“…Is there not a cause?” 1 Sam 17:29 NKJV

In our work with the Anglican Church of Uganda, we have led perhaps twelve hundred pastor/priests into the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We anticipate, Lord willing, perhaps leading two thousand more into the Baptism in 2019. Lightbearers has invested much time, planning, training and money to make this possible. We were encouraged in the work recently to learn that the Archbishop of Canterbury, the titular head of all the Anglicans worldwide, daily speaks in tongues. Bless God forever! If we can reach these leaders, and they in turn lead their people into the Baptism, releasing spiritual wildfire, the nation of Uganda will change dramatically for the better in a generation, or less. If leaders will lead…

I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 1 Cor 14:18 NKJV

I catch flak from pastors when I advocate that people speak in tongues for an hour, two hours daily. What has happened to the spirit of sacrifice that has been a cornerstone of Christian practice for two thousand years? Tithing, fasting, long intercessory prayer, good works, witnessing, charitable sacrifices – it’s the spirit of sacrifice that puts the ‘love’ in the love of God. It requires sacrifice to pray in tongues for two hours. But I want to challenge you on something – you have twenty-four hours, what could possibly bring better results than if you took two of those hours to pray in tongues while reading the word of God, devoting the time to God?

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Ps 1:2-3 NKJV

You are saying, I don’t have time. You are lying to yourself. I came across a terrible accident at the corner of Fish Hatcheries Road and Richardson Gap. I prayed for all four of the people in the two cars who lived. I guarantee you that all four found the time in their busy schedules to go to the hospital. It’s all about priorities.

When you say you don’t have time, what you are really saying is, I don’t believe in this, or I don’t value this enough, to invest my time. Surely Facebook, or the TV, or sleep, or eating and drinking, bring me more pleasure than praying in the Spirit consciously. We don’t preach the spirit of sacrifice – God demands something of you – which is why we produce marshmellow Christians. If leaders would lead…

…I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 1 Cor 14:15 NKJV

When you set aside time to pray in tongues, let the joy flow! You can sing, and laugh, and dance in the Spirit. Let the joy flow! Be aware as the Spirit leads you from praise into worship. Let the Spirit take you to a deeper place that can be SO MUCH MORE FUN than whatever you are ‘sacrificing’ to have the time to go there. The love of God – remember, sacrifice is a huge part of love – makes the gifts of the Spirit extraordinarily powerful.

Now, because you are willing to sacrifice up to two hours a day reading the Word and praying in tongues, you are going to see some magnificent changes in your life, not necessarily in this order…

1). You’re going to get happier, healthier and better looking.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Rom 8:11-13 NKJV

I was told recently that I ‘look young.’ I said, Thank you, it’s my Christ in me! The life of your physical body comes from your spirit man. When your spirit man is strengthened, it brings greater life, greater health, to your soul and body. This is scientific fact. John the Baptist said that when Jesus baptized ones in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit would burn up that which is worthless in their lives. This is the ‘putting to death of the deeds of the body.’ The more you pray in tongues, the more your carnal side will get burned up, leaving you much happier, bless God forever!

If only leaders would model this reality, and lead their people towards it!

2). Your faith is going to grow, and the results of your prayer life are going to be a clear demonstration to others of God’s love for you. They are going to think that you are ‘God’s favorite kiddo!’

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, Jude 20 NKJV

Faith is a tangible, quantifiable spiritual reality. Faith makes the promises of God work. Your faith can be built up, made stronger and more effective, the more you pray in tongues. Paul wrote that the Lord can do ‘exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think,’ but that it’s according to the power that works in us. Who works the power in us? We do, as we operate that power, as we use the gifts of the Spirit, especially speaking in tongues, as they are designed to be used. You’ll say, God REALLY loves me!

3). You are going to see miracles, and you are going to understand truths and realities that are virtually cloaked to almost everyone else.

…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, Eph 1:17-19 NKJV

Speaking in tongues is unique in that it is the one gift of the Spirit that builds up your spirit man. No other gift does this! This is why miracle working ministries last for a time, and then fail. They stop doing what enabled them to walk in miracles in the first place and, like Samsons hair growing back, they don’t see it again until they get back to that original reality. All the great charismatic ministers testified to the effect that much speaking in tongues had on their ministries. But we have lost the great power of the Spirit because we have turned from the spirit of sacrifice. In athletics they say, no pain, no gain. Without the sacrifice of much prayer in tongues, there is no great miracle working power. If leaders would lead…

If leaders would lead, if they would model the great gifts of the Spirit and command their people to follow them, the world would change overnight. Those who would turn the world upside down are waiting to be released. The whole creation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. If leaders will lead, we won’t keep them waiting. Love you!

Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…