temple of the Holy Spirit

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Isa 1:18 “Come now, and let us (God and man) reason together…….”

Some years back when it came time to take vacation, I took a poll. The boys didn’t want to go anywhere. Instead they wanted to take a local golfing vacation. They didn’t want to go out of town. They just wanted to try out different courses around the city, golfing every day. That was a tough choice for me but after much arm twisting, I conceded. The money we saved in travel and hotels, plus a coupon book would make this a very fun and affordable vacation.

On one of those days, while I was on the golf course with Renee and my boys, I had a special experience. I heard a voice. Not an audible voicebut that inward voice of the Holy Spirit. It was so clear it caught me by surprise. The Lord said, “I have kept you in town so that you would be here for your family.” I knew the Lord wasn’t talking about Renee and the kids. I sensed He was talking about parents; either Renee’s or mine, I did not know. I knew it was a warning and beckoning to intercede for them. I didn’t hesitate. I began to pray in the Spirit (in tongues) and with my understanding for them. This urgency to pray lasted for only about ten minutes. As I prayed through it, I knew that everything was going to be all right. The immediate urgency went away. I only sensed a mild tug to keep praying in the Spirit for them which I continued to so for some time.

Now, let me say something to you about all this. Do I know that everything I just shared with you is absolutely true? No, I don’t. I believe it to be true. Because of what I believe, I exercise my faith in what I believe God showed me and I respond.

Over the years, I have learned to listen to and hear and respond to the inward leading of the Holy Spirit. As I have grown and matured, many things have proven out to be the Lord. Learning to hear His voice is a process of spiritual growth and maturity. I have learned and grown over the years. I have been most glad when I listened and obeyed. The hardest and yet best part about warnings and responding to them is this: because you have prayed, your prayers have sometimes held off or stopped what could have been a very negative situation. Consequently, you don’t know if what you were feeling was real. Have there been times where it was an over active imagination or lack of discerning on my part? I’m sure of it! But even so, if I have at least responded in faith and obeyed, it’s my opinion that it’s better than sitting around wondering if it was God and if I should have done anything. When it comes to serious or critical decisions, I spend more time praying and watching for confirmation of what I believe God is showing me.

Is there a basis for what I am telling you today? Absolutely! John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

Gen 18:17 says, Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” God wanted to warn Abraham about what was to come. Why? First because He was in covenant with him. Secondly, because God knew it would mean something to Abraham with His nephew Lot and his family there. He knew Abraham would intercede for them which he did – face to face with God. In Gen 18:23-26 we see Abraham talking face to face with God about sparing Sodom if he could find ten righteous people. God agreed to that request.

There is a covenant agreement between God and us who believe. The Bible tells us today that we have the same God-given right to talk to the Lord. But it also says we have a new and better covenant. As believers of Jesus Christ, we’ve become the temple of the Holy Spirit. We have the Holy Spirit within us. We are led by the inward voice of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14 (NLT) says, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. ”

There are times were God will show us things that are coming because He wants us to know what is happening so that we may intercede. God wants to use us all but can’t get over-spiritual as we begin to walk down this road. Every word we THINK we will ever hear from God is not going to be a “thus saith the Lord.” What we think He is telling us is tempered and discerned by having to be consistent with God’s Word. We don’t need to tell everyone everything we think God is telling us. We just need to pray and do what we think He is leading us to do. That’s what’s important.

As it turned out, Renee’s dad had been diagnosed with cancer. We prayed with him before his surgery. While the doctor was operating he saw the cancer but was afraid to operate knowing that if he nicked the colon at all, the cancer would spread to the entire body. He was going to sew him up and treat him another way. But, the doctor told us later, “Something came over me and I just felt that I had to go in and try to get it out.” He got it all and got it all cleanly. This was over sixteen years ago and he hasn’t had a problem since. Was that what God had alerted me to pray for? I believe so! Can I prove it? No. Am I glad I responded and prayed? I couldn’t have been more thankful!

We can all be used of God to intercede as the Lord leads us.As Isa 1:18 says, “Come now, and let us (God and man) reason together…….” Be blessed as you follow the leading of God’s Spirit concerning the things you think He is speaking to you about. You may not always be accurate. It might sometimes be your imagination. But that’s okay. In time, you will become more discerning at knowing when the Lord is talking with you and He will be able to use you to intercede and intervene more and more.

James 5:16 (NLT)”…The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt