Standing strong in seasons of adversity pt 5


Feeling inferior to another person and being inadequate or insecure is not God's best. This is not a good place to be because you can't think straight. On the other hand feeling that you are better than someone else is not God's best either. There is a fleshy, brash boldness this is not from God. Godly boldness is accompanied with the fruit of the Spirit.

Denial does not make you the overcomer. This is not standing strong in all seasons of life; faith is not sticking your head in the sand and ignoring problems. You are strong and can overcome because of what Jesus accomplished and the victory He won.

Jesus did not say ignore the mountain, He said speak to it. You need to acknowledge it before you speak to it and deny its right to remain! Sickness is not to be ignored, it has to be dealt with, this is the same for every area of your life.

Standing strong by speaking in tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:18 AMP, "I thank God that I speak in [strange] tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together;"

As a believer we must tell people and not be ashamed of the Holy Spirit. Here Paul was making a big statement; he was saying that he spoke in tongues (heavenly language) more than them all!
The five supernatural signs that should follow every believer, Mark 16:17-18 AMP, "And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well."
God ordained it that there is a language that we get to speak in, as believers, after we have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:1-4 AMP, "AND WHEN the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place, When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them. And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words]."

They were all filled! It is God's will to fill everybody.
Acts 9:17-18 AMP, "So Ananias left and went into the house. And he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And instantly something like scales fell from [Saul's] eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized,"
Be filled with the Holy Spirit. You may say, "It doesn't say here that he spoke with other tongues", but piecing this with what Paul said in Corinthians, we see he did speak in tongues.
Let's go back and take a look at why this happened, in verses 10-16 AMP, " Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he answered, Here am I, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying [there]. And he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight. But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard many people tell about this man, especially how much evil and what great suffering he has brought on Your saints at Jerusalem; Now he is here and has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call upon Your name. But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel; For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name's sake."
A praying man/woman gets answers and becomes illuminated. The Lord can even show you adversity in your future that you can take authority over it, or if by some reason something else is going on, so you can be prepared. He can illuminate your darkness!

Acts 10:34 AMP, " And Peter opened his mouth and said: Most certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons," When it comes to the baptism of the Holy Spirit you must take this scripture, God is no respecter of persons. There is not one person who cannot have the evidence of speaking in tongues.
v45-46 AMP, ^"And the believers from among the circumcised [the Jews] who came with Peter were surprised and amazed, because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed and poured out largely even on the Gentiles. For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and extolling and magnifying God…"
To magnify makes bigger, so praying in tongues helps you to see God bigger than your problems.
This is to help you stand strong in adversity! When you speak in tongues you speak to God! The devil cannot understand tongues, just like armies have codes that the enemy cannot understand, believers have speaking in tongues, which is unto God. He understands. Man cannot understand it either, unless by the Spirit. We get to speak to God in a language that we didn't even learn, that we received when we were baptised in the Holy Spirit! Our mind will not understand it; that's ok, it is nothing to do with your mind. Speaking in tongues is spirit! I Corinthians 14:2-4 AMP, "For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding]. But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation. He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself, but he who prophesies [interpreting the divine will and purpose and teaching with inspiration] edifies and improves the church and promotes growth [in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, and happiness]."
There is a time to not speak in tongues and then there is a time to speak in tongues! This word 'edify' means to charge, like charging a battery. Praying in tongues charges and improves the believer!

Acts 8:5-8 AMP, "Philip [the deacon, not the apostle] went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the Messiah) to them [the people]; And great crowds of people with one accord listened to and heeded what was said by Philip, as they heard him and watched the miracles and wonders which he kept performing [from time to time]. For foul spirits came out of many who were possessed by them, screaming and shouting with a loud voice, and many who were suffering from palsy or were crippled were restored to health. And there was great rejoicing in that city."
'From time to time'. Sometimes we have this idea that is should be happening every minute of everyday; it's not possibly an everyday experience in your life. It could be you one day and someone else another day, don't be discouraged. These are just not stories, this actually took place! Say, "I believe I receive this in my family, in my life, in my community and wherever I am. I believe the Lord works with me, confirming the Word with signs following!"

Great rejoicing in the city. This is what we are working towards!
V15-17 AMP, "And they came down and prayed for them that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit; For He had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then [the apostles] laid their hands on them one by one, and they received the Holy Spirit."
They received the Holy Spirit.

This life as a believer is all about, how can we genuinely help others! We are empowered to enlarge the Kingdom of God on this earth and set people free!