MINISTRY NOTES

Week of August 16, 2009

Hi Everyone,

About nine years ago, our Church was given a new (old) computer. New to us, it has a Windows 98SE operating system, which is the latest version that works with our fantastic Bible Program. Most stuff got transferred over except the access to our web page. For years I prayed that God would send someone to help us have better access to our web page. Three years ago, when I started working out of the house, the prayers got more serious. Even earlier this year when I had to update our web page on the Marriage Workshop, I had to use the old (Windows 95) computer at the Church. Last Wednesday I met a man who said he built web pages part time and when I mentioned our web page need, he very kindly explained to me that it was impossible without a newer computer. In the process of his explanation, he mentioned the role that our ISP (Internet Service Provider) plays. God can help you hear what He wants you to hear. Mainly I heard the ISP mention and on Thursday, God encouraged me to call our ISP after 9am on Friday. I called and talked to polite young kid who made about two comments and I responded, "Is it that easy?" Now I can access our web page from the home office and now our Ministry Notes are available on line at http://www.jesuscenter.net/Weekly%20Ministry%20Notes%20main%20page.htm. God is awesome and He answers prayers His way and in His timing.

Message:

Speaking in Tongues

"Speaking in Tongues" is a very controversial subject. A few years ago, a major denomination made the news because they decided to cut off economic support for some of their missionaries, who spoke in tongues. Apparently, there were issues in Paul's day as he wrote in one of his letters to not discourage people from speaking in tongues1. Why speak in tongues? A real simple answer is because Jesus said that it is something believers will do2. Many times I have mentioned that people have made up doctrines and teachings on how to read the Bible. This subject is a prime example where so-called Christians who claim to follow the Bible have made up stuff to be against speaking in tongues and apparently ignore what Jesus says about it.

Some consider speaking in tongues as an opportunity to show off. Many years ago, there was a very attractive young woman, who came to our services a few times. We had preformed her wedding and the following Sunday dedicated their young child. She came to see me to complain that we did not have a time in our service, where people could all stand up and pray in tongues, like the Church they used to attend. I tried to explain to her that Jesus discouraged people from showing off by praying in public3. She acknowledged what I said and then started describing how shocked and impressed her girl friend sitting next to her was, when she saw her praying in tongues in Church and then you could see by the look on her face that it hit her that she was bragging about showing off just like Jesus said not to.

I once knew an old man who liked to brag how once when he was praying in tongues, a woman from another country standing next to him heard it in "a high priestly dialect" of another language. Over the years, he told it so often; it was in print several times. Although he told the story with pride like it was the sounds he was praying in tongues that were so special, he seemed to forget that it was similar to a miracle on the first Christian Pentecost, when people heard in their own languages4. Probably it was more of a miracle in the hearer's ears, than in the mouth of the persons praying in tongues. Makes you realize that Jesus made a good point in encouraging people to deny themselves5.

Another reason to pray in tongues or pray in the Spirit, as I prefer to call it, is an observation Paul made, who claimed he prayed that way more than everyone6. Paul observed correctly that when you pray in the Spirit, the Spirit communicates with God and it helps especially in situations, when you don't know how to pray7. Also, praying in the Spirit can be an act of praising God. Personally, I pray in the Spirit frequently every day.

How do you start praying in the Spirit? Once when Peter was speaking, the people listening to him started praying in the Spirit8. It also happened when Paul laid his hands on some people9. Frequently in the book of Acts, Luke associates praying in the Spirit with receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus just associates it with being a believer2. I knew a man of God with an active healing ministry, who never prayed in the Spirit and yet told me that once he was praying for some one privately and they started praying in the Spirit. Personally, I was driving on a freeway in Dallas in 1971, when I started praying in the Spirit for the first time. I remember it was only two words. Some people never pray that way again, if they only get two words. Would you tell a young child, who says his first word, to shut up and don't talk again until he can say more words? Yes, I felt like a fool in the beginning. Being a fool for God is not a bad thing. If you want to pray in the Spirit, I can help you, however you may prefer just to ask God in the same way Jesus teaches us to ask for the Holy Spirit10. As you ask, I would encourage you to understand that it is an on going action in the Greek, "Continue to ask, and God will give to you…", not just asking once and stopping11.

"God, I pray that everyone who really wants to be able to pray in the Spirit, receive his or her prayer language. Help us all to deny ourselves and be totally submitted to what You want in our lives. Thank You for answering our prayers, in Jesus name, amen."

1. 1 Corinthians 14:39

2. Mark 16:17

3. Matthew 6:5

4. Acts 2:6

5. Luke 9:23

6. 1 Corinthians 14:18

7. Romans 8:26

8. Acts 10:44-46

9. Acts 19:6

10. Luke 11:13

11. Matthew 7:7 (ICB)