Signs & Wonders

The Vitalness of His Manifest Presence

Posted on October 1, 2011 by mcalmond

Exodus 33:14-16 (ESV) And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

Here in Exodus we see that the presence of the Lord was so vital to Moses that he said to the Lord that if the Lord was not going to come with them, then don’t send Israel up to the Promise Land. The Lord offered earlier to send up an Angel who would assure them of the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise in providing them the Promise Land. For Moses this was not enough. He wanted the Lord’s presence, not simply the presence of an Angel no matter how great the Angel was.

I find this so very significant for us today as well. The evidence of Gods manifest presence with and amongst His people is both that which confirms the favor of God concerning His people and that which makes them distinct from the rest of the World. This distinction is vital for us as the people of God. We’re to be in, yet not of the world. The question remains however, how far shall we go without His manifest, evident, or tangible presence?

Read more »

Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, A Simple Reminder, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Angels, Anointing, Authenticity, Belief System, Benefits, Body of Christ, Boundaries, Breaking Forth, Calling, Church, Church Forms, Churches, Communion, Confidence, Core Values, Covering, Dependency, Edification, Empowerment, Encouragement, Exhortation, Family, Father, Genuineness, God's Faithfulness, God's Love, Grace, Healing, His Chosen, Holiness, Holy Spirit, Hope, Humility, In Spirit and In Truth, Intimacy, Mercy, Ministry, Prayer, Presumptions, Relationship, Rest, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Signs & Wonders, Simplicity, Spirit, Spiritual Hunger and Thirst, Stirrings, Surrender, Teaching, Thanksgiving, The Lord Jesus, The Power of God, Transcendence, Truth, Waiting on the Lord, Witness, Word of God, Work of God, Worship | 2 Comments

A Reforbapti… What?

Posted on September 10, 2011 by mcalmond

As I grew up, we moved somewhat frequently. We moved down the road, across town, over to the next town and down into the next state. As we would move, we often were in search of a new church. My father’s personal position wasn’t to search for a church so much as to find our pastor. This is something that I learned from and deeply respect my father for. When a pastor would leave and a new one then came, if it became somehow clear that he was not our shepherd, we would move on. It wasn’t loyalty to the denomination that was important, it was to our pastor, right or wrong. As a result, we spent considerable time in Independent, Baptist, Presbyterian, Missionary Alliance, Assembly of God, Foursquare and few others churches I do not recall. For all of this exposure to the various parts of the Body of Christ, I am today, so very grateful. It has served to give me a very real love for the Body of Christ at large.

As a result of this, I was exposed to many and varied churches, theology and forms of church. My father had received a powerful revelation of God’s Grace when he was young and in the ministry as had my grandfather before him. In fact my grandfather would have been the first in our family to become what might be called, a Bapticostal. Before my dad had the revelation of God’s Grace, my grandfather and my dad would discuss or rather argue this question over and over. Then, one night as my dad was studying the scriptures and getting ready for a meeting the next day, the Lord illuminated his understanding and he finally saw the light of the truth concerning God’s wonderful and powerful Grace. It was for him a true revelation. It was thereafter that my dad would find himself being on the same path as Grandpa, that of becoming a Pentecostal with a clear and powerful revelation of grace. They were the first, as it were, Bapticostals in our family.

Read more »

Categories: Abiding, Arminianism, Awakening, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Baptist Theology, Being Built Up, Belief System, Believer, Benefits, Body of Christ, Breaking Forth, Calling, Christian Maturity, Church, Church Forms, Churches, Confidence, Core Values, Dad, Edification, Empowerment, Encouragement, Faith, Family, Father, Foundations, Genuineness, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God's Faithfulness, God's Righteousness, God's Love, Grace, Growing in Faith, Hell, Hermeneutics, History, Homiletics, Humility, illumination, Knowledge, Light, Mercy, Ministry, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Paradigm Shift, Pastor, Pentecostal Theology, Prayer, Preaching, Presumptions, Readiness, Reflections, Reformed Theology, Relationship, Remembrances, Rest, Revelation, Righteousness, Signs & Wonders, Simplicity, Speaking in Tongues, Thankfulness, The Power of God, Theology, Training, Transformation, Word, Word of God, Work of God | 4 Comments

Not Everyone…

Posted on August 7, 2011 by mcalmond

Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Let us have a brief look at this very disturbing text. I do not know about you but whenever I read this text it is convicting and confronting. It convicts me to never, by the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ, presume upon my relationship in and with the Lord Jesus Christ. It also confronts me in the area of obedience. Am I genuinely doing the will of the Father God Almighty? It is a text that stirs up within, a very real and genuine re-examination of my heart and personal faith, in and with the Lord Jesus Christ. And, this isn’t a bad thing at all. No, it absolutely isn’t.

Not everyone who simply says, repeatedly, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven; how convicting, how confronting, how challenging. This is especially true when you consider what the Lord then goes on to address. Even though there were mighty things seemingly being done through them, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, He will still drive them away because He did not actually know them. There was never any genuine relationship, of  God faith, saving faith or righteous repentance. It was simply a profession, of words rooted in presumptions.

Read more »

Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, A Simple Faith, Abiding, Alone, Authenticity, Belief System, Believer, Churches, Commands, Communion, Confidence, Disobedience, Dying to Self Will, Exhortation, Foundations, Genuineness, God Faith, Grace, Hope, Humility, illumination, In Spirit and In Truth, Lies, Man's Faith, Obedience, Openness, Presumptions, Priorities, Repent, Repentance, Righteousness, Salvation, Saving Faith, Self Justification, Selfishness, Signs & Wonders, Simplicity, Spirit of Truth, Spiritual Barreness, Surrender, The Power of God, Transformation, True Love, Unrighteous Ambition, Word, Work of God | Leave a comment

There Is Always More Than We See, Hear, Or Know

Posted on July 24, 2011 by mcalmond

This post is a bit different than I would normally write. Well, I think it is anyway. I am going to share with you what I received from the Lord Jesus Christ one morning, some time ago, while we were at church. We were not attending our church, rather we were visiting another church where we had been to only once before.

All too often we settle for far less than the fullness of the Lord’s intended purpose for us in any given service or even moment in His timing. For there is always more than we see, hear, or know, that He desires to accomplish. Yet too frequently we stop with just a taste and have seemingly lost our thirst and hunger for the more of His Fullness. This is a true story of such a time.

Read more »

Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Abiding, Being Built Up, Benefits, Body of Christ, Boundaries, Breaking Forth, Calling, Character, Church, Church Forms, Encouragement, Fields of Ministry, Finding the Right Church, Following Through, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God's Faithfulness, God's Love, Grace, Healing, Holiness, Holy Spirit, Hope, Humility, In Spirit and In Truth, Inspiration, Intimacy, Lies, Light, Ministry, Noise and Distractions, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Paradigm Shift, Prayer, Priorities, Process, Prophetic, Prophetic Revelation, Protection, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Signs & Wonders, Spiritual Barreness, Spiritual Desperation, Spiritual Hunger and Thirst, Stirrings, Surrender, Teaching, The Lord's Fullness, Transcendence, Truth, Vulnerability, Waiting on the Lord, Wind of the Spirit, Witness, Work of God | Leave a comment

A Call To Seeing The More

Posted on May 22, 2011 by mcalmond

Acts 22:14-15 (NKJV) Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

A couple of years ago, we were in another country on a prayer walk. We had left that morning to go on this prayer walk and I was excited because of what the Lord had showed the evening before in prayer. As a result, I was walking rather briskly as we headed out towards the place of prayer that we were going to be at this morning. It was a historical place, an ancient place and a very spiritually strategic place for the area.

We arrived at this high point in the area and we began immediately to engage the Lord in prayer and intercession. As we began to engage the Lord is this place, we sought only to be obedient to Lord, following His leading in how, what and to whatever end the Lord would have us to pray.

Read more »

Categories: A Simple Faith, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Angels, Anointing, Awakening, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Being Built Up, Benefits, Boundaries, Breaking Forth, Calling, Communion, Confidence, Dependency, Edification, Empowerment, Encouragement, Faith, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God Faith, Grace, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Benefits, Holy Spirit Hearing, Holy Spirit Seeing, illumination, In Spirit and In Truth, Intimacy, Metron, Ministry, Ministry Motivation, Obedience, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Prayer, Prophetic, Prophetic Actions, Prophetic Revelation, Protection, Revelation, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Signs & Wonders, Speaking in Tongues, Spirit, Standing in Faith, Surrender, Teaching, Thanksgiving, The Power of God, Training, Transformation, Truth, Victory, Visions, Vulnerability, Waiting on the Lord, Witness, Work of God, Worship | Leave a comment

What is Crucifixion?

Posted on April 22, 2011 by mcalmond

A medical doctor provides a physical description of a crucifixion:

The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought iron nail through the wrist deep into the wood. Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place. The left foot is press backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each through the heel, leaving the knees flexed. The victim is now crucified.

Read more »

Categories: A Simple Reminder, Absolute Dependency, Believer, Benefits, Calvary, Church, Church History, Crucifixion, Death, Death on the Cross, Easter, Edification, Faith, Following Through, Foundations, God Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Righteousness, God's Love, Grace, His Chosen, His Gift of Love, History, Hope, In Spirit and In Truth, Inspiration, Isolation, Mercy, No Other Name, Obedience, Passover, Remembrances, Resurrection, Resurrection Life, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Salvation, Saving Faith, Selflessness, Signs & Wonders, Steadfastness, Surrender, Teaching, Thankfulness, The Lord Jesus, The Power of God, True Love, Truth, Victory, Vulnerability, Witness, Word of God, Work of God, Worship | 1 Comment

The Benefits of Speaking in Tongues, Pt 2

Posted on February 7, 2011 by mcalmond

Getting back to our discussion, in the larger context of the passage, we see that the appropriate use of Tongues corporately is to be with the corresponding gift of Interpretation. If there is no corresponding gift of interpretation then there should be no corporate expression of tongues before the Body. With interpretation you then have that which is equal to prophecy (1 Cor 14:5). Regardless of how you would interpret prophecy, tongues with the corresponding gift of interpretation is equal to prophecy in importance for the edification of the assembly of believers. If you see Prophecy as Preaching God’s Word, then tongues spoken out loud and then followed by interpretation is as Preaching God’s Word. If you see Prophecy as something else, then what you see it as, is equal to Tongues with Interpretation. This all seems very clear to me and yet it is also problematic.

Read more »

Categories: Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Being Built Up, Belief System, Believer, Benefits, Body of Christ, Calling, Calvary, Church, Communion, Confidence, Dependency, Edification, Empowerment, Encouragement, Exhortation, Faith, Father, Flesh, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God Faith, God's Righteousness, God's Love, Growing in Faith, Healing, Holy Spirit Benefits, Holy Spirit Hearing, Holy Spirit Seeing, Hope, Intimacy, Light, Ministry, Obedience, Prayer, Prophetic, Questions, Resurrection Life, Revelation, Rhema, Signs & Wonders, Speaking in Tongues, Spirit, Teaching, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, The Power of God, Transformation, Victory, Witness, Word of God, Work of God | Leave a comment

The Benefits of Speaking in Tongues, Pt 1

Posted on February 7, 2011 by mcalmond

Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

I will attempt to focus more on the Tongues aspect of this Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Much has been made of this gift, positively and negatively. My question is simply why would anyone not want all that the Lord Jesus has for them, no matter what? I want all that is his, no matter what it is or how it appears to others or even how stretching it is for me.

Tongues are a vital gift. It is not as some have declared, simply something that was limited as just for the first century church. It seems that all who were there in the upper room spoke with other tongues, or spoke in languages that they did know. This was borne witness by those of various nations and languages that were present. This did not happen only here. We see that it took place within the early church to the point that it seems to have been common. I think that this is important. What I mean is that in the days of Acts and the early church, the gifts of the Spirit, including Tongues, seem to be simply accepted as part of a believer’s and of the church’s life. It all seems to have been rather prevalent. Yes there were issues of abuse or misuse, not unlike today, but not issues of having to defend their use; yes, a need to explain, set in order, correct, but not defend. There was encouragement to not forbid speaking in tongues or to not despise prophecy, for example, but not a need to defend their rightful place within the church and its ministry.

Read more »

Categories: Abiding, Anointing, Awakening, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Being Built Up, Believer, Benefits, Body of Christ, Character, Church, Commands, Communion, Dependency, Edification, Empowerment, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God Faith, God's Love, Grace, Holy Spirit Benefits, Holy Spirit Hearing, Holy Spirit Seeing, Hope, Intimacy, Ministry, Now Word, Prayer, Promises, Prophetic, Revelation, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Signs & Wonders, Son and Holy Spirit, Speaking in Tongues, Spirit, Spirit of Truth, Stirrings, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Transformation, Word of God, Work of God | 1 Comment

The Baptism of God’s Love

Posted on February 7, 2011 by mcalmond

1 John 3:10 (NKJV) In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

It is said of the Apostle John, that when he was very old and had to be carried on a stretcher to church that one day after the service the young men asked John for a Word from the Lord. He is said to have raised himself up on one elbow and said “Love one another”. The young men were very frustrated by this. “John”, they said, “you always say this” to which John then replies, “If you do this that is enough”.[1]

It was 1980, Colorado Springs, Colorado. We had just recently moved our family there after our first pioneer work had closed under difficult circumstances. We had hoped that we would be able to begin another work in Colorado Springs however the Lord had something else in store for us. We would become participants in a rather miraculous event in the life of a church there.

Read more »

Categories: Body of Christ, Calling, Calvary, Character, Church, Commands, Empowerment, Exhortation, Foundations, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God's Love, His Chosen, His Gift of Love, illumination, Inspiration, Intimacy, Loving One Another, Mercy, Ministry Motivation, Obedience, Openness, Prophetic, Prophetic Revelation, Repentance, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Signs & Wonders, Son and Holy Spirit, Spirit, Spirit of Truth, Steadfastness, Surrender, Teaching, The Lord Jesus, The Power of God, Transformation, True Love, Visions, Work of God | 1 Comment

The Baptism of The Holy Spirit, Pt 3

Posted on February 7, 2011 by mcalmond

As we continue our discussion from part two, we need to note that under this Holy Spirit’s endowment/gift of power for effectual ministry, or anointing, Peter then goes on to say that this promise is for you and for your children and for all who are afar off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself (Acts 2:39). Verse 38 of this same text is that which references Salvation. The context of this message has to do with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the questions that then arose in response to the demonstration power of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit upon the Disciples of Christ Jesus who were present in the upper room. The power of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples being what it was drew attention, negative and positive, by those who were in observation of the disciples. This attention prompted their responses and questions that then needed to be addressed by Peter. It was addressed and in the power of the Holy Spirit provided Kingdom of God results.

Read more »

Categories: A Simple Reminder, Anointing, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Belief System, Believer, Body of Christ, Calling, Calvary, Church, Commands, Communion, Confidence, Core Values, Dependency, Empowerment, Exhortation, Faith, Foundations, God's Faithfulness, Grace, Holy Spirit Hearing, Holy Spirit Seeing, illumination, Inspiration, Intimacy, Ministry, Now Word, Old Blog Post, Openness, Prayer, Preaching, Priorities, Promises, Prophetic, Prophetic Revelation, Resurrection, Rhema, Salvation, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Signs & Wonders, Son and Holy Spirit, Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, Standing in Faith, Surrender, The Lord Jesus, The Power of God, Training, Transformation, Truth, Vulnerability | Leave a comment

Blog at WordPress.com. Theme: Adventure Journal by Contexture International.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 27 other followers

%d bloggers like this: