IBelieveinVisions

KennethEHagin

Preface

ThisbookdoesnotcontainallthevisionsIhavereceivedfromtheLord;however,itdoescontainthemajorones.

Chapter1HowGodRaisedMefromaDeathbed

"He is dead," stated the doctorwhodeliveredme. Iwas bornprematurelyonAugust20,1917inahouseinthe900blockofEastStandiferStreetinMcKinney,Texas.

MyGrandmotherDrake,whowaspresentatmybirth,latertoldme therewas no sign of life inme. Thinking I was dead, thedoctor laid me on the foot of the bed, and he and mygrandmother continued to work with my mother, who was invery serious condition. She had been ill for several weeksbeforeIwasborn.

After about 45minuteshadpassed andmymotherwasdoingbetter, the doctor told my grandmother he would run to hisofficetogetsomesuppliesheneeded.Whilehewasgone,mygrandmotherpickedmeuptocarrymeout.

Suddenlyshedetectedasignoflife.Shewashedmeandputalittle dress on me, but she had to use a makeshift diaperbecausetheregularkindwouldhaveswallowedme.

Thensheweighedme,andwiththelittledressanddiaperonIweighedslightlymorethantwopounds.

Today,evenwithouradvancedmedicalknowledgeandskillandwiththeincubatorswehaveforprematurebabies,thechancesare practically nil of a baby survivingwhoweighs fewer thantwopounds.Iwasborninadaywhentherewerenoincubators,and I was born in the home, so my chances of living werealmostnonexistent.

'TheBabyIsDead'

Afterawhile thedoctor returned, andmygrandmotheraskedhimwhatsheshouldfeedthebaby.

"Thebabyisdead,"hesaid."Iexaminedhimearlier."

WhenshetoldhimIwasaliveandshehadwashedanddressedme, he reached into his pocket for a sample package of babyformula."Feedthistohim,"hesaid."Itwilllastlongerthanhewill."

Grannymixedthebabyformulaandfedittome.Afterthatwasall gone, shegavememilk, feeding it tomeadrop at a timewith an eye dropper. She said she had never seen anyone sotiny—shehadalargecombthatwasnolongerthanIwas.Shesaidsometimesevenasingledropofmilk inmymouthwouldchokeme,causingmetostrangleandturnblue.

Mychildhoodwasnotlikeotherchildren's,forIhadbeenbornwithadeformedheartandwasnotabletoleadanormal,activelife. I wasn't completely incapacitated, butmy activities werelimited.Iwasn'tabletorunandplayasotherchildrendid.

In those days, children didn't start school until the age of 7.However, I learned to read when I was 6. My brother wasalready inschool,so I readhisbooks.Since Icouldn'tusemybody,Iusedmymind.

SoonafterIstartedschool,Ilearnedthatchildrenarepronetotakeadvantageofaweakerchild. Iguessthatproveshowbigtheyare.Icouldn'tfighttodefendmyselfbecauseIwouldlosemybreath,turnblue,andalmostpassout,soIdecidedIwouldhavetohaveanequalizer.

There was one boy in our class who was the bully of theplayground. He was three years older than the rest of us,because he had failed three grades. He would run up tosomeoneandknockhimorherdown.KnowingIcouldn'tfight,heseemedtodelightinpickingonme.OneHowGodRaisedMefromaDeathbed

dayIfoundatwo-by-fourthatwasabout20incheslong.

The next time he hitme, I got the two-by-four, slipped up onhim, and knocked him in the head. He was out cold for 40minutes. He soon learned to leaveme alone. (When a personcan'tfight,hehastolearntotakecareofhimselfsomeway—and I had.) My older brother learned not to fight with me,either,forIknockedhimintheheadwithahammeronce,andhewasunconsciousfor45minutes!

During the years when I was growing up, I was always verysmall formy age.Mybrotherwould tellme Iwouldnever beanybiggerthana56-year-oldmanweknewwhoweighedonly89 pounds and was the size of a 10-year-old boy. When mybrotherwantedmetodosomethingforhim,hewouldsaythatifIdidn'tdoitIwouldturnintoagirlwhenIwas12yearsold.Ofcourse,hewasalwaysabouthalfablockawayandrunningwhen he said that, because he knew I would hit him withanythingIcouldgetmyhandson!

My father left Momma and us children when I was still veryyoung,leavingherwithalltheresponsibilityforpro-vidingandcaring for us. When I was 9 years old I went to live withMomma'sparents,becauseMomma'shealthwasverypoorandsheneededhelpintakingcareofus.

BedfastatAge15

At theageof15, just fourmonthsbeforemy16thbirth-day, I

became totally bedfast. Five doctors, including one who hadpracticedattheMayoClinic,wereonmycase.

MyGrandfatherDrake,althoughnotawealthyman,wasamanof somemeans. He had quite a bit of property, although thiswas during the days of the Great Depression when propertywasn'tworthtoomuch.IfthedoctorsatMayoClinichadbeenable to helpme, he would have sentme there. However, ourdoctorssaidthatthedoctorwhohadbeenatMayowasoneofthe best doctors in America, and if he said nothing could bedone,itwouldbeawasteoftimeandmoneytomakethetriptotheMayoClinic.Theysaidtherewasabsolutelynohopeforme;Ididn'thaveonechanceinamillionofliving.Asfarasmedicalscience was concerned, to their knowledge, no one in myconditionhadeverlivedpast16yearsofage.

DayafterdayandweekafterweekIlayonthebedofsickness,wondering what was wrong with me. I knew something waswrong with my heart, but I didn't know exactly what it was,becausethedoctorsdidn'ttellme.

LaterIlearnedthatIhadtwoseriousorganicheartproblems.

Mybodybecamepartiallyparalyzed. Icanrememberseeingaglass of water beside my bed, wanting to drink it, and notunderstandingwhyIcouldn'tgetit.Afterstrictconcentrationofallmymentalpowersonitfor45

minutes, I would be able to reach my hand over to it, but Icouldn't pick the glass up. One of the doctors said I wasbordering on total paralysis and eventually would becomecompletelyparalyzed.

Sometimes three weeks would pass when I didn't knowanything.Mymother and grandmother fed and cared forme,for I was as helpless as a baby. I reached the point where Icouldhardlyhear them talking tome.They later toldme thattheywouldput theirmouthsdowntomyearandshoutat thetopoftheirvoices,butIcouldbarelyhearthem.Itseemedasiftheywereablockaway.Iwassomewherebetweenrealityandunreality.

/WenttoHell

Igavemyheart to theLordandwasbornagain thevery firstnight I became bedfast. Thatwas Saturday, April 22, 1933 at7:40p.m.inthesouthbedroomof405NorthCollegeStreetinMcKinney,Texas.

Earlier that evening, my heart had stopped beating and thespiritualmanwholivesinmybodyhaddeparted.

When death seized my body, my grandmother, my youngerbrother,andmymotherweresittingintheroom.

I had time only to tell them "goodbye." Then the inner manrushedoutofmybodyand leftmybody lyingdead,witheyessetandfleshcold.*

I went down, down, down until the lights of the earth fadedaway.Idon'tmeanIfainted—Idon'tmeanIwasunconscious—IhaveproofthatIwasactuallydead.Myeyeswereset,myhearthadstoppedbeating,andmypulsehadceased.

The Scriptures tell us about the lost being cast into outerdarknesswherethere isweepingandgnashingof teeth(Matt.25:30).ThefartherdownIwent,theblackeritbecame,untilitwas all blackness— I could not have seenmy hand if it hadbeenoneinchinfrontofmyeyes.

And the farther down I went, the hotter and more stifling itbecame.

Finally,farbelowme,Icouldseelightsflickeringonthewallsofthecavernsofthedamned.Thelightswerecausedbythefiresofhell.Thegiant,white-crestedorbofflamepulledme,drawingmeasamagnetdrawsmetaltoitself.Ididnotwanttogo,butjustasmetaljumps

*For a complete account of this experience, see Rev. Hagin'sminibook,IWenttoHell.

to themagnet,my spiritwasdrawn to that place. I couldnottakemyeyesoffofit.Theheatbeatmeintheface.

Manyyearshavegoneby,yetIcanseeitjustasclearlytodayasIsawitthen.Itisasfreshinmymemoryasifitjusthappened.

I came to the entrance of hell. People ask, "What does theentrance of hell look like?" I cannot describe it, because if Itried,Iwouldhavetohavesomethingwithwhichtocompareit.(Similarly,ifapersonhadneverseenatreeinhislife,itwouldbeimpossibletotellhimwhatatreelookslike.)

Coming to the entrance, I pausedmomentarily, because I didnotwanttogoin.Isensedthatonemorefoot,onemorestep,onemoreyard,andIwouldbegoneforeverandcouldnotcomeoutofthathorribleplace!

Upon reaching the bottom of the pit, I became conscious ofsomekindofspiritbeingbymyside. Ihadnot lookedathim,because I could not takemy gaze off of the fires of hell. ButwhenIpaused,thecreaturelaidhishandonmyarmtoescortmein.

At that same moment, a voice spoke from far above theblackness,abovetheearth,andabovetheheavens.Idon'tknowifitwasthevoiceofGod,Jesus,anangel,orwho.Ididnotseehim,andIdonotknowwhathesaid,becausehedidnotspeakinEnglish;hespokeinsomeothertongue.

Whenhespoke,hiswordsreverberatedthroughouttheregionof thedamned, shaking it likea leaf in thewind, andcausingthecreaturetotakehishandoffmyarm.

I did not turn around, but an unseen power, like a suction,pulledmeup,awayfromthefire,awayfromtheheat,andbackintotheshadowsoftheabsorbingdarkness.

IbegantoascenduntilIcametothetopofthepitandsawthelightsoftheearth.Isawmygrandparents'home,wentthroughthewallbackintomybedroom,anditwasjustasrealtomeasit was any time I had entered through the door (my spiritneedednodoor).

I slipped back intomy body as easily as aman slips into histrousers in themorning. It was the sameway inwhich I hadgoneout—throughmymouth.

I began to talk tomy grandmother. She said, "Son, I thoughtyouweredead."

My great-grandfather had been amedical doctor, andGrannyhadworkedwithhim.Shelatertoldme,"Idressedmanypeopleforburialandlaidthemoutindaysgoneby.

I have had much experience with death, but I learned moreabout death in dealing with you and your experiences than Iever knew before. You were dead. You had no pulse orheartbeat,andyoureyeswereset."

"Granny,"Isaid,"Iamgoingagain.Iamdying.

WhereisMomma?"

"Yourmotherisoutontheporch,"shereplied.AndaboutthattimeIheardmymotherprayingat thetopofhervoiceasshewalkedupanddowntheporch.

"Whereismybrother?"Iasked.

"Herannextdoortocallthedoctor,"Grannyanswered.

Ifyou'renotreadytogo,youwantsomebodywithyou.

You'reafraid! I said, "Granny,don't leaveme!Don't leaveme!I'mafraidI'llgowhileyou'regone!Iwantsomebodywithme!Don'tleaveme!"Soshegatheredmeintoherarmsagain.

Isaid,"TellMommaIsaidgoodbye.TellMommaIloveher.TellMommaIappreciateeverythingshehaseverdoneformeandforallofus.AndyoutellMommathat Isaid if I'veeverputawrinkleinherface,oragrayhairinherhead,I'msorry,andIaskhertoforgiveme."

Ifeltmyselfslipping.Isaid,"Granny,I'mgoingagain.

YouwereasecondmothertomewhenMomma'shealthfailed.Iappreciateyou.NowI'mgoing,andIwon'tbebackthistime."IknewIwasdying,unpreparedtomeetGod.Ikissedheronthecheekandsaidgoodbye.

My heart stopped beating for the second time. It's almost asrealtometoday,nearlyhalfacenturylater,asitwasthatday.Ifeltthebloodceasetocirculate.Thetipsofmytoeswentnumb— then my feet, ankles, knees, hips, stomach, and heart. Ileaped out of my body and began to descend: down, down,down.Oh,Iknowitwasjustafewseconds,butitseemedlikeaneternity.

I began to descend again into the darkness until the lights ofearth had faded. Down below, the same experience occurred.Thevoicespokefromheavenandagainmyspiritcameupoutofthat place— back intomy room and back intomy body. Theonlydifferencethis timewasthat Icameupat the footof thebed.

IbegantotalktoGrannyagain.Isaid,"Iwillnotbebackthistime, Granny." I asked, "Where is Grandpa? I want to tellGrandpagoodbye."

Shesaid,"Son,youknowyourGranddadwentdowntotheeastpartoftowntocollectrentoffofsomeofhisrenthouses."

HowGodRaisedMefromaDeathbed

"Oh,"Isaid,"Irememberthatnow.Ijustforgotmomentarily."

Isaid,"Granny,tellGrandpagoodbye.I'veneverknownwhatitmeans tohaveadaddy.He'sbeen thenearest toadaddy I'veknown. He gave me a home when I had none. Tell him Iappreciatehim.TellhimIlovehim.

TellGrandpathatIsaidgoodbye."

ThenIleftawordformysisterandtwobrothers,andmyheartstoppedforthethirdtime.Icouldfeelthecirculationasitcutoffagain—andIleapedoutofmybodyandbegantodescend.

Untilthistime,Ihadthought,Thisisnothappeningtome.Thisisjustahallucination.Itcan'tbereal!

Butnow I thought,This is the third time. Iwon 'tcomebackthistime!Darknessencompassedme'roundabout,darkerthananynightmanhaseverseen.

TheHorrorsofHell

I wish I had adequate words to describe the horrors of hell.Peoplegothroughthislifesocomplacently,sounconcerned,asif theywillnothave to facehell.ButGod'sWordandmyownpersonalexperiencetellmedifferently.

Iknowwhatitistobeunconscious—itisblackwhenyouareunconscious—butthereisnoblacknesstocomparewithouterdarkness.

AsIbegantodescendinthedarknessthisthirdtime,myspiritcried out, "God, I belong to the church! I've been baptized inwater!"IwaitedforHimtoanswer,butnoanswercame—onlytheechoofmyownvoiceasitcamebacktomockme.

Itwill takemorethanchurchmembership—itwill takemorethanbeingbaptizedinwater—tomisshellandmakeheaven.Jesussaid,"...Yemustbebornagain"(John3:7).

CertainlyIbelieveinbeingbaptizedinwater—butonlyafterapersonisbornagain.CertainlyIbelieveinjoiningthechurch—butonlyafterapersonisbornagain.

Ifyoumerelyjointhechurchandarebaptizedinwaterwithoutbeingbornagain,youwillgotohell!

The second time I cried a little louder, "God! I belong to thechurch! I've been baptized in water!" Again I waited for ananswer,buttherewasnoanswer,onlytheechoofmyownvoicethroughthedarkness.

It would frighten a congregation out of their wits if I everimitatedthewayIscreamedthethirdtime,although,ifIcouldscare them out of hell and into heaven, I'd do it! I literallyscreamed, "GOD! GOD! I BELONG TO THE CHURCH! I'VEBEENBAPTIZEDINWATER!"Andall Iheardwastheechoofmyownvoice.

I came again to the bottom of that pit. Again I could feel theheatasitbeatmeintheface.AgainIapproachedtheentrance,the gates into hell itself. That creature tookmeby the arm. IintendedtoputupafightifIcouldtokeepfromgoingin.Ionlymanagedtoslowdownmydescentjustalittle,andhetookmebythearm.

ThankGodthatvoicespoke.Idon'tknowwhoitwas—Ididn'tseeanybody—Ijustheardthevoice.Idon'tknowwhathesaid,

but whatever he said, that place shook; it just trembled. Andthatcreaturetookhishandoffmyarm.

Itwasjustasiftherewasasuctiontomybackparts.

Itpulledmeback,awayfromtheentrancetohell,untilIstoodintheshadows.Thenitpulledmeupheadfirst.

As Iwas going up through the darkness, I began to pray.Myspirit,themanwholivesinsidethisphysicalbody,isaneternalbeing,aspiritman.Ibegantopray,

"0God! IcometoYou in theNameof theLord JesusChrist. IaskYoutoforgivemeofmysinsandtocleansemefromallsin."

I came up beside the bed. The difference between the threeexperienceswas that I cameup on the porch the first time; Icameupatthefootofthebedthesecondtime;andIcameuprightbesidethebedthethirdtime.

When I got inside my body, my physical voice picked up andcontinuedmyprayerrightinthemiddleofthesentence.Iwasalreadyprayingoutofmyspirit.

Now,wedidn'thaveall theautomobiles in1933 thatwehavetoday — that was in the Depression. But they tell me thatbetweenmeandMommaprayingso loud, trafficwas linedupfortwoblocksoneithersideofourhouse!

Theyheardmepraying from inside thehouse,and theyheardmymother as shewalked theporchpraying at the top of hervoice.

Ilookedattheclockandsawitwas20minutesbefore8o'clock.Thatwas the veryhour Iwasborn againdue to themercy ofGodthroughtheprayersofmymother.

Ifeltwonderful—itwasjustlikeatwo-tonweighthadrolledoffof my chest. Although I was rejoicing and was happy in myspirit— although I feltwonderful spiritually— I felt no betterphysically.Thedoctorshadbeencalled,andtheytoldmyfamilythatIwasgoingtodie.IthoughtIwoulddiethatnight,butitnolongerbotheredme.IknewIwasreadytogo.

Myexperienceofbeingbroughtbackfromthedeadisnotnew.Jesus raised three people from the dead: Lazarus, Jairus'daughter,andthewidow'sson.TheApostlePeterraisedDorcasfrom the dead; theApostle Paul raised a youngman from thedead; and others throughout Church history have had similarexperiences.

TheBestThingintheWorld

Through my experience, God brought me to a knowledge ofsalvation,whichisthebestthingintheworldtoknow.IwassothankfultoknowthatmyheartwasrightwithGod,andtoknowthatifIshoulddiebeforemorningIwouldgotobewithHim.

Everynightwhenthelightswereoutandmyfamilywasinbed,Iwas left alonewithmy thoughts. I did a lot of thinking andpraying.IrememberthankingGodthatIwassavedandwasHischild.

ItoldtheLordIwasgoingtogotosleepsmilingandpraisingHim, and if I shoulddieduring thenight, theywould findmewithasmileonmyfaceandapraiseinmyheart.WhilepraisingtheLord,Iwoulddriftofftosleep.

Ineverhadto takeanythingtohelpmesleep,andthis isstilltruetoday.

The Bible tells us that God "giveth his beloved sleep" (Ps.127:2).

IamHisbeloved,as iseveryChristian,sowecansimplytakethatverse,thankHimforit,andgotosleeppeacefully.Wedon'tneedanytranquilizers.

ThenextmorningIwasawakenedbythesunstreamingacrossmybed.ThefirstthingIdidwastopraiseGod.

I thankedHim for the light of anotherday. I thankedHim forthesun,trees,flowers,grass,andleaves.IthankedHimforthesongsthebirdssang.IpraisedHimforalloftheselittlethingsthataresowonderful,marvelous,andbeautiful.

IhadneverheardanyonepraiseGodlikethis,butwhenone'sheartisintunewithGodandheknowsheisreadyforheaven,thereisanautomaticpraiseinhissoul.Ididn'tknowanythingaboutdivinehealing.Ididn'tknowthatGodansweredthatkindofprayer.ButIthankedGodthatIdidn'tdieandgotohell!

Atnoon,whenGrannywouldbringmylunchtomeonatray,IwouldprayandthankGodfor food.ThenIwouldsay,"Lord, IguessIwon'tbeherebythetimetheeveningshadowsfall.I'llprobablyslipawaythisafternoon.ButI'msogladIamsaved!I'msogladYoudidn't letmedieandgotohell! I 'msogladIdidn'thavetostaydownthere!"

Afterawhile,eveningwouldcome,andsoonIwouldbealoneinthedarkoncemore.AgainIwouldpraisetheLordforsalvation.I would tell Him that I probably would pass away during thenight,butIwasthankfultobesavedandreadytomeetHim.Iwouldgotosleepsmilingandpraisingthe.Dayafterday,weekafterweek,monthaftermonthIdidthis.

In the fall of that year, when the weather became cooler, Ibegan to feel somewhat better. Granny would prop me up inbed. Then shewould bring her Bible tome and prop it up infront of me. I often say that I was a Baptist boy reading mygrandmother's"Methodist"Bible.

When I first started reading the Bible I could read only 10minutes at a time— I couldn't see after that. The next day Iwouldreadforanother10or15minutes.Afterafewweeksofreading thisway, I could read for anhour at a time.Finally IcouldreadforaslongasIliked.

IhadbeenbroughtupinSundaySchool.Ican'trememberthefirsttimeIwenttochurch,norcanIrememberthefirsttimeIeverreadtheBible.Itseems,too,thatIhaveprayedallmylife.ButuntilthatSatur-

daynightwhenGodpermittedme tohaveaglimpseofhell, Ireallyhadneverbeenbornagain.

Youcanbereligiousandnotbeaborn-againchildofGod.Whenyouarebornagain,however,thesameBiblethatyouhavebeenreadingallyourlifesuddenlylooksdifferent.AsIreadGranny'sBible,IfoundthatJesusChrististhesameyesterday,today,andforever.

ThedoctorssaidthatIcoulddieatanytime,sowhenIbeganreadingtheBibleIbeganwiththeNewTestament.Ireasoned,"Ihavetoutilizethis10minutes,orwhatevertimeIhave,soIwillstartwiththeNewTestament."

TheVerseThatChangedMyLife

IreadthroughtheBookofMatthewandbeganreading intheBookofMark.ThereIreadaversewhichwastotransformmylife: "Therefore I say unto you,What things soever ye desire,whenyepray,believe that ye receive them, and ye shall havethem"(Mark11:24).

Salvation is, of course, the most important thing that canhappentoaperson.Butyoucannotpossiblyunderstandtheall-consumingdesireapersoncanhaveforhealth,healing,andlifewhenheneverhashadanormalchildhood,hasbeensickallofhislife,andthenliesbedfastmonthaftermonth,knowingthatthiswillbehisdeathbedbeforelong.

Thegreatestdesireofmyheartwastobewellandstrong.AndhereinthisverseofScriptureJesussaid,

"What things soever ye desire, whenyepray, believe that yereceivethem,andyeshallhavethem."Itseemedasifsomeonehad turned on a bright light in a very dark room. And you

cannotimaginehowdarkitcanbe,eveninthedaytime,whenyouareshutinbetweenfourwallsandarestaringattheceilingallthetimewithafeelingofutterhopelessness.

I didn't know that thePsalmist had said, "Thyword is a lampuntomyfeet,andalightuntomypath"

(Ps. 119:105). But without knowing the Word, I had theexperience.Thewholeroomsuddenlyseemedengulfedinlight,andthereseemedtobelightontheinsideofme.

IneverhaveforgottenthatexperienceorthatScripture.

Itisasifitwerebrandedonmyheart.

Naturally,thedevilwasrighttheretoplantdoubtinmyheart.Theminute the lightcame,hecame, too. Ididn'tknowat thetime, however, that it was the devil. I didn't have enoughspiritualdiscernmentorknowledgeoftheWordtoknow.

Subtlythethoughtcamethatmaybethewords

" . . .what things soever ye desire" didn't apply to physicalthings,butjusttospiritualthings.Maybeitjustmeant

"...whatthingssoeveryedesire"spiritually.

Thelightwentout.Doubthadblownoutthecandleoffaith,andIwasinthedarkagain.Ihadbelievedwhatthedevilhadtoldme,andagainIthoughttherewasnohope.IthoughtIhadtodie!

IdecidedtosendformypastorandaskhimexactlywhatMark11:24meant.Lookingbacknow,IseehowfoolishitwastosendforsomeonetoaskifJesusreallytoldthetruthornot!Butthiswasallsonewtome,andIhadgreatconfidenceinmypastorupuntilthistime.Iwouldhavebelievedanythinghetoldme.IwasjustlikesomanyotherpeoplewhoarefollowingmenandnotreallyfollowingGod.

LivebytheWord

ItrytotellpeoplewhomIministertonottobelievesomethingjustbecauseIsayit.Thatdoesn'tmakeitso.

If I cannot prove by theBible thatwhat I am saying is truth,thendon'tbelieveit.Don'tacceptit.Ihavenorighttoforceanyofmy theories or pet doctrines on someone else. I would notwanttoimposeanyofmyconvictionsonothers.LetuslivebytheWordofGod.

Longing to talk to my pastor about this Scripture, I calledGrannytomybedsideandaskedhertogogetthepastor,who

lived about four blocks from our house. She walked to theparsonage,askedtoseethepastor,andtoldhimthatIwantedhimtocometoseeme.Hesaidhewasverybusythatday,buthewouldcometwodayslater.

She suggested that he come early in the morning, because Iwasmorerestedandalertthenthanlaterintheday.

(Afterabout10o'clockinthemorning,Iusuallylayinastuporfortherestoftheday.)Hesaidhewouldcomeabout8:30inthemorning.

During the years before I became bedfast, I had been veryfaithfulinattendingSundaySchool.Ineverhadmissed.YetinallthetimeIhadbeensick,thepastorhadnotbeentoseemeonce.

WhenThursdaymorningcame,thedayappointedforhisvisit,Ieagerly looked forward to seeing him and ask-ing him thequestionsthatburnedonmyheart.Eight-thirtycameandwent.Nineo'clockcame,andIlookedanxiouslyformypastor.Nine-thirty, then 10 o'clock, but still no word from him. And eventhough I layon thatbed foranotherentire year,heneverdidcometoseeme.

Although I was crushed with disappointment anddisillusionmentatthetime,Icouldlookbacklaterandseethatitwasbestthatthepastordidnotcome,forhewouldhavetoldme thewrong thing.Rather than inspiringmy faith tobelieveGod formyphysical healing, he simplywouldhave reinforcedthedoubtsIalreadyhad.

Whenmypastordidn'tcometoseeme,mygrandmotherwalkedto another part of town to see yet another preacher inwhomshehadgreatconfidence.Shetoldhimaboutmycondition,andthatIhadaskedtoseeapreacher.

Hetoldherthathewouldcome,buthe,too,failedtokeephispromise. Again I cried with disappointment when he did notarrive,andagainitreallywasablessingthathedidn't.(Manythingswecryaboutareforourowngood,butwedon'trealizeitatthetime.Wewouldn'tbecryingifwecouldjustseeintothefuture.)My aunt, whowas amember of another church, saidherpastorwouldcometoseeme.However,bythistimeIwascertain that he, too, would not come. My aunt wassuperintendentoftheJuniorDepartment intheSundaySchoolof her church. During the years I was eligible to go in herdepartment,when Iwas9 through11 years of age, Iwent toSundaySchoolwithherandneverhadmissedaSunday.Ihadmetherpastor,ofcourse.

Job'sComforterArrives

OnedayIheardsomeoneknockingonthefrontdoor.

Amember of my family answered the door, and theminute Iheardthevoiceofthecaller,Irecognizeditasthevoiceofmyaunt's pastor. Suddenly my heart leaped with joy because Ithought I could ask himwhat this Scripturemeant. Surely hewould know and could clear up this con-fusion inmymind. Iknew if this Scripture meant what I thought it meant, I wascomingoffofthatbed!

Atthattimeonlyonepersonatatimewasallowedinmyroom,so the pastor came in alone. Until he stooped over me, Icouldn'tseehimtooclearly.Thenhisfacecameintofocus.

Partiallyparalyzed inmy throatand tongue, Icouldnotspeakdistinctly,andIwouldsayalotofthingsbackwards.Sometimesitwouldtakemealongtimetogetmywordsout.OftenIwouldhave to stumble around for 10 minutes before I could ask aquestion.Mybraindidn'tseemtoworkright.

Imovedmymouthandlips,tryingtosaysomething.

I triedtocallhisname.I triedtotellhimtogetmyBibleandturntoMark11:24andtellmewhatitmeant,butIcouldn'tgetthewordsout.Iwasjuststuttering;Icouldn'tframethewords.

Before I could say anything, he thought that I was unable totalk.Hepattedmyhandanddrawledinhispro-fessionallypiousvoice,"Justbepatient,myboy.InafewmoredaysitwillALLbeover."Thenhelaidmyhanddownandlefttheroom.

Although this pastor had prayed no prayer with me, he wentintothelivingroomandsaidaprayerwithmyfamily.Forsomereason, my hearing was very keen at this time, and I coulddistinctlyheareverywordhesaid,althoughhedidn'tprayveryloudly.Hesaid,"HeavenlyFather,weaskYoutoblessthisdeargrandmotherandgrandfatherwhoareabouttobebereavedoftheir grandson. Prepare their hearts for the dark hour that isabouttocomeuponthem."

AsIlistenedtothisprayer,Iwaslikethenaughtylittleboywhowasbeingpunishedbyhisschoolteacherbyhavingtostandinacorner. He might have been standing up outwardly, but hethoughttohimselfthatontheinsidehewassittingdown.Ifeltjustasrebelliousasthatlittleboy.AlthoughIcouldn'tspeakthewords audibly, on the inside of me I was shouting, "I' m notdeadyet!"

I listenedas thispastorcontinuedhisprayer. "Bless thisdear,brokenheartedmotherwhoisabouttoloseherson."Mymotherhadhadsomehopeuntil then,buthe robbedherofwhat shehad,andshestartedcrying.

PlanningMyFuneral

Afterthepreacherleft,mygrandmothercameintomyroomandaskedmeifitwouldbeallrightforthispreachertopreachatmyfuneral,ashewastheonlyonewhohadcometoseeme.Iagreedthatthiswouldbeallright.

GrannythenaskedmewhatsongsIwantedsungatmyfuneral.ItoldherIdidn'thaveanyfavorites.Theycouldsingwhatevertheywanted.Shesuggestedtwoorthree,andIsaidtheywouldbe all right. Then she asked me about pallbearers. Shesuggested some, and I told her they would be all right. MymotheraskedmeifIwantedtobeburiedinacertainplacethatshementioned,andIagreed.Thentheyleftmyroom.Althoughthesunwasstillshiningbrightlyoutside,itseemedeversodarkinmyroom.

AllofthissostunnedmethatIlaymotionlessonmybedfor30days.1gaveupandwantedtodie.Afterabout30days,Ibeganto read theBibleagain. I still couldn't seemtogetaway fromMark 11:24: "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,believethatyereceivethem,andyeshallhavethem."

LaterinthefallIbecamebolder.ItoldtheLordIhadsentfortwopreacherswhodidn'tcome.Thethirdcame,butIrealizedthatitwouldhavebeenbetterifhehadn't.

ItoldtheLordthatwhenHewasonearthHesaid,

"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that yereceivethem,andyeshallhavethem,"andthatIdesiredtobehealed.

ItoldHimIwasgoingtotakeHimatHisWord:IwasgoingtobelieveHetoldthetruth,andthisversemeantwhat itsaid.IftheNewTestamentwastrue,thenIwasgoingtocomeoffthisbed.

ItoldHimIwasgoingtoliveandnotdie."IfIdon'tgetoffthisbed,thentheBibleisn'tso,andIamgoingtohavethemtakeitandthrowitinthetrashcan."Imeantbusiness!

Iwasdeterminedtogetupfromthatbed,butIstilldidn'tknowhowtoactmyfaithinthatverseofScripture.Apersoncancry,pray,anddoeverythingheknowstodo,butifhedoesn'thavefaith,hewillremainthesame.

Jesusdidn't say just topray.Thekeyword in thisScripture isbelieve.

Feelingsvs.Faith

Atthistime,Ididn'tfullyunderstandfaith.Iprayedandprayed,butIdidn'tgetanyresults.IwassurethatGodheardme,andIhadagoodfeelinginsideme.Yetmyheartstillwasn'tbeatingnormally.

WhatIdidn'tknowthen is thatwehavetogobyfaith,notbyour feelings.Wehave to standon thepromises inGod'sWordandnotlookatthecircumstancessurroundingus.

I did improve to the extent that I was able to usemy hands.SometimesGrannywouldpropmeupinbedforashorttime.Iwouldreachdownandfeelmylegs.Therewasnomuscleatall,justbone.Iwasextremelyskinny.

Iseemedtobemakingnorealheadway,andIsaid,

"Lord,IthoughtYouwouldhealme."IwassosurethatHehadheard me, but I felt no better. I know now that just feelingbetter after you pray is no sign thatGod heard you; likewise,feelingnobetterafteryouprayisnosignthatGoddidn'thearyou.

Wecannotrelyonhowwefeel.WehavetocomebacktowhatGod'sWordsaysaboutthematter.FormonthsIstruggledthisway.

WhenNewYear'sDay1934 rolled around, itwasmovingday.Grandpaownedseveralhousesintown,andhedecidedtomoveinto another one of them. He had told the people who wererenting this certain house that he wanted it for his own use.When they moved, he had it redecorated, and then we werereadytomovein.

When the movers came, they moved the furniture from theother parts of the house first, saving the furniture in mybedroomuntil last.When theycame tomovemy furniture, anambulancecameandmovedme.

While I was riding along in the ambulance, one of theattendants remarked that he hadheard I hadbeen in bed foraboutayearnow.

"Ninemonths,tobeexact,"Itoldhim.

HesaidthatifIfeltlikeit,theywouldtakemeforalittleridethroughtheresidentialareassoIcouldseethescenery. IwassohappyforthischancetoseethingsIhadbeenmissingforsomany months. The smallest joys, which we so often take forgranted, can bring immense pleasure to one who has beendeprivedofthemforsolong.

I was able to movemy head to look out the window as they

droveslowly throughthe town.Thentheambulanceattendantsaid, "Son, ifyou feelup to it,we'lldrivedownto thesquare.Sinceit isaholiday,thereprobablywon'tbemuchtraffic,andyoumightenjoyit."Howwonderful,Ithought,togettoseethatold courthouse again, the stores, and other buildings in thisbelovedlittletownofMcKinneywithitspopulationof8,000or9,000.

I saw the familiar olddrugstore on the corner. I saw the J.C.Penney's store. Next to that was theMode O'Day dress shopand next to thatwasWoolworth's.On downwas a shoe storeand on the next corner a ladies' ready-to-wear shop. Thenweturnedtogodownthesouthsideofthesquare.Idrankinallofthesesights,notknowingwhen,ifever,Imightseethemagain.

Justasweturnedthecornerandstarteddownthesouthsideofthesquare,Iturnedandlookedattheoldcourthousethatsatinthemiddle of the square. I shall never forget thatmoment aslongas I live. In that instantsomethingsaid tome,"Well,younever did think youwould ever see these old buildings again.Andyouwouldn'thave,ifithadn'tbeenforthekindnessofthemanwhoistakingyou."

One Gleam of Light Then I remembered the verse in Mark11:24:"Whatthingssoeveryedesire,whenyepray,believethatyereceive them, and ye shall have them, " and I recalled theverse that went before it which said, ".. .he shall havewhatsoeverhesaith."

As I said it in that ambulance thatday, tearsrolled downmyface.Ididn'tunderstandallthatIknownow.

Ihadjustonesmallgleamoflight.Itwaslikealittlelightthatmightpeepthroughacrackinthedoor,butitwasabeginningpointformethisfirstdayofJanuary1934

about2o'clockintheafternoon.

Isaid,"Yes,Iwillseethesebuildingsandthiscourthouseagain.Iwillcomeandstandinthiscourthousesquare,becauseJesussaid that what you believe in your heart and say with yourmouthshallcometopass."Ihadcommittedmyself.

JanuaryandFebruarywentby, and Iwas still bedfast.March,April,May,June,andJulywentby.Thedevilmighthavesaiditwasn'tworking,but Iheldontomycon-fessionandrefused togiveup.IkepttellingtheLordthatIwasgoingtoholdon,thatIwasstandingonHisWord,andithadtowork!

Finally I saw what I had been doing wrong: Iwasn 't reallybelievingwhatGod'sWordsaid.Iwassayingitinmymind,butI wasn'tbelieving it withmy heart or acting upon it withmy

heart.

I realized that for months I had been hoping I would growbetter gradually. I was praying with hope, not faith, and thatwon'tgetthejobdone.

IrealizedthatmyfaithwasnotyetbasedonwhatGod'sWordsaid,butonlyonwhatIcouldseeandfeel.

Icouldfeelthatmyheartwasn'tbeatingrightyet.Ioftenwouldlook atmy legs and arms and start crying because theywereunchanged. I was believing only what I could see with myphysicaleyes.

ThusIcametothesecondweekofAugust1934.ThatTuesday,Iprayedthroughtheearlymorninghours.Attheusualtimemymothercameinandhelpedmewithmybath.Itwasabout8:30whenshelefttheroom.Icontinuedtopray.

MyStruggleWithMark11:24

IhadbeenstrugglingwithMark11:24foralongtime,butIstillwasn'tanybetter.ItoldtheLord,"YousaidwhenYouwereonearththat 'whatthingssoeveryedesire,whenyepray,believethat ye receive them, and ye shallhavethem. ' I desire to behealed,andIbelieve.IfYouweretostandhereinmyroomandI could see You with my physical eyes and take hold of yourhand, and if You were to tell me my trouble is that I'm notbelieving,Iwouldhavetosaythisisn'ttrue.Iambelieving."

Thenavoiceontheinsideofmespokesoclearlyitseemedasifsomeonehadspokenaudibly: "Yes,youarebelievingas farasyouknow, but the last clause of that verse says, 'and ye shallhavethem.'"

IbelievedasmuchasIknewhowtobelieve,butIdidn'tknowenough.Apersoncannotprayandgetfaith.

TheBiblesaysthatfaithcomes".. .byhearing,andhearingbythe Word of God" (Rom. 10:17). We need knowledge of theWord.WhenthislightofknowledgefromtheWordcomes,faithisautomaticallythere.

In thismoment, I saw exactly what that verse inMark 11:24meant.UntilthenIwasgoingtowaittillIwasactuallyhealed.IwaslookingatmybodyandtestingmyheartbeattoseeifIhadbeen healed. But I saw that the verse says that you have tobelievewhenyoupray.Thehavingcomesafterthebelieving. Ihadbeenreversingit.

Iwastryingtohavefirstandthenbelievesecond.Thatiswhatmostpeopledo.

7SeeIt!'

"Iseeit.Iseeit!"Isaidwithjoy."IseewhatI'vegottodo,Lord.I'vegottobelievethatmyheartiswellwhileI'mstilllyinghereonthisbed,andwhilemyheartisnotbeatingright.I'vegottobelieve that my paralysis is gone while I'm still lying herehelpless,flatonmyback.

"IbelieveinmyheartthatYouhaveheardmyprayer!

Ibelievethatmyheartishealedandthatmyparalysisisgone!IbelieveinmyheartthatIhavereceivedhealingformybody!"

As I said this, the thoughtcame tome, "You'reapretty thing.Just look at you, claiming to be a Christian and here you arelying.Don'tyouknowtheBiblesaysthatallliarswillhavetheirpartinthelakethatburnethwithfireandbrimstone?"

"Iamnotaliar,"Ideclared.

"Certainlyyouare,becauseyousaidyouarehealedandyou'renot."

"Ididn'tsaythatIamhealedbecauseIfeellikeit,"

Istated."I'mhealedbecauseIbelieveit.And,devil,ifyousayIamnot,thenyouarealiar.IamactingontheWordofGod.IfIamnothealed,thenJesusisaliar.GoarguewithGodaboutit;don'tfusswithme."

Withthis,thedevilleftmealone.ThenIsaid,"ThankGod,I'mhealed."IliftedmyhandsandpraisedGod.

Momentarily,Istartedtofeelmyhearttoseeif itwasbeatingnormally,butIcaughtmyselfandstatedthatIwasn'tgoingbyfeelings but by faith. I kept saying that my heart was well. IpraisedtheLordinthismannerforabout10minutes.

UpandOutofBed

ThentheHolySpiritspokeasaninnerwitnessontheinsideofmeandsaid,"Youbelievethatyouarehealed.

Ifyouarehealed,thenyoushouldbeupandoutofthatbed."

Ifeltthiswasright,soIpushedmyselfuptoasittingpositionwithmyhands.ThenIreacheddown,gotholdofmyfeet,andswungthemaroundtothesideofthebed.

Icouldn'tfeelthem,butIcouldseethem.ThenIsaidthatIwasgoingtostandandwalk.

Thedevil foughtmeevery inchof theway.Hekept tellingme

that Iwasa fool.Of course I couldn'twalk,hewould tellme.(As long as the devil can keep us in the sense realm, hewilldefeatus.But ifwewillstay inthe faith realm,wewilldefeathim!

Igotholdofthebedpostandpulledmyselfup.Theroomstartedspinning,forIhadbeeninthisbedfor16months.Iclosedmyeyes,wrappedmyarmsaroundthebedpost,andstoodtherefora few minutes. Finally I opened my eyes and everything hadstoppedspinning.

IdeclaredIwashealedandIwasgoingtowalk.Feelingbeganto return to my legs! It seemed as if two million pins wereprickingme.Thenerveswerebeingreactivated.

I rejoicedbecause itwassowonderful tohave feelingback inthose lifeless legs, in spite of the painful prickling sensation.Afterashorttime,thepainleftandIfeltnormal.

Determined now more than ever to walk, I held onto thebedpost and cautiously took a step. Then I took another.Holdingontopiecesoffurniture,Imanagedtowalkaroundtheroomonetime.

Itoldnooneofthis,butthenextmorningIgotupanddidthesame thing. That night I askedmymother to bringme someclothesbecause Iwasgoingtogetupandgo to thebreakfasttable the next morning. She was shocked, but she did as Iasked.On the thirdmorning I got out of bed, dressedmyself,walked intothekitchen,and joinedmyfamilyat thebreakfasttable.AndI'vebeendoingiteversince.

ReturntotheCourthouseSquare

On the second Saturday of August 1934, I walked to thecourthousesquare. Itwascrowdeddowntown,becausepeoplealwayscametotownonSaturdaytodotheirshop-ping.Ihadtoelbowmywaythroughthecrowdtogettotheoutsidecurbofthesquare.AsIstoodthere,tearscourseddownmyfaceandIthankedGodforHisgood-ness.

ItookoutmyNewTestament,whichIhadbroughtalongwithme. I don't know what people thought as they watched mestandingonthecornerwithtearsstreamingdownmyfaceasIopenedtheNewTestamenttoread,butIdidn'tcare.IhadreadtheScripturewhichsays,"Proveallthings;holdfastthatwhichisgood"(1Thess.5:21).

IhadprovedtheverseinMark11:24,whichIhadcometolove,and had found it true inmy life. I knew thatGod'sWordwastrue.Itwaspossibletohave"whatthingssoeveryedesire"byrightbelievinginGod'sWord.

Sometimelater,adoctorcheckedmyheartandsaidthatInolongerhadanykindofhearttrouble.HesaidthatpeoplewiththetypeofheartconditionIhadalmostnevergetwell.Thishadtobearealmiracle,becausenowhecouldfindnothingwrongwithme.

MyMinistryBegins

I soon began my ministry as a young Baptist preacher, andpastored a community church just eight miles from thatcourthouse square. The first year I pastored, I wore out fourpairsofshoeswalkingtopreach.Iwalkeddowndustyoldroadsto preach theGospel, to tell how Jesus had saved and healedme.

I used to say, "I'll preach from the Red River to the Gulf ofMexico, tellingeverywhere Igo that Jesussaves,heals,and iscoming again. And I'll preach it from the Louisiana border totheNewMexicostateline."IthoughtatthetimethatcoveringTexaswouldbecoveringquiteabitofterritory!

Because Ibelieved indivinehealing, Ibeganassociat-ingwithFull Gospel people who also believed and preached divinehealing. I liked to go to their services, because I enjoyed thefellowship, and hearing others who believed in divine healingmademyfaithgrowstronger.

TheyalsopreachedaboutbeingfilledwiththeHolySpiritandspeakinginothertongues,somethingIdidn'tquiteunderstandor altogether agree with, but I tolerated it in order to havefellowshiponthesubjectofdivinehealing.

The thing that bothered me the most, however, was wheneveryonewould pray at once. Iwasn't accustomed to it and Istarted to say something a time or two to straighten thesepeople out. Then I heard someone else tell them, "Don't youknowGodisn'thardofhearing?"

"He'snotnervous,either,"theyreplied.

When they invited believers to pray at the altar, I would goforward to praywith them, but I would stay as far away as Icould,becausetheirprayinginunisonbotheredme.Iwouldgetoffinacornersomewhereandprayquietly.

After awhile it occurred tome that these people knew aboutdivine healing and my denomination apparently didn't;therefore, theymight knowmore about theHoly Spirit than Idid, too. Idecided to read through theActsof theApostles toseehowtheEarlyChurchprayed.

AsIread,Icouldn'tfindoneplacewheretheycalledonDeacon

Brown or Sister Jones to lead in prayer. I found to my utteramazementthatintheEarlyChurcheverybodyprayedatonce."And being let go, they went to their own company, andreported all that the chief priests and elders had said untothem.Andwhen they heard that, they lifted up their voice toGodWITHONEACCORD...."

(Acts4:23,24).

Thethingthatcincheditwithmewasthe16thchapterofActs,whereIreadthatPaulandSilaswereinjailatmidnight.Theirbackswerebleeding.Theirfeetwereinstocks.Yetatmidnightthey prayed and sang praises to God, ".. .and the prisonersheardthem"(Acts16:25).Until then Ihadbelieved inprayingtoGod, but I believed in being quiet about it. But here I sawthatPaulandSilasweren'tquiet,eveninjail.

ThenexttimeIwenttotheFullGospelserviceandtheyinvitedeveryonetothealtartopray,Igotrightinthemiddleofthemandliftedmyvoicejustliketheydid.

Ifeltwonderfulreleaseandfreedominprayer.Jesussaid,

"Andyeshallknowthetruth,andthetruthshallmakeyoufree"(John8:32).God'sWordistruth,anditwillsetyoufree.

'ThatTonguesBusiness'

ButthesubjectofthebaptismoftheHolySpiritandspeakingwith other tongues which these Full Gospel people preachedwasquiteanothermatter.That"tongues"

businesswasabitterpilltoswallow.Ihadbeenwarnedagainstit. But as a fellow down in East Texas had said about goingaroundwiththeseFullGospelpeople,"Itislikeaslipperycreekbank.Youkeepfoolingaroundandyou'llslipin!"

ImeditatedandthoughtontheScripturesconcerningtheHolySpirit and came to the conclusion that theFullGospel peoplewere wrong. Tongues weren't necessary; they weren't for ustoday.Abelievercouldreceivethisenduementofpowerwithoutspeaking intongues.Thatwasmyown judgment,ofcourse. Itcertainlywasn'tScripture.

I said to the Lord, "These are good people, I know. They arethoroughlysavedandtheyknewaboutdivinehealingwhenmychurch didn't. I certainly believe in the Holy Spirit. And Ibelieveintheinfilling,theenduementofpower,fromonhigh.Isensea lackofpower inmyown lifeandIknowIneedtheinfillingof theHolySpirit. And I expect to receive, all right,butIamoftheopinionthatthetonguesdon'tgoalongwithitandarenotforustoday."

'WhatDoestheBibleSay?'

ImmediatelytheLordspoketomyheart.IknewitwastheHolySpirit speaking through theWord. That same still small voicethat had brought me off a bed of sickness and into divinehealingaskedme,"WhatdoestheBiblesay?"

IquotedtheScripture,"Forthepromiseisuntoyou,andtoyourchildren,andtoallthatareafaroff,evenasmanyastheLordourGodshallcall"(Acts2:39).

Thenthevoicesaid,"Whatpromiseisthat?"

"...AndyeshallreceivethegiftoftheHolyGhost"

(Acts2:38)."Thereferencehere,Lord,istothepromiseofthegiftoftheHolySpirit."ThenIhastenedtoadd,

"ButLord,IbelieveintheHolySpirit.ItisthetonguesIamnotsosureabout."

TheHolySpiritalwaysleadsusinlinewiththeWord.

TheWord and theSpirit agree. I amnot in favor of followingvoices,forapersoncangowrongfollowingvoices.ButwecannevergowrongfollowinganyvoicethatleadsustowalkinlinewiththeWordofGod.

Jesussaid,"...heshallreceiveofmine,andshallshewituntoyou"(John16:14).And,"...heshallnotspeakofhimself"ThankGod,Hedoesspeak."...Butwhatsoeverheshallhear,thatshallhespeak"(v.13).

The born-again Christian has the Holy Spirit in a measure.However,thisisnotthesameasanenduementofpower;heisnotfilledwiththeHolySpirit.ButthereistheworkoftheHolySpirit intheNewBirth:"TheSpirit itselfbearethwitnesswithourspirit,thatwearethechildrenofGod"(Rom.8:16).

ThentheLordsaidtome,"WhatdoesActs2:4say?"

I could quote theScripture, of course.But just becauseyou have it in yourmind does notmean that you reallyknowwhatitsays.YouhavetohavetherevelationofitinyourspirittoreallyknowwhattheWordofGodmeans.

I quoted, "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, andbegan to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave themutterance. " I got this far and said, " 'And they wereallfilledwiththeHolyGhost,andbegantosp...'Oh,Iseeit,I see it! 'They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, andbegan to speak.'When I get filledwith theHoly Spirit, I will

begin to speak in other tongues.Lord, that settles it. I amgoingdownrightnowtotheFullGospelpreacher'shouseandreceivetheHolySpirit!"

Iwalkedovertotheparsonageandknockedonthedoor.Isaid,"I'vecometogettheHolySpirit."

Thepreachersaid,"Wait."FromthatdayuntilthisIhaveneverbeenabletofigureoutwhyanyonewouldevertellsomeonetowaittogettheHolySpirit.

WhyTarryingIsn'tNecessary

Some will say, "Didn't you read where Jesus told Hisdisciplestotarry,and'totarry'means'towait'?"Yes,butthatisnotaformulaforreceivingtheHolySpirit.Ifthatwere the formula for receiving theHolySpirit, thenwhytakeouttheword"Jerusalem"?Jesussaid," . . .tarryyeinthecityofJerusalem,untilyebeenduedwithpower

from on high" (Luke 24:49). It was just as necessary forthatgroup—the120—tobeinJerusalemasitwasthattheywait.

Also,theyweren'twaiting—gettingreadyandpreparingthemselves—tobefilledwiththeHolySpirit.TheyHowGodRaisedMefromaDeathbed

33

werewaitingfortheDayofPentecost.TheHolySpiritcouldnotbe given until then. If they had been waiting and preparingthemselves,theBiblewouldhaveread,

"Whentheywereready...."Butitreads,"AndwhenthedayofPentecostwasfullycome...."(Acts2:1).

Someone said, "Well, waiting gets you ready." No, it doesn't.Gettingsavedgetsyouready.AfellowdowninEastTexassaid,"IhadtotakebackapigIhadstolenbeforeIcouldgettheHolySpirit."

Thatistryingtocleanyourselfup,butyoucan'tcleanyourselfup:"...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from allsin" (1 John1:7). Ifyouareblood-washed,youarereadyrightnow!

Corneliusandhishouseholdwerenotonlysavedbutalsowerefilledwith theHoly Spirit— in almost the same instant (Acts11:14,15).Theydidn'thavetimetogetready.

TheHolySpirit fell upon them, and they began to speakwith

tongues.

If it hadn't been for speaking in tongues, we Gentiles neverwould have gotten in the Church. It was strictly Jewish untilthen.EvenPeterhimselfdidn'tknowthattheGentilescouldbesaved until he had the vision which is recorded in the tenthchapter of Acts. It astonished the Jews who came with PeterwhentheHolySpiritwaspouredoutontheGentiles."Fortheyheardthemspeakwithtongues,andmagnifyGod...."(Acts10:46).

WhenItoldtheFullGospelpastor,"IhavecomeheretogettheHolySpirit,"andhetoldmetowait,Iblurtedout,"Butitwon'ttakemelongtoreceive."

Becausethechurchwashavingarevivalservicethatnightanditwasalready6o'clock,hewantedmetowaitandseekforthebaptismintheservice.ButIknewIwouldhavetowaituntilthepreliminariesandthepreachingwereover.Itwouldhavebeen9o'clockbeforeIcouldhavegottentothealtar,andwhowantstowaitforagift?

IhavebeenassociatedwithFullGospelpeopleformanyyearsnow,andinallthattimeIhavenevertoldanyonetowaitforthebaptismintheHolySpirit.Ifpeoplesaytheywanttogetsavedtonight,youdon'tsay,"WaitandcometochurchonSundayandseekforit."Ifsomeonewantsyoutoprayfortheirhealing,youdon't say, "Wait." They want to get healed immediately,especiallyiftheyareinpain.Salvationisagift,healingisagift,andsoisthebaptismintheHolySpirit.

Apastoroncesaid,"IknowyoucanreceivetheHolySpiritrightaway,becausewereadaboutitintheActsoftheApostles.Butwhen you have to wait a long time, the experiencemeans somuchmoretoyou.Takeme,forinstance.IttookmethreeyearsandsixmonthstogettheHolySpirit.Iwaitedandwaited.NowtheHolySpiritreallymeanssomethingtome."

I said, "Well, poor oldPaul didn't know that. Iwish you couldhavegottentohimandtoldhimaboutit.HegottheHolySpiritimmediatelywhen Ananias laid hands on him.He didn't wait,tarry, or seek. But then, all he ever didwaswrite half of theNewTestament.Of course, he didmore singlehandedly in his38 years of ministry than any denomination has done in 500years.Butifyoucouldhavegottentohimandtoldhimtowaitfor three years and six months, maybe the Holy Spirit wouldhavemeantsomethingtohim."

Seeing my eagerness to receive, the Full Gospel pastorreluctantlysaid,"Well,comeonin,then."Iwentintothelivingroomandkneltdowninfrontofalargechair.IHowGodRaised

Mefromaclosedouteverythingaroundme,shutmyeyes,andliftedmyhands.Noonetoldmetodoit;Ijustliftedmyhands.

HowToReceiveaGift

Isaid,"DearLord,IhavecomeheretoreceivetheHolySpirit."IrepeatedinmyprayerwhatIhadjustlearnedfromActs2:39andActs2:4.ThenIsaid,"YourWordsaysthattheHolySpiritisa gift. Therefore, I realize that the Holy Spirit is received byfaith.Ireceivedthegiftofsalvationbyfaith.Ireceivedhealingformybodybyfaith.

NowIreceivethegiftYouoffer."

LetmepointoutherethattheHolySpiritwasgivenontheDayofPentecost,andHehasbeenhereeversince.

Godhasn't"given"HimtoanyonesincetheDayofPentecost.ItisamatternowofourreceivingHim.

Ican'tfindintheActsoftheApostleswherethediscipleseveraskedanyone, "HasGodgivenyou theHolySpirit?" Ido readwheretheyasked,"Haveyoureceived?"

Paul didn't ask the Ephesians, "Has God given you the HolySpirit?"Hesaid,"HaveyeRECEIVEDtheHolyGhostsinceyebelieved?"(Acts19:2).

The emphasis is not onGod's giving, becauseHe has alreadydonethat.Theemphasisisonman'sreceiving.

In theScripture, theWordsays,"Thereforebeingby the righthand of God exalted, and having received of the Father thepromise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which yenowseeandhear"(Acts2:33).

ACTS8:14,15

14NowwhentheapostleswhichwereatJerusalemheardthatSamariahadreceivedthewordofGod,theysentuntothemPeterandJohn:

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them,thattheymightRECEIVEtheHolyGhost.

Notice that it says "that they might receive." Peter and Johndidn'tpraythatGodwouldgivethepeopleinSamariatheHolySpirit. They didn't even pray that God would pour the HolySpiritoutonthem;theyprayedthattheymightreceivetheHolySpirit:"Thenlaidtheytheirhandsonthem,andtheyRECEIVEDtheHolyGhost"(Acts8:17).

ACTS9:17

17AndAnaniaswenthisway,andenteredintothehouse;and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, theLord,even Jesus, that appearedunto thee in theway asthoucamest,hathsentme,thatthoumightestreceivethysight,andbefilledwiththeHolyGhost.

Ananias didn't say, "God has sentme to pray for you thatHewouldgiveyoutheHolyGhost."Hedidn'tsay,

"GodhassentmetoprayforyouthatHewouldpourHisHolyGhost out upon you." Ananias said, "He sent me, that thoumightest...befilled."

Wedon'tpraythatGodwouldsendsalvationandsavesomeone;all that person has to do is receive. We don't pray that Godwouldsendhealingandhealsomeone;wepraythatthepersonwouldreceivehealing.NeitherdowepraythatGodwouldsendHisSpirittofillahungryheart;weneedonlytoopenourheartsandreceive.

ThereinthatparsonageinApril1937,IsaidtotheLord,"TheHoly Spirit is a gift. I received salvation by faith. I receivedhealinginmybodythreeyearsagobyfaith.NowIreceivethegiftoftheHolySpiritbyfaith.

AndIwanttothankYounowbecauseIhavereceived."

Noticethatwedon'tspeakintonguesandthenknowwehavetheHolySpirit.WehavetheHolySpiritfirst;thenwespeakintongues. "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, andbegan to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave themutterance"(Acts2:4).

Speakingwithothertongues isaresultofhavingreceivedtheHolySpirit.WereceivetheHolySpiritfirst.

IsaidtotheLord,"IhavereceivedtheHolySpirit.

HeisinmebecauseJesuspromised,'Heshallbeinyou.'

IsayitwithmymouthbecauseIbelieveinmyheartthatIhavereceived theHoly Spirit.Now I expect to speakwith tonguesbecausetheydidontheDayofPentecost.

And,thankGod,Iwill.IhavereceivedtheHolySpirit.

I believe that. And Iwill speakwith tongues nowas theHolySpiritgivesmeutterance."

IwasgratefulfortheHolySpiritwhomIhadreceivedandforthe speakingwith tongues thatHewasgoing togiveme, so Isaid, "hallelujah,hallelujah."But Ihadnever feltsospiritually

dryinmylifeaswhenIsaidit.

Feelings and faith are far removed from each other, however,andsometimeswhen you feel youhave the least faith, that iswhenyouhavethemost!SoIsaid,

"hallelujah" seven or eight times, even though it seemed as ifthatwordwouldchokeme.

SpeakinginTongues!

About the time Ihadsaid "hallelujah" for theeighth time,notvery fast, but very slowly— way down inside of me— therewerethesestrangewords.Itseemedasiftheywerejustgoingaroundinsideme.ItseemedthatIwouldknowwhattheywouldsoundlikeiftheywere38

IBelieveinVisions

spoken,soIstartedspeakingthemout.AndeightminutesafterIfirstknockedonthatpastor'sdoor,Iwasspeakingintongues!Hehadsaid, "Wait, "but insteadofwaiting, I spent thathourandahalfspeakingintongues.

IbelieveinwaitingonGod,ofcourse.Weshouldhave

"tarryingmeetings"foreveryonewhoisSpiritfilled.Itismorewonderful to tarry and wait filled with the Holy Spirit thanwithout.

DuringthehourandahalfthatIwastalkingintongues,Ihadaglorious time in the Lord. Talking in tongues edifies you. "Hethatspeakethinanunknowntongueedifiethhimself...."(1Cor.14:4).Thisisaspiritualedification,orbuildingup.

Languagestudents tellus thatwehaveaword inourmodernvernacularthatisclosertothemeaningoftheGreekwordthan"edify,"andthatistheword"charge."

We charge a battery — we build it up. Paul said, "He thatspeaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself."He chargeshimself.Hebuildshimselfuplikeabattery.

I continued to preach the same thing I hadbeenpreaching; Ijustaddedalittlebitto it.TheHolySpiritwillhelpaministerenlargehisvision.

MyVisionExpands

I had said, "I'll preach that Jesus saves and heals. I'll preachthatHefillswiththeHolySpiritandthatHe iscomingagain.NowI'llpreachfromtheAtlanticCoasttothePacificCoast. (IevengotbiggerinmythinkingthanTexas.TheHolySpiritwill

make you even bigger than Texas!) I'll preach it from LosAngeles toNewYork. I'llpreach it from theGulfofMexico totheCanadianborder."

AndGodhasblessedmyministrysothatIhavebeenabletodoit.DuringtheyearsIwasinthefieldministry,Itraveledmorethanamillionmiles throughout theUnitedStatesandCanadainmyautomobile.

For half a century now I have been proclaiming the gloriousGospelofourLordJesusChrist, firstasalocalpastor,thenasan evangelist throughout North America, and nowinternationallyasaprophetandteacher.

Chapter2ComeUpHither

AstheLordcontinuedtodealwithmylife,Heappearedtomeinvisionformonseveraloccasions.

Tounderstand the scripturalbackground for visions, letusgobacktotheDayofPentecost.FollowingthemightyoutpouringoftheHolySpirit,Peterboldlypreachedasermontothosewhohad gathered to see themarvel of the 120 speaking in othertongues.

AportionofPeter'smessagetothecrowdisfoundinthesecondchapteroftheBookofActs:ACTS2:14-21

14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up hisvoice, and saidunto them,Yemenof Judaea, and all yethat dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, andhearkentomywords:

15For thesearenotdrunken,asye suppose, seeing it isbutthethirdhouroftheday.

16ButthisisthatwhichwasspokenbytheprophetJoel;17Anditshallcometopassinthelastdays,saithGod,Iwill pour out ofmy Spirit upon all flesh: and your sonsandyourdaughters shallprophesy, andyour youngmenshall seevisions,andyouroldmenshalldreamdreams:18AndonmyservantsandonmyhandmaidensIwillpourout in those days ofmy Spirit; and they shall prophesy:19AndIwillshewwondersinheavenabove,andsignsintheearthbeneath;blood,andfire,andvapourofsmoke:20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and themoonintoblood,beforethatgreatandnotabledayoftheLordcome:

21Anditshallcometopass,thatwhosoevershallcallonthenameoftheLordshallbesaved.

Astheastonishedcrowdheardthebelieversspeakinginothertongues, ". . .theywereallamazed,andwere indoubt, sayingonetoanother,Whatmeaneththis?Othersmockingsaid,Thesemen are full of new wine" (Acts 2:12,13). But Peter boldlyproclaimed, ".. .this is thatwhich was spoken by the prophetJoel" (Acts 2:16), and he went on to repeat Joel's prophecy:JOEL2:28-32

28And it shall come to pass afterward, that Iwill pourout my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and yourdaughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dreamdreams, your young men shall see visions: 29And also

upontheservantsanduponthehandmaidsinthosedayswillIpouroutmyspirit.

30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in theearth,blood,andfire,andpillarsofsmoke.

31Thesunshallbeturnedintodarkness,andthemooninto blood, before the great and the terrible day of theLordcome.

32Anditshallcometopass,thatwhosoevershallcallonthenameoftheLordshallbedelivered:forinmountZionand in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hathsaid,andintheremnantwhomtheLordshallcall.

In other words, Peter explained, this manifestation which thepeople were witnessing had been foretold by God's prophetcenturiesbefore.Itheraldedanewdispensation—anewdayofGod'sgrace—andthebeginningof the"lastdays"whichJoelreferredto.Todaywearelivingintheendofthese"lastdays."

AYoungMan'sVision

OneofthefulfillmentsofJoel'sprophecyandtheoutpouringoftheSpiritwasthat"...youryoungmenshallseevisions"(Joel2:28). The Amplified Bible says, "your young men shall seevisions (that is, divinely granted appearances)" (Acts 2:17). Inthe next pages I want to tell about a divinely grantedappearanceIhadwhenIwasayoungman33yearsold.

AtthetimeofthisexperienceIwasconductingatentrevivalinRockwall,Texas,during the latterpartofAugustand the firstpartofSeptember1950.OnSaturday,September2,itrainedallday—notahard,drivingrain,butaslow,gentle,soakingrain.

Itwas still raining that evening at church time, andwhenwearrivedatthetenttherewereonlyabout40peoplepresent.

RockwallisintheblacklandofnorthcentralTexas,andthereisasayingthatifyoustickwiththeblacklandwhenitisdry,itwillstickwithyouwhenitiswet.Manyofthepeoplewhohadbeenattending themeetings lived in the country, and they couldn'tgetout to theservice thatnightbecauseof therainandmud.Thatiswhythecrowdwassmall.

BecauseeveryonepresentwasaChristian,IgaveaBiblelessonandtheninvitedthepeopletocometothefronttopray.Itwasabout9:30.(LetmesayherethatInomoreexpectedwhatwasto follow than I expected to be the first man to land on themoon. I hadn't been doing any unusual praying or fasting. Ihadn't beenpraying that Iwouldhave such an experience. Infact,Ihadn'teventhoughtaboutsuchathing.)

Everyone was praying around the front, and I knelt on theplatformbesideafoldingchairnearthepulpit.Ibegantoprayinothertongues,andIheardavoicesay,

"Come up hither." At first, I didn't realize that the voice wasspeakingtome.Ithoughteverybodyheardit.

ISeeJesus

"Comeuphither," thevoicesaidagain.ThenI lookedandsawJesusstandingaboutwhere the topof the tentwouldbe.As Ilooked up again, the tent had disappeared, the folding chairshad disappeared, every tent pole had disappeared, the pulpithad disappeared, andGod permittedme to see into the spiritrealm.

Jesuswasstandingthere,andIstoodinHispresence.

He was holding a crown in His hands. This crown was soextraordinarilybeautiful thathuman languagecannotbegin todescribeit.

Jesustoldme,"Thisisasoulwinner'scrown.Mypeoplearesocareless and indifferent. This crown is for every one of mychildren.Ispeakandsay,'Gospeaktothisoneorprayforthatone,'butmypeoplearetoobusy.Theyputitoff,andsoulsarelostbecausetheywillnotobeyMe."

When Jesus said that, I wept before Him. I knelt down andrepentedofmyfailures.ThenJesussaidtomeagain,

"Comeuphither."ItseemedasifIwentwithHimthroughtheairuntilwecametoabeautifulcity.Wedidnotactuallygointothecity,butwebehelditatcloserangeasonemightgouponamountainandlookdownonacityinthevalley.Itsbeautywasbeyondwords!

Jesus said thatpeople selfishly say theyare ready forheaven.Theytalkabouttheirmansionsandthegloriesofheavenwhilemanyaroundthemliveindarknessandhopelessness.JesussaidIshouldsharemyhopewith themand invite themtocometoheavenwithme.

ThenJesusturnedtomeandsaid,"Nowletusgodowntohell."

Wecamebackdownoutofheaven,andwhenwegot toearthwe didn't stop, but kept going. Numerous Scriptures in theBiblerefertohellasbeingbeneathus.Forexample,"Hellfrombeneath ismoved for thee tomeet thee at thy coming... thoushaltbebroughtdowntohell...."(Isa.14:9,15)."Thereforehellhathenlargedherself. . . and he... shall descend into it" (Isa.5:14).

Wewent down to hell, and as we went into that place I sawwhatappeared tobehumanbeingswrapped in flames. I said,"Lord, this looks just like it didwhen I died and came to thisplaceonApril22,1933.Youspokeand Icamebackupoutofhere.Ithenrepentedandprayed,seekingyourforgiveness,andYousavedme.OnlynowIfeelsodifferent:Iamneitherafraidnorhorrified,asIwasthen."

Jesus toldme, "Warnmenandwomenabout thisplace,"and IcriedoutwithtearsthatIwould.

Hethenbroughtmebacktoearth.IbecameawarethatIwaskneeling on the platform by the folding chair, and Jesus wasstandingbymyside.AsHestoodthere,Hetalkedtomeaboutmyministry.He toldme some things in general thatHe laterexplained in more detail in another vision. Then JesusdisappearedandIrealizedIstillwaskneelingontheplatform.Icouldhearpeopleprayingallaroundme.

TheAngelicMessenger

AboutthattimetheHolySpiritcameuponmeagain.

Itseemedasifawindwereblowingonme,andIfellflatonmyfaceontheplatform.AsIlayunderthepowerofGod,itseemedasifIwerestandinghighonaplainsomewhereinspaceandIcouldseeformilesandmilesaroundme,justasonecanstandon thegreat plains of theUnitedStates andgaze off into thedistanceformiles.

I looked in every direction, but I couldn't see a sign of lifeanywhere. There were no trees or grass, no flowers orvegetationofanykind.Therewerenobirdsoranimals.

Ifeltsolonely.Iwasnotconsciousofmyearthlysurroundings.

AsIlookedtothewest,Isawwhatappearedtobeatinydotonthe horizon. It was the only moving thing I could see. As Iwatched, itgrewlargerandcametowardme,takingonshapeandform.

SoonIcouldseeitwasahorse.AsitcamecloserIcouldseeamanuponthehorse.Hewasridingtowardmeatfullspeed.Ashe approached, I could see he held the reins of the horse'sbridle in his right hand, and in his left hand, high above hishead,heheldascrollofpaper.

When the horseman came to me, he pulled on the reins andstopped.Istoodonhisright.Hepassedthescrollfromhislefthandtohisrighthandandhandedittome.

As I unrolled the scroll, which was a roll of paper 12 or 14

incheslong,hesaid,"Takeandread."Atthetopofthepageinbig, bold, black print were the words "WAR ANDDESTRUCTION."Iwasstruckdumb.Helaidhisrighthandonmyheadandsaid,"Read,intheNameofJesusChrist!"

I began to read what was written on the paper, and as thewords instructed me, I looked and saw what I had just readabout.

FirstIreadaboutthousandsuponthousandsofmeninuniform.ThenIlookedandsawthesemenmarching,waveafterwaveofsoldiersmarchingastowar.Ilookedinthedirectiontheyweregoing, andas far as I could see therewere thousandsofmenmarching.

Iturnedtoreadthescrollagain,andthenlookedandsawwhatI had just read about. I saw many women —old women withsnowy white hair, middle-aged women, young women, andteenagers.Someoftheyoungeronesheldbabiesintheirarms.All of the women were bowed together in sorrow and wereweeping profusely. Thosewho did not carry babies held theirhands on their stomachs as they bowed over andwept. Tearsflowedfromtheireyeslikewater.

Ilookedatthescrollagain,andagainIlookedtoseewhatIhadreadabout.Isawtheskylineofalargecity.

Looking closer, I saw the skyscrapers were burned-out hulls.Portionsofthecitylayinruins.Itwasnotwrittenthatjustonecity would be destroyed, burned, and in ruins, but that therewouldbemanysuchcities.

America'sLastCall

The scroll was written in the first person, and seemed as ifJesusHimselfwerespeaking.Iread,"Americaisreceivingherlastcall.Somenationsalreadyhavereceivedtheirlastcallandneverwillreceiveanother."

Then,inlargerprintitsaid,"THETIMEOFTHEENDOFALLTHINGSISATHANDThisstatementwasrepeatedfourorfivetimes.Jesusalsosaidthiswasthelastgreatrevival.

Hewentontosay,"AllthegiftsoftheSpiritwillbeinoperationintheChurchintheselastdays,andtheChurchwilldogreaterthings than even the Early Church did. It will have greaterpower, signs, andwonders thanwere recorded in the Acts oftheApostles."Hesaidthatwehaveseenandexperiencedmanyhealings, but we will now behold amazingmiracles that havenotbeenseenbefore.

Jesuscontinued,"Moreandmoremiracleswillbeper-formedin

thelastdayswhicharejustahead,for it istimeforthegiftofthe working of miracles to be more in prom-inence. We nowhaveenteredintotheeraofthemiraculous.

"Many of my own people will not accept the moving of mySpirit,andwill turnbackandwillnotbereadytomeetMeatmy coming. Many will be deceived by false prophets andmiraclesofsatanicorigin.ButfollowtheWordofGod,theSpiritofGod,andMe,andyouwillnotbedeceived. I amgatheringmyowntogetherandampreparingthem,forthetimeisshort."

There were several other exhortations to watchfulness, toawakenandpray,andnottobedeceived.ThenIread,

"AsitwasinthedaysofNoah,soalsoshallthecomingoftheSon of Man be. As I spoke to Noah and said, 'For yet sevendays,and Iwillcause it to rainupon theearth forty days andfortynights;andeverylivingsubstancethatIhavemadewillIdestroyfromoffthefaceoftheearth'[Gen.7:4],sotoday Iamspeaking and giving America her last warning and call torepentance,and the time that is left is comparable to the lastsevendaysofNoah'stime."

'JudgmentIsComing'

"Warnthisgeneration,asdidNoahhisgeneration,forjudgmentisabouttofall.Andthesesayingsshallbefulfilledshortly,forIamcomingsoon."Jesusrepeated,"Thisisthelastrevival.Iampreparingmypeopleformycoming.Judgmentiscoming,butIwill call my people away, even untoMyself, before the worstshallcome.Butbethoufaithful;watchandpray,forthetimeoftheendofallthingsisathand."

AtthetimeIhadthisvision,naturallyIinterpretedthescenestomeanthatAmericawouldexperiencethedevastationofwar.However,whenIsawtelevisionandnewspaperphotographsofdestructionwroughtby student rebellionand race riots in the1960s,Irealizedthatthesescenespartiallyfulfilledthisvision.(This is why it is so important not to place your owninterpretationonthingsGodshowsyou.)

Thosewhowerepresent thatnightunder the tent said I readthescrollaloudforabout30minutes.Icannotrememberallofit.Ihandedthescrollbacktotherider,andherodeawayinthedirectionfromwhichhehadcome.

ThenIwasconsciousofthefactthatIstilllayflatonmyfaceonthe floor, and for a fewminutes I remained there, feeling thegloryofthismiraculousvisitation.

Again I heard a voice say, "Come up hither. Come up to thethroneofGod!"

TheThroneofGod

Again I saw Jesus standing about where the top of the tentshouldbe,andIwenttoHimthroughtheair.WhenIreachedHim, together we continued on to heaven. We came to thethroneofGod,andIbehelditinallitssplen-

dor.Iwasnotableto lookuponthefaceofGod;IonlybeheldHisform.

The first thing that attracted my attention was the rainbowabout the throne. It was very beautiful. The second thing Inoticedwasthewingedcreaturesoneithersideofthethrone.Theywerepeculiar-lookingcreatures,andasIwalkedupwithJesus, these creatures stood with wings outstretched. Theyweresayingsomethingbuttheyceasedandfoldedtheirwings.Theyhadeyesoffiresetallaroundtheirheads,andtheylookedinalldirectionsatonce

I stoodwith Jesus in themidst, about 18 to 24 feet from thethrone. I lookedat the rainbow first, at thewingedcreatures,andthenIstartedtolookattheOnewhosatuponthethrone.JesustoldmenottolookuponHisface.IcouldonlyseeaformofaBeingseateduponthethrone.

Jesustalkedwithmefornearlyanhour.IsawHimasplainlyasIeversawanyoneinthislife.IheardHimspeak.

LookingintoLove

And,forthefirsttime,IactuallylookedintoJesus'eyes.ManytimeswhenrelatingthisexperienceIamasked,"WhatdidHiseyes look like?" All I can say is that they looked likewells ofliving love. Itseemedas ifonecouldseehalfamiledeep intothem, and the tender look of His love is indescribable. As IlookedintoHisfaceandintoHiseyes,IfellatHisfeet.

InoticedthenthatHis feetwerebare,andI laid thepalmsofmy hands on the top ofHis feet and laidmy forehead on thebacks of my hands. Weeping, I said, "0 Lord, no one asunworthyasIshouldlookuponyourface!"

Jesustoldmetostanduprightonmyfeet.Istoodup.

He called meworthy to look upon His face, because He hadcalledmeandhadcleansedmefromallsin.Hetoldmethingsconcerningmyministry.Hewenton tosay thatHehadcalledmebeforeIwasborn.HesaidthatalthoughSatanhadtriedtodestroymy lifemany times, His angels hadwatched overmeandhadcaredforme.

Jesus told me that even as He had appeared to my mother

beforeIwasbornandhadtoldher,"Fearnot,thechildwillbeborn," I would minister in the power of the Spirit and wouldfulfilltheministryHehascalledmeto.

Then He talked to me about the last church I had pastored,sayingthatatthattime,February1949,Ihadenteredintothefirstphaseofmyministry.HesaidthatsomeministersHehascalledtotheministryliveanddiewithoutgettingintoeventhefirstphaseHehasforthem.

Jesus added that is one reason why many ministers dieprematurely—theyarelivingonlyinHispermissivewill!

God'sPermissiveWill

For15yearsIhadbeenonlyinHispermissivewill.

Ihadbeenapastor for12yearsandhadbeen inevangelisticworkfor three.DuringthoseyearsGodpermittedmetodo it,but itwasn'tHisperfectwill formy life.AndHesaid Ihadn'tbeenwaitingonHim;HehadbeenwaitingformetoobeyHim.

ThenHetalkedaboutthetimeIenteredintothefirstphaseofmyministry in1949.Hesaid Ihadbeenunfaithfulandhadn'tdonewhatHehadtoldmetodo;Ihadn'ttoldthepeoplewhatHe had told me to tell them. I answered, "Lord, I wasn'tunfaithful.IdidobeyYou.Ileftmychurchandwentoutintheevangelisticfield."

"Yes,"Hesaid,"youleftthechurchandwentoutinevangelisticwork.Butyoudidn'tdowhat I toldyoutodo.Thereasonyoudidn'tisbecauseyoudoubteditwasmySpiritwhohadspokentoyou.Yousee,faithobeysmyWord,whetheritisthewrittenWordofGodormySpiritwhohasspokenuntoman."

IfelldownbeforeHim,saying,"Yes,Lord,IhavefailedandIamsorry."IrepentedwithmanytearsbecauseIhadmissedHiswillandhaddoubtedHisdealingswithme.

"Standuponyourfeet,"Hesaid.AsIstoodbeforeHimagain,He told me that I had entered into the second phase of myministryinJanuary1950,andatthattimeHehadspokentomebyprophecyandbythestillsmallvoiceinmyheart.Inthenexteightmonths, during this second phase of myministry, I hadbelieved,Ihadbeenfaithful,andIhadobeyed.

NowIwastoenterintothethirdphase,Hesaid.IfIwouldbefaithfultowhatHetoldme—ifIwouldbelieveandobeyHim—Hewouldappear tomeagain.At that time Iwouldenter intothefourthandfinalstageofmyministry.

SeeingJesus'Wounds

ThentheLordsaidtome,"Stretchforththinehand!"

HeheldHisownhandsoutbeforeHimandIlookedintothem.For somereason Iexpected to seea scar ineachhandwherethenailshadpiercedHisflesh.Ishouldhaveknownbetter,butmanytimeswegetideasthatarenotreallyscriptural,yettheyareacceptedbeliefs.

InsteadofscarsIsawinthepalmsofHishandsthewoundsofthecrucifixion—three-cornered,jaggedholes.

Eachholewaslargeenoughformetohaveputmyfingerinit.Icouldseelightontheothersideofthehole.

Afterthevision,IgotoutmyBibleandturnedtothetwentiethchapterinJohn'sGospeltoreadaboutthetimeChristappearedtoHisdisciplesfollowingHisresurrection.

WhenHe first appeared to them, Thomaswas notwith them.They told Thomas they had seen the Lord, but Thomas wasunbelieving and said, ".. .Except I shall see in his hands theprintofthenails,andputmyfingerintotheprintofthenails,and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe" (John20:25).

Eight days later while the disciples, including Thomas, weretogether in a room, Jesus appeared again in their midst. HeturnedtoThomasandsaid,"Reachhitherthyfinger,andbeholdmyhands;andreachhitherthyhand,andthrustitintomyside:andbenot faithless,butbelieving. "ThenThomas,knowing itwasJesus,exclaimed,"MyLordandmyGod"(John20:27,28).

IhaddeeperinsightthenintowhatThomashadseen.

HecouldhaveputhisfingerintothewoundinJesus'handandhecouldhavethrusthishandintotheLord'sside.

AsI lookeduponthewoundsinHishandsoutstretchedbeforeme,IdidasHeinstructedandheldmyhandsoutinfrontofme.HelaidthefingerofHisrighthandinthepalmofmyrighthandandthenmyleft.ThemomentHedid,myhandsbegantoburnasifacoaloffirehadbeenplacedinthem.

JesusGivesMeaSpecialAnointingThenJesustoldmetokneeldownbeforeHim.WhenIdid,HelaidHishanduponmyhead,saying that He had called me and had given me a specialanointingtoministerTOthesick.

HewentontoinstructmethatwhenIwouldprayandlayhandsonthesick,Iwastolayonehandoneachsideofthebody.IfIfeltthefirejumpfromhandtohand,anevilspiritordemonwaspresentinthatbodycausingaffliction.Ishouldcallhimoutin

Jesus'Name,andthedemonordemonswouldhavetogo.

Ifthefire,ortheanointing,inmyhandsdidnotjumpfromhandtohand,itwasacaseneedinghealingonly.Ishouldprayfortheperson in Jesus'Name, and if hewould believe and accept it,theanointingwould leavemyhandsandgo into thatperson'sbody, driving out the disease and bringing healing.When thefireoranointingleftmyhandsandwentintotheperson'sbody,Iwouldknowhewashealed.

IfellatJesus'feetandpleaded,"Lord,don'tsendme.

Sendsomebodyelse,Lord.Pleasedon'tsendme.Justgivemealittlechurchtopastorsomewhere.Iwouldrathernotgo,Lord.Ihaveheardsomuchcriticismofthosewhoprayforthesick. Ijustwantacommonplaceministry."

Jesusrebukedme,saying,"I11gowithyouandstandbyyoursideasyouprayforthesick,andmanytimesyouwillseeMe.Occasionally I will open the eyes of someone in the audienceandtheywillsay,'Why,IsawJesusstandingbythatmanasheprayedforthesick.'"

Jesuswentontoaskwhohadcalledme:Heorthepeople?

"Well,Youdid,Lord."

'Don'tFearPeople'

He explained that I should fearHim and not people, becauseeventhoughpeoplemaycriticizeme,theyarenotmyjudge.IwillstandbeforeHisjudgmentseatonedaytogiveanaccounttoHimforwhatIhavedonewiththisministry,whetherIhaveuseditrightlyorwrongly.

"Allright,Lord,"Isaid."I'llgoifYou'llgowithme.

I'lldomybestandbeasfaithfulasIknowhowtobe."

Then there swelled up within my heart a love such as I hadneverknownforthosewhocriticizethistypeofministry.Isaid,"Lord, I'llpray for them, for theydon'tknow,or theywouldn'tsaythethingstheydo.Lord,I'vesaidsimilarthings,butIdidn'trealizeor seeas Idonow,andneitherdo they.Forgive them,Lord."

ThenHesaid, "Go thyway,myson; fulfill thyministryandbethoufaithful,forthetimeisshort."

As Iwalked away from the throne ofGod, Jesus toldme, "BesuretogiveMeallthepraiseandgloryforallthatisdone,andbe careful about money. Many of my servants whom I have

anointed for this type ofministry havebecomemoney-mindedandhavelosttheanointingandministryIgavethem.

"Therearemanywhowouldpaymuchtobedelivered.

Manyparentsintheworldhavechildrenwhoselittlebodiesaretwisted, and they would give thousands of dollars for theirhealing.Manyofthemshallbedeliveredasyoulayyourhandson them, but youmust not accept a charge for yourministry.Acceptofferingsasyouhavebeendoing.Youmustgoyourway.Befaithful,forthetimeisshort

Jesusthenjourneyedwithmebacktotheearth,andIrealizedthatIstilllayonmyfaceonthefloor.Hetalkedwithmethereamomentandthendisappeared.

MyhandsburnedforthreedaysjustlikeIhadacoaloffireineach of them.Nowwhen I wait upon the Lord in prayer andfasting,thesameanointingcomesuponmeagain.

I thank God I have seen polio-stricken children delivered andmadewellandstraight,someofthemwalkingimmediatelyandothersbeinghealedgradually.

I have thought about this visionmany times.Now,more thanthreedecades later, I am convincedwe are nearer the end oftimethaneverbefore.WereadinSecondPeter3:8that"...onedayiswiththeLordasathousandyears,andathousandyearsasoneday."Therefore,theseyearssincethevisionwouldbeaverysmallfractionoftimeinGod'ssight.

As I statedearlier, I amconvinced that apartial fulfillmentofthe burned-out cities I saw in the vision were the Americancities that suffered so much looting and burn-ing during thecivildisobedienceinthe1960s.

Judgment came, and judgment is yet to come. The only thingthat can save America from the judgment of God is genuinerepentance—aturningtoGod.

ModernChurchToDoExploits

Inthevision,JesussaidthatallthegiftsoftheSpiritwouldbeinoperation intheChurch inthese lastdays.Hesaidthatthemodern Church would do greater things than the Acts of theApostlesrecords.Ihaveseenthisfulfilledintheyearssincethevision. Inmyownministry IhaveseenhealingsasmiraculousasanywereadaboutintheBible.

ThethirdchapterofActstellsofthemanlamefrombirthwhosatdailyat thegateof theTemplebeggingalmsof thosewhoentered.Petersaid,"SilverandgoldhaveInone;butsuchasI

havegiveIthee:InthenameofJesusChristofNazarethriseupandwalk"(Acts3:6).Themanwasinstantlyhealed.Heleaped,walked, and praised God for his deliverance. We see in ourministrytodaycrippleswhoarehealedintheNameofJesus.

OntheDayofPentecost120peoplewerebaptizedintheHolySpirit.ThiswasthelargestnumberfilledwiththeHolySpiritatone time as recorded in the Bible. But inmy ownmeetings Ihave seen several hundred filled in one service; and in othermeetings in which I have par-ticipated, as many as 500 havebeenbaptized intheHolySpirit,speakingwithothertongues,within15minutes'time.

TheBibletellsofinstancesinwhichasmanyas2,000,3,000,or5,000turnedtoChrist inoneday. Inthese lastdays,however,we have reports of meetings in which tens of thousands ofpeoplearesavedinonemeeting.

Forexample,mylongtimefriendDr.T.L.Osbornoncepreachedin Calabar, Nigeria, to a crowd that government officialsestimatedwas500,000persons.AndDr.BillyGrahampreachedat the largest Christian gathering in history in June 1973 inSeoul,SouthKorea.Itisestimatedthat1,100,000attendedthatoneservice.Atotalof3,210,000attendedthefive-dayGrahamcrusade and 72,365 decisions were recorded for the entirecrusade.

So,intheselastdaysasweawaitHiscoming,weareseeingasmanygreatmiracles around theworld aswe find recorded intheActsoftheApostles!

Inthevision,whenJesustoldmeaboutthespecialanointingHewasgivingme,He said, "If the anointing leaves you, fast andprayuntilitcomesback."Nowwhenevertheanointingwanes,Iwait upon the Lord in prayer and fasting, and the sameanointingcomesuponmeagain.

However,InolongerlayonehandoneachsideofthepersonIam praying for to determine if an evil spirit is causing theaffliction.TwoyearslatertheLordgavemefurtherinstructionsinavisionwhichIwilldiscussinanotherchapter.

Inthefirstvision,theLordtoldmethatHewouldappeartomeagain,andHehasonseveraloccasions.InthevisiontwoyearslaterHesaid,"Fromthismomenton,thegift that isknowninmyWordasthegiftofdiscerningofspiritswilloperateinyourministry." With the operation of this gift, I can know when aperson'sbodyisoppressedbyanevilspirit;therefore,Iusethisgreaterministrygift.

CalledfromtheWomb

Jesus toldme in the firstvision, "Icalledyoubeforeyouwereborn. I separated you from your mother's womb." This wascontrarytomybeliefsatthattime.

However, looking intoGod'sWord, I readwhere theLordhadsaidthesamethingtoJeremiahconcerninghisministry—theLordhadcalledhimbeforehewasborn,too(Jer.1:5).

A week after this first vision, my mother visited me and Irelatedthevisiontoher.ItoldherthattheLordhadsaidtome,"Icalledyoubeforeyouwereborn. Iseparatedyoufromyourmother'swomb.Satantriedtodestroyyourlifebeforeyouwereborn and has tried many times since, but my angels havewatched over you and have cared for you until this presenthour.

"Iappearedtoyourmotherbeforeyouwerebornandtoldherto fear not; the child would be born and would bear witnessconcerningmySecondComing."

WhenMommaheard this, shealmost jumpedoutofherchair.DuringthemonthsbeforeIwasbornshehadexperiencedmanydifficulties. My father was away much of the time, and shedidn't know where he was. She didn't have adequate food toeat. Her parents lived fewer than three blocks away, butbecause they had opposed her mar-rying my father, she wasreluctanttogohomeandaskthemforhelp.

"Iwas just too proud to ask them for anything," she toldme."Nothavingenoughfood,Ibecameill,andforthebaby'ssakeIdecidedtoswallowmyprideandgotomyparentsandaskforsomethingtoeat.Thiswasjustafewdaysbeforeyouwerebornprematurely.

MyMother'sVision

"Istarteddownthestreet,andwhenIgotasfarasthefrontofAuntMary'shouse,Iheardasoundlikewindblowingthroughthetrees.Icouldheartreeleavesstirring,yettherewasnotasingletreeanywherenear.Ibecamefrightened,andIlookeduptothesky.Itwasabright,sunnyAugustday.Notaclouddottedthepurebluesky.

"Iwalkedona fewstepsandheard thesoundagain likewindblowing through trees. I lookedup again, and this time I sawone white cloud. At first it seemed to be hanging in the sky.Thenitbegantodescend,andasitdid,aformtookshapeuponit.Jesuscamerightdownoutoftheskyandstoodbeforeme.

"Jesussaid,'Fearnot.Thechildshallbeborn,forheshallbearwitness concerningmySecondComing.'Hewas trying to tellmethatmychildwouldtakepartintherevivalthatwouldusher

inthecomingoftheSonofMan.

Hewouldnotbe theonlyone,ofcourse,buthewouldhaveapartinthelastgreatmoveofGod'sSpirit.

"IbecamesofrightenedthatIbegantorun,andIrantherestofthewaytomymother'shouse.WhenIarrivedthere,paleandoutofbreath,mymotherasked,'Whatisit?Youlooklikeyou'vejust seen a ghost!' I immediately told her what I had justwitnessed, but I never told anyone else. And she neverwouldtalkaboutit,either.Wejustweren'tusedtosuchthings,andwewereafraidpeoplewouldthinkIhadlostmymind."

As I listened tomymother tellofherexperiencebefore Iwasborn, it fit right in withwhat the Lord had shownme in thisvision.

Chapter3

If—TheBadgeofDoubt

My second vision of Jesus occurred about a month after thefirst. I was conducting a revival meeting in the state ofOklahoma. I had told the congregation what the Lord hadshown me about ministering to the sick and also about theanointinginmyhands.

One night while I was ministering to the sick, a man in thehealinglinetoldmehehadtuberculosisofthespine.

Hesaidhehadbeen through threeclinicsandall thedoctorshadgivenhimthesamediagnosis:Hewasbeyondmedicalhelpatthattime.Theman'sspinewasasstiffasaboard.

Inprayingforhim,Ilaidonehandonhischestandonehandonhisback.WhenIdid,thefire,oranointing, jumpedfromhandtohand.Iknewimmediatelythathisbodywasoppressedbyanevilspirit.Icommandedthespirit,saying,"Youfoulspiritthatoppresses thisman's body, I command you to comeout of hisbodyintheNameoftheLordJesusChrist!"

AndthenImadeaterriblemistake:Igotintounbelief.

Itiseasytogetintounbeliefsometimes,nomatterwhoweare,andnotevenrealizeit.

I said to the man, "See if you can stoop over and bend yourback. Try to touch your toes." The word "if" is the badge ofdoubt.WhenIsaid,"Seeifyoucan,"thatwasdoubt.(GodwillputupwithacertainamountofdoubtinayoungChristianwhodoesn'tknowanybetter,butwhenone isenlightened inGod'sWord,theLordwon'tlethimgetbywithit.)

Theman tried to bend over, but he couldn't.His backwas asstiffasever. I laidmyhandsuponhimagain,onehandonhischest andonehandonhisback, and I felt the fire jump fromhand to hand. Again I commanded, "You foul spirit thatoppressesthisman'sbody,IcommandyoutocomeoutofhimintheNameoftheLordJesusChrist!"

AgainIsaidtotheman,"See ifyoucanstoopover.Bendyourback and touch your toes." His back was as im-movable asbefore,becauseIwasactinginunbeliefanddidn'trealizeit.

ThenIsaid,"Well,wewilltry (whichisunbelief,too)thethirdtime." I laidonehandonhischestand theotheronhisback.AgainIhadthemanifestationoftheanointinginmyhands.

For the third time I said, "You foul spirit that oppresses thisman'sbody,IcommandyoutocomeoutofhimintheNameoftheLordJesusChrist!"TothemanIsaid,"Nowsee ifyoucanstoopover.Seeifyoucanbenddown."Hecouldn't,ofcourse.

I gave up andwent on to pray for the next person. Themanwalkedbackdowntheaisle.

Iwasstandingontheplatformaboutthreefeettotherightofthe pulpit. As the next person stepped up to be prayed for, Ilooked over to my left for some unknown reason, and I sawJesus standing thereasplainlyasanyman Ihadever seen inmy life! I thoughteverybodysawHim,but I learned later thatnoone in thecongregation saworheardHimexceptme.Thecongregation heard what I said, but they didn't see or hearanyoneelse.

Jesuswasstandingbesidethepulpit.IcouldhavereachedoutandtouchedHim.HepointedHisfingeratmeandsaid,"IsaidthatinmyNamethedemonordemonswillleave!"

"Lord,IknowYousaidthat.IthasbeenonlyamonthsinceYouappeared tome in Rockwall, Texas, and toldme to commandthe demon or demons to come out in your Name. I told thedemontocomeoutofthatman,buthedidn't."

Again Jesus pointedHis finger atme and said, "I said, inmyNamecalloutthedemonsandtheywillleavethebody!"

"IknowYousaidthat,Lord,andIcommandedthespirittoleavethisman's body in theName of the Lord JesusChrist, but hedidn'tgo."

JesusputHis finger inmy faceand said for the third time, "IsaidinmyNamethedemonswillgo!CallthemoutinmyName,andtheywillleavethebodyinmyName!"

Weakly,Irepliedagain,"Lord,IknowYousaidthat.

Ithappenedjustamonthago,anditisasfreshinmymindasifYou said it lastnight. I knowwhatYou toldme.And Idid tellthatdemontoleavethisman'sbody,buthedidn'tgo.IthinkIknowhowJesuslookedwhenHedrovethemoney-changersoutof the Temple, as recorded in the eleventh chapter ofMark'sGospel.SuddenlyitseemedasifHiseyesshotfire;Icouldseeflashesoflightninginthem.

For the fourth time He jabbed His finger at me and saidemphatically,"Yes,butIsaidthedemonswillgo!"

ThenHedisappeared.

IrealizedthenthatIhadactedinunbelief.Wesometimesthinkthatifwehaveaspecialgiftoranointingtominister,italwayswillwork—butthatisnotthecase.

Nomatterhowmuchauthoritywemighthave,nomatterhowmanyspecialgiftswemighthave,orhowmuchpowerwemightpossess,itworksbyfaithandfaithonly.

When I realized that I had exercised doubt instead of faith, Isawmymistake.Icalledthemantocomebacktotheplatform.Hewasstandingattherearoftheauditoriumandhadn'tgonebacktohisseatyet.

I pointed to him and said, "Come back up here, brother." Heretraced his steps back up the aisle. I stood on the platformwaitingforhimtocomearoundtothealtartowhereIwas.Theinstanthestoodbeforeme,Islappedhimontheback,andwithmy other hand on his chest I said, "Satan, I told you to leavethis body!Out you go in theName of the Lord JesusChrist!"ThenIsaidtotheman,"Now,mybrother(Ididn'tputan"if"initthistime),stoopoverandtouchyourtoes!"

Instantlyhisbackwaslimber.Thetuberculosisofthespinewasgone.Thespinewhichhadbeenasstiffasaboardwashealed.Hecould stoopoverand touchhis toesaswell asanynormalperson.Hewascompletelywell!

BecausethismanhadcometoourmeetingfromArkan-sas,wedidn'tseehimuntiltwoweekslater.HecamebacktobeinthelastSaturdaynightservice.

Iaskedhimifhewasstillabletostoopoverandtouchhistoes.

"Yes,Iamstillfree,"hesaidwithabigsmilelightinghisface.Hesteppedout into theaisle, stoopedover, touched the floor,andwent through several exercises to prove that hewas stilllimberandfree.

This experience demonstrated to me once and for all theimportance of following God's Word explicitly. And I learnedthatnomatterwhoweare,ifwemoveinunbelief,wewillstoptheflowofGod'spower.

Chapter4

HowSatanInfluencesLivesToday

MythirdvisionofJesusoccurredinDecember1952inBrokenBow, Oklahoma, where I was conducting a meeting in a FullGospelchurch.Duringmytwo-weekstaythere,Istayedintheparsonage with the pastor and his wife and 11-year-olddaughter.

Onenightaftertheservice,wehadreturnedtotheparsonageandwerehavingasandwichandaglassofmilkinthekitchen.Aswe talked about the things of the Lord, time slipped awayfromus.

Thepastor'slittlegirlwassittingtherewithus,andfinallyshebecamesleepyandsaid,"Daddy,it'sgettinglate,andIhavetoget up early in themorning to go to school.Won't you comepraywithmenow?"Itwastheircustomthathealwaysprayedwithheratnightandthentuckedherintobed.

Thepastorlookedathiswatchandexclaimed,"It's11:30!Why,I never dreamed it was that late. We have been sitting heretalking for two hours." Then he said to his daughter, "Comehere,honey.We'lljustkneeldownhereandBrotherHagincanhaveprayerwithus.Thenyoucangotobed."

Asweknelttogetherinthatkitchen,eachofusbesideachair,Iwas in the Spirit before my knees ever touched the floor. Tosomewhomightwonderwhatitmeanstobe"intheSpirit,"letmerefertowhattheBiblesaysaboutit.WhentheApostleJohnwason the isle ofPatmos, theBible sayshe " . . .was in theSpiritontheLord'sday,andheardbehindmeagreatvoice,asofatrumpet,Saying,IamAlphaandOmega,thefirstandthelast:and,Whatthouseest,writeinabook...."(Rev.1:10,11).

The LordHimself appeared to John, giving him amessage togivetothesevenchurchesinAsiaMinor,andrevealingtohimthingstocome.

In the tenth chapter of Acts the Bible tells of the time whenPeterwasintheSpirit.Peterfellintoatranceandsawavision.

Inthisvision,theLordtoldPetertotaketheGospelofsalvationtotheGentiles.Untilthistime,theGospelhadbeenlimitedtotheJews.

ThetenthversesaysthatPeter"fellintoatrance."

When thishappens,aperson'sphysical sensesaresuspended.Thisdoesn'tmeanthatthepersonisunconsciousorthathehas

fainted. It simply means that the physical senses are notoperatingatthemomentthepersoniscaughtupintotheSpirit.GodpermitshimtoseeintothespiritrealmortoseewhateverHewantshimtosee.

KneelinginaWhiteCloud

On this night in 1952 in the parsonage kitchen, my physicalsenses were suspended. At that moment I didn't know I waskneelingbesideakitchenchair.ItseemedasifIwaskneelinginawhitecloudthatenvelopedme.

ImmediatelyIsawJesus.Heseemedtobestandingaboveme,aboutashighastheceilingisfromthefloor.

Hebegantotalktome."Iamgoingtoteachyouconcerningthedevil,demons,anddemonpossession,"Hebegan.

"Fromthisnightforward,whatisknowninmyWordasthegiftofdiscerningofspiritswilloperateinyourlifewhenyouareintheSpirit."

Before I go any further in relating this vision, let me explainsomething which I feel is very significant. Notice that Jesussaid,"ThiswilloperatewhenyouareintheSpirit."Manytimeswe seem to think thatman operates these gifts of the Spirit.However,mandoesn't.TheyaremanifestedthroughhimbytheHolySpirit:"ButthemanifestationoftheSpiritisgiventoeverymantoprofitwithal"(1Cor.12:7).Wedonothaveathingintheworld todowith theoperationof thegiftsother than the factthattheyaremanifestedthroughus.

Jesussaidtome,"WhenyouareintheSpirit,thiswilloperate."It won't operate at any particular time we might want it tooperate.Inotherwords,wecannotpushabuttonandturnthegiftonandoff.

Toillustrate,letmetelloftwoincidentsthathavehappenedinmyministry.Thefirsthappenedthemonthfollowingthisvision.InJanuary1953, Iwasconductingameeting inTyler,Texas. Ihad been invited to stay with the pastor during the meeting,andIarrivedatthepar-

sonagethedaybeforethemeetingwastostart.

Afterhelpingmewithmyluggageandshowingmetomyroom,the pastor sat down to talk with me while I unpacked mysuitcases.Inthecourseofourconversationhesaid,"Itrustthatmyniecewillreceiveherhealingwhileyouarehere."Hewenton to explain that she had cancer of the lungs. Because hisbrotherwasnot financiallyable topay thegirl'smedicalbills,thepastorhadtakenontheresponsibility.

"I put her through one clinic and wasn't satisfied with theirdiagnosis,"hesaid,"soIputherthroughanotherclinic.Bothofthemconfirmedthatasfarastheycoulddeterminefromallthetests,shehascanceroftheleftlung.

"Thedoctorsinsistedonoperatingimmediately,saying,'Evenifwetakeoutonelung,shecouldlive.Butshecannotlivewithoutany lungs.'Whenmyniecesaidshewould like towaitaweekbeforeundergoingsurgerysoshecouldfastandprayaboutit,thedoctorssaid,'Itmaybetoolate,forinaweek'stimeitmayspreadtoofar.'

"Nevertheless,sheinsistedonaweek'stimetofastandpray.Attheendoftheweekshedecidednottohavetheoperation.Shesaid,'Iknewtwowomenwhohadcancerofthelung.Onewasoperatedon,andtheotherwasn't.Bothofthemdied.Onelivedjustacoupleyearslonger.Whatistwoyears?IwilltrustGodtohealmeandifHedoesn't,ifIdie,I'lldie!'"

Manyweekshadnowcomeandgone,andthegirlwasbedfast.The doctors said itwas too late for an operation because thecancer had spread to both lungs. They were feeding her sixtimesaday,butshewasstilllosingweight.

'Weareplanningtobringhertoyourservicesforprayer,"thepastorsaid.

It was my custom then to hold special healing services eachTuesday and Friday night. On the first Tuesday night of themeeting, they got the girl out of bed and brought her to theservice. Iministeredtoherby layingonofhands,butnothinghappened. On Friday night they brought her again. I alsoprayed forher theTuesdayandFridaynightsof the followingweek.

FourtimesIhadlaidhandsonherandnothinghadhappened.Isay this to point out that if I were exercising the gifts of theSpirit,Ialreadywouldhavehealedher.

ButrememberthatJesussaid,"WhenyouareintheSpirit,thisdiscerningofspiritswilloperate."

We continued the meeting into the third week, and on thatTuesday they brought her to church again. When she stoodbeforemethis timeIwassuddenly in theSpirit; suddenly theSpiritofGodenvelopedmelikeacloud.

This younggirl and Iwere standing in themidst of thewhitecloud.As I looked at her I saw fastened to the outside of herbody,overherleftlung(forthisiswherethecancerstarted),anevil spirit, or imp. He looked very similar to a small monkeyhanging onto her body, as a monkey would hang onto a tree

limb.

Godpermittedmetoseeintotherealmofthespirittoseethisevilspirit. Iaddressedthespiritandsaid, "You foulspirit thatoppressesthisgirl'sbody,youwillhavetoleave."'Nooneelsein the congregation saw or heard anything but me. But theyheardwhatIsaid.

Theevilspiritreplied,"IknowIwillhavetoleaveifyoutellmeto,butIdon'twantto."

"IntheNameoftheLordJesusChrist,Icommandyoutoleavethisbody!"Isaid.Iwatchedastheevilspiritturnedlooseofthegirlandfelltothefloor.ThenIsaid,

"Notonlymustyouleavethisbody,butyoualsomustleavethisbuilding!"Herandowntheaisleofthechurchandoutthedoor.

Thegirl immediately liftedherhandsandbeganpraisingGod,saying,"Iamfree,Iamfree!"ShehadbeenamemberofaFullGospelchurchfor15years—sinceshewasachildof8—andhadbeenseekingthebaptismoftheHolySpirit,buthadneverreceived it. In this instant, she received the Holy Spirit andbegantospeakwithothertonguesastheSpiritofGodgaveherutterance.

That sameweek shewentback toherdoctors and re-questednew X rays and tests of her lungs. She still looked no betteroutwardly. She was frail and run-down. The doctors told herthatmore testswerenotnecessary; theyhaddoneeverythingtheycouldforher.Sheinsisted,however,sotheybegantomakenewXraysandtoruntheusualtests.

"Somethinghashappened!"thedoctorsexclaimed.

They ran another set of tests and took more X rays. Finallyconvinced,theysaid,"Wecannotfindanytraceofcancer.

Itisallgone.Yourlungsareclear.Wewouldn'thavebelieveditpossibleifwedidn'thavetheXraysandteststoprovethatyouhadhadcancer.Whathappenedtoyou?"

She explained exactly what had happened, that it was God'spowerthathadmadehercompletelywhole.Theysaid,"Well,allwecansayisthatweknowtheconditionyouwereinandthatyou are now completelywell. And if you like,wewill sign anaffidavitstatingthatyouhadcancerofthelungs,butnowitisgone."

Thepoint Iammaking is that if Ihadbeen theonedoing thehealing, I would have done so the first time I prayed for herrather than the fifth time. This iswhat JesusmeantwhenHe

said,"ThiswilloperatewhenyouareintheSpirit."

AsimilarincidenttookplacewhenIwasconductingameetingin 1958 in Pueblo, Colorado. While we were having specialprayer for the sick one night, a man from Colorado Springscameforward.Hetoldmethathewasnervous,couldn'tsleep,andwasontranquilizers.Hiswifelatertoldmethattheywereabouttocommithimtoamentalinstitution.

SeeingDemonicOppression

Ilaidhandsonhimandprayedthathisnerveswouldbehealedandhisbodywouldbehealed from the topofhishead to thesolesofhisfeet.ThenIwentontoprayforthenextpersoninthe healing line. I continued praying for others for about tenminutesmore.Thismanhadgonebacktohisseat,whichwasonmy right.When I lookedoverathim, immediately Iwas intheSpirit.Godpermittedmetoseeintothespiritrealm,andIsaw an evil spirit sitting on this man's shoulder. The spirit'sarmswere around theman's head in an armlock. I could seethis,butnooneelseinthecongregationwasawareofwhatwasgoingon.

Icalledthemantocometome,andwhenhestoodinfrontofme I said, "You foul spirit that oppresses this man's mind, Icommand you to leave his body right now in the Name ofJesus!"WhenIsaidthat,thespiritturnedlooseofhimandfelltothefloor.

Theevilspiritsaidtome,"Idon'twanttoleavethisman,butIknowthatifyoutellmeto,Ihaveto."

"Notonlyareyou to leave thisbody,butyouare to leave thisbuildingatonce!"'Icommanded,andheranoutthesidedoor.

Abroadsmilecrossedtheman'sface.Hethrewhishandsintotheairandshouted,"Iamfree!Iamfree!"

AlthoughIhadn'tmentionedwhatIhadseeninthevision,theman said, "It seemedas if therewasan ironbandaroundmyhead and it was being screwed tighter and tighter.More andmorepressurewasbeingputonit.Suddenlyitjustpoppedoffandwasgone."

Dosuchhealingslast?Tenyearslaterweheardfromthismanwhen he called our office in Tulsa for prayer for one of hischildren. He was still rejoicing in his freedom from demonoppression.

Theseare just twoofmanyexamples I couldgive to illustratethe operation of the Spirit in my life, and how it is notsomething which we can control but which operates as God

wills.Therearenomagicbuttonswecanpushtooperatethesethings;itisonlyastheLordleads.

Many suppose that the apostles carried these spiritual giftsaroundwiththemandoperatedthematwill.Butthiscertainlywas not the case when Paul and Silas were at Philippi. Theywere there because God had led them into Macedonia by avision. Lydia, a seller of purple dye, was saved as a result oftheirministry.

PaulandSilaswereinthecityofPhilippiforseveraldays,andwhilethere,"...itcametopass,aswewenttoprayer,acertaindamsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, whichbrought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The samefollowed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are theservantsofthemosthighGod,whichshewuntousthewayofsalvation"(Acts16:16,17).

This girl had a spirit of divination, which is soothsaying orfortune-telling. She knewwhoPaul andSilaswereby the evilspiritthatwasinher.Inotherwords,thatevilspiritknewthem.Thegirlherselfdidn'tknowthembecauseshehadneverseenthembefore,yetshesaid,

"ThesemenaretheservantsofthemosthighGod...."

Then we read, "And this she did many days. But Paul, beinggrieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in thenameof JesusChrist tocomeoutofher.Andhecameout thesamehour"(Acts16:18).

AstheSpiritWills

It is evident that Paul had the gift of discerning of spirits inoperation in his ministry. Yet the Scripture says that the girlfollowedthemaroundformanydays.Whydidn'tPaulcommandtheevilspirittoleaveheronthefirstday?Whydidn'thedoiton the second day? The answer is simply that the gift didn'toperatewhenPaulwanted it to operate, but when the Spiritwilled.UntilhehadtheoperationoftheSpirit,Paulwasjustashelplessasanyotherpersontodealwiththesituation!

WeneedtounderstandtheScripturesconcerningthisinorderto be open to God and to look to Him in prayer for themanifestationofspiritualgifts.

GettingbacktothevisionGodgavemelatethatnightinBrokenBow,Oklahoma,theLordsaidtome,"Fromthisnightforward,whatisknowninmyWordasthegiftofdiscerningofspiritswilloperateinyourlifewhenyouareintheSpirit.Iwillshowyouhowthesespiritsgetholdofpeopleanddominatethem—evenChristians,iftheyallowthemto."*

*FORmore informationonthissubject,seeRev.Hagin'sfour-volumeseriesentitledSatan,Demons,andDemonPossession.

Jesuswentontosay,"Therearefourclassesofdemonsorevilspirits." He said that they are divided into four groups asmentionedinEphesians:"Forwewrestlenotagainst fleshandblood, but against principalities, against powers, against therulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritualwickedness[wickedspirits]inhighplaces"(Eph.6:12).

TheLord said, "There are four divisions: (1) principalities, (2)powers,(3)rulersofthedarknessofthisworld,(4)andwickedspirits in high places or in the heavenlies. The highest spiritswithwhich youhave todeal are the rulers of thedarknessofthisworld."

HewentontalkingtomeaboutthefactthattheWordofGodsays that the whole world lies in darkness, but we who arebelieversarechildrenoflightandnotofdarkness.

HereferredtoanumberofScriptures,includingthefollowing.

"Beyenotunequallyyokedtogetherwithunbelievers:forwhatfellowshiphathrighteousnesswithunrighteousness?andwhatcommunionhath lightwithdarkness?" (2Cor.6:14).Believersarecalledlight,andunbelieversarecalleddarkness.

ThesecondchapterofColossianstellsofChrist'sdeathonthecross and resurrection from the dead, "And having spoiledprincipalities and powers, he made a shew of themopenly,triumphingovertheminit"(v.15).Inotherwords,Christ,inHisdeath,burial,andresurrection,spoiledordefeatedthesesameprincipalitiesandpowersthatwemustdealwith.

RulersoftheUnsaved

The Lord went on to say, "The highest types of demons withwhichyouhavetodealonearth, therulersof thedarknessofthis world, rule all unsaved people, all who are in darkness.Theyruleoverthemanddominatethem.

"Thatiswhypeopledoandsaythingsthattheydon'tintendto.That iswhysomegoodpeoplesay, 'Iwouldneverdoanythinglike that,' and before a year has passed they have donesomething worse. This is because they are dominated by therulersofthedarknessofthisworld.

Theyareinthekingdomofdarkness.Andwhetheryouwanttoadmititornot,evenyourclosefriendsandrelativesorwhoeveritmaybe, if theyareunsaved, aredominatedby these spiritswhoarerulersofthedarknessofthisworld.

"It is always one of these rulers of thedarkness of thisworldthat possesses a person. They rule not only those who arewithin the darkness of this world, but they also tell theprincipalitieswhat to do. Then the principalities rule over thepowers and tell themwhat to do. The lowest type of demonshavevery little todo.Theydovery little thinkingof theirownandaretoldwhattodo.

"NowIwill showyouhowtheseevilspiritsgetholdofpeoplewhentheyareallowedto,"theLordsaidtome.

SuddenlyinthevisionIsawawoman.Iimmediatelyrecognizedher as being the former wife of a minister. I had beenintroducedtoherandherhusbandononeoccasion.Otherthanthat,Ididn'tknoweitherofthemandIhadnocommunicationwitheitheroftheminanyway.

Ionlyknewthatshehadsinceleftherhusband.

"Thiswomanwasachildofmine," theLordsaid. "Shewas intheministrywith her husband. Shewas filledwith the Spirit,andthegiftsoftheSpiritwereoperatinginherlife.Onedayanevil spirit came to her and whispered in her ear, 'You are abeautiful woman. You could have had fame, popularity, andwealth, but you have been cheated in life by following in theChristianwalk.'Thewomanrealizedthatthiswasanevilspiritandshesaid,'Gettheebehindme,Satan.'Thespiritleftherforaperiod.

"Byandbythesamespiritreturned.Hesatonhershoulderandwhisperedinherear,'Youareabeautifulwoman,butyouhavebeenrobbedbytakingthislowlywalkofChristianityandlivingaseparated life.'Againsherecognized thisasSatanandsaid,'Satan,IresistyouintheNameofJesus,'andheleftherforawhile.

"But he cameback again and sat onher shoulder,whisperingthe same things in her ear. This time she began to entertainthesethoughts,forshelikedtothinkshewasbeautiful.Asshebegan to think along the lines the devil suggested to her, shebecameobsessedwiththatthinking."

Then in thevision Isawthewomanbecomeas transparentasglass,andIsawablackdotinhermind.

"That dot represents the fact that she is obsessed in herthinking with this spirit," the Lord said. "At first she wasoppressed on the outside, but as she allowed the devil'ssuggestion to take hold of her thoughts, her mind becameobsessed.Shewantedtothink,'Iamabeautifulwoman.

Icouldhavewealthandpopularity,but Ihavebeenrobbed in

life.'Still,itwasn'ttoolate.Shecouldhaveresisted;shecouldhaverefusedtothinkthosethoughts.Thentheevilspiritwouldhavefledfromherandshewouldhaveremainedfree.Butshechoseotherwise.

"Finally she left her husband and went out into the world,seekingthefameandwealthwhichthedeviloffered.

Shetookupwithonemanafteranother.Afteratimethatthinggotdownintoherspirit."InthevisionIsawtheblackdotmovefromherheadtoherheart,andthenthewomansaid,"Idon'twanttheLordanymore.Justleavemealone."

Isaid,"Lord,whyareYoushowingthistome?DoYouwantmetoprayforthiswoman?DoYouwantmetocastthedeviloutofher?"

"No,Idon'twantyoutoprayandcastthedeviloutofher,"theLordanswered,"becauseyoucouldn'tanyway.

Shewantsthatspirit,andaslongasshewantsit,shecanhaveit."

"ThenwhydidYoushowthistome,Lord?"

"Ihaveshownthistoyoufortworeasons:first,soyoucouldseehowanevilspiritwillgetholdofaperson,evenachildofGod,if theywill lethim;second, Iwantyou todealwith thatspiritwho is operating through that woman and harassing andintimidatingtheministryofherformerhusband."

"HowdoIdothat?"Iasked.TheministerwasinthesamestateIwasin,butthewomanwasinanotherstate.

"Thereisnodistanceintherealmofthespirit,"theLordsaid."Simply speak to that spirit and command him, in my Name,saying,'Youfoulspiritthatisoperatinginthelifeofthiswoman[calling her name], that is harassing and embarrassing theministry of the servant of the Lord [calling her husband'sname],Icommandyoutodesistinyouroperationsandstopinyourmaneuversthismoment."'

In the Spirit I said those words, and immediately that spiritceasedtooperatethroughhertointimidatethatminister.Fromthatdayforwardtheministerneveragainwastroubledbyherorthatspirit.

"Lord,whatwillhappentoher?"Iasked.

"Shewill spend eternity in the regions of the damned,wherethere isweepingandgnashingof teeth,"Heanswered.And inthe vision I saw her go down into the pit. I heard her awful

screams.

"This woman was your child, Lord. She was filled with yourSpiritandhadpartintheministry.YetYousaidnottoprayforher.Icannotunderstandthis!"

TheLordremindedmeof the followingScripture:"Ifanymanseehisbrothersinasinwhichisnotuntodeath,heshallask,and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.Thereisasinuntodeath:Idonotsaythatheshallprayforit"(1John5:16).

Isaid,"ButLord,IalwayshavebelievedthatthesinreferredtointhisScriptureisphysicaldeath,andthatthepersonissavedalthoughhehassinned."

"But that Scripture doesn't say physical death," the Lordpointedout."Youareaddingsomethingtoit.Ifyouwillreadtheentire fifthchapterofFirst John,youwillseethat it is talkingabout lifeanddeath—spiritual lifeandspiritualdeath—andthisisspiritualdeath.Thisreferstoabelieverwhocansinasinuntodeath,andthereforeIsaythatyoushallnotprayfor it. Itold younot to pray for thiswomanbecause she sinned a sinuntodeath."

"Thisreallydisruptsmytheology,Lord.Wouldyouexplainsomemore?"Iasked.(SometimesweneedourtheologydisruptedifitisnotinlinewiththeWord.)JesusremindedmeofthefollowingScripture:

HEBREWS6:4-6

4 For it is impossible for those who were onceenlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, andweremadepartakersoftheHolyGhost,

5AndhavetastedthegoodwordofGod,andthepowersoftheworldtocome,

6Iftheyshallfallaway,torenewthemagainuntorepentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son ofGodafresh,andputhimtoanopenshame.

"Yes, I know that Scripture, but my denomination said that'thosewhowereonceenlightened'doesnotrefertoChristians—itmeanslostpersonswhogetunderconviction."

TheLordsaid,"Remember,Itoldyouthiswomanwasmychild.She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she had part in theministry.YouwillnoticethattheScripturesays,'/tisimpossiblefor thosewhowere once enlightened, and have tasted of theheavenlygift....'Iamtheheavenlygift.Amanunderconviction

isenlightened,buthehasnottastedofMe.

"TheWord of God says, 'ForGod so loved theworld, that hegave his only begotten Son, that whosoeverbelieveth in himshould not perish, but have everlasting life' (John 3:16). I amtheheavenlygift,andthemanunderconvictionhasnottastedoftheheavenlygift.Heseeshislostconditionandheseesthathecanbesaved. 'Forthewagesofsin isdeath;butthegiftofGod iseternal life throughJesusChristourLord' (Rom.6:23).Noonehastastedtheheavenlygift,thegiftofGod,untilhehasreceivedeternallifebyacceptingMeasLordandSavior.

"NoticethewordsinthisScripture'...andweremadepartakersof theHolyGhost [thiswomanhad been baptized in theHolySpirit],AndhavetastedthegoodwordofGod....' (Heb.6:4,5);or as the Phillips translation reads, '. . .who have known thewholesomenourishmentoftheWordofGod....'

"In other words, baby Christians cannot commit the sin untodeath. It is to be regretted that baby Christians live as theysometimesdo,andtheysayanddosomethingstheyshouldnot.ButIdonotholdthesethingsagainstthemanymorethanyouwouldholdthingsalittlechildmaydoagainsthimbecausehedoesn'tknowanybetter.

"The person referred to in this Scripture— and that includesthewoman I am showing you—has tasted the goodWord ofGod; that is, he or she has grown beyond the baby Christianstage. One Scripture says, 'As newborn babes, desire thesinceremilk of theword, that yemaygrow thereby' (1 Peter2:2). This woman had grown beyond the sincere milk of theWord.Shehad tasted thesolidmeatof theWord.Shealreadyhad tasted of the 'powers of theworld to come.' She had thegiftsoftheSpiritinoperationinherlife."

Jesuscontinued,"Foronetocommit'asinuntodeath,'hewouldhavehadallfiveoftheseexperiences:

"1. Be enlightened (or convicted) to see his lost state, and toknowthat there isnowayforhimtobesavedexcept throughJesusChrist.

"2.Tasteoftheheavenlygift,whichisJesus.

"3.Becomeapartakerof theHolySpirit,orbe filledwith theHolySpirit.

"4.GrowenoughoutofthebabyhoodstagetohavetastedthegoodWordofGod.

"5. Have the powers of the world to come— the gifts of theSpirit—operatinginhislife.

"Thiswomanhadallthesequalifications.AndmyWordsaysitisimpossible'.. .Iftheyshallfallaway,torenewthemagainuntorepentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of Godafresh,andputhimtoanopenshame'"(Heb.6:6).

IaskedtheLord,"Whatsinisthis,then?"

TheLordreferredmetothefollowingScripture:

HEBREWS10:26-29

26For ifwe sinwilfully after thatwehave received theknowledgeofthetruth,thereremainethnomoresacrificeforsins,

27Butacertainfearfullookingforofjudgmentandfieryindignation,whichshalldevourtheadversaries.

28HethatdespisedMoses'lawdiedwithoutmercyundertwoorthreewitnesses:

29Ofhowmuchsorerpunishment, supposeye, shallhebe thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot theSonofGod,andhathcountedthebloodofthecovenant,wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hathdonedespiteuntotheSpiritofgrace?

TheLordsaidtome,"ThesinthatthisScripturespeaksaboutisthat of the believer who turns his back uponMe. Notice thewords in this Scripture, 'He that despised Moses' law diedwithoutmercy...Ofhowmuchsorerpunishment,supposeye,shall he be thought worthy,who hath trodden under foot theSonofGod....'

"Becauseofgreatpersecution,theHebrewChristiansreferredto in this passagewere tempted to goback to Judaism, but iftheywentback,theywouldhavetroddenunderfoottheSonofGod. They would have counted the blood of the covenant anunholything,fortheyweresayingthatJesusisnottheMessiah;HeisnottheSonofGod.TheyturnedtheirbacksonMe.Thisiswhy Paul warned them that if they did that, it would beimpossibletorenewthemuntorepentance.

ForgivenessforAdultery

"Itissadthatthiswomanleftherhusbandforanotherman,butadulteryisnottheunpardonablesin.IfshehadturnedbacktoMeinrepentance,eventhoughshemighthavehadahundredmen,Iwouldhaveforgivenher.

Whatevershemighthavedone,ifshehadaskedMetoforgiveher,Iwouldhave.

"EvenifshehadbeenababyChristianwhenshesaid,

'Idon'twantJesusanymore;leavemealone,'anddidn'tactuallyrealizewhat shewas doing, Iwould have forgiven her. If shehad done that because she was tempted and pressed into itbeyondmeasure,Iwouldhaveforgivenher.

But she knew exactly what she was doing, and she actedwillfullywhenshesaid,'Idon'twantHimanymore.'

ThereforeItellyounottoprayforher.ImerelyshowedyouthissoyoumightseehowthedevilcangetholdofChristiansiftheywillpermithimto."

TheninthevisionIsawaman.Ididn'trecognizehim.

Jesussaid,"Iwillshowyouanotherexampleofhowdemonsgetholdofapersonandhowtodealwiththemandcastthemout."

Isawaspiritcomeandsitontheman'sshoulderandwhisperinhisear.ThemanentertainedthethoughtsthatSatangavehim.ThenIsawthisspiritgointotheman'smind.

Jesussaid,"Thisspiritisoneofthehigherrulersoftheirworld.Theyaretheonesthatgetholdofamanandeventuallypossesshim. There are degrees of possession, and these spirits willbringotherevilspiritswiththem."

ThentheLordremindedmeofthepassageinthefifthchapterofMark'sGospelwhichtellsthestoryofthemaniacofGadara.

MARK5:2-7

2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediatelytheremet him out of the tombs amanwith an uncleanspirit [notice here that the man had just one uncleanspirit],3Whohadhisdwellingamongthetombs;andnomancouldbindhim,no,notwithchains:

4Becausethathehadbeenoftenboundwithfettersandchains,andthechainshadbeenpluckedasunderbyhim,and the fettersbroken inpieces: neither could anymantamehim.

5Andalways,nightandday,hewasinthemountains,andinthetombs,crying,andcuttinghimselfwithstones.

6ButwhenhesawJesusafaroff,heranandworshippedhim,

7Andcriedwithaloudvoice,andsaid,WhathaveItodowiththee,Jesus,thouSonofthemosthighGod?Iad-juretheebyGod,thatthoutormentmenot.

NoticethattheevilspiritknewJesus.WhenJesusaskedhimhisname,hereplied,"...MynameisLegion:forwearemany" (v.9).WhenJesuscast thedemonsout, theyentered a herd of swine nearby, ".. .and the herd ranviolently down a steep place into the sea, (they wereabouttwothousand)andwerechokedinthesea"(v.13).

Althoughonlyoneevil spiritpossessed thisman fromGadara,asmanyas2,000werecastoutandplungedheadlongintotheseaafterenteringtheherdofswine!

Inthevision,thespiritgotholdofthemanandseemedtoopenhis head like a trap door. Then I saw other spirits come andentertheman.Jesussaidtome,"Fromnowonwhenyoucomeinto the presence of anyone who is fully possessed with thedevil,hewillrecognizeyou, justasthemanyoureadaboutinthefifthchapterofMarkrecognizedMewhenhecameintomypresence.Nowwalkuptothisman,andwhenyoudo,theevilspiritwillrecognizeyou."

In the vision I walked up to the man, and immediately thedemonthatpossessedhimcalledout,"Iknowyou."

Isaid,"Yes,IrealizeyouknowwhoIam,andIcommandyoutobequietrightnowintheNameofJesus!"

TheLordwentontosay,"Thesespiritswillknowyou.

Throughthegiftofdiscerningofspiritsyouwillknowwhatkindofspirititis.YourememberthatindealingwiththemanfromGadara I said, 'Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.' Idiscerned it was an unclean spirit, and I commanded him tocomeout."

In the case of theman in the visionwhohad the evil spirit, Iknew immediately what kind of spirit possessed him, and Icommandedthatspirittocomeoutofhim,buthedidn't.

Jesussaid,"Tocastthemoutyousometimeshavetoknownotonlythekindofspirittheyarebutalsotheirnameornumber.NoticeindealingwiththemanfromGadara,Isaid, 'Comeoutoftheman,thouuncleanspirit,'

buthedidn'tcomeout."

This was something I had completely overlooked, but onrereadingthefifthchapterofMarkInoticeditwastrue.

"Andhe[Jesus]askedhim,Whatisthyname?Andheanswered,saying,MynameisLegion:forwearemany"(v.9).

Jesus brought something else tomy attention concerning this

passage."Ifyouhadbeenpresent,"Jesussaid,

"you would have heard what the evil spirit said, because heused theman's voice—he talked throughhim.When I askedwhathisnamewas,hereplied,'MynameisLegion,forwearemany.'Thenhebegged,'Don'tsendusawayoutofthecountry.'Thatwasthefirstuncleanspiritthatpossessedtheman'sbodyspeaking—heusedtheman'svoice.

"Then you will see in the 12th verse, 'And all the devilsbesought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we mayenterintothem.'Allofthedemonscriedoutatonce.Hadyoubeenpresentatthistime,youwouldn'thaveknownwhattheyweresaying,unlessyouhadthegiftofdiscerningofspirits toseeandhearinthespiritrealm.

"Iknewbecausethisgiftwasoperatinginmyministry.

All of the demons besoughtMe— all of them spoke at once.Theyweren'ttalkingoutloud;thatis,theyweren'ttalkingasamanwouldspeak.Theywerespeakinginthespiritrealm."

Ithenwalkeduptothemaninthevision.Idiscernedthekindofspirit thatpossessedhimandcommandedhimtocomeout.Nothinghappened.Jesussaidtoaskhisnumber,soIsaid,"Howmanyofyouareinthisman?"

Hesaid,"Nineteenmorebesidesme."

I spoke to them, saying, "I command you and all 19 others tocomeout,"'andtheycameout.ThenIaskedtheLord,"Wheredodemonsgowhentheycomeout?"

"Theywalkthedryplacesseekingrest,andtheyfindnone,"Hereplied.ThenIrememberedthefollowingScripture:

MATTHEW12:43-45

43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, hewalketh through dr places, seeking rest, and findethnone.

44Thenhesaith,IwillreturnintomyhousefromwhenceI came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty,swept,andgarnished.

45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven otherspiritsmorewicked thanhimself, and they enter in anddwellthere:andthelaststateofthatmanisworsethanthefirst....

I asked the Lord, "Why can't we cast them into the pit and

banishthemfromtheearthforever?"

He said, "The time for this hasn't come yet. If it would havebeenpossiblewhenIwasonearth,Iwouldhavecastthemallintothepit.Butyouwillrememberononeoccasionthedemonscried out to Me, saying, '. ..What havewe to do with thee,Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment usbeforethetime?' (Matt.8:29).Yousee, their timehasn'tcomeyet.ThetimeiscomingwhenSatanandallhisdemonswillbecastinthelakeoffirewheretheywillbeforever."

While Jesuswastalkingtome,anevilspirit that looked likeamonkey ran between Jesus andme and spread out somethingthatlookedlikeablackcloudorasmokescreen.Icouldn'tseeJesusanymore.

Thenthedemonbeganjumpingupanddown,wavinghisarmsand legs,andyelling ina shrill voice, "Yakety-yak, yakety-yak,yakety-yak."

I paused for amoment. I could hear the voice of Jesus asHecontinuedtotalktome,butIcouldnotunderstandthewords.

Ithoughttomyself,Doesn'ttheLordknowIammissingwhatHe is saying? I need to get that - it is important— but I ammissingit.IwonderedwhyJesusdidn'tcommandtheevilspiritto stop. I waited for a few more moments. Jesus continuedtalkingas ifHedidn'tevenknowtheevilspiritwaspresent. IwonderedwhytheLorddidn'tcasthimout,butHedidn't.

Finally,indesperation,Ipointedmyfingerattheevilspiritandsaid,"IcommandyoutobequietintheNameofJesusChrist!"Hestopped immediatelyand fell to the floor.TheblacksmokescreendisappearedandIcouldseeJesusonceagain.Thespiritlayonthefloorwhimperingandwhininglikeawhippedpup.Isaid, "Not onlymust you be quiet, but get up and get out ofhere!"Hegotupandranaway.

IwasstillwonderingwhyJesushadnotstoppedthisevilspiritfrominterfering,andofcourseJesusknewwhatIwasthinking.He said, "If you hadn't done something about that, I couldn'thave."

"Lord, I know I misunderstood You! You said You couldn't doanythingaboutit,butYoureallymeantthatYouwouldn't."

"No,"Hesaid,"ifyouhadn'tdonesomethingaboutthatspirit,Icouldn'thave."

"ButLord,Youcandoanything.TosayYoucouldn'tisdifferentfrom anything I've ever heard preached or preached myself.Thatreallyupendsmytheology."

"Sometimesyourtheologyneedsupending,"theLordanswered.

I said, "Lord,even though IamseeingYouwithmyowneyes,eventhoughIhearyourvoicespeakingtomeasplainlyasanyvoiceIhaveeverheard,IcannotacceptthatunlessYouproveittomebytheWordofGod.FortheWordsays,'...Inthemouthof two or threewitnesses shall every word be established' (2Cor. 13:1). I will not accept any vision, I will not accept anyrevelation,ifitcannotbeprovedbytheBible."

Insteadofbecomingangrywithmeforsayingthis,Jesussmiledsweetly and said, "I will give you not just two or threewitnesses;Iwillgiveyoufourwitnesses."

Isaid,"IhavereadthroughtheNewTestament150timesandmany portions of itmore than that. If that is in there, I don'tknowaboutit."

"Son, there isa lot in thereyoudon'tknow," theLordpointedout. "There is not a singleplace in theNewTestamentwherebelievers are ever told to pray against the devil and Iwill doanything about him. There is not one instance in any of theepistleswrittentothechurchesthatsaidtotellGodtorebukethedevil or do something about thedevil. If theydo, they 'rewastingtheirtime.GodhasdoneallHeisgoingtodoaboutthedevil for the time being until the angel comes down fromheaven, takes the chain andbinds him, andputs him into thebottomlesspit.

"Everywriter of theNew Testament inwriting to the Churchalways told thebeliever to do something about the devil. Thebeliever has to have authority over the devil, or the Biblewouldn'ttellhimtodosomethingaboutthedevil:

MATTHEW28:18-20

18.. .Allpower[orauthority] isgivenuntomeinheavenandinearth.

19Goyetherefore,andteachallnations,baptizingtheminthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolyGhost:

20TeachingthemtoobserveallthingswhatsoeverIhavecommandedyou:and, lo,Iamwithyoualway,evenuntotheendoftheworld.

"Youmightsay,'Butyoucouldhavedonesomethingaboutthatspirit because this Scripture says you have all power andauthorityinheavenandinearth.'However,IhavedelegatedmyauthorityontheearthtotheChurch:

MARK16:15-18

15.. .Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel toeverycreature.

16He thatbelievethand isbaptized shall be saved;buthethatbelievethnotshallbedamned.

17Andthesesignsshall followthemthatbelieve; Inmynameshalltheycastoutdevils;theyshallspeakwithnewtongues;

18Theyshalltakeupserpents;andiftheydrinkanydeadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands onthesick,andtheyshallrecover.

"Oneofthefirstsignsmentionedasfollowingbelieversisthattheyshouldcastoutdevils.Thatmeans that inmyNametheywillexerciseauthorityoverthedevil. Idelegatedmyauthorityover thedevil to theChurch,and Icanworkonly through theChurch,forIamtheHeadoftheChurch.

"Inwritingtobelievers,Jamessaid,'...Resistthedevil,andhewill flee fromyou' (James4:7). Jamesdidn't say togetGod toresistthedevilforyou.Hesaid,'Youresistthedevilandhewillfleefromyou.'"

Ilookeduptheword"flee"inthedictionarylaterandsawthatone definition is "to run from as in terror. " As I read that, Irememberedhow theevil spirits in thevisionhad fledwhen Ihadrebukedthem.AndsincethenIhaveseenthemquakeandquiverinfearasIexercisedmyGod-givenauthorityoverthem.They were not afraid of me, but rather of Jesus, whom Irepresent.

Jesus continued, "Peter said, 'Be sober, be vigilant; becauseyour adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,seekingwhomhemaydevour'(1Peter5:8).Whatareyougoingto do: Throw up your hands and say, 'I am whipped'? No, athousandtimesno!Wereadinversenine,

'Whom resist stedfast in the faith... . ' You couldn't resist thedevil if you didn't have authority over him. But you do haveauthorityoverhim,andthatiswhyyoucanresisthim.

"PaulsaidinhiswritingstotheChurchatEphesus,

'Neithergiveplacetothedevil'(Eph.4:27).Thismeansyouarenottogivethedevilanyplaceinyou.Hecannottakeanyplaceunlessyougivehimpermissiontodoso.

Andyouwouldhavetohaveauthorityoverhimorthiswouldn't

betrue!"

ThenJesussaidtome,"Hereareyourfourwitnesses-Iamthefirst, James is the second, Peter is the third, and Paul is thefourth. These are the four witnesses I told you I would giveinsteadof just twoor three.This establishes the fact that thebeliever has authority on earth, for I have delegated myauthorityoverthedeviltoyouontheearth.

Ifyoudon'tdoanythingaboutit,thennothingwillbedone,andthatiswhymanytimesnothingisdone."

ThenIsaid,"Lord,Youhavetoldmeaboutonlythreecategoriesof evil spirits: the rulers of the darkness of this world, thepowers,andtheprincipalities.Whataboutthewickedspiritsintheheavenlies?"

Hesaid,"Youtakecareoftheonesonearth.Iwilltakecareofthoseintheheavenlies."

Jesusexhortedme tobe faithful, saying, "Fulfill yourministry.Befaithful,forthetimeisshort."ThenHedisappeared.

I realized that I was still on my knees in the kitchen of thatparsonage,andaboutanhourandahalfhadpassedwhileIwascaughtupinthisvision.

Chapter5

IHaveComeToAnswerYourPrayer

Itwasnearlyfiveyearslater,1957,whentheLordappearedtomeagaininmyfourthvisionofHim.

MywifeandIhadjustreturnedtoourhomeinGarland,Texas,after spending 15 months in meetings in California. We thenheldameetingforourhomeFullGospelchurch inGarland.Itwas during the thirdweek of thismeeting that I had anothersupernaturalvisitationfromtheLord.

At the close ofmymessage one night, a spirit of intercessiondescendedupon thecongregationandweallgatheredaroundthealtartopray.Weprayedforquitesometime.

After a while I got off my knees and sat on the steps to theplatform.Iwassittingtherewithmyeyesopen,singinginothertonguesastheSpiritgaveutterance,whensuddenlyIsawJesusstandingaboutthreefeetinfrontofme.Hesaid,"Ihavecometoansweryourprayer."

IknewexactlywhatHewastalkingabout. Ihadbeenprayingfor some time formy wife, who had a goiter. It was growinglargerandlargeruntilnowshewashavingchokingspells.

FromthetimewewerefirstmarriedIhadsensedinmyspiritthat Oretha would die at an early age, and I thought thatperhaps this time was approaching. I prayed the rest of thenightabout thisandsaid to theLord, "IhaveobeyedYouandhavedoneyourwill. I have leftmychurchandmy familyandhavebeenintheevangelisticfieldformanyyears.Mywifehasstayedathomeandhasbeenfaithfultoraiseourchildren.Iamstillayoungman (at that time Iwas inmy30s),andwehavebeenmarriedformanyyears.Pleaseletmekeepmywife."

InthevisiontheLordsaidtome,"Ihavecometoanswerthatprayer.Tellyourwifetobeoperatedon,forshewillliveandnotdie.

AlthoughIdidn'tmentionittomywife,Ihadfeltallalongthatif shewereoperatedonshewoulddie.She later toldme thatshehadknown for severalyears that shewoulddiewhenshewasoperatedonforthisgoiter.

ButtheLordsaidtome,"Shewillliveandnotdie.Itwasdivinedestinythatsheshoulddie,butIhaveheardyourprayersandhavecometoanswerthem.Sheshalllive.

Then Jesus said something that absolutely melted me, and I

have never been able to forget it. It blessed and helped methen,anditstillblessesme.

Hesaid,"Ididthis,son,justbecauseyouaskedMeto.Youdon'tknowhowIlongtodoformychildreniftheywouldonlyaskMeandbelieveMe.Manytimestheybegandcryandpray,buttheydon't believe. And I cannot answer their prayers unless theyhave faith,because IcannotviolatemyWord.Buthowoften IlongtohelpthemifonlytheywouldletMebytakingMeatmyWordandbringingMetheirproblems,trustingMetoundertakeforthem."

AgainHesaid,"Tellyourwifetobeoperatedon,forshewillliveandnotdie."WiththosewordsHedisappeared.

Even though the doctors were greatly concerned about mywife's condition, Oretha and I had great joy through it allbecauseweknewtheoutcomeinadvance.

Chapter6

TheAngel'sVisit

Myfifthvisionoccurredin1958inPortNeches,Texas,whileIwas holding a revivalmeeting.Onenight aswewere prayingaround the altar, a great spirit of prayer and intercessionseemedtocomeuponthewholechurch.Weprayedtogetherforquite some time, and then I got up and sat in a chair on theplatform.

Iwassittingtherewithmyeyesopen,singinginothertongues,whentheLordJesussuddenlyappearedontheplatform—andaboutthreefeetbehindhimstoodanangel!

Jesussaidtome,"Isentmyangeltospeaktoyounearlyayearago out in California." I remembered the occasion, and Iremembered that Ihadnot responded tohim.Thatafternoon Ihad been lying across the bed inmy house trailermeditatingand reading my Bible, getting ready for the evening service.Suddenly I had the feeling that someone had come into thetrailer. I looked,but Icouldn'tseeanybody.But Iwaspositivethatsomeonehadcomethroughthedoor.ItevenseemedasifIhadheardthedooropenandclose.Isensedthatsomeonewasstandingbesidethebed.Ireachedoutmyhandtofeelwhatevermightbethereandsaid,"Iknowyouarethere.

Whoareyou?"

Therewasnoresponse.AlthoughIneversawanyone,Isensedthat someone stood there for a fewmoments, turned around,retraced his steps around the foot of the bed, andwent backthroughthetrailerandoutthedoor.

ThenIseemedtobeledoftheSpirittoopenmyBibleandreadabout theministry of angels. I felt that an angel had come tome,butIhadnotopenedmyhearttothevisitation.

WecontinuedourministryinthestateofCalifornia.

The children were traveling with us at that time, doing theirschoolwork through correspondence courseswhichwe helpedthem with. They had been with us for about a year, and wedecidedthatitwasjusttoohardonthem.

Theyweredoingagreatdealoftraveling,wereintwoservicesaday,andweretryingtokeepupwiththeirstudies.

Therefore,wedecidedtoreturntoourhomeinGarlandsotheycouldattendthepublicschools.

Thepeoplewhohadbeenrentingourhousemovedout sowecould move back, but we had sold all our furniture when weboughtthehousetrailer,sowehadtobuyawholehousefulofnew furniture.Of course,we had to go in debt to do so. Thismade our monthly payments extremely high, because we stillweremakingpaymentson the trailerhouse,andcar—not tomentionourlivingexpenses.

For more than a year we lacked about $100 every month ingettingenoughmoneytomeetourbudget.

Therefore, we had to go in debt thatmuch: I had to bor-row$100eachmonthjusttopayexpensesandkeepoperating.

Back in 1956 the Lord had spoken tome,warningme that arecessionwas coming— not a depression, but a recession—and that I should prepare for it. The recession did come in1957. Fifteenmonths later,when the Lord appeared tome inthevisioninPortNeches,Istillwasbearingtheconsequencesofnothavinggottenreadyfortherecession.

TheLordsaidtome,"Isentmyangeltowarnyouagainwhenyou were out in California, because I saw that you hadn'tlistenedtotheleadingofmySpiritandhadn'trespondedtothewarning. If you had yielded to the Holy Spirit (we can't seeangels with the natural eye unless God so wills, for they arespirits),youwouldhavebeenabletoseeintotherealmofthespirit. By the discerning of spirits you would have seen theangel,andhewouldhavedeliveredhismessagetoyou.Ifyouhad received it, youwould have been spared all this financialtrouble."

As15monthshadpassedsincethistime,andIwasgoingintodebteachmonthfor$100,mydebtnowtotaled$1,500.

TheLordcontinued,"Iamgoingtohelpyou,however,withyourfinances."AndHedidhelpme.Wehadbeentryingtosell thehouse trailer, but because the new ten-foot-wide models hadjustcomeon themarket, it seemednoonewanted tobuyoureight-foot-wide trailer. But with the Lord's help, it was soldwithinamonth.

Healsosaid,"Iamgoingtohelpyouinyourministryaswell,"andHetalkedtomefurtheraboutmyministry,admonishingmetobefaithful.Then,pointingtotheangelstandingbesideHim,Hesaid,"Thisisyourangel."

"Myangel?"Iasked.

"Yes,yourangel,andifyouwillrespondtohim,hewillappearto you as I will at times; and he will give you guidance anddirection concerning the things of life, for angels are

ministering spiritswhoare sent tominister for thosewhoaretheheirsofsalvation"(Heb.1:14).

Everything that theLord showedme in this vision concerningmyfinancesandmyministrycametopasswithin90days.

TableofContentsChapter1Chapter2Chapter4HowSatanChapter5Chapter6The