Ok, nothing against Wal-Mart. The phrase will make sense in a moment.
"Yesterday, "Pastor Randy, why do so many churches that are looking for Lead Pastors want to know my stance and belief on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?"
Answer: "Nancy was attending a Sunday morning service at an Assembly of God Church. The altar service was winding down and the service would soon dismiss. The Pastor just couldn't get peace. As he prayed in tongues, He felt the Holy Spirit give him a Word of Knowledge....most unusual..."Tell Nancy that I hate Mommies and Daddies." The Pastor struggled. What should he do? He walked over to Nancy and whispered the Word to her, "The Holy Spirit told me to tell you that He hates Mommies and Daddies."
A scream came from Nancy.....cries deep from within her soul...a burden being acknowledged for the first time in over 20 years...
You see, Nancy had been molested by her uncle as a child. Deeply scarred, emotionally wounded, resentful and angry, the enemy had held her in captive silence for over two decades.....
And by the way....Her uncle called the molestation game, "Mommies and Daddies".
"Pastor friend", I said, "our churches will be filled with "Nancy's on June 24. Will we be listening to the Holy Spirit? Will will be more concerned about our order of service or God's? Will "Nancy" leave the same way she came?"
But Randy, "We don't need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to go to heaven." "You are right, my dear friend," 'We need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to go to Walmart...that's where Nancy will most likely be today."
A friend of mine Randy Brummit, fellow Pastor, and co-worker in the Kingdom of God wrote this on his facebook the other day. I absolutely loved it.
But before I share it with you, let me make a couple of things clear.
I am Pentecostal. Yes, I believe in the gifts of the Spirit, (Romans 12 and 1 Cor. 12) I also believe in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2, 8, 10, and 19)
No, it isn't weird. At least from God's point of view. 33% of Americans who go to church speak in tongues, and 51% say they attend a church where people speak in tongues.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2007/12/27/speaking-in-tongues/
Of the 2 billion followers of Christ on this planet, over 600 million are Pentecostal / Charamastic.
https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2015/02/world-christianity-by-the-numbers
Why speak in tongues?
Why speak in tongues?
First of all, each of us was designed to fulfill God's will.
Secondly, we cannot do this on our own - we need help.
Thirdly, Jesus said that He would send us a helper just for that reason.
John 14:2 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Fourthly, Jesus wants us to be empowered to do His will and live for Him.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
So here is the story that Pastor Randy shared. Thanks, Randy!
"Yesterday, "Pastor Randy, why do so many churches that are looking for Lead Pastors want to know my stance and belief on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?"
Answer: "Nancy was attending a Sunday morning service at an Assembly of God Church. The altar service was winding down and the service would soon dismiss. The Pastor just couldn't get peace. As he prayed in tongues, He felt the Holy Spirit give him a Word of Knowledge....most unusual..."Tell Nancy that I hate Mommies and Daddies." The Pastor struggled. What should he do? He walked over to Nancy and whispered the Word to her, "The Holy Spirit told me to tell you that He hates Mommies and Daddies."
A scream came from Nancy.....cries deep from within her soul...a burden being acknowledged for the first time in over 20 years...
You see, Nancy had been molested by her uncle as a child. Deeply scarred, emotionally wounded, resentful and angry, the enemy had held her in captive silence for over two decades.....
And by the way....Her uncle called the molestation game, "Mommies and Daddies".
"Pastor friend", I said, "our churches will be filled with "Nancy's on June 24. Will we be listening to the Holy Spirit? Will will be more concerned about our order of service or God's? Will "Nancy" leave the same way she came?"
But Randy, "We don't need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to go to heaven." "You are right, my dear friend," 'We need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to go to Walmart...that's where Nancy will most likely be today."
PRAY: Dear Jesus, I need the Holy Spirit today, so I can go to (fill in today's itinerary here.) AMEN.
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