₦airaland Forum

DON’T SAY SUCH AND SUCH ABOUT ANOTHER BROTHER

I had another experience along this same line. My wife and I held a meeting down in east Texas in a Full Gospel church. We were going from that meeting to a convention that our denomination was holding. One of the ministers in that part of the state had gotten into some difficulty, and he had to leave the church. I asked someone, "What did he do?" And the person told me what the minister had done. Well, without thinking, I just said, "It looks to me like anybody with any sense would know better than to do that." I never thought anything else about it. My wife and I closed that meeting, and we went on our way to the convention. Now ordinarily I walk in divine health; I just feel good all the time. But during this convention, I just wasn't up to par physically, and I couldn't sleep at night. Normally by the time my head hits the pillow, I'm asleep. I made all the right faith confessions, and I believed I received my healing, but I still didn't feel good physically. On the third night of the convention, I still couldn't sleep. I said, "Lord, if I'm feeling like this tomorrow, I won't be able to go to the meetings. My body is about to give out." I got out of bed and got on my knees and started praying.

I remembered something Dr. Lilian B. Yeomans said. She was a medical doctor who at one time had become addicted to drugs. She became sick and really just went down to death's door. But then she got saved and God raised her up from a deathbed. She
then spent the rest of her life preaching about divine healing. Dr. Yeomans said, "If I pray and don't get results, I start changing. Why? Because there will have to be a change somewhere before the answer can come, and the change won't be with God, because God never changes."

I remembered reading this statement by Dr. Yeomans, so I started changing. I'd been making all the right biblical confessions and saying all the right things, but I still hadn't improved. Finally, I said to the Lord, "Lord, what is wrong with me? I haven't made my faith connection with You. The Lord spoke to me and said, "Didn't you say so and so about Brother_______," and the Lord called this pastor's name. I said, "Lord, all I said was 'It looks like anybody with any sense would have known better than to do that.'" The Lord asked me a question. He said, "Do you know what pressure he was under?" I said, "No." The Lord asked me, "Do you know the circumstances that surrounded this situation?" I said, "No." The Lord said to me, "If you'd been in the same position, you might not have done as well as he did."

With tears, I said, "Oh, God, forgive me. My God, please forgive me. I repent." Do you know that as soon as I repented, I was instantly well. It didn't take me time to get healed—I was instantly made whole! I got into bed and slept soundly for the first time in several nights. You see, there's a principle here. We can't criticize and judge the other fellow because we don't know the circumstances and the pressures that the person may have been under that caused him to act as he did. We don't know what made him do what he did—only the
Lord knows. It's situations like this that taught me to keep my mouth shut about criticizing the Lord's servants. (Kenneth E. H)

DO NOT GOSSIP. LOVE PEOPLE.

Philippians 1:27
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 12:2
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Psalm 15
15:1 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is rightand speaks truth in his heart;3 who does not slander with his tongueand does no evil to his neighbor,nor takes up a reproach against his friend;4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,but who honors those who fear the Lord;who swears to his own hurt and does not change;5 who does not put out his money at interestand does not take a bribe against the innocent.He who does these things shall never be moved.
Ephesians 4:28-30
28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Proverbs 11:13
13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
Psalm 101:5
5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretlyI will destroy.Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heartI will not endure.
Ephesians 4:3
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Proverbs 26:22
22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Philippians 4:8
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Proverbs 15:1
15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath,but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 20:19
19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets;therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
James 4:11
11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
Luke 6:31
31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Leviticus 19:16
16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:16
16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

Psalm 15:3
3 who does not slander with his tongueand does no evil to his neighbor,nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

Psalm 101:5
5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretlyI will destroy.Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heartI will not endure.

2 Corinthians 12:20
20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

Proverbs 16:7
7 When a man's ways please the Lord,he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Mark 9:50
50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

wealth & riches are in my house 112v2

we are the glorious ones in whom is all of God’s delight…16:3

whatever I ask of him I know that I have what I asked of him 1jn5v15

when I lie down, I will not be afraid; when I lie down, my sleep shall be sweet pv3v24

when I said, ‘’my foot is slipping’’, your love, o Lord, supported me 94v18

when I walk, my steps will not be hampered; when I run, I will not stumble pv4v12

when I walk, the word of God will guide me; when I sleep, the Word will watch after me; when I awake, the word will speak to me pv6v22

we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care 95v7

what I decide on will be done, & light will shine on my ways jb22v28

what I desire will be granted pv10v24

when anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul 94v19

when the storm has swept by, I will stand firm forever pv10v25

wherever I turns, I succeeds pv17v8

whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘’this is the way; walk in it’’ isa30v21

whoever is thirsty, let him come; & whoever wishes, let him let him take the free gift of the water of life. rev22v17

wisdom brightens my face & changes its hard appearance eccl8v1

wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing & benefits me eccl7v11

wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter; the advantage of knowledge is that, wisdom preserves my life eccl7v12

wisdom makes me more powerful than ten rulers in a city eccl7v19

wisdom protects me; wisdom watches over me pv4v6

wisdom is a tree of life for me; I’m blessed for getting hold of her pv3v18

wisdom sets a garland of grace on my head & presents me with a crown of splendor pv49

with joy I will draw water from the wells of salvation isa12v3

with Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall…18v29

with God we will gain the victory, & will trample down our enemies 60v12, 108v12

NIV

THE INFLUENCIAL POWER OF A TONGUE-TALKING, HOLY GHOST FILLED BELIEVER

There are many who call themselves believers who are extremely unbelieving. One of the unbelieving "believers" was a Methodist minister who lived in Sheffield, England. A man gave him a check and told him to go and take a rest. This man also gave him my name and address; so, when he got to Bradford, he began to inquire about me. He was warned against me as one of the "tongues people," and was told to be very careful and not to be taken in, for the whole thing was of the devil. He said, "They will not take ME in; I know too much for them to take me in."

He was quite run down and needed rest; and when he came he said, "A friend of yours sent me, is it all right?" I replied, "Yes, you are welcome." But we could do nothing with that man.

It was impossible. Talk? You never heard anyone talk like him. It was talk, talk, talk, talk. I said, "Let him alone, he will surely finish some day." We had dinner, and he talked through dinnertime; we had the next meal and he talked through that.

It was our Friday night meeting for those seeking the Baptism and the room began to fill with people and still he talked. No one could get an edge in. He lodged himself in a place where he could not be disturbed by those coming in. I said, "Brother, you will have to stop now, we are going to pray." As a general thing we had some singing before going to prayer; but this time it was different. It was God's order. We got straight to prayer and as soon as we began to pray two young women, one on this side and the other on the other side began speaking in tongues. And this minister--it was all so strange to him—moved from one to the other to hear what they were saying. In a little while he said, "May I go to my room?" I said, "Yes, brother, if you wish." So he went to his room and we had a wonderful time.

We went to bed about eleven o'clock or so and at half-past three in the morning this man came to the bedroom door. Knock, knock, "May I come in?" "Yes, come in." He opened the door and said, "He is come, He is come" -- holding his mouth, for he could hardly speak in English. I said, "Go back to bed, tell us tomorrow." Tongues are for the unbeliever, and this man was an unbeliever, an unbelieving "believer." Again and again I have seen conviction come upon people through the speaking in tongues.

The next morning he came down to breakfast and said, "Oh, was not that a wonderful night?" He said, "I know Greek and Hebrew, and those two young women were speaking these languages, one was saying in Greek, 'Get right with God,' and the other was saying the same thing in Hebrew. I knew it was God speaking, and I knew it was not they. I first had to repent. I came in an unbeliever, but I found that God was here. In the night God laid me on the floor for about two hours. I was helpless. Then God broke through." Here he began again to speak in tongues, right over the breakfast table.

God will have witnesses of His mighty power that no man can gainsay. You will have to see that the Holy Ghost will speak through you in tongues and interpretation, which will bring conviction to the unbeliever in the open air; and you will find that God will convict you by this means. (Smith Wigglesworth)

THE EVIL ARMY

I saw a demonic army so large that it stretched as far as I could see. It was separated into divisions, with each carrying a different banner. The foremost and most powerful divisions were Pride, Self righteousness, Respectability, Selfish Ambition, and Unrighteous Judgment, but the largest of all was Jealousy. The leader of this vast army was the Accuser of the Brethren himself. I knew that there were many more evil divisions beyond my scope of vision, but these were the vanguard of this terrible horde from hell that was now being released against the church.

The weapons carried buy this horde had names on them: the swords were named Intimidation; the spears were named Treachery; and their arrows were named Accusations, Gossip, Slander and Faultfinding. Scouts and smaller companies of demons with such names as Rejection, Bitterness, Impatience, Un-forgiveness and Lust were sent in advance of this army to prepare for the main attack. I knew in my heart that the church had never faced anything like this before.

The main assignment of this army was to cause division. It was sent to attack every level of relationship-churches with each other, congregations with their pastors, husbands and wives, children and parents, and even children with each other. The scouts were sent to locate the openings in churches, families or individuals that rejection, bitterness, lust, etc., could exploit and make a larger breech for the divisions that were coming. The most shocking part of this vision was that this horde was not riding on horses, but on Christians! Most of them were well-dressed, respectable, and had the appearance of being refined and educated. These were Christians who had opened themselves to the powers of darkness to such a degree that the enemy could use them and they would think that they were being used by God. The Accuser knows that a house divided cannot stand, and this army represented his ultimate attempt to bring such complete division to the church that she would completely fall from grace.

the prisoners
Trailing behind these first divisions was a vast multitude of other Christians who were prisoners of this army. They were all wounded, and were guarded by little demons of Fear. There seemed to be more prisoners than there were demons in the army. Surprisingly, these prisoners still had their swords and shields, but they did not use them. It was shocking to see that so many could be kept captive by so few of these little demons of Fear. These could have easily been destroyed or driven off if the prisoners had just used their weapons. Above the prisoners the sky was black with vultures named Depression. These would land on the shoulders of a prisoner and vomit on him. The vomit was Condemnation. When the vomit hit a prisoner he would stand up and march a little straighter for a while, and then slump over, even weaker than before. Again, I wondered why the prisoners did not simply kill these vultures with their swords, which they could have easily done. Occasionally a weak prisoner would stumble and fall. As soon as he or she hit the ground, the other prisoners would begin stabbing them with their swords, scorning them as they did so. They would then call for the vultures to begin devouring the fallen one even before they were dead.

As I watched, I realized that these prisoners thought that the vomit of condemnation was truth from God. Then I understood that these prisoners actually thought they were marching in the army of God! This is why they did not kill the little demons of fear, or the vultures-they thought these were messengers from God! The darkness from the cloud of vultures made it so hard for these prisoners to see that they naively accepted everything that happened to them as being from the Lord.

The only food provided for these prisoners was the vomit from the vultures. Those who refused to eat it simple weakened until they fell. Those who did eat it were strengthened, but with the strength of the evil one. They would then begin to vomit on the others. When one began to do this a demon that was waiting for a ride would be given this one and he or she would be promoted to the front divisions. Even worse than the vomit from the vultures was a repulsive slime that these demons were urinating and defecating upon the Christians they rode. This slime was the pride, selfish ambition, etc., that was the nature of the division they were a part of. However, this slime made the Christians feel so much better than the condemnation that they easily believed that the demons were messengers of God, and they actually thought this slime was the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Then the voice of the Lord came to me saying, "This is the beginning of the enemy's last day army. This is Satan's ultimate deception, and his ultimate power of destruction is released when he uses Christians to attack other Christians. Throughout the ages he has used this army, but never has he been able to capture so many to be used for his evil purposes. Do not fear. I have an army too. You must now stand and fight, because there is no longer any place to hide from this war. You must fight for My Kingdom, for truth, and for those who have been deceived."

I had been so repulsed and outraged by the evil army that I had wanted to die rather than live in such a world. However, this word from the Lord was so encouraging that I immediately began yelling to the Christian prisoners that they were being deceived, thinking that they would listen to me. When I did this, it seemed that the whole army turned to look at me, but I kept yelling. I thought that the Christians were going to wake up and realize what was happening to them, but instead many of them started reaching for their arrows to shoot at me. The others just hesitated as if they did not know what to make of me. I knew then that I had done this prematurely, and that it had been a very foolish mistake. (Rick Joyner)

Have faith in God, I tell you the truth, if you say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in your heart but believes that what you says will happen, it will be done for you. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mk11v22-23
He who overcomes will be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before My Father & His angels rev3v5
He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death rev2v10
Him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame & sat down with My Father on His thrown rev3v21
Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of My God & the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from My God; & I will also write on him My new name rev3v12
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit you & you will bring justice. You will not shout or cry out, or raise your voice in the streets. A bruised reed you will not break, & a smoldering wick you will not you will not snuff out. In faithfulness you will bring forth justice; you will not falter or be discouraged till you establishes justice… isa42v1-4

If as one people speaking the same language they began to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them gen11v6

If my people would but listen to me & follow my ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies & turn my hand against their foes! Psm 81:13-14

If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here. Zech 3:7

I called you. You are my servant; I have chosen you & have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you & help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed & disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing & perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand & says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, for I myself will help you. See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new & sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains & crush them, & reduce the hills to chaff. You will winnow them, the wind will pick up them, & a gale will blow them away. But you will rejoice in the Lord & glory in the holy One of Israel. I the Lord will answer you; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake you. I will make rivers flows on barren heights, & springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, & the parched ground into springs. isa41v-21

I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you. Jer 29:11-14

I myself will bring you back to your pasture, where you will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over you who will tend you, and you will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing. Jer 23:3-4

Defend the cause of the weak & fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor & oppressed Psm 82:2

I am God Almighty; walk before me & be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between Me & you & will greatly increase your numbers gen17v1-2

I am God Almighty; be fruitful & increase in number. A nation & a community of nations will come from you, & kings will come from your body. The land I gave to Abraham & Isaac I also give to you, & I will give this land to your descendants after you. Gen35v11-12

I am He who searches hearts & minds, & I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Rev2v23

I am making everything new! Rev 21v5

I am watching to see that My word is fulfilled. Jer1v12

I am your Husband. Jer3v14

I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth & every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. & to all the beasts of the earth & all the birds of the air & all the creatures that move on the ground- everything that has breath of life in it- I give every green plant for food gen1v28-30

I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham & the God of Isaac. I will give you & your descendants the land. Your descendants will be like the dusts of the earth, & you will spread out to the west & to the east, to the north & to the south. All peoples on the earth will be blessed through you & your offspring. I am with you & will watch over you wherever you go, & I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. Gen28v13-15

I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you & will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham. Gen26v24

If you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. I will make you a wall to these people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue & to save you. I will save you from the hands of the wicked & redeem you from the grasp of the cruel. Jr16:19-21

I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them & I made them known; then suddenly I acted, & they came to pass. I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you. From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you. They are created now & not long ago; you have not heard of them before today…see, I have refined you… I, even I, have called you. I will bring you & you will succeed in your mission. I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains; their name would never be cut off nor destroyed before me. Isa48v3-22

I have brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit & rich produce. Jer2v7

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all isa7v9

It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him gen2v18

I have planted you like a choice vine of sound & reliable stock. Jer2v21

I have removed the burden from your shoulder Psm 81:6

In My faithfulness I will reward you & make a everlasting covenant you. Your descendants will be known among the nations & your offspring among the people. All who see you will acknowledge that you are a person the Lord has blessed. isa61v8-

In that day, I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them. So do not fear, O my servant; do not be dismayed, I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. you will again have peace and security, and no one will make you afraid. I am with you and will save you, I will discipline you but only with justice. Jer 30:8-11

In your distress you called & I rescued you out of a thundercloud Psm 81:7

I have chosen you, so that you will direct your children & your household after you to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right & just, so that the Lord will bring about for you what He has promised him gen18v19

I have made a covenant with you my chosen one, I have sworn to you my child 89v3

I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have exalted you from among the people 89v19

I have given you this land to take possession of it gen15v7

ALL NIV

THERE’S A PRICE TO PAY

Some folks have it mighty easy in this day and time. But I feel sorry for folks who have had it easy. You know, it was hard for me to go out on the field. Our home had been like heaven on earth for 10 years, and here I had to be gone 90 percent of the time. That's something to suffer through! My wife raised the children. She is to be commended. I get the credit for it, but she did it. She's the one who instilled the right principles.

When I went out on the field, Ken was in the third grade and Pat was in the second grade. I wasn't with them all those years. Then when they became teenagers, I wasn't with them. I had always looked forward with great anticipation to family life. The day after Ken was born I asked Oretha, "When will he get old enough for me to carry him with me?" It's tough to be out on the field by yourself, shut up in a hotel room staring at the four walls. But God said, "Do it!" When Ken got to be about 12 years old I would take him with me sometimes. I remember once we were driving back to Texas after a service in Oklahoma. We got home, and that night we were kneeling by the bed to pray. Ken began to cry and asked me, "Daddy, why do you have to be gone all the time? Why can't you be home like other daddies?" That's tough to take! I tried not to be gone. I stayed out on the field for seven months. Finally I said, "It's too rough. It's too big a price to pay. I won't pay it. I'll go back to pastoring. I'll be with my family." I cancelled my meetings. On Sunday, July 10, 1949, I was planning to preach at a church in East Texas. It was one of the best churches in the area. I had been assured I could have it if I wanted it.

My wife and I went there that day, and I attended a men's Bible class before the service. I was sitting on a bench and suddenly my heart stopped and I pitched over on the floor on my face. I fell right at the pastor's feet. He picked me up and my heart began to race. You couldn't detect the beating. It felt like something shaking—like a bowl full of gelatin. Some people carried me over to the parsonage next door. I said, "Feel my heart." They felt it and began to cry. Two more preachers came over. They told me later, "We knew you were dead." I was cold all over and white as a sheet. Death was upon my brow.

The ministers ran to the Sunday School addition and one of them motioned to my wife. She was already getting up. She told them, "The Lord spoke to me and told me something had happened to him." She rushed in and fell down beside the bed. She said, "I feel like this is my fault! I was complaining to God because you were gone all the time. And I heard a voice speak while I was washing the dishes. It said, 'I could take him where he would never come back.' I looked all through the house —under the bed and behind the door in the bathroom. I couldn't find anybody. I checked the doors and they were locked. I just decided I was hearing things."

Kneeling there by my bed she prayed, "Lord, that was You who spoke to me in an audible voice. I'll never complain anymore. I don't care how long he's gone or where he goes. I've made my consecration. I'll do what You said to do, Lord." The power of God fell on us. The power of God fell on me. And I was instantly healed! I leaped off that bed and danced through the house. Now, you remember I'd cancelled all my meetings. I didn't have a meeting left, yet I had a wife and two children to support and rent and utilities to pay. You may ask, "Why didn't you just take a job?" I did do that at first. But I never lost sight of the fact that I was in the ministry and was living by faith. So I'd take any meeting, wherever the door opened. We had some of the most miraculous things happen.

I feel sorry for folks who have never had such a privilege. Some of you are driving Cadillacs and living big, and you think you are living by faith. You are no more living by faith than I'm an astronaut. You talk about the faith life while drinking malted milks and eating T-bone steaks! Now, you may get there after awhile. Don't misunderstand me. But we had the biggest time. I think that was one of the sweetest times of our lives. And it was a time of spiritual growth. We lived from week to week and hardly knew where our next meal was coming from. But we were never in lack, because our confidence and faith were in the Lord.

Learn the way of the Spirit. When I went out on the field I fought more devils in that first seven months than I had in the previous 15 years of ministry put together. If the devil could have kept me out of that field ministry, he could have kept me out of where we are now. I'd have given up on it. But I learned through what I suffered. We don't like to hear that side of it too much. But when the Lord has told you something, stay hooked. Go right on through the tests and trials and be perfected.

When I went out on the field, I told Ken, "Here's why I have to be gone. Your Mother and I have made a dedication to the Lord. God said to go. He'll make it up to us."

Mark 10:29 and 30 says: MARK 10:29,30 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

God certainly did make it up to us. I was preaching years later at a Full Gospel church in Cushing, Oklahoma. Suddenly in the night I sat bolt upright in bed. I knew immediately that Ken's life was in danger. He was in the armed forces at that time, serving in Taiwan. That night he had been riding a motorcycle and the front wheel had gone off a mountain. It was thousands of feet to the bottom. If he had gone over the cliff, he would have been killed.

When I sat up in bed, the Lord said to me, "You obeyed Me. If you hadn't, he would never have come back from Taiwan. But you obeyed Me. He'll be back. You can lie down and sleep." So God made it up to me. Yet I had suffered during those years of field ministry. Many times when I left I would be weeping by the time I drove the car around the corner. I would weep all the way to my next meeting. I'd rather have been at home. There's a price to pay, dear friends. But, glory to God, we'll not magnify the suffering. I like to be around when payday comes! It wasn't easy back then. Some people want to start out where I am today. In some ways you can, and in some ways you can't. But after you have suffered a little while, and been faithful, it will pay off. I've never shared some of these things before. I've said, "I'm a faith person—my faith saw me through." But the Lord began to talk to me about preaching this part, too. We've got to tell the other side. It takes faith to go through these trials. Many times, after meetings at night, I would get so lonely. You are by yourself so much. I've actually thought about getting up and kicking out the window panes for a little excitement! If you think that's not suffering, go through it and you'll find out. Yes, there is suffering, but not sickness and disease. Thank God you don't have to suffer with that, because Jesus bore our infirmities.

Say this: "I will serve Him. I will do His bidding. I'll do His will no matter what the cost may be." It costs something to separate yourself unto the ministry that God has called you to. The foundation for my ministry today came in my staying put. I stayed in places where I didn't want to stay. That's where I learned so much. That's when the foundation was established in me. Stay put in hard places, and you will eventually rest upon the mountaintop. (Kenneth E. Hagin)

B'FAST

Be fruitful & increase in number & fill the earth. The fear & dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth & all the birds of the air, upon every creatures that moves along the ground, & upon all the fish of the sea; they are given in to your hands. Everything that lives & moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plant, I now give you EVERYTHING. Gen9v1-4

Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will protect them from those who malign them Psm 12:5

Be clean! mk1v41

Be faithful, even to the point of death, & I will give you the crown of life rev2v10

Be fruitful & increase in number; fill the earth & subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea & the birds of the air & over every living creature that moves on the ground gen1v28

Be fruitful & increase in number… gen1v22

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water, that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jer 17:7-8

Break up your unplowed ground & do not sow among thorns. Jer4v3

Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. Jer 29:5-7

He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, & he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God Psm 50:23

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jer1v5

Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her she delivers a son. No sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. Do I bring to the moment of birth & not give delivery?
Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery? Rejoice with Jerusalem & be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her, for you will nurse at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply & delight in her overflowing abundance isa66v7-11

Blessed be U by God Most High, Creator of heaven & earth. & blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand gen14v20

Boast about this: that you understands & knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice & righteousness on earth, for in these I delight. Jer9v24

But now listen, O my servant whom I have chosen. Do not be afraid, O My child For will pour water on the thirsty land, & streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, & my blessing your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. One will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and will take the name Israel. I am the first & I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Isa44v1-8

Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you & you will honor me Psm 50:13

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast & have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me. Lift up your eyes & look around you… those who devoured you will be far away isa49v13-17

Can plunder be taken from warriors, or captives rescued from the fierce? Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, & plunders retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, & your children will be saved isa49v25

Come follow me, & I will make you fishers of men mk1v17

Do not be afraid of your enemy, for I have handed him over to you with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. Deut 3:2

Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, & do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, He is the one you are to fear, He is the one you are to dread, & He will be a sanctuary; isa8v12-14

Do not be afraid, I am your Shield, your very great reward gen15v1

Because you love me, I will rescue you; I will protect you, for you acknowledge my name. You will call upon me & I will answer you; I will be with you in trouble, I will deliver you & honor you. With long life will I satisfy you & show you my salvation Psm 91:14-16

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord…34v11

Do not be afraid of what you have heard isa37v6

Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit & bridle or they will not come to you…32v8-9

Do not fear them: they can do no harm nor can they do any good. Jer10v5

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; & when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush & Sheba in your stead. Since you are precious & honored in my sight, & because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, & people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east & gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ & to the south, ‘Do not hold them back’. Bring my sons from afar & my daughters from the ends of the earth- everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed & made Isa43v1-7

‘’Flee for your life! Don’t look back, & don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away! Flee quickly’’ gen19v17,22

For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet & held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp & pant. I will lay waste the mountains & hills & dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into Islands & dry up the pools. I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before you & make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake you. Hear, you deaf; look you blind, & see! Who is blind but my servant, & deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the Lord? Isa42v14-20

Foreigners will rebuild your walls, & their kings will serve you…in favor I will show you compassion isa60v10

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert & streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals & the owls, because I provide water in the desert & streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise… I, even I, am he who blots out your offenses. I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, & remembers your sins no more. Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case of your innocence isa43v19-27

For your sake I will send to Babylon & bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians, in the ships in which they took pride. I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King isa43v14

From this day on I will bless you. Hag 2:19

Get yourself ready! Stand up & say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar & a bronze wall to stand against the whole land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you & will rescue you. Jer1v17-19

‘’LIVE FOR WHAT IS RECORDED IN HEAVEN: CARE NOTHING FOR WHAT IS RECORDED ON EARTH’’

‘’….a woman stepped forward who I did not know. Her beauty and grace was breathtaking, but it was not sensual, or seductive in any way. She was the definition of dignity and nobility.

"I was his wife on earth," she began. "Much of what you know of him actually came from me, therefore what I am about to say is not just about him, but about us. You can reform the church without reforming your own soul. You can dictate the course of history, and yet not do the Father's will, or glorify His Son. If you commit yourself to making human history, you may do it, but it is a fleeting accomplishment that will evaporate like a wisp of smoke."

"But your husband's work, or your work, greatly impacted every generation after him for good. It is hard to imagine how dark the world would have been without him," I protested.

"True. But you can gain the whole world and still lose your own soul. Only if you keep your own soul pure can you impact the world for the truly lasting eternal purpose of God. My husband lost his soul to me, and he only gained it at the end of his life because I was taken from the earth so that he could. Much of what he did he did more for me than for the Lord. I pressured him, and even gave him much of the knowledge that he taught. I used him as an extension of my own ego, because as a woman at the time I could not be recognized as a spiritual leader myself. I took over his life so that I could live my life through Him. Soon I had him doing everything just to prove himself to me."


"You must have loved her very much." I said looking at him.

"No. I did not love her at all. Neither did she love me. In fact, after just a few years of marriage we did not even like each other. But we both needed each other, so we found a way to work together. The more successful we became in this way, the more unhappy we became, and the more deception we used to fool those who followed us. We were empty wretches by the end of our lives. The more influence that you gain by your own self-promotion, the more striving you must do to keep your influence, and the more dark and cruel your life will become. Kings feared us, but we feared everyone from the kings to the peasants. We could trust no one because we were living in such deception ourselves we did not even trust each other. We preached love and trust, because we wanted everyone to love and trust us, but we feared and secretly despised everyone ourselves. If you preach the greatest truths but do not live them, you are only the greatest hypocrite."

Their words began to pound me like a hammer. I could see that already my life was heading in the same direction. How much was I doing to promote myself rather than Christ. I began to see how much I did just to prove myself to others, especially those who disliked me, or who I felt in competition with in some way. I began to see how much of my own life was built on the facades of a projected image that belied who I really was. But here I could not hide. This great cloud of witnesses all knew who I was beyond the veil of my projected motives.

I looked again at this couple. They were now so guileless and so truly noble that it was impossible to question their motives. They were gladly exposing their most devious sins for my sake, and were genuinely glad to be able to do it.

"I may have had a wrong concept of you by your history and your writings, but I have even more esteem for you now. I pray that I can carry from this place the integrity and freedom that you have now. I am tired of trying to live up to projected images of myself. How I long for that freedom." I lamented, wanting desperately to remember every detail of this encounter. Then the famous Reformer offered a final exhortation:

"Do not try to teach others to do what you are not doing yourself. Reformation is not just a doctrine. True reformation only comes from union with the Savior. When you are yoked with Christ, carrying the burdens that He gives you, He will be with you and carry them for you. You can only do His work when you are doing it with Him, not just for Him. Only the Spirit can beget that which is Spirit. If you are yoked with Him you will do nothing for the sake of politics or history. Anything that you do because of political pressures, or opportunities, will only lead you to the end of your true ministry. The things that are done for the sake of trying to make history will at best doom your accomplishments to history, and you will fail to impact eternity. If you do not live what you preach to others you disqualify yourself from the high calling of God, just as we did. I will tell you what will keep you on the path of life - love the Savior and seek His glory alone. Everything that you do to exalt yourself will one day bring you the most terrible humiliation. Everything that you do out of true love for the Savior, to glorify His name, will extend the limits of His eternal kingdom, and ultimately result in a much higher place for yourself. Live for what is recorded HEAVEN. Care nothing for what is recorded on earth." (Rick Joyner)

WORD MEDITATION (NIV)

All who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil. But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds. Jer 30:16-17

Arise, shine, for your light has come, & the glory of the Lord rises upon you. The Lord rises upon you & His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, & kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes & look about you: All assemble & come to you; your sons come from afar & your daughters are carried on their arm. Then you will look & be radiant, your heart will throb & swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. Isa60v1-5

As a belt is bound around a man’s waist, so I bound you to me to be my person for my renown and praise & honor. Jer13:11

As a lion growls, a great lion over his prey- & though a whole band of shepherds is called together against him, he is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor- so the Lord Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion & on its heights. Like birds hovering overhead, the Lord Almighty will shield you & deliver you, he will ‘pass over’ you & rescue you isa31v4-5

As for Me, this is My covenant with you, My Spirit which is in you, & My words that I have put in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on & forever isa59v21

As for you, be fruitful & increase in number; multiply on the earth & increase upon it. Gen9v7

As for you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you. Mic 4:8

As long as the earth endures, seedtime & harvest, cold & heat , summer & winter, day & night will never cease gen 8v22

As the new heavens & the new earth that I make will endure before me, so will your name & descendants endure isa66v22

Ask of Me, & I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession Psm 2:8

Ask for WHATEVER you want Me to give you. 2Chron1v7

Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor. Shake off your dust, rise up, sit enthroned. Free yourself from the chains on your neck. Isa52v1-2

A son coming from your own body will be your heir gen15v4

I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations. Joel 2:19

for your sake i will send to babylon & bring down as fugitives all the babylonians, in the ships in which they took pride. i am the lord, your holy one, israel’s creator, your king isa43v14


have faith in god, i tell you the truth, if you say to this mountain, 'go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in your heart but believes that what you says will happen, it will be done for you. therefore i tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. and when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your father in heaven may forgive you your sins. mk11v22-23
here is my servant whom i uphold, my chosen one in whom i delight; i will put my spirit you & you will bring justice. you will not shout or cry out, or raise your voice in the streets. a bruised reed you will not break, & a smoldering wick you will not you will not snuff out. in faithfulness you will bring forth justice; you will not falter or be discouraged till you establishes justice… isa42v1-4


if as one people speaking the same language they began to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them gen11v6

if my people would but listen to me & follow my ways, how quickly would i subdue their enemies & turn my hand against their foes! psm 81:13-14

I will drive the northern army far from you, pushing it into a parched and barren land, with its front columns going into the eastern sea and those in the rear into the western sea. Joel 2:20

Be not afraid; be glad and rejoice. Surely the Lord has done great things. Be not afraid, for the open pastures are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches. Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God. For he has given me the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends me abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. Joel I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten — the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm — my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will you be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will you be shamed. Joel 2:21-27

BE CAREFUL WITH MONEY

In my ministry as a prophet, God has sometimes used me to foretell certain future events through the word of wisdom — many times privately and occasionally publicly. However, my main ministry as a prophet is to preach and teach the Word of God. As the Spirit wills, these other manifestations occur. But I never seek a vision or seek to hear anything from the Lord; these supernatural manifestations occur spontaneously as the Holy Spirit wills. There are times God will reveal to a prophet something that is going to happen so the prophet can warn the people involved.

For example, in the days of The Voice of Healing, I went to see a minister who had a large tent that seated thousands. A large crowd like that was almost unheard of in those days.

The minister showed me his tent, and when we finished talking, I went to get into my car. As I did, the Spirit of God said to me, "Go tell him he's not going to live much longer unless he judges himself in three areas. Number one, on money."

This man had used the manifestation of spiritual gifts in his ministry to raise money. That's not only not scriptural; it's not ethical. Those who are called to the ministry, including prophets, need to be very careful about money. Ministers shouldn't be out for money. Folks can't use the ministry to raise money for themselves. Some folks in our day are flirting with disaster in this area and are right on the edge of it.

Then the Lord said to me, "Number two, tell him that he needs to judge himself on love. He's not walking in love toward his fellow ministers." This man would cut down fellow ministers without hesitation if they happened to cross him.

Then Jesus said, "Number three, tell him to judge himself on his diet." This minister didn't seem to exercise any self-control in his eating habits. Here again, this was a private manifestation of gifts of the Spirit operating in the office of the prophet. Probably ninety percent of the time, the prophet's ministry is in demonstration privately. Sometimes the Lord will instruct a prophet to go tell the person what the Lord has shown him, and sometimes He won't.

This time the Lord told me to go tell the man what the Lord had said. I started to get out of my car to go talk to the man, but just then someone else began talking to him. I sat back down in my car, and then my human reasoning took over.

I began to think, He's not going to listen to me anyway. As I sat there reasoning to myself, the minister I was supposed to talk to got in his car and drove away. I never had another opportunity to tell him what the Lord had shown me.

About three and a half years later, I was at a Voice of Healing convention. Word came that this minister was dying. Brother Lindsay invited all the ministers who were present to come up on the platform and agree together in prayer for this man's healing. I started to walk up to the platform, but the Spirit of God said to me, "Don't go up there." I stopped dead still, and asked, "Why not?" He said, "Because he's going to die." I asked, "Why is he going to die?" The Holy Spirit said, "Because he wouldn't judge himself and walk in love towards his fellow ministers. I judged him, and turned him over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (1 Cor. 5:5). So I just turned around and went to the back of the auditorium. Later that minister died just as the Lord had said he would. (Kenneth Hagin)

MONEY, HEALINGS & MIRACLES (I)

One minister in particular caused a great deal of confusion in the days of The Voice of Healing, particularly in the deliverance ministry. At one time he was marvelously used of God in spiritual gifts. I saw God do some of the greatest miracles I've ever seen in my life through this man's ministry. But he got off into excesses, and it ruined his ministry and eventually cost him his life.

You see, eventually a prophet or any minister will lose the anointing if he's not walking in the light of the Word. In the natural, if you get a freight train going full speed and let it run out of fuel, for a while, it will still keep going. In the same way, some prophets have run out of the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit because their ministries aren't based solidly on the Word to give them spiritual fuel. Yet for a while they still keep going.

Many folks can't tell when a minister is preaching without the anointing. But just because a prophet can preach, doesn't mean he's preaching under the anointing. Many people don't know the difference between inspiration and perspiration] Just because a minister is a fast talker, doesn't mean he's inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Don't Pervert the Gift of God
Staying teachable and staying in the Word will help keep a person from getting off spiritually. I don't know about you, but I've always made it a practice to listen to others who have wisdom and knowledge in the Word.
Even when I was a young minister, I listened to older men of God who had been down the road spiritually before me.

These were men who had years of ministerial experience and knew the Spirit of God. The things they shared with me helped me immeasurably in many areas. One area where the Body of Christ needs some wisdom from experienced ministers is in understanding that there are religious cons in the ministry. Some of these religious cons call themselves prophets. For example, some ministers who were at one time used by God in revelation gifts, particularly the word of knowledge, have perverted those gifts.

It seems whenever they have a word of knowledge, it's always about money. For example, I heard one so-called prophet say, "There is a woman who has $10,000. If she will send it to me, God will save her husband." Well, there's bound to be some dear woman with an unsaved husband who will send him that money. But any minister who uses spiritual gifts to prophesy money into his ministry is a false prophet! A person like that isn't in the Spirit — he's just learned how to maneuver and manipulate people.

He's money-minded, and he's lost the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Many who have perverted spiritual gifts were no doubt at one time used by God. But the anointing on their ministries lifted when they got so money-minded that they perverted the gift of God for personal gain. And when a minister is no longer teachable and open to the correction of others, he is in bad shape spiritually.

There was a man in the days of The Voice of Healing whom God used mightily. I once saw him point to a man in the congregation and say, "God shows me that you have a rupture." He told the man how many years he'd had the rupture.

Then he prayed for the man, and the rupture disappeared instantly. The man who was healed was a successful businessman. He was thrilled to be healed because he had suffered greatly. Several years after this businessman had been healed, he asked me, "Do you think that prophet was right on spiritually?" I asked, "Why?" He said, "Well, I was healed, all right. But every time that minister saw me after that, he prophesied money out of me."

Finally after two or three years, this businessman caught on. He should have caught on the first time. Anyone prophesying money out of your pocket into theirs is wrong. Never accept the ministry of someone who is always prophesying money out of people! A prophet should never use spiritual gifts for personal gain. Some ministers tell you to plant your money into their ministries as a seed faith for your healing. But they are walking on dangerous ground. Healing belongs to you even if you don't have a dime!

Ministers need to be careful, particularly where money is concerned. Some ministers just want your financial support, and they try to obtain it by questionable means. They aren't necessarily concerned first and foremost about ministering to people or being a blessing to them. Ministers of the gospel should be in the ministry to help and bless people, not for personal gain. BUT, YOU SEE, JUST BECAUSE ANY MINISTER, INCLUDING A PROPHET, PRODUCES FRUIT IN HIS MINISTRY, DOESN'T MEAN HIS LIFE OR MINISTRY IS ONE HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT ON WITH GOD.

Christians shouldn't be skeptical of ministers of the gospel. On the other hand, there are spiritual cons in the ministry who have perverted the gift of God; they are motivated by personal gain. So Christians can't always just look at the fruit a minister produces publicly to determine if his ministry is right on spiritually. Does he walk uprightly before God? Does his life reflect the gravity of his high call to the ministry? Are spiritual gifts used according to scriptural guidelines? These are questions which will help the Body of Christ from being taken in by charlatans in the ministry. (Kenneth Hagin)

FOOD FOR YOUR SPIRIT

I will bring you to My holy mountain & give you joy in My house of PRAYER…. For My house will be called the house of prayer for all nations. Isa56v7

I will not forget you. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud. I carry out the words of my servants & fulfills the predictions of my messangers. isa44v22-26

I will give you treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places isa45v3

I have made you lord over your relatives, & I have sustained you with grain & new wine. Gen27v37

I have put My words in your mouth & covered you with the shadow of My hand isa51v16

I reared children & I brought them up Isa1v2

I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you & will make you to be a…light for the peoples, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison & to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. See, the former things have taken place, & new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you isa42v6-8

I will live with you & walk among you, & I will be your God, & you will be My person. Therefore come out from them & be separate. Touch not the unclean thing, & I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, & you will be My son 2cor6v16-18

I will call you 'my person' who were not my person; and I will call you 'my loved one' who is not my loved
one," and, "It will happen that in the very place where it was said to you, 'You are not my person,' you will be called 'son of the living God.'" Rom 9:25-26

I will come to give rest to Israel. Jer 31:2

I will establish your line forever & make your throne firm throughout all generations 89v4

I will extend peace to her like a river, & the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse & be carried on her arm & dandled on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; & you will comforted over Jerusalem Isa66v12-13

I will establish your line forever, your throne as long as the heavens endure 89v29

I will instruct you & teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you & watch over you.
I will clothe your enemies with shame, but the crown on your head will be resplendent 132v18

I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea, that you may plunge your feet in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share 68v22-23

I will crush your foes before you & strike down your adversaries 89v23

I will give you another name isa65v15

I will give you the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God…if you overcome…rev2v7

I will lead you beside streams of water on a level path where you will not stumble. Jer 31:9

I will maintain my love to you forever, & my covenant with you will never fail 89v28

I will make a horn grow for you & set up a lamp for you my anointed one. 132v17

I will make you into a great nation & I will bless you; I will make your name great, & you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, & whoever curses you I will curse;…. gen12v2-3

I will make you the everlasting pride & the joy of all generations. You will drink the milks of nations & be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold, & silver in place of iron. Instead of wood, I will bring you bronze, & iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor & righteousness your ruler. No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation & your gates Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, & your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, & your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, & your days of sorrow will end… Your people will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of My hands, for the display of My splendor. The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation.. isa60v15-22

I will make you prosper gen32v9

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Jer 31:25

I will spare you, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. Mal 3:17-18

I will surely make you prosper & will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted gen32v12
I will not take my love from you, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness 89v33

I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered 89v34

I will place on your shoulder the key to the house of David; what you opens no man can shut, & what you shuts no man can open isa22v22

I will plant you for myself in the land; I will show my love to you. Hos 2:23

I will punish the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty & will humble the pride of the ruthless isa13v11

I will make My words in your mouth a fire & these people the wood it consumes. Jer5v14

I will raise you up in my righteousness: I will make all your ways straight. You will rebuild my city & set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward. Isa45v13

I will set your hand over the sea, your right hand over the rivers 89v25

I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count gen16v10

I will surely return to you about this time next year, & your wife will have a son gen 18v10

Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year & your wife will have a son gen18v14

I will sweep her with the broom of destruction isa14v23

I will take you, my servant and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you. Hag 2:23

I will teach you- this time I will teach you my power & might. Jer16:21

I will defend you & save you, for my sake & for the sake of David my servant isa37v35

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate cor1v19

I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, & afterward they will come out with great possessions.


I will restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on her ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place. From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained. Their children will be as in days of old, and their community will be established before me; I will punish all who oppress them. Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. I will bring him near and he will come close to me, for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me? Jer 30:18-21

I will show love to you; and I will save you — not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by the Lord your God. Hos 1:7



But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you. Ezek 2:8

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU FOLLOW AFTER SPIRITUALLY

Another instance of private foretelling occurred in my ministry in January 1964. Several of us had gone to a restaurant. We were sitting at the table getting ready to order, when the Spirit of the Lord came upon me. I said to one of our board members who was there, "I've got to pray, and I've got to pray now."

We got up and left and went to my hotel room and began praying. And then the word of wisdom began to operate through prophecy. I prophesied for two hours. I've never had an anointing quite like that. It seemed like there were two of me, as
I sat there listening to myself prophesy.

In all these years of ministry, an experience like this one has only happened twice. You see, these things occur as the Spirit wills. In that prophecy in the hotel room, the Lord took us through six years and told us about things to come. He told us what would happen in Vietnam and some things that would happen in our government.

In this prophecy, the Lord also said, "At the end of '65, he who now stands in the forefront of the healing ministry as a prophet will be taken out of the way. He'll make a false step and Satan shall destroy his life, but his spirit will be saved, and his works will follow him. Ere '66 shall come, he shall be gone."

I took that prophecy to Brother Lindsay, because it's scriptural to have other spiritual men judge prophecy. I never made it public. Prophets make a mistake by publicly broadcasting some of these things. On December 27, 1965, my wife was at the beauty parlor, and she called home to say that this minister, who was the leading prophet at the time, had been in an automobile accident. He was unconscious, and doctors said he would never regain consciousness.

I told her, "There is no use praying. He'll be dead within two or three days." I said that because I remembered what the Lord had said in that prophecy. Then the Lord explained to me, "I had to permit him to be removed because of the damage he was causing in the Body of Christ."

Two days later, Brother Lindsay called me and said, "Brother Hagin, the brother you referred to just died. I got out that prophecy the Lord gave us eighteen months ago and read it. It's right on."

Brother Lindsay related an experience he'd had with that prophet. Brother Lindsay said, "I told him, 'You're not a teacher, so don't try to teach.'" He was a preacher and a good one at that, and he had marvelous manifestations of the Holy Spirit in his ministry.

Brother Lindsay said, "I begged him not to teach. I said, 'You don't know the Bible, and you're confusing folks. Leave the Bible teaching to the teachers. Just go ahead and preach and exercise the word of knowledge and gifts of healings as the Spirit wills, and be a blessing to the Body of Christ.'"

This prophet said to Brother Lindsay, "I know I'm not a teacher, but I want to teach. And I'm going to teach!" It's dangerous to intrude into a ministry office to which you are not called. In the Old Testament, if people intruded into a holy place that was reserved for those who held certain offices, they instantly fell dead. Under grace, people in disobedience can last for a while. But sooner or later, those who intrude into ministry offices to which they are not called will be judged.

Many times folks see someone minister in the prophet's office, and they say, "I prophesy, so I can stand in the office of the prophet too." But they can't. If they'll keep the gift of prophecy in the realm where it should be — simple prophecy unto edification, exhortation, and comfort — they will be fine. If not, they will get into trouble.

It is dangerous to intrude into another man's office. And, really, the Body of Christ has not had the respect and reverence for ministries, gifts, and manifestations of the Spirit we ought to have. We treat the things of God too lightly.

Then Brother Lindsay related something else to me that had happened regarding this same prophet. He said to me, "This past year, I was praying with my wife and Sister Schrader about the work of the ministry. (Sister Schrader was a prophetess who has since gone on to be with the Lord.)

"We were praying about different projects in our ministry. Right in the middle of the prayer, Sister Schrader blurted out, 'Go warn Brother _________________ (and called this minister's name)! He's going to die.'" Brother Lindsay said, "I was busy, and I let that get by me, and I didn't go warn him like I was supposed to. Then later, my wife and I and Sister Schrader were again praying about ministry projects. Again Sister Schrader blurted out right in the middle of prayer, 'Go warn Brother _________ (and called this minister's name). He's going to die. He's walking in the way of Dowie.'" Here's something about the office of the prophet I want to get across to you. Sometimes when a prophet speaks by the unction of the Spirit, it can seem illogical. It may seem to interrupt what is going on because it comes spontaneously from the Holy Spirit.

In other words, when Sister Schrader blurted this out about this prophet, it had no relation to what they were praying about at all. It didn't seem to fit with what was going on, but the Holy Spirit had something He wanted to get over to them.

Brother Lindsay said, "I called around to see if I could locate this minister, and I finally found where he was holding a meeting. I called him and talked to him personally. I told him, 'I have something important to talk to you about. I want to fly out and talk to you in person. Will you be there?'"

The minister assured Brother Lindsay, saying, "Yes, I'll be here three days." Brother Lindsay told me, "I flew out there, and when I got there, he was gone. Some fellows had come along and wanted him to go hunting with them back up in the mountains. So he went with them and wouldn't be back for three days. I couldn't sit there and wait on him for three days, so I had to leave."

Brother Lindsay said, "Later that same year, my wife and I and Sister Schrader were praying again, and Sister Schrader suddenly blurted out about the same prophet, 'Go warn Brother ____________(and called this minister's name)! He's walking in the way of Dowie. He's going to die. Go now!'

"So I checked around and found out where he was holding a meeting and found out that he would be there several days. I flew to the nearest city, rented a car, and drove to the town where he was preaching. "After his morning meeting," Brother Lindsay said, "I talked to him as the Lord had instructed me, but I saw that he wouldn't listen. I said to myself, Well, he'll just have to die then.

And not too long after that, he did die." That's unfortunate, and it's not God's best. But it happens sometimes when people in the ministry won't judge themselves, and they aren't teachable. When God told me to go talk to that minister I mentioned, and tell him he was going to die unless he judged himself — he could have changed it if he had judged himself. He didn't have to die, if only he had judged the sin in his life. Sometimes things can be changed; sometimes they can't. God knows.

Here's another thing. There is a principle involved here. Be careful who you follow after spiritually. What did that prophecy mean, "He's walking in the way of Dowie"? Sister Schrader didn't even know what that meant; she didn't know Dowie. This prophet (DOWIE) had proclaimed that he was Elijah that was to come, and that he was the messenger of the covenant. But Jesus is the Messenger of the Covenant! Dowie had proclaimed the same thing. I read one of Dowie's sermons in which he proclaimed, "I'm Elijah number three." This prophet who died also said he was Elijah. That's what the Lord meant by, "He's walking in the way of Dowie."

Be careful who you read after. Be careful who you follow after spiritually. Make sure you are following ministers of the gospel only as they follow Christ. Be sure they are rooted and grounded in the Word of God. I could give you other examples of those who went into the same doctrinal error as the one they studied extensively after.

They took upon themselves the same type of ministry, or the same spirit, so to speak, as that other person. That can be good or bad depending on which spirit the minister yielded to — the Holy Spirit or evil spirits. Some way or another, whoever you follow after spiritually, or study after extensively, the "anointing" on that person will become a part of you. Whatever spirit is involved with them, will get involved with you. If you feed on their teaching extensively and they are in doctrinal error, you can get taken up with the same spirit and the same error. IF A PERSON IS IN DOCTRINAL ERROR, HE IS BEING MOTIVATED BY OTHER SPIRITS THAN THE HOLY SPIRIT. Just follow God, Jesus, the Holy Ghost, and be rooted and grounded in the Word for yourself. You can read after others, of course. But don't get taken up with the same spirit they have if they are not walking scripturally in the light of God's Word. (Kenneth Hagin)

THE LOVE OF MONEY

I have been in many places where I have needed a word of wisdom from God and this has been vouchsafed. I will give you one instance. There is one thing I am very grateful to the Lord for, and that is that He has given me grace not to have a desire for money. The love of money is a great hindrance to many; and many a man is crippled in his ministry because he lets his heart run after financial matters. I was walking out one day when I met a godly man who lived opposing me and he said, "My wife and I have been talking together about selling our house and we feel constrained to sell it to you." As we talked together he persuaded me to buy his place, and before we said good-by I told him that I would take it. We always make big mistakes when we are in a hurry. I told my wife what I had promised, "How will you manage it?" I told her that I had managed things so far, but I did not know how I was going to get through this. I somehow knew that I was out of divine order. But when a fellow gets out of divine order it seems that the last person he goes to is God. I was relying on an architect to help me, but that scheme fell through I turned to my relations and I certainly had a wet shirt, as one after another turned me down. I tried my friends and managed no better. My wife said to me, "Thou hast never been to God yet." What could I do?

I have a certain place in our house where I go to pray. I have been there very often. As I went I said, "Lord, if You will get me out of this scrape, I will never trouble Thee on this line again." As I waited on the Lord He just gave me one word. It seemed a ridiculous thing, but it was the wisest counsel. There is divine wisdom in every word He speaks. I came down to my wife, saying, "What do you think? The Lord has told me to go to Brother Webster." I said, "It seems very ridiculous, for he is one of the poorest men I know." He was the poorest man I knew, but he was also the richest man I knew, for he knew God. My wife said, "Do what God says, and it will be right."

I went off at once to see him, and he said as he greeted me, "Smith, what brings you so early?" I answered, "The word of God." I said to him, "About three weeks ago I promised to buy a house of a man, and I am short 100 pounds ($500). I have tried to get this money, but somehow I seem to have missed God." "How is it," he asked, "that you have come to me only now?" I answered, "Because I went to the Lord about it only last night." "Well," he said, "it is a strange thing; three weeks ago I had 100 pounds. For years I have been putting money into a cooperative system and three weeks ago I had to go and draw 100 pounds out.

I hid it under the mattress. Come with me and you shall have it. Take it. I hope it will bring as great a blessing to you as it has been a trouble to me." I had had a word from God, and all my troubles were ended. This has been multiplied in a hundred ways since that time. If I had been walking along filled with the Holy Ghost, I would not have bought that house and would not have had all that strain. I believe the Lord wants to loose us from things of earth. But I am ever grateful for that word from God. (Smith Wigglesworth)

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH

A true apostle will…..qualify himself by being apt to teach sound biblical doctrine, not doctrinal tangents or extreme teachings. And he will make sure he bases his ministry solidly on the Word, rather than on spiritual gifts or signs and wonders.

Folks miss it when they think they can follow the doctrine of some so-called apostle because they see miraculous signs and wonders operating in his ministry. No, every minister's doctrine must line up with the Bible, even if signs and wonders occur in his ministry.

Rev. P.C. Nelson was a leading Greek and Hebrew scholar and an outstanding Bible teacher. He said something along this line about John Alexander Dowie that has helped me immeasurably over the years. Dowie was a great pioneer in the message of divine healing in America. Many wonderful miracles of healing took place under Dowie's ministry. However, Dowie got off doctrinally by announcing that he was the third Elijah that was to come. Dad Nelson, as we called him, said about Dowie: "You can follow Dowie's faith, but you can't follow his doctrine." Friends, go back to the Old Testament and read the story of Samson. You can see in Samson's life that signs and wonders operated in his life, but that didn't necessarily mean he had godly character or sound doctrine.

For example, Samson had the working of miracles operating through him. Even when he was living with a woman in adultery and lying, the gift of working of miracles still operated in his life for a time (see Judges chapter 16). Now don't misunderstand me. The time came when God judged Samson's sin. Samson got up and shook himself and he . . wist not that the LORD was departed from him" (Judges 16:20).

Well, thank God for the miracles that operated in Samson's life, but his life wasn't a moral standard to follow after. Innocent people are misled when they try to follow someone's doctrine because of supernatural signs and wonders occurring in his ministry. Paul said, "Be ye followers of me, EVEN AS I ALSO AM OF CHRIST" (1 Cor. 11:1).

You can follow a person in doctrine as he follows the Word. But don't pay any attention to any so-called apostle or any minister if what he says can't be backed up with the Word. Just because a person stands in a ministry office doesn't mean you ought to listen to what he says if it's not scriptural — even if the miraculous power of God is demonstrated in his life for a time. The time is coming when God will have to judge doctrinal error.

You may be able to follow someone's faith, but not his doctrine. Sometimes people try to follow someone's doctrine because of his faith. But that's not scriptural. A little doctrinal error left unchecked will eventually become gross error. For example, if you flew from Tulsa to Los Angeles and you were a little bit off course, if the pilot didn't correct the course, you'd get so far off course, you'd never reach your destination. The same thing is true spiritually. If you get off course spiritually just a little, you need to correct yourself immediately and get right back in line with the Word. Otherwise, the further you go, the greater the doctrinal error will be. A true apostle will teach sound biblical doctrine. And he will back up what he says with the Word. (Kenneth Hagin)

God2man: @op,could please give me the title of this book, i would like to read it.

God bless you.
God2man.

The title is, 'He Gave Gifts Unto Men' by Kenneth E. Hagin. U sure will like it

PROPHETS WHO OPEN THEMSELVES UP TO FAMILIAR SPIRITS

Because prophets weren't set in the Church to lead and guide people's lives, they will get off-course spiritually if they try to do it. They will open themselves up to occult powers and familiar spirits.

For example, I was holding a meeting in a certain city, staying in the home of a wealthy businessman who was a member of the church where I was ministering. This man owned a shopping center and was extremely successful in business. This businessman asked me, "Brother Hagin, do you know So-and-so?" and mentioned a certain minister.

I didn't know the man personally, but I knew about him. I'm convinced the minister he was talking about was called of God and at one time walked uprightly before God in the ministry. But then he began yielding to wrong spirits. This businessman said, "Our church helped sponsor this minister in a meeting here in town. Nearly every day this minister would come into my office and we'd talk or go out to lunch.

"I had an heirloom — a seven-carat diamond ring — that I'd inherited from my father, which I very seldom ever wore. I had it wrapped up in a handkerchief in the back right-hand corner of the chest of drawers in my bedroom. "One day when this minister came into my office, he turned to me and said, "You have a seven-carat diamond ring you inherited from your father. It's wrapped up in a handkerchief in the right-hand corner of the third drawer in your dresser. God said you are to get it, and give it to me.'"

That's supernatural knowledge, isn't it? It's not only supernatural knowledge, it's spectacular knowledge. But, remember, the devil operates in the supernatural realm too. You'd better watch those folks who prophesy rings off your fingers and money out of your pockets into theirs. Don't have anything to do with people like that. The businessman said to me, "How did that minister know about that ring? I've never told anyone that. No human knew about that heirloom but me and my wife. Naturally I thought, That must be God. So I went home and got it, and brought it back and gave it to him.

"About a week later, the minister came into my office, and someone crossed him and made him mad, and he started cussing. The minister closed the meeting and left town. Shortly after he left town, two young men came to me, and said, 'While that man was in town, he got us off into homosexuality'" This businessman told me, "I thought to myself, Dear Lord, I missed God! That man's not even walking with God. He's off into sin! And now he's got my diamond ring!" Shortly after that incident, I was holding a meeting for a pastor, and this same minister came to visit the pastor's church. This minister was used in spiritual gifts, and at one time he'd had a marvelous healing ministry.

Doctors even attested to the supernatural healings and were amazed about them. But, you see, if a minister isn't careful, he can get lifted up in pride when God uses him, and he can walk and tell them their name and address. Then he would say, "I'll tell you exactly what you have in your pocket. You've got a pen and a package of cigarettes," and then he'd tell the congregation the brand of cigarettes.

But that wasn't the Spirit of God in operation. He didn't minister to the person and get him delivered from cigarette smoking by the power of the Holy Spirit! He just wanted to draw attention to himself by displaying spectacular supernatural knowledge. God knows all those things, too, and He could move through a prophet like that. But He doesn't very often demonstrate Himself like that, unless it serves a definite purpose to help someone, and it gives glory to God.

But often when familiar spirits operate through people, many dear folks think, Isn't that supernatural! And some folks do get healed because they start believing God. I saw some ministers operate through familiar spirits in the days of The Voice of Healing. They could tell you what you had in your pocket, your name, address, and so forth. But it wasn't divinely inspired revelation. Most of the time people who do that are operating by familiar spirits.

A minister once called me to ask about another minister we had both known in the days of The Voice of Healing. He asked me if I would recommend him. Without answering him directly, I asked, "Why are you asking me if I would recommend him?" He answered, "I don't know. I attended one of his services, and I didn't necessarily see anything wrong, but there's just something that doesn't seem quite right. He says he's a prophet.

He called me and wants my church to sponsor him for a meeting. But something down on the inside of me doesn't feel good about it. But I don't know why." Without saying anything negative about the minister, I said, "Follow your spirit. Your spirit is leading you right." I needed to say something to this pastor by way of warning him, because I knew this particular minister had caused trouble in other churches and would tear his church up spiritually too. But I didn't want to say anything critical about him, so I just confirmed what this pastor already had in his own spirit. This so-called prophet would sometimes operate in the Holy Spirit, but then he would yield to familiar spirits and begin operating by occult powers.

And before you knew it, he would be prophesying money out of people's pockets into his. Because of that, he left a bad record everywhere he preached, and he couldn't go back to any of the churches where he had ministered before. This man's ministry was suspect by the very fact that he had to try to get someone to sponsor him for a meeting. In my ministry, I've never had to call anyone yet to be sponsored. If you leave a good record whenever you preach, people will call you for meetings, and you won't have to go around trying to get people to sponsor your meetings.

If a person's ministry is built on the Word, it will eventually prosper. If a minister feeds the people the Word, his ministry will make a way for him. But if he tries to minister through spectacular demonstrations even when the Holy Spirit isn't moving that way, he'll get into trouble spiritually. And eventually his ministry will fail. Sometimes there is just a fine line between fanaticism and true spirituality, and between false and genuine manifestations of spiritual gifts. Many are not able to distinguish the difference, but the Body of Christ needs to be able to do so. The Holy Spirit will always draw attention to God, and exalt the Word and the Lord Jesus Christ, not man.

Recently my wife and I went to preach for a certain group of people, and after my message, I turned to the pastor and said, "I could be wrong because I'm human; I can miss it. And sometimes it's difficult in the Spirit to distinguish between some things. But you've either been going through a terrible physical battle or a tremendous spiritual battle for the last year. If I'm wrong, just speak up and say I'm wrong."

The pastor began to cry, and said, "Brother Hagin, I've been going through a great physical battle." I said, "Well, here's what I have in my spirit. I believe the Lord told me to tell you, 'This is the end of it. The battle is over!'" The pastor said to me and to the congregation, "I haven't said anything to any of you about it, but fifteen years ago I had some serious physical problems. I went to some of the best doctors in America and they diagnosed it," and he gave the name of a rare disease.

"The doctors told me, 'There is nothing that can be done for you. You'll grow steadily worse and die.' But I got on top of the situation by believing God for my healing. And for fourteen years I've been all right. But last year all the symptoms came back on me. I've been in terrible pain. But, Brother Hagin, when you spoke what the Lord said — that the battle is over — all the pain left!" I saw him at a convention a month later, and he was still completely healed and set free. That's the kind of spectacular demonstration of the gifts of the Spirit that are in line with the Word! When it's the Holy Spirit in manifestation, people are healed and set free. And God is exalted, not a prophet. (Kenneth Hagin)

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSISTENT PRAYER & FASTING

One day I went up into the mountain to pray. I had a wonderful day. It was one of the high mountains of Wales. I heard of one man going up this mountain to pray, and the Spirit of the Lord met him so wonderfully that his face shone like that of an angel when he returned. Every one in the village was talking about it. As I went up to this mountain and spent the day in the presence of the Lord, His wonderful power seemed to envelop and saturate and fill me.

Two years before this time there had come to our house two lads from Wales. They were just ordinary lads, but they became very zealous for God. They came to our mission and saw some of the works of God. They said to me, "We would not be surprised if the Lord brings you down to Wales to raise our Lazarus." They explained that the leader of their assembly was a man who had spent his days working in a tin mine and his nights preaching, and the result was that he had collapsed, gone into consumption, and for four years he had been a helpless invalid, having to be fed with a spoon. While I was up on that mountain top I was reminded of the transfiguration scene, and I felt that the Lord's only purpose in taking us into the glory was to fit us for greater usefulness in the valley.

Tongues and Interpretation: "The living God has chosen us for His divine inheritance, and He it is who is preparing us for our ministry, that it may be of God and not of man."

As I was on the mountaintop that day, the Lord said to me, "I want you to go and raise Lazarus." I told the brother who accompanied me of this, and when we got down to the valley, I wrote a postcard: "When I was up on the mountain praying today, God told me that I was to go and raise Lazarus." I addressed the postcard to the man in the place whose name had been given to me by the two lads. When we arrived at the place we went to the man to whom I had addressed the card. He looked at me and said, "Did you send this?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Do you think we believe in this? Here, take it." And he threw it at me.
The man called a servant and said, "Take this man and show him Lazarus." Then he said to me, "The moment you see him you will be ready to go home. Nothing will hold you."

Everything he said was true from the natural viewpoint. The man was helpless. He was nothing but a mass of bones with skin stretched over them. There was no life to be seen. Everything in him spoke of decay. I said to him, "Will you shout? You remember that at Jericho the people shouted while the walls were still up. God has like victory for you if you will only believe." But I could not get him to believe. There was not an atom of faith there. He had made up his mind not to have anything.

It is a blessed thing to learn that God's word can never fail. Never hearken to human plans. God can work mightily when you persist in believing Him in spite of discouragements from the human standpoint. When I got back to the man to whom I had sent the post-card, he asked, "Are you ready to go now?" I am not moved by what I see. I am moved only by what I believe. I know this -- no man looks at appearances if he believes. No man considers how he feels if he believes. The man who believes God has it. Every man who comes into the Pentecostal condition can laugh at all things and believe God. There is something in the Pentecostal work that is different from anything else in the world. Somehow, in Pentecost, you know that God is a reality. Wherever the Holy Ghost has right of way, the gifts of the Spirit will be in manifestation; and where these gifts are never in manifestation, I question whether he is present. Pentecostal people are spoiled for anything else than Pentecostal meetings.

We want none of the entertainments that the churches are offering. When God comes in He entertains us Himself. Entertained by the King of kings and Lord of lords! Oh, it is wonderful. There were difficult conditions in that Welsh village, and it seemed impossible to get the people to believe. "Ready to go home?" I was asked. But a man and a woman there asked us to come and stay with them. I said, "I want to know how many of you people can pray." No one wanted to pray. I asked if I could get seven people to pray with me for the poor man's deliverance. I said to the two people who were going to entertain us, "I will count on you two, and there is my friend and myself, and we need three others." I told the people that I trusted that some of them would awaken to their privilege and come in the morning and join us in prayer for the raising of Lazarus. It will never do to give way to human opinions. If God says a thing, you are to believe it. I told the people that I would not eat anything that night. When I got to bed it seemed as if the devil tried to place on me everything that he had placed on that poor man in the bed. When I awoke I had a cough and all the weakness of a tubercular patient. I rolled out of bed on to the floor and cried out to God to deliver me from the power of the devil. I shouted loud enough to wake everybody in the house, but nobody was disturbed. God gave victory, and I got back into bed again as free as ever I was in my life. At 5 o'clock the Lord awakened me and said to me, "Don't break bread until you break it round My table." At six o'clock He gave me these words, "And I will raise him up." I put my elbow into the fellow who was sleeping with me. He said, "Ugh!" I put my elbow into him again and said, "Do you hear? The Lord says that He will raise him up." At 8 o'clock they said to me, "Have a little refreshment."

But I have found prayer and fasting the greatest joy, and you will always find it so when you are led by God. When we went to the house where Lazarus lived there were eight of us altogether. No one can prove to me that God does not always answer prayer. He always does more than that. He always gives the exceedingly abundant above all we ask or think. I shall never forget how the power of God fell on us as we went into that sick man's room. O, it was lovely! As we circled round the bed I got one brother to hold one of the sick man's hands and I held the other; and we each held the hand of the person next to us. I said, "We are not going to pray, we are just going to use the name of Jesus." We all knelt down and whispered that one word, "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!" The power of God fell and then it lifted. Five times the power of God fell and then it remained. But the person who was in the bed was unmoved. Two years previous someone had come along and had tried to raise him up, and the devil had used his lack of success as a means of discouraging Lazarus. I said, "I don't care what the devil says; if God says he will raise you up it must be so. Forget everything else except what God says about Jesus."

The sixth time the power fell and the sick man's lips began moving and the tears began to fall. I said to him, "The power of God is here; it is yours to accept it." He said, "I have been bitter in my heart, and I know I have grieved the Spirit of God. Here I am helpless. I cannot lift my hands, nor even lift a spoon to my mouth." I said, "Repent, and God will hear you." He repented and cried out, "O God, let this be to Thy glory." As he said this the virtue of the Lord went right through him. I have asked the Lord to never let me tell this story except as it was, for I realize that God cannot bless exaggerations. As we again said, "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!" THE BED SHOOK, AND THE MAN SHOOK. I said to the people that were with me, "You can all go down stairs right away. This is all God. I'm not going to assist him." I sat and watched that man get up and dress himself. We sang the doxology as he walked down the steps. I said to him, "Now tell what has happened."

It was soon noised abroad that Lazarus had been raised up and the people came from Llanelly and all the district round to see him and hear his testimony. And God brought salvation to many. This man told right out in the open air what God had done, and as a result many were convicted and converted. All this came through the name of Jesus, through faith in His name, yea, the faith that is by Him gave this sick man perfect soundness in the presence of them all. (Smith Wigglesworth)

LOOKING FOR THE SPECTACULAR AND MISSING THE SUPERNATURAL

Too many believers are wanting someone to come along and prophesy to them and tell them what to do, when they are supposed to be led by their own spirit.

One time the Holy Spirit said to me, "My people are waiting for the spectacular and missing the supernatural." God does not often lead His people by the spectacular supernatural move of His Spirit. But the inward witness is supernatural because it's the Holy Ghost, and that is the number one way God leads His people.

God didn't put prophets and the gift of prophecy in the Church to guide our personal affairs. Tragedy very often happens to folks when they try to be guided by the prophet. They get their lives in a mess.

I told you about the wealthy businessman who lost everything he had because he listened to a so-called prophetess.

Now I'll tell you about a businessman who never lost a penny because he learned how to listen to the inward witness — to his spirit. He wasn't led by prophecy or the office of the prophet; he was led just by the Holy Spirit in his own spirit.

I knew this man years ago. He lived in a mansion and drove expensive new cars. This was in the Depression Days. The streets were full of people out of work, but there was no work. I
worked myself from sunup to sundown for one dollar and was glad to get it. This man took ten thousand dollars in those days when money was worth more than it is today and turned it into one million dollars. He didn't do that by listening to some "prophet"!

When a person was a millionaire in those days, it was like being a billionaire today. This man said, "I've never lost a penny in any investment. People know I invest, so they come to me with their business deals. I'll listen to their projects, and many times my head will say, 'That's a good deal. You ought to get in on that.' Or someone else will come along with a deal, and my head says, You'd better not get in on that. You'll lose your shirt.'

"But I always say the same thing to everyone who comes to me with an investment, regardless what my head says. I always say, 'Give me two or three days to pray about it.' "I have what I call my prayer closet. It's a closet off the master bedroom. I know God didn't mean we are literally to get into a closet to pray, but that's where I go to pray. I get in there with my Bible, and I may eat one meal a day, or I may not. I may fast. But I pray about the business deal. I ask the Lord, 'Should I or shouldn't I invest in this business deal?'"

He said, "I pray and seek the Lord until I get a yes or a no in my spirit. I spend most of the time seeking God, getting my mind quiet before God. Sometimes I have to get my mind quiet to get an answer. And sometimes it takes time to get my mind shut off; it took me time to learn how to do that. But I always get my answer within three days, sometimes in less than three days.

"Sometimes the very business deals my head said not to get involved in, my spirit also says, 'Don't do it.' Or sometimes the deal my head told me, 'You'd better not get in on that. You'll lose your shirt if you do,' my spirit says, 'Do it!' So I do." He said, "I've never lost a dime in all these years." This man never consulted any prophet; he just followed the inward witness.

I was teaching in a certain place about the inward witness and what it means to be led by the Spirit, and a man came up to me after the service. He said, "Brother Hagin, if I had heard you two years ago, it would have saved me thousands upon thousands of dollars." And he went on to explain.

He told me that two years before, he'd owned all the buildings on a certain city block, which included four or five stores. Then across town, he owned another store, which was full of merchandise. All the merchandise inside the store was paid for, which included much furniture, appliances, and hardware. He said, "I had a good cash flow and the business was in good shape financially. Then a fellow came along one day with a business deal he wanted me to invest in. I told him I'd have to pray about it. He told me that he needed his answer within three days. After that it would be too late.

"I'd heard people talk about putting out fleeces," the man said, "so I put out a fleece. According to the fleece, it looked like I should invest my money in the man's business deal, so I went to the bank and mortgaged everything I had. I put all my money in that enterprise and lost every dime of it! For the last two years I have just been paying on the interest I owe, and I still owe thousands of dollars."

He said, "If I had heard this teaching about following the inward witness, I wouldn't have lost all my money. Something on the inside of me kept telling me not to invest in his business deal, but the fleece said to do it." Nowhere in the New Testament does it say, "As many as are led by fleeces, they are the sons of God."

One year at RHEMA, one of our students asked me about a fellow who was supposed to be a prophet. In the first place, if a person has to advertise to everyone he is a prophet, I wonder about his calling. In the second place, people make a mistake running around listening to every so-called prophet. The Bible says a man's gift makes room for him (Prov. 18:16). If a person is called to the office of the prophet, he shouldn't have to advertise it. People will know it sooner or later by the spiritual equipment that goes along with that office.

Anyway, this student said, "This prophet called me out of the crowd and prophesied over me that God had called me to Africa. He said that in so many months I'd be in Africa." The student said, "But the thought has never entered my mind, nor have I ever had it in my spirit about going to Africa." I asked him, "In your spirit what do you sense God wants you to do?" He said, "I know exactly what God wants me to do. I settled all that through prayer and waiting before God." I said, "Does it have anything to do with Africa?" He answered, "No." "Forget what that man told you then," I said.

"Yes, but that fellow said he was a prophet." I said, "Just because he said he's a prophet doesn't make him one. Don't pay a bit of attention to what he said. You do what God told you in your own heart to do." When you are grounded in the Word, you are not going to be moved by so-called prophets or their so-called prophecies. If you are moved by them, you are still a spiritual child tossed about with every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14). You need to learn to be led by the inward witness of the Holy Spirit in your spirit man. (Kenneth Hagin)

DIRECTING THE LIVES OF OTHERS IS FORTUNE-TELLING

I know successful people who went bankrupt in business because they followed some so-called prophet's advice. Some of these people were very successful and had millions of dollars and beautiful, palatial mansions. But they lost everything by trying to follow the guidance of some so-called prophet.

For example, I was preaching in a certain state, and a wealthy businessman came to one of my meetings. I had met him once, and I knew he was wealthy, but I knew nothing else about him. But the minute he came into my meeting, the Lord spoke to me about him. At the Lord's direction, I later told him what the Lord had said to me.

This man owned a palatial home and several expensive cars and was very successful in business; he was worth millions of dollars. He had servants, a private plane, and his children drove brand-new expensive cars. But then he started going to a so-called prophetess for direction and counsel before he would make any business deal. The Lord told me that he was going to lose everything he owned if he kept listening to her.

Actually, people who try to direct other people's lives through the office of the prophet are nothing more than fortune-tellers. Many people don't have enough sense to know that. This woman tried to guide this man's business affairs through "spiritual gifts." But it wasn't the Holy Spirit that was in operation through her; she was nothing more than a fortune-teller.

In First Thessalonians 5:20,21, the Bible says, "Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." We aren't to despise prophesying. But on the other hand, we aren't supposed to believe everything everyone prophesies to us either. The Bible tells us to prove all things to see if they are of God.

This woman's counsel obviously wasn't of God. Believers trying to inquire about God's leading or direction in their lives through a prophet are on dangerous ground. This businessman should have had enough common sense to know that when every one of his business deals failed because of the advice of this "prophetess," her advice wasn't any good! Besides, a businessman ought to have some business sense!

And if he needs direction in business, he should seek God's counsel first. Then if he needs to, he could consult with others who have business expertise. I told this businessman what the Lord told me to tell him —that he was going to lose everything if he didn't quit listening to that woman who claimed to be a prophetess. But some people hear only what they want to hear. He told someone I agreed with what he was doing. And he kept inquiring through that so-called prophetess until he lost everything he had and went bankrupt.

This businessman was so deceived, he wouldn't make a move in business without calling this woman. Some of these false prophets and prophetesses prey upon people to get their money. They are no more prophets and prophetesses than I'm an astronaut. But just because some people go off into error, that doesn't do away with the legitimate prophetic ministry.

The true prophet doesn't try to run people's lives through that office. A prophet needs to be very careful in the area of personal prophecy. That's why when I'm ministering to people through the prophetic office, I very often say to them, "Does that mean anything to you? Does that confirm what you already have in your own heart? If it doesn't bear witness with your own spirit, don't pay a bit of attention to it." (Kenneth Hagin)

WHEN ANY SO-CALLED PROPHET STARTS PROPHESYING ABOUT MONEY — WATCH OUT! (Kenneth Hagin)

Years ago I knew a number of couples who got married because some so-called prophet prophesied to them, telling them they should marry. Every single one of those marriages failed because they looked to a so-called prophet to guide them instead of the Holy Spirit residing within. Don't marry someone just because some so-called prophet prophesies to you.

For example, forty years ago one fellow I knew married a woman because someone prophesied that he should. It wasn't God's will, and it got him off track with God. He's been out of the ministry all these years and just recently got back in the ministry God had for him all those years. People are in danger when they go around trying to regulate other people's lives from the prophet's office.

I remember one fellow I knew several years ago who was called to the office of the prophet. But he got off into error because he thought he should prophesy all the time; he put prophesying before the Word! He had a message for practically everyone he met. He'd even stop people on the street to give them a "word" from God.

He didn't have a message from God for all those people! I tried to help him and tell him about the scriptural operation of prophetic office, but he wouldn't listen. God had mightily used him at one time when he was walking in the light of the Word. One of my own board members told me how God had used this prophet in his own life. This board member was in one of this prophet's meetings. The board member told me, "That man didn't know a thing about me. But suddenly in the middle of his sermon, he stopped, pointed to me, and said, 'Come up here.' Then he told me exactly what was wrong with me physically, laid hands on me, and I was instantly healed."

God had used this prophet mightily along that line. Later I had an opportunity to meet him because we were both staying in this board member's home for a short time. Every few minutes this "prophet" would prophesy to me. He had been in the house about twenty minutes, and he prophesied to me nineteen times! I didn't pay any attention to it. Not a word of it was so.

I told him, "You've distorted the office of the prophet. It's not what you think it is. The prophet doesn't just go around giving personal prophecies to everyone. He is first and foremost a preacher or a teacher of the Word of God." But he wouldn't listen to me. He even tried to give personal messages to every church member in every church where he preached! He did that even when the Holy Spirit wasn't manifesting Himself through prophecy. In other words, he did it in the flesh, and evil spirits began to accommodate him and speak through him.

As this man's ministry got further and further from God, he began to prophesy money out of people's pockets into his. You'd better watch out for those ministers who are always talking about money.

When any so-called prophet starts prophesying about money — watch out! They aren't doing it by the Spirit of God. Sooner or later they will get into trouble because that isn't scriptural. You can't find that in the Bible. This man was misled about the true function of the prophetic office. By misconstruing and misusing the prophet's office, he went bankrupt spiritually. He finally died at an early age. It's a pity because he could have been such a blessing to the Body of Christ.

We can see why it's so important to heed what Jesus said to me in the vision: "The prophet is first of all a preacher or a teacher. His main ministry is to preach or teach the Word. Prophesying is not his main ministry." A prophet who bases his ministry on personal prophecy instead of on preaching or teaching the Word will get into error and wreak havoc in the Body of Christ. (Kenneth Hagin)

30MINS WITH AN ANOINTED BROTHER/SISTER CAN CHANGE YOU

"Eight years passed after God revealed Jesus the Healer to me. I had been practicing the ministry of healing. During that eight years every answer to prayer, every miraculous touch of God, every response of my own soul to the Spirit had created within me a more intense longing for an intimacy and a consciousness of God, like I felt the disciples of Jesus and the primitive church had possessed... Shortly after my entrance into the ministry of healing, while attending a service where the necessity for the Baptism of the Spirit was presented, as I knelt in prayer and reconsecration to God, an anointing of the Spirit came upon me. Waves of Holy Glory passed through my being, and I was lifted into a new realm of God's presence and power. After this, answers to prayer were frequent and miracles of healing occurred from time to time.

I felt myself on the borderland of a great spiritual realm, but was unable to enter in fully, so my nature was not satisfied with the attainment..." "Hundreds, and hundreds of people were healed by the power of God during these ten years. But at the end of that ten years, I believe I was the hungriest man for God that ever lived. There was such a hunger for God that as I left my offices in Chicago, and walked down the street, my soul would break out, and I would cry, 'Oh God!' I have had people stop and look at me, and wonder. It was the yearning passion of my soul, asking for God in a greater measure than I knew. But my friends would say, 'Mr. Lake, you have a beautiful Baptism of the Holy Ghost.' Yes, it was nice as far as it went, but it was not answering the cry of my heart. I was growing up into a larger understanding of God, and my own soul's need. My soul was demanding a greater entrance into God, His love, Presence, and Power. And then one day an old man strolled into my office, sat down, and in the next half hour, he revealed more of the knowledge of God to my soul than I had ever known before. When he left I said, '... God, if that is what the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with tongues does, I am going to possess it.' Oh the wonder of God, that was then revealed to my heart!..." "Finally I was led to set aside certain hours of the day that I dedicated to God, as times of meditation, and prayer. Thus a number of months passed, until one morning as I knelt praying, the Spirit of the Lord spoke within my spirit, and said, "Be patient until autumn."

My heart rejoiced in this encouragement and I continued my practice of meditation and prayer as formerly. It became easy for me to detach myself from the course of life, so that while my hands and mind were engaged in the common affairs of every day, my spirit maintained its attitude of communion with God... I said, 'God, if you will baptize me in the Holy Spirit, and give me the power of God, nothing shall be permitted to stand before me and a hundred-fold obedience.' "I prayed for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit for nine months, and if a man ever prayed honestly, and sincerely in the faith, I did. Finally one day I was ready to throw up my hands, and quit. I said, 'Lord, it may be for others, but it is not for me. You just cannot give it to me.' I did not blame God. One night a gentleman by the name of Pierce said, 'Mr. Lake, I have been wishing for a long time you would come over, and we would spend a night in prayer together. We have been praying for the Baptism for a whole year and there is not one of us baptized yet. Brother, I do not believe that you are either, so we can pray for one another." I was so hungry to pray, so I went with all intentions of praying for the rest, but I had not been praying five minutes until the light of God began to shine around me, I found myself in a center of an arc of light ten feet in diameter, the whitest light in all the universe. So white! Oh how it spoke of purity. The remembrance of that whiteness, that wonderful whiteness, has been the ideal that has stood before my soul, of the purity of the nature of God ever since. "Then a Voice began to talk to me out of that light. There was no form. And the Voice began to remind me of this incident, and that incident of disobedience to my parents, from a child; of my obstinacy, and dozens of instances when God brought me up to the line of absolutely putting my body, soul, and spirit upon the altar forever. I had my body upon the altar for ten years, and I had been a minister of the Gospel. But when the Lord comes, He opens to the soul the depths that have never been touched in your life. Do you know that after I was baptized in the Holy Ghost, things opened up in the depths of my nature that had remained untouched in all my life, and that which was shadowy, distant, and hazy became real. God got up close and let His light shine into me. "Shortly after this experience, one afternoon a brother minister called, and invited me to accompany him to visit a lady who was sick. Arriving at the home we found the lady in a wheel chair. All her joints were set with inflammatory rheumatism. She had been in the condition for ten years...While my friend was conversing with her, preparing her to be prayed with, that she might be healed, I sat in a deep chair on the opposite side of a large room. My soul was crying out to God in a yearning too deep for words, when suddenly it seemed to me, that I had passed under a shower of warm tropical rain, which was not falling upon me, but through me. My spirit, and soul and body under this influence soothed into such a deep still calm, as I had never known. My brain, which had always been so active, became perfectly still. An awe of the presence of God settled over me. I knew it was God.

"Some moments passed; I do not know how many. The Spirit said, 'I have heard your prayers, I have seen your tears. You are now Baptized in the Holy Spirit.' Then currents of power began to rush through my being from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. The shocks of power increased in rapidity, and voltage. As these currents of power would pass through me, they seemed to come upon my head, rush through my body, and through my feet into the floor... Even at this late date, the awe of that hour rests upon my soul. My experience has truly been as Jesus said that He shall be within you 'a well of water, springing up into everlasting life.' That never-ceasing fountain has flowed through my spirit, soul, and body day, and night, bringing salvation, and healing, and the Baptism of the Spirit in the power of God to multitudes.

"Shortly after my Baptism in the Holy Spirit, a working of the Spirit commenced in me, that seemed to have for it's purpose the revelation of the nature of Jesus Christ to me and in me. Through this tuition and remolding of the Spirit a great tenderness for mankind was to awaken in my soul. I saw mankind through new eyes. They seemed to me as wandering sheep, having strayed far, in the midst of confusion, groping and wandering hither and thither. They had no definite aim and did not seem to understand what the difficulty was or how to return to God. The desire to proclaim the message of Christ, and demonstrate His power to save and bless, grew in my soul until my life was swayed by this over- whelming passion." "I found that my life began to manifest in the varied range of the gifts of the Spirit. I spoke in tongues by the power of God, and God flowed through me with a new force. Healings were of a more powerful order. Oh, God lived in me; God manifested in me; God spoke through me. My spirit was energized. I had a new comprehension of God's will, a new discernment of spirit, and a new revelation of God in me. "Then a new wonder manifested. My nature became so sensitized, that I could lay hands on any man, or woman, and tell what organ was diseased, and to what extent, and all about it. I tested it. I went into hospitals where physicians could not diagnose a case, touched a patient, and instantly I knew the organ that was diseased, its extent, condition, and location. And one day it passed away. A child plays with a toy, and his joy is so wonderful, he sometimes forgets to eat. (John G. Lake)

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

I don't want to boast. If I glory in anything, it is only in the Lord who has been so gracious to me. But I remember one time stepping out of a railroad carriage to wash my hands. I had a season of prayer, and the Lord just filled me to overflowing with His love. I was going to a convention in Ireland, and I could not get there fast enough. As I returned, I believe that the Spirit of the Lord was so heavily upon me that my face must have shone. (No man can tell himself when the Spirit transforms his very countenance.) There were two clerical men sitting together, and as I got into the carriage again, one of them cried out, "You convince me of sin." Within three minutes every one in the carriage was crying to God for salvation. This thing has happened many times in my life.

It is this ministration of the Spirit that Paul speaks of, this filling of the Spirit, that will make your life effective, so that even the people in the stores where you trade will want to leave your presence because they are brought under conviction.

We must move from everything of the letter. All that we do must be done under the anointing of the Spirit. The trouble has been that we as Pentecostal people have been living in the letter. (Smith Wigglesworth)

THE SPIRIT WITHIN VS THE SPIRIT UPON

In a vision I had in 1959, Jesus said to me, "There is a difference between the Old Testament prophet and the New Testament prophet. That is where many folks miss it today. They try to give the New Testament prophet the same status as the Old Testament prophet, and he doesn't have the same status. "First of all," Jesus said, "the Old Testament prophet was the only ministry in operation from the standpoint of preaching or teaching the people by inspired utterance. That's not true under the New Testament. Under the New Covenant, I have set the fivefold ministry in the Church for the perfecting of the saints" (Eph. 4:11,12).

"Not only that, but under the New Covenant every believer is to follow the Holy Spirit for himself [Rom. 8:14]. Under the Old Covenant there was a sacrificial system for worship because God was dealing with spiritually dead people; they couldn't worship God in spirit and in truth. "But under the New Covenant, believers are not to set up some kind of a system for believers to worship God or to communicate with Him. Believers are to worship God in Spirit and in truth, and they are to be led by their spirit.

"Under the Old Testament," Jesus continued, "the only people who were specially anointed by God were the prophet, priest, and king. The king was anointed by the Holy Ghost to stand in that office, but he was not anointed to preach. The priest was anointed by the Holy Ghost to stand in that office, but he wasn't a preacher either. He taught the Law to the people so they would obey God's commandments and precepts. But he wasn't a preacher.

"Of course," Jesus continued, "the priests had a ministry under the Old Covenant. But it was not necessarily a ministry of preaching and teaching. They did exhort the people about the ways of the Lord and about carrying out the sacrificial system. But, actually, under the Old Covenant the prophets were the only preachers or ministers the people had. The prophet was the only one who could speak for God, as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit.

"You notice how the prophets kept preaching to Israel, trying to get the people to turn back to God. Even in the Old Testament, the prophet was a preacher, and he preached by inspired utterance." Jesus continued, "Under the Old Testament, what we call the laity or the laymen didn't have the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost came upon the prophet, priest, and king to anoint them to stand in those offices. But the layman didn't have the Holy Spirit upon him.

"Remember David was prophet, priest, and king [Acts 2:25,30; 2 Sam. 5:12; 24:25]. No one else but the prophet, priest, and king had the Holy Spirit in any measure upon them. The only exception to that was when God would sometimes call people to carry out special jobs or functions for Him. Then He would anoint them with the Holy Spirit just to perform that task."

Very seldom under the New Covenant does God ever lead anyone through the flesh. When He does, it is only when people are so spiritually insensitive and dull that they would not understand His leading any other way." Jesus said to me, "Under the Old Covenant, the prophet gave guidance to the people because they didn't have the Holy Ghost for themselves. So the people had to go to the prophet to inquire what 'Thus saith the Lord.'"

"But under the New Covenant,"
Jesus continued, "I didn't put the prophet in that office to lead or guide believers. Every believer has the Holy Spirit in him to lead and guide him; each believer can hear from God for himself. Therefore, under the New Covenant, it is unscriptural to seek guidance through a prophet." Jesus said, "Sometimes in His own divine sovereignty, God may speak a word to a person through a prophet to confirm something a believer already has in his own spirit. But the prophet is not to lead or guide people through that office; normally every believer will be led by the Holy Spirit through his own spirit.

"Sons of God can expect to be led by the Spirit of God [Rom. 8:14]. Therefore, the number ONE way the Holy Spirit leads all Christians, including prophets, is by the inward witness. "SECONDLY, the Holy Spirit leads believers by the still, small voice. And, THIRDLY, believers are led by the authoritative Voice of the Holy Ghost in their own spirit. "Then, FOURTHLY," Jesus said, "very rarely, but once in a while as He wills, the Holy Spirit may occasionally lead people by a vision or a revelation. Of course, that happens more frequently to those who are called to the office of the prophet."

Jesus said, "Of course, there is a similarity in the ministries of the Old and New Testament prophets. For example, one characteristic of the prophet under the Old Covenant is that they were called seers because they would see into the realm of the spirit and see and know things supernaturally. "That is also true of prophets under the New Covenant; they see and know things supernaturally. The revelation gifts such as the word of knowledge or the word of wisdom often operate with the gift of discerning of spirits."

Jesus explained, "Under the Old Testament, since the prophets were the only ministers the people had, it was scriptural to have schools where they could be trained. "But under the New Covenant," Jesus explained, "My plan for the New Testament Church in ministry is different than it was under the Old Covenant. That's why I set the fivefold ministry in the Church. You see, all the ministries need the same basic training."

Jesus said, "One reason it is unscriptural under the New Testament to have schools of prophets is that it leaves the impression that prophets are the only ministry gift there is under the New Covenant, or the most important one, and they aren't. "Under the New Testament, it is scriptural to have schools for ministers because all the ministry gifts need the same basic training. The prophet doesn't need different basic training from the other ministry gifts. Then once ministry gifts receive the same fundamental training, let Me separate each of them unto the ministry I have called them to" (see Acts 13:2).

Jesus continued, "There are some things the prophet needs to be taught, just as there are some things the apostle, evangelist, pastor, and teacher need to be taught. But, basically, the same principles, training, and qualifications that apply to the prophet, apply to all the ministry gifts. It is ministerial training." (Kenneth Hagin)

A CALL TO PRAYER (PROPHETIC)

Pray for people to gather together to intercede in agreement. My Spirit within will teach you how and when to pray. Like the regular hour of prayer established in the temple of the Lord, He will be established in the Church. My Spirit will cause believers to pray day and night, alone and together—there will be thousands praying daily. I have a plan for My people. But to understand it, you must enter into a consistent prayer ministry.

I will see that the harvest is brought in. You are to pray and work. Many thousands of souls will be rescued before the end of the harvest.

The forces of darkness will be exerted against those who pray consistently, but you should press in with all your strength. There is no time to be lost, for the day of wrath is at hand. Prove me. Press into My presence, for the powers of darkness are against you. If you press into My presence and prove Me, I will prove to you that I Am God. I will prove to you that I hold in My hand, heavens and the earth and all those things that are therein, even man. Every soul in the earth is Mine. I will send you forth with great victory and you shall not fear, for the voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. The voice of the Lord crumbles the nations and the kingdoms. It causes kings, princes and rulers to fall down at His feet.

"You shall pray for My kingdom to come, but you shall not pray against My Word that I send forth to destroy those who are destroying My people. For My judgments must be in the earth. When the earth is filled with My judgments, then the people shall learn righteousness, because I know you can withstand my judgments for a little while.

"Pray that I will send forth My mercy and not My wrath. The hour will come when you cannot pray this way. And you cannot pray My wrath away, for My wrath will come down even though men are saying today that God is a God of mercy and love. I will show this world that I Am also a God of wrath.

"You will not be able to reach Me in the time of great wrath. No, you will not need to, because you will not be there. If you are obedient to Me, you will be caught away into the realms of bliss and glory. I Am asking you to pray now. I Am the Good Shepherd, Who comes seeking people who will pray. I Am seeking My sheep who have gone astray. You shall reach out and help turn the minds of My people back to My house, My service, My Word, My work and to Me."

This is an hour that will never be repeated. Although Satan will battle as never before against those who pray, persistence will surely prevail. Men and women of prayer can change the outcome of world events.

Command Satan's power to cease—you have My authority as a believer to break the devil's chains any time and any where, regardless of the hordes with him. "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (Jas. 5:16).

You shall pray, and a double portion of power shall come to you. This power shall continue; it shall spread even as waves spread upon the waters. You shall know that I Am the Lord, that I Am the same yesterday, today and forever.

"Warn others to humble themselves with fasting and prayer that the love of Christ will flow out to others. They should not respect those with nice clothing or with great personalities. They should recognize and acknowledge My Spirit upon the humble. "Begin seeking and searching for those who will enter into this great move of prayer. Enlist them by the Spirit of the Lord and by the power of My Word."

Go forth this day and arm yourselves in faith, with the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand the wiles of the devil. For the devil knows where to work and is working swiftly because he knows his time is short. Be in constant prayer, in constant contact with your Lord, and every day you will know which way to go."

BE FAITHFUL TO PREPARE YOURSELF

If God calls you to be an apostle, He will supernaturally equip you. But you won't start out in that office anyway. God has His ways of doings things. You just need to prepare yourself so God can use you in any way He desires. The Bible says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).

Although you won't be able to enter immediately into the ministry God has for you, you can prepare yourself through studying the Word and preparing your heart. You can do your part. Preparation time is never wasted time. If you are faithful in the time of preparation to study God's Word to show yourself approved, in God's time, step by step, He will move you into the ministry He eventually has for you.

As you are faithful to prepare yourself, He will be faithful to open doors for ministry. You must also prepare yourself for your high calling in Christ by separation from the things of the world that hold you back from the things of God. Sometimes you need to lay aside those things that are not necessarily sin, but they take up valuable time. The Lord is looking for those who will dedicate and consecrate themselves wholly unto Him for His use.

It is as we present our bodies as living sacrifices and renew our minds with the Word of God that God can use us fully. The Bible says, . . Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16). And . . he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Gal. 6:.

If you are faithful to study God's Word and to serve Him right where you are, God will set you into the Body of Christ and promote you as He desires. But remember this: Don't get taken up with names and titles. If you have to tell folks you are an apostle or a prophet, then you probably aren't one. You don't have to go around telling everyone you are a man or a woman, do you? You are born that way and it's evident to everyone.

The same thing ought to be true over in the spiritual realm. If you are called to the ministry, it ought to be readily distinguishable what you are and what your call is. You shouldn't have to go around telling people what your calling is by giving yourself titles and labels. People will know what you are by your spiritual equipment and endowments.

And if you don't know what God has called you to do, just be faithful to serve Him right where you are. Be faithful in your local church, study His Word, and leave the rest up to God. Also, remember this: God rewards faithfulness. He doesn't reward offices. An apostle or prophet won't receive any more reward than anyone else who is faithful to do what God has called him to do. Higher offices do not receive any more reward; there is just a greater responsibility that goes along with the office. That's why it's important for you to be faithful to fulfill the responsibilities God has given you because God rewards faithfulness] (Kenneth Hagin)

WHO IS YOUR GOD, JESUS OR MONEY?

The Bible gives one of the qualifications for those in the ministry as a person . . not greedy of filthy lucre . . ." (1 Tim. 3:3). The Bible has much to say about ministers of the gospel and how they obtain money. In The Worrell New Testament, the footnote for First Timothy 3:2 says the minister of the gospel must not use "his office to extort money from people."

Over the years, I have sometimes seen people use their ministries and the anointing that is upon them to obtain money from people. For example, I once visited a certain minister's meetings, who had a marvelous healing ministry. In this particular meeting, five deaf and mute people were brought from the state institution to be healed. This man ministered to all five of these men, and they were all instantly healed and could both hear and speak.

Immediately, the minister stopped the meeting and began taking up an offering. He knew he would be able to get a large offering because of the mighty demonstration of God's power. People from all over the meeting ran to give him money because of these miraculous healings.

Some people would give large sums of money to be healed. But healing can't be bought; Jesus already paid for it on Calvary. This man used his ministry and, really, the healing power of God to obtain money in a wrong way. What happened to this minister? This character weakness, as well as other faults he didn't correct, eventually cost him not only his ministry, but his life.

In the first vision when Jesus appeared to me in Rockwall, Texas, one of the things He said to me was, "There are two things to be careful of. Number one, be sure you always give all the honor and the glory for everything that happens unto Me and unto My Name.

"Secondly, be very careful about money. Many on whom I've placed My Spirit and called unto such a ministry and anointed have become money-minded and have lost the anointing."

No minister should use his position for personal gain. The Amplified Bible makes the issue of ministers and money even more clear. 1 TIMOTHY 3:3,8 (Amplified) 3 . . . not a lover of money — insatiable for wealth and ready to obtain it by QUESTIONABLE MEANS ___8 . . . not greedy for base gain — craving wealth and RESORTING TO IGNOBLE and DISHONEST METHODS of getting it.

That's one reason I tell folks, "Be careful about these people who prophesy money out of your pocket into their own. Leave them alone." Ministers can take up offerings, of course, and let people know about a need, but they should never make an issue of money. No minister should ever use his high calling in Christ for personal gain.

In my ministry, I've tried to say as little as possible about money. I don't believe we should emphasize money. I just believe if I feed the people, they will feed me, and God will provide. Actually, a minister of the gospel should be interested in building up the Kingdom of God, not in using money for his own personal gain.

Gordon Lindsay talks about ministers and money in his book, Apostles, Prophets and Governments: Judas, one of the original Twelve who shared their ministry, disqualified himself and also destroyed his own soul by using his position for personal gain... .

A true apostle must be above even the suspicion of a covetous spirit. He may, in the interest of the Kingdom, become responsible for the handling of large sums of money, as the apostles were when the multitude sold their possessions and laid them at the apostles' feet (Acts 4:34-37). But he will be a faithful steward and will not lavish on himself money given to the cause of Christ for the work of the Kingdom. The story of Judas, given such prominence in the Scriptures, is of deep significance. 1 Ministers of the gospel, including apostles, must be above reproach in every area, including how they handle money and how they obtain it. (Kenneth Hagin)

INSPIRED PRAYER

Father in the name of the Lord Jesus. I understand from the word of God that You are in charge of my circumstances if I let You. You are Lord of my life. I pray that you order my steps today in the course that You’ve planned for me already. I want to meet only the people that You plan for me to meet today & hear the things You plan for me to hear & say the things You plan for me to say.

I function as a child of God today in the anointing of the Holy Ghost. I walk in the light today in the name of the Lord Jesus. There’s nobody coming in to my world as an accident today. The Spirit of dominion is at work in me today, in the Name of the Lord Jesus. I refuse to fear – o thank You Lord Jesus. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of fear today, I fear no evil, for Thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

I refuse to be defeated today. Glory to God! I’m a victor in Christ Jesus today. Lord, I’m more than a conqueror, in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Your Word is at work in me. O Your presence is here today! I have the Spirit of excellence. My God I thank You. The Spirit of excellence is at work in me. I do not act foolishly, I do not talk foolishly. No one is going to hear me say a word that is foolish today, no, the wisdom of God is found in my mouth today.

I give counsel by the Spirit today. I walk with men & women by the Spirit today. I see with the eyes of God today in the Name of the Lord Jesus. O Lord God I thank You because good things are coming my way today, I receive in the Name of Jesus & I’m a giver today. I’m a blesser today in the Name of the Lord Jesus. My body is yielded to You. O Lord My God, every fibre of my being, every bone of my body is for the Holy Ghost. Talk through me, move through me, walk in me, talk in me in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

I’m a living tabernacle today in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Glory to God the health of God is in me! I refuse to let my body be subject to sickness, disease & infirmity. Every fibre of my being is inundated by the Spirit of God. I am in health in the Name of Jesus. I am in health glory to God!

I study the Word of God today & I understand. I thank You for the Spirit of understanding in the Name of the Lord Jesus. I thank You for the Spirit of knowledge Lord my God. I can see the Word, I can hear the Word, I can understand the Word. & so it is working in me. Its working in me. My mouth cannot be shut. I will speak boldly the things of God, the revelations of God in the Name of the Lord Jesus. The world is waiting, world! I’m coming in the Name of Jesus. I’m coming. The nations are waiting. I’m coming in the Name of Jesus. I’m sent of God. I’m commissioned of God. I’ve gat a message for the world. They’ve got to hear it & they will hear it in the Name of Jesus.

In the Name of Jesus. I thank You Father. All my children, the anointing is on them. They can’t but do the will of God. They can’t but work the work of God. They can’t but believe the work of God in the Name of Jesus. No devil hatch out of hell can touch them.

I thank You, in the name of Jesus. Wisdom is in the mouth of my wife & in her heart in the Name of the Lord Jesus. She function in the things of God today in the Name of Jesus. I pray for every one of my staff in the Name of the Lord Jesus – they cannot but do the will of God today. They cannot but think the thoughts of God in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Every one of our pastors, in their going out & in their coming in, not one of them is subject to the devil in the Name of Jesus. The Word of God is in their heart & in their mouth in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

Father I’m so blessed. I’m such a blessed man. My God I’m so blessed. Lord I don’t know how to say it but I’m so blessed. You’ve blessed me so much I’m embarrassed. I’m so blessed. My God I’m so blessed. So blessed. So blessed! How can I say it? You said You’ll bless me & then You said You’ve blessed me already. I look in the Word I found that I was blessed. I looked at my life I found that I was blessed. Every body that comes into my world is blessed glory to God I’m blessed!

Lord, I’m beginning to feel the healing unction. Lord, the healing unction I’m feeling it. Keep doing it. I want to feel it some more. Go ahead & do it. My God, the unction is here. My God, it is all over me! The power of the Holy Ghost is all over me glory to God.

Lord, You told us to be filled with the Spirit speaking to ourselves in psalms & hymns. I’m gonna make You some psalms. I’m gonna sing You some hymns.
(Chris Oyakhilome PHd)

I’ve prayed this prayer over & over & over & over again. Only God knows how long. Now I pray it daily, glory to God. I can’t get enough of this inspired prayer.

AVALANCHE OF MIRACLES

There comes before me a meeting we had in Stockholm that I shall ever bear in mind. There was a home for incurables there and one of the inmates was brought to the meeting. He had palsy and was shaking all over. He stood up before 3,000 people and came to the platform, supported by two others. The power of God fell on him as I anointed him in the name of Jesus. The moment I touched him he dropped his crutch and began to walk in the name of Jesus. He walked down the steps and round that great building in view of all the people. There is nothing that our God cannot do. He will do everything if you will dare to believe.

Someone said to me, "Will you go to this Home for Incurables?" They took me there on my rest day. They brought out the sick people into a great corridor and in one hour the Lord set about twenty of them free. The name of Jesus is so marvellous.

REVIVALS IN SCANDINAVIA

The writer had the privilege for three months one year of being in the centre of Mr. Smith Wigglesworth's meetings in both Sweden and Denmark. It was a time of visitation from on high. I dare to say that hundreds of people received Jesus as their Saviour, thousands were healed from all kinds of diseases, also thousands of believers awoke to a new life, and many, many received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost as on the day of Pentecost. For all this we give glory to Jesus. Here are a few examples of miracles my eyes have seen.

It was in Orebro (Sweden) where at that time there was held a Pentecostal Convention. I came to seek help myself, being worn out with long, unbroken service in the Lord's work. The next day there was a meeting for healing. After the preaching service I went forward into the other hall and I was surprised to find in a few minutes a crowd following. The hall was soon full with hundreds of men and women patiently waiting for a touch of God through His servant, and, glory to God, we were not disappointed. As hands were laid upon me the power of God went through me in a mighty way. I was immediately well. It was wonderful to notice, as the ministry continued, the effect upon the people as the power of the Lord came over them. Some lifted their hands, crying, "I am healed! I am healed!" Some fell on the platform under the power of the Spirit, having to be helped down. Others walked away as in a dream; others as drunk with new wine, lost to everything but God; but all had faces as transfigured with the glory of the Lord and magnifying Jesus. A young blind girl, as she was ministered to, cried out, "Oh, how many windows there are in this hall!" During the three weeks the meeting continued the great chapel was crowded daily, multitudes being healed and many saved. The testimony meetings were wonderful. One said, "I was deaf, then prayed, and Jesus healed me." Another, "I had consumption, and I am free." And so on.

At Skofde, in the smaller hall, set apart for those seeking the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, I shall never forget the sight, how the people with eyes closed and hearts uplifted to God waited. Did the Holy Spirit fall upon them? Of course He did. Here also many were healed. At another place here was a young man whose body was spoiled because of sin, but the Lord is merciful with sinners. He was anointed, and when hands were laid on, the power of God went mightily over him. He said, "I am healed," but being broken down, he cried as a little child, confessing his sin; at the same moment the Lord saved him. Glory to God! He went into the large hall and testified to salvation and healing.

At Stockholm, long queues waited for hours to get in. The hall held 1,800 people. At nearly every meeting crowds were unable to enter the building, but they waited on, often hours and hours, for the chance, if any left the building to step into the place. Here a man with two crutches, his whole body shaking with palsy, is lifted onto the platform. (Behind him five or six hundred more are waiting for help.) This man is anointed and laid hands upon him in the Name of Jesus. He is still shaking. Then he drops one crutch, and after a short time the other one. His body is still shaking, but he takes the first step out IN FAITH. Will it be?
He lifts one foot and then the other, walks round the platform. The onlookers rejoice with him. Now he walked around the auditorium. Hallelujah!

During this meeting a woman began to shout and shout. The preacher told her to be quiet, but instead she jumped up on a chair, flourishing her arms about, and crying, "I am healed! I am healed! I had cancer in my mouth, and I was unsaved; but during the meeting, as I listened to the Word of God, the Lord has saved me and healed me of cancer in my mouth." She shouts again, "I am saved! I am saved! I am healed of cancer!" She was quite beside herself. The people laughed and cried together. Here was another woman unable to walk, sitting on a chair as she was ministered to. Her experience was the same as hundreds of others. She rose up, looking around, wondering if after all it was a dream. Suddenly she laughed and said, "My leg is healed." Afterward she said, "I am not saved," and streams of tears ran down her face. They prayed for her, and later she left the meeting healed and saved and full of joy. We have a wonderful Saviour; glory to His Holy Name! (Smith Wigglesworth)

HOW TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT II

I was holding a meeting and it was being greatly blessed of the Lord. Finances were very good and I was beginning to get caught up with my bills. I had a number of invitations to hold revivals immediately following this one, but I couldn't seem to get a witness on where the Lord wanted me to go. I wasn't listening for a voice. I was just waiting for a signal on the inside of me as to which invitation to accept. However, I couldn't really seem to get the go-ahead on any of them.

Time was growing short as I was in the last week of my current meeting and I knew it would be difficult to start another meeting on such short notice. There were announcements to be made and advertising to be placed in the local newspaper, etc. I said to my wife, "Well, I'd better do something. I believe I'll phone Brother So-and-so as he has asked me numerous times to come to his city for a meeting. Today is Wednesday. If I call him tonight he can place ads in tomorrow's paper and we can start our meeting next Monday night." I went into the other room and picked up the telephone to call
him. As I did, a voice on the inside of me (it wasn't a witness) startled me and I jumped. The voice said, "Don't do it. Don't do it." I had already picked up the phone, but I hadn't dialed yet. I placed the receiver back on the hook, "Lord, now what am I going to do?" I asked. "I don't have a meeting lined up for June.

And I have obligations to be met. What am I going to do?" I didn't hear any voice this time as I did before, but on the inside of me there was something that seemed to come floating up out of my inner being and say, "Just wait." This wasn't easy to do, but I knew I had heard from God, so I went back to my room.

My wife asked, "What did he say?"
"I didn't call him," I answered. "You didn't call him? Why?" "The Lord told me not to," I said, and she was satisfied. The next evening we again discussed plans for our next revival meeting. I said, "Well, I have to do something, that is all there is to it. I've waited long enough. I've got to do something, for I have bills to pay." It would have been too late to begin the meeting that I had considered the night before as the deadline had passed for placing advertisements in the paper. But I thought of a pastor about 200 miles away who had asked me to come to his church anytime I could, even with only a day's advance notice.
I got up and went to call him. As I picked up the telephone and began to dial, a voice on the inside of me again said, "Don't do it." I argued, "But Lord, what am I going to do? I've got to live. I have house payments to meet, children to feed, and bills to pay.

And I don't have any foreseeable income beyond this Sunday night's offering. Surely you have somewhere You want me to go, something You want me to do." He only answered, "Wait." In looking to the Holy Spirit for guidance, I rely as much on what He doesn't tell me as on what He does. It is in times like these that we really learn how to trust God, to rest upon His promises and to depend completely on Him. The Holy Spirit seemed to impress upon me to stay right where I was, that He had something good for me, and that if I left I would miss it. Then a knowledge came upon me. I couldn't tell you how I got it or how it got there. I just knew on the inside of me that the next morning the pastor was going to ask me if I could stay on for another week, which would make the fourth week of this meeting.

When I returned to the room where my wife was she asked, "What did he say?" "I didn't call him. The Lord told me not to," I said, and she understood. The next morning the pastor said to me, "I, uh, have something I want to ask you." He hummed and hawed about it. I said, "I know what it is and the answer is yes."
"Could you stay?" he asked. "Yes, I can stay another week," I told him. And what a glorious meeting that fourth week was! The building was filled every night, souls were saved and believers were filled with the Holy Spirit.

One afternoon toward the end of the week the phone rang and the lady calling me said, "Brother Hagin, you may not remember me," and she told me her name. "I received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit in your meeting. The Lord has told me to give you a
thousand dollars."

This is what I would have missed had I not listened to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It had been hard to wait without seeing anything, because the natural mind wants to walk by sight. But God wants us to walk by faith. Faith is of the heart. Our spirit will not be trained to walk in this way of faith overnight. We will make some mistakes along the way and miss God. But as we continue to seek after Him, we can train our spirit to be led of this inner voice. (Kenneth Hagin)

THE BREATH OF GOD

God's tide is rising all over the earth. I had been preaching at Stavanger in Norway, and was very tired and wanted a few hours rest. I went to my next appointment, arriving at about 9:30 in the morning. My first meeting was to be at night. I said to my interpreter, "After we have had something to eat, let us go down to the fjords." We spent three or four hours down by the sea and at about 4:30 returned. We found the end of the street, which has a narrow entrance, just filled with autos, wagons, etc., containing invalids and sick people of every kind. I went up to the house and was told that the house was full of sick people. It reminded me of the scene described in the fifth chapter of Acts. I began praying for the people in the street and God began to heal the people.

How wonderfully He healed those people who were in the house. We sat down for a lunch and the telephone bell rang and someone at the other end was saying, "What shall we do? The town hall is already full; the police cannot control things."

In that little Norwegian town the people were coming. The breath of God shows up every defect, and as it comes flowing in like a river, everybody will need a fresh anointing, a fresh cleansing of the blood. You can depend upon it that that breath is upon us. At one time I was at a meeting in Ireland. There were many sick carried to that meeting and helpless ones were helped there. There were many people in that place who were seeking for the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Some of them had been seeking for years. There were sinners there who were under mighty conviction. There came a moment when the breath of God swept through the meeting. In about ten minutes every sinner in the place was saved. Everyone who had been seeking the Holy Spirit was baptized, and every sick one was healed. God is a reality and His power can never fail. As our faith reaches out, God will meet us and the same rain will fall. It is the same blood that cleanseth, the same power, the same Holy Ghost, and the same Jesus made real through the power of the Holy Ghost! What would happen if we should believe God? (Smith Wigglesworth)