LIFTING MY VOICE: TONGUES OF FIREPART TWOThe origins of the mode...

LIFTING MY VOICE:


TONGUES OF FIREPART TWO
The origins of the mode...: TONGUES OF FIRE PART TWO The origins of the modern day expressions of Pentecostal Christian experience and demonstrations of the Holy Spirit...

TONGUES OF FIRE

PART TWO

The origins of the modern day expressions of Pentecostal Christian experience and demonstrations of the Holy Spirit's empowering to operate in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12 can be traced back to the phenomenal outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Los Angeles, California at an old weatherboard building, which had had various uses, including that of horse stables.

A young, black preacher, the son of former slaves, and who had lost the sight of one eye from smallpox - was to be anointed mightily by the Holy Spirit to lead one of the greatest moves of the Holy Spirit with accompanying signs and wonders - in modern history. William J. Seymour has been called the "Catalyst of Pentecost."

In his book "GOD's GENERALS" by Roberts Liardon, in the chapter about William Seymour, he writes:Serving as the "catalyst" of the "Pentecostal Movement" in the twentieth century, William J. Seymour turned a tiny Los Angeles horse stable on Azusa Street into an international centre of revival. Because the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues was a major part of the meetings held there, Seymour became the leader of the first organized movement that promoted that experience. At Azusa, blacks, whites, Hispanics, and  Europeans all met and worshipped together, crossing formerly impossible cultural lines. Although the success of the revival was short-lived, we still enjoy its fruits. Today, Azusa remains a common word within God's household.

Later in this same chapter of the book, Roberts Liardon writes in a section headed: THE LEGACY OF POWER …….the results of his efforts between 1906 and 1909 produced and exploded the Pentecostal Movement around the world. Today, many denominations attribute their founding to the participants of Azusa. Most of the early Assemblies of God leaders came out of Azusa. Demos Shakarian, the founder of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship, said his grandfather was an original Azusa member. The evangelistic efforts of the Valdez family, the Garr family, Dr Charles Price and countless others are also linked to this revival.

Probably everyone in the Pentecostal Movement today can attribute their roots, in some way, to Azusa Street.

While a student at Christian Life Bible College in Lower Hutt, New Zealand in the seventies, I well remember being inspired by the visiting ministry of A.C. Valdez, one of the pioneers of the Assemblies of God  in Australia and New Zealand. He was in his eighties but still full of the fire of God to see revival and multitudes swept into the Kingdom of God. He came to New Zealand in 1977 with Pastor Jack Hayford as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the AOG in New Zealand.

Since the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Azusa Street Mission, numerous Pentecostal movements have been established throughout the world, and from 1960, mainline denominations began to be impacted by Pentecost as the Charismatic and Third Wave Movements followed through the next couple of decades. Dennis Bennett, an Episcopal rector announced to his congregation in California in 1960 that he had received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, with speaking in tongues. This was in effect, the beginning of the Charismatic Renewal which touched denominations across the broad spectrum of Christian churches, including the Roman Catholic church.

Each year, fifty days following Resurrection Sunday (Easter), the Christian Church worldwide celebrate Pentecost Sunday. This year, with the COVID-19 restrictions and churches unable to meet together in person, there is an extraordinary sense of expectation building for what the Lord God has in store for Christ followers leading up to, and particularly during the Pentecost weekend -  this coming weekend, May 30 and 31. Prophetic voices and Pentecostal pastors have sensed something is about to break - in the Spirit, like a tsunami wave upon the church - not to bring destruction, except in the sense of seeing strongholds of the enemy broken and the Lord Jesus Christ being exalted in all His glory and majesty. This new crashing wave of the Holy Spirit's love and power will not only impact the Church, but will be a divine catalyst to see multitudes swept into the kingdom of God, being radically saved and healed and delivered and filled with the Holy Spirit, to, in turn lead many others to new life in Christ! For the church of the Living God, it can be truly said: "We have come to the kingdom for such a time as this!"

If you have read this blog and would like to know how to become a Christian, and to start a new life with hope for now and for the future, and to know God's deep abiding peace, one resource I can point you to is: www.vision.org.au This is the online home of Vision Christian Media in Australia, which includes Vision Christian Radio - broadcasting to well over 700 cities, towns and small communities across Australia.

Click on "Grow your faith", then "Looking for God?" God Bless

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Coming this Weekend May 30 and 31

Hosted by Living Waters Christian Centre, Campania, TASMANIA

PASTOR ANTHONY CASTRO

PHIL KING

LANA VAWSER

ANDREW TOWE

Online Services

Saturday and Sunday 30 May and 31 May

10am Both Days

Facebook: Anthony Ray Castro

www.livingwcctas.com

Phil King: A gifted singer, song-writer and musician, a revivalist, worship leader at Gateway Church, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas.

He has ministered alongside highly acclaimed Christian music artists including Michael W. Smith, Lauren Daigle and Leeland

Lana Vawser: A recognised and respected prophet, who with her husband, Kevin head up Lana Vawser Ministries. Her many online posts, articles, several books and videos have inspired and blessed many in the Body of Christ. Her prophetic posts are often featured on The Elijah List, and other respected Christian media platforms. 

She is a regular contributor and member of the Australian Prophetic Council, and regularly ministers in churches in Australia and the USA.

Andrew Towe: Is an emerging prophetic voice to this generation!

Andrew and his wife, Brooke are the Lead Pastors of Ramp Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee. His prophetic words are often published on the Elijah List, Charisma Magazine and other media sites.

Pastor Anthony Castro: Pastor of  Living Waters Christian Centre, Campania, Tasmania

Anthony is originally from  Houston Texas. He met his wife, Annette on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean, where they were both serving the Lord.

They have both ministered in a number of nations in Europe and the Middle East, before being led of the Lord to settle in Tasmania over a decade ago. 

They were involved as part of the ministry team at City Light Church, Kingston - south of Hobart, before pioneering a church in Hobart's northern suburbs. At the start of 2018, the Lord clearly led them to move the church base to Campania, in the southern Midlands of Tasmania - where subsequently, God wonderfully provided 20.5 hectares (50 acres) of rural land, where a church auditorium, missions training centre, and other specialised ministry specific facilities will be established. 

Anthony and Annette have a burden for the lost, and a heart to  reach the nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ - with signs following the ministry of the Word.

They are blessed to have a daughter, Beasley, who is ten.

TONGUES OF FIRE

And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come,

they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,

and began to speak with other tongues, as 

the Spirit gave them utterance. ACTS 2:1-4 KJV

This, as the apostle Peter was to tell those assembled on that day, was "that which was spoken by the prophet Joel at around 800 BC, when he said: "And it shall come to pass afterward 

That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

your old men shall dream dreams,

Your young men shall see visions.

And also on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days....

And it shall come to pass 

That whoever calls on the name of the LORD

Shall be saved." JOEL 2:28,29,32

That first Day of Pentecost heralded the start of the New Testament church. To the amazement of the Jews gathered there in Jerusalem "from every nation under heaven," they heard the followers of  Jesus who had just been baptised in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues - speaking each in their own languages concerning the wonderful works of God. What a powerful miraculous demonstration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that wonderful day!

But, it was to get even better as the day went on. The apostle Peter stood up with the other eleven disciples (apostles) - including the newly chosen Matthias who took the place of the traitor, Judas Iscariot. Peter explained the meaning of the outpouring of the  Holy Spirit at that time, and went on to preach a clear Gospel message of salvation to be found only in trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ - His substitutionary death on the cross and His triumphant resurrection from the dead three days later.

On that day, three thousand people were added to the Christian church.

They continued from that time meeting in the temple and from house to house in fellowship and prayer. The church continued to grow day by day! 

This mighty baptism in or with the Holy Spirit was the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to His disciples before He ascended to heaven, forty days after His resurrection. Jesus told them to "wait or tarry in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Father, which," He said, "you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

I find it interesting that Jesus did not tell them the number of days until they would be baptised in the Holy Spirit, but just that it would be "not many days from now." I suppose that this was so that the 120 or so disciples who were waiting in the Upper Room would continue in one accord and in GREAT EXPECTATION. 

The Baptism In The Holy Spirit was not then, and is not now just an experience of "warm fuzzies" to make us feel good. Jesus stated clearly the reason in Acts 1:8, where He said: "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in  Jerusalem, and  in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

The Bible says in Hebrews 13:8 that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

In John's Gospel, chapter 14:12, Jesus said to His disciples "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to My Father."

Jesus is the Head of the Church, and the Bible repeatedly refers to the  church as the Body of Christ. As has often been said, we, the church are His hands and His feet in the world today. It is through the Holy-Spirit empowered members of the Body of Christ that Jesus' power is touching and transforming lives around the world today.

For most of the time since the early Church, the truths of Pentecost and the accompanying gifts of the Holy Spirit were lost to the church, as it descended into a largely powerless centre of pomp and ceremony devoid of true spiritual life. The Reformation led by Martin Luther saw life beginning to be breathed back into the Church, and the Word of God again being held up as the bedrock for Christian growth and instruction in righteousness. The eighteenth century saw the evangelist ministry restored with the likes of the Wesleys, and George Whitefield, and others.

The Pentecostal distinctives of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit were not fully restored to the church until the first decade of the twentieth century. 312 Azusa Street in Los Angeles was to be the centre of a phenomenon led by the Holy Spirit, and touching thousands from around the world, and birthing new Pentecostal movements which continue today - a ministry led by a one-eyed black son of former slaves. More about this coming soon!

If you would like to know more about how to become a Christian, go online to 

www.vision.org.au This is the home online of Vision Christian Media in Australia. Click on "Grow your faith," then "Looking for God" God Bless!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

PASTOR ANTHONY CASTRO

Online Holy-Spirit Anointed Ministry

Next Weekend

Be Blessed And Encouraged in The LORD

Streaming on Facebook at: Anthony Ray Castro

and www.livingwcctas.com

Further Details Throughout The Week

LIFTING MY VOICE: TONGUES OF FIREAnd when the Day of Pentecost was ...

LIFTING MY VOICE: TONGUES OF FIRE
And when the Day of Pentecost was ...: TONGUES OF FIRE And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound fr...

LIFTING MY VOICE: CHaNgEPART THREEThat the character and nature ...

LIFTING MY VOICE: CHaNgE
PART THREE


That the character and nature ...: C H a N g E PART THREE That the character and nature of the God of the Bible is unchanging - that He is a God who can be fully trusted to pe...

CHaNgE

PART THREE

That the character and nature of the God of the Bible is unchanging - that He is a God who can be fully trusted to perform His Word, is made clear by a number of statements from the Bible - the original texts being wholly inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Verses such as the following attest to the LORD God's faithfulness to be true to His stated character:

Praise the LORD who has given rest to His people Israel, just as He promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through His servant Moses. 1 Kings 8:56

So when God wanted to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. Hebrews 6:17,19

God is not a man that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it? Behold, I received a command to bless, and I cannot revoke it. Numbers 23:19,20

Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose,' calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. Isaiah 46:9-11

The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high;

He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,

And the strength of salvation;

The fear of the LORD is His treasure. Isaiah 33:5,6

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and fear. For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28,29

CHANGE FOR THE CHRISTIAN MANDATORY

For the follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, change is not optional. It is a requirement for every disciple of the Lord. Change commences at the point of conversion, or being "born again" of the Spirit of God. As the Bible states in 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Also in Colossians 1:13,14 the apostle Paul states that the Father 

"has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."

As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and lives by the regeneration of the Word of God, renewing our minds and bringing us into alignment with God's will and purposes for us, we are being changed, as it says in 2 Corinthians 3:17,18 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

It is an encouraging fact that those who have received personal prophetic words from trusted ministries can testify to the reality that these words usually speak into whom the Lord sees them becoming by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, and not to their present limitations and shortcomings. This is not to say in any way that God overlooks our sin, but He wants to encourage us to see beyond our present reality to whom he sees us becoming for His glory!

THE CHURCH AND CHANGE

As of writing this blog, we are two weeks out from the 2020 celebration of Pentecost - the original Pentecost being fifty days after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ triumphantly from the tomb on that first "Easter Sunday" morning. Pentecost heralded the beginnings of the New Testament church. The Word of God tells us that on the Day of Pentecost, some three thousand people were saved, as they responded to the preaching of the apostle Peter. 

It is some two thousand years since that first Pentecost, and in this year 2020, there is a great sense of expectation amongst many Spirit-filled Christian leaders and believers that God is going to move in ways and in revival dimensions hitherto unseen in the earth. There have been outstanding revivals at various times and in various places over the past two hundred plus years, and there have been outstanding anointed ministry gifts to the church in the form of leaders who have been graced to lead millions to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ - names such as John and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, Charles Finney, and D.L. Moody - in the eighteenth and nineteenth century come to mind, and in the twentieth century, outstanding mass evangelists such as Billy Graham and Reinhard Bonnke are two that stand out.

Healing ministries seeing thousands of healings, deliverances and miracles - in the twentieth century can be traced to ministry generals of the faith such as Smith Wigglesworth, John G. Lake, Kathryn Kuhlman, and numerous others. 

In the Middle Ages, for around one thousand years, until the Reformation, the church was led by a priestcraft - a mostly powerless, spiritually dead hierarchy of men who were more motivated by personal power than a desire for spiritual purity and Godly integrity, according to the Word of the Living God.

When Martin Luther published his 95 Theses in 1517, condemning the practice of the Roman Catholic church of selling 'indulgences' as 'get out of hell' cards, he also proclaimed that the Bible is the central religious authority and also that people may reach salvation only by their faith and not by their deeds - "The just shall live by faith." His teaching was to spark the Protestant Reformation.

As Rick Joyner, Founder and Director of Morningstar Ministries in Fort Mill, South Carolina states in his book "The Harvest,": When declaring events that would signal the end of the age, the Lord noted that these were "birth pangs" (Matthew 24:8) The harvest and accompanying events will unfold just as travail comes upon a woman in labour.

Beginning with Luther, each spiritual contraction resulted in a major, basic Christian truth being restored to the church. as well as one of the five ministries given for the equipping of the saints as listed in Ephesians, chapter four.

With the beginning of the Reformation, the ministry of the Pastor was restored to recognized ministry. Over two hundred years later, with the Wesleys, the ministry of the EVANGELIST was restored and attained general recognition and acceptance.

The Pentecostal and Latter Rain revivals began the restoration of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but it was not until the Charismatic and Third Wave Renewals that the TEACHING ministry was fully restored.

Over the thirty years since Rick Joyner published this prophetic book, the modern day ministries of the PROPHET and APOSTLE have been coming more and more into view in the Body of Christ, worldwide.

As Rick Joyner also states: It is noteworthy that these ministries are being restored in the reverse order in which they were lost to the church. The early church began in a place of light and regressed into darkness. The last day church is coming out of the darkness and progressing toward increasing light. This light will increase until the fullness of day comes with the full revelation of Jesus.

In these times of restriction imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, when 'doing church' has seen a whole new paradigm of churches conducting online services, and strict social distancing being the order of the day, nothing has taken God by surprise. Many Christian leaders, most notably prophets are seeing this time when the people of God have the opportunity to re-focus on priorities, not least of which is  renewing our "first love" for  Jesus. The Church will physically meet together again and it is the hope of leaders that when that happens, it will be evident that this time in isolation has not been wasted time, but that we will all press into to know the Lord in a more intimate communion. 

If you have read this blog, and would like to know how to  become a Christian, please go to:www.vision.oeg.au Click on the "Grow your faith" tab at the top of the page, then "Looking for God?" God Bless.

LIFTING MY VOICE: CHaNgEPART TWOBack in the 1980's, I was working...

LIFTING MY VOICE: CHaNgE
PART TWO

Back in the 1980's, I was working...: C H a N g E PART TWO Back in the 1980's, I was working fulltime at a Christian radio network in New Zealand. The music format was made u...

CHaNgE

PART TWO

Back in the 1980's, I was working fulltime at a Christian radio network in New Zealand. The music format was made up of a totally Christian music mix - Praise and Worship, General Christian and some instrumental tracks. As a Christian, I was greatly blessed and edified and built up in my spirit by the music played.

One of the many anointed Christian artists featured on Radio Rhema at that time was a man named David Ingles. He wrote and recorded a large number of Scripture-inspired songs. One of the songs which I still enjoy listening to and have played on my current radio program on community radio is a song called "Unchangeable Lord."

The chorus says: Unchangeable, unchangeable Lord,

                         Unchangeable, Unchangeable Lord,

                         He's all He ever was, and all He ever did

                         He's still doing today,

                         Unchangeable, unchangeable Lord.

The verses of this song list some of God's Covenant-keeping names, as follows:

                        JEHOVAH JIREH: The LORD will PROVIDE Genesis 22:14

                        JEHOVAH RAPHA: The LORD my HEALER Exodus 15:26

                        JEHOVAH NISSI: The LORD is my BANNER Exodus17:15

                        JEHOVAH SHALOM: The LORD is my PEACE Judges 6:24

                        JEHOVAH TSIDKENU: The LORD our RIGHTEOUSNESS                                                                                       Jeremiah 23:6

As well as these, there are other designations of JEHOVAH God as follows:

                        JEHOVAH ELOHIM: SUPREME GOD Genesis 2:4

                        JEHOVAH SABAOTH: The LORD of HOSTS Psalm 24:10

                        JEHOVAH SHAMMAH: The LORD is THERE Ezekiel 48:35 

                        JEHOVAH RAAH: The LORD is my SHEPHERD Psalm23:1

Sometimes when people hear the name Jehovah, even some Christians, they shudder, thinking perhaps this is an endorsement of the Jehovah's Witnesses sect. The name Jehovah is in fact a Latinization of the Hebrew YHWH, or YAHWEH, and was first popularized in the English speaking world by William Tyndale and other pioneer English Protestant translations such as the Geneva Bible and the King James Version.

The psalmist wrote: His name shall endure forever: His name shall continue as long as the sun. Psalm 72:17

The Jehovah's Witnesses have hijacked this name for the Living God, a name that is used to highlight aspects of His redemptive character - but they are in serious error, denying Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory is the name above all names, as the apostle Peter states in Acts 4:12 "There is no salvation in any other [but Jesus Christ], for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." MEV

Several other names for God in the Old Testament are:

                        

                        EL ELYON: The LORD MOST HIGH Deuteronomy 32:8;                                                                             Genesis 14:18-20

                        EL SHADDAI: The ALMIGHTY GOD Genesis 17:1

                                     ADONAI: LORD, MASTER Exodus 34:23; 

                                                               Deuteronomy 10:17

As our Unchangeable LORD, the Living God can be fully trusted to be faithful to perform His Word. He is not a capricious God, who is unpredictable in His moods and temperament. He is a God who is TOTALLY GOOD. He is always a good God. The Bible says in 

Romans 2:4 Do you despise the riches of His goodness, tolerance and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Our God is the God of LIGHT, with no darkness in Him at all. 

God is LOVE personified. So many times the Bible tells us about God's unchangeable love for His people - in verses such as 

Psalm 103:17,18 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting

On those who fear Him, 

And His righteousness to children's children,

To such as keep His covenant,

And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

1 Corinthians 13:13 So now abide faith, hope and love, these three. But the greatest of these is love.

Although the nature and character of God is unchangeable, in His plans and purposes for His people - concerning the nation of Israel, and the Christian Church, the Body of Christ - Change is ordained of God.

More about this - NEXT TIME.

If you have read this blog, and would like to know more about how to become a Christian, check out www.vision.org.au This is the home online of Vision Christian Media in Australia, which also includes Vision Christian Radio. On their home page, click on the "Grow your faith" tab at the top of the page, then "Looking for God?" God Bless.