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"Pentecost Sunday” reminds us of the first time that the Holy Spirit "came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and filled all who in the house where they were sitting. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2: 2-4).
This was the fulfillment of the Prophecy of Joel 2:28–32:
“Then, after doing all those things,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on servants—men and women alike...."
When Jesus spoke with Nicodemus, He explained, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God” (Jn. 3:5). Jesus tells us there are two parts to being born again. The first part is John’s Baptism of water for repentance which gives us salvation; and the second part is Jesus’ Baptism of the Holy Spirit which allows Him to be Lord over our lives (Matt. 3:11; Lk. 3:15–17).
Today it is still necessary to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit just as the first 120 received with "speaking in tongues”. Speaking in tongues is the evidence to receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit even today (Acts 2:4).
Jesus refers to tongues as "new languages” (Mk. 16:17) and Paul describes tongues as "speaking in international languages” (1 Cor. 12:10). "Speaking in tongues” are old English words for "speaking in languages" that are real languages spoken today or sometime in the past. There are over 6,500 languages spoken today.
This Gift of the Holy Spirit is God’s "new communications system”. When used publicly, the messages can be interpreted by people who speaks the actual language or from someone who has the "gift of Interpretation of languages” (1 Cor. 12:10). When speaking in tongues privately or alone. the Holy Spirit will edify (heal) us (1 Cor. 14: 4) and explain "the mysteries in the Spirit; (1 Cor. 14: 2).
With the Spirit-given language, prayer is no longer a "guessing game”. This is the reason Paul instructs us, "Pray at all times in the Spirit (tongues- Holy Spirit given languages) with all prayer and supplication (Eph. 6:18). Paul teaches that there should be no more than 2 or 3 messages in the tongues languages with interpretation in any worship service where there are unbelievers or they will think you are crazy/mad (1 Cor. 14:23).
When a person does not use the gift or gifts of the Holy Spirit, the result is that fear will develop in them. Timothy had a problem of fear develop in him because he was not praying in his tongues language every day. Paul told him how to get rid of his fear:
"Hence I remind you to stir up/rekindle the Gift (charisma) of God that is within you through the laying on of hands for God did not give us a spirit of fear (timidity, cowardice) but a spirit of power and love and a sound mind” (2 Tim. 2:6–7).
According to the book of Acts, the gift of speaking in tongues (languages) is the first gift of the Holy Spirit that is given when a person receives the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4, 8:14; 9:17; 19:1 Cor. 14:18; Act 10:45; 19:6). Speaking in tongues is necessary. James reminds us, "no human being can tame the tongue - a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (Jas. 3:8).
The Holy Spirit tames the tongue” by giving us "self-control” (Gal. 5:23). Then we can be effective "witnesses” for Jesus (Acts 1:8). If you haven’t had your own "Personal Day of Pentecost” with the "signs following” (Mk. 16:17– 20) or need help to stir up the Gift of tongues, please contact me or come to one of our meetings and you can experience your Day of Pentecost.
The gift of tongues is for everyone! (Acts 2:21,37-38; 10:34–35)
Ministry Message for June 2017
God's "Loves" in the Bible.
Recently while reading C.S. Lewis’ book, “The Four Loves,” I made a surprising discovery - he was wrong when he explained the four kinds of “loves” in the New Testament:
1. Affection (storge – Greek) which is love of family members.
2. Friendship with people (philos – Greek).
3. Eros (Sexual love). This word is not used anywhere in the Bible because it is about the sinful use of sexuality.
4. Charity (agape – Greek). Is given to us when we receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mk. 16:17–18: Jn. 3:3,5,7; Acts 2:4).
Paul tells us that we can only have “agape love” when “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us” (Rom. 5:5).
The proof of having received the authentic “agape” love is “casting out demons, speaking in new languages, protection while doing ministry, and the laying of hands on the sick so they can be healed" (Mark 16:17–18).
Also, the Holy Spirit equips us with the fifteen Ministry Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12:6–8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10). Motivated by the "agape love" of God, Christians with the infilling of the Holy Spirit, will display “these signs (which) will follow those who believe” (Mk. 16:20).
Eros love was/is the Greek word that covers what Paul describes as “the works of the flesh: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not enter the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).
(Read Gordon's full message by clicking on the link below.)
<< Read Gordon's full Ministry Message for June >>
Ministry Articles for June 2017
At Calmar Christian Centre, Alberta, Canada a man in his 60's asked, “How do you deal with lust?” I explained, “One of the 'weapons of our warfare' (2 Cor. 10:4) as a Christian believer (Mark 16:17-18) is the Gift of the Holy Spirit called 'speaking in a tongues-language' (1 Cor. 12:9-11; 1 Cor. 14:4).
When you recognize that you are starting to lust, turn your attention to Jesus and pray also in your tongues language that you received when you were baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). And as your pray, you will receive healing which comes each time we pray. (James 4:2)
What is lust? Lust is one of those ‘vain imaginations’ (Rom. 1:21) that causes a person to misdirect their sexual desire towards somebody who is not your spouse. When this temptation comes upon you, it is necessary to start to pray in tongues, focusing your attention on Jesus. Often the Holy Spirit will direct your attention to your spouse or some ministry that the He wants you to do to replace vain imaginations.
Read more>>
At the Gathering Place, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, a women shared with me all the anxiety she felt as the result of her divorce; and even after she had remarried, the anxiety persisted. She anguished over the pain that her children and ex-husband were carrying, even though he too was remarried.
I told her that they were no longer her responsibility, and that she needed to let go; giving them over to Jesus to be dealt with. She had already received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
“But, I have already done that!” she sobbed. I reasoned with her that she in fact had not done that! In actual fact she was continually taking them back, and making herself accountable for their pain.
I instructed her to turn them back over to Jesus each time she thought of them, and then to pray these words out loud:
“Jesus, please forgive me, I release them back over to you; and they are now your concern. Please bless them abundantly so they will in turn come to you for their healing" (Luke 15:11-32).
I asked a woman in her forties, “Do you want to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?” She answered, “I've had prayer many times, but I was told by my pastor that there is a time for everything, and it was not my time to receive (Ecc. 3).
I answered, “But yes, it is your time!” She asked, “How does one know?” I answered, "Because Peter said on the Day of Pentecost, 'And it shall be that whosoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved…..and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'” (Acts 2:21, 38).
I pointed out to her, “You are a whosoever.” And then, I turned to the people standing around her waiting for prayer and asked, “She is a whosoever, isn’t she?” They all laughed and replied, “Yes, she sure is!"
Then I looked her straight in the eye and asked, “Do you believe you are a whosoever?” With a big smile, she looked up at me and replied confidently, “Yes, I am...
Ministry Report for June 2017
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At a meeting in Ecuador, during ministry time, a five year old girl dragged her six year old brother by the hand to the front of the auditorium where my interpreter and I were praying for people.
Boldly, she pushed her way between the adults who were waiting, and said to me in perfect English, “I would like Jesus to baptize me with the Holy Spirit and I want to speak in tongues!”
I smiled at her fearless manner, and prayed with her in agreement for the baptism of the Holy Spirit as she asked. As we prayed, the Holy Spirit suddenly came upon her, causing her to fall backwards to the floor as she spoke out loud in her new tongues language that Jesus had just given her.
As she lay there praising the Lord in tongues, I asked her brother, who stood watch over his younger sister, what would you like to have prayer for?” He replied dumbfounded, “I don’t know, she dragged me up here!” I asked him, “Would you like to be baptized with the Holy Spirit also?”
A man in his forties advised me, “I’ve been a born again Christian for many years, but I’ve never been baptized with the Holy Spirit with tongues, and I think I'd like to try that... (Acts 2:4).
As we prayed together, I encouraged him to give God his voice, and start speaking what he heard while I spoke in my tongues language. This would give him sort of a "kick start," and the Holy Spirit could then guide his voice, enabling him to speak his own tongues language.
But as we began to pray, He started to shake his head from side to side and said, “No! No! No" So I gently took hold of his head, and slowly moved it up and down while encouraging him, “Now try saying “Yes! Yes!”
Read more>>
At the Full Gospel Church in St. Catharines, Ontario, three women stood at the altar with their arms around each other while waiting for prayer.
I turned to them and asked, “What would you like to have prayer for?” They looked at each other and one after another each replied, “The baptism of the Holy Spirit.” “Would you like to receive together, or one at a time?” I suggested. “All together!” they replied.
We prayed together and I laid my hands on each one and spoke, “Receive the Holy Spirit." Within minutes, each one began to speak in their tongues language as the Holy Spirit enabled them!” Amen!
(Read Gordon's full ministry report by clicking on the link below.)
"GOD'S DAILY FASTING MINISTRY PROGRAM." (MATT. 25:31-46)
When Jesus taught about the coming of the Judgement Day, He told us about what God called “fasting,” It was described in such a manner that has been completely overlooked, ignored and replaced with methods of "fasting" that are far from what He had intended. Jesus warned Israel that their idea of “fasting” was wrong, and needed to be dealt with promptly (Matt. 25:42-46).
God is not impressed by people choosing how they should practice His "fasting," and particularly, when it is done to edify themselves and not Him (Matt. 6:16). The "fasting" He wants is what Jesus tells us about the Judgement day - and when He comes in His glory:
"Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." (Matt. 25:34–36)
This is the ministry work of Jesus Christ - God's kind of fasting, that is intended to be done daily in our lives; and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us:
“Is not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am” (Is. 58:6–9).
Jesus' way of "fasting" is doing ministry daily, and not “giving up something for lent” or any other method/way we can conjure up for his glory. We will not gain His favour by any means of our "good works". We are saved by His grace, not by our works, but to do His good works - this is doing His ministry (Eph. 2:8-10).
It is doing the ministry of Jesus Christ (Salvation, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, using the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the signs, wonders, miracles); that we can meet people’s spiritual and physical needs. This is called "God’s daily fasting ministry program." Ask yourself, are you following His program or your own?
Everyday because of your help, we are able and excited to do "God's ministry fasting program" to meet the needs of all those whom Jesus brings before us. Your continuous prayers and partnership allows Gordon to freely accept invitations from any church in Canada, the U.S.A, or other countries; regardless of their size, and without charging fees. Thank you so much for your faithfulness to Jesus and to the GWEA ministry.
To make a financial contribution to Gordon's ministry, donate by clicking below:
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