Tongues : The Benefit

Praying in the Spirit: A Psychiatrist’s report

This message is not directly about prophecy, but is indirectly, to help one find needed "edification" in this troubled world. Do you sometimes need edifying? If not, you are the only one on planet Earth. God has provided a way.

According to the Holy Spirit, speaking through the apostle Paul: "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself…" (1 Corinthians 14:4).

The main purpose of this message is to pass along a report by a Christian psychiatrist of the physically edifying effects of praying in tongues. We always thought of the edification as only "spiritual" edification, which is great and always needed, but Christian psychiatrist Carl R. Peterson, M.D. describes physical edification also! Isn’t God amazing? I first heard about this for several months ago but was only recently able to obtain this documentation from Dr. Peterson’s office, which is below.

A word of caution. This manifestation of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, is ridiculed by some and called gibberish, or from the devil. Be careful. This is dangerous and might be considered blasphemy against the Holy One. Not a good idea, if you know what I mean. If anyone does that, you don’t want to be standing next to him in a thunderstorm.

As a matter of reference, I know a distinguished medical doctor who knows Dr. Peterson personally and has worked with him, and who says that Peterson is highly respected, as a psychiatrist and as a Christian.

NOTE: Dr. Peterson begins his attachment by specifically referring to "praying in the spirit" (glossolalia -- speaking in tongues), then begins to just use the words "prayer" or "praying." I am told that throughout his paper he is referring to speaking in tongues, as that is the context of the whole paper, and is as introduced by his letter.
CHRISTIAN-PSYCHIATRY SERVICES, INC.

Dear friend,

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the relationship of extended periods of praying in tongues and joyful laughter to brain activity. As you will read in the enclosed explanation, I shared some information concerning this with several ministers at a gathering some time ago. I pray this information will be helpful to you.

Respectfully,
Carl R. Peterson, M.D.Psychiatrist
Enclosure

EFFECTS OF EXTENDED VERBAL PRAYER AND JOYFUL LAUGHTER

I have had a number of inquiries concerning the efficacy of praying in the spirit (glossolalia) and its benefit to the human immune system, i.e., immunity enhanced by chemicals released from a part of the brain. I am attempting to clarify some information I have shared with a number of ministers. This is information that may be deduced from what we know about the way the brain functions. We do know the part of the brain affected most noticeably by extended prayer and laughter represents a significant portion of the brain and its metabolic activity. Therefore, voluntary speech during extended vocal prayer causes a major stimulation in these parts of the brain (mainly the hypothalamus). The hypothalamus has direct regulation of four major systems of the body, mainly: a) the pituitary gland and all target endocrine glands; b) the total immune system; c) the entire autonomic system; and d) the production of brain hormones called endorphins and enkephalons, which are chemicals the body produces and are 100-200 times more powerful than morphine.

In summary, a very significant percentage of the central nervous system is directly and indirectly activated in the process of extended verbal and musical prayer over a period of time. This results in a significant release of brain hormones which, in turn, increases the body’s general immunity. It is further enhanced through joyful laughter with increased respirations and oxygen intake to the brain, diaphragm and other muscles. This same phenomenon is seen in physical activity in general, i.e., running, etc.

We know from the Word of God that there is a true joy that builds and sustains. Nehemiah tells us the joy of the Lord is our strength. There is joy in the presence of Jehovah. We, as believers having entered into that wonderful presence of our Lord, know this to be true. What we must continue to remember is that the joy of the Lord spoken of in the Word is so much more than any manifestation. We can truly have that unspeakable joy in the face of any trials we may encounter, if our joy is grounded in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I hope the above information helps to clarify the report you received regarding my statement in the area of the physical effects of speaking in tongues and joyful laughter for extended periods of time. Truly, we all benefit—body, soul, and spirit—from obedience and yielding to the Spirit of God in every area of our lives.

Carl R. Peterson, M.D.

Confession Brings Possesion

Introduction

Christianity is called the Great Confession. In Hebrews 4:14 we are told to hold fast to our confession. When we think of confession is generally think of it as confession of our sins. That is the negative side of confession. In these scriptures and others in the epistles of Paul, we find the positive side of confession.

What is the positive side of confession based upon the Word of God. What am to hold fast to as the Hebrew writer says. I am to hold fast to the confession of the absolute integrity of the Bible. I am to hold fast to the confession of the redemption in Christ. I am to hold fast to the confession of the New Creation and of receiving the Life and Nature of the Father.

I am to hold fast to the confession that God is the strength of my life. I am to hold fast to the confession that “Surely He hath borne my sicknesses and carried my diseases and that by His stripes I am healed.

In the church world today, there is a lack teaching and instruction on this line which leads to many believers live lives with a continual sense of failure and defeat. If we want to have a better life, change our present situation the first place to make changes is to change in the area of our confession or the things that we say.

Every time that you confess disease, weakness and failure , you magnify the adversary above the Father and destroy you own confidence in the Word.
You are to hold fast to your confession in the face apparent defeat. Stand by your confession that the Father will make it good in your life and through thick and thin, you will see the things you are believing for will come to pass.

Days of Elijah

This song by Mark Robin sung in this clip by Paul Wilbur here at a worship conference is actually a song speaks of the days that we are living in the last days. These are prophetic days and moments where the Word of the LORD is spoken in power and strength. The nations of the earth will awaken to the fact that His Word is forever settled in heaven and it is established on the earth as we as Christians rise up in our prophetic destinies.

These are the days of Elijah.. declaring the Word of the Lord ...days of Moses righteousness being restored.. The days we are living in God through the Holy Spirit restores to man the revelation of New Covenant Righteousness. The righteousness of God in Christ Jesus is not some thing that we work at or based on our performance but on the precious blood of the lamb of God.

Let faith arise as we sing this song to the Lord and declare it to the principalities and powers of the air that JESUS IS KING!!!!!!!

Days of Elijah - Paul Wilbur

Living a Worry Free Life

Scripture : 1 Peter 5:7

In the world that we live in, with the pressures and demands that surrounds us-worry seems to be a norm. With the pressure a earning a living, providing for the family, and paying the bills and hordes of other things that cries for our attention, we need a solution for this age-long problem. But the Bible calls worry a sin. As Christians , God wants us to live a worry-free life.

In 1 Peter 5:7 the the apostle Peter encourages the believer in Christ to cast the total of our cares, worries, anxieties and concerns to the Lord. He cares for us. He does really care for us. Nothing is to small that our Great Father God does know about it. He is concern about the the details of our lives. But most of the time, we have difficulty believing that.

This is because the enemy of our soul wants to burden and load us with the cares of this life. And wants us to believe that we are alone in dealing with daily conflicts that we face. Peter goes on to exhort "...resist him steadfast in the Faith..". Worry need to be resisted just like we would resist an enemy. Keeping our minds and hearts worry free is the key in the seeing the blessings of the Lord flowing abundantly in our lives.

So let me encourage in the Lord to let the peace of God guard your minds and hearts in Christ Jesus as a garrison of soldiers in a turbulent country. Praise the Lord

New Covenant Prayer

Releasing the Resources of Heaven
through the Name of Jesus

Part 2

b. Ask…Receive…that your joy may be full.

We in the New Covenant have the joy of “praying to the Father in Jesus name” and have the Father grant or give us what we pray for. This assurance we have from the Lord Jesus who is the surety and guarantee of the redemption.

When we receive the answers for our prayers, we can have joy because we received what we have prayed for. Our joy will not be full if our loved ones are sick or our bills are unpaid, financial burdens pressing us. You can’t have joy when these things overloading us. But when you ask God to supply your need and you believe that you have received, your joy can be full. So ask the Father what you need that you joy may be overflowing. This our prayer privilege as in the New Covenant. God wants you full of joy and receiving what you prayed for.

c. Joy before Results

Many times in our walk with the Lord you have to have joy before you receive what you pray for. If you worrying and anxious trying to figure out matters alone, you hinder God from helping you meet you need. Allow him to carry your burdens instead of carrying it yourself.

Ephesians 5:20 gives us the rule to prayer. That is to pray or give thanks in the nameof Jesus to the Father. When we come to the Father in Jesus name we have what we pray for and we will not come empty handed.

New Covenant Prayer

Releasing the Resources of Heaven
Through the Name of Jesus

Part 1

Let us look at the text from the Bible. Reading from John 16:23, 23:

The Name of Jesus gives the believer access to the throne of Father. It is the key that unlocks heaven’s resources and meets every need on the earth.

The disciples were told by Jesus to pray to the Father in His name. For our prayers to reach heaven and heard before the Father, we must come through the key of the name of Jesus.

Jesus is at the right hand of the Father as our Mediator, Intercessor, Advocate and Lord. That is His present day ministry at the throne for the new creation.

You shall ask nothing in my name

This day that He is speaking about is the day when He is raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father as our Great High Priest and Lord. “In that day you shall not pray to me…” He is telling them not to pray or ask Him. IN the Old Covenant, it was a norm for the Israelite to ask and present his needs to the priests or the High priests who were serving in the temple.

But now Jesus is giving the guidelines for New Covenant praying. Praying to the Father in His name.

This is where the church has missed it. New Covenant prayers are prayed based upon the rules and guidelines that Jesus has given to us.