absolutelygoes to thegraveandbeyond.

Oral:Intoeternity.Evelyn:Iagree.Here’saquestionIhad.YousaidthatPeterwentupto

theFirstChurchinJerusalemandreportedwhathadhappened.Oral:Iwasspeakingrhetorically.Evelyn: I agree. But tellme this,whenwe receive the baptism in the

HolySpirit,doyouthinkweshouldgooutandannounceittothepublic?Oral: Not necessarily. In our society there’s so much division in the

churches.So I thinkwhenyou receive thebaptism in theHolySpirit thatyoushouldbeveryquietaboutit,verypersonal.Letitcomeoutofyouinlove,inadeeperprayerlife.LetpeopleseesomethinginyouthatremindsthemofJesusandmakethemask,"Somethinghashappenedtoyou;whatisit?”Theninsteadof getting into all themechanics say, "Jesus baptizedme in theHoly Spirit.”Don’ttrytopouritonpeopleuntiltheyareready,untiltheystartasking.

Before I had the baptism in theHolySpirit I resentedpeoplewhohadthisexperienceandactedliketheywerebetterthanthosewhodidnot.Itellyou,the real truth is,wedon’t speak in tonguesbecausewefeelwearebetter thanthosewho don’t. It’s just that throughmy understanding alone I can’t getmyprayersthroughallthetime,soIusetheprayerlanguageoftheSpirittohelpmecommunicatebetterwithGod.Soit’snotthatwespeakintonguesbecausewefeelsuperior,butratherbecausewefeelinadequateandneedhelptopraybetter.Wehavethisfeelingofneed.It’simportantforustogetsomeknowledgeaboutthebaptismintheHolySpirit.

Evelyn:YouhearalotofpeoplesaythatthegiftoftheHolySpiritissoabused that they don’twant to hear about it.A student in one of your classeswrote in a book report: "Heretofore I looked on theHoly Spirit as somethingverydistantandoutof reach insteadofbeingrealandveryclose tome inmydailyneeds.IhadevenbeguntofeelafraidwhentheHolySpiritwasmentioned,almosttothepointofunbelief.Nowthisdoesn’tbothermeanymore.”Herfinalwordwas,"Weneedmorepracticalapplicationsonhowtousethegift.”Ithinkof it this way—the Holy Spirit is a perfect gift, given to an imperfect vessel(which iswhatweare).This is theway I thinkofCornelius.Yousee,hewasvery imperfect and the righteous people looked upon him as being unworthybecausehewasaRoman.

Oral:YousaidtheJewsthoughtthatbecauseCorneliuswasaRoman,hewasn’t so great. But how did you thinkGod felt about Peter up there on thehousetop.DidyouthinkGodthoughthewassogreat?

Evelyn:TheJewishpeoplehadbeentaught—correctmeifI’mwrong—thattheycouldonlyeatcertainthings.Anyway,IthinktheLordwastryingtoovercome Peter’s cultural background. The Lord human beings. You have tobelieveandfollowJesuseverydaytobecomeabetterdiscipleofthisMan,JesusChrist of Nazareth. Discipleship is the real answer and that means followingJesusdaily!

Jesus callsnomancommonorunclean . . .HeacceptsANYmanwhoworkethrighteousness(Acts10:15,35).

Noteverypersonwhoreadsthismayaccept theprayer languageof theSpirit as part of the baptism in theHoly Spirit. All I can say is, I personallyknowit’sreal.Ihaveit.ButI’mnotgoingtorunaroundputtingyoudownifyoudoordonot.IthinkyoucanandIthinkGodwantsyouto.IthinkifyoulearnhowtoreallyopenupyourselfinsideandlettheHolySpiritfloodup,asJesussaidinJohn7:37-39,thatitwilltakecareofitself.TheHolySpiritwillcometoyouandgiveyoutheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritwhichallofusneedsomuch.

What I’m really talking about is something a lot deeper. I’m talkingaboutLOVE.Iwisheachofuswouldlearntolovemore.TobeamoreChristlikeChristian,tobecomeadisciple.Wedon’thavetobesuchabadexampleofourLord,wecanbelivingwitnessesofHisLOVE.

THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE STORY OF CORNELIUS IS"AGAPE”LOVEWHICHPRODUCESSENSITIVITYANDOBEDIENCETOCHRIST.IfwekeepoureyesonChrist, theBaptizerandourLord,wewillbeabletoopenourheartstoallmen,toloveasChristloves...wecanbechannelsforChrist’slovetoflowthrough.

ADialogueBetweenOralAndEvelynRoberts(AtthecloseofthisclassmywifeEvelynandIhadadiscussionIthink

youwillenjoy.)Oral:WhendoyouthinkthatagapeorHolySpiritlovereallybeganto

workinPeter?Evelyn: I think it began towork inhimon theDayofPentecost but I

don’t think it really came to full fruition until after he had found out that theLordlovedotherracesbesideshisown.

Oral:Isthatagreatthingtolearn?Evelyn:Ireallydothinkso.Oral:Wheredoyouthinkwearerightnowinracerelations?Evelyn:Well,it’shardtosay.IthinkintermsofthewayIfeelmyself.I

thinkIloveeverybodybuttherearetimeswhenIdiscoverthatImayhavelittleprejudicesthatIdidn’tevenknowthatIhad.IthinkthisisoneoftheworksoftheHolySpirit—toshowusthoselittlespotsofprejudicewehave.

Oral:Youhaveprejudices?Evelyn: I hope not. If I do, it’s not because of the color of a person’s

skin.But itmaybebecauseof somethingelse. In fact, at times Ihave troublelovingpeopleofmyownrace,muchlesssomeothers.Ithinkallofushavetoworkonourselvesat thispoint.Thisagape love is somuchdifferent thananyother love we know. The Bible says that He will go with you to the end(Matthew 28:20). A mother’s love goes only to the grave— it can’t go anyfurther, right?But this love—God’s love—absolutelygoes to thegraveandbeyond.

Oral:Intoeternity.Evelyn:Iagree.Here’saquestionIhad.YousaidthatPeterwentupto

theFirstChurchinJerusalemandreportedwhathadhappened.Oral:Iwasspeakingrhetorically.Evelyn: I agree. But tellme this,whenwe receive the baptism in the

HolySpirit,doyouthinkweshouldgooutandannounceittothepublic?Oral: Not necessarily. In our society there’s so much division in the

churches.So I thinkwhenyou receive thebaptism in theHolySpirit thatyoushouldbeveryquietaboutit,verypersonal.Letitcomeoutofyouinlove,inadeeperprayerlife.LetpeopleseesomethinginyouthatremindsthemofJesusandmakethemask,"Somethinghashappenedtoyou;whatisit?”Theninsteadof getting into all themechanics say, "Jesus baptizedme in theHoly Spirit.”Don’ttrytopouritonpeopleuntiltheyareready,untiltheystartasking.

Before I had the baptism in theHolySpirit I resentedpeoplewhohadthisexperienceandactedliketheywerebetterthanthosewhodidnot.Itellyou,the real truth is,wedon’t speak in tonguesbecausewefeelwearebetter thanthosewho don’t. It’s just that throughmy understanding alone I can’t getmyprayersthroughallthetime,soIusetheprayerlanguageoftheSpirittohelpmecommunicatebetterwithGod.Soit’snotthatwespeakintonguesbecausewe

feelsuperior,butratherbecausewefeelinadequateandneedhelptopraybetter.Wehavethisfeelingofneed.It’simportantforustogetsomeknowledgeaboutthebaptismintheHolySpirit.

Evelyn:YouhearalotofpeoplesaythatthegiftoftheHolySpiritissoabused that they don’twant to hear about it.A student in one of your classeswrote in a book report: "Heretofore I looked on theHoly Spirit as somethingverydistantandoutof reach insteadofbeingrealandveryclose tome inmydailyneeds.IhadevenbeguntofeelafraidwhentheHolySpiritwasmentioned,almosttothepointofunbelief.Nowthisdoesn’tbothermeanymore.”Herfinalwordwas,"Weneedmorepracticalapplicationsonhowtousethegift.”Ithinkof it this way—the Holy Spirit is a perfect gift, given to an imperfect vessel(which iswhatweare).This is theway I thinkofCornelius.Yousee,hewasvery imperfect and the righteous people looked upon him as being unworthybecausehewasaRoman.

Oral:YousaidtheJewsthoughtthatbecauseCorneliuswasaRoman,hewasn’t so great. But how did you thinkGod felt about Peter up there on thehousetop.DidyouthinkGodthoughthewassogreat?

Evelyn:TheJewishpeoplehadbeentaught—correctmeifI’mwrong—thattheycouldonlyeatcertainthings.Anyway,IthinktheLordwastryingtoovercome Peter’s cultural background. The Lord sometimes has to help ourbackground.DoyourememberwhenwewereintheHolyLandthattheJewishpeoplewetalkedtothoughtthateverybodywhowasnotaJewwasaChristian?

Oral:Aretheymixedup!Evelyn:But,yousee,tothemaChristianmeansthesameasGentile,but

notallGentilesareChristians.AndnotallChristiansareGentiles.Oral:AndnotallChristiansaredisciplesofourLord.Evelyn:Right.Oral:Evelyn,wouldyoutakethreeorfourminutesandreadjustalineor

two from some of the book reports thatwe’ve received frommembers of theHolySpiritclass.

Evelyn:Thesearejustreallygreat.Onepersonwrote:"Praying in theSpirit brings about a closer,more personal relationship

withChrist.

When one receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit his power ofcommunication directly with the Lord is tremendously improved.” Somebodyelsesaid:

"It helps us — we can cope with tight situations through personallyedifyingourselveswiththisgift.”

Anotherwrote:"Yourteachingchangedmyviewsconcerningthedailyuseoftongues.I

thoughtitwastobeusedatspecialtimesofneedorwhenagroupofbelieverswereintheSpirittogether.InowrealizeitisjustasimportantaswhenIspeaktoGodthroughtheintellect.AndthewordsIsayareunderstood.”

Isn’t that great? Whoever wrote this, understands that God helps usthroughourintellectaswellasthroughtheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit,andthisisapoint,ofcourse,thatyouhaveemphasized.

Oral:Theendresultofspeakingin theprayer languageof theSpirit iswhathappenstoyourintellectoryourunderstanding.TheHolySpiritistryingtobringourintellectintoharmonywithGod,becauseallthroughourliveswe’vebeentaughttolivebyourhead,haven’twe?That’swhateducationisallabout—educatingthemind.ButspeakingintheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritbeginsin the innerman and ultimately favorably affects the intellect so that you canpraybetterinyourlanguageandunderstandGodbetter.

Evelyn: The prayer language of the Spirit is speaking to God in alanguage which He alone understands. This is very enlightening. It helps merealizeGoddoescareabouteachindividual.

Oral:Evelyn,isn’tthereareportaboutsomeonegoingintohisroomattwoo’clockinthemorning...?

Evelyn: Yes. I wanted to read to you about agape love first becausesomebodywroteaboutithere.Theysaid:

"Thecentralthemeofyourteachinggoesbeyondtheprayerlanguageofthe Spirit and its value, though that is clearly and carefully explained. ThecentralthemeisagapelovewhichproducessensitivityandobediencetoChrist.Ifwe keep our eyes onChrist, theBaptizer and our Lord,wewill always besensitive to the promptings and leadings of the Spirit, thus releasingmore ofGod’slovetoothers.”

Isn’tthatbeautiful?Oral:Findthat2a.m.thing...

Evelyn:Oh,yes,hereitis!"Through reading the book I found God’s time for me to receive the

baptismintheHolySpiritwas2a.m.,September22.Ithasaffectedmywholelifeandmademeafarmoreeffectivewitness.”

Hereisanotheronethat’sverygood.Thispersonwrote:"Another interesting factor is that the Holy Spirit speaks through the

spiritandtongueofthebelieverandisalwaysinagreementwiththeFather.ThisgivesmegoosebumpsbecauseitmakesmebetterunderstandtheFather’sloveforme, and thatgift canboostmyChristianwalk. I’veoftenwanted thisgift;now I feelGodwill showme theway andwill blessmewith thiswonderfulgift.”

Chapter4,Jesus,You,AndTheHolySpirit

SuggestedScripturereadingforthislesson:Matthew1Iwant to discusswith you three divisions of the life andwork of our

LordJesusChristthroughthepoweroftheHolySpirit:

1. JesusandtheHolySpirit2. YouandtheHolySpiritintheNow3. TrustingtheHolySpirit(thedivineParaclete)

1.JesusAndTheHolySpiritWhatwasJesus’lifeandHisworks?EverythingthatJesuswasandeverythingthatJesusdid,includingallof

Hismiracles,HeattributedtotheHolySpirit.Heneverclaimedthispowerforhimself.HesaidthatHedidnotcomeinHisownname,norinHisownpower,butHecametodotheworkthattheFatherhadsentHimtodoandthatalltheseworksweredonebythepoweroftheHolySpirit(John5:19,5:43,10:25).

WhenyoustopandthinkthattheSaviorofmanhadHisdependenceontheHolySpirit, howmuchmore do you and I need to depend upon theHolySpirit?

Firstofall,Jesus’birthwassupernatural.Someofusmayhaveforgottenthat.

Let’sreadinMatthewtogether,beginningwithverse18,andI’llexhortversebyverse:

NowthebirthofJesusChristwasonthiswise:WhenashismotherMarywasespousedtoJoseph,beforetheycametogether,[thatis,beforetheybecamemanandwife]shewasfoundwithchildoftheHolyGhost.

This is the strangest thing in the history of man— that a virgin wasfoundtobewithchild.

ThenJosephherhusband,(verse19)Nowthewordhusbandisusedbecausethemarriageengagementvowsin

thatdayweretantamounttomarriageitself.…beingajustman,andnotwillingtomakeherapublicexample,

that is, notwanting to embarrass her publicly since itwas evident shewaspregnant.

…wasmindedtoputherawayprivilytoverydiscreetlybreakuporannultheengagement.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lordappeareduntohim inadream, saying, Joseph, thou sonofDavid, fear not totakeunto theeMarythywife: for thatwhichisconceivedinher isof theHolyGhost(verse20).

Thisiswhatwecallthevirginbirth.Jesuswasbornofavirgin.Hewasconceivedinher,notbymanbutbytheHolySpirit.

We are emphasizing the supernatural birth of Jesus Christ. Mary, thehuman, was His mother. He received His body, His human features, andcharacteristicsfromawoman.ButthedivinepartofHimwasconceivedbytheHolySpirit,sothatHebecametheSonofmanfromMaryandtheSonofGodfromtheHolySpirit.It’sagreatmystery.Theintellectcannotcomprehendit.Ithastobeacceptedandbelievedbyfaithoryoucannevergraspit.AsSt.Paulsays,spiritualthingsmustbediscernedspiritually(1Corinthians2:14).

OntheonehandJesusistotalman,somuchmanit’sasifHewerenotGod.

OntheotherHeistotalGod,somuchGodit’sasifHewerenotman.HewasSonofmanandSonofGod.TheHolySpiritbroughtthistopassinasupernaturalbirth....andthoushallcallhisnameJESUS:forheshallsavehispeoplefrom

theirsins(verse21).20Now, in like manner, people in this age who become Christians and

followersofChristhavetoexperienceasupernaturalbirth.They’vebeenbornofthe flesh the first timeof their earthlyparents, but tobe childrenofGod theymustbebornoftheSpirit.Thatis,theHolySpiritmustgivethemasecondbirth(John3:3-8).

OurbirthasChristiansissupernatural.JesusChristwasandisGodIncarnate,whichmeansGodintheflesh.We

read in1Corinthians6:19, "Yourbody is the templeof theHolyGhost.”Ourbodyisatemple.It’slikeacathedral,andtheHolySpiritdwellswithinus.So

youareanextensionoftheincarnationofJesusChrist.YoubecomeaChristianby a supernatural birth,whichmeans that theHoly Spirit has given you yourbirth—arebirthofyourspirit.

NowJesuswasfilledwiththeHolySpirit.InMark1:10weread:Andstraightwaycomingupoutofthewater,hesawtheheavensopened,

andtheSpiritlikeadovedescendinguponhim.One daywhile John the Baptist was preaching, Jesus walked up. And

John lookedover, stretchedouthishand,andsaid, "Behold theLambofGod,whichtakethawaythesinoftheworld”(John1:29).

Then Jesus asked John tobaptizeHim. Immediately John said, "Ihaveneedtobebaptizedofthee”(Matthew3:14).

Nowthisisoneofthegreatestdialoguesinhistory.Jesuswasaskingforwaterbaptism,andJohnwasaskingfortheHolySpirit’sbaptism.ButJesussaid,"YougoaheadandbaptizeMebecausewewill fulfill the lawsofGodanddocompletelywhatisright.”

SoJohnbaptizedHim.AndJesuscameoutofthewaterandtheheavensopenedand theredescendeduponHim theHolySpirit in thebodily formofadove(John1:32).NowmostBiblescholarsagreethatitwasabodilyformofabeautiful,innocentlittledove.Thedoveisalsoasymbolofpeace.

TheinfusionoftheHolySpiritinanyman’slifehelpstocalmhisnatureandbringhimtoalevelofpeacefulnesssothathebeginstoloveandcareandexpressconcernforpeople.

However,manypeoplemistakenlybelievethatwhentheytakeChrist,orare filled with the Holy Spirit, that from then on everything is going to bepeaceful.Everybodywill loveand respect them.Everythingwillgowell.But,friend, I have news for you. The Spirit leads us into conflict. JESUS WASBOTHLEDANDDRIVENBYTHEHOLYSPIRIT.

Iwanttopointoutsomethingherethat’sextraordinary.Luke4:1says,AndJesusbeing full of theHolyGhost, [notice thatHewas full of the

Holy Ghost] returned from Jordan, and was LED by the Spirit into thewilderness.

Now thiswas thewildernesswhere Satanwould be lurking. ThiswaswhereJesusfastedfor40daysandnightsandwaslatertemptedofthedevil.ButHewasledbytheSpirit.Anotherversesays:

AndimmediatelytheSpiritdrivethhimintothewilderness(Mark1:12).TheSpirit both led anddroveHim into conflict— INTOCONFLICT.

WhilethereispeaceintheheartoftheChristian,thereisnotpeaceintheoutsideworld. Jesuswas immediately thrust intoagiganticstrugglewith the forcesofevil.Actually—togainvictoryoverhimselftobetemptedandtolearnhowtoovercomethosetemptations.SoJesusofNazareth,aman—ahumanbeing—wasledbytheSpiritandalsodrivenbytheSpiritintoconflict.

Yousee,therearetwostagesinbeingaChristian.First,youarebornofthe Spirit and you become a child of God. Thismeans you are saved by thebloodofChristandyouwillgotoheaven.

The second state of aChristian’s life begins immediately— that is, tobecomeadisciple,whichmeanslearnerorafollowerofJesus.

If any man will come after me [would be my disciple], let him DenyHimself,AndTakeUpHisCrossDaily,AndFollowMe(Luke9:23).

SoDiscipleshipIsSomethingWeDoConversion is somethingGoddoes forusbutdiscipleship is something

wedobacktowardGod.Webecomeafollower,alearnerofourLord,andthattakesalifetime.Youmaybeconvertedorbornagaininamoment’stimebytheHolySpiritbut it takesa lifetimetobecomeafollower,a learner,adiscipleofChrist.I’llhavemuchtosharealittlelateraboutthesetwoimportantstagesinyourlife.

ThePowerOfTheSpiritOpensUpAWholeNewAREAOfMiraclesAndLife

AndJesusreturnedinthepoweroftheSpiritintoGalilee(Luke4:14).HERETURNED INTHE POWEROFTHE SPIRIT.Notice now that

fromHis baptism in theRiver Jordanwhen the heavens opened and the holydovecameuponJesus,andHewasfilledwiththeHolySpirit,thatHeentersanewkindofearthly life—anewdimensionofhumanity.Nolonger isHe thestranger fromGalilee, or the carpenter fromNazareth, or themanwalking upinto the crowdwhere John theBaptistwas preaching.HeNOWcomes in thepowerof theSpirit.Thepowerof theSpiritwillopenupawholenewareaofmiracles,oflifeforthehumanrace.FromthismomentonourLordwillmeetthedevilheadon.Hewillgoaboutdoinggood,healingallwhoareoppressedofthedevil, forGod iswithHim(Acts10:38).Hewill forgivesins,heal sicknesses,

castoutfears,makemenwholebecauseHe’snowinthepoweroftheSpirit.Heisheretodestroytheworksofthedevil.

TheEntireChristianLifeIsASupernaturalLifeIt is lived in thepowerof theSpirit.Weretainour intellect.Welive in

ourphysicalbodies.ButatthesamemomentweareindweltbytheHolySpirit.TheHolySpiritbringsintellect,body,andspiritintoaunity,aharmony,andwecease tobeordinarypeople, lovingonlyourselves, caringonlyaboutourownneed, trying to get.We become giving, loving human beings.We have a newdimensionofpower.ItisthepoweroftheHolySpirit.

JesusWasAnointedByTheHolySpiritInLuke4:18Jesussaid:TheSpiritoftheLordisuponme...Notice that Jesus instantly dispelled all personal claims of power and

attributedHispowertotheHolySpirit.Thisisaverypersonalthing.Godknowsyouasaperson,anindividual

inyourownright.Heknowsyourname.Heknowsthenumberofhairsonyourhead.Heknowswhereyoulive.Heknowsallyourneedsandcares.Inthesameway that theHolySpirit indwelt Jesus, theSpiritcomes tousandwecansay,"TheSpiritoftheLordisuponME..

…becausehehathanointedme[orpossessesmewiththeSpiritofGod]topreachthegospeltothepoor...

Thewordpoorheredoesnot necessarilymeanpauper. Inotherwords,Jesuswas saying, "Hehas sentMewith thegoodnewsof thegospel to thosewhohaveneeds.”Ihavemetrichpeoplewhowerepoorandpoorpeoplewhowere rich. So you cannot say that the word "poor” here necessarily meansmaterial poverty. Jesus is talking about peoplewhose needs cannot bemet bymerehumanpower.

RecentlyIwaswithtwoofthegreatestpeopleinAmericawhoseneedswere so desperate that they are now beyond the power ofmortalman’s help.They cannot be helped further by doctors; they cannot be helped further bymoney.Nothing on earth can be done for them.Only amiraclewill save andchangetheirlives.Sotheyarepoorinthattheyhaveterrificneeds.

Hehathsentmetohealthebrokenhearted...This means that people are bruised, fragmented, broken. Their

personalitieshavebeendivided.Wearenotwhole.Weare torturedby fearonthe one hand and inspired by great faith on the other. Sometimes our fearovercomesourfaithandsometimesourfaithovercomesourfear.Seldomdowegothroughadaywhenwearenotbroken,eitherinourselvesorinsomememberofourfamilyorneighbor.SoJesusissaying,"GodhassentMetohealyou.”

[Hehathsentme] topreachdeliverance to thecaptives,andrecoveringofsighttotheblind,tosetatlibertythemthatarebruised.

Isn’titremarkablethatthechurchworldisonlynowbeginningtoacceptJesus as the Healer, as the Great Physician! He not only will bless medicalscienceandusedoctors,butalsowillinfuseahumanbeingwithHisownHolySpirit, who can change the blood system, the nervous system, and effect ahealing in the individual that cannot be explained by themind ofmen. JesusChristisahealingChristandChristianityisahealingreligion.

It’simportantthatweunderstandthattheHolySpiritcameonJesusandsentHimtoheal.ItreallytakestheHolySpirit—thedivineParaclete—togiveyou a feeling for healing on a supernatural basis. I fully believe it isintellectually impossible to believe in healing by the Spirit ofGod unless theHolySpiritenlightensyourspiritandyourunderstanding(intellect).

ListenToJesusNowItreadslikeagreatpoem.TheSpiritoftheLordisuponme,becausehehathanointedmetopreach

the gospel to the poor [those with needs]; he hath sent me to heal thebrokenhearted,topreachdeliverancetothecaptives[topeopleinbondage],andrecovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (Luke4:18).

DoyouknowthisChrist?IsthisChristfamiliartoyou?OrisHeknownbettertoyouinart,orinpoetry,orinwordsofministers,orinsomebook?IsHealivingman?

adynamicMessiah?a conquering Christ who is more concerned about you than you areyourself?aChristwhoistoogoodtodowrong,toostrongtofail,toowisetomakeamistake?aChristwhohashealinghandsandishereintheNOWtotouchyourlife?

It’ssodifficultforsomeofustoactuallybelievethatsuchamanasourLordlived,andmoredifficulttobelievethatHe’sintheNOW.

Ifyoudon’tknowHimlikethisIwanttoassureyouthatyoucan.OpenyourheartandsimplyaskHimtocomeinandtakecontrolofyourlife.

2.YouAndTheHolySpiritInTheNowAman said to me, "Mr. Roberts, you are an intelligent man. Do you

actuallybelievethatJesusChristrosefromthedeadandisintheNOW,likeyousay?”

Isaid,"Yes,Sir!IKNOWIT.”Manytimespeoplesaytome,"Mr.Roberts,howdoyouknow?”AndIsay,"IknowthatIknowthatIknowthatIknowthatIknowthatI

know—that’showIknow!IKNOWthatJesusChristisaliveinthenow.”

TheHolySpirit’sNewNameJesustalkedabouttheHolySpiritinreferencetothelivesandworksof

Hisowndisciples.FourdifferenttimesHereferredtotheHolySpiritandgaveHimanewname.

AndIwillpraytheFather,andheshallgiveyouanotherComforter,thathemayabidewithyouforever(John14:16).

ThewordforcomforterintheGreekisthewordparaclete.Yououghttobecomefamiliarwith thewordparacletebecause itmeans, literally,onecalledalongside to help. For example, here you are struggling with a burden andsomeonejuststepsupandputshisarmandshoulderunderitandhelpsyoubearit—someonecalledalongsidetohelp.Thisiswhatthewordparacletemeans.

FourdifferenttimesJesusmentionsthatwordComforter,orParaclete,inJohn14,15,and16.InthesechaptersHe’sreferringtotheParaclete’spersonalcomingtothedisciples:

IwillpraytheFather,andheshallgiveyouanotherComforter,thathemayabidewithyouforever(John14:16).

ButtheComforter,whichistheHolyGhost,whomtheFatherwillsendinmy name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to yourremembrance,whatsoeverIhavesaiduntoyou(John14:26).

WhentheComforteriscome,whomIwillsenduntoyoufromtheFather,eventheSpiritoftruth,whichproceedethfromtheFather,heshalltestifyofme

(John15:26).ItisexpedientforyouthatIgoaway:forifIgonotaway,theComforter

willnotcomeuntoyou(John16:7).NowJesusalsohadbeengivenanewname.Theangelsaid:ThoushaltcallhisnameJESUS:forheshallsavehispeoplefromtheir

sins(Matthew1:21).AnditmeansImmanuel,orGodwithus.ThereasonthatJesusbecamea

manwastoshowuswhatGodislike.GodisaSpirit,seeminglysofaraway,soincomprehensible toour intellectandour spirit.ButGodsendsHisSon in thelikenessofflesh.Hewalksonthisearthasaman.Hesitswherewesit.Hefeelswhatwefeel.AndHesays:

HethathathseenmehathseentheFather(John14:9).Inotherwords,ifwe’veseenJesuswehaveseenwhatGodtheFatheris

like.Thename"Jesus”referstoHisvisible,physicalpresence. . .Hisbeingaman . . .andChrist refers toHisdivinenature.SoHe isJesusChrist—man-God,God-man.HeisGodincarnated,orGodin theflesh.SoJesushasanewname and nowHe gives theHoly Spirit a new namewhich is Paraclete, onecalledalongsidetohelp.

Now,JesussaysinJohn16:7:Nevertheless,Itellyouthetruth;ItisexpedientforyouthatIgoaway:

forifIgonotaway,theComforter[Paraclete]willnotcomeuntoyou;butifIdepart,Iwillsendhimuntoyou.

NoticewhatJesusissaying,"AslongasIamhereinmyvisible,physicalpresence,IcannotsendyoutheParaclete.SoIamgoingtoMyFatherandifIgotoMyFatherIwillsendHimtoyou.Andit’sbetterforyouthatIgoaway.”

You see, the disciples had built their lives around the visible, physicalpresence of Jesus Christ. What they did not realize were the limitations thatJesushadvoluntarilyplaceduponhimself.HehadstrippedhimselfofHisrichesinheaven.Hehadmadeof himself no reputation.Hehadnoplace to layHishead.Helaiddowneverythinginordertobecomeaman,tositwherewesit,tofeelwhatwefeel.

ButnowtheChrist in thehumanbodyofJesus isstraining to return tothat unlimited dimensionwhereHewill be the full releasedChrist,whereHewillbetheglorifiedJesusChrist,TheonlywayHecoulddothatwastosubmittodeath,torisefromthedead,andascendtoheaven.ThereonGod’srighthand

HewouldpraytheFathertosendanotherComforterwhichistheHolySpirit—thedivineParaclete.

NowletmegiveyouanotherdimensionoftheworkoftheHolySpirit:LikewisetheSpiritalsohelpethourinfirmities:forweknownotwhatwe

shouldprayforasweought:buttheSpirititselfmakethintercessionforuswithgroaningswhich cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knowethwhat is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saintsaccordingtothewillofGod(Romans8:26,27).

Here the Scripture says the Spirit is praying through you and makingintercession"forthesaintsaccordingtothewillofGod.”OncetheHolySpiritindwells youHebecomesyourpersonalParaclete.Hegathersup the longingsanddesiresofyourinnermostbeingandexpressesthem,throughyourgroaningsandprayerlanguagetoGod.

The Spirit also searches out the inhibitions, hidden resentments,repressions,andscarsthatareembeddedinthehumanspirit—itmaybeahurtthat you have carried ever since childhood, or a grudge.But the Spirit knowshowtoprayandforwhattopraythatChristmaybecompleteinus.

THESPIRITTHROUGHYOUPRAYSINTHEWILLOFGODANDIN THEMIND OF THE SPIRIT IN YOUR BEHALF OR IN BEHALF OFSOMEONE’SNEEDFORWHICHYOUAREBURDENED.

He not only knows your heart, but their heart and their needs andHeknows exactly what God’s will is regarding each of these needs. He givesutterancethroughyouwithgroaningsforwhichthereisnoequivalentexpressioninhumanthought.Those"groanings”canonlybeexpressedin"diverskindsoftongues,” tongues that are unknown to the understanding. This is because attimesweare incapableof formulating thewordsorphrases toAccurately andfully unburden ourselves. So we rely on the Holy Spirit who knows how tointercedeforusorfortheoneforwhomweareburdened.

THE PARACLETE BECOMES ALL TO YOU THAT HE WAS TOJESUSCHRISTHIMSELF.HebeginstorevealthefullnessofChristtoyou,theeverlasting riches ofChrist that are laid end-to-end across the heaven and areavailabletoyou.Paulsays,"ButmyGodshallsupplyallyourneedaccordingtohisrichesinglorybyChristJesus”(Philippians4:19).

3.PersonallyTrustingTheHolySpirit—TheDivineParaclete

Itwasonlyduringthelastfewweeks,andeventhelastdayofHislife,thatJesustalkedindetailabouttheParaclete.InJohn14wereadthestoryoftheLastSupper,thelastnightofourLord’slifeasamaninHispre-glorifiedbody.Priortothis,JesushadnottalkedmuchabouttheHolySpiritcominguponHisdisciples.HedidattributethemiracleswroughtthroughHimtothepoweroftheHolySpirit.Hemade itveryevident thatHewasworking in thepowerof theSpirit,thatHewascastingoutdevilsbythepoweroftheSpirit.

ButnowasHegetsreadytogotothecross,todieandtoberesurrected,and toascend toheavenand tobeglorifiedatGod’s righthand, it suddenly isimperativetoHimtoprepareHisdisciplestoreceivetheHolySpirit.

OneofthethoughtsJesusbroughtoutabouttheHolySpiritis:Heshallteachyouallthings,andbringallthingstoyourremembrance,

whatsoeverIhavesaiduntoyou(John14:26).ThefactofthematteristhatalthoughJesuswastheirteacherforabout3

years,thedisciplesneverreallyunderstoodHisteachingsaboutthekingdomofGod.Theydidn’tunderstandHimasaperson.

One reason was that the disciples had a Jewish consciousness — apoliticalorientation.Thatis,intheOldTestamenttheMessiahispresentedbothasalambandalion.Butinthe53rdchapterofIsaiah,ittellsusthatthefirstpartofourLord’slifeonearthistobethatofasufferingservant,amanofsorrows,acquainted with grief, a lamb slain from the foundation of the world, for thesalvationofman’ssins.However,inIsaiah10,11,and12ittellsusthatHewillrestorethekingdomofIsraeltoitsoriginalgloryandevengreaterglory.

TheJewishpeoplehavedifficultyeventodayinseeingthetwonaturesoftheMessiah, one as a lamb aswe see in theNewTestament, and the secondcomingastheLionoftheTribeofJudahintheRevelationwhenHecomesbacktothisearth inHisglorifiedformtoestablishHiseternalkingdom(Revelation5:5).Theyhad,andstillhave,troublewiththat.

In spite of the fact that the disciples had not learned verywell all thatJesus tried to teach them, He came up to the last moments of His earthlyexistencerelativelyundisturbedabouttheirlackofunderstandingHisteachings.Asamatteroffact,thedisciplesaskedHimwhatseemstobeastupidquestionthatcouldhaveshatteredHimontheeveofHisdeparturetoheavenjustbeforeHe ascended. Now, this is after the Resurrection and just before the Day ofPentecost.

HewaswithHisdisciplesandHewastellingthemabouttheHolySpirit

cominguponthem...tellingthemtheywillreceivenewpowertobewitnessesuntoHim.AndHesaid,"Youaretogointoalltheworldandpreachthegospelto every creature. .. Lord,wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom toIsrael"?(Acts1:6).

It’soneofthosestupidquestionsthatpeopleaskafteryou’vetaughtandyou think they have understood what you’ve said to them. Then somebodycomesupwithsomethingtotallyunrelated.Jesus’reactioncouldhavebeen,"Oh,no!You’vemissedthewholepoint!I’vejustthrownaway3yearstryingtoteachyouthesethings.”

In fact, on one occasion Jesus did say, "O fools, and slow of heart tobelieve ...”(Luke24:25).Thefactof thematter is that theywereslowin theirunderstanding. They were not grasping what Jesus was trying to teach abouthimself,orabouttheHolySpirit.

Youmay recall in the Bible whereMoses came down fromMt. Sinaiwith theTenCommandments on two tables of stone thatGod had given him.AndinsteadofwaitingtohearfromGod,theIsraeliteshadmadeagoldencalfandwereworshipingit.Mosesbecamesoupsetthathethrewthetablesofstonedownandbrokethemasiftosay,"Youdumb,stupidpeople,you!I’llhavenomoretodowithyou.”(ReadExodus32.)

ItwasasimilarkindofthingthathappenedbeforeJesusleft.In3years,thediscipleswerenotabletoabsorbHisteaching.ButwhywasnotJesusupsetlikeMoseshadbeen—because Jesus trusted thedivineParaclete.He said toHisdisciples,"I’mgoingtohandyouovertotheParaclete.He’sgoingtocometoyouandtellyouwhatIhavebeentryingtogetacrossforthelast3years.AndIwon’thavetoworryaboutyouforgettingit.He’llbringtoyourremembranceallthingswhatsoeverIhavesaiduntoyou.HewillteachyouallthatI’vebeentalkingabout.”(ReadJohn14:26.)

JesusTrustedTheWholeBeginningOfChristianityIntoTheHandsOfTheParaclete.

Jesus left only a handful of men, most of them uneducated from aseminaryorcollegepointofview.Heseemed toplace thewholefutureof theChurch in the hands of these few unlearned men who just didn’t grasp thepicture.ButHewasreally trusting theParaclete.HeknewthatHewouldsendtheParaclete.HeknewthatthesefollowerswouldreceivetheParaclete.AndHeknew that the Paraclete would be faithful. The Paraclete would teach themwhatsoeverHehadsaidduringthose3yearsinwhichtheyhadnotbeenableto

comprehendallHehadtoldthem.Within24hoursafterreceivingthebaptismintheHolySpirit,ontheDay

ofPentecost,itisevidentthatthedisciplesunderstoodJesusmoreandhadmoresupernaturalpowerintheirlivesthantheyhadunderstoodorhadhadinallthe3yearsprevious.

First, they receivedanew languageofprayer andpraise inwhich theycouldreleasetheirinnerselves(Acts2:4).

Second,theyunderstoodthePersonofChrist, thatHeisnotdead;He’saliveinthenow—aliveforever-more!(Acts2:30-32).

Third,theyunderstoodthattheSpiritwouldconvictpeopleoftheirsins,thatiftheywouldpreachundertheanointingofGodpeoplewouldbeconvictedandwouldcometoChrist(Acts2:37).

Fourth, theydevelopedaholyboldnesswhich theyhadnothadbefore.(Remember,theyfledatthedeathofChrist.)(Acts4:13).

Finally, they moved into a supernatural level that seemed almostcompletelyforeigntothemduringthe3yearswhenJesus’physicalpresencehadbeenontheearth(Acts3).

THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE PARACLETE COULD BETRUSTED TO BLOSSOM THEIR INTELLECT, TO REVIVE THEIRMEMORIES, TOBRINGBACK TO THEIR REMEMBRANCEALL THATCHRISTHADSAID.

Theyevenfoundthat theScripturescamealivetothem.OntheDayofPentecostwhentheyreceivedthebaptismintheHolySpirittheScripturesintheOldTestamentcamealiveintheirmindswhenonlyafewdaysbeforetheyhadbeenaskingsuchseeminglystupidquestionsas,"Lord,whenareYougoingtorestorethekingdomtoIsrael?”ButnowthroughtheinfillingoftheHolySpirittheyhadbecomemenwhoseresponsetolifebeganintheirspirit,thenworkedoutthroughtheirmindandtotalpersonality.TheybecamemorewhatGodmademantobewhenHefirstcreatedhim.

You seewhat theHolySpirit candoandwilldo inour liveswhenwereceiveandTRUSTTHEDIVINEPARACLETE!

ADialogueBetweenOralAndEvelynRoberts(HereisanotherdialoguebetweenEvelynandmeafterthisclasssession.

Ibelieveitwillhelpyou.)

Evelyn:Oral,ithasalwaysbotheredmethatChristiansfaceconflictsomuch.WesaywehavethepeaceoftheLordinourhearts,yetweareinconflict.Ibelievethislessonclearsupthispointinmymind.

Oral:Remember, theBible says thatwhenChrist left theplaceofHisbaptismHewasactuallybothdrivenandledbytheSpiritintothewildernesstoaprearrangedmeetingsetupbytheHolySpirit.Idon’tbelievethatevenSatanreallywantedtobethere.

Jesuswastakenoutintothewildernesstomeethimthere.ItwasatthatpointthatSatansufferedagreatdefeat.Thatwasthebeginningoftheend.TheHolySpiritiswithinusandHeleadsusforthtoopposetheforcesofdarkness.OffensiveconflictisapartoftheChristianlife.

Evelyn:YoualsosaidthatwhenJesuswasbeingbaptizedinwaterJohnsaid toHim, "Ineed tobebaptizedofyou” (Matthew3:14). I always thoughtthismeantthathewantedJesustobaptizehiminwater.

Oral:JohntheBaptistsaid,"Hethatsentmetobaptizewithwater, thesame said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, andremainingonhim, thesame ishewhichbaptizethwith theHolyGhost” (John1:33).SoJohntheBaptistwassaying,"IneedthebaptismintheHolySpirit.”

Evelyn:I’vereadthatScriptureatleastadozentimesormorebutthisisthefirsttimeIeversawitlikethat...butthat’sexactlywhatJohnissaying.

Oral: Themoment you begin to get close to JesusChrist and seeHisglory,itmakesyouhungryforthedeeperdimensionsoftheHolySpirit.That’swhathappenedtoJohntheBaptist.Hesaid,"Ihaveneedtobebaptizedbyyou,Jesus.” Jesusdidn’tbaptizewithwater—Hisdisciplesdid, butnot Jesus.HebaptizedwiththeHolySpirit.

Evelyn: I thought John’s statementwas one of humility. That is, "Youshouldbebaptizingme,”butitwasreallymorelikeasighofhisownheart—"BaptizeMEintheHolySpirit.”Thatis,"IneedYourbaptism;Youdon’tneedmine.”

Oral:Yes.Now, let’sget intoasecondpart.Younotice that Jesuswastalkingabouthimself asHe talkedabout thedivineParaclete (theHolySpirit)because the Paraclete was Jesus’ other self. He was Jesus’ personalrepresentative.

TheParacletewouldreleaseJesusfromHisphysical,visiblelimitations.Hewasgoingtoexchangethevisiblephysicalfortheinvisibleandspiritual.HewouldnolongerbelimitedasJesustheman,althoughHewouldcontinuetobe

man.HewouldbeglorifiedandHewouldhave reinvested inHimall thatHehad laid aside. So when Jesus says, "I will not leave you comfortless (ororphans), I will come to you,” He’s saying, "I’m leaving you as I am in myvisible, physical form, but I’m returning to you in My glorified invisible,unlimitedform.ThisiswhyyouwilldogreaterworksthanI’vebeenabletodoasthelimitedphysical,visibleJesus—becauseIwillcomebackunlimitedandyouwilldogreaterworksthanIdid.”

Evelyn:TodaysomepeoplesaythatwhenyouarebaptizedinwateryouautomaticallyreceivetheHolySpirit.Wouldyouexplainthedifferenceinthesetwoexperiences?

Oral: The Bible says that Jesus came up out of the water, THEN theHolySpiritcameuponHim.It’sveryimportanttopointthisout.Peoplecanbetaught — and often are — that when they are baptized in water theyautomatically receive the baptismwith theHolySpirit even though theremaynotbeanyaccompanyingevidenceotherthanwhatsomeonedid.Waterbaptism,initsproperplace,isatremendouspartoftheChristianlife.Butifthat’sallwehaveoftheHolySpiritwedon’thaveverymuch.TheHolySpiritisaseparateexperiencefromthewaterbaptism.It’snotapartofthewaterbaptism.TheHolySpiritcameuponJesusasHecameoutofthewater,orasthebaptisminwaterwascompleted.(AlsonotewhatJesussaidinActs1:5.)

Evelyn: Iwas interested in your comments regarding Jesus nowbeinggreatertousthroughtheParacletethanHehadbeenvisiblyandphysically.

Oral:Yes.JesussaidthattheHolySpiritiswithyoubutHeshallheINyou...inyou,wheretheworldcan’tgettheirhandsonHimtocrucifyHimliketheydidMe.

IthinkthegreatestdangeranyChristianfacesistotrytodoGod’sworkinhisownpower,inhisownstrength,ratherthandependingontheHolySpirittoreallypreparehimandtogivehimthatinnerboldness.

EarlyinmyministryImadeatwofoldvowtoGod:First,Iwouldnevertouch the gold or the glory. Second, I would never try to preach or pray forpeople without the anointing— I would have to feel the Holy Spirit cominguponme.

Ihavekeptthosetwovows.It’skeptmyministryintactforthesemanyyears. I remember inPhiladelphia Iwas preaching in a great auditorium therenight after night.One night as Iwas preparing to leavemyhotel to go to theauditorium,IwasinprayerbutIdidn’tfeelGod’sanointingcominguponme.I

saidtoGod,"Iwillnotleavethisroom;Iwillnotfacethosepeopleunlessyouanointmefirst.That’smyvow.”

Itcameuptowithinminutesofthetimethemeetingstarted,whichwasawaydownthestreetattheauditorium,andIwasstillinmyroom.IwaitedandIwaited.Finally, I justputmyarmsacrossmy faceand I said, "God, Iwon’tleave this room. If Igodown therewithout theanointingof theHolySpirit, Ican’tfacethosepeople,particularlythosepeoplewithterribleneeds.”

WhenIsaidthat,IfelttheSpiritstartupmylimbs,comingthroughmybody, my spirit, mymind. I jumped up and said to the youngman who wasdrivingmetotheservice,"Brother,I’mreadytogo.”

When I walked into the auditorium that night I didn’t have to tell thepeoplethatIwasanointed.Theyknewtheanointingwasthere.

IfI’velearnedanylessoninlife,itisthatyouhavetobeanointedbytheSpirit ofGod to doGod’swork.You can’t do it within your own power andstrength.

Chapter5,YouCanHaveThePowerOfJesusInYourLifeToday

SuggestedScripturereadingforthislesson:John7It’sinterestingthatJesusdidn’ttalkmuchabouttheHolySpirituntilthe

lastfewdaysofHislife.ThenhecarefullypreparedHisdisciplesforthecomingoftheParaclete.HesaidthatwhenHewentbacktoheavenHewouldpraytheFather and He would send them another Comforter (John 14:16). The Greekword for comforter is paraclete. And the word paraclete means "one calledalongsidetohelp.”

NowJesussaid,"TheHolySpirit[Paraclete]iswithyou,butHeshallbeINyou.”SotheParaclete, theComforter, theHolySpirit, isaPERSON.Heisnota thing.He isnotan it.He isaperson.Acompletelywholeperson—notbruised,notdividednorfragmented—andHecomeswithtotalcare,love,andconcernforeveryman.LetmetellyouoftheHolySpirit’spowerasitrelatestoyourlifetoday.

1.ThePowerOfAPerson

WhatI’mtalkingaboutisthepowerofaperson.Jesussaid:Ye shall receivepower, after that theHOLYGHOST is comeupon you

(Acts1:8).Thisisthepowerofaperson.ThewordpowerinActs1:8intheGreekis

dunamis, which literally means in modern terms "dynamite,” the explosivepower of dynamite. When you receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, youreceivetheexplosivepoweroftheParaclete.There’saninnerboldnessforonething.ThereisaninnerabilitytoreachouttoGodwithoutfear.Somanypeopleare afraid to talk toGod.But I’venevermet anyonewhowasbaptized in theHolySpirit,andunderstoodwhathehas,whohasthiskindoffear.HenowhasadirectopencommunicationwithGodthroughthePersonoftheHolySpirit.Nowweuse thewordpersonbecause theonly100percentwholebeing is theHolySpirit.

Adamwasmadeawholemaninthebeginningbuthelosthiswholenessthrough sin and disobedience to God, and became a divided, fragmented,miserable,unhappyhumanbeing.Sincethenmanhasbeenunwhole.

One of the reasonsGod sentHis Son JesusChrist to the earthwas toshowuswhatGodislikeandwhatGodwantsustobe.Inthewholeman,JesusChrist, theManintheflesh,weseea totallyintegratedbeing.Heishumanonthe one hand, divine on the other. Son ofman. Son ofGod. TotalGod. Totalman.SoJesuswassenttobringbrokenhumanitywholeness.

ApartoftheHolySpirit’sworkwastobringJesusChristintotheworld.HehadHimbornofavirgin.Hisbirthwassupernatural.ThenHehadtheHolySpirit to come uponHim atHis baptism in the Jordan. There the Spirit cameuponJesusinpowerandbothledanddroveHimintothewilderness.HereHeenteredconflict—conflictwithhumanpowersthatareseparatedfromGodandconflict with satanic powers that are against God. Later He came out of thewildernesswith thepowerof theHolySpiritstilluponHim,ready tofaceHistemptationsand toovercomeeveryoneof them.Hewas tempted inallpointslikeasweare,yetwithoutsin(Hebrews4:15).

TheHolySpirit filled Jesus, givingHimHispower. Jesus said thatHedidnothingoutsidethepoweroftheHolySpirit.Asamatteroffact,ourLord’sministryonly lasted some3%years.But through thepowerof theHolySpiritwithinHimHetelescopedmanylifetimeswithinthat3V2years.

2.ThePowerOfAPersonalRelationship

Now,howdoyouandIreceivethissamepowerthatJesushadwhenHewasonearth—thepoweroftheHolySpirit?

IntheBiblewe’retoldthatJesusChrististheBaptizer.JohntheBaptist,theforerunnerofJesus,says:I indeedbaptizeyouwithwateruntorepentance:buthethatcomethaftermeismightierthanI,whoseshoesIamnotworthytobear:he[Jesus]shallbaptizeyouwiththeHolyGhost,andwithfire(Matthew3:11).

YoucanonlyreceivethegiftoftheHolySpiritwhenJESUSgivesittoyou.Sothisisapowerthroughapersonalrelationship.Thisisnotapowerthatyou receive fromyourself. It isnot apower thatyou receive fromsomeotherhumanbeing.Itisnotapowerthatyoureceivefromsomeearthlysystem.ItisapoweryoureceivewhentheHolySpiritisgiventoyoubyJesusChrist.AsJohntheBaptistsaid,"He[Jesus]shallbaptizeyouwiththeHolyGhost[Spirit].”

JesusChrist,continuingthesamelineofthought,said:Ifanymanthirst,lethimcomeuntome,anddrink(John7:37).

In the Greek language this means, "If any man thirst and keep onthirsting—ifhereachesapointofdesperationwherehe’ssothirstyhethinkshe’sgoingtodie—lethimcomeuntomeanddrink.”

Hethatbelievethonme,asthescripturehathsaid,outofhisbellyshallflow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they thatbelieveonhim should receive: for theHolyGhostwasnot yet given;becausethatJesuswasnotyetglorified)(John7:37-39).

Notice:First,JESUSCHRISTISTHEBAPTIZER.Second,youmustTHIRSTandkeepon thirsting.You reachapointof

desperationwhereyouknowyou’renotgoingtomakeitwithoutJesusChrist.AndthenthatleadsyoutoBELIEVEONJESUS.ItbeginswithJesus.It

isthepowerofapersonalrelationshipwithJesusChristofNazareth.Youdon’tjustsay,"Well,God,IwantthebaptismintheHolySpirit.”YoustartwithJesus.Jesusistheoneyoudealwith.

WhenyoubelieveontheManJesus,somethinghappensinyourbellyortheinnerman.Rightdowninthesolarplexussomethinghappens.

"Outofhis[your]bellyshallflowriversoflivingwater.(Butthisspakehe of the Spirit . . . because that Jesus was not yet glorified)” (John 7:38).Rememberat the timeJesussaid thisHewasstill inHishumanbody.Hewasstill physical and visible and human, with His limitations. Only after He’sglorified, sitting at the right hand of the Father, will He be the fully releasedChrist—that is, thecompletefullChristwithnofurtherlimitations,voluntaryorotherwise.

Riversoflivingwater.NowwhenyouarebaptizedintheSpirit,youwillfeelthe"livingwaters”startcomingup.Theystartspreadingthroughyoufromthe central core of your being (belly, Jesus said). One of the most powerfulthings that continues to happen in aChristian’s life is the phenomenon of theSpirit’smovinginsidehim.Itactuallyisamovementinbothspiritandbody.ForwhentheHolySpiritcomesHebaptizesbothspiritandbody.

In1Corinthians6:19itsays,"KnowyenotthatyourbodyisthetempleoftheHolyGhost.”Thatis,yourbodyislikeagreatchurchbuildingwhereyouhavefellowshipintheSpiritwithotherChristians,worshipGod,sharetheGoodNewsofthegospel.YoulearntobecomeawitnessofourLord.Justasachurchbuildinghousesthepeopleatworship,yourbodyisatemple,housingyourspiritandtheHolySpirit.

YoubecomeanextensionoftheIncarnation.TheIncarnationisJesusas

God in human flesh.Likewise, Jesus is incarnated in you and you become anextensionofHim—anextensionoftherisenChristhimself.How?BytheHolySpirit dwelling in you.Your body and spirit contain theHoly Spirit.He said,"Forhedwellethwithyou,andshallbeinyou”(John14:17).

ThisiswhyeveryChristianhastogivehimselftotallytoGod.Hecan’tgiveGodhisspiritandholdbackhisbody.NorcanhegiveGodhisbodyandwithholdhisspirit.NorcanhegiveGodhisspiritandbodywithoutgivingthemind.He’sgottogivethetotalityofhimselftoGod.HeISGod’sproperty.

HowmanytimeswhenI’mprayingfor thehealingof thehumanbeingthesewordshavecomefrommylips.TheycomeoutbeforeIrealizeit:"Devil,take your hands off God’s property.”You are the property ofGod.When theHoly Spirit indwells you, He indwells spirit, mind, and body— the TOTALman.You’re baptized in theHoly Spirit from your hair to your toenails. YoubelongtoGod.SoitisthepowerofapersonalrelationshipwithJesusChrist.

3.PowerFromOnHigh

Jesuswastalkingaboutasupernaturalpower,apowerwhichsupersedesthe ingenuityofmanor theabilityofanyhumanbeing.This is thepower thatspins theuniverse, thatscoopedout thebedfor theoceans, that flung thestarsfromHis fingertips, sculptured themountains and hung the earth on nothing.Thisisthepowerthatcreateslife.Thisisthepowerthatgivesyouanewheart,anew existence. It is the power that heals, the power that lets youwalk in theSpiritwhileyou’redownhereonahumanandphysicallevel.Itispowerfromonhigh.

YeshallreceivepowerafterthattheHolyGhostiscomeuponyou(Acts1:8).

TheliteralmeaningofthatstatementintheGreeklanguageis"TheHolySpiritCLOTHESyouwithpower.”Inotherwords,theHolySpiritputsyouonlikeagarment.

For instance, if you were present behind the scenes in a federalcourtroom as the judge is robed, youwould think they’re putting the robe onhim. But what is actually happening is they are investing him with a higherpower,thefullpoweroftheUnitedStatesGovernment.Heisn’tgoingtowalkoutthereintothatcourtroomwithoutthatrobebecausethatrobeisasymbolofallpowerofthegovernmentoftheUnitedStates.Youmaythinkthatyouputon

theHolySpiritbuttheHolySpiritputsyouonlikethejudgeisclothedwiththerobeofhisoffice.

One of the things I’ve been most conscious of as I’ve gone acrossAmerica and throughout the world trying to bring Christ’s healing love tohumanity,isthisverything—thattheHolySpirithasputmeonlikeagarment.SometimesIfeltthatIwaslikeacheckeronatablewithagreaterpowermovingme.IdonotmeantosaythatGoddeniesmyfreewill,northatIdonothavethepowerofchoice.Idohavethepowerofchoice.Iamafreemoralagent,justasyouare.IcansayyestoGod,IcansaynotoGod.ButwhentheHolySpiritputsyouonlikeagarment...somepartofyougoesuptoGod,goesouttoGod,andwhileyoustillhavethepowerofchoice,youbecomeawarethatthereisaforcemovingyou,puttingthoughtsinyourmind,puttingtheSpiritinyou,lettingyoufeelthepresenceofGodevenattimeswhenyou’renotexpectingit.

In a sense, the power from on high has become a man. It’s becomehumanized.

Inthesummerof’68theOralRobertsUniversityWorldActionSingersandIweretheguestsofthelateprimeministerofIsrael,DavidBen-Gurion.HehadretiredfromthepostofprimeministerandwaslivingsouthofBeershebainthe desert, writing hismemoirs. During our visit I said, "Mr. PrimeMinister,whatwouldyousayisthegreatestscriptureintheBible?”

Andhesaid,"Ibelieve thegreatestscripture in theBible is inGenesis,whereGodsays,"Letusmakeman...andhemademan.”

He explained thatwhenGodmademan,He didn’tmake him Jew;Hedidn’tmakehimArab;Hedidn’tmakehimAmerican.HemadehimaMAN—a human being. And he indicated that what we need is forman to become ahuman being again, not amember of a certain race or culture, but to becomewhatGodoriginallymadehim:MAN.

Ibelieve it is through thisManJesusChristand thepowerof theHolySpiritthatwecanbecomefullyhumanagain,tobecomeman.Foritisthroughanewbirthwebecomeanewman.WebecomethenewmanbyputtingonJesusChrist.ThedivineParaclete—theHolySpirit—bringsbacktousthegreaterunlimitedChrist.Nolongerphysicalandvisibleinhumanform,subjecttodeathandsubjecttotimeandspace.Butinvisibleandspirituallyaliveforevermoreandwith the keys of death, hell, and the grave in His everlasting possession. Hecomesbackreinvested,reclothedandreendowedwithallHispower,gloryandriches.

Hislimitlessresourcesmeanthatyourlimitationsarenothing.YouCANdowhatyouwereborntodo.TheHolySpiritwillgiveyouthepowertodoit.JustasHetookJesusoutofHishumanlimitationsandreinvestedHimwiththepower He had with the Father before the foundation of the world, God willfreelybyHimgiveyouallthings(Romans8:32).

OralRobertsUniversityWhenIbegantoobeyGodtobuildOralRobertsUniversitybackinthe

early’60sIwasconfrontedwithtwoorthreeveryseriouslimitations.Onewasmyown inadequacyand inability. Ididn’tknowhowtobuildauniversity,butGodtoldmetobuildit.NowhowareyougoingtodosomethingthatGodtellsyou,andyoudon’tknowhowtodoit?

Secondly,GodtoldmetobuildtheuniversityoutofthesameingredientHeusedwhenHemadetheworld—andHemadeitoutofnothing.SoHetoldmetobuildHimauniversityandtostartbuildingwithnothing.Thismaysoundfunnytoyou.Butbelieveme,itwasn’tfunnytome.

Yearsbefore,justafterIwashealedandconvertedattheageof17,Godsaidtome:

SomeDayYouAreToBuildMeAUniversity.YouAreToBuildItOnMyauthorityandontheHolySpirit.

At 17,1 didn’t even know the meaning of those words . .. Me! OralRobertswastobuildGodauniversity—anddoitonHisauthorityandontheHolySpirit.

Twelveyears later, in1947,God thrustme into ahealingministry thatsoonspreadthroughouttheworld.Hegavemeaconcernforpeople,afeelingofcompassionforthem.Thenintheearly’60sGodtoldmethetimehadcometobuildtheuniversity.

HowdoIbuildauniversity?I’minthehealingministry.Myministryisevenputdownbytheeducators.Inthemindsofmanyofthem,I’matthelowestrungon the ladder.Andnow I’m tobuild a university and I don’t evenknowhowtostart.I’mjustareasonablyintelligentmanandIhaveagiftofGodinmylifetopreachthegospel,tohelpmentoChristandtoprayforthehealingofsickhumanity,andthat’saboutallIhave.ButGodsays,"Yourtimehascome.BuildMeauniversity.BuilditonMyauthorityandontheHolySpirit.”

NobodyunderstoodmewhenIsaidIwastodothisandnobodybelievedIcoulddoit.IhadreceivedtheinfillingoftheHolySpiritwhenIwas18years

oldand I spoke in tongues (theprayer languageof theSpirit),but Ihadneverreally fullyunderstoodwhat tongueswere. Ihad theexperience. IwasblessedbyitbutIdidnotproperlyunderstandhowtouseit.

SonowIlaunchedintoanin-depthstudyof1Corinthians14andotherscriptures on the value of tongues (the prayer language of the Spirit), theirpurpose and proper use in the now.This study evolved over themonths, thenyears.GraduallyaclearerunderstandingcameoftheworkingoftheHolySpiritintheworldtoday,andparticularlyintheindividual,andcertainlyinme.

InmyheartGodwassaying,"BuildMeauniversityandbuilditontheauthorityofGodandontheHolySpirit.”

Myheartwassaying,"Yes,yes.”Butmymindwassaying,"No,no.”Now,haveyoueverhad this experience?Yourheart saysyes, yes, but

yourmindsaysno,no.It’stough,isn’tit?Wehadnoland.Nocampus.Nobuildings.Nostudents.Nofaculty.No

money.Andamanwhoknowsnothingaboutbuildingauniversity. ..andhe’sgoingtobuildone!Ineffect,myintellectwassaying,"Youdumb-dumb!”Andmyintellectwasnottheonlyonereferringtomeasadumb-dumb.Someothersweretoo.ThankGod,becauseIfinallybegantounderstandthebaptismin theSpiritwithinme,andtheUniversityisalivingrealityandapowerfulforceforChrist,Idon’tbelievetheythinkI’mquitesodumbnow.

PrayingInTheSpiritOpensUpYourMindIbegan tounderstand thatwhen Iprayed in tongues I couldpauseand

interpretbacktomymind.ThenIcouldpraybetterwithmyunderstanding.Myspiritcouldspeakthroughmymindandmymindbegantoblossom,tosharpen,tocomealivetowhatGodwassayingtome.

All at once — believe me, friend, when I say this — all at once Iunderstoodenoughtobuildauniversity.Ididn’tunderstandallthedetailsbutIunderstoodthebasics.IunderstoodbecausewhenImetaproblemthatIcouldnot solve with my intellect I would pray in tongues and then pray with myunderstanding. Then God would let these rivers of the Spirit flood up in myunderstanding.

Thissoundssimplistic,but this is really theway it is—praying in theSpirit (tongues) opens up yourmindmore keenly to thewill ofGod and to aclearerunderstandingofwhatisinHismindforyou(Romans8:26,27).

SpeakingintheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit,inthefinalanalysis,hasits

greatest outward effect upon your mind and thus upon your understanding. Iknowbecausehereiswhathappened:

OnedayIwasoutwalkingacrossapieceof land,uponwhichwepaiddown a sum ofmoney, that hopefully would one day be the place where wewouldstartbuildingthecampusofOralRobertsUniversity.I’mtryingtoprayinmy understanding, that is, with my own language, and getting nowhere. Mymindsays,

"No,no,no,no,youcan’tdothis!”ThenbymywillIstartprayingintheSpiritandmyheartsays,"Yes,yes,yes,yes,yes.Youcan.Youcan.Youwill.You can. You can. You will. You can.” Then this was interpreted into myunderstanding.

It came up out ofmy belly, out ofmy inner being, as Jesus said, likeriversofwater.Itcameupintomymind.Intomyunderstanding.ANDISAWIT.IsawthatGodwouldreintegratethetotalpersonalityofman.Isawthatthehealing ministry as given to me had been born for a purpose . . . includingpraying for people’s bodies, but much more... it would be a healing for theTOTALITYofman.

I saw that we would create a higher education for your sons anddaughtersandmine,thattheywouldbeeducated,beginninginthespirit,theninthemindandthebody.TheywouldgetaTOTALeducation!ISAWIT—IsawtheWHOLE-MAN CONCEPT AS BASED ON GOD’S AUTHORITY ANDONTHEHOLYSPIRIT.And I knew through the power and guidance of theHolySpiritI—me—coulddoit!IknewthatIknewthatIknew.

Ithinkthisiswhysomanypeoplewhovisitthecampusfeellikegettingontheirknees.Theyseethebeautifulbuildings,thelovelystudents.TheyseethePrayer Tower. They feel the atmosphere. They sense a Presence— whoeverheard of building a Prayer Tower in the middle of a university? See? That’scrazy!Yourintellectsays,"Youareoutofyourmind!”Andinasenseyoureallyare—foryouare"intheSpirit.”ForwhenyouwalkintheSpirityourresponsetolifeisbothwithyourspiritANDwithyourunderstanding.

SowhentheHolySpiritcomesuponyouitisaninvestitureofpowernotfromearth,not fromyour intellect,nor thecombined intellectsofmen,norofthepowerofnationsorofanideology,butitisPOWERFROMONHIGH—fromGodhimself.

It isGOD’SPOWER coming in a supernatural form upon you so thatyouarenow filledwith theenergyofGod.Youclotheyourselfwith theHoly

SpiritandtheHolySpiritclothesyouwithhimself.Inasense,HeputsyouonlikeagarmentandyouputontheHolySpirit.It’slikeapieceofsteelplacedinthefireuntilitbecomesredhot.Thesteelisinthefireandthefireisinthesteel.God is inyouandyouare inGod so thatyouareone—YOUAREFUSEDTOGETHERINTHISGREATPOWERFROMONHIGH.

Chapter6,TheFirstGreatOutpouringOfTheSpiritSuggestedScriptureReadingForThisLesson:Acts2ThefirstgreatoutpouringoftheHolySpiritwasintheupperroomonthe

DayofPentecost.Andwhen the day ofPentecostwas fully come, theywere allwith one

accordinoneplace(Acts2:1).Theword"Pentecost”meansfiftieth.Thatis,sevenweeksandoneday,

or50days,followingthePassover.Letmeexplain:On the night before God led the children of Israel out of the land of

Egypt,thefinalplaguestruckthehomesoftheEgyptians.BecauseofPharaoh’srefusaltolettheIsraelitesgo,thefirstbornwereslainbytheangelofdeath.InorderthatthehomesoftheIsraelitesmightbespared,Godhadtoldthemtoslayalambandplacethebloodofthelambonthedoorpostsofthehousesothatthedeathangelwouldpassoverandtheirchildrenwouldbespared.Theywerethentocookthelamb,eatit,andthenpreparetoleaveEgypt.

Fiftydays later, atMt.Sinai,Godgave theLaw toMoseswho in turngaveittothechildrenofIsrael(Exodus19).

ThesehappeningswerecommemoratedeachyearandcametobeknownasthePassoverFeast.

Now it was 50 days after the death of our Lord (the giving of thePassoverLamb,whichisChristhimself)...50dayslatercamethepouringoutoftheHoly Spirit andwith it, the opening up of a new and livingway throughChrist.ThiswasthebeginningoftheChristianwayoflife,theChurchofJesusChrist.Nowwhowaspresentthatday?Whowerethe"they”referredtointheScripture?

Andwhen theywere come in, theywent up into anupper room,whereabode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas,Bartholomew,andMatthew,JamesthesonofAlphaeus,andSimonZelotes,andJudasthebrotherofJames.

Theseallcontinuedwithoneaccordinprayerandsupplication,withthewomen,andMarythemotherofJesus,andwithhisbrethren.

AndinthosedaysPeterstoodupinthemidstofthedisciples,andsaid,(the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)Men andbrethren,thisscripturemustneedshavebeenfulfilled,whichtheHolyGhostby

themouth ofDavid spake before concerning Judas, whichwas guide to themthattookJesus(Acts1:13-16).

This establishes that there were 120 people there on the Day ofPentecost, includingMary themother of our Lord. This in itself is amiracle.That’s probably the greatest phenomenon of all, that that many people couldmeettogetherononegivendayandbeinperfectaccord.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushingmightywind...(Acts2:2).

Iwouldn’tbesurprisedifthatsamesoundwouldn’tberepeatedtodayifweasChristianscouldgettogetherinunityandoneaccord.ItmaynotcomeinthesamephysicalsensebuttheHolySpiritdoescomewhereverweareinoneaccord.This sound fromheavenwas like a rushingmightywind. Itwasnot awind.Itwasasoundlikeawindanditwasasoundfromheaven.

Andit[thesound]filledallthehousewheretheyweresitting.I thinkit’sparticularlyappropriate tomentionthat theonehundredand

twentywereseated.There’snoparticularpositionthatissacredtoGod.ItisthepersonwhoissacredtoGod.Notwhetherhestands,sits,kneels,orliesdown.

And thereappearedunto themcloven tongues likeasof fire,and it satuponeachofthem(Acts2:3).

You recall at Mt. Sinai when God gave the Law to Moses that fireappeared.OntheDayofPentecostthereappeareduntothemcloventongueslikeasoffire.Thatis,itappearedorlookedlikefire.Itwasnotfire.Itwasbrokenupintolittleflashes.ItwasamanifestationfromGod,justaswerethefireandthesmokeand theearthquakebeforeGodgave theLawtoMoses thereonMountSinai.Soherearephenomenathatappeared tobephysical, takingplaceas theHolySpiritisbeingoutpouredontheDayofPentecost.

AndtheywereallfilledwiththeHolyGhost[Spirit]andbegantospeakwithother tongues[theprayer languageof theSpirit],as theSpiritgave themutterance(Acts2:4).

AtMountSinai the important thing thathappenedwasnot the fire andthe smokeand theearthquakebut thegivingof theLawwhichbecameanewway of life for God’s people. So at Pentecost the sound from heaven as of arushingmighty wind filling the house, and the cloven tongues like as of firesittingoneachofthem,werenottheimportantthings.TheimportantthingwasthattheHolySpirit(theParaclete)hadcome.This,inessence,isJesussaying,

"Ihavearrivedinheaven.Ihavebeenglorified.IhavedonewhatItoldyouIwoulddo.IhaveprayedtheFathertosendyouanotherComforterwhoistheHolySpirit,andHehascome.IambaptizingyouwiththeHolySpirit.”

On this occasion 120men and women, including the apostles and themother of our Lord, were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit hadconceivedourLordJesusChristinthewombofMaryandyetsheispresentontheDayofPentecost—shefeelsherneedoftheinfillingoftheHolySpirit.

I cannot say anything more important than to point out the caliber ofpeoplewhowerepresentthatday.Thesepeople,whohadbeensonearourLordwhenHewasontheearth,felttheirneedofreceivingthispromisedinfillingoftheHolySpirit.TheythirstedformoreofJesusandHebaptizedthemwiththeHolySpirit.

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that theyshouldnotdepartfromJerusalem,butwaitforthepromiseoftheFather,which,saithhe[Jesus],yehaveheardofme.ForJohntrulybaptizedwithwater;butyeshallbebaptizedwiththeHolyGhost[Spirit]notmanydayshence(Acts1:4,5).

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost [Spirit] is comeupon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in allJudaea,andinSamaria,anduntotheuttermostpartoftheearth(Acts1:8).

Duringthe40daysafterHisresurrectionourLordwaswiththedisciplesatdifferent times andplaces, furthergetting them ready for the comingof theParaclete—theComforter,theHolySpirit.HetoldthemtoREMAINthereinJerusalem untilHe had returned to heaven, untilHe had been restored toHisformerglory—Hisunlimitedform. . .untilHehadsentthemthePromiseoftheFatherwhichwastheHolySpirit.Andtheyobeyed.

ThePhenomenonOfTonguesIt’samazingtomethattheChristianChurchbeganwithsuchunity.The

next amazing thing is that I see the beginning of a new kind of unity amongGod’speopletoday.WearetrulybeginningtoformintotheBodyofChrist.

TheywereallfilledwiththeHolyGhost,andbegantospeakwithothertongues [the prayer language of the Spirit] as the Spirit gave them utterance(Acts2:4).

The important thing is that theywereALL filledwith theHoly Spirit.Peopleoftenaskme,"Whichcomesfirst—thebaptismintheHolySpiritortheprayer languageof theSpirit?”Well,of course, thebaptism in theHolySpirit

comesfirstbecausetheinfillingoftheHolySpiritiswhatcausesandenablesustospeakwiththeprayerlanguageoftheSpirit.

The speaking in tongues or the prayer language of the Spirit doesn’tcausethebaptismintheSpirittotakeplace,butitistheindwellingoftheHolySpiritinyourspiritthatgivesyoutheinstantabilitytospeaktoGodintongues,whichisatruecommunicationofyourspiritwithHim.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of everynationunderheaven(Acts2:5).

ItwasthecustomoftheJewstocometoJerusalemonceayearfromallovertheworldforthefeastofthePassover.Sothecitywasfilledwithstrangersfromallovertheworld,mostofthemJewsorproselyteGentileswhohadbeenadoptedintotheJewishfaith.

They were very devout, that is to say, they were dedicated to GodaccordingtotheirknowledgeoftheLawofMoses.

Nowwhenthiswasnoisedabroad,themultitudecametogether,andwereconfounded,becausethateverymanheardthemspeakinhisownlanguage(Acts2:6).

Notice, first of all, that when theHoly Spirit was given, only the onehundredandtwentywerepresent.Itwasaveryprivateaffair,adevotionalscene.But then news of the one hundred and twenty there speaking in the prayerlanguageofthespiritbegantoinfiltratethecity.THENthecrowdgathered.Andtheywereconfusedbecausetheyheardtheonehundredandtwentyspeakinginthe language of the Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and various others. Theymarvelledatthisbecausetheysaid:

Behold,arenotallthesewhichspeakGalileans?Andhowhearweeverymaninourowntongue,whereinwewereborn?(Acts2:7,8).

Yousee,theonehundredandtwentywereGalileansfromtheprovinceofGalilee.ThiswasanareanorthofJerusalemthatwaslookeddownuponbecausethe Galileans were uneducated, uncultured people of Israel. They were notsophisticatedinanysenseoftheword.Yetheretheywerespeakingfluentlyinthe languages of all the nations represented— languageswhich they had notlearned.

Anotheramazingthingisfoundinverse11:Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the

wonderfulworksofGod(Acts2:11).

NobodythoughtoftheGalileansasreligiouspeople.Theycertainlywerenotlookeduponassuperspiritualmenandwomen.SimonPeter,aGalilean,waspresenton thatday.Hewasprobably the roughestof the lot.HehadacceptedChristandhadbeenwithHimabout3years.HehadevendeclaredJesustobetheSonofGodbydivinerevelation.YetatthecrucifixionPeteractuallycursedanddenied thathehadeverknownJesus.Thiswasahot-bloodedbunch fromGalilee—uncouth,uneducated,unculturedand ready to fightat thedropofahat.SoitwasmostamazingtotheCretesandArabiansandotherspresenttofindthempraisingGod.Andinthelanguageoftheirowncountries!Theywonderedwhathadhappenedtotheseuncouth,unletteredGalileanpeople.

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying to one another,Whatmeaneththis?(Acts2:12).

You see, THEY WERE STILL IN THEIR HUMANUNDERSTANDING.Theywereintheirintellectandtheyweretryingtoreasonitout.

There’snowayanymancanreasonoutGod.Hehas tostartwithfaithand discern spiritual things through his spirit, not his intellect. However, onegoodwaytohavefaithistostartwithdoubt.SomeofthegreatestfaithI’veeverhadbegan inhonestdoubt.Becauseasyoudoubt,youbegin toexamine it .. .andasyoucarefullyexamine,youfindevidenceforyourfaithtoacton—anditwilldoiteverytime.

Othersmockingsaid,Thesemenarefullofnewwine(Acts2:13).That is, they said, "They are drunk.” In a sense theywere right. First,

theysensedthattheywerepeoplewhohadhadproblems.Andofcoursepeoplewhodrinkalcoholhaveproblems.Theydrinkitbecausetheyfeeltheyneedit.Infact,theycometoapointwheretheyfeeltheyhavetohaveit—acrutchtoleanon.

I’veneverbeenseverewithalcoholics.Idon’tdrink.Ijustdon’tfindanyplace inmy life for alcohol and I notice the closer people get toGod and themoreoftheHolySpirit theyget, thelessthattheyhavetohavethingssuchasalcohol.But I can’t go aroundpreachingagainst alcohol all the time. I preachChrist.SomehowwhenChrist fillsyouup, therearea lotof things in thisoldworldyoudon’tneedanymore.

Herearethesefellows—Peter,James,andJohn,andalltherest—thesemenwhohadtheprivilegeforthreeandahalfyearsofwalkingwithJesusintheflesh.TheyhadevengoneforthinHisnameandcastoutdevilsandhealedthe

sick; they had duplicatedmany of theworks of Jesus. Theywere tremendousmen.Butatthecrucifixionallthatsuccessturnedintofailure.TheyallforsookHimandfled.MaybeitwasbecauseofascriptureintheOldTestamentwhichsays,"Forhethatishangedisaccursed”(Deuteronomy21:23).

ThenintheNewTestamentitsays,Cursediseverymanthathangethonatree(Galatians3:13).TheJewishpeoplerejectedcrucifixion.Itwasthemostabominableofdeaths.ThefactthatJesusChristwouldsubmittocrucifixion,tothecross,wasastumblingblocktotheJews.

The disciples had followed Jesus Christ three and a half years, hadbelievedinHim,hadevendonesomemiracles,andnowallofitcomescrashingdown around their heads.Not only isHe killed butHe’s killed on aCROSS.He’sviolatedwhattheybelievedabouttheirreligion.

Their spiritsare scarred.Theyare filledwith frustrationsand torments.TheynowknowthatChristhasrisenfromthedead.They’veseenHim;they’vetouchedHim.They’vehandledHim.TheyknowHe’salive,aliveforevermore.Andtheysay,"Well,whydidn’tweunderstandthat?HowcouldwehavedeniedHim? How could we have been so dense in our minds — so unable tounderstandthatHemustneedsufferandgotothecross?”Theystillcarriedtheeffectsoftheirfailureintheirspirits.

Nowwhen God baptizes themwith the Holy Spirit and they begin tospeak with prayer languages of the Spirit as the Spirit gives them utterance,somethinghappensontheinside—inthespirits—ofthesemen.Theyhaveatlastbrokenthroughthelimitsoftheirintellect.Theyhavenowgonebeyondtheintellect with which they had denied their Lord and even disbelieved Hisresurrection. They have gotten into the Spirit. God has baptized them in theSpirit. They have been filled, immersed, suffused in theHoly Spirit. They’vebeenopenedupandoutoftheirbellyriversofwater(whichistheHolySpirit)havebeguntoflow.

TheyarenowabletospeaktoGodintheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit.TheyareabletohavedirectcommunicationwithGod.

The Holy Spirit is giving them therapy. As they pray in the prayerlanguageoftheSpirittheyarereleasingtheirinneremotions.Allthefailures,allthesefesteringsoresoftheirmemoryaboutrejectingJesusatthecrossarewipedout.Nowonderthecrowdissaying,"Theyarefullofnewwine.”

ButPeter,standingupwiththeeleven,lifteduphisvoice,andsaiduntothem,YemenofJudaea,andallyethatdwellatJerusalem,bethisknownunto

you,andhearkentomywords:Forthesearenotdrunken,asyesuppose,seeingit is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by theprophetJoel(Acts2:14-16).

PeterstartswiththeprophecyofJoel.Letmepointoutsomeimportantthingstoyouinthis.Firstofall,theonehundredandtwentywhowerespeakingintheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritweredoingitbeforeitwasnoisedabroadandbefore the big crowd came. Theywere also using the prayer language of theSpiritwhenthecrowdarrivedandstartedlisteningin.

There are thosewho sincerely believe thatwhen the crowd came theyheard thegospel of Jesuspreached to them in their own language. In a sense,theybelievethattheonehundredandtwentyhadnowbecomemissionariesandhad supernaturally been given the language of the people from that particularcountryandthat’swhat"speakingintongues”is.

Butinallfairnesstothescripture,letmepointouttoyouthatassoonasthe crowd arrived and listened, there is no indication that they were beingpreached to.Actually, theyweregreatlyconfusedabout theseGalileans—thefact that these people could speak so fluently in the tongue of the country inwhich they themselves had been born. Then their confusion turned to doubt.Theywanted toknowwhat itmeant.For they said, "Theyare speakingof thewonderfulthingsofGod,”indicatingtheywerehearingthempraisingGod.Thethingthatamazedthemwasthat theseso-calleduncultured,uneducatedpeoplewereable tospeakfluently ina language theyhadnever learnedand that theywerespeakingofGodandHismarvelousworks.

I mentioned to you before that these disciples had come out of theterrible traumatic experience of having denied their Lord, but now they arepraisingGod. It’s because theHoly Spirit hasmoved into their hearts, healedtheir innerman, released themfromallof the terrible scarsof their spirit, andgiventhemanewjoyandloveforGod.AndtheywerejustpraisingGod,andtelling Him how wonderful He was. Now that’s really what confused theseonlookerswhowerenoweavesdroppingonthem.

Second, when the crowd came, the fact is that soon after, all of thosespeakingtheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritstopped!Attheverymomentthatyouwouldhaveexpected them topreach— if theprayer languageweregiven forthispurpose—theybecamesilentandPeterrosetospeak.

ButPeter,standingupwiththeeleven,lifteduphisvoice,andsaiduntothem,YemenofJudaea,andallyethatdwellatJerusalem,bethisknownuntoyou,andhearkentomywords...(Acts2:14).

At thispoint,Peter isnot speaking theprayer languageof theSpirit astheSpiritgiveshimutterance.Peterisbackinhisowntongue,notatonguebywhich theSpiritgavehimutterance.Hecontinued tobe inspiredby theSpirit,but inhisownlanguage.Andhebegins toPREACHin the tongueofhisownlanguage.Nowthat’safactandyoushouldacceptitandappreciateit.

Another thing that’s very important to you is that all Jesus saidwouldhappenwhentheParaclete(theHolySpirit)came,didbegintohappen!

But theComforter, which is theHolyGhost [Spirit], whom the Fatherwillsendinmyname,heshallteachyouallthings,andbringallthingstoyourremembrance,whatsoeverIhavesaiduntoyou(John14:26).

Peter’sSermonOnTheDayOfPentecostHereontheDayofPentecostSimonPeter,thisunculturedroughpeasant

ofGalilee,isabletoquotetheOldTestament,topickoutaprophecyfromtheOldTestamentthatiscompletelyrelevanttotheissueofwhat’shappeningatthatmoment.

ButthisisthatwhichwasspokenbytheprophetJoel;Anditshallcometopassinthelastdays,saithGod,IwillpouroutofmySpirituponallflesh:andyour sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall seevisions,andyouroldmenshalldreamdreams:AndonmyservantsandonmyhandmaidensIwillpouroutinthosedaysofmySpirit;andtheyshallprophesy:AndIwillshewwondersinheavenabove,andsignsintheearthbeneath;blood,and fire,andvapourofsmoke:Thesunshallbe turned intodarkness,and themoon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And itshallcometopass, thatwhosoevershallcallonthenameof theLordshallbesaved(Acts2:16-21).

TheprophetsintheOldTestamenthadprophesiedthisdaywouldcomewhenthisphenomenonwouldhappen.Untilthattime,theJewsbelievedthatinorder tobeacceptedbyGodyouhad tobeconverted to the Jewish faith.YouhadtolearntheLawofMoses.YouhadtobeadoptedintothekingdomofIsraeltobeacceptedofGod.

Now Peter, this uncultured, uneducated man, suddenly is given divineillumination, that the day would come (and had come) whenWHOSOEVERwouldcallontheLordwouldbesaved(Acts2:21).Nolongerwouldamanhaveto come through a temple in Jerusalem.Hewouldn’t have to keep the dietarylawsoftheJews.Hewouldn’thavetokeepasabbathday.Hewouldn’thavetopaya tenthofhis income (tithe) inorder tobe saved.Hewouldcallupon the

Lordandhewouldbesaved.Now read Acts 2:22-36. Here Peter preached how Jesus had been

crucifiedandresurrectedandhadpouredouttheHolySpirit.Andwhenthey[thosewhohadgathered]heardthis,theywereprickedin

theirheart,andsaiduntoPeterandtotherestoftheapostles,Menandbrethren,whatshallwedo?(Acts2:37).

That is, the hearts of the people were deeply moved and theyimmediatelywantedtoknow,"Whatmustwedotobesaved?”

ThenPetersaiduntothem,Repent,andbebaptizedeveryoneofyouinthenameofJesusChristfortheremissionofsins,andyeshallreceivethegiftoftheHolyGhost[Spirit](Acts2:38).

Immediately,Petersaid,REPENT.Thiswashisfirstwordtothem.Thissermon, preached by Peter on the Day of Pentecost, was the first sermonpreached this side of the glorification of Christ. It’s the first thing God saidthroughamanafter theChurchcameintobeingontheDayofPentecost.Andwhenthecrowdresponded,Peter’sfirstwordtothemwasREPENT.SoyoucanseetheimportanceGodplacesuponrepentanceforyouandmeinthenow.

Repentance is a complete change— it turns your life around.You aresorry because you have done wrong and you ask God’s forgiveness. It is achange of your mind, based upon a change in your heart— your innermostthoughtsandbeing.Younolongerwanttosin,ortomakeitawayoflifetoyou.YouchangeyourMIND—yourwayofTHINKING,yourwayofACTING—thensalvationhappensinsideyou.It’samiraculouschangeofyouroldnature,anewbirththatchangesyouintoanewcreatureinJesusChrist.

SalvationisaPerson...theManJesusChristsavingyou.ThroughtheHolySpiritHecreatesinyouanewheart,anewspirit.Youstartanewwayoflife. You don’t think like you once thought, You have a change of attitude, achangeofhabits,achangeinyourENTIREwayofliving—andit’salltowardloving God, and loving other people as you love yourself. It’s a conversionexperience inwhichGodgivesyou aSECONDBIRTHor the rebirthof yourspirit.It’sabeginningtofollowChristandlearningtobecomeHisdiscipleeverydayofyourlifefortherestofyourlife.

Therefore ifanymanbe inChrist,he isanewcreature:old thingsarepassedaway;behold,ALLTHINGSAREBECOMENEW(2Corinthians5:17).

Youmaylooklikethesamepersonoutside,butinsidethereisarenewinggoing on. The likeness and image ofGod are restored to your spirit.And the

HolySpiritistherefloodingupfromyourinnerself.AsJesussays:He that believethonme . . . out of his belly shall flow rivers of living

water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him shouldreceive)(John7:38,39).

TheyreceivedthebaptismintheHolySpirit(giftoftheHolySpirit)onthedayofPentecost.ThiswasanewdimensionofthePersonoftheHolySpiritwhohadbeenwiththemallthetime.Theonlyreasontheyhadnotreceivedthisgift before was because Jesus in His limited form had to be crucified,resurrected,andreturnedtoheavenfromwhereHewouldpouritoutonthem.

Now if you have repented and believed on Christ the Holy Spirit hasalreadycomeinandyouhaveanopendoortoadeeperlevelofcommunicationwith God. You can, if you will do it, speak directly to God in a new prayerlanguage of the Spirit. You can communicate with Him, beginning with yourspirit. Thismeans you can speak directly to Godwith your SPIRIT and thenWITHYOURUNDERSTANDING(1Corinthians14:15).YoucanpraymuchbetterwithyourunderstandingAFTERfirstprayingwithyourspiritintongues.

WhenyourepentandbelieveinJesus,theHolySpiritwillcomeinandyou can immediately start praying with your spirit. These rivers will startflowing,asJesussaid inSt. John7:37-39.Youcanwill todo itandby liftingyourvoicetotheLord,yourspiritwilluseyourspeechorganstotalktoGod.

RemembertheHolySpiritisaPerson;asaPersonHecantalk.ItisHispurposetohelpyoutalkdirectlywithGodwithyourspirit,aswellaswithyourunderstanding.ThroughtheprayerlanguageGodwillreleasemoreofyourtruefeelingstoyourself.HewillhelpyouunderstandHimbetter,andyouwillfeelyouareonamorepersonallevelwithHim.

Further, all these things given to you by the Spirit are just that muchmoreofJesus.

Theythatgladlyreceivedhiswordwerebaptized:andthesamedaytherewereaddeduntothemaboutthreethousandsouls.Andtheycontinuedstedfastlyintheapostles’doctrineandfellowship,andinbreakingofbread,andinprayers(Acts2:41,42).

After repentance, believing in Jesus and receivingHimas yourSavior,theSpiritcomesintohelpyou.ThroughtheSPIRITYOUCANCOMEINTODISCIPLESHIP...whichmeansfollowingJesusdaily.Jesussaid:

Ifanymanwillcomeafterme,lethimdenyhimself,andtakeuphiscrossdaily,andfollowme(Luke9:23).

JesusistalkingaboutsomethingnowthatfollowsrepentanceofsinandbecomingaSpirit-filledChristian.He’stalkingaboutajourney—ajourneythatlasts a lifetime — a journey on which you embark as you try to become adisciple.It’sthehardestthinganyofushasevertriedandI’msurewehavenotfullyachieved it asweshould,but it isourhighestdesireandgoal. . . that is,everydayofourlifewetakeupourcrossdailyandtrulyendeavortofollowourLordandbelikeHimasHewouldhaveusdo—tobeHisdisciple.

Chapter7,WhatIsThePrayerLanguageOfTheSpirit?

SuggestedScripturereadingforthislesson:1Corinthians14Twomen especially were greatly used of God in the Early Church in

introducing and teaching concerning the baptism in the Holy Spirit and theprayer language of the Spirit. They were Peter — whose ministry I havediscussedinanotherchapter—andtheApostlePaul,formerlyknownasSaulofTarsus.

The Apostle Peter received the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day ofPentecost.He had the prayer language of the Spirit experientially and hewasable tohelpothers receive thegiftof theHolySpirit,butnowhere in theNewTestamentdoeshetaketimetoteachconcerningthisgift.Ittookanotherkindofmantodothis,andhisnamewasPaul.

PeterwasfromGalileebutPaulwasfromTarsus.BothwereJews.Petergrew up in the uncultured area of Galilee but Paul came from the mostsophisticatedareaofAsiaMinor.Tarsuswasa cityofgreatuniversities.Peterwasafisherman,whilePaulwasascholarinGreekphilosophyandalltypesofthings taught in the universities in that time.Hewas also a theologian of theJewishreligion,havingstudiedatthefeetofGamaliel(Acts22:3).PaulwasalsoaPharisee,thesonofaPharisee(Acts23:6).

PeterwasacitizenofPalestine,whilePaulwasaRomancitizen.Asyourecall,theRomanswereinpoweratthattime.TbbeacitizenofRomeyouhadtobebornofRomanparents.However, itwaspossible topurchasecitizenshipwithagreatamountofmoneybutthiswasnoteasy.Inmostcasesyoualsohadto perform some tremendous deed for the Roman Government. As far as weknow,Paul’sRomancitizenshipwasderived fromhisparents,whoapparentlywere outstanding people and were recognized as such by the RomanGovernment.

Asfarasweknow,PaulwasnotpresentinanyofthemeetingsthatJesusconductedwhileHewasaliveintheflesh.ChristwaslaterrevealedtohiminavisionbutPaulneversawHimwithhisownphysicaleyeswhileJesuswasonearth.

Youwillrecall that throughhisreason,hisintellect,Paulwasunabletoaccept JesusChristwhileHewas on earth inHis limited physical form. PauldoubtedthestoryofJesus’resurrectionfromthedeadanditangeredandenraged

him that the followers of Jesus could not be stopped. He set about — withauthoritygivenhimbytheJewishSanhedrin,agroupof70menwhoweretherulingeldersoftheland—todestroyChristianityinitsinfancy.

Paul would search for Christians and cause as many as possible toblasphemeJesus.Others,hewouldputintoprison.Stillothers,hewouldcausetobeputtodeath.HewasmakingawreckageofthenewchurchwhenhemettheyoungmanStephen,amanfulloftheHolySpirit(Acts6:5).Andletmetellyou,hemetmore thanhismatch.Oh,Paulwasable toarrestStephen;hewasabletostophim;hewasabletohavehimputtodeath.WereadthatStephen,fulloftheHolySpirit,said,"Isee... theSonofmanstandingontherighthandofGod.”(SeeActs7:54-60.)AndStephenprayedthatGodwouldnotlaythesinofhisdeathtotheresponsibilityofthosewhowereputtinghimtodeath.

Paulsawthishappen.HewasthemanwhoheldtheclothesofthosewhowerestoningStephen,andconsentedtohisdeath.Inmyopinion,henevergotawayfromitbecausetheHolySpiritwasinyoungStephen.

OnedayPaulwasonhiswayfromJerusalemtoDamascus.HeheardthattherewereChristiansthereandhewasdeterminedtodestroythem.ButtheOnehemetontheroadtoDamascuswasJesushimself.Paul(thenknownasSaulofTarsus)suddenly fell to theground.Ablinding lightengulfedhimandavoicespoke."Saul,Saul,whypersecutestthoume?”(Acts9:4).

Andhesaid,"Whoartthou,Lord?”(Acts9:5).ThefactwasthatwheneverPaulpersecutedanybodywhohadJesushe

was persecuting Jesus. Jesuswas very sensitive to this type of persecution. Itwas in that encounterwith Jesus that Paulwas told to go intoDamascus andwait.

IntheblindinglightPaulhadlosthissight.Hehadbeenforseveraldaysnow in a certain house fasting and praying,waiting uponGod.While hewasthereGodsentoneof theChristians,Ananiasbyname,apparentlyaChristianlayman,toministertohim.WhentheLordsaid,"Yougooverthereandlayyourhands on Paul,”Ananias said, "Lord, you knowwho this is, don’t you?He’scomingoverheretokillus.”ButJesusassuredhimthatitwasallrighttogo.SoAnaniaslaidhishandsonPaulandJesushealedhisblindedeyesandhereceivedtheHolySpirit.(SeeActs9:10-18.)

NowPaulwasconverted,filledwiththeHolySpirit,andcalledtopreachthegospel.Atthatmoment,youandIenterthepicturebecausePaulwascalledtopreachtotheGentiles(Romans11:13).

WhathappenedtoPaulfromthismomentonhasalottodowithyouandmetoday.Hesaidthatheimmediatelydidnotconferwithfleshandblood,thatis to say, with other people. He did not find a Christian to ask him whatChristianitymeant,whatitwaslike,whatitwasallabout.HewentintoArabia,intothedeserts,andthentoDamascus.

Over a period of 3 years— there in the loneliness of the deserts andotherplaces—Paulwasalone.HewasALONE.Remember thatheknewtheScripturesfromachildup.HehadstudiedtheScriptures.HeisnowalonewiththeScriptures,withJesus,andhimself.Heseekstoknowwhoheisandwhatheis—andwhatheistodo.

Simon Peter spent 3 years with Jesus while He was in His physical,visible form andhe flunkedout by deserting Jesus duringHis crucifixion.BycomparisonPaulspent3yearsthereinthedesertsalonewithChristandwhenhecameouthewasonfire.

He knew what Christianity was all about. He had it not only as anexperience,apersonalexperience,buthehadtheknowledgeandunderstandingof it. (ReadGalatians 1:11-19.)Paul had the experience of the infillingof theHolySpiritandhehadtheknowledgethatgoesalongwithit.Howimportanttohaveboththeexperienceandtheunderstanding.

Simon Peter had the experience of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. HespokeintheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit.Itworkedwondersinhisinnerman.Hewasabletohelpothersreceive,asisrecordedinActs8atSamaria,andatthehouseofCorneliusinActs10.HewasabletoreassuretheJewishbrethrenthatthesepeoplehadreceivedthesamegiftof theHolySpirit that theyhadontheDayofPentecost(Acts11:15-18).Peterhadtheexperience,heunderstoodit,buthedidn’tseemtohavethegiftofcommunicatingasPauldidlater.

Paulnotonlyhadtheexperiencebutalsohehaditinknowledgeandinabilitytoexpressitinsimpletermstoothers.TheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritwasanexperientialpartofhisChristianlifeandhedelightedinsharingit(Read1Corinthians14.)

TherearemanysimilaritiesbetweenPeterandPaul.PeterhaddeniedChrist,evenusingcursewords,PaulhadrejectedChrist’sauthenticlifeandHisresurrection.On theDayofPentecostwhen the outpouring of theHolySpirit came

andPeterspokewiththeprayerlanguageoftheSpirit,hereceivedatherapyofhis innerman.Hewasgetting released, recreated.Paul,out there in thedesert

with no human communications, remembered how he had persecuted theChurch,howhehadrejectedJesusChristand it stillhurthisspirit thathehaddoneit.IbelievehetooreceivedthetherapyoftheHolySpirit.

I believe that that’s when he began to understand what the prayerlanguageoftheSpiritreallyis,andalsowhyheisabletoexplainittoussowellin1Corinthians14:1-19.

Paulwrote1and2CorinthianstotheChristiansinCorinth.NowwhenPaulwrotetoachurch—oragroupofbelievers—-hetookintoconsiderationtheir social or cultural background, or whatever problem they were wrestlingwith in their newfound Christian experience. The Corinthian Church was tosome extent the greatest of all theNewTestament churches, but on the otherhand it had the most severe problems, much of them due to the culturalbackground.

Corinthwasagreatsprawlingcity.Althoughitwasnotlocateddirectlyon thesea, itwasknownasaseaport town.Itwasacitywherepaganismwasrank.Thepeopleworshiped ina temple thathada thousandyoungpriestesseswithwhomthemaleworshipersendedtheirworshipinsexualintercourse.Thiswaspartoftheirworshipofidolgods.

ThereweregreatrichesinCorinth,alsogreatpoverty.Thepeoplewereeducated in one sense of the word, but in another they were nonintellectual,unsophisticated,andveryemotional.

Haveyoueverthoughtaboutyourownculturalbackground,orwhyyouarewhatyouare?YoumayhavebeenbornintoahomewhereyouwereraisedasaCatholicorasaProtestantorasaJew,orasanatheist.Youmayhavebeenraisedinahomethatbelievedineducationorinonethatdidn’twantyoutogetaneducation.Allofustosomeextent,andsometimestoalargeextent,reflectourbackgrounds.

Asfarasthecitywasconcerned,theywerepossiblyatthelowestrungofthe social ladder in the Roman Empire. So when they accepted Christ andreceivedthebaptismintheHolySpirit,andthegiftsoftheSpiritbegantoworkinthem,theseChristiansreactedinadifferentwaythanvirtuallyanyoneelseintheentireChristianworldofthefirstcentury.

1Corinthians14:1-19,VerseByVerseSo let’sconsider1Corinthians14:1-19, startversebyverse,and really

try to catch the tone in Paul’s voice as he communicates to these Corinthian

Christians.Followaftercharity[love],anddesirespiritualgifts,butratherthatye

mayprophesy(1Corinthians14:1).InthisversePaulissaying,"MybelovedCorinthianChristianbrethren,

what Iwantyou todo is to reallyget excited aboutGod’s love inyourheart.Followit.Makeitthekeypursuitofyourlife.ReallytrytoloveGodandtolovepeople.Butwhileyouarefollowingafterlove,IwantyoualsotodesirethegiftsoftheHolySpirit.”

Someonemaysay,"YoutakethegiftsoftheSpiritandI’lltakethelove.”That’s likesaying,"YoutakethetrackandI’ll takethetrain.”Imeanwhat’satrainworthwithoutatrack?Andwhat’satrackworthwithoutatrain?

I want the love AND the gifts of the Spirit, for what is love worthwithoutagiftoftheSpirit?AndwhatisagiftoftheSpiritworthwithoutGod’slove?Paulisnotsaying"either/or,”he’ssaying,"FollowafterloveANDatthesametimedeeplydesirethesespiritualgifts.”

Now notice that we are not to seek after these gifts, we are to desirethem.We are to seek theGiver of the gifts, JESUS.All the gifts of theHolySpiritareresidentinHim,andwhenHeisinusHisgiftsareinusalso...everymomentforeveryneed.

Then Paul adds, "But rather that ye may prophesy.” Tb communicateloveandthegiftsisall-important,heissayinghere.

Forhe thatspeaketh inanunknowntonguespeakethnotuntomen,butuntoGod:fornomanunderstandethhim(1Corinthians14:2).

Many of theseCorinthianChristians had had no real cultural or socialstandingandbackground.WhentheLordbegantofillthemwiththeSpirit,oneofthemanifestationswastonguesortheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit.Eachoneof them could use it if he wanted to and he could use it at will. It was atremendous release; it was something he used to edify or to build up himselfinside.Well,thatwasgreat.

Laterwefindout thatevery time theCorinthiansmet theyallbegan tospeak in the prayer language of the Spirit at the same time. They wereinadvertentlymakingitlikeaplaything.Itwasasiftheysaid,"Thisissomethingspecialforme.IcandowithitwhateverIwantto.It’smine,IcandowithitasIplease.”Theprayerlanguagewasauthenticbutthemannerinwhichtheywereusingitwasoutofplace.Itwasasif theyweremakingitanexhibition.Therewasnotenoughloveorconsiderationforeachother.

NoticehowbeautifullyPauldealswiththem.Whenheputsthemdownon theonehand,hepicks themupon theother.Hedoes it so theywon’t losefaceorlosesightoftheimportanceoftheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit,butsotheywillknowtherearecertainthingsthey’vebeenneglectingthattheyshouldbeobserving.Inthesecondhalfofverse2,Paulsays:

... howbeit in the spirit he speakethmysteries. But he that prophesiethspeakethuntomentoedification,andexhortation,andcomfort.

Paultellsustherearetwoformsofbehaviorintheuseoftongues.Oneofthem is for an individualwhen he is by himself orwith a small groupwhichsharescommoninterests.There’sanotherformofbehaviorwhenChristiansgettogether in a group in a public service.For example, supposeyou are in yourhome.Therearecertainthingsyoudoinyourhome.Therearecertainthingsyoudoinyourhomethatyoudon’tdouponMainStreetoroutsideyourhome.Orifyougotosomebodyelse’shouse,youmaynotdothereexactlywhatyouwoulddoinyourhome.

Inverse1,Paulsaid,"IwantyoutofollowafterLOVE.”Thewordforlovehereisagape,whichintheGreekmeans"lovewithoutregardtothevaluethat is placed on a person.”When you love a person,whether you think he’sgreatornot,thatisagapelove.

ThenPaul says, "Desire spiritual gifts.”That is, desire the charismaofGod,thespecialgiftofGod.Butnow,Paulsays,"Let’sgetrightdowntowhatChristianityisallabout.YouarewitnessesofChrist.Sorather,Idesirethatyouprophesy.”

Tbgive aprophecy is to speak inyourown tongueor language as theSpiritgivesyouaninspiredutterance.

Prophecyisaninspiredutterance.Itdoesn’tcomethroughyourintellect.It isn’t somethingyoustudyout. It’s something that theHolySpirit justdropsintoyourmindoryourheart.Asyouspeakit,yougiveaninspiredstatementandit’sremarkableinitseffectuponpeople.

Forexample,therehavebeentimeswhenIwasspeakingonsomethingIhadstudiedandwaspreparedtogiveandallatonceIfelttheHolySpiritmoveinmeandinspireme.ThenthewordsthatcamefrommylipswerenotwordsIhad learned, but words I had not studied. They were statements in my owntongue thatwere inspired; that is,Godwas handingme in a bulletin fresh—rightthen—somethinghotoffthewirefromheaven.Whenthishappensusuallysomewillcometomelaterandsay thatasIspoke theyfelt theSpiritmoving

throughthemandcommunicatingsomethingfromGodtothem.PaulsaysthewholeoftheChristian’slifeisathrusttowardwitnessingto

people. Therefore, we need to follow after love and to desire spiritual gifts,especiallythegiftofprophecy.LearntobemoveduponbytheSpiritsothatyoucansaysomethingundertheinspirationoftheSpirit.Don’tdependonlyonyourownintellect.

As we study 1 Corinthians 14 we discover that Paul is not talking somuch about tongues or the prayer languageof theSpirit as he is about a newdimension in our understanding. Because if we don’t understand, we reallycannot be effective Christians. THE REAL PURPOSE OF THE PRAYERLANGUAGEOF THE SPIRIT IS TO HELP OUR INTELLECT ANDOURUNDERSTANDING,ANDTOBUILDUPOURINNERSELFINTHELORD.

Forhe thatspeaketh inanunknowntonguespeakethnotuntomen,butuntoGod(1Corinthians14:2).

WhyisPaulsayingthis?He’ssaying,"Ifyouaretryingtogiveawitnessthroughtongues,orifyouaretryingtogetsomebody’sattentionandleadhimtoChristbyspeakingintongues,orifyouaretryingtoteachhimthroughtongues,then you are really on the wrong track. For he that speaketh in an unknowntonguespeakethnotuntomen,butuntoGod.”Youjustcannotusetonguesasateaching or preaching vehicle, for people in their intellect cannot understandyou.

Paul seems to be saying, "You Corinthians are really thrilled about'speakingintongues’andI’mgoingtotellyouinamomentwhat’shappeningtoyou,howgreatitis.Butyouarereallyusingitoutofplace.”

Buthethatprophesieth[whospeaksbyaninspiredutteranceinhisowntongue](1Corinthians14:3).

When we prophesy, Paul says that we speak unto men. This is ahorizontal relationship: me to you and you to me, as the Spirit moves us tospeak. The devotional prayer language of the Spirit is vertical— out of myspirit, over my tongue to God. It bypasses my intellect in that my intellectdoesn’t create the words. I speak as the Spirit givesme utterance, not asmyintellectgivesmeutterance.SoIspeakintheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit,upovermytongue,bypassingmyintellect,straighttoGod.

But when I prophesy I speak out ofmy spirit and by theHoly Spirit.What Ispeakfirstcomesupoutofmyspiritby theHolySpirit, then itcomesthroughmyintellect(mind)overmytongue.Myintellectormindisusedinan

inspiredway.Myintellectisabletocreateinspiredsentencesandstatementsthatmencangraspwith their spirit, thenwith theirmind, thusunderstandingwhatI’msaying.Theinspiredstatementsarehorizontal—theyaremantoman.Thepurposeandusefulnessofprophecyis toedify, toexhort,andtocomfortotherpeoplebyinspiredutterances.

He that speaketh inanunknown tongueedifiethhimself (1Corinthians14:4).

I want you to notice that when Paul says, "He that speaketh in anunknowntongueedifiethhimself,”heisnotspeakingofagiftoftongueswhichrequires thegiftof interpretation.He isspeakingof theprayer languageof theSpiritinthebeliever.He’ssimplydescribingtheuseofthisprayerlanguageasavertical relationship between you and God. It’s devotional. It’s a private,personaldevotionbywhichyouedifyyourself.

Andwhatisthepurposeofthisdevotionalprayerlanguage,whicheverybelievercanreleasetoGodinhispersonallife?Itedifiesyourspirit,calmsyouandstrengthensyouontheinside,andsendsyourdeepestlongingstoGod.

At times when our burdens are so great and we have no words toadequately expresswhatwe feel, then theHoly Spirit searches out and praysfromdeepwithinourheartandsoul"makingintercessionforuswithgroaningswhichcannotbeuttered”(Romans8:26).

ThisiswhatPaulwastellingtheCorinthians:"Brethren,whatIwantyouto understand about the prayer language of the Spirit is that you are reallyedifyingyourownspirit,yourinnerman.”

Someonesaidtome,"Well,isthatalltheusethattheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritis,justedifyingmyself?”

Isaid,"Canyouthinkofanybetterreasonthanthatyouwouldbeedified—whichmeanstobuildyouupspirituallyintheinnerman?Canyouthinkofanything a Christian, from a subjective point of view and a personal point ofview,needsmorethantobebuiltupspirituallyintheinnerman?”

SomanyChristiansarefulloffrustrations,fears,insecuritiesanddoubtsthatedifyingthemselvesbytongues,ortheprayerlanguage,isanedifyingforcetheycannotaffordtobewithout.

Paul isnotputtingdown theprayer languageof theSpirit.He’ssimplydescribingitasaverticalrelationshipbetweenyouandGod.It’sdevotional.It’saprivate,personaldevotionbywhichyouedifyyourself.He’stalkinghereaboutyou,anindividual,usingtonguesinyourowndevotions.

Buthethatprophesiethedifieththechurch(1Corinthians14:4).Thatis,whenapersonspeaksaninspiredutteranceinhisowntongue,he

isspeakingtotheunderstandingofthepeoplewhohearhim,whohavegatheredtogetherinthechurch(agroupofbelievers).

Iwouldthatyeallspakewithtongues(1Corinthians14:5).Inotherwords,Paulissaying,"NowIknowalotofyouhavetheprayer

languageoftheSpiritandsomeofyoudon’t.”NotalltheChristiansinCorinthhadreleasedtheprayerlanguage.

DoYouHaveToSpeakInTongues?This leadsme tomake thisobservation. I’m inevitably asked, "Doyou

have to speakwith tongues or do you have to have a prayer language of theSpirit?”Well, I ask you, "Do you have to breathe?” It is almost that kind ofquestionas faras I’mconcerned. I like toanswer it likePauldid."IWOULDTHATYEALL SPAKEWITHTONGUES.” I know itwill enable you to bebuiltupinyourinnerman.

Myobservationisthis:InalltheseyearsthatIhavehadthisexperienceand have prayed for people to receive it, in every case where there was anyopennessatallor lackof tensionand inhibition,everyonehasreceived it. It’smypersonalbeliefthatanychildofGod,anyborn-againbeliever,anyonewhohas repentedand receivedChrist,has thePersonof theHolySpirit, thedivineParacletealready.It’smyexperiencethathecanreleasetheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritimmediatelyifheknowshowtoopenuphisinnerself.

Mostofusaretense.Weareinhibited.Somethingdowninsideusdoesn’tletgo.SoIusuallysay,I’venevermetabelieverwhoIthoughtcouldn’treceiveorreleasetheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritifhereallywantedtoandifhehadsomeinstruction.

Sometimes a person does not release the prayer language because he’snot been instructed. He might not know how, or, as Paul says, he might beunlearnedinit(1Corinthians14:23).

Ontheotherhand,apersonmayhavebeentaughtsostronglyagainsttheexperience of the baptism in the Holy Spirit that he thinks if he receives hewould blaspheme the Holy Spirit. In other words, he would be doing someterrible, terrible thing. That happens! Some people have been taught thiswayandtheyaresincerepeople.

It’sa littlehardforme tounderstandfor ifyouaregoing toaccept theBibleastheWordofGodandbelieveit,well, thereitis.AreyougoingtocutpartoftheBibleoutandthrowitaway?Iknowtherearesomepeoplewhodon’tthink all of the Bible is inspired. I am one who believes it is. I believe it’sinspired—allofit.Iwouldn’tchangeanypartabouttheBibleifIcould.

NowIwantyou tonoticehowbeautifullyandclearlyPaulworkswiththeCorinthians.Hedoesnotputthemdown.Hetriestoteachthemsomething.And ifyouapproach thischapter in the spirit inwhichPaulgave it, itwillberemarkablewhatyouwilllearnfromit.Hetellsthem,"Iwouldthatyeallspakewithtongues...”Hemakesthemfeelgood,andtheysay,"He’soneofus...hespeaksintongues...thisisgreat.”Thenhesays,"But,waitaminute.”Yousee,manyoftheseCorinthianslookedupontheirgiftoftheHolySpiritasaprizedpossession.Theythoughtitwassomethingtheyhadthatmaybenotverymanyothers had. They said, in effect, "Because of this we’re really superiorChristians.”

They were making tongues the common denominator of Christianfellowship.AndPaulwasjustsaying,"Youcan’tdothis.Christisthecommondenominator of the Christian life. It’s our Lord Jesus Christ himself. It’s thePersonofJesus.Youcannottakeanydoctrine,oranyrevelation,oranythingthatwe could possibly conceive of and make that something special — up hereaboveourLord—becauseourfellowshipisaroundChristandHisbody.”

Letme further illustrate that.WhenDr.HenriettaMearswas alive shewas a great Bible teacher at the First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood,California.SheisnowwithourLord.ShewasresponsibleforleadingthousandsofyoungpeopletotheLord.Manyofthementeredtheministryortheteachingprofession. I knew her personally and admired her. Someone once said toDr.Mears,"DoIhavetobelieveinthebookofGenesisinordertobesaved?”

"Oh,”shesaid,"ofcoursenot.TbbesavedyouhavetobelieveinJesusChristandthenHewilltakecareofGenesislater.”

YouseewhatImean?SometimesweChristiansgooffona tangentonsomepartofChrist that’sveryreal in itself,butweseparate it fromthecenterandgettoofarawayfromthecenter.

...butratherthatyeprophesied:forgreaterishethatprophesieththanhethatspeakethwith tongues,excepthe interpret, that thechurchmayreceiveedifying(1Corinthians14:5).

Notice that Paul is now back in the church— in the public worship

service.It’sveryimportantthatyouhavethespiritualdiscernmenttounderstandhere in 1Corinthians 14,whenPaul is talking to an individual as a person inprayerbyhimself,orwhenhe’stalkingtothatsameindividualandhisbehaviorwiththegroupinchurch.

Read 1 Corinthians 14:5 again and notice the setting is in a worshipserviceofthechurch.Heisnotreferringtoaprivatedevotionoftonguesbyanindividual when he is by himself. But to the behavior of that person using atongue in a believers’ meeting. It makes a lot of sense when you know thedifference.

Iwouldthatyeallspakewithtongues,butratherthatyeprophesied:forgreater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues,... (1Corinthians14:5).

Nowifyouputaperiodtherewherethecommais,thenyouaregoingtohave to conclude that anybody who can prophesy is a greater Christian thansomeonewhospeakswithagiftoftongues.IknowsometeachthisasifitwerebasedonthisScripture.However,whenyourealizeacommabelongshere,thenyoumustgoonwiththerestofthesentence—exceptheinterpret.

In other words, it is better for a person in a believers’ meeting toprophesythantospeakpubliclywiththegiftoftongues...exceptorunlesshealsointerpretsitsmeaningtotheunderstanding(themind)ofthosepresent.

Now if a person interprets the gift of tongues, then the personprophesyingisnotgreater,ornotmoreeffective.Theyareofequalvalue,forineachcasethechurchisedifiedorbuiltupintheLord.Thereisnoplaceforonebeinggreaterthantheother.Onlyloveisthegreatestofall!

Now, brethren, if I come unto you speakingwith tongues, what shall Iprofityou,exceptIshallspeaktoyoueitherbyrevelation,orbyknowledge,orbyprophesying,orbydoctrine?(1Corinthians14:6).

In other words, if I begin teaching and I start speaking in the prayerlanguageoftheSpiritandspendtherestoftheteachingsessioninthatmanner,how in theworld cananyone in the audienceunderstandand thusprofit?Youcannot,unless Ibringyoua revelation fromGod,or awordofknowledge,orsomeprophecy,orsomedoctrine.

Don’tyouseethatthemomentIbegintowitnesstoyouImustgetoutoftheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritanduseaninstrumentthatyoucanunderstand.Thatis,Imustbeginspeakinginyourlanguage,eitherbyaninspiredutteranceorwithsomethingI’vestudiedoutoftheBible,orsomepersonalexperience,or

somewordofdoctrine.Nowlet’snoticehowPaulreasonswiththeCorinthiansandwithyouand

me.Andeventhingswithoutlifegivingsound,whetherpipeorharp,except

they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be knownwhat is piped orharped?(1Corinthians14:7).

If you are playing a piano or organ and you don’t create a distinctivesound,howcanamusicloverunderstandwhatyouaredoing?

Forifthetrumpetgivesanuncertainsound,whoshallpreparehimselftothebattle?(1Corinthians14:8).

Inthosedayspeopleusuallylivedinwalledcities.Theyhadmenpostedonthewalldayandnightwatchingforinvadingarmies.Theyhadrehearsedtheentirecitysothatwhentheyheardthetrumpetsound—andtherewasacertainsoundgivenbythetrumpetthatmeanttheenemyiscoming—theyweretogetreadytofight.SoPaulsays,"Ifthosefellowsuponthewalltoottheirhornandthey don’t toot that sound that tells that the enemy is coming, how can youprepareforbattle?”

It’slikeanair-raidwarning.Ifwedon’tknowthattheairraidiscoming—ifwedon’thearthedesignatedsound—wearenotgoingtorunforaplacewherewewillbesafe.ThisiswhatPaulissaying.He’sreasoningwithusnow,urgingustohavethethrustofourChristianwitnesstowardsourfellowman,andnot take something personal like the prayer language of the Spirit which isbetweenyouandGod,andmakeateachingorpreachinginstrumentofit.IthastobeusedforapurposeandforthepurposeGodintended.

Solikewiseye,exceptyeutterbythetonguewordseasytobeunderstood,how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air (1Corinthians14:9).

Thatis,youwilljustbebeatingtheair.Peoplewon’tunderstandawordyouaresaying.

Thereare,itmaybe,somanykindsofvoicesintheworld,andnoneofthemiswithoutsignification(1Corinthians14:10).

"There are a thousand kinds of sounds in the world,” Paul says, "buteveryoneofthemhasasignificance.”

ThereforeifIknownotthemeaningofthevoice,Ishallbeuntohimthatspeaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me (1

Corinthians14:11).Inthatdayabarbarianwasapagan,amanunacquaintedwiththeculture

oftheRomanEmpire...anuncivilizedpersonbyRomanstandards.Even so ye, forasmuchas yeare zealousof spiritual gifts, seek that ye

mayexceltotheedifyingofthechurch(1Corinthians14:12).Whateveryoudotowardsomeotherperson,dosomethingthatwilluplift

him.Nowdoesn’tthatmakealotofsense?Whereforelethimthatspeakethinanunknowntonguepraythathemay

interpret(1Corinthians14:13).AreyoubeginningtoseenowthattheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritofthe

believer, or the use of the gift of tongues for others, is a means to an end?Neither one is an end in itself. Neither was ever intended to be. Each is anexperience very precious and valuable, a valid instrument through which youcommunicatedirectlywithGodforyourselforinbehalfofothers.

ButifyouaregoingtobeeffectivethroughyourprayerlanguageoftheSpirit tohelpyourself,or through thegiftof tongues tohelpothers,youmustpraythatyoualsomayinterpret...andthendoso.

WhenIamspeakingbeforealargecrowdIamunderadifferentkindofBible rule or law than when I amwith a small group or bymyself. As OralRoberts,theindividual,IcanprayintheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritanytimeIwanttoandit’snobody’saffairbutmine.Icandoitquiet,Icandoitloud,Icandoitshort, Icandoit long.BecauseIamalone,bymyself.But themomentIstandbeforeagroupIcomeunderanewsetofrules.AtthattimewhenIusetheprayerlanguageoftheSpirititisusuallyintheformofthegiftofprophecyorthegiftsofhealingoragiftoftongues.Iamdealingwithotherpeople.SuddenlyIcomeunderdifferentrulesthanthosethatapplywhenIamprayingbymyself.

Whereforelethimthatspeakethinanunknowntonguepraythathemayinterpret(1Corinthians14:13).

Thatis,interpretsothatthepeoplewillknowwhatyouaresaying.WhenapersonpraysintheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritorpraisesGodintongues,heshouldpause,askGodtoreveal tohimthesubstanceeitherofwhathesaid toGodorwhatGod says back—God’s response—and then reveal that to thepersonorpersonspresent.

Then speaking in tongues isonaparwithprophecy.Younowhaveaninspiredutterancethat’sspokenhorizontally,inthelanguageofthehearerstothe

hearer.Theinterpretationthenmakestonguesunderstandable,whichalsomakesthemserveGod’spurpose.

NowPaulspeaksautobiographically.Hesays,"Hereismyownpersonalexperience...”

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but myunderstandingisunfruitful.[Myminddoesn’tknowwhatmytongueissaying.]Whatisitthen[WhatwillIdo?]Iwillpraywiththespirit[thatisintongues]andIwillpraywiththeunderstandingalso:Iwillsingwiththespirit,andIwillsingwiththeunderstandingalso(1Corinthians14:14,15).

In other words, Paul just waits a moment and asks God to let himinterprethisowntonguebacktohimself.Onegoodwaytodothis,ifyouarebyyourself and you are praying in the prayer language of theSpirit, is to pause.Whenyouhave finished,wait a fewmoments forGod to reveal back to yourunderstanding either what you said to Him in tongues or His response to theprayerbyyourspirit.Thensimply liftyourvoiceandstartprayingorpraisingGodagainandmostof the timeyouwill receive theessenceofwhatyousaidbeforehandintheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit.

WhathappensisthatwhenyouprayintheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit—whichisspeakingintongues—italertsyourmindtoGod,itsharpensyourintellect.Itsortofwakesyouup,itmakesyoumoreaware.Thenyoucanpraybetterinyourownlanguage.Thisis,asPaulindicates,prayingwithyourspiritANDwithyourunderstanding.

Ifyoucoulddothiswiththeintellectalone,thenofwhatuseistheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit?SoPaulissaying,"WhenIpray,thisiswhatIdo.First,Ipray in tongues (the prayer language of the Spirit). Then I pray in myunderstanding.”Thenwhenhegetsintosinging,hesingsintonguesandthenhesingsinwordsofhisunderstanding.

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but myunderstandingisunfruitful.

Paul is very concerned about the intellect, about the mind, theunderstanding. Christianity has emotion. But Christianity doesn’t come out ofemotionbutoutofthewillofman,ofhismindandspirit.NoticethatPaulsaysin1Corinthians1:10:

NowIbeseechyou,brethren,bythenameofourLordJesusChrist,thatyeallspeakthesamething,andthattherebenodivisionsamongyou;butthatyebeperfectlyjoinedtogetherinthesamemind.

DoyouknowwhatdividesChristians?Onebelongs to this churchandanotherbelongstothatchurch.ButifyoucantakeamanintheCatholicchurchandamaninaProtestantchurchandiftheyareborn-again,filledwiththeSpirit,and love Jesus— really loveHim and practice love— you cannot tell themapartintheirlove.Thereisnowayonearthbecauselovemakesthemone.

Now theymay have differentways andmethods that they use in theirtypeofchurchservice,butIcantellyounowthatGodisn’tnearlyasconcernedaboutthoseformsasweare.WhatHe’sconcernedaboutishowwelove,howwegive,howwerespectandhaveconcernforotherpeople.Heisconcernedthatwe pray for one another, to touch and agree, and love each other as we doourself.

ThatiswhatChristianityisabout:loveandloving.Youloveapersonlikehe’s themost valuable thing in the world, like you love yourself. This is thegivingpartoflove.ThisistheseedsownwhichGodmulti-

pliesback in the formofananswer toyourneed.Yousow it andGodwillgrowit.

Youhave to loveyourself.YouMUST loveyourself. It’s notwrong toloveyourself.Jesussaid,"Lovethyneighbourasthyself.”Hetellsyoutoloveyourselfbutbalances thisby tellingyou to loveothers likeyou loveyourself.Thewhole thing is confusing to theoutsideworld, to peoplewhodon’t knowChrist, because they don’t have the samemind. By having the samemind inChristwecanunderstandit.

Elsewhenthoushaltblesswiththespirit,howshallhethatoccupieththeroomoftheunlearnedsayAmenatthygivingofthanks,seeingheunderstandethnotwhatthousayest?forthouverilygivestthankswell[intongues,that’swhathemeans], but the other is not edified. I thankmyGod, I speakwith tonguesmorethanyeall(1Corinthians14:16-18).

ThislaststatementsoundslikePaulwasreallyproud,doesn’tit?Thathereally felt superior. Paul didn’t mean that at all. I know that some of usinadvertentlythinkwearesuperiorbecauseGodhasgivenusthegiftoftheHolySpiritandwecanspeakintheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit.Nowyou’vegottogetrealfrankandhonestwithyourselftoadmitthat.Wetendtotakesomegiftand,because it’s sogreat inour lives,we tend toact likeweare superior andthosewhodon’thaveitinthewaywedoareinferior.Sowedivideandhurtandseparatefromoneanother.Ibelievethis isasin!Agiftof theSpirit isnotouruniter,butChristhimself!

Yetinthechurch—andhere’swherePaulisreallybalanced—hesays...

Yetinthechurch[whenI’mwithallthesepeople]Ihadratherspeakfivewordswithmyunderstanding, thatbymyvoiceImightteachothersalso, thantenthousandwordsinanunknowntongue(1Corinthians14:19).

PauldoesnotmeanherethattheCorinthianChristiansshouldnotusetheprayer languageof theSpirit frequentlyin theirownprivatedevotions.Hejustsays, "When you get in church with all the people, then talk with yourunderstandingandusewordstheycanunderstand.”Heissaying,"Ifyouuseagiftof tonguesinchurch,alwaysfollowitwiththegiftof interpretationsotheneedsofthehearerscanbenefit.”

I’vefoundfromyearsofpracticalexperiencethatitisseldombeneficialtohave"amessageintongues”inalargegathering.Theexceptioniswhenthosepresentunderstandtheproperuseofthegiftsoftonguesandinterpretation.

PaulissimplyputtingthismarvelousexperienceofthegiftsintheHolySpiritandtheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit,tonguesandprophecy,andtheothergifts in their proper places that we might be more effective in our Christianwitness.

The benefit of using the prayer language of the Spirit in my dailydevotionshasdonesomuchtoopenmymindtoGodandHisgreatness,toHismighty works. I cannot thank Him enough for revealing to me the excitingprivilegeofspeakingtoHimfirstintongues,thenwithmyunderstanding.

While I am learningbettereveryday touse theprayer languageof theSpirit and expect to continue to learn, I, like Paul, wish every child of Godwould—andtheycan—prayintonguesoftenandexperienceit’sexhilarating,therapeutic,andinstructivebenefits.IknowitissimplytheHolySpiritenablingustoreceiveandlearnmoreoftheunlimitedChristandmakeHimmorealiveandreal,firsttousandthentothosearoundus.

Chapter8,HowYouCanTalkToGodAndReceiveHisAnswer

SuggestedScripturereadingforthislesson:1Corinthians2:9-14Inaprevious lesson (Chapter5) Idiscussed thepowerofaperson, the

power of a personal relationship, and a power from on high. Now I want todiscuss with you a power to discern the DEEP THINGS OF GOD and toproperly use the prayer language of the Spirit to talk toGod and receiveHisanswer.AndIwanttodoitingreaterdepthtohelpyouwithyourunderstanding.

In1CorinthianstheApostlePaulistalkingabouttheHolySpiritandhesays:

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither haveenteredintotheheartofman,thethingswhichGodhathpreparedforthemthatlovehim(1Corinthians2:9).

Read that Scripture again. This means that our physical senses cannotperceivethegreatthingsthatGodhaspreparedforuswholoveGod.Weusedtothinkthatthisversewastalkingaboutlifeafterdeath.NowweknowthatPaulistalkingabouttheNOW.

ButGodhathrevealedthemuntousbyhisSpirit(1Corinthians2:10).God hath revealed them unto US. He hath revealed them BY HIS

SPIRIT.TheyarerevealedintheNOW.Theyareallaroundus;theyareinsideus.Thatmeansyoudon’thave towaituntilyouget toheaven to receive theirbenefits.

FortheSpiritsearchethallthings,yea,thedeepthingsofGod.Forwhatmanknoweththethingsofaman,savethespiritofmanwhichisinhim?Evenso the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians2:10,11).

TheSpiritOfManNotice that Paul asks, "Who knows the spirit ofman?”Nowwe don’t

knowexactlywherethespiritisinsideus.Butwhenwetalkaboutthespirit,orinnerman,wearetalkingabouttheareawherewehaveourdeepestfeelings—our solar plexus.Usually our feelings start in the pit of our stomach. SoPaulsays, "What man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of a man?”Certainly his intellect doesn’t know. But his spirit knows. And "the things ofGod knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” Here we have our own spirit

knowing the things in us, andwe have theHolySpirit knowingwhat’s in themindofGod.

Nomatter howhard you try, you can’t figure outwhat’s in your spiritthroughyourmind.Youcanknowsomeofit,butthere’ssomuchinourinnerman that baffles the doctors, the educators, even the people closest to you—yourhusband,yourwife, your family.Youcan’t even figureyourself out.Butthatknowledgeisinyourownspirit.

AtthesametimetheknowledgeofGodisintheSpiritofGod.So we have the root problem— man is living in his intellect, in his

reason, trying to figureeverythingoutbyhis intellect,hismind.Buthisminddoesn’t know what’s in his spirit and cannot understand or perceive his ownspirit.

This isoneof thereasonswehaveestablishedOralRobertsUniversity.Wedonotseektoputthemindabovethespiritofman.Wevaluethemind.Wehaveaterrificacademicprogram.Wethinkit’ssecondtononeinitsfield.Studyhere is important forwemustdevelopourminds.But innoway isORUbuiltuponthemindalone.

NorisORUbuiltuponthebodyalone,althoughweemphasizethebodyprobablymorethanmostuniversities.ORUisthefirstuniversityinthenationtoinstitute a physical education program based upon the Aerobics program thatwas conceived by Kenneth Cooper,M.D., formerly a colonel in the U.S. AirForce, and implemented by him for the U.S. and Canadian Air Force. It ismandatoryforeveryORUstudent—allfouryears.ThisispartlybecauseIhaveahealingministryandhavedealtwiththousandsofpeoplewhosebodiesareillinsomewayandhavenotbeenabletogetwellbyanymeans.Ihavepersonallybeen healed of a terrible affliction so I’ve come into an appreciation of thephysicalpartofman.SoatORUwedoemphasizetheimportanceofourbodies.Wehavetoliveinthemuntil thedaywedie.OurbodiesarethetempleoftheHolySpirit,astheBiblehassaid(1Corinthians3:16;6:19,20).

Butweteachthatourresponsetoalllifebeginsinourspirit,becausewemustunderstand firstwhat’s inour spirit andwecanonlydo that through theSpiritofGod.TheSpiritofGodandthespiritofmanmustcometogetherandworktogether.Outofthiscancomeatrueeducation.

Letmeexplain.Whenwehaveaproblemusuallywestartwiththemindto solve it, don’twe?We try to understand its cause and implicationwithourintellectalone.Oureducationalinstitutionstrainustodothis.ButIbelievethe

Bible teaches that all problems have their origin, in someway, in the humanspirit.For example,weget up in themorning andwedon’t feel right about acertainthingoracertainperson.Oftenwedon’tknowwhattodoaboutit.HereweareinourMINDtryingtounderstandwhatisinourspirit.

God reverses theprocess through theHolySpirit.Godstartswithyourspirit.

The Holy Spirit knows themind of God. Your spirit knows what’s inyour spirit. So theHolySpirit and your spirit have towork together and thencomeupthroughyourintellectandenrichyourmindwithunderstanding.

Your spirit and the Holy Spirit come together in a divine humanreciprocity(orcooperation)sothatyourmindcanbethebeneficiaryofit.Thenyourmindcanthinkinatrulyhumanway,asGodoriginallyintendedmantobehumanwhenHecreatedhim inHisownspiritual andmoral likeness (Genesis1:26).

Conversion — being converted by the Spirit of God, becoming aChristian,oranewcreation (2Corinthians5:17)— is simplyGod takingyoubacktotheoriginalmanHemade.

GodmademanandHemadehimperfect;Hemadehimgood.ButmanhasthwartedGod’spurpose.Manhassinned.ManhasrejectedGod’sway.HehasgottenoutfromundertheauthorityofGod.HehasnotacceptedthewillofGod and he has filled his earth with pollution that’s physical, with pollutionthat’smental,withpollutionthat’sspiritual.Hehasfilledtheworldwithdangersof all kinds suchaswarsbetweennations andwarsbetween individuals,warsbetweenwife and husband,wars between parents and children, wars betweenbrotherandsister,warsbetweenstrangers.Allthisisintheworldbecauseman’smindisnotcapablewithin itself tosolvehisownproblems.Hismindmustbewashed, regenerated, renewed, and this can only be done by starting in yourspiritandsubmittingittothepoweroftheHolySpirit.

TheBiblesays:Berenewedinthespiritofyourmind(Ephesians4:23).Beyetransformedbytherenewingofyourmind(Romans12:2).Ikeepsaying,youcan’tdoitbyyourmindalone.Youhavetogetdown

intoyourownspirit.OnlytheHolySpiritcanbringGodtoyouandbringGod’sknowledgetoyou.

Nowwehavereceived,notthespiritoftheworld,butthespiritwhichis

of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God (1Corinthians2:12).

ButthenaturalmanreceivethnotthethingsoftheSpiritofGod:fortheyarefoolishnessuntohim,:neithercanheknowthem,becausetheyarespirituallydiscerned(1Corinthians2:14).

PrayingInTheSpiritReachesGodThe onlyway that you can really understandGod is through theHoly

Spirit.ThespiritofmanandtheSpiritofGodworkingtogetheristheanswer.LikewisetheSpiritalsohelpethourinfirmities:forweknownotwhatwe

shouldprayforasweought:buttheSpirititselfmakethintercessionforuswithgroaningswhichcannotbeuttered[or forwhich there isnoequivalenthumanspeech].AndhethatsearcheththeheartsknowethwhatisthemindoftheSpirit,because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God(Romans8:26,27).

TheSpiritsearchethallthings... thedeepthingsofGod(1Corinthians2:10).

TheHolySpiritknowswhatthemindofGodis,soyouhavetheSpiritsearching all the time, reaching inside God, bringing forth the treasures andrichesandgiftsofGodtous.OntheotherhandtheHolySpirit reaches insideman, searchesoutwhathis real problem is ... theHolySpirit searchesout (orexamines)thespiritofman.

Weknownotwhatweshouldpray forasweought.That is tosay,ourmind—theintellect—doesn’treallyknowverymuchatallaboutwhat’sinourspirit.

Weliveonthesenselevelonthisearth:thesenseoftouch,sight,hearing,taste,smell.Wehaveamindthroughwhichweexpressourselves.Butthemindisinadequatewithinitselfandthebodyisinadequatebyitself.SotheHolySpiritcomesupthroughyourmind,renewingyourmindintheSpiritsothatyoucantalktoGodaboutyourheart—andfromyourheart.

TheHolySpiritcomesdowninsideyou—intoyourinnerman.Howdoweknowthis?

Inthelastday,thatgreatdayofthefeast,Jesusstoodandcried,saying,Ifanymanthirst[theoriginalis,ifhethirstsandkeepsonthirsting],let

him come untome, and drink.He that believeth onme, as the scripture hath

said,outofhisbellyshallflowriversoflivingwater[comingupoutofthebelly,outoftheinnerman],(ButthisspakeheoftheSpirit,whichtheythatbelieveonhimshouldreceive:fortheHolyGhostwasnotyetgiven;becauseJesuswasnotyetglorified)(John7:37-39).

Youwill remember that theHolySpirithad tobringChrist to theearththrough being born of the virgin Mary. He had to empower Him to performmiracles.Hehad toprepareHimfordeath.Hehad to raiseHisbodyfromthedead. He had to return Him to the Father’s right hand, so that He could bereleasedasthefuller,greaterChristwithouthumanlimitations.

Ifyoubelieveonme,outofyourbelly[outofyourinnermostman]willflowrivers,Jesussaid.

Inotherwords,youwillfeelit.EveryonewhohaseverbelievedonJesushasfelttheriversoftheHolySpirit.Whetheryourecognizedwhatitwasornot,youcansay,"That’swhatIfelt.”IfyouwilljustthinkbackyouwillrealizethatyouhavefelttheSpiritofGod.Youfeltsomethingcomingupinsideanditwasgood,itwasgreat,itwaspowerful.

It was the Holy Spirit working with your spirit and the feeling wascomingup.It’sgottocomeupoveryourtonguesoyourspiritcanspeaktoGod.Not your intellect,which often doesn’t knowwhat’s going on, but your spiritcomesupoverthetongueandspeakstoGodintheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit.Thisisreferredtoasspeakingintongues.RemembertheHolySpiritinyouisaPerson.A person can talk. TheHoly Spirit talks, using your tongue, enablingyoutoformHisprayertoGodinyourbehalf.

Speaking the prayer language of the Spirit seems so difficult for theintellecttounderstandbecausethatintellecthasbeenoutoftouchwithGodsolong.The spiritofmanhasbeen suppressed so that the intellectdoesn’tgraspwhattheinnermanisactuallysayingtoGod.

Forhe thatspeaketh inanunknowntonguespeakethnotuntomen,butuntoGod(1Corinthians14:2).

This is not horizontal speaking, such asman toman, but vertical. TheChristianbelieverspeaksdirectlyTOGOD.Plus,itcomesoutoftheheart—thespirit ofman. It’s prayer. It’s praise. It’s communication. It’s direct talking toGod.Itdoesnotusethemind;itdoesnotdependupontheintellect.Theintellectdoesn’tknowthemindoftheSpirit(Romans8:27).

InorderformeorforyoutotalktoGodoutofthedeepestdepthsofourbeing—downinourbelly—wehavetobypassthemindfromtimetotime,for

afewsecondsatleasteachtime,andletthespiritwellupfromourinnerbeing.

ADialogueWithOralAndEvelynRobertsIn this dialogue I believeEvelyn asks someof the samequestionsyou

mayhaveinmind.Evelyn: Oral, you said according to John 7:37-39 and Acts 2:38 that

whenwerepentofoursinsandbelieveonJesuswewouldreceivethegiftoftheHolySpirit.IsthisthesameasthebaptismintheHolySpirit?

Oral: When you accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, ofcourseyoureceivetheHolySpirit,forwithouttheHolySpirithimselfyouarenoneofHis.ButthereisabaptisminwhichyouareimmersedintheHolySpirit.It’s an extra dimension. Jesus referred to it as the rivers of the Holy Spiritflowingupoutofyourbelly—outofyourinnermostbeing(John7:38,39).OfcoursetheprayerlanguageoftheSpiritisinthatriverasitflowsup.Itisinthebaptism,whichistheimmersionofyou,intheHolySpirit.

Evelyn:WhatisthepurposeofthebaptismintheHolySpirit?Oral:BeforeIanswerthisquestionIwanttogivesomebackground.The

BiblesaysthatGodmademaninHisimage.Thatis,wearemadeinthespiritualand moral likeness of God. God is not speaking of a physical shape. He istalkingaboutHisspiritualandmorallikeness.Godispure,whichisthewayHemadeAdamandEve.GodisLove;GodisTruth.That’showHemadeus.Butbyman’srejectionofGodandbyourhurtingoneanother,toooftenwithmalice,wehavethrustGodoutofourlives.ThatiswhywehavetobebornagainbytheHolySpirit.GodistryingtorestoreHismoralandspirituallikeness,Histruth,Hislife,Hisvalues,tousinside.

Evelyn:DoesthismeanthatourspiritinsidewillberemadeintheimageofGod?

Oral:Withoutadoubt.ThishappenswhenGodsavesus.Wearemadeanewcreation(2Corinthians5:17).This is theworkof theHolySpirit.But thebaptism in the Holy Spirit has a different purpose altogether. Its purpose iscommunicationwithGodthroughthisprayerlanguageoftheSpiritortongues.Itistoopenuptheheart,theinnerman,whichisalltoooftenclosedupbyhurts,lackofunderstanding,andourownintellect.Also,wedon’talwaysknowhowtopray.

ThebaptismintheHolySpiritgivesapersonthisnewprayerlanguageso he can communicate directly with God. He can edify or build himself up

insidespiritually.HisintellectblossomsandhecanunderstandGodbetter,alsohisownpurposeinlifeismadeclearer.

Evelyn: Often when I mention the baptism in the Holy Spirit andspeakingintonguespeoplesay,"ButhowcanIreconcile1Corinthians13:8-10andspeakingintongues?”

Oral:ThisisoneofthemostseriousquestionsIhaveeverbeenasked.In1Corinthians13:8-10,thelovechapter,Paulsaid:

Charity[love]neverfaileth:butwhethertherebeprophecies,theyshallfail;whethertherebetongues,theyshallcease;whethertherebeknowledge,itshallvanishaway.Forweknowinpart,andweprophesyinpart.Butwhenthatwhichisperfectiscome,thenthatwhichisinpartshallbedoneaway.

Sotherealquestionis,havetonguesceased?Tobeabsolutelyobjectiveandtakeit liketheBiblesays,thenwehavetosayno.Ifyousaythattongueshaveceased,thenobjectivelyandhonestlyyouhavetosaythatprophecymuststopandsomustknowledge.

First, Paul said, For we know in part. This is why we now pray intongues,or"intheSpirit.”Wedon’tknowfullyhowtopray.Inadditionweonlyknowinparthowtoprophesy,aswellasonlyknowingpartofknowledge.Notevenallofustogetherhaveallknowledge.

But,Paulcontinues,whenthatwhichisperfectiscome,thenthatwhichisinpartshallbedoneaway.WhenourLordcomes—andthatiswhatIthinkthismeans—wewillbeabletocommunicatewithHimface-to-face.HeistheTruth,HeistheLight,Heisallwisdom,Heisallknowledge.Andatthattime,whenHecomes,wewillnolongerneedtospeakintonguesorprophesyorneedtoseekknowledge.

Untilthenwegladlyusethesedivinehelps.Evelyn:WouldyousaythattheHolySpiritnowilluminatesourminds,

but when Jesus comes we won’t need to speak in tongues to get our mindsilluminated?

Oral:Yes,becauseHewillbehereface-to-facewithus.Forexample,ifJesusChristweresittinginyourchair,doyouthinkIwouldspeakintonguestoHim?

Evelyn:No.Youwouldn’tneedto.So,inotherwords,theHolySpiritistohelpusgetthroughthisearth,thislife,withallitslimitations.

Oral:Yes,thisearth!Thislife!BeforeourLordreturnstothisearthand

beforewegettoheaven.ThebaptismintheHolySpiritisfortheNOW...anditistohelpourlimitations.

Evelyn:TodaytherearemanyChristianswhoareopentoreceivingthebaptismintheHolySpirit.Howcanwehelpthemreceivethisgiftandthroughit,thereleaseoftheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit?

Oral:Firstofall,Iusuallyaskaperson,"DoyouknowJesusChristasyourpersonalSavior?HaveyourepentedofyoursinsandbelievedonourLord?Have you committed your life toHim?”Remember thatChrist is in your lifeonlybytheHolySpirit.Jesussaidthatriverswereflowingup;theyarefloodingup(John7:37-39).Thatis,youfeelthisfloodingupinthepitofyourstomach.Sowhenyoufeelthis,begintoworshiptheLord.Andasyoudo,justopenyourmouthandstoptalkinginyourowntongueandletthesoundcomeout,andyouwillspeakintongues,whichistheprayerlanguageoftheSpirit.

One of the best ways to start speaking in tongues is to pray with abelieverwhodoes.Thefactthattheyareprayingintongueswillmakeyoulessinhibited, less tense, andyou aremore apt toopenup and let theHolySpirit,whoisalreadythere,speakthroughyou.Onceyoubreakthroughitwillseemsoeasyyouwillwonderwhyittookyousolong.

Evelyn:Theotherdayaladysaidtome."HowcanIknowthetonguesIspeakarebytheutteranceoftheHolySpirit?”

Oral: There aremany goodways for you to determine thatwhen youspeakintonguesitisbytheutteranceoftheHolySpirit.First,itallstartswithJesus. Have you repented of your sins? Have you believed on Him as yourpersonalSavior?AreyouseekingJesusChrist?

Second,whenyou speak in tongues do you feel an edification of yourinnerself?Arelease—atherapyofyourinnerbeing?

EverytimeIprayintongues,Ireceivearelease.Thereisaquickening,arelease of the inner self. That is good when you are going through someexperience that is beyond you — a problem which you just don’t have theanswer to.About theonlywayyoucanget release is topray in tongues.Nowprayingintonguesmaynotcausetheproblemtodisappear,itmaystillbethere.ThevalueintonguesisthatitbringsareleasetoyourspiritsoyoucanlookontheproblemfromGod’sstandpoint,anditreallyhelps.

Third,yourunderstandingishelped.Whenyouprayintonguesorsingintongues or praise God in tongues, you can pause and ask God to let youinterpret.

Lethimthatspeakethinanunknowntonguepraythathemayinterpret(1Corinthians14:13).

Youcaninterpretbacktoyourunderstanding.Inthiswayyoucanedifyyourself in your spirit and by interpreting back you can also illuminate yourmindasaresultofprayingintongues.

Ido thisall the time. IprayandpraiseGod in tonguesand thenwaitamoment and start praying again in my own tongue. Usually the very samewords,oratleasttheunderstandingofwhatIhavejustprayedintongues,willcometomymindandthenmymindcanpraybetter.InthiswayIcanpraywithrealunderstanding.

Evelyn:Oral,doyouthinkthedevilcanspeakintongues?Oral:Unquestionably,no!Thedevilcan’tspeakintongues,becausethe

Bible says in Acts 2:4: "They. .. began to speak with other tongues, as theSPIRITgave themutterance.”Thedevilhates JesusChrist.Hehates theHolySpirit.AndthebaptismintheHolySpirithastodowithJesushimself.TheHolySpirit’sentireministryisbuiltaroundJesus,whomthedevilhates.

Evelyn:Someoneaskedmeifspeakingintonguesisaresultofemotion,ordoesitbringaboutemotion?Ipersonallythinkitcausestheemotion.Becausewhenyouspeakintonguesyoumustexerciseyourwillandknowthatyouaretalking toGod, and there is a joy that hits you down inside .. . and joy is anemotion.Whatdoyousay?

Oral:Sometimes it isnot joy thathitsyou.Sometimes it is somethingelse. For example, if you are going through a tremendous personal traumaticexperienceandyoubegintoprayintongues,althoughyoufeelsomethinghere,itisn’talwaysjoy.It’sastruggle,strain,burden—sometimesdeepsorrow.Youmayhavelostalovedone.Theremaybeaprobleminthemarriage,inwhichthemarriageisdissolving.Remember,weprayedwithadearpersontheotherdaywhosemarriage is dissolving, and as shewould pray in tongues, you see, shewouldreachwaydownwheretheSpiritofGodisandtakeholdofthatsorrowthat was breaking her up— a marriage that she has had all these years andsuddenlyitisgoing.

LatershefeltjoywhenshehademptiedherselfoutandtheSpiritbegantomove inher.She felt joy in thatGodwaswithher and sheknewGodwasgoing to help her. She may or may not solve that marriage problem. Butsomethingmarvelousishappeningtoher.ShehasasensethatGodiswithherandGodisgoingtohelpher.Wedon’tknowwhattheoutcomewillbe,butwe

knowGodisgoingtohelpher.Evelyn:IfapersonreceivesthebaptismintheHolySpirit,doeshehave

tochangechurches?Oral:No.Firstofall,youneedwisdom.Youdon’tneedtorunaround

talkingasloudasyoucanaboutwhatyouhavereceived,indicatingthatyoufeelsuperior. (Whetheryoumean toornot,somepeoplewould take it thatway.) Ithinkthemainthingtodoistotrytoletthatextraloveshinethroughandthenwaituntilsomeoneasksyouaboutthisexperience—someoneisboundtoseethechangeitbringsinyourlife.ItisaverypersonalthingandyouhavetoprayandseekGod’swillforyourlife.

Evelyn: What then should be the attitude of charismatic and noncharismaticbelieverstowardeachother?

Oral: The charismatic believer and the non-charismatic believer haveone thing in common, which is greatest of all, they’re saved by the blood ofJesusChrist ourLord.Having the baptism in theHoly Spirit or not having itdoesn’tmakeonebetterthantheother.Wearealloneinwhom?INCHRIST.Sowhileweshareandinstruct,itisnotwiththeideaofarguingoversomethingortryingtoforcesomethingonsomebody.ItwouldnotworklikethatanditwouldnotbetheloveofGod.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have notcharity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal (1 Corinthians13:1).

That is, ifwe are fluent in an unknown tongue and don’t love people,whatdowehave?Paultellsus:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,goodness,faith,meekness,temperance:againstsuchthereisnolaw(Galatians5:22,23).

Evelyn: Will the baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tonguesmeanIwillsolveallmyproblems?

Oral: No. The difference is that when you receive the baptism in theHolySpiritandspeak in tongues,yourapproach toproblemswillbedifferent.Youwillhavehelp in theformofan innerrelease.Youwillhavehelp inyourintellectifyouknowhowtopauseandwaitfortheinterpretation.Theproblemsmaystillbetherebutyouwillseetheminadifferentlight.Youwillhavetofightthem just exactly like you did before you received this gift but youwill haveveryspecialhelpfromtheHolySpiritinfacingthoseproblems.

Evelyn: I am a very practical person. To me an experience has to bepracticalor itdoesn’tdomeanygood.Iwastalkingtoascientistrecently.HewasatCapeKennedywhentheystartedtoputoneoftheApollorocketsup.Youremember,itcamebackdown.Hehadworkedonthatandhesaid,"IknewtheLord in the power ofHisHolySpirit.And theway that started to come backdown — if it had gone where it started to — I knew it would have killedeverybodystandingtherewatching.SoquietlyIbeganspeakingintonguesandsaying, 'Lord,Youcanguidethisandtakeitcompletelyawayfromwhereit isheaded. IbelieveYouwilldo this!’TheApollo turnedandfellsomeplaceelseanddidn’thurtallofthesepeople.”

HesaidhethoughtitwasbecausehewastherecommunicatingwiththeSpirit. Now he helped create the thing. So this makesme think when peoplereallyknowGodthroughtheHolySpirit thatHegives themsomeinformationoncertainthingstheymightnototherwiseknow.

Oral: Wouldn’t you say that would apply to a doctor? A lawyer,housewife,businessman,workingman,apersonwithoutajob,astudent?

Evelyn:Oh, absolutely. The infilling of theHoly Spirit canmake youmoreeffectiveinanyareaoflife—HeissenttogiveyoutheabundantlifeintheNOWofyourexistence.

Oral:IcansayAMENtothat.

Chapter9,TwoGuestSermons:Because of their vast experience in charismatic clinics throughout the

worldandtheirownpersonalSpirit-filledlives,Iinvitedtwoofmyverywarmfriends to share in this first semester of THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE NOW.Theyare:

Rev.RalphWilkersonandDr.RobertFrost.REV.RALPHWILKERSON is thepastorof theMelodylandChristian

CenterinAnaheim,California.TheChristianCenterisuniqueinthatitiszonedasa theaterconventioncenter,notachurch.YetRev.Wilkersonministers toacongregation of 6,000 three times on Sunday morning and again on Sundaynight.OnThursdaymorningsheconductsaprayerandsharehealingservice.

Rev.WilkersonconductscharismaticclinicsacrossAmericaandaroundtheworldandhasalsobeenonthecampusofOralRobertsUniversityonseveraloccasions to lead in spiritual renewals in our seminars, and to sharewith ourstudentsandfaculty.

HeisamanofGod,filledwiththeSpirit,andacharismaticleaderinthenow.He has had a great influence onmy life in the past several years and isamongthemenin theworldwhoarereally turning theworldupsidedownfortheLord.

I believe his message on HOW YOU CAN GET YOUR PRAYERSANSWEREDwilldirectlyrelatetoyourightinthemidstofyourneed.

★★★For several years DR. ROBERT FROST was Chairman of the

Department of Natural Sciences and Professor of Biological Sciences at OralRobertsUniversity. He received his B.A. fromReedCollege; hisM.A. andPh.D.degreesfromRiceUniversity.

Today he is well known as a leader and lecturer in the charismaticmovementamongboth theCatholicsand theProtestants throughout theworld.Heisalsoaneducatorandauthor.IappreciateDr.Frost,hisintegrityofsoulandlife,andhisgraspofthenaturalsciencesthroughtraining,intuition,andability.Butaboveall,IappreciatehisgraspoftheHolySpiritastheHolySpiritrelatestoyouandmeinthenowofourlives.

IfeelsurethatDr.Frost’smessageonYOURLIFEINTHESPIRITwillhelptoopenupawholenewerainyourChristianwalk.

★★★

HowYouCanGetYourPrayersAnsweredbyRev.RalphWilkerson

IwasinEnglandsometimeagoattendingacharismaticconferenceinthegreatCathedraloftheHolySpirit.ThecathedralisadjacenttotheUniversityofSurrey. It is one of the few cathedrals built in medieval times that is stillstanding.

Amostextraordinarythinghappenedduringthatconference.ThelateJ.ArthurRank—whoendowed thisspecialclasson theHolySpiritatORU—hadaspecialbanquetinhonorofalltheconferencespeakers.Thistremendousman,agreatMethodistleader,amanwellknowninthefilmindustry,satbesideme.HetoldmeastorythatI’llneverforget.

Tears came in his eyes and he said, "The greatest experience that’shappenedtomesinceI’vereceivedJesuswaswhenDr.OralRobertswashere.We talkedaboutwhatGodwasdoing in these times.ThenDr.Robertsprayedforme in thatmoment—there in thepresenceofGod—and theHolySpiritcameandfilledmylife.”

Thatwastheturningpointinthistremendousman’slife.Well,he’swithJesusnowbuttheHolySpiritisstillhere.

IbelievethatthegreatestpowerinalloftheworldisthepowerofprayerintheworkoftheHolySpirit.I’mgoingtotalktoyouabouthowtogetallofyour prayers answered. Some of youwill say, "There’s some trick,” but no, Idon’tbelieve it’sa trick. Ibelieve thatGodhasmadepromises in theWordofGod.Hehaspromisedusthatwecanprayandgetananswer.

Several years ago Iwas in Seoul,Korea, and a pastor toldme hewasbuilding a church facility thatwould seat 10,000 people. I looked at him andsaid,"Youmustreallyhavefaith.”

He said, "No, it’s not faith that I have, it’s boldness. It’s boldness tobelieve!”

Ithinkthat’sthenumberonethingweneedtoday—weneedboldnesstobelievethatGodwillanswerourprayer.

With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible(Matthew19:26).

GodhasgivenustheperfectequationintheScripture.

Desire+Faith-Unbelief=ResultsNowGodisveryexplicitintheScriptureonthis.Firstofall,inMatthew

HetellsusthatWECANASKANDRECEIVEANANSWER.AgainIsayuntoyou,Thatiftwoofyoushallagreeonearthastouching

anythingthattheyshallask,itshallbedoneforthemofmyFatherwhichisinheaven(Matthew18:19).

ThenMark11:23says:ForverilyIsayuntoyou,Thatwhosoevershallsayuntothismountain,

Bethouremoved,andbethoucastintothesea;andshallnotdoubtinhisheart,but shall believe that those thingswhichhe saith shall come topass;he shallhavewhatsoeverhesaith.

Thesearedirectpromises,aren’tthey?Icouldgiveyou20moreverseslikethese,butitisn’tnecessary.

God has promised in the Bible that HEWANTS TOANSWEROURPRAYERS.

No good thingwillHewithhold from them thatwalk uprightly (Psalm84:11).

WhenPresidentRobertssays,"GodisagoodGod,”he’sreallyquotingascriptural truth. BecauseGodwants to bless His people today. I believe that!And I’m seeing God today keeping His word and answering prayer. It’s Hisdelighttoansweryourprayer.Howdoyougetyourprayersanswered?

First,ComeBeforeGodInAdorationIthinkagoodwaytodiagramthisisforyoutotakethewordA-C-T-S.

NowsomepeoplecallthebookofActsinourNewTestament"theActsoftheApostles”but it’sreally"theactsof theHolySpirit.”It’s thestoryofwhat theHolySpiritdidthroughtheapostles.

Sofirst,lettheletter"A”standforADORATION,orworship.HowweneedtopraiseGodforHisgreatnesstous!It’swhenwebegin

toministertotheLordandpraisetheLordandlovetheLordandadoreHimthatGodcomessoclosetous.

NotlongagoIhadaneventful"ecumenical”week:MondaynightIwasintheChristianChurch.Theywerehavingacharismaticconvention.

TuesdaynightIwasinourowndrugpreventionrally.Weworkwithdrug

addicts.Webelievethatthere’sasocialdimensiontothecharismatic.Weknowthat when one is filled with God’s Holy Spirit he has compassion, love forothers.Weshouldhavethatkindofbaptismoflovetoday.

Wednesdaynight Iwas at aUnityChurch—oneof the largest inLosAngeles.Godisdoinganewthing.ItwasexcitingtowatchtheHolySpiritatwork in this Unity Church as we preached Jesus Christ and Him crucified.There’sonlyonemessageandthat’sJesus.ItoldthemhowJesusChristdiedforoursinswhilewewereyetsinners...thatHewentinourplace.AswebegantotalkabouttheworksofGodandwhatitmeanstoknowJesusChrist,Godbegantomoveoverthatwholeaudienceinquietnessandmetsomanypersons’needswhobelievedinHimasthelivingSonofGod.Inthatsamemeetingmorethan75peoplereceivedthegiftoftheHolySpirit.

I had had a Baptist preacher praying with me all week long. On thisparticularoccasiontheHolySpiritwasmovinguponthisdearBaptistminister.He’s a tremendous man of God and he said, "You know, this just blows mytheologybecauseIdidn’tknowGodwoulddothesethingstoday.”

ThegreatpurposeoftheSpiritistogetustoadoreHim,toworshipHim,andtothankGodbecauseHe’ssoclose.GodwantsustoministertoHim.

AstheyministeredtotheLord,andfasted,theHolyGhostsaid,SeparatemeBarnabasandSaulfortheworkwhereuntoIhavecalledthem(Acts13:2).

It’saswewaituponGod,aswerecognizetheLordshipofJesusChrist,thatHeministerspower tous.Thechurchneeds togetback to thatplaceandthatratio.

Second,theletter”C”in"Acts”standsfor...

ConfessionIwasgladtohearthatDr.BillyGrahamwasatORU.Hewasinourarea

sometimeago.OneoftheministersgotupandsaidthatBillyGraham’sserviceshad set the churchback20years. Itwas reported thatwhenBillyheardaboutthishesaid,"Ionlywish ithadset itback2,000years.” I liked that. Ibelievethat’swhattheHolySpiritdoes.Hebringsusrightbacktothatplaceofliving,vitalreality.

IwasinIndonesiainthemiddleofthegreatrevivalthere.Itwasnearthebeginningof the revival that I learned their secret.Thepeoplehad learned thepowerofconfessiontotheLord.TheWordofGodteachesusthatwhenweopenourhearts andallof theguilt feelingsare releasedandwebegin to tell Jesus,

"I’m sorry,” andmean it, then Godmakes himself available to us. The HolySpiritbeginstoflowup.

Third,fromtheletter"T”in"Acts”weget...

ThanksgivingThisisonethatIhaveahardtimewith.Maybeyoudon’t.Thanksgiving.

A chaplain came to our congregation and he preached on the subject ofthanksgiving. He has written a best seller on praise and thanksgiving.Maybeyou’veheardaboutit—PowerinPraisebyMerlinR.Carothers.

SoonafterhisvisitIwasonmywaybacktoCaliforniaandIhadathree-hourlayoverinDenver.Itwastwoo’clockinthemorning.Yousee,wepreachthings and sometimes it’s hard to practice what we preach. It seemed thateverybody around me was complaining. They were tired and you could hearpeoplemakingdifferentremarks.

Ithought,well,I’llbedifferent.(Really,whenyoupraiseGodtodayyouare different, aren’t you?) A fellow nearme let out a swearword and I said,"Well, praise God.” I thought if he could say that, I ought to be able to say,"PraiseGod.”

When I said, "PraiseGod”someone in theoppositepartof thewaitingroom shouted out, "Hello, PastorWilkerson.”Was I ever glad I said, "PraiseGod” instead of something else.You just don’t knowwho’s listening in thesedays,doyou?Youneverknow.

Godwantstogiveusthankfulhearts.Oneofthegreatsecretsofgettingyour prayer answered is to know how to praise Him. That’s where the HolySpirithastocometoouraid.It’stheworkoftheHolySpirittomovethroughustogivethanksgiving.WhatadifferentworldthiswouldbeifsuddenlywewouldstartthankingGodforHisgiftstous.

In the beginning of this great Charismatic movement, when it wasstartingtofallupontheRomanCatholics,Iboardedanairplaneattheinvitationof DavidWilkerson to fly to Grand Forks, North Dakota. This was quite anexperience to me because I had never shared with Roman Catholics in thismanner.IknewGodlovedRomanCatholicsandIthoughttherecouldbesomewhomightknow theLord—howgenerousweare sometimes inour feelingstowardothers!ButwearefindingouttodaythatthefamilyofGodisquitebig!

Iboarded theairplaneandsomebodygotmyassignedseat. Iwasupsetbecause this was my place, and the only other seat was by a priest. The

stewardesssaid,"Youcansithere.”IsatbythepriestandIthought,thisisquiteunusual. Why would I be sitting by a priest? You see, before I got on theairplane,Isaid,"Lord,preparemeforthismeetinginGrandForks,”butIdidn’tknowHewasgoingtopreparemethatway.Isatdownbythepriest.Helookedoveratmeandintroducedhimself.Ididn’t tellhimwhoIwasbecauseI thinkit’salotmorefunnotto.Isimplysatdownbesidehimandbegantolisten.

He told me that he was from Australia and he was interested in thechanges takingplace in the churchworld.He remarked that someof thenunswerechangingtheirattireandIthought,well,ifheknewallaboutthisthenI’daskhimaboutthecharismatic.

Andheresponded,"Yes,I’veheardaboutthecharismatic.”Webegantosharealittlebitandhebegantoexpresstomethatthiswasallthroughhiscreed.Heknewthatitwasbiblical.Heknewthatthiswastheanswertoday...thatweneededtohaveananswertoPopeJohn’sprayer,"Come,HolySpirit,come.”

LaterIwentuptothefrontpartoftheplanetogetamagazineandontheway I saw aMarine. He was reading a book, the life story of an evangelist.SomeonehadlefttheseatbyhimandIsaid,"Son,mayIjoinyou?”Isatdownbyhimand I said, "Ihappen toknowof theevangelist aboutwhom thisbookwaswritten.”

Hesaid,"Youdo?”Thenhesaid,"Iwenttochurchforthefirsttimelastweek.My neighbor bugged me until I finally went but I didn’t understand athingtheysaid.WhenmyneighborheardIwasbeingtransferredtoPanamahesaid,'Takethisbookalongwithyouandreadit.’”

IhadtheopportunitythenoftakingmyBibleoutandopeningitupandshowing thisMarine the plan of salvation— how one can really know JesusChrist,thatGodlovesyou,thatwhilewewereyetsinnersJesusdiedforus...thatJesusdied inourplace . . . thatHewasburiedandroseagain. I toldhim,"Youdon’t have to understand all of the technical parts of theBible, you justsimplyhavetocomeasasinnerandsay,'Jesus,Ineedyou.’”

I think so oftenwe get hung up on doctrinal areas but if wewill justcome in simple faith, believing God will do what He promised, that’s all weneed.AsIsatthere,thisMarinebowedhisheadandprayedandJesuscameintohislife.That’sthemiracleofallmiracles,isn’tit?That’sthegreatestthingthatcanhappentoanybody.

Inourcongregationwebelieve that thenumberone thingforpeople todois toreceive theLordJesusChrist.Everyweekweareseeingmanypeople

come to theLord. InourThursdaymorningprayermeeting it’snotunusual tosee 100 people receive the Lord. I believe wherever the Holy Spirit moves,peopleshouldbeintroducedtoJesus.Well,webelievewhensomeonereceivesJesusChristthatheshouldconfessthisbeforemen.Heshouldsharehiswitnesswith someone else.And so I said to theMarine, "Sir, you need to share yourfaithwithsomeoneelseandtellsomebodythatyou’vereceivedJesusChristinyourheart.”

Isaid,"Comewithme.”TherewasonlyoneotherpersonIknewonthatwholeairplaneandthatwasthispriest.SoIwalkedbackandIsaid,"Father,thisyoungmanhasaconfession.”WhenIdidthatIthoughtthepriestwasgoingtocomeoutoftheseat.

Helookedupandhesaid,"Yes,whatdoyouhavetosay?”And in his own style this Marine opened up and he told the Roman

CatholicpriesthowhehadbeenintroducedtoJesus...andthatnowJesuswashiswarmfriend,thatHehadchangedhislifeandmadelifeworthliving.Thenhesaid,"I’msohappy.”

Thepriestlatersaid,"ThisisworthmytriptoAmerica.It’sthegreatestthingI’veheardsinceI’vebeenhere.TohearsomeonetalkingaboutGodinthisway.”

WhenwelandedIwenttothecathedral.Iopenedupandstartingtalkingto them about theLord and thework of theHoly Spirit. I thought the peoplethereknewaboutwhatIwascomingtotalktothemabout.ButthemoreItalked,themoreIrealizedthattheydidnotknowwhatIwasreferringto.Buttheywereanxioustoknow...theywereaskingquestions.Itwasn’tlonguntilwebegantoopentheScripturesandtalkaboutit.

Prettysoonaprofessorofpsychologystoodupatthebackandsaid,"Sir,wouldyoumindgivingusademonstration.”

I said, "Well, I couldbut Iwon’t.But I tell youwhat Iwill do. Ifyoupeoplewillbowyourheadsandpray,wewillwaituponGod.IfGodwillsforsomekindofarepresentationofHispower,I’mopentoit.Willyoupraywithme?”

Webowedourheadsandwebegantoprayandthensomebodystoodupattheback.Ihadneverseenthismanbefore.Hewasapriest.Hebegantoprayin the prayer language of the Spirit— or in tongues— and then he gave aninterpretation. Then he gave a prophetic word. It seemed that all of the giftsbegan tooperate in thisman. I said, "Sir,wheredidyoucome from?Areyou

someangelfromheaven?”Helaughedandhesaid,"No,I’mapriestfromMinneapolis.Fiveyears

agoIreceivedthegiftoftheHolySpirit.I’veneverbeforegivenamanifestationoftheSpiritinapublicmeeting.Iwassofearfulbutwhenyousaidsomebodymayhaveamanifestation,Godbegantosay,'Youaretheone.’MyheartbegantotriplebeatandIknewIwastheone.”

Mostofthepeopleattendingthemeetingknewhimbecausehewastheparishpriestwhosetupallthecampsandtheretreats.Hewaswellknowninthearea. It makes a difference when you know someone and they give amanifestation of the Spirit because you can judge the manifestation. Then hebegantoshareandtellthestoryofhowGod’sblessingshadresteduponhim.Itwassoextraordinaryandsoexcitingthatallofthemopeneduptoit.

ThenIsaid,"We’vefinishedoursession.I’lldismissyou.Ifanyofyouwouldliketoremainbehindandbeprayedwith,that’swhatweareherefor.”Nooneleft.Theyallstayed.Ihadthepriest tolayhandsuponthemandIdidthepraying.Itwasbeautiful,JesusdidthebaptizingintheSpirit.

Ibelievewearelivinginagloriousday.IwantyoutopraywithmethatGodwillkeepunfoldingHismysteriesandHiswaysoftheSpirittotheheartofpeople because God said He would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh (Acts2:17).ThisisthepromiseofGod.

Thelastletterof"Acts”is"S”.Itstandsfor...

SupplicationJamestellsus:Yehavenot,becauseyeasknot(James4:2).Therearethreelevelsofasking.InMatthew7:7andinLuke11:9Jesus

tellsustoask...toknock...andtoseek.Asking iswhenyouget salvation . . .whenyou receive thegiftof the

Spirit.Knocking iswhenwebegin to say, "Lord,more than life itself, Iwant

whatYoupromisedintheBible...”Seekingisthathigherlevelofprayerwhereyoubegintopenetrate.You

search!IntheScripturesGodhasgivenimplicitinstructionastohowweareto

prayintheSpirit.Yousee,theonlyproblemthatanyofushasinknowinghow

togetourprayersansweredisinknowingthewillofGod.JesusalwayshadHisprayersanswered,didn’tHe?EveryprayerJesusprayedwasanswered.WhydidJesushaveHisprayers answered?BecauseHispurposewas identicalwith theheavenlyFather.Therewasnoproblemofconflict.IfweasChristianscanhavethatsameunitywithJesus,wewillgetallofourprayersanswered.

JesusprayedinJohn17:11...thatthey[HisChurch]maybeone,asweare.

HealsosaidthatHedidnothingexceptfirstHesawitofHisFatherinheaven(John5:19).AndHeprayedthatHisChurchmighthavethatsamebondandthatsameunity.

It’s so disarming to see the love ofGod pouring through the hearts ofpeopleinthesetimes—knowingthatthisisoneofthegreatsignsofspiritualrenewal.TheHolySpiritisdoingthis.Tome,receivingthegiftoftheSpiritissimplyJesustakingfullercontrolofourlives—sowhenwegiveourselvestotheHoly Spirit,we should never fear theministries and the gifts of theHolySpirit.

Ifasonshallaskbreadofanyofyouthatisafather,willhegivehimastone?orifheaskafish,willheforafishgivehimaserpent?Orifheshallaskanegg,willheofferhimascorpion?

If ye then, being evil, knowhow to give goodgifts unto your children:howmuchmoreshallyourheavenlyFathergivetheHolySpirittothemthataskhim?(Luke11:11-13).

There’s not one place in theBiblewhereGod has everwithdrawnHispowerandHisgifts.Theyarefortoday.GodwantsustohavealltheoperationsoftheHolySpirit.Ibelievetheyareallimportant.

Iwasinthebarbershoponedayandaladywasfilingmynails.Shesaid,"That’sanunusualfinger,whathappenedtoit?”

Isaid,"Well,Icutitoff.WewerevacationinginYosemiteParkandIhadan accident. A doctor sewed it back on but it looked black for a long time.FinallyonedaywhileIwasatarestaurantwithDemosShakarian(founderandpresidentofFullGospelBusinessMen’sFellowshipInternational)andanotherbusinessman,theysaid,'Whereareyougoingafterlunch?’”

Isaid,"I’mgoingtothesurgeontohavethisblackfingerremoved.It’snotgrowing.”

Andtheysaid,"Canweprayforyoufirst?”Theyprayedandthatfinger

startedturningpinkbeforeIevengottothedoctor’soffice.Now,thatmightnotbe important to you but it is tome.That finger is important tome.Why is itimportant?Because it’spartofme. In the sameway, Idon’t thinkwecansaythereareanylessergifts.

Somebody said to me, "Don’t you think there are some gifts moreimportantthantheothers?”No.IthinkeverygiftintheBibleisimportantinitsplace.

IfIneedtoministertosomeonewhoissick,whatgiftwouldIneed?I’dneedthegiftofhealing,wouldn’tI?

Iftherewasapersonwhowasboundbyevilspirits,Iwouldneedthegiftofdiscerningofspirits.

If I needed to know how to praise God and didn’t have means ofexpression, I think the praise in heavenly tongueswould be themost gloriousgift.

TheWordofGodtellsusin1Corinthians14:15:IwillpraywiththeSpirit,andIwillpraywiththeunderstandingalso:I

willsingwiththeSpirit,andIwillsingwiththeunderstandingalso.TheApostlePaulwastellingusthatwhenheprayedwiththeSpirithis

understandingwasunfruitful (1Corinthians14:14). "That is,”Paul said, "I donotknowwhatI’msaying.”Youmightaskme,"PastorWilkerson,whatvalueisittoprayintonguesifyoudon’tknowwhatyouaresaying?”

Well,Godunderstandsandmyspiritunderstands.Themostvalidthinginthe world is to realize that God can express himself to a human being. HeexpressedhimselftoHisownSon,JesusChrist,andwearesonsofGod,aren’twe?We are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17). One of the greatestmiracles in theworld is to realize thatGod can livewithin us . . . that Jesusmovesinus...thatHecanexpresshimselfthroughus.That’sthedimensionofpowerthattheEarlyChurchhad.Jesussaid:

And,behold,,IsendthepromiseofmyFatheruponyou:buttarryYeInThe City Of Jerusalem, Until Ye Be EnduedWith Power from on high (Luke24:49).

Wherever the early Christians went they shared Jesus Christ. It didn’tmakeanydifferencewhere theywere,manywere introduced toChrist.That’sthepurposeoftheHolySpirit.WhenIprayIknowthatGodhearsme.

Letmestopamomentandtellyouaboutwhathasbeenhappeninginour

congregation inAnaheim, California, because people are praying.You shouldlistentothemanwholistenstoGod.TbbemuchFORGod,youmustbemuchWITHGod.

IhadadirectimpressionthatIcouldneverleadthecongregationdeeperthanwhat I hadbeenmyself, so foroneyear ImetGodeverymorningat sixo’clock topray.Afterayearoneof thedeaconscamebyandsawmycar.Hewanted toknowwhat Iwasdoing thereat thathour.WhenI toldhimhesaid,"WouldyoumindifIjoinedyou?”Hecameandheprayedwithme.

Today fifty home groups have sprung up all over the area asGod hasinstituted aministry of prayer. The whole secret is prayer. God is calling thenation back to prayer. There are many people who are praying for spiritualawakeningandrenewalandthat’swhysomuchishappeningindifferentplaces.

Prayinginthespirit.Howdoyougetyourprayersanswered?ThewayIbelieve you get your prayers answered is to pray in total accordancewith theplanofGod.NowPaulsaystherearetwowaystopray:

(1)withtheSpiritand(2)withtheunderstandingalso.It isn’t justenough topraywith theSpirit.Thereare somepeoplewho

only pray with the Spirit. That’s preparatory. We must also pray with theunderstanding.PaulsaysthathethankedGodthathedidthismorethanalltherestofthemputtogether(1Corinthians14:18).Paulknewthevalueofprayingin theSpiritandhe talksabout it in thisdimension ...of totalexpression ...ofgivinghimselftothepoweroftheHolySpirit.Iliketothinkofitthisway:

EightyearsagoIwaswalkingdownahospitalcorridorandIsawaprieststandingthereprayingforaparishioner.Isaid,"MayIjoinyouinprayer?”

Hesaid,"Surely.”Webegantopraytogether.ThenwetalkedforawhileandIlearnedthat

he had recently heard Father Dennis Bennett speak. Father Bennett is anEpiscopal priest in Seattle, who formerly pastored in Van Nuys, California,wherehewaswrittenupinTIMEmagazine,afterhereceivedtheinfillingoftheHolySpirit.HefellinlovewithJesusandsomepeopledidn’tunderstandwhatwashappening.TheyshippedhimofftoSeattle,thinkingthatthelittlemissionchurchtherewouldbeagoodplacetohidehim.Beforehecame,thedoorswereclosing but suddenly this church became alive. Now it’s one of the largestchurchesintheNorthwest.

Well, our local priest went up to see him and came back gloriouslyanointed.Hisfacewasshining.Hewassohappyandradiant.Infact,hewassoradiantsomepeopleaskedhimwhathappenedandthat’swheretheymadetheirmistake.Hetoldthem!HesaidthatGodhaddoneanewworkinhislifeandhehadreceivedthistremendousinfillingoftheHolySpirit.

TheSpiritIsBeingPouredOutInAllDenominationsAndThroughoutTheWorld

I’m thankful thatmanypastorsofalldifferentdenominationsarebeingable to stay in their own denominations. This is what we need. I never urgeanybodytoleavetheircongregation.IbelievethatifyouhavesomethinggreatfromGod, you should go back to your congregation and share it quietly andwiselybecausethisiswhatwillblessthechurch.Myfeelingisthis:Icouldn’tgetallthepeopleintoMelodylandwhoaregoingtoreceivetheHolySpirit,andthe best thing in theworld is for all of the churches in our community to berevivedandrenewedandrestored.That’sthepromiseofGod.

Well,thislocalEpiscopalpriestsaid,"Ralph,IunloadedthewholethinglastSunday.Theydidn’tdefrockmefromthechurchbuttheyjustdecidedthattheywouldtakemysalaryawaytemporarilytoseehowlongIcouldlivewithoutit.”

An amazing thing happened. I was just beginning a new congregationandIdidn’thaveverymanypeople,butstrangersandfriendsfromtheoutsidewouldcomebyandthey’dsay,"Ralph,hereisanoffering.Giveittothepriest.”IwouldputtheseofferingsinanenvelopeandeverySaturdaynightI’dgooveranddroptheseofferingsintohismailbox.Hethoughtanangelbroughtthemby.Well,Godblessedhim.Infact,hebecamethebest-paidpreacherinourarea!

One daywe had a prayermeeting in his house.Wewere praying andsaying, "Lord Jesus, we are so thankful that you brought this priest into thisrelationshipandhe’sabletoshareandblesssomanypeople.But,LordJesus,wewould just love foryou toblesshim likeyoublessedus.”You see,when thispriestprayedintheSpirithedidn’tprayfluently.Itdidn’tsoundlikealanguage.So we prayed, "Lord, please straighten him out and give him a beautifulheavenlyprayertonguesohecanpraiseGodlikewedo.”

Thenapropheticutterancecame:"Hethatprayethinanunknowntonguespeakethnotuntomen,butunto

God: for no man understandeth him: howbeit in the spirit he speaketh

mysteries”(1Corinthians14:2).IknewIhadbeenrebuked.Thereisaninterestingendingtothisstory.Ihadbeeninvitedbythelocal

superintendentof theMethodistchurchesofall thedistrict tocomeandtalk tothem about praying in the Spirit. I went. Here were all these wonderfulMethodistministers and the superintendent said, "Now,wewant you to comebackforasecondweekandgomoreintodepthinthisparticulararea.”

TheEpiscopalpriestlearnedaboutthisandhewassoshakenupbecausehewantedtogoalong.Hesaid,"Ralph,theyneedanotherpreachertherebesidesyou.”Ididn’twanthimtogobecauseIknewifhewenthe’dpraylikeheusuallydid and I thought he’d blow the whole thing. But he kept insisting on it! SofinallyIdecidedtolethimgobecauseIdidn’twanttooffendhim.

I talked right up to the very end of the session and the superintendentsaid, "Would youmind laying hands upon these people and praying for thembecauseourpreachersreallywanttobefilledwithGod’sHolySpirit.ThisisinourtraditionofourMethodistchurch.Wesleybelievedinwhatyouaretalkingabout.Wouldyouprayforus?”

I said, "Well, sure, I’d be glad to.” And I thought, now, Lord, what’sgoingtohappen?TheLordsaidtome,"Youknow,I’mtheBaptizer.”

Isaid,"Yeah,Iknowthat,Lord,butwhataboutthispriest?”TheLordsaid,"He’smybusinesstoo.”I went down one row and the priest went down the other and hewas

layinghandsuponthemandprayingintheSpirit.Iwasprayinginside."Oh,me,oh,me,oh,me.”Youdon’tknowhowIwasshaking.

But here is the interesting thing. Later that day two of the Methodistpastorscalledmeandsaid,"Wewenthomebeforeourownaltarandwekneltbefore God and God gave to us the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Then they said,"Ralph,wedon’twantyoutofeelbadly,butitwasn’twhatyousaid,itwaswhatthatpriestdid.Weknewhehad tohaveavalidexperiencebecause ifheweregoingtomakeupaprayerlanguageitwouldhavetobebetterthanthat.”

SoI’velearnednevertoarguewithGod.Butthat’sstillnottheendofthestory. Six months later I went to South Africa. I was preaching through twointerpreters. The first interpreted my message into French, then the secondinterpreted it into the native dialect of the tribe. While the second man wasinterpretingIsuddenlyrealizedthathewasspeakinginthesamelanguagethatI

hadheardtheEpiscopalpriestusewhenhewasprayingintheSpirit!AndIsaid,"God,I’llneveragainquestion!”

ButGodhathchosenthefoolishthingsoftheworldtoconfoundthewise;andGodhathchosentheweakthingsoftheworldtoconfoundthethingswhicharemighty;

Andbase thingsof theworld,and thingswhicharedespised,hathGodchosen,yea,andthingswhicharenot,tobringtonoughtthingsthatare:

Thatnofleshshouldgloryinhispresence(1Corinthians1:27-29).Howdoyougetyourprayersanswered?TheonlywayIknowhowtoget

yourprayersansweredistogetintotalaccordancewithJesus,tobetotallyinaright relationship with Him. Then you will never ask anything that isn’taccordingtoHiswill.

Tome,thegreatestversesintheBibleareRomans8:26,27.LikewisetheSpiritalsohelpethourinfirmities:forweknownotwhatwe

shouldprayforasweought:buttheSpirititselfmakethintercessionforuswithgroaningswhichcannotbeuttered.

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is in the mind of theSpirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will ofGod.

ItsaysinVerse27thattheSpiritknowsthemindofGod.Heknowswhatthe will of God is and He makes intercession with unutterable speech. Heexpressesthatdeepfeeling.NowonderJude20says:

Butye,beloved,buildingupyourselvesonyourmostholyfaith,prayingintheHolyGhost.

AndagaininEphesians6:18,itsays:Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and

watchingthereuntowithallperseveranceandsupplicationforallsaints.WouldyouletGodmakeyouachannelofblessing?Ibelieve there’sa

principle here that my life touches somebody else and that your life touchessomebodyelse.Wecanprayforoneanother.Youdon’tknowtheproblemthatourfriendsorneighborsmightbehaving.Youdon’tknowtheneedsofthatonethatmightbesittingnexttoyou,butJesusdoes.AndHecanpraythroughyouinbehalfofthatotherperson’sneeds.

Let’sconcludethissessionbygoingbacktotheequationwestartedwith.

Desire+Faith—Unbelief=TheAnswer.★★★

YourLifeInTheSpiritByRobertFrost,Ph.D.Earlier this year Iwas in Lima, Peru, attending aCatholic charismatic

conference.Onemorning theentiregroupwasbrokenup into littleprayerandshare sessions.Thiswasdonebynumberingoff fromone to ten.Thenall thenumber"ones”wouldgooutandfindalittletreeunderwhichtositwheretheycouldtalkandsharewithoneanother.Thenumbertwo’swouldfindaplace,andsoon.Iwasanumberseven,whichisn’tahalfbadnumber.

While thenumberseven’sweregettingup, I lookedaround toseewhomypartnersweregoingtobe.TheywereALLCatholicsisters.IbegantorealizethatIwasgoingtobetheonlymanamongallofthosesisters.IguessitshowedonmyfacebecauseasIwasgoingoutthedooroneofthelittlesisterscameoverandverysimplyandsweetlysaid,"RememberwhattheScripturessay,'Blessedartthouamongwomen.’”

We had a blessed time together. Each one of us sharedwherewe hadcomefromandwhatneedtherewasinourownlivesandthedesirethatwehadtoministerandpraywithoneanotherfor thesespecificneeds.Onesistersaid,"Oh, I wish you all would pray that Godmight really put His heart into ourwork.”

Ofcourse,there’sonlyonewaytogettheheartintothework,andthat’stogettheheartofGodintotheworker.Sometimesthisinvolvesahealingdowndeepontheinside.Godsomuchwantsustobefree.HesomuchwantsustobeourselvesinChristJesusthatwemightshareHislifeandHislovewithotherswholikewiseneedtoknowandtofindthisfreedom.

Our approach to our walk and life in theHoly Spirit can be taken byconsidering some of the descriptive terms and phrases that are used in theScripturerelatingtoit.Forexample:

thepromiseoftheFather...thecomingoftheComforter...thebaptismofJesusintheHolySpirit.Andthenthereareotherphrases like . .. thereceivingof thegift. .. the

infillingoftheSpirit...theoverflowingoftheSpirit.Eachoneofthesephraseshighlightsaparticularaspectofourlifeinthe

Spirit.Foralittlewhile,Iwanttoconsidertheveryfamiliarphrase,"thebaptismofJesusintheHolySpirit.”

TheBaptismOfJesusInTheHolySpiritIrememberoncehearingsomeonesay,"Inouremphasisofthebeautiful

blessingofGod’sSpiritinourlife—theHolySpiritbaptism—weneedtobecarefullestwesoemphasizethebaptismthatwesomehowbypassthemeaningandthesignificanceofthecross.”

WhenhesaidthatIrespondedinatwofoldway:Apartofmesaidyes,andapartofmesaidno.Thepartofmethatsaidyeswasagreeingthatwecanneverbypassthecentrality,thesignificance,thesupremacyofthecross.Thepartofme that said nowas recognizing the implication thatwhenwe refer to thebaptismofJesusintheHolySpiritthatthissomehowexcludesthethoughtofthecross.Actuallywearegoingtoseethatrightintheverycenterofthebaptismisthecross.Infact,ifyouweretolookatthewordyouwouldseethatthecrossisrightinthecenter.

Baptismspeaksofsubmissionandsurrender.JohntheBaptistputitthisway:

TherecomethonemightierthanIafterme...Iindeedhavebaptizedyouwithwater: but he [meaning the Lord JesusChrist himself] shall baptize youwiththeHolyGhost(Mark1:7,8).

TheScriptureisfilledwithpicturelanguage.Andrightawayaswereadtheseversesapicturecomestoourmind.Wegetapictureofapersonsubmittingandsurrenderinghislifeintothehandsofthebaptizer.Actually,hetrustshislifewithhim.Ifyoueverhavebeenbaptizedbyimmersioninwater,orhaveseenabaptism by immersion inwater, you know in the natural there is a little risk.Becauseyouareyieldingand trustingyour life to theonewho isgoing toputyouunder.Hecouldkeepyouthere,yousee.Soinonesense, it’sasurrender,it’sasubmission,it’sayielding.Thatisthewholeprincipleofthecross.

THE CROSS IS A GATEWAY THERE’S A DEATH SIDE TO THECROSSBUT...

ThereIsAlsoALifeSideToTheCrossSooftenthisisn’tappreciated.Eithertheenemywouldlikeforusnotto

seethesignificanceofthecrossorifwedo,thedevilwouldliketokeepusonthenegativesideofit.

One of the earlier types of the cross in the Old Testament was theoccasion when the death angel came across the land of Egypt. You willrememberthatthechildrenofIsraelweretoldtotakealittlelambandslayitand

thentakeabranchofhyssopandsplashthebloodonthesidesandthetopofthedooroftheirhouses.Thisisabeautifultypeandpictureofthecross.Godwantsus to move from that which speaks of death to that which speaks of life—glorious,wonderful,resurrectionlife.

I’vediscoveredittakesthepoweroftheHolySpirittoaccomplishboth.Ican’tdieouttomyself—mydesire,goals,aims,ambitions,plans,weaknessesandfaults,fears,doubts,failures—thewholeballofwaxthatIam.Ican’tdieouttothesethingsbymyself.IneedthepoweroftheHolySpirittodieaswellastolive.Godwantsustodoboth.Onecomesbeforetheother.

WebegintoseethatthisispicturedasasurrendertoJesustheBaptizerwho puts us into the ongoing, everflowing stream of God’s Spirit. We comeunderHiscontrolsothatourlifeinChristmightbefulfilled.Furthermore,whenwedothiswearenotgoingtoloseourpersonality,wearegoingtofindit.Deathisameansoffindingourselves.Jesussaid:

Hethatfindethhislifeshallloseit:andhethatlosethhislifeformysakeshallfindit(Matthew10:39).

Allthatspeaksofselfhood.AsweyieldandsubmitandsurrenderourselftotheHolySpiritwearegoingtobetrulyfree.

WheretheSpiritoftheLordis,thereisliberty(2Corinthians3:17).That is, there is a release. There is a freedom that can be found in no

otherway.We find it inChrist Jesus through thepowerofGod’sHolySpirit.ThatisthereasonHesenttheblessedComforter.Inallofthiswemightwonder,"Isn’ttherealittleriskinvolvedinthisbusinessofcomingoutfromunderourowncontrolandcomingunderthecontrolofGod’sSpirit?”

TheFreedomWeHaveInTheSpiritYes,thereis.Ontheotherhand,thereisalsoadimensionoffreedomthat

istobefoundinnootherway.WhenIwasaboyIusedtoenjoyswimminginamountainstreaminthe

StateofWashington.Therewasaplace in that river thatwasveryswift,deep,andnarrow.Furtherdown the line itbroadenedoutandwasquiteshallowandcalm.Atthatpointyoucouldveryeasilycomeoutuponthebank.Butwhenyoudivedinupstreamwheretheriverwasswift,youwereunderthecontrolofthatriver.Youwent as fast as the riverwent. If the river turned, you turned.Youremained under the control of that river until you got on down to where itbroadenedandbecameshallow.Thenyoucouldclimboutontothebank.Then,

whatdidyoudo?Youdiditalloveragain.Now that’s a crazy sort of thing.Whywould anyonewant to lose the

freedomhehasofcontrollinghimselfwhenhe is related to theearthlypullofgravity...determiningwhereheisgoingtogoandhowfastandhowfarandallelse?Nowwhywouldanyoneinhisrightmindwanttolosethatkindofcontrol?There’s a reason. In thewaterwe found awhole new dimension of freedom.Thereare things thatwecoulddo in thewater thatwecouldnevereverdoonlandwhenwewereundertherestrictingpulloftheearth’sgravity.Forinstance,wecoulddosomersaultsinthewater—wecouldgothroughallkindsofverygraceful ballet movements in the water... we could even fly in the water.Weenjoyedawholeneworderoffreedom.

Nowthissamething is truewhenwesubmitandsurrenderour lives toGod’songoing,flowingriverofHisSpirit.Therecomesanopenness,arelease,a freedom thatwewouldhaveneverknownotherwise. Inone sense,wewereborntoliveinthewater—theriverofGod’sSpirit.

IremembersharingthisinaCatholicretreatandoneofthesisterscameup tomeafterwardsand said, "Your little illustrationmeantverymuch tome.You see, I’m a physical therapist and we use a hydrotherapy pool in thetreatment for those who are limited physically and handicapped in manydifferentways.Irememberononeoccasionwatchingalittlegirlwhohadnevereverbeenable towalkandjumpandskipandplaylikeotherchildrenbuthadbeenlimitedtoawheelchair.Thefirsttimethatshegotintothepoolitwaslikewatchingamiracle,awholeresurrectionalmost.Asthelittlegirlbegantofeelthesoftbuoyancyandliftingpowerofthewaterandbegantorealizethatherewasafreedomshehadnevereverhadbefore,shebecamesoexcited.Shesaid,'Look,look,Icanjump...Icanskip...Icandance.. . just liketheotherlittlegirls.’Theliftingbuoyantpowerofthewaterwaswhatmadethedifference.

"Onanotheroccasionanelderlygentleman,whohadsufferedanaccidentandhenolongerhadfreedomofmovement,hadwithdrawnwithinhimselfandfrom people. All he wanted to do was to just be alone and watch television.Finally he came down to the pool and got into the water, and guess whathappened? He didn’t have the strength to swim, but he discovered that if hewouldjustletgoandrestandfloatandkickhisfeethecouldpropelhimselfallover thepool.Whilehewas still in thepool some little childrencame in, andwhatdoyousupposehedid?Hesaid,'Kids,comeoverhere,I’llshowyouhowit’s done. It’s very simple.All you have to do is lie on your back.Nowkick,that’sit;nowseehowitgoes.Isn’tthatwonderful?’”

Whathadhappened?Thismanhadfoundarelease.Hewasbackinlifeagain. He was relating to people. He now had something to share. This is abeautifulpicture,isn’tit,ofourlifeintheSpirit?

Let’sTalkAboutBaptismLet’stakethisword'baptism’andconsideritinalittlemoredetail.The

wordintheGreekisbaptisoandthere’snoEnglishequivalentforit."Baptism”is a transliteration, that is, the Greek word is carried over into the Englishlanguageandanglicized.Asaresultwedon’tgetthesamefeelingandthedepthofmeaning that those in that time and culture saw in the use of thisword. Itmighthelpustoseehowthewordwasusedinthosedays.. .thesignificanceandaddeddimension thiswill bringwhenwe thinkof it in termsof theHolySpiritbaptism.Itwasusedinseveraldifferentways:

amechanicalsense...aceremonialsenseand...ametaphoricalsense.In themechanical sensebaptismwasoftenused inspeakingofacloth

thatwasdippedintoavatofdyetothepointthateveryfiberinthefabricofthatclothtookonthequalityof thedye.Foreverafter, itwillbedifferent inawaythatpeoplecansee.Ikindoflikethat.

Baptism was also used in a ceremonial sense. For example, an ironsword isheatedquitehotand thenplunged intocoldwater so that itmightbetempered to the point that every molecule in the makeup of that sword willrealign itself in such a way that there will be conferred upon the metal adurability,ahardness,astabilitytoitscuttingedge.

Inthemetaphoricalsensebaptismwasalsousedtospeakofasubstancemateriallikeaspongewhichwassoakedtosaturation.Godwantstotoucheveryfiber,reacheverymolecule,everylittlecorner,everyinchofourlives—insideandout—withthereleasingpoweroftheHolySpiritsothattheLIFEandtheLOVEandALLTHATJESUSIS...cancomepouringthroughourlives.

Webegintoseesomeparallelshere:theclothhasbeenbaptizedintothedye—itwasforeverchanged.Theswordhadbeenbaptized,sotospeak, intothetemperingeffectofthewatersothatitwasstronger,moredurableandstablethan ever before. The little sponge, you see, has been baptized— soaked tosaturation—sothateverylittlespaceinthatspongewasfilledwiththemediumintowhichithasbeenplaced.

Baptism isalsousedofcoursebyJohn theBaptisthimself. Inbothhisceremonialandmetaphoricalusage,hesays:

Iindeedhavebaptizedyouwithwater:butheshallbaptizeyouwiththeHolyGhost(Mark1:8).

It’salmostasifJohnmighthavesaid,"Youwillnoticethatit’stheoutermanthatgetswetalloverinwaterbaptism.ButintheHolySpiritbaptismtheinnermanwillgetwetallover.”IthinkGodwantsustoseeandtounderstandsomeofthesethingsbecauseoftenwecanreceivesomethingandyetnotfullyappreciatewhatwehaveandwhathasus.It’sthetruththatsetsusfreeandthatkeepsusfree.

Sometimes it’snot thatweneedmoreofGod...weneed toknowwhatweALREADYhave inHim. . .andwhatHecando inand throughus.Thenthiswillcauseourfaithtoriseandtakeonadefinition.

Faith is characterized by its object. As God the Holy Spirit begins torevealtouswhattheobjectofourfaithis,ourfaithwillbecomeasstrongandrealandaliveasistheobjectofourfaith.

TheBaptismGivesLightWhathappenstousinthisbeautifulexperienceintheHolySpiritiswhat

wedescriptivelycallthebaptismofJesusintheHolySpiritthatHegivestous.Ourdesireisthatwebesobaptized—sobathed—bytheclean,pure,bright,whitelightoftheLordthateverypartofourmakeupisgoingtocomeundertherevealingandreleasingpowerofthatlightfromabove.IliketothinksometimesofmyselfasstandingbeforetheLordandallowingHim,throughthepowerofHisSpirit, tobathemylifewithHisbeautiful,wonderful lightof love.You’veseenpicturesormodelsofthehumananatomymadeoutofplastic—thelightshinesallthewaythrough.Iliketopicturemyselflikethat.Isay,"Lord,Iwon’tholdbackonepart,notonecorner,notoneaspect,onerecess,ofmylifewithin.YoujustshineYourlightallthewaythroughme.”

This is significant because wherever light comes in, what goes out?DARKNESS!Infact,there’snootherwaytogetshadowsoutofyourlife.

Youcan’tFIGHTshadowsout—Youcan’tFORCEshadowsout—Youcan’tSHOUTshadowsout.There’s only oneway to get the darkness out of our life and that is to

allowthelighttocomein.LighthasadispellingpowerandWHENTHELIGHTCOMESIN,THEDARKNESSGOESandallthethingsthatliveinthedarknessgo.

Haveyouevernoticed—inthesummer—whenyouturnoverarockthatallkindsoflittlecreaturesgoscurryingaround?Whataretheytryingtodo?

Theyaretryingtogetoutofthelight.Whyaretheytryingtogetoutofthelight?Becausetheyarecreaturesofthedarkness.IrememberprayingforayoungladythatGodwouldreallybatheherlife

withthelightofHislove.ItseemedthatinmymindIcouldseethewindowsofahouseasthey,onebyone,startedlightingupuntiltheentirehousewasaglowwiththelightofGod’sSpirit.

We, as the temples of theHolySpirit, are to be aglow in the selfsameway.Whenpeoplelookuponusthereshouldbenodarkenedwindows.GodbyHisSpiritcanreachdownandturneverylightoninourhouse.HeistheLightoftheWorldandHecanbecometheLightofOURworld.

Whatweareinthepresentisaproductandanaccumulationofallofthethings that have ever happened to us in the past — people, places, events,decisions, good things, bad things, successes, failures, hurts, scars,disappointments. Anything that we can think of that happened in the pastcontributes towhatweare in thepresent.Nowifweareaproductof thepastthenitwouldseemthatthebaptizingpowerofGod’sSpiritwouldneedtocovermorethanjustthepresentinrelationshiptoourinnerman,doesn’tit?TheHolySpirit must cover all that is in our past; that is, how we felt from the verymomentwewereborn.

The point is that all kinds of things have happened to each of us.Sometimestheenemyhastakenadvantageofus.Sometimeshe’splantedaseedinthepastwhichbegantogrowandbythetimeitgottothepresentithadbeenagreattreebearingbitterfruit.

WhyDon’tWe“StayOnTheMountain?”Sometimeswecangotochurchorreadabookorsomethingelseandwe

feelblessedontheinsideandfeelgood.Itseemslikethecloudslift...onlytoreturn in a fewdays.Thenwe find that the sameold problems are still there,sometimes more stubborn than ever. It just doesn’t seem like our religiousexperiencetook,oritdidn’tlastverylong.There’sareason. ..wejustcutthe

topoff.Forexample,Idiscoveredthatthereisacertainamountofsatisfactionin

standingat theheadofa lawnfilledwithdandelionheads, suchasourswasasummeror so ago. I said, "All right, dandelions, get ready,” and Imowed thelawn.Dandelionheadswentflyingeverywhere.Iendedupwithanicelookinglawn. The only thing is that the dandelions grew up again. Why? Because Ididn’tgettheroots.Dandelionshaveabigtaproot.Idiscoveredthatyouneedtogetrootsandall.Thenwheretheholewasyouplantasprigofgrass.

Are you beginning to see how the searching streams of God’s Spiritdesiretosurgetheirwaybackthroughourlivesintoeverycorner,everyplace,every situation, and tobringahealing, tobring renewal, to take thingsout—literally by the roots— so that He can, in turn, replant with the fruit of HisSpirit.NowtheHolySpiritcandothis.Thisismorethanjustprettywords.Thisreallyworksinlife.

GodAcceptsUsAsWeAreWeneedtorealizethattheblessedComforterisONEwhocanenableus

tobehonestwithourselvesandwitheachotherandwiththeLord.He’salsotheSpirit of Truth. Every time the little phrase, "the Comforter,” is used, it iscoupledwithanotherlittlephrase,"theSpiritofTruth.”Sowecanbehonest.WecanbehonestwithGod.He’shonestwithus.Heknowsusbetterthanweknowourselves.AndinHisgreatgraceHelovesusanyway.

Incidentally,what drewmewhen Imet Jesus asmyBaptizerwasHislove. It just seemed like it came down from above and up fromwithin and Irememberthinking,Oh,dearLord,waitaminute,I’mnotworthy,Lord.Don’tYourememberI’mnotworthy?

ButHe didn’t take it back. He said, "No, I know you better than youknowyourself,andIloveyouanyway.

IloveyoujustasyouarebecauseIknowwhatyoucanbecomethroughthepowerofMYSpirit.”

That’sencouraging.Godalwaysacceptsuswhereweare.Heneversays,"Allright,you’vegottocomeupabouttennotchesandmaybeI’llgiveyouthetimeofday.”GodreachesuswhereweareandthenbringsusintotheheavenlieswithChristJesus(Ephesians1:3).GoddidsomethingsinandthroughmylifethroughthesearchingstreamsoftheHolySpirit.

OneofthefirsttimesIeverprayedwithsomebodythatGodbyHisSpirit

—theeternalSpiritwhoisnotlimitedbythedimensionsoftimeasweare—would reach back into this person’s heart and life and heal, was in an OralRoberts crusade away back in the early ’60s. We were sharing in an after-meeting.Alittleladycameup,herfacealldarkenedandfilledwithdespair.Shesaid, "Oh, please,would you pray forme thatGodmight just take away thisfear?”

IrememberIsaidsomethinglikethis,"I’ll tellyouwhat,hereishowIwouldliketopray.Idon’tknowenoughofyourpasttoknowwhattherootsofallthisfearmightbe.EvenifIdidgetintothesurfaceI’mnottoosureIwouldknow what to do or would have the power to do it. But let’s trust God, theeternalSpiritoftheLord.Let’sseeHimgoingbackoutthroughyourlife,awaybackintotime,evenwhenyouwerejustalittlegirl.Let’sseeHim...

wherever there’s darkness, bringing in light. .. wherever there isresentment,bringinginforgiveness...whereverthereishatred,bringinginlove...whereverthereisanxietyandturmoilandfear,bringinginpeaceandjoyinasenseoftranquilitythatonlyGodbyHisSpiritcando.

"Thisisovercomingevilwithgood.ThereisadisplacementthathappenswhenGodbyHisSpiritbeginstomovethroughourlives.Itissomethingdeep...somethingthorough.EveryfiberandfabricofoursoulistouchedbytheSpiritofGod,andforeverafterwearechanged.”

ThenIbegantoprayforthelady—butIreallydidn’thaveto.Shehadbeenprayingas I’dbeen talking.TheHolySpiritwas alreadydoing theworkand something very unusual happened. Every once in a while God will dosomethingverydifferent. I think sometimesHedoes it asmuch formeasHedoesitforsomebodyelse.He’skindofsaying,"There’ssomethinghereIwantyoutofollow.”

God’sSpiritcameuponthiswomaninanevidentwaytothepointwhereshe just slumped from her chair. It didn’t scare me. I knew something washappeningmuchdeeper than I had realizedorhad anticipated.Then sheburstoutpraising,loving,worshiping,andadoringGodinthemostbeautifulheavenlytongueyoueverdidhear.Imean,shewasjustinrapture.Therewasawashingout; therewas a healing.You could see and feel theHolySpirit restoring andrenewingandreleasing.Oh,itwasamarveloussight.Iwasmoved.IameverytimeIshareit.

After some time I guess she becamemore aware of all that God wasdoing and she began to speak in English and these were her words: "O myRedeemer,

OmyKing.OmyLord.OmyRedeemer.OmyKing,welcomehome...welcomehome!”Nowitwasn’tthatHehadeverleft,butGodbyHisSpiritwasmakingherAWAREofthepresenceofherGoodShepherd,whosaid:

Yea,thoughIwalkthroughthevalleyoftheshadowofdeath,Iwillfearnoevil:forthouartwithme;thyrodandthystafftheycomfortme(Psalm23:4).

Shewassetfree.ThelastIsawofher,herhusbandwashelpingheroutthedoor.Shehadonehandin theairandshewassaying,"OmyRedeemer,0myKing,

OmyLord.”Herhusbandsaidithadbeenweeks—maybeevenmonths—sinceshehadsmiled.

Whathadhappened?Godsetherfree."WheretheSpiritoftheLordis,thereisliberty.”

GodCanRedeemYourPastGodwantstodosomethingthatissometimesbeyondwhatwecanfully

appreciate.GodnotonlywantstoforgiveourpastbutHealsowantstoHEALourpast.AndHewantstoREDEEMourpast.

This last summer while I was in England participating in a familyconference, a ladycameup tome.She said, "There’sayounggirlhere inherearly 20s and she’s very depressed— seriously so. She’s in a great place ofdespairanddarkness.Wouldyoubewillingtosharewithher?”

Isaid,"Ifthisisthedesireofherheart,Iwouldbepleasedtotaketime.”Soshecameandthiswasherstory:HernamewasPenny.Shehadbeena

Hell’s Angel before she met Jesus as her Lord and Savior and she hadaccidentallykilledalittleboywithhermotorcycle.AftershemettheLordsheknewinherheadthatshewasfor-

given but, you know, sometimes our heart has to be told. What hadhappenedwas this.On theway up to the conference, the group shewaswithpicked up a hitchhiker. When Penny shared her witness with this hitchhikerconcerningtheirfaith,heopenedupandsharedsomethingofhisownlifewhichwassocloselyparallel toPenny’slifethatit justreopenedallofthosewoundsandscarsagain.Shecametothecampaveryhurtgirl.

Iremembershecriedouttome,"Dr.Frost,IaskedGodoverandoverifHewouldjustkeepmefromevercomingintocircumstancesthatwouldremindmeofthatpartofmypast.It’stoopainfulandithurtstoomuch.I’veaskedHim

toprotectmeandguardmeandkeepmefromit.Andlookwhathappened.”I said, "Penny, I have good news for you. God by His Spirit can do

somethingthatmostdesperatelyneedstobedoneinyourlife.Andit’sthis:He,with you, can go back into the past. You can review and relive that incidentagain,onlythistimeJesuswillbebyyourside.Hislovingtendercarewillbebyyourside.He,whoknows,Hewhocannotonlyforgivebutalsocanheal,willbewithyou.Thatpartofyourpast,Penny, isnot tobejustforgiven, it’s tobeyielded.Butmorethanthis,Godwantstohealthepast.”

HereyeslitupandshebegantopraiseandloveandworshipGod.Itwaswonderfultoseeithappenrightbeforeoureyes.Imean,thelightcameon.Butdiditlast?Well,afewdayslater,Penny,withsomeoftheotheryoungpeople,wentintoanearbyvillagetowitnessandwhodidtheyruninto?

Hell’sAngels.Whathappened?Diditreawakenthepainofthepast,orhadshereally

beenhealed?YouknowwhatPennydid?She took Jesus stickers and stuck themall

overtheirleatherjacketsandinvitedthemtocometothecampforthemeetings.Someofthemdidcome.Theydidn’tknowwhattodowithallthelovethatwasthere.

WeareshowinghowGodcannotonlyforgive,Hecanheal;butHecandomorethanjustheal,Hecanredeem.

The lastnightof thecampacouplecamewhowerepartly intoxicated.Someone took themaside tocounselwith themandPenny’sheartwentout towhatwashappening.Shegotupandwentouttosharewiththem.Shecamejustastheman,thehusband,wassaying,"Butyoualldon’tunderstand!Youdon’tunderstand!Yousee,I’vegonetoofar,Godcan’tforgiveme.I’vegonebeyondhelp.Ikilledaperson.”

AndPennysaid,"ButIDOunderstand,IDOknow.I’vebeendownthatroad.But letme tell you something. Imet Jesus there andyou canmeetHimtoo.”Doyouseetheredeeming,healingpowerofGod’sSpirit?ThisisapartofthismightyworkofGod’sSpirit.WhenwecometoJesustheBaptizer,it’sthatwemightbemadewhole—altogetherwhole.

God can reach you right where you are, right now. He really can. HelovesyouandHeknowsyoubetterthanyouknowyourself.HelovesyouandHe’sreadybythereleasingpowerofHisSpirittohealandredeemyourpast.

Wedon’thavetobeafraidtofacethepastifwearewalkingwithJesus.That’s preciselywhatwe can do. InGod’s grace and inHis goodnessHe hasgiventoustheComforter—notthetormenter,buttheComforter.HeistheOnewho reveals Jesus to us. We can picture ourselves hand in hand with Jesus,walkingbackthroughmemory’slane,notbeingafraidanymore—seeingthosesituations, seeing those people, confronting those circumstances because theLordisbyourside.

Nolongerareweinsecure,nolongerarewehelpless,nolongerarewethreatened, no longer are we hurt, because Jesus— the great Physician, theGoodShepherd—iswithus.

WecanopenourselvestotheworkoftheHolySpirit.WecanallowtheLight—HeistheLightoftheworld—toshineallthewaythroughourlives.ThedarknessgoesbecauseofJesus—andit’swonderful!

Chapter10,HowYouCanEnterIntoAbundantLifeThroughTheHolySpirit

(TheScripturesarethroughoutthislesson—thisisamessagefrommetoyoutohelpyouenterintoabundantliving.)

Iwanttotrytohelpyouunderstandmorefullythepart theHolySpirit(thedivineParaclete)playsinbringingChristintotheNOWofyourgreatneeds.

Iwanttotalkabout:•buildinganewpatternoflifeforyouintheHolySpirit...•anewpatternoflifeintheNOWofyourneeds.WhatI’mgoingtosaywillhelpyou:•inyourjob•inyourmarriage•inyourrelationshipwithyourchildren.Itwillhelpbringahealing frominner tensionsandproblems thathave

youtiedupinknots.Itwillhelpyourspiritandyourunderstanding.Ihavequitealottosay,sopleasetakeyourtime.You’llbegladyoudid.

HowCanGodBeOneAndAlsoThree?WeoftenspeakofGodtheFather,theSon,andtheHolySpirit.Yetthe

Bible says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is ONE Lord” (Deuteronomy6:4).OneoftheproblemsourJewishfriendshavewithusChristiansisthatweseemtoindicatethatGodisthreebeingsandtheBiblesaysHe’sone.ButthereisnodifferencebetweentheJewishconceptofGod,asoneGod,andourswhenyouunderstandwhatwearesaying.That is,GodisaPersonandHehas threeexpressionsofhimself—GodtheFather,GodtheSon,andGodtheHolySpirit.Don’t thinkofGodtheFather,GodtheSon,andGodtheHolySpiritasbeingseparatebecausetheydonotexistseparately.HeisoneGod—notthreegods.

GodManifestsHimselfInThreeDifferentWaysThere isoneGodbutGodmanifestshimself in threedifferentways so

wecangraspwhatHeislike.

1.GodManifestsHimselfAsAFather.Hecomestousintheloveandtheprotection,thesecurityandthepower

ofaFathertosupplyourneeds.

2.HeComesToUsThroughTheSon,JesusChrist.AyoungmaninthefullstrengthofHislife,whereHelivedonthisearth

likeanymanandfacedallthelifesituationsthathumanityfaces.Hetookman’splace. He substitutedHis life. He offered himself upon the cross in behalf ofman.Hefacedandconquereddeath.Hearosefromthedead.HesenttheHolySpirit.

3.ThenGodComesToUsThroughTheHolySpirit.TherearenotimeandnospacebarriersbetweenusandGod.Wedonot

havetolimitourselvestothinkingofGodasahistoricalfact—that2,000yearsago there lived a man, Jesus Christ — because He is beyond history. He’sbeyond time. He’s bigger than time. He is not dated in any way. God iseverywhere; God is all the time. He is omniscient (all wise), omnipresent(everywhere present), omnipotent (all powerful).Through theSpirit all of thiscomestopass.

JesusShowsUsWhatWeCanBecomeThroughGodNowwe think of God as a person, not a person as you are and I am

becausewe are fragmented and divided persons. There’s something broken inyou and something broken in me. There are imperfections, disorders, anddisharmoniesinus.ButGodcomesasawholepersonwhohasnodivisionsinhimself. He’s not fragmented. He is known as the perfect Person, holy andundefiled.AndwhenHecamethroughHisSonJesusChristwesawGodandwesawwhatGodwantedustobe.

ItwasGod’sdesigntogetHisSonupontheearthtodoHiswork,thentogetHimoff the earth and back atHis right hand, and then to sendHimbackpermanentlythroughtheHolySpirit.ThenHewouldabidewithusforever,notbeing subject to time or to space or subject to death but He would be aliveforevermoreandsaying,"BecauseIlive,yeshalllivealso.”

SoitwasjustasimportantforGodtogetJesusofftheearthasitwastobringHimontotheearth.

Now see thismethod used byGod through Jesus and theHoly Spirit.

GodbroughtHisSonTOtheearththroughasupernaturalbirth.HewasbornoftheHolySpirit.Whatwasborn?NottheChrist,nottheSonofGod,forHe’sthebegottenoftheFatherbeforethefoundationoftheworld.HecoexistswithGod.But Jesus the man — the human part, His human body — that part wassupernaturally conceived. It did not happen through the seed of a man, notthrough the natural process — no. The Holy Spirit overshadowed a youngunmarriedpuregirlandactuallyput theembryoinherwomb.TheHolySpiritdidthiswithouttheaidofamalehumanbeing.SotheSonwasgivenahumanbodythroughHismother,thevirginMary.

Jesuswasman.HewassomuchmanthatitislikeHewasnotGod.YetHewassomuchGoditislikeHewasnotman.HewasGodintheflesh.It’samystery.You either have to believe throughyour spirit by faith or resist it byyourintellectandreasoning.Youtrytoreasonitoutandyousay,"No,itcan’tbe.”Andthat’strue,forthroughreasonitcan’tbe.Butbyfaithitdoesexist.GodhadHisbodybornofthisyounggirl.Hegrewupasaboy,asayoungman.Hebecameman,ahumanbeing,andthisishowweseeGod—throughthelifeofJesus.

JesusShowsUsWhatGodIsLikeWhenIgrewupIwasscaredofGod.IalwayslovedJesus.Laterthrough

JesusIcametoseethatHeSHOWSUSWHATGODISLIKE.Jesus isGodbecomingfleshofour flesh,boneofourbone, takingour

mind and our body and our spirit, our being, and wrapping it all up insidehimself.

JesusisGodsittingbesideus...gettinginsideourskin...feelingwhatwefeel...bearingoursicknesses...takingoursinsuponHim.

JesusisGodenteringintoourtorments...oursorrows,eventhedeathofalovedone.

Thisiswhat thecomingofJesuswasallaboutsothatwecouldfinallyunderstandwhatGod is.WHAT JESUSDIDASAMAN ISWHATGOD ISALLTHETIME.WhatGodisdoingallthetimeiscomingtoyouintheformofyourneed—comingtoyouwhereyouhurt...comingtoyouinyourbrokenness...comingtoyouinyoursicknesses...inyoursinfulness.. .comingtoyouatthepointofyourneedandsaying,"HereIam.Ihavecometodeliveryou.”

Jesussaid:Hehathsentmetohealthebrokenhearted,topreachdeliverancetothe

captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that arebruised(Luke4:18).

THISISGODALLTHETIME—24hoursaday,sevendaysaweek—butwe never could have known that unlessGod had come to us through thedimensionofHisSonJesusintheflesh.

JesusVoluntarilyLimitedHimselfBut,yousee,thatposedanotherkindofproblem.Godinbecomingflesh,

becomingJesusChrist,aman,hadtovoluntarilyemptyhimselfofthegloryandthepowerandtherichesHehadbeforeHewasbornofthevirginMary.Hewhowasrichhadtobecomepoorforoursakes(2Corinthians8:9).AndHehadtolimithimself.Hevoluntarilylimitedhimselfeventodeath.

InorderforJesusChristtobemanHehadtoemptyhimselfofwhatHehadinGod—theglory,thepowerandtheriches—andcomedownhereandlive like a man. By this I mean He actually experienced bills piling up —actuallyhavingnoplacetolayHishead(Matthew8:20)—thatis,nomoneytobuy a house. At times no money to buy anything, or even pay His taxes(Matthew17:27).

Jesushad toexperiencea sickbody,even though itwasbyvicariouslytakingthesicknessesofotherpeople’sbodies(Matthew8:17).

ThenJesushadtobesubjecttotime,abriefperiodofsome33years.Hehadtolimithimselftospace,thePalestinearea.Hecouldnotbeeveryplaceontheearthatonetime.

Then ultimatelyHe limited himself by subjecting himself to death.Hehadtoexperiencedeathbecauseeveryhumanbeinghastodie.

Now in order for JesusChrist to survive on this earthHehad to carrywithinHim the atmosphere of heaven. Just as the astronaut in going from theearthtothemoonhastocarrytheoxygenoftheatmosphereofthisearthinhisspacesuit,fromwhichhebreatheswhileheisinspaceandonthemoon,forifheweretobreathetheatmosphereofthemoonitwouldmeaninstantdeath.

WhyTheHolySpiritIsNecessaryThatiswhyJesuswasfilledwiththeHolySpirit.ThisiswhyHecameto

John theBaptist at theRiver Jordan and asked John to baptizeHim. John theBaptistwas one of those particularBaptistswhowaswanting the charismaticinfillingandhesaid,"Ihaveneedtobebaptizedofyou”(Matthew3:11,14).

He’sthefirstonethatweknowofwhowantedtobebaptizedintheHolySpirit.JesustoldJohnthatinordertofulfilltheScriptureJohnmustbaptizeHimin water (Matthew 3:15). When Jesus came up out of the water the heavensopened and the Holy Spirit came on Him in the bodily form of a dove,temporarily lightedonHishead,andHewasfilledwith theHolySpirit (Mark1:10).

Now,withtheHolySpiritfillingHim,Jesusisreadytolivenotinheavenwhere He had been, but on this earth with all of its torments and poverties,sicknesses, and sins, and limitations — yet without the poisonous sinfulatmosphereofearthdefilingHim(Hebrews4:15).

Ifthere’sonewordthatdescribesman,itisthewordlimitation.Wearelimited in our humanness. Jesus ministered to people as if their hearts werebreaking.ButHehadthisatmosphereoftheSpiritwithinHim.

BeingfilledwiththeHolySpiritwasjustoneofthreetoolsJesususedtoovercome His human limitations while here on earth. He also used HisknowledgeoftheWordofGodandHisfaithasa"seed.”

JesusUsedTheWordOfGodAgainstTheDevilThefirstthingJesusfacedafterHisbaptismwasconflictandtemptation

bythedevil(Mark1:12;Matthew4:1).I thinkthebiggestshockanyChristianhaswhenhefindsChristandisfilledwith theSpirit is thatsuddenlythedevilcomesagainsthim.Andhefacesconflictandtemptationuntilthedayhedies.

IthinkChristiansneverriseaboveconflicts.Wemistakenlythinkofthekingdomofheavenbeingsostrongthatitrulesoutthedevil,butitdoesnot.Wearelimitedonthisearthandwefaceadevilwhohascometostealfromus,todestroyus,andtokillus(John10:10).He’satempter.ButJesusshowsushowtowinoverconflictsandtemptations.JesusalsousedtheWordofGodagainstthe devil’s temptations, saying, "[Devil], it is written ...” (Matthew 4:7). HeknewtheScriptureandHeusedquotationsfromtheScriptureagainstthedevil.

JesusUsedHisFaithThe third thing that Jesus usedwasHis faith—His "Seed-Faith.”He

said:If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this

Mountain[MountainOfNeed,MountainOfSickness,OrMountainOftorment],Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall beimpossibleuntoyou(Matthew17:20).

SoJesususedthesethreethings—allofwhichareavailabletoyouandme—whilehereonearthtoovercomeHishumanlimitationsandshowushowtousethemtoovercomeourhumanlimitations:

1. BeingfilledwiththeHolySpirit2. HisknowledgeoftheWordofGod3. Faithasa"seed”

Thesewerecontinual reminders toJesus thatGodwasHisSource, thatHe would always love and give first and that He would live in constantexpectationofmiracles,andthatmiracleswouldhappenthroughHim.

TheFormulaForRealChristianityTome,thisiswhatrealChristianityisallabout—beingfilledwiththe

Spirit,livingbytheWordofGodandapplyingitagainstthedevilandhisforces.ThisiswhatIcalllivingbythethreekeysof"Seed-Faith.”

1. GodistheSourceofmytotalsupply.2. Seedingforyourmiracle(give,andgivefirst;love,andlovefirst).3. Expect amiracle. (From the seed of faith I plant, I am to expectGod to

performmiraclesofsupplyformyneed.)

Jesuslivedlikethis.Jesus’finallimitationwasdeath.AndthatwastheseedofHislife.Jesus

was theseedofDavid.Hecame togiveandHecame to love.Hewent to thecrossandsubmittedtodeath.ThiswasafurtherlimitationwhichHeeventuallyovercame,whichmeansthatyouandIwillalsoovercomedeaththroughHim.

ThePovertySyndromeThere’s been a poverty syndrome grown up among Christians, based

uponthefactthatinourLord’slifetimethereweretimeswhenHehadnoplacetolayHishead,whentherewasnomoneytopayHisbills,andwhensocietydidnot receiveHim.Therefore,wehavebeen taught thatwhenweget saved andserveGodwearenottoexpectGodtotakeahandinourphysical,materiallife—thatGod’snotconcernedaboutthis.Thatitwillbetakencareofwhenwegettoheaven.

ButrememberthattobecomeamanJesushadtosufferwhatwesuffer,tastewhatwetaste,andfeelwhatwefeelinordertobewhatweare.Hehadto

go through it, overcome it, andbringus through tovictory.SoHevoluntarilylaidasidethegloryandthepowerandtherichesHehadbeforeHewasbornofthevirginMary.Butatdeathsomethinghappened.

The physical body of Jesus was changed— it’s terribly important tounderstandthis.LetmetellyouwhyYouliveinyourphysicalbody24hoursaday. You have five senses— touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing, and youthereforeliveonthephysicalsenselevel.JesuslivedonthesenselevelalsoandHisdisciplesfollowedHimonthesenselevel.TheysawHimasaman,buttheyhadahardtimeseeingHimasGod.

BecauseJesuswasinahumanbody,limitedtotimeandtospaceandtodeath, He never completely broke through into their minds, into their spirits.TheydesertedHimat thecross like ratsdesert a sinking ship,becausenoonecanbuildhisspirituallifearoundthephysicalsensesonly.

HavingTheHolySpiritIsLikeHavingJesusWithUsInTheFlesh

People say, "Oh, Iwish Ihad lived in Jesus’ time; Iwish I couldhaveseenHim.”Oh,myfriend,thatwouldhavebeenamistake.Iusedtowantthat.Iremember when God started this healing ministry in 1947.1 prayed that GodwouldletmeseeJesusinthefleshandHesaid,"DoyouhavethebaptismintheHolySpirit?”

Isaid,"Yes.”"Well,”He said, "that’s likehaving Jesus in the flesh,onlyHe’s inside

youandyoucanbringhealing to thepeoplebecause theHolySpirit iswithinyou.”

Oh, thedisciplesdidsomemiracleswhileJesuswasonearth.But theywere never able to carry forth all the way on the physical level. That’s whyduringthelastfewmonthsanddaysofourLord’slifeHebegantotalkalongadifferenttheme.Hesaid,"ItisexpedientforyouthatIgoaway:forifIgonotaway, the Comforter [God, the Holy Spirit] will not come unto you; but if Idepart,Iwillsendhimuntoyou”(John16:7).

TheHolySpiritIsJesus’OtherSelfThe Holy Spirit is God manifesting himself in a slightly different

dimension—thesameGod.God had to put His Son on the earth. Jesus was on the earth in an

atmosphereunnaturaltoHim—liketheastronautonthemoon.NowwhenHecompletedHisearthlymission,GodhastogetHimofftheearthbecauseifHeleavesHimonearthHewilldieandHewill staydead—likeourdead lovedones are dead now—andwewould have no hope of resurrection as they donow.

HowdidJesusdoit?Theverythingthatwastheseverestlimitationwasthevehicle, and thatwasdeath.When Jesusdied they thought theyhadkilledJesusChrist.TheyhadkilledJesus,buttheynevergottheirhandsonChrist.

JesusWasReinvestedWithAllHisFormerGloryAndRiches

ItissignificantthatJosephofArimathaeacametoPilateandbeggedtheBODYofJesus.Hewanted to take thebodydownfromthecrossandbury it.Yousee,itwasMary’ssonthatdied.ItwasthehumanityofJesusthatdied.Itwasthephysicalbodythattheynailedtothecross.ForwhenHedied,Jesussaid,"Father,intothyhandsIcommend[orcommit]myspirit.”

TheChristSpiritcameoutof that limitedphysicalbodyandthreedayslaterGodraisedHimfromthedead.WhenGodraisedChristJesus’bodyfromthedeadandHeascendedtoheaven,GodreclothedHimwiththeglorythatHeonce had. God reinvested Him with the riches that He had had. So now inPhilippians4:19weread,

"ButmyGodshallsupplyallyourneedaccordingtohisrichesinglorybyChristJesus.”

SO NOW JESUS IS NO LONGER THE VISIBLE, PHYSICAL,LIMITEDJESUS.

HEISNOWTHEINVISIBLE,UNLIMITED SON OF GOD, CROWNED KING OF KINGS AND

LORDOFLORDS,REINVESTEDWITHTHEETERNALRICHESOFHISFATHER.

BeforeIgofurther, Iwant topointouta terribleerrormanyChristiansfall into.TheythinkJesusispoor.AndthousandsofChristianssubconsciouslybelieveitisGod’swillthattheybesick,thattheysufferfinanciallyandsocially.Theythinkofakindofwithdrawalfromsociety.

Thisiswhywemustbecarefulnottooveremphasizethechurchbuildingitself.Ifwearenotcarefulwecan,insidethosefourwalls,allowourselvestobe

separatedandremovedfromtheactualworld,itsproblems,andevenourown!AnythingphysicalorvisiblethatweuseinourworshipofGodanddisciple-shipisameanstoanend,andnotanendinitself.

Jesussaysthatwhileyouarenottobeoftheworld(John11\1Q),youaretobe IN it!-INIT. Involved in it.Takingdominion, subduing theearth,asGodtoldmaninthebeginning(Genesis1:28).Thisofcoursetakesyoubeyondthewallsofyourownchurchbuilding.

Where doChristians get this poverty syndrome— this sickness ethic?PerhapsfromstatementsintheBiblewhichreferonlytoJesusinHisphysical,visible formwhenhereHevoluntarily limited himself— to be literal about it,whenHetookourplace.Statementssuchas:

"Hemadehimselfofnoreputation”(Philippians2:7)."Foxeshaveholes,andthebirdsoftheairhavenests;buttheSonofman

hathnotwheretolayhishead”(Matthew8:20)."ThoughHewasrich,yetforyoursakeshebecamepoor,thatyethrough

hispovertymightberich”(2Corinthians8:9).Butlisten,inHisGLORIFIEDform-whenHereenteredheavenandsat

down at the Father’s right hand - He was reinvested with His eternal riches,reclothedwithallpowerofheavenandearth,withthekeysoverdeath,hell,andthe grave, and reendowedwith the gloryHe had before the foundation of theearth.

No longer is our Lord Jesus Christ of no reputation. No longer is Hepoor.

Hedidallthisforoursakes.Therefore,astherisenLord,Heisqualifiedtomeetourneedswhilewearestillhumanonthisearth.HecomestousINTHENOWanddirectlytothepointofourneed...withHisoriginalheavenlyrichesto supply our financial needs . . . withHis original divine power to heal andstrengthen us in our weaknesses . .. with His original glory to raise us fromobscurity andnothingness . ..withHiswarm lovingpersonalpresence forourloneliness...withHisenduementwith"powerfromonhigh”...withHis"now-ness”sothatweneedneverlookbacktothatphysical,visible,limitedformof2,000yearsago,but"sitwithHiminheavenlyplaces”...intheNOW!.. .andwithHiseternalrichesandpowerandgloryavailabletouseverymoment.

SinceHetookonhimselfourlimitations,wenttothecross,rosefromthedead,ascended,andpouredouttheHolySpirit,wecanhaveALLOURNEEDSMETaccordingtoHisrichesinglorybyChristJesus(Philippians4:19).

With His eternal resources we can face our limitations with hope andexpectation formiracles,manymiracles.Weknownow thatwedon’t have toaccept themaswewouldhave,hadJesusnotcome in the fleshand takenourplace.

Letmetellyou,"Godain’tpoornomore.”Nohumanbeinghasanyrightto sayhehas tobe limited.Theonlyultimate limitationhe faces isdeath,butlaterhewillconquerdeathbecausehe,too,willrisefromthedeadthroughJesusChristourLord.

So what are our limitations? Our limitations are the same that Jesusencountered: financial, physical, spiritual, torments, frustrations, familyproblems,loneliness—thewholegamutofhumanneeds.

Butnowwetalkabout therisenChrist, theunlimitedChrist, theChristreinvestedwiththerichesthatHehadbeforetheearthwasmade.Andnowthenwe face our needs with this faith that God will supply all our needs (notaccording to our riches orman’s riches), but according to the riches of JesusChristinheaven.

That’s why WE CAN HAVE EVERYTHING GOD WANTS US TOHAVE.Wedon’thavetosettleforonepennyless,oroneounceofhealthless,oronedegreeofsalvationless,oroneounceofdivinepowerless.WECANHAVEIT IN THE NOW, BY BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, BYLIVING BY THE WORD OF GOD AS CHRIST DID, AND BY LIVINGWITHOURFAITHASASEEDWEPLANT,ANDEXPECTINGMIRACLES.

Throughtheseedoffaithweputin,whichisourlovingandgiving,wecanexpectmiraclesandGodwillgiveus thosemiracles.Justassurelyasyouput a seed in the ground, that seed has a potential of a harvest, or amiracle.Everytimeyougiveofyourloveandconcern,ofyourfaithandhope,whateveryoupossess,whateveryougive, it isaseed. It isaseedof faithandGodwillmultiplyitbackintheformofyourneed.

RememberGodsays thereareonly threepermanent things: faith,hope,andlove(1Corinthians13:13).Althoughwhatyougivemaybetangible,itmustbeanexpressionoffaith,hope,andlove—orwhatwegiveprofitsusnothing(readthe13thchapterof1Corinthians).Butwhenourtangiblegiftscomeoutofourfaith,hope,andlove,theyactuallybecomeSeed-Faith.AndJesussaysthen,"Nothingisimpossibletoyou.”

ManWasCreatedASpiritualBeing

Letmeputitthisway:I,OralRoberts,amnotjustaphysicalbeing.Iama spiritual being.Godmademan spiritual and the spirit inmanwas to be thegoverning power of his life on earth.His spiritwas to take themind and thebodyandtobringthemintoacohesiveforce,aunity,aharmony,inwhichGodwouldlive.

Weseeit intheGardenofEdenwhenGodandmanwalkedandtalkedtogether.Therewasnosin,nosickness,nounhappiness. ItwasGodandman,thewayGodmadeus.That’swhywelongforourLordtoreturntothisearth,tocome, having raised thedead inChrist, to comeback to restore theEden thatmanoncehad.Butthistimewitharedeemedmankind.

InorderformantobeaspiritualbeingandtobelikeGod,GodhadtooriginallyvoluntarilylimithimselfwhenHemademan.Thatis,Hewouldgiveman the power of choice. If you get this point, you will really understandyourself,youwillunderstandyourchildren,youwillunderstandyoursalvation,youwillunderstandtheworkoftheHolySpirit.

Godmademanaspiritandgavehimthepower tochoose.HadHenotdone that, man would have become like any other animal. But God breathedspirit only into the man, making him a living soul with the power of choice(Genesis2:7).

Inorderformantobegiventhepowerofchoice,GodhadtotesthimsohecouldsayyestoGod.HecouldhavecompelledmantoworshipHimbutHewouldreceivenogloryandmanwouldnothavehadthepowerofchoice.

So God put a particular tree in the Garden of Eden. It representedknowledge.AndHesaid,"Ifyoueatofit,youwilldie.”

ButGodwasnottalkingabouttheinstantdeathofthebody,thoughthatwould ultimately be included in the death thatHewas talking about.Hewastalkingabout thedeathofsomething insidehim, the imageofGod inhim, thespiritualdominance,thespiritualsupremacythatwasinhim.Godsaidthatwilldie.

"Inthedaythatthoueatestthereofthoushaltsurelydie”(Genesis2:17).

ManLivesAccordingToHisIntellectInourtermsitmeansthis:Whentheyateof thetreeofknowledgeand

sawhowpleasant itwas togetknowledge,suddenly thespiritofmanwasputdownandthemindascended.Themindgotupinthesaddleandfromthatdaytothismanhaslivedasifheneverhadasoul,asifhewerenotcreatedbyGod.He

has lived in the flesh. Today education, particularly higher education, isconcernedwith only one thing—not your soul—not your relationshipwithGod,butknowledge.Oneuniversitypresidentsaid—anditmadetheheadlinesinthenewspaper—"Wearenotconcernedwiththemoralsofourstudents,onlywiththeirminds...”Thisisalsotrueinbusiness;it’strueeverywhere.

Whenman fell, his spirit fell, and themind climbedup there and tookascendency.Todaymedicalsciencesaysthatabout85percentofourdiseasesareemotionallyinduced.Theycomeoutofthefrictionthatourmindhaswithlife.Our mind cannot cope with life and our mind passes off to our bodies itstorments, its incapabilities, its limitations.Ourmind is the big bosswho stoleGod fromman’s soul and now it says, "God is dead.”MANHASGRIEVEDOVERTHEGRAVEOFGOD.He’sneverbeenthesamesincehebelievedGoddied.

ButGodintheOldTestamentsentHisprophets.AndGodsentHislaws.AndfinallyintheNewTestamentHesentHisSon.ThisSonsaid,

"Iamcomethat[you]mighthavelife,and...haveitmoreabundantly”(John10:10).

JesusChristcametorestoreman,totakeawaythatwhichthedevilhadputonmanandtoputbackonmanwhatthedevilhadstolenaway.AndinthelatterpartofJesus’ministryonearthHebegantotalkabouttheHolySpirit.

Inthelastday,thatgreatdayofthefeast,Jesusstoodandcried,saying,Ifanymanthirst,lethimcomeuntome,anddrink.Hethatbelievethonme,asthescripturehathsaid,outofhisbellyshallflowriversoflivingwater.(Butthisspake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for theHolyGhostwasnotyetgiven;because thatJesuswasnotyetglorified) (John7:37,38,39).

HereJesusisnottalkingaboutawellofphysicalwater.He’snottalkingaboutwater-thirst.Hesays,"Hethatbelievesonme,outofhisbelly...”andHe’snot talking about your stomach.He is talking about the solar plexus area, theareawhereyoufeel.He’sreallytalkingabouttheinnerman.He’stalkingabouttheimageandlikenessofGodinyou.He’stalkingaboutthespiritualpartofyouthatdiedbackthereatthetimeofAdamandEve.He’stalkingaboutdeathandsinsandtrespasses.He’stalkingaboutusaswe’vegoneawayfromGodandthelightofGodhadbecomedarknessinsideus.ThelifeofGodhasbecomedeathandwearelost.

NotonlyarewelostfromGod,butalsowearearroganttowardGod.We

wanttointellectuallyrunourownlives."Thefoolhathsaidinhisheart,ThereisnoGod”(Psalm14:1).

HUMANITYHASBUILTACIVILIZATIONBASEDUPONMAN’SMIND AND PARTIALLY HIS BODY, BUT WITHOUT THE SOUL,WITHOUTTHESPIRIT.

Thisiswhyeverybodymustrepentofsinandbebornagain.ThisiswhywemustbebornbytheHolySpiritinthesamewaythatJesuswasbornoftheHolySpirit(John3:3).Wemustbebornagainbecausethefirstselfisdeadandwe have to come out of that death through repentance of sin and throughbelievingonJesus.

Jesus, through theHolySpirit,quickensus,opensourminds,bringsusinto newness of thinking and living.When we receive that new birth we areinstantlyanewcreature.Weareanewcreation(2Corinthians5:17).

(But this spake he of the Spirit,which they that believe on him shouldreceive: for theHolyGhostwasnot yetgiven;because that Jesuswasnot yetglorified)(John7:39).

WhenJesussaid,"ButwhenyoubelieveonMe,outofyourbelly,outofyour innermost being, it will be rivers flowing.”Hewas still on the physicalsense level— that is to say, in ahumanbody.On thehuman levelHehadn’tdied.Hehadn’tbeenraisedfromthedead.Hehadn’tascendedtotheFather.Hehadn’tyetsenttheHolySpirit.

TheFirstWordSpokenToTheChurchNowturntothesecondchapterofActs,wheretheChristianchurchcame

intoexistenceontheDayofPentecost.GodpouredoutthegiftoftheHolySpiritwhere the 120 were gathered in the Upper Room, according to Christ’sinstructions,and:

"theywereallfilledwiththeHolyGhost,andbegantospeakwithothertongues,astheSpiritgavethemutterance”(Acts2:4).

Nowwhatweretheysayingintongues?Well,theywereglorifyingGod.TheywerespeakingofthewonderfulworksofGod(Acts2:11).Theycertainlywerenotpreaching.Forwhenitcametimetopreachtheystoppedspeakingintongues and Peter began to speak in his own language (Aramaic), which thecrowdthathadgatheredunderstood.WhenPeterfinishedhissermon,thecrowdasked,"Whatmustwedotobesaved?”AndPeter’sfirstwordstothemwere:

Repent,andbebaptizedeveryoneofyouinthenameofJesusChristfor

theremissionofsins,andyeshallreceivethegiftoftheHolyGhost[HolySpirit](Acts2:38).

ThismeansthatwhenamanrepentsofhissinsandbelievesonJesus,outof his belly, his innermost being, theHoly Spirit will start flooding up like ariver.(RememberJesussaidthisinJohn7:37-39.)

In that moment the Holy Spirit is trying to reintegrate the totalpersonalityofman.InthatmomentHe’sgoingall thewaybacktoEdenwhenGodcreatedmanaspirit,andthespiritwassupreme;thespiritwasdominant;ithad the ascendencyover themind.Once again the spirit ofman comes to theforefrontandthemindandthebodyaregovernedbythespirit.MANFILLEDWITHTHEHOLYSPIRIT,BECOMESAREINTEGRATEDPERSONALITYASGODMADEHIM.

AWordAboutSpeakingInTonguesNowturnoverto1Corinthians14andwewilllookatthisonapractical

level.ThereasonthatspeakingintonguesseemssodifficultfortheintellecttounderstandisbecausetheintellecthasbeenoutoftouchwithGodsolong.Thespiritofmanhasbeensuppressedso long that the intellectdoesn’tgraspwhattheinnermanisactuallysayingtoGod.

Forhe thatspeaketh inanunknowntonguespeakethnotuntomen,butuntoGod(1Corinthians14:2).

Nothorizontalspeakingsuchasmantoman,butvertical: theChristianbelieverspeakingdirectlyTOGOD.It’ssomethingcomingoutoftheheart.It’sprayer.It’spraise.It’scommunication.It’sdirect talkingtoGod.Notusingthemind.Notdependingontheintellect.Theintellectdoesn’tknowthemindoftheSpirit(Romans8:26).

InorderformeorforyoutotalktoGodoutofthedeepestdepthsofourbeing—downinourbelly—wehavetobypassthemindfromtimetotime,forafewsecondsatleasteachtime,andlettheSpiritwellupfromourinnerbeing.

Noticeinthissame14thchapterof1Corinthians,itsays:IfIprayinanunknowntongue,myspiritprayeth,butmyunderstanding

isunfruitful.Whatisitthen?Iwillpraywiththespirit,andIwillpraywiththeunderstandingalso(1Corinthians14:14,15).

WhatPaulissayingisthatwhenthefullnessoftheSpiritwellsupwithinyourinnerbeingtheseriversstartfloodingup.Atthatmoment,ifyouwillyieldyourself and open your mouth and stop talking in whatever language you’ve

learned,yourspiritwillstartspeaking toGodandwilluseyour tongue justasyourintellectusesyourtongue.

Nowinordinaryspeechyourtongueisdoingonlywhatyourmindtellsittodo.Likewise,whenyouarespeakingintonguesyourtongueisjustavehiclebeingusedbyyourspirit.Yourtongueissayingwhatyourspirit—bytheabilityoftheHolySpiritinyou—tellsittosaytoGodinbehalfofthedeepestneedsandlevelsofyourinnerbeing.

Thinkofyourtongueinthisinstanceasyouwouldthespigotorhydrantwhichyouturnonwhenyouwantwater,oryouturnoffwhenyouhaveenough.Theimportantthingisnotthehydrantbutthereservoirfullofwaterbackingupthehydrantorkeeping itunderpressuresoata turnof the tap it flows. In thesameway,yourtongueistheinstrumentusedbytheHolySpirit.See,theHolySpirit is in your spirit (belly, innerman), and is, as Jesus said, flooding up inriversof livingwater.This is likeawaterreservoirstoringup thesupply,withthewaterconstantlyheldandcontainedunderpressure.

WiththeSpiritinyouandconstantlycontainedunderpressure,readytoflowover your tongue and up toGod at anymoment you have need, there iscreated with you a whole new pattern of life. From this moment on you canspeakdirectly toGod firstwithyour spirit, then follow it by speaking toHimwith your understanding or intellect. This is what Paul is saying in verse 15.Your spirit has retaken supremacy over your mind, it has regained theascendency.YourspiritguidedbytheHolySpirit—anddirectedbyyourwill— now comes up in a language you never learned, a language "as givenutterance”bytheHolySpirithimself.

EversinceyoufirstthirstedforJesusandthenrepentedandbelievedonHim, being born again and made a new creature in Christ, ever since thatmomenttheHolySpiritasaPersonhasbeeninyou.AndeversincethatmomenttherehasbeenthepossibilityofabaptismintheSpirit,oranimmersioninHim,which instantly releases the language (or languages) resident in the Spirithimself.

Sothatatanymoment(1)ofneedand(2)anactofyourwill,youcanspeakdirectlytoGodWITHYOURSPIRIT—orintongues,whichisspeakingtoGod"intheSpirit”(1Corinthians14:2,Ephesians6:18,Jude20).Yourspiritwillbeguidingyourmindsoyoucanfirstpraywithyourspirit(orintongues).That’swhyPaulsaysin1Corinthians14:13:

...lethimthatspeakethinanunknowntonguepraythathemayinterpret.

After your spirit has prayed in tongues, stop . . . pause amoment andbreatheaprayerthatGodwillletyouinterprettoyourownintellect,yourownmind,whattheSpiritissaying.Forifyouwillpause,thenliftupyourvoiceinEnglish—inyourownlanguage—(mostofthetime)youwillbeinterpretingwhatyouhavejustprayedintongues.YouwillbesayingwhatyousaidtoGodintonguesoryouwillbesayingbacktoyourselfGod’sresponse.(Someofthetimetongueswillnotneedaresponseorinterpretationbecauseyourprayingintonguesisintercessoryorforyourpersonaledification.)

Theeffectofinterpretingbacktoyourunderstandingwillbeelectrifying.TheSpiritwillbeworkinginyouanditwillbelikeJesusChristisstandinginyourshoes.

It’sMoreOfJesusInYourLifeThinkofthebaptismintheHolySpiritassimplymoreofJesusinyour

life.It isJesusbaptizingyouintheSpirit,asJohntheBaptistsaidinMatthew3:11,andkeepingitcontainedunderpressure—inyourinnermostbeingallthetime.ThenthinkoftheHolySpirit’sabilitytounifywithyourspiritproducinganewlanguagepatternwithwhichtospeak,throughyourtongue,directlytoGod.Speakingfromthedeepestlevelsofyourbeing,anddoingitaccordingtoGod’swillforyou.

AsIsaid, thisisunderyourwill.Paulsays,"Iwillpraywiththespirit,andIwillpraywiththeunderstandingalso”(1Corinthians14:15).IWILL.Thewordwillheremeansdetermination,deeppurpose.SoPaulisindicatingthatasyou can at any moment turn the tap, and water held under pressure in thereservoirwillstartflowing,soatanymomentofneedtospeaktoGodwithyourspiritalone,youcandeterminetodoit,andyoucanandwill.Bythesamewill,youcandetermine tospeak toHimwithyourunderstanding(wordschosenbyyourmind)also.Themostbeautifulandeffectivepartofallisinverse13whereyoucaninterpretbacktoyourunderstandingeitherthetonguesyouprayedinorinGod’sresponsetoit.

The end result is that something wonderful happens to yourunderstanding. The spirit is in ascendency over your understanding as it waswhen God first created Adam and Eve, and before they ate of the tree ofknowledge.

Therecomesfloodingintoyourmindaknowledgeyouneverhadbefore,anabilitytograspandtodomuchmoreofGod’swillandpurposeforyourlife.Your intuitiveness is sharply increased, your grasp of the impossible is

enlightened,youbegin to feel fromdeepwithinyou thatmiraclescanactuallyhappenwherebeforeyourmindhadblockedanysuchpossibility.

WhereAreWeThisMoment?If God would say this is the last thing I’m going to let you say to

anybody,thisiswhatIwouldtellyou:

REPENT OF HAVING LIVED YOUR LIFE ONLY IN YOURINTELLECT.REPENTOFHAVINGYOURWAYRATHERTHANGOD’S.REPENT FROM YOUR HEART OF HAVING SAID YES, YES, ANDYOURMINDSAYINGNO,NO,AND...YOURMINDOVERRULINGTHEWAYGODCREATEDYOU.REPENTOFSINBECAUSETHAT’SREALLYWHATSINIS—JUSTDOINGYOURTHINGRATHERTHANGOD’S.REPENT AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLYSPIRIT.BELIEVE ON JESUS AND OUT OF YOUR BELLY SHALL FLOWRIVERS OF LIVING WATER, WHICH IS THE BAPTISM IN THEHOLYSPIRIT.

Anditcanhappenatonce.Godcanintegrateyouspiritually,physically,and mentally. It will take only a few moments or minutes for this to starthappeningtoyou.

Orifyou,monthsoryearsago,repentedandbelievedonJesusandyoudidn’tknowtheHolySpiritbaptismcouldhappentoyouandyouarewonderingifit’stoolateorifyoustillcanexperienceit,letmesay,eversinceyou’vehadChrist—fromthatmoment—thePersonoftheHolySpirithasbeeninyou.

SoatthispointoftimesimplyrealizeGodlovesyouandwillstartwithyouwhereyouareintheNOW.Itcanstillhappentoyou—youcanpraywithyour spirit AND with your understanding also. And believe me, you’ll findyourselfenjoyingprayingmore,you’llunderstandGodbetter,you’llunderstandyour inner selfbetter,you’llgrasp lifebetter,youcanbe— through it, ifyouwilltodoso—closertoGodandhaveMORELOVE(JESUS)inyourlifeandworkhereonearth.

AndNow,Partner,IWantToPrayThisPrayerForYou...

OurheavenlyFather,it’ssogoodtotalktoYou.TofeelYourloveforus...toknowYouareatthepointofourneedTHISMOMENT.ThankYouforcomingto us in the dimension of Your Spirit. .. for the possibility of a baptism in theSpirit inour lives.ThankYou for thepossibilityofprayingwithourspiritBYYOURSPIRIT.ThankYoufortheenlightenmentthatcomestoourunderstandingsowecanpraybetterwithourunderstanding.

ThankYou,Father, forourunlimitedLordand for showingusYoucanmeetALLOURNEEDSbyHisrichesinglory.Youaresoclose,oh,soclose,toeachofus.

Andnow,dear friend, I pray foryou. I pray foryou to just bringyourmindtoastandstillforamoment,anddeepdowninyourspirittofeeltheHolySpiritfloodingupwithinyou.

IpraythattheHolySpiritwillgiveyouthisinnerrelease,thatthewordscreatedby theSpirit, inharmonywithyourownspirit,will startcomingup ...andyouwillbeginnowtoliftyourvoiceandquietlyspeak"intheSpirit”toourLord.Don’tworryabouthowitsounds—don’tworryaboutyourunderstandingnow—justbegin.Godwillhelpyou.

May you feel the presence of God healing your heart, your emotions,yourmind,andyourbody.MayyoufeeltheabundanceoftheLordfloodyourentirebeing.

Ipray,Ibelieve,andIexpectmanymiraclestohappentoyoufromthishourforward...throughJesusChrist,myLord.Amenandamen.

TableofContentsTheHolySpiritInTheNow1MyPersonalWordToYouChapter1,HowGodCanTouchYourLifeThroughTheHolySpirit

GodIsGoingToTouchYourLifeWhatDoesCharismaticMean?SamsonHadCharismaWhenWeSpeakofCharismaInThisDay,WeArespeakingOfaGiftofGod.TheHolySpiritCameUponMeIn1947YouJustKnowThatYouKnow!ISawTheHumanityOfTheMan,ThatHeEnteredIntoTheNeedsOfEveryHumanBeing.I Saw That Jesus Was Against Four Things — You May want tounderscorethese:ISawThatChristWasAgainstSin,Disease,Demons,andFear,ButHeWasForHumanBeings.ThenISawThatJesusHasHealingHands.ISawJesusWalkingOnThisEarthAsAMan.ISawThePowerOfTheHolySpiritOnJesus.TheHolySpiritIsAPerson,JustAsJesusIsAPerson

Chapter2,HowJesusCanBeWithYouInTheNowJesusIsConceivedByTheHolySpirit3.JesusHadToBringCaptivityCaptive.4.JesusHadToSendTheHolySpirit.

Chapter3,HowToOvercomeProblemsYouFaceEveryDayHeWasWrongInHisHeadButHeWasRightInHisHeartThereWasCompleteIntegrationInTheEarlyChurchWhenTheyHadTheHolySpiritHowCouldItHappenSoEasily?GetYourHeadStraightToo!ItBringsGodIntoTheWholeOfOurLivesADialogueBetweenOralAndEvelynRobertsADialogueBetweenOralAndEvelynRoberts

Chapter4,Jesus,You,AndTheHolySpirit1.JesusAndTheHolySpirit

SoDiscipleshipIsSomethingWeDoThePowerOfTheSpiritOpensUpAWholeNewAREAOfMiraclesAndLifeTheEntireChristianLifeIsASupernaturalLifeJesusWasAnointedByTheHolySpiritListenToJesusNow2.YouAndTheHolySpiritInTheNowTheHolySpirit’sNewName3.PersonallyTrustingTheHolySpirit—TheDivineParacleteJesusTrustedTheWholeBeginningOfChristianity IntoTheHandsOfTheParaclete.ADialogueBetweenOralAndEvelynRoberts

Chapter5,YouCanHaveThePowerOfJesusInYourLifeToday1.ThePowerOfAPerson2.ThePowerOfAPersonalRelationship3.PowerFromOnHighOralRobertsUniversityPrayingInTheSpiritOpensUpYourMind

Chapter6,TheFirstGreatOutpouringOfTheSpiritThePhenomenonOfTonguesPeter’sSermonOnTheDayOfPentecost

Chapter7,WhatIsThePrayerLanguageOfTheSpirit?1Corinthians14:1-19,VerseByVerseDoYouHaveToSpeakInTongues?

Chapter8,HowYouCanTalkToGodAndReceiveHisAnswerTheSpiritOfManPrayingInTheSpiritReachesGodADialogueWithOralAndEvelynRoberts

Chapter9,TwoGuestSermons:HowYouCanGetYourPrayersAnsweredbyRev.RalphWilkerson

Desire+Faith-Unbelief=ResultsFirst,ComeBeforeGodInAdorationConfessionThanksgivingSupplicationTheSpiritIsBeingPouredOutInAllDenominationsAndThroughoutTheWorld

YourLifeInTheSpiritByRobertFrost,Ph.D.TheBaptismOfJesusInTheHolySpirit

ThereIsAlsoALifeSideToTheCrossTheFreedomWeHaveInTheSpiritLet’sTalkAboutBaptismTheBaptismGivesLightWhyDon’tWe“StayOnTheMountain?”GodAcceptsUsAsWeAreGodCanRedeemYourPast

Chapter10,HowYouCanEnterIntoAbundantLifeThroughTheHolySpiritHowCanGodBeOneAndAlsoThree?GodManifestsHimselfInThreeDifferentWays1.GodManifestsHimselfAsAFather.2.HeComesToUsThroughTheSon,JesusChrist.3.ThenGodComesToUsThroughTheHolySpirit.JesusShowsUsWhatWeCanBecomeThroughGodJesusShowsUsWhatGodIsLikeJesusVoluntarilyLimitedHimselfWhyTheHolySpiritIsNecessaryJesusUsedTheWordOfGodAgainstTheDevilJesusUsedHisFaithTheFormulaForRealChristianityThePovertySyndromeHavingTheHolySpiritIsLikeHavingJesusWithUsInTheFleshTheHolySpiritIsJesus’OtherSelfJesusWasReinvestedWithAllHisFormerGloryAndRichesManWasCreatedASpiritualBeingManLivesAccordingToHisIntellectTheFirstWordSpokenToTheChurchAWordAboutSpeakingInTonguesIt’sMoreOfJesusInYourLifeWhereAreWeThisMoment?AndNow,Partner,IWantToPrayThisPrayerForYou...