This Is That | “Make Your Way Prosperous” Sermon

SERIES: “This Is That”  —  SERMON: “Make Your Way Prosperous”

Acts 2:16 “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;”

(NLT) “No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:”

Some people read their Bibles in Hebrew, some in Greek; I like to read mine in the Holy Ghost.       Smith Wigglesworth

Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; …they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Charles Carrin “Tongues is the only spiritual gift deliberately designed to attack man’s ego and pride; it exposes insincerity, self-centeredness, falsity, and other negative traits in believers.”
“Because of its unique attack on the human intellect, tongues remains the eternal “watch guard” at the gate. In a very calculated way this gift protects the other gifts from exploitation. The Holy Spirit will not allow us to choose one charisma and reject another.”

Contrast First Pentecost with Acts 2 Pentecost: Exodus 19-32

1. 50 Days.

2. Flames and mountain shaking.

3. Law given tablets of stone. How to live.

4. Drunken party takes place.

5. 3000 people died.

6. People trembling in fear.

Acts 2 Pentecost:

1. 50 Days.

2. Flames (tongues) and a violent wind.

3. Spirit comes – Power to live.

4. Drunken party takes place.

5. 3000 people made alive.

6. People drawing near in awe and wonder

The Great Divide — Water has no choice which way it will flow.

Hebrews 8:13 (NLT) “When God speaks of a ‘new’ covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.”

Wayne Grudem — Christian Ethics

“It is important to realize that the author of Hebrews is not saying that some old covenant laws are no longer binding on Christians (such as sacrificial laws or purity  laws, for example), … … but that the old covenant itself, that entire system of laws that defined the relationship with God and his people, is no longer in effect.”

New Covenant Has:

A New Commission  — Proclaim Gospel Of Grace

A New Commandment — Love As He Has Loved You

A New Empowerment  — Supernatural Life Of The Sprit

John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”       Are you going to trust Jesus for redemption or Moses?

Joshua = Jesus

As Joshua led God’s people to possess the promise Jesus will lead us to possess the promise.

Book of Battle — Drive out enemy.   Book of Faith — Receive Victory

Joshua 1:1-2  (NLT) “…Lord spoke to Joshua … He said,  “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.” 

Joshua 1:8    “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

O.T. Stategy For Success.n Confess His Will over your life.
Meditate:— (Hagah) to mutter,  to speak, to devise, to plot.   “This book of the Law…”

2 Corinthians 3:6 “He has qualified us [making us sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter [of the Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives life.”

1 Corinthians 14:15 “…I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind and understanding;…”

We pray to communicate with God. We expect to receive!

Praying in the Spirit engages the mind of the Spirit and engages the will of God.

1 Corinthians 14:18 “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you.”

Is there a purpose to speak in tongues more? How did this affect Paul’s ministry?

Advantages Of Tongue Talking

1 Corinthians 14:2 “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”  When Speaking In Tongues you’re in the Spirit.

Mysteries:– (mystērion) hidden thing, secret, mystery a) generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals.  b) a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding c) a hidden purpose or counsel

Vine Expository Dictionary

Mysteries:– that which, being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by divine revelation, and is made known … to those only who are illumined by the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 4:1 “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

1 Corinthians 2:6-16 

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,… But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”

2 Peter 3:15-16 “…as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand,…”

Romans 8:26-27 (NLT) “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” 

1 Corinthians 14:4  “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself;…” 

Edified:— build up, a building (i.e. the thing built, edifice) … manifest that you are a living breathing dwelling place of the living God. 

James 3:6-8 “And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. … corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, … but no one can tame the tongue.”

The Gift of tongues tames the tongue.

By practicing praying and singing in the Spirit (tongues) you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

You are speaking and living in harmony with God’s own will.

Carl R. Peterson, M.D.

I have had a number of inquiries concerning the efficacy of praying in the spirit (speaking in tongues) and its benefit to the human immune system, i.e., immunity enhanced by chemicals released from a part of the brain. I am attempting to clarify some information I have shared with a number of ministers. This is information that may be deduced from what we know about the way the brain functions. We do know the part of the brain affected most noticeably by extended prayer represents a significant portion of the brain and its metabolic activity. Therefore, voluntary speech during extended vocal prayer causes a major stimulation in these parts of the brain (mainly the hypothalamus).

The hypothalamus has direct regulation of four major systems of the body, mainly: a) the pituitary gland and all target endocrine glands;
b) the total immune system;
c) the entire autonomic system; and
d) the production of brain hormones called endorphins and enkephalons, which are chemicals the body produces and are 100-200 times more powerful than morphine.

In summary, a very significant percentage of the central nervous system is directly and indirectly activated in the process of extended verbal and musical prayer over a period of time. This results in a significant release of brain hormones which, in turn, increases the body’s general immunity. It is further enhanced through joyful laughter with increased respirations and oxygen intake to the brain, diaphragm and other muscles. This same phenomenon is seen in physical activity in general, i.e., running, etc.

 https://hischarisisenough.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/medical-facts-about-speaking-in-tongues-carl-r-peterson-m-d/

Romans 8:26-27 (NLT) “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”

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