Opening the Prophetic Gifts Book Report

Randall Q. Lawrence
Faith Bible College
Opening the Prophetic Gifts “Book Report”
Dr. E.
4/19/2011


Process of reaching this point and calling in ministry:

We had Holy Spirit fall on our class. The word of knowledge given to me was “You already know.” This was very true, but it almost made me laugh with joy because it was further confirmation that I am in the right place with the right persons at the right time and in the right way—“Christ as the Way” (John 14:6)—continued growth as a Faith Bible student, mentoring as Dr. Nick’s armor-bearer. My graduation on May 7, 2011 with a degree of Master’s in Ministry of the Prophet is the culmination of a number of steps and God-incidences (God blessed coincidences) and God-encounters leading me to this point.

This was not an easy journey. I grew up in church as a 6th generation RLDS member. I heard stories about my great-great grandfather Charles Cramer speaking in tongues and giving interpretation. I experienced God- & Spirit-encounters in connection with church camps and other similar experiences in college, but these experiences were few and far-between. One of these experiences involved a two-part dream with the first part focused on spiritual warfare with a devil/phantom stealing person’s faces and second part with me being vulnerable to a girl in school-I am naked from waist down (in the dream). I definitely have the gift of dreams because I’ve had other dreams in two prophetic parts that have guided me.

After failing in U.S. Air Force as a nurse and with my first marriage, I was in numerous jobs to attempt to get my life on track—mostly nursing jobs for the better pay though I was never really happy or fulfilled in my job. I went through a lot of personal issues—failure of a 2nd marriage, loss of last nursing job, loss of “being a Dad” (father-figure to stepson), loss of house, and more. All the doors closed in Ohio so I put a “fleece” (like Gideon—Judges 6:33-40) out about coming to Missouri. Despite numerous difficulties, I moved to Missouri, moved in with some new friends including Peggy, and began the slow, long process of re-building my life. I got involved with an inner city ministry called H.A.R.T. (Healing And Restoring Together) Ministries and began to take back some of my life as a I sought healing, refuge in the Lord.

This ministry with addicts, alcoholics, and homeless was something of a culture shock to my middle class and Ohio town upbringing. Yes, I had done some service work with Circle K (Kiwani’s) in college in Toledo and student nursing at a homeless shelter, but this was still something of a shock. The friendship between Peggy and me blossomed as we worked together often 5-6 mostly volunteer (very minimal pay) days/week in this ministry. We did everything from cooking, security, dish-washing, preaching, praying, deliverance, service planning and presiding, and more. Some highlights included a wedding for friends thrown together at Christmas using children dressed up for pageant,, baptizing a homeless guy named Willie who was recovering from a gunshot wound, and befriending another homeless guy James who played guitar as I preached plus looked out for Peggy when I worked at Benilde the first time. The leadership of HART Ministries favored others over Peggy and me (despite our dedication and work) and allowed a practicing homosexual to preach and minister against our opinions and feelings. Also God revealed of “familiar spirit” through discernment of the spirits. We were really not getting the mentoring we wanted so we decided to leave and take a break. We cut all ties.

During the same time as HART Ministries, Peggy helped to introduce me to CCM-Contemporary Christian Ministries—charismatic wing/group of Community of Christ (former RLDS). I found a lot of friends, “family”, support, and healing in this body of believers that still believed in the Gifts of the Spirit, sought the Presence of the Lord, and loved to be enthusiastic in worship. They also had a number of leaders who challenged my discipleship and walk with the Lord, gave prophetic ‘words of knowledge’ encouraging and stretching me, and helped to pointed my life more in the right direction. It was difficult being so far away from my family (3 states away) so CCM’ers became my family. I found out that I loved being around expectant, enthusiastic believers who yielded to God and flowed with the Gifts of the Spirit including healing, miracles, prophecy, anointed teaching, and more.

This kind of gives my background and covers the previous years up until the last several years (2009-2011). Peggy and I were looking for regular mentoring (week-in & week-out)—not just part-time mentoring (one week and number of weekends a year) as with CCM. I was also involved with a group (Hill Cumorah Expedition Team) that did mission/exploratory-archaeology trips to Mexico. I wanted to go on the trip in 2008 and could not so I asked God what He wanted me to do—lead the prayer coordination effort for the trip was the Godly inspiration given to me. We came up with prayer cards that we gave out and added congregations to the support of the group. This was quite a time of learning as I fasted, prayed, dealt with a spiritual attack (fraction of a second of pure hate, spite, anger), and was given a direct “word of knowledge”—“you will go next year”. In 2009, I did go on this trip to southern Mexico and was challenged more in my faith and discipleship walk. Peggy supported me in all of this as my best friend and co-worker and coordinator of the prayer effort in my absence in 2009..

Our friendship continued to deepen and grew. The 2009 CCM Leadership Summit with the guest ministry of Evangelist & healer Frank & Nephtali Seamster along with borrowing a “Finger of God” Deluxe Edition DVD from friend/CCM leader-Derek Sanders proved to be life-changing. Despite being voted a Community of Christ World Conference 2010 delegate and attending a MC conference with divisive (homosexuality) issues, we also attended this CCM retreat in Excelsior Springs by driving back and forth. I watched these Finger of God DVD’s and began to walk in a prolonged anointing with faith for healing (for Peggy) and giving ‘words of knowledge’ to other CCM persons. Peggy got a tremendous healing on her ankles and feet—laughing and screaming in delight with a healing for which she did not have faith. She was able to take steps up and down like a normal person—had never done that around me.
In the Summer 2009, I had applied and been accepted at IHOPU for an Intro. to IHOP-KC internship for Fall 2009. I had needed $900, but I only had $2-300. I figured that God would provide—Jehovah-Jireh (Genesis ). It did not happen and IHOPU later withdrew my acceptance since I could not sign their belief statement. At first, it was somewhat confusing why the door opened, but the means were not provided.

Our best friend Dan Enix then decided to visit Faith Bible College. He spoke with Dr. Eva (I thought that he spoke with Dr. Nick) who I visited a number of times before enrolling for the Spring 2010 term. The confirmation came when Dr. Nick prayed over me going to school there, the Spirit rested heavily, and money for IHOPU from Scripture class was given back to me for Faith Bible College classes. Peggy and I began to attend on Friday nights with Ebony & Ivory Ministry and some Sunday’s. I quickly realized that this was the place/people that we were looking for—cheaper, closer (within walking distance), and getting the week-in/week-out, regular mentoring in the prophetic/Spirit-filled walk. In addition, Peggy was blessed, taught, encouraged even before starting classes on her own. On Palm Sunday 2010, our prayer languages opened up to us. Shortly after starting classes, I had images in my head of Peggy and I getting married even though we were still just best friends. We began to meet with Dr. Nick every week for counseling and got “secretly–engaged” (just telling Dr. Nick & my parents) in May 2010.

CCM Celebration (family reunion) 2010 “Greater Things” became quite a God-encounter for Peggy and me. I was not even planning on going and felt the Spirit wanting me to go to help with the older (Sr. High) youth so I went even though Peggy had to work part of the week. I assisted—acting as an “armor-bearer” (catcher, supporter) with “fire tunnel” (double prayer line). I did not even go through myself, but I was blessed with insight of supporting the rising generation as they support/mentor the really young/new generation (each generation being greater in the Spirit than the one before). The Spirit rested on me about getting some “junk” out of my life—“don’t you dare leave with others getting completely free”. First time did not work at all—tug of war with demonic force(s) that was choking off my prayer language. I then spent the next day in fasting and prayer. Second time involved my best friends Dan and Peggy. I confessed to Dan and Peggy. Dan then offered prayer which became a prayer which became a prayer of unity for the two of us in the sight of God. He had insisted that the Presence of the Lord Jesus was with us prior to this prayer, and being free of something that had bound me for more than 3 decades had a tremendous effect with experiencing an “open Heaven” to the Father. We then went into an intercessory prayer round, first me, then Dan (each prayer building) then I insisted on praying again (claimed a “house of prayer” at Graceland University and 3-fold cord joining of the Restoration Movement-Prayer & Prophetic Movement-Pentecostal & Charismatic Movements) then Peggy “belted” out “Amazing Grace” and finished with powerful prayer. With this experience, we felt “married” in the “eyes of God” so decided to quickly get married on July 16, 2010, my 41st birthday.

On January 18, 2011, the Holy Spirit rested on me following work, and I awakened Peggy when I got home so she could anoint me with all the oils that we had. I then went into an extended period of time of “imagining our life 10-15 years from now” with the Spirit. While I spoke, Peggy actually saw what I described. This experience made it clear that I was free to develop and promote P.F.I. Z. (P.rayer F.urnaces I.n Z.ion) program—multiple 24/7/365 worship & intercession among the Restoration Movement groups in Independence, MO and more.

Our journey has deepened and grown more Spirit-filled with us both being Faith Bible College students and soon to be teachers, us both being part of the ministry team, us both having more God encounters, more Spirit-filled worship and Gifts manifesting. I could do a whole paper just on Ebony & Ivory Ministry and what it means to us and just on the Furious Love Event that we just attended. I will end here for now.

Gifts of the Spirit Book Report

Randall Q. Lawrence
Faith Bible College
Dr. Z




Book Report: The Holy Spirit and You: A Study Guide to the Spirit-Filled Life by Dennis & Rita Bennett













Gifts of the Spirit
12/6/2011

I finally finished the book The Holy Spirit and You by Dennis & Rita Bennett. In general, I really liked this book for the way that it examined the Gifts of the Spirit grouping them into 3 classes (of 3 gifts to each class):

Inspirational/Fellowship Gifts (Gift of Tongues, Gift of Interpretation, Gift of Prophecy)—“power to say”, Gifts of Power (Gifts of Healings, Working of Miracles, Gift of Faith)—“power to do”, and Gifts of Revelation (Discerning of Spirits, “Word of Knowledge”, “Word of Wisdom”)—“power to know”. (p. 83) The Bennett’s do an excellent job of looking at these gifts, gift by gift, looking at the relevant Scriptural passages, along with bringing up relevant experiences and testimonies regarding the functioning of these Gifts of the Spirit.

The question is asked, “What if I don’t speak in tongues? Can I receive the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues?” They answer, “It comes with the package!” (p. 64) “You don’t have to speak in tongues in order to be saved. You don’t have to speak in tongues in order to have the Holy Spirit in you. You don’t have to speak in tongues to have times of feeling filled with the Holy Spirit, but if you want the free and full outpouring that is the baptism in the Holy Spirit, you must expect it to happen as in the Scripture, and to do what Peter, James, John, Paul, Mary, Mary Magdalen, Barnabas, and all the rest did!” (p. 65) This is a very good answer to non-believers and to believers questioning the issue of tongues and the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

The importance of the Gift of Tongues is discussed in the chapter on consecration in regards to the intellect. “The intellect comes into rest as it is yielded to God, and praying in tongues is one important means of letting the Holy Spirit renew and refresh our minds and souls.” (p. 185) I sought the Gift of Tongues and/or Prayer Language as I came to understand more and more about them. Gift of Tongues is for public use in church with Gift of Interpretation needed also in church while the Prayer Language does not necessarily require interpretation.

This Gift of Prayer Language was opened to me 5 minutes after it was opened to my best friend (& now wife) Peggy, and it was opened after I saw the use of Prayer Language in the rebuking of the spirit of death off Dr. Larry in ministering at a church in Excelsior Springs on Palm Sunday 2010. I was on a long fast and struggled to get my mind out of the way of my heart and spirit. I have greatly enjoyed this Prophetic Gift and its many uses. I did not see in this book where it speaks about Prayer Language (with the Holy Spirit) as turbo-charging the other Gifts of the Spirit along with blessing my interactions with others and even with animals. Many persons claimed that I had a Baptism in the Holy Spirit when this Gift opened up to me. However, I did not have any dramatic experience in the Lord like Pentecost was for the early church and disciples and did not really feel any different afterward. But, in order to have this Gift free flowing, then I needed to some serious deliverance work (in June 2010) because I had a demon trying to “pinch this Gift off of me”. Now, I am free, and it works and flows freely.

The beginning of the book spends an extensive amount of time and chapters in speaking about Baptism in the Spirit, what it is, how to get it, and more prior to a chapter on each of the 9 Gifts of the Spirit! The book also speaks about things that get in the way Baptism in the Spirit—like cults, the occult/New Age stuff, and things of the world not to mention demonic influences.

The end of the book then talks about the Excellent Way (“…balance and interplay between the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.” & centered in the Love of God—p. 176) along with consecration (of lives and material possessions) to the Lord along with use of the charts (Word of God) and the compass (not the Holy Spirit but our response to the Holy Spirit—p. 208) “So it is the Holy Spirit in you that makes you able to respond to God. It follows that your sensitivity will increase as you allow the Holy Spirit to inspire and move you more from within. This you do through praise and prayer, and closer personal fellowship with God and experience of Him. You sensitize your own instruments by using them.” (p. 208) I really liked this book, but I did take exception** to some of the things that they assumed in the writing of this book on the Holy Spirit and Gifts of the Spirit.
 
**From pp. 39-40….”Another powerful “cult”, often accepted as a true variety of Christianity, claims to be the only true “church,” that all others are false. It teaches that God the Father was, and is, a man, a being of “flesh and bone,” who became an almighty god.” It also teaches that men, if they will keep the teachings of the cult, can become “almighty gods,” and have their own planets to rule, which they will people with their “spirit children” that they have begotten by their many “spirit wives”! Rather obviously, one of the first requirements for full salvation in this cult is that you get married Jesus died on the cross, this group tells us, to bring all men to the point where they could save themselves by keeping the teachings of this particular cult. This group, like others, teaches that the Bible is not sufficient to show the way of salvation; it must be supplemented by other books and writings. In fact, the most important teachings of this cult are not drawn from the Bible at all, but from their special books—one of which was supposedly discovered written on “golden plates; and buried, and others written by “prophets” through the years. Many people are drawn to this cult because of a strong social welfare emphasis.”

We, in the RLDS/Community of Christ, have held to the “one true church” concept, but we do not any longer. We have never held to the Adam-God theory that we can become like God which, of course, also begs the question of who then created God if he had been a man. We also as a church were formed and been against polygamy along with the concept of temple sealing and celestial marriage which helped lead the bulk of the Restoration Movement into the apostasy of polygamy out west and an attempt to get out of the U.S.A. The Community of Christ also believes that Jesus is most important—died on the cross and rose again. We do not believe that you are only saved by following the teaching of the church. We do hold to the Book of Mormon, but the Book of Mormon is a Christ-centered and even a Pentecostal/Charismatic book long before there was such groups. It is interesting that there was a deliverance as one of the first miracles along with Gifts of the Spirit including tongues and interpretation in the early Restoration Movement and early Reorganization (R.L.D.S.).

Gifts of the Spirit Midterm

Randall Q. Lawrence
Gifts of the Spirit
Dr. Z.
10/25/2011

Midterm: Faith

I was not sure if I wanted to do my paper on Gifts of Healings or Faith. I have a tremendous interest in John G. Lake, the tremendous Pentecostal pioneer who blazed a trail of healing from South Africa to Spokane and Portland and more. I also have a great interest in Smith Wigglesworth, another Pentecostal pioneer, nicknamed the “Apostle of Faith”. I asked the Holy Spirit to help me reveal which Gift to focus on in this paper. I opened my Bible to Acts 6:8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” [emphasis mine] That seemed to settle it in that I should do this paper on faith (in Jesus Christ) which is the foundation on which all the other Gifts of the Spirit rest and become magnified.

Two Scriptures stick out regarding faith: Hebrews 11:1 “Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” and Romans 4:17 (speaking of Abraham) “…and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Hebrews 11 lists Abraham and Sarah as great heroes of faith among others in the Bible. Smith Wigglesworth would answer his critics with “I am not moved by what I see or hear; I am moved by what I believe.”

Stephen was filled with faith (and trust in Jesus Christ) and power (endowment and baptism of the Holy Spirit) which was foundational for the doing of wonders (things not seen before) and miracles (substance of what the recipients of the miracles hoped for). Stephen, moved by what he believed, called forth those things that were not and established them.

Abraham walked in faith not only according to Romans 4 describing him as “strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Romans 4:20) looking to the promises of God rather than the age and physical limitations (past child-bearing years) of his and Sarah’s bodies. (Romans 4:19) Abraham looked at the spiritual (promise) and walked by faith and relationship and covenant with God the Father. Abraham and Sarah left their family to be obedient to God, and God blessed them. They are listed as pillars or heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 which recounts the major persons of the Bible walking in faith and then blessed with miracles. Smith Wigglesworth, in the early 1900’s, challenged persons to “Only Believe!”, and the dead were raised, the sick were made well, persons were saved and delivered—similar miracles as Jesus and miracles and wonders like the great leaders in the Bible.

Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is impossible to please him [God]….”. Romans 4:22 states, “And therefore it [faith in promises of God] was imputed to him [Abraham] for righteousness. Faith is the foundation and magnification for all the Gifts of the Spirit. Faith in Jesus Christ and His resurrection and His authority positions us as being righteous through the Blood of Jesus and is the way to please God. We only need to believe!!!