Month: January 2009

Do You Speak In Tongues?

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, Prayer, TeachingLeave a comment
  • Some people don’t have a clue about what this is.
  • Others have heard of it and wonder.
  • Some think people who do this are looney.
  • Others think it’s totally normal.
I confess to you that I fall into the last category. Speaking in tongues is an enormously helpful part of my prayer life. You’ve heard the commercial, “Don’t leave home without it!” That’s how I feel about this. It is vital, even  essential to my being an effective Christian. 
What is Speaking In Tongues?
Well it is a supernatural gifting of the Holy Spirit to speak fluently in a language you’ve never learned, yet still without understanding what you’re saying.
Why Would I Ever Want To Do That?
#1 Because Jesus said so! 
  • Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 
    Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 
    Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 
  • If Jesus said that as a believer, I would speak in new tongues then He must have had a reason. I have found that He did…
#2 Speaking in Tongues let’s me deliver a message from God to the church which is then interpreted by someone for the church’s encouragement or to build them up. (See 1 Corinthians 12 & 14) This has happened to me a few times. It was awesome. Plus I’ve heard this many times in our church and others.
#3 Speaking in Tongues let’s me deliver a message from God to someone of a different tongue who hasn’t heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (See Acts 2) This has happened a few times to me. People of another language have informed me that something I said in tongues was something they understood.
#4 Speaking in Tongues helps me to pray effectively for myself and others. This is the way I use it most.
  • Rom 8:26  In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27  and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 
    • So, here the Holy Spirit is praying God’s perfect will through me. I have seen so many miracles happen because of this kind of prayer it is amazing. I’ll share more on this later.
#5 Speaking in Tongues builds up my faith (See Jude 20)
#6 Speaking in Tongues helps me to get wisdom from God. I pray with my spirit then I pray that I might interpret what was said. (See I Corinthians 14) When I interpret it I often get great wisdom from God. Oral Roberts testifies that this is how he found out from God how to build a University.
#7 Speaking in Tongues was and usually is the first evidence of someone being filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2, and many other places in the Book of Acts.
If you’d like to learn more about this, you can listen to my message on it at:
I also recommend Andrew Wommack’s teaching on this topic at:
God bless you
Joe
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Encouragement At The 1/12th Mark

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement2 Comments

Well we’re almost done with our first month of this year.

How’re you doing?
Are those goals getting any closer?
Take this as a reminder to stay on track:
  • go back and refresh your goals, 
  • write up some posters about your goals and put them on the wall
  • make a little progress every day toward your goals
  • trust God to help you
  • ask Him for help
God loves you my friend and the Bible says that He does not want us to live unproductive lives.
Let’s keep going.
Love ya
Joe
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Time With Family or What?

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, Teaching1 Comment

Hey Friends,

Who’re you spending time with? 
Obviously right now you’re on the computer. But who do you spend most of your time with?
  • Your cell phone? 
  • Your iPh0ne? 
  • Your computer? 
  • Your TV? 
  • Your HDTV? 
  • Your friends?
  • Your kids? 
  • Your spouse? 
All of us have relationships that we must manage, maintain & cultivate. But I found that if I have an unpleasant conversation with one of my relatives(spouse included) that in comparison, time with my computer can be more pleasant. My computer doesn’t argue with me; it doesn’t challenge me. Now human nature is such that, like electricity, it wants to take the path of least resistance. 
But that’s not always good. If I end up spending all my time with inanimate things rather than real humans, then I don’t grow. I don’t become stronger. Think of human relationships as if you were a boxer. If you only box with those who are weaker than you, you’ll never improve. If you never have conversations with people that challenge you deeply you’ll never grow.
Studies prove that money does not bring lasting happiness, relationships do.
Before my parents got married in the late 1940’s they went around and asked people what brought true happiness. The answer from all the couples they interviewed was the same: “having children.”
This shows from voices of experience that learning to relate to others is the shortest path to happiness. So I encourage you: is there someone you should call right now? Or email? Or visit? Maybe it’s somebody right there in the room with you or in the next room? Try it out. Go invest in a relationship. Happiness is waiting.
Blessings
Joe
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Are You Generous?

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, Teaching1 Comment

Hey Friends,

If you’re a Christian and you’ve been taught that you “have to” give or you “have to” tithe, I have a question for you:
What if there was no expectation on you to give? 
What if you were never taught to give?
Would you give?
Would you be generous?
God Himself is a giver. Since you’ve become a believer have you let His nature rise up on the inside of you?
Commune with God. Let His desires rise up on the inside of you. He’ll put a desire in you that He wants you to follow through on. If it’s to give something somewhere; be encouraged: DO IT! You’ll be so glad to have followed that desire. 
But make sure you give what you really desire to give, this will be so rewarding to you.
My wife, Nancy, is a real giver. She has it so strong in her heart to give. Earlier today there was a lady who stopped by. Nancy just couldn’t let her leave without giving her something. She looked around and all she could find was a big package of paper towels. So that’s what she gave her. The woman was blessed. So was Nancy. I believe God was blessed too, because someone trusted Him. They trusted that His provision would continue to come and they gave, which is very close to His heart.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world 
that he gave 
his one and only Son, 
that whoever believes in him shall not perish 
but have eternal life.
Blessings
Joe
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Encouragement

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, Family, TeachingLeave a comment

Hey Friends,

Do you need some encouragement?
Well, know this:
God Himself made you!
He looked ahead and saw your life and saw the world as it would be during your days on this planet and He made you special; He filled you with all the gifts necessary for you to become a great blessing to this planet and to the people in your life. 
You are potential embodied. 
You are full. 
Now go be a blessing to someone. Go do something with that gift that’s on the inside of you. 
If you can’t think of anything else to do, just go make someone smile. Your effort will be rewarded.
Blessings,
Joe
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Your Prayers Work

On By josephbarlowIn Uncategorized1 Comment
James 5:16  
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 
1Ti 2:1  
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone 2  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  3  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 
Jer 29:7  
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 
My Friends,
God wants us to pray. Pray for those in authority. Let’s pray for America to prosper under Barak Obama’s leadership. The word tells us to do so.
Thanks
Joe
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Encouragement to Tread New Ground

On By josephbarlowIn JournalLeave a comment

Hey Friends,

Here’s something the Lord spoke to me last night. I hope you’re blessed.

Joe

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Son, fear not. The days ahead are strife and trembling throughout the earth. You’ll see shaking, quaking & pain. Don’t let this shake you. Be firm in me. Firm in my love. Firm in my word. You’ll see my glory overtake pain in people’s lives. Let my glory flow through you. You’ll see it. You’ll see it.

Don’t walk where others go. Walk where my spirit leads you. Watch my hand. Watch my eye. My spirit is leading you. Go where I send you. Go where I lead you. That’s the only place you belong. I have not called you to follow a man, but to follow my spirit. The way may seem unenlightened and untrodden but this is why I gave you an imagination so you could see what does not exist. You must see it and see it clearly. This comes in prayer, meditation and imaginations led by my spirit. I will paint the picture for you to walk in. you must see it. Then you can walk in it. This will be fun, because you’ll see me create things that don’t exist just so you can accomplish my desires.

Who’s Your Best Friend?

On By josephbarlowIn Teaching1 Comment
Hey Friends,
So, who is your best friend? Do you even know? How did you come to the conclusion that they were your best friend? Did you make a decision on a certain day? 
Well even if you know who your best friend is, do they know? Have you told them that you think more of them than anyone else? Do you spend time with them more than anyone else?
The Bible says:
Proverbs 18:24  … there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. 
I have a Friend. He means more to me than anyone else. But for some reason I don’t always show it. I sometimes sense Him waiting. He’s quiet. He waits. But I don’t always come running to Him the way you’d think I should. But He waits. When I do come to Him He’s always there waiting for me. He’s always got something to say. He always encourages me. He also tells me the truth like a good friend should. The truth doesn’t always feel good when just anyone tells you; but with my Friend, even when He tells me a hard truth, one that would normally bite or sting, it doesn’t hurt. I actually feel peace in my heart. It’s so good. He’s so good. So I need to go spend some time with my Friend. 
He’s waiting.
Do you know my Friend?
God bless you
Joe
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Remember Summertime?

On By josephbarlowIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Hey Friends,

Last night as I was driving through the snow I heard a commercial for an awning for your back patio or deck to protect from too much sunshine. A summertime commercial in the middle of winter. How strange.
Well, I thought I’d give you a taste of summer in the midst of this arctic cold:
                  
Don’t worry the winter won’t last forever!
God bless you today!
Joe
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Knee Time

On By josephbarlowIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Hey Friends,

Yesterday I shared a message with the church that the Lord put strongly on my heart. It was  about the need for humility in prayer. If you have about 12 minutes you might take a listen.

Here’s some of the key points:

  • Of all the things that stop progress in your life most of the blockages are inside of you.
  • Pride is one of the biggest
  • God resists the proud
  • Get pride out of the way
  • Humble yourself
  • Kneeling down is a method of humbling yourself

Dan 4:37  “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

1Pe 5:5  You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. 

1Pe 5:6  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 

Dan 6:4  Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.

Dan 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. 

The Lord spoke to me to especially encourage the men of the church to do what Daniel did: kneel down and pray, it’s a humbling thing. But it’s better for us to humble ourselves than for God to do it for us.

God bless you
Love ya
Joe

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