January 21, 2018_Speak with the Spirit

Fellowship with the Living One

God is spirit which means that He is alive and He is eternal. The way we communicate with God is quite different from the way unbelievers talk to the dead. They may visit their loved ones’ graves and speak to them about what’s on their minds, but they don’t necessarily expect to be heard. Instead they do it for selfish reasons, to comfort themselves. On the other hand, we offer up our requests to God with the belief that He hears our prayers and answers them.

God credited Abraham’s faith as righteousness. Idol worship was prevalent at the time, but he  did not engage in it. He believed in his heart and confessed that ‘God must be alive. He must hear man. As an omnipotent God, He must be the Lord of mankind. He must have the right to command me. Because I believe this, I must prove it by obeying His commands.’ God called Abraham, instructing him to go to a designated land, and He credited his faith as righteousness. Abraham purposed to serve the living God, not a dead idol.

Jesus said, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (Jn 4:23-24). Because God is Spirit, He lives forever. Therefore, anyone who desires to worship God must abandon the futile practice of worshiping lifeless idols and worship Him who is alive.

Even though a blind man cannot see his parents, he can talk to them, be comforted by them, and receive help from them. Similarly, we serve God who is living even though we cannot see Him. Therefore, whoever attends a worship service should be filled with eager anticipation that they will meet the living God, talk to Him, and receive His comfort, His love, His grace, and His guidance.”

Those who do not believe in Jesus are dead and incapable of having any fellowship with God. They cannot even offer up their prayers to God. But whoever believes in Jesus, God receives him and hears his prayers. The difference between having faith in Jesus and not, makes all the difference in the world. Anyone with faith in Jesus can meet God, who is Spirit, in the spirit and have fellowship with Him.

Speak in Tongues as the Holy Spirit Enables You.

After Jesus died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit began to come into anyone who believes in Jesus, just as He had promised. The very first time the Holy Spirit came to this world was two thousand years ago in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:2-4 describes what happened:”And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Nature has existed from the time of creation. But tongues did not exist until Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and the Spirit began to indwell believers, about two thousand years ago. It is not a natural phenomenon but a special one that only happens to them who believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues” (Mk 16:17).

   Anyone who is filled with the Spirit and speaks in tongues experiences his tongue moving and speaking on its own when they are praying in the spirit. That is also evidence that the Spirit has come upon him. The Holy Spirit is invisible so it is not immediately apparent that someone has received the Holy Spirit. But when someone starts speaking in tongues, we know the Holy Spirit is working in them because the Scripture says, “They began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” When someone starts speaking in tongues, it is a manifestation that the Holy Spirit has come upon them.

Jesus said, “These signs will follow them that believe; in my name they will cast out devils; they will speak with new tongues.” He was saying, “Whoever believes in Me, at a minimum he will do these things.” He was setting the base level and the minimum requirement that believers should be able to operate in. We should not merely claim to believe, but we should have the evidence that God validates that we are believers. 2 Corinthians 1:22 says, “Who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” (Acts 1:8) As promised, we have received the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues as the Spirit enabled us (Acts 2:4). A very important point here is that speaking in tongues is only the beginning of the power that comes with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Like a soldier who gets promoted over time, anyone who has received the Spirit should speak in tongues; anyone who speaks in tongues should gain the word of wisdom; anyone who has gained the word of wisdom should gain the word of knowledge. In similar fashion, we should continue abundantly receiving more of the gifts that God so freely gives.

Pursue Especially That You May Prophesy.

1Corinthians chapter 14 specifically describes speaking in tongues and prophesy. This illustrates the importance of both speaking in tongues and prophesying. Anyone who speaks in a tongue must pursue to be able to prophesy. Prophesying doesn’t refer to foretelling the future, or the kind of deeds the prophets performed in the Old Testament. Prophesying refers to preaching the truth that we believe. When the Lord said, ‘If you believe in Me you will be saved,’ and ‘You will have eternal life,’ that was prophecy. It was also prophecy when He said, “You will have part in the first resurrection and enter heaven,” and “Drink my blood and eat my flesh and you will have eternal life.”

In order to be saved, a man needs to have faith; in order to have faith, a man needs to hear the word; and in order to hear the word, someone must preach the word to him. Romans 10:14-15 says, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace!'” Without someone preaching the word, no one will be saved. Therefore, if you have the gift of tongues, now you must desire to prophesy. Do not be content with the gifts you have already received, but rather, you must keep progressing spiritually.

Those who were under the law could not get any spiritual help, regardless of how much they sought after God because they were spiritually dead. But after the risen Jesus ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit came, people began to speak in tongues. People at the gates of hell were given the ability to speak their secrets directly to God through their spirit. (1Cor 14:2) When we exercise this God-given gift of tongues as much as we can we edify our souls. (1Cor 14:18)

However, prophesying is more important for the church. Paul emphasized the importance of prophesying for the edification of church saying, ”I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you prophesied.”(1Cor 14:5) While speaking in tongues edifies the individual, prophesying edifies the entire church. In other words, prophesying is preaching and teaching the gospel, and edifying and admonishing others. This is how we the believers will be able to stay alert under any situation rather than fall into temptation, and to steadfastly endure until the day our Lord returns.

People fall away because they discount the gift of prophesy. 1 Timothy 4:14-15 says, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophesy with the laying on of hands by the elders. Meditate on these things; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.” Those who are appointed by ordinance particularly, like pastors and deacons, must not despise the prophecy that was spoken over them when they were ordained.

We must speak in tongues with all diligence, but we must desire to prophesy even more diligently. Some people actually lose the gift of tongues because they could not bear it. Can such an individual preach with power? Because you speak in tongues, you at least have the power to preach the gospel to others. Just as water begins to boil when it reaches a certain temperature, anyone who is filled with the Spirit will speak in tongues. In the same way, those who are not filled with the Spirit will not and cannot speak in tongues.

Let your spirit cry out to God. 1 Corinthians 2:11 says, “For who knows a man’s thoughts except the spirit of that man which is in him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” Be filled with the Holy Spirit! Speak in tongues! And progress to prophesy! Prophesying doesn’t mean making predictions. The first covenant was a prophecy and so is the new covenant. The first covenant has already been fulfilled, and the new covenant will be fulfilled when Jesus returns. Let us diligently preach and prophesy, “Let us be ready to receive Him who is coming again!” Let us eagerly preach and teach the gospel!

The Blood, the Holy Spirit, and the Word! I have preached about these three things all my life and I will continue to do so. I was a helpless sinner who was bound for hell, but I was saved by the blood of Jesus. God sent the Holy Spirit to a wretched person like me. I will rely on the Holy Spirit throughout all my life and preach the gospel. If we have received the blood of Jesus Christ, let us also receive the Holy Spirit! If we have received the Holy Spirit, let us also speak in tongues! Let the church advance and preach the gospel!

Dear Sungrak people, I love you.

At this time I am fighting a lonesome and solitary battle, just like Elijah who fought against 850 false prophets including the prophets of Baal. Thankfully, by the love and support of those who love the church and the overseer, I am persevering through it. Elijah’s only prayer was, “God, let it be known this day that You are God and I am Your servant”.

As time goes by, only a futile battle will carry on longer. However, I am of old age and do not know until when God will keep hold of me, but until then, I will keep fighting strong.

I was born in a small, poor town by the seaside and experienced the dreadful war. I was an ignorant and wretched man, yet God chose me to become His servant at a young age to work for the Lord. Since then, I led my spiritual life with the word of wisdom, knowledge and power, and faith through the Holy Spirit. I have cherished the love and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ who shed His blood for a sinner like me, and all my life endeavored to save souls like me.

As I know that I cannot bear a single moment unless I rely on the Holy Spirit, I have continued to remain filled with the Holy Spirit night and day. I am not a righteous man, nor am I perfect. However, I am the Lord’s servant who depends on the blood of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as much as anyone else.

I am not living by the righteousness that comes from my conscience; rather I rely on the righteousness of the Holy Spirit. I have nothing to say even if someone were to call me a sinner. I am a man who just loves the Lord Jesus only. Therefore I have become clothed with Jesus and He works upon me by His life and truth so that I may live by Jesus alone. Jesus has covered all my shame. It is only by the righteousness of Jesus that I have been justified. Hence I am determined to suffer with the Lord unto death.

My wish is that our saints who love our church, the Lord’s body, pray more for me. The Lord promised that where two or three gather together and pray, He will be with them. Elijah prayed for rain on a drought-stricken land that didn’t have rain for three and a half years, and his prayer finally brought rain.

All my life, I have done God’s work and triumphed by receiving answers to my prayers. Through the power of prayer, Joshua was able to stop the sun and the moon to be still in the middle of the sky. Moses brought forth water from the rock and parted the Rea Sea and closed it again. When 120 people gathered together with one heart in the Upper Room and devoted themselves to prayer continually, they received the great power of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

God commanded us, “Call unto Me. Call unto Me with all your might.” There is an enormous difference between those that pray and those that don’t. Everyone, please pray for me. I earnestly urge you to pray more for our church. Prayer of faith will surely be answered. Thank you.

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Outline translated by Sarah Lee
Letter translated by John Kim
Interpretations by Sarah Lee
Korean Summary by Ki-Taek Lee