The Power in Your Hand

Questioning the Lord, Moses protested several times. His fears and excuses so overwhelmed his mind that he dared to question the mighty voice coming from the burning bush. But for every excuse Moses made, God gave a promise.

God was calling Moses to deliver the people of Israel from out of slavery. God had made it clear that Moses was to be the chosen deliverer of a nation, but Moses was filled with doubt and uncertainty.

It came then to the point where Moses worried about whether or not the people would believe that he was sent by God. The scripture records his questioning:

But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied. “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back. – Exodus 4:1-3 (NLT)

Now, there is much more to this dialogue between God and Moses than we are about to examine. However, I want to just focus in on how the Lord responded to this line of questioning in particular: “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me?”

Moses wanted to know how he would proceed with leading the people of Israel.

God responded to Moses’s question with a question of His own.

“What’s in your hand?”

When backed by God’s power, what was in Moses’s hand was enough to complete the divine mandate. When backed by God’s power, what you have, right now, is enough to move forward.

So I ask you, dear reader, “What’s in your hand?”

Don’t wait for the ideal situation to present itself before you step out in obedience toward God. Whatever it is He has called you to do can be accomplished. The next step can be taken. The next task can be completed. You don’t need to wait. Just step out and do what you’re supposed to do right now with what you have in your hand.

It is enough.

Plant that church. Start that ministry. Preach the gospel. Teach the Word. Pray that prayer. Write that song. Begin.

Obey God.

Don’t worry about being promoted, recognized, or celebrated. Don’t fear failure, rejection, or heartache. Just let God empower you right where you are, right now. Obey, and leave the results up to God.

Use what He’s placed in your hand.

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A Fresh Anointing

Apathy, familiarity, monotony – these are far more detrimental to your spiritual well being than even some demonic assaults. Human nature can be so easily sidetracked. We have the tendency to veer off track. This is why it is so important to approach our walk with the Lord on a moment-by-moment basis. Whether yesterday ended in victory or defeat, we must focus on today.

We must learn to walk in a fresh anointing, a fresh touch of God’s power.

 “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.” – Psalm 92:10 (KJV)

(“Unicorn” in the original language simply means “beast with a single horn”. Some scholars speculate that David is referring to a rhinoceros in Psalm 92:10)

It is important to maintain the flow of God’s power upon our lives. Surely, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit are always within us. His presence is an internal and eternal reality. Though we do not need to acquire power within, we must live a life that maintains power upon. What good does it do to have God’s power within us if we live in a way that stifles the flow of God’s power upon us and through us?

Yesterday’s anointing cannot break today’s yokes. We need fresh oil!

It is so important to keep the oil fresh. This is accomplished through daily surrender to the Holy Spirit. Don’t get comfortable in spiritual success. Don’t get lazy with spiritual disciplines.

When we lack fresh oil, there is a dryness to our walk with the Lord. There is a struggle in the flow of God’s power. The miracle anointing loses its potency as it ages. We mustn’t operate from a reservoir of the anointing. We must receive it fresh daily.

Pastors and ministers, without the anointing, the ministry can feel like a career. Without a fresh anointing, we struggle to put together sermons and offer prayer. However, when we operate in a fresh anointing, we receive a stronger witness and joy.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8 (NLT)

“…the lampstand also for the light and its utensils and its lamps and the oil for the light;” – Exodus 35:14

The power of the Holy Spirit has been given to us to win souls. The oil is what keeps the light of the gospel burning in your life.

Fresh oil will also bring joy.

“You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.” – Psalm 45:7 (NLT)

So I want to give you this simple encouragement: get back to or remain connected to the source. Get back to or stay in the place of daily surrender to the Holy Spirit. Whether good or bad, let the past be the past – receive fresh oil today.

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7 Marks of the Spirit-Filled

In the first year that I had come to know Jesus, I sought out spiritual mentors and studied them closely. From both men and women of God, I received information, inspiration and impartation. While learning from God’s anointed servants, I came to notice similarities in their mindsets, character traits, and even demeanors. They shared certain attributes that I’ve come to call “Marks of the Spirit”.

I asked the Lord to mark me in the same way and have committed to faithfully seek the face of Jesus. The more I seek Him, the more I notice the work of His Spirit in my life.

And, dear reader, you too can bear these marks. And if you already do, they can become more clearly seen upon your life.

For God has commissioned a work of art. Jesus is the model, the Holy Spirit is the painter and your surrendered life is the blank canvas. With every stroke, the Holy Spirit causes the countenance of Christ to appear on you in greater and greater detail.

Samuel the prophet spoke to Saul concerning this kind of Spirit-empowered change:

“And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them. And you will be turned into another man.” - 1 Samuel 10:6

Consider that: “…turned into another man.’

No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, the Holy Spirit has the power to make you more like Christ. He brings transformation.

And you know His work isn’t static; His work is continual.

“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit…” - Ephesians 5:18

Be filled. In the verse above, the word filled is the Greek verb Plerousthe. It literally means to be continually filled. This is not to say that we can receive the Holy Spirit a second time.

To clarify, I present this simply analogy: You can charge your cell phone all the way up to 100%, but the moment that you unplug the phone, it begins to die again. However, if you plug your cell phone into a power source, it can be fully charged to 100% and kept there. Even using your phone would not drain its battery if it were plugged into a power source. The phone would be both fully charged and continually charged.

In the same way, we are to be continually filled with the Spirit, even after having received the infilling.

So the Holy Spirit can make you a different man or woman even now. You can be a different person today than you were yesterday. In fact, His work can even be from moment to moment! You can be a different person now than who you were even a second ago. Your change is constant when you abide in the presence of the Holy Spirit. For every second you spend in His presence, you become more like Jesus.

Consider His awesome power. He is the very same Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead, empowered the early Church and now confirms the message of the gospel with power and demonstration. That very same power is at work in you now, in this very moment, whether you realize it or not.

And, as you live under that power, these are the marks you will come to bear.

#1 Boldness

“When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.” - Acts 4:31

Before I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, I was an awkward, self-conscious person. Constantly second-guessing myself, I feared the criticism of people.

Then one day, I took a day trip to a college with a campus preacher. He was a very bold man who cared deeply about proclaiming the truth in love. He didn’t mind being mocked, criticized or hated. In fact, people would even physically harm him from time to time. But he just wanted to see people get saved, so he frequented college campuses.

I stood in awe, as I watched this man proclaim the gospel with divine wisdom. I’m telling you; the people who opposed him were confounded (much like the pharisees). I was just thinking to myself something like, “I don’t think I can do that”, when this campus preacher turned to me and said, “Okay. It’s your turn.”

With fear and trembling, I stood in front of a crowd of intimidating onlookers (about 60 people) and began to preach the gospel to them. And, as I preached, I felt the chains of fear break away from me. In the place of fear, I felt a boldness well up within my soul. Something took over!

I was mocked.

I was criticized.

I was challenged.

But I was perfectly fine. None of what I feared was as bad as I thought it would be. From that day forward, I allowed the boldness of the Holy Spirit to be my strength. It changed almost everything about me. The power of the fear of man was broken over my life, because of the boldness of the Spirit.

Believer, the boldness is already in you. This has nothing to do with personality types, for we all must adjust to look more like Jesus. Let boldness come forth through bold action.

#2 Confidence

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

If boldness is the ability to act in faith, then confidence is the ability to avoid reacting in fear. Boldness is action; confidence is a state of being. Confidence is peace, inner-calm.

I recall a story of a preacher who was taking a nap on a flight. While he was taking his nap, a problem occurred with the engines and the passengers were told to prepare for an emergency landing. Everyone on board the plane began to panic. One of the panicked passengers nudged the sleeping preacher and announced to him, “Wake up! We’re going to need to make an emergency landing!” The preacher looked at the passenger, glanced around and casually said, “Jesus slept through the storm; I’m going to sleep through this.” Then he went back to sleep.

Everything turned out fine.

That’s one of the marks of the Spirit-filled; they are confident. In the face of deadlines, they are not hasty. In times of lack, they are not worried. In moments of chaos, they are not shaken. They remain collected, calm, intentional, methodical. There’s a relaxed and refreshing air about them.

This is not to say that they aren’t practical when need be. This just means that they are at peace no matter the situation.

They may be in a storm, but they do not allow the storm to be in them.

#3 Authority

“…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” - Acts 10:38

Confidence has to do with how you respond to situations, but authority has to do with how situations respond to you. Everywhere Jesus went, He changed the atmosphere. Sickness and demonic power was broken at the very nearness of Jesus.

The same is true of the Spirit-filled.

The authority to operate in God’s power is not reserved for the spiritually elite, if ever there was such a group. The authority of Heaven can rest on your shoulders. It can be yours. It is yours.

The Spirit-filled carry such an authority that they themselves become an atmosphere. When you enter a place, the spiritual atmosphere changes, because you have God’s authority by the Holy Spirit.

#4 Revelation

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” - John 14:26

While gleaning from mighty men and women of God, I would often find myself astounded by their knowledge of God’s Word. But I was most impressed with how they would often see things in the scripture that I had missed. I would have to ask myself, “How could I have missed that?”

People can tell the difference between a message that is prepared with only intellect and a message that is prepared under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

When you study the Word of God with the help of the Spirit, you will make important connections, find deep truths and understand concepts more often. The Holy Spirit doesn’t just give information; He ignites inspiration and imparts revelation.

The Spirit-filled are rich with revelation.

#5 Sensitivity

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” - Romans 8:14

Before I was born, my parents prayed that I would have a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. As a result of their prayers, I can remember being aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit as early as the age of 7. From then on, I have sensed Him in the air around me.

So it was only a matter of time before I would begin to “click” with believers who also walked in this kind of awareness of God. And, while spending time with those believers, I began to pick up what some might call “strange habits”.

Such habits were things like: stopping mid-sentence to respond to the Lord, leaving social occasions early to “tend to the Spirit’s call to prayer” and involving the Lord in almost every circumstance.

People who are sensitive to the Spirit will catch themselves when they say something un-productive and say, “Forgive me, Lord. I shouldn’t have said that!” They are constantly aware of God’s likes and dislikes. People who are sensitive to the Spirit don’t just hear God clearly; they respond quickly.

How many times have you felt a “hesitation” before doing something, only to realize in hindsight that the “hesitation” was actually the leading of the Spirit? Conversely, perhaps you’ve also missed opportunities to do something you should have done.

Sensitivity will cause you to pause and respond to the inner leading of the Holy Spirit. You can walk in an awareness of God 24/7. Spiritual sensitivity is a mark of the Spirit-filled believer.

#6 Generosity

“We have diverse gifts according to the grace that is given to us: if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith; if service, in serving; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with generosity…” - Romans 12:6-8a

I’ve seen people give away so much that others considered them to be crazy. And the Holy Spirit has led me to give in ways that made me think I was crazy.

The Spirit-filled give so extravagantly, so selflessly that people ask, “Should you really be doing that?” They say, “That seems to be a bit much.”

Everyone wants to receive extravagantly, but very few are willing to give extravagantly. And I’m not just referring to specific amounts, for all giving is relative.

I’ve seen wealthy business people give hundreds of thousands of dollars towards the gospel. I’ve heard of Spirit-filled believers giving away cars and houses simply because, “The Holy Spirit spoke”.

And…

I’ve also seen missionaries, who were barely making enough to buy food, give away almost all of their income to other missionaries. I’ve witnessed believers, who were believing for a financial breakthrough, give to others in need.

Spirit-filled believers pray for God’s provision, while at the same time becoming God’s provision for someone else.

The Spirit-filled allow themselves to be selflessly marked with generosity.

#7 Burden for the Lost

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8

The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s power is world evangelism.

Every truly Spirit-filled believer who I have ever met had, burning within, a passion for souls – they were weighted by a burden for the lost. The Holy Spirit is the most gifted evangelist on the earth today, and His love for the lost soul overflows to you.

Dear reader, I believe that we should carry joy, but I also know that we must come to a place of agony over the spiritually dead. Without a brokenness for the un-saved, the believer lacks. It is a  love for souls that drives the gospel into closed countries and hardened hearts.

When you allow the Holy Spirit to shed this painful love abroad in your heart, you won’t need to be convinced to evangelize; evangelism will become somewhat of an obsession.

I’ve often wondered what “sharing in” Christ’s suffering completely entails. What comes with sharing in His pain? Perhaps, this heartache for the lost counts toward that.

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Pay it Forward

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Some Good News and Some Bad News

Good news: I’m starting to work on a new book.

Bad news: To free up time to write the book, I’ll have to pause the blog.

Every two years or so, I take a break from writing my weekly blog so that I can give more of my effort to completing a new book. That time has come again. For the next several months, I will not be writing my weekly blog.

Of course, you’ll still get occasional ministry updates in blog format, and I will continue with events, videos, and livestreams as usual. But, for now, I’m going to free up some time by setting aside my blog. The book has an estimated release for the summer of 2023.

Now, this does not mean that the blog is going to be on pause until then. There are many phases to publishing a book, but the blog will only be down for the writing and editing portion of the publishing process. So the blog will return in a matter of months, should I be able to stay on track. Please, keep me in prayer as I dedicate myself to this important project.

For those who care to know, I’ll say that this book will be in the deliverance and spiritual warfare category. I’ve seen such a big and positive response to my latest teachings on this subject - including testimonies from pastors and leaders who have told me that the teachings have changed their approach to deliverance and spiritual warfare for the better.

Truly, the Holy Spirit is breathing upon this truth, as the hour calls for believers to be properly equipped in this area.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Spreading the Gospel,

David Diga Hernandez

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Flowing with the Holy Spirit

Trying to fight the Holy Spirit makes you miserable. Trying to force the Holy Spirit makes you frustrated. But when you flow with the Holy Spirit, there is peace and joy. When it comes to the work of the Holy Spirit, don’t fight or force; just flow.

You can’t stop what He’s doing in the earth, so you might as well get on board, lest you become miserable.

You can’t force Him to do that which is outside of His will, so don’t even try. People waste so much time trying to live in their own strength and by their own will.

Live at the pace of the Holy Spirit, and things fall into place. This is not to say that you won’t have trials or experience heartache. This simply means that when you’re walking in the Holy Spirit, there is a flow, a peace, and a joy.

 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)

We belong to Him. We are alive in Him. So let’s live like it.

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Repentance: Change Your Mind

A street preacher was boldly proclaiming the gospel at a college campus. He was talking about sin, Heaven, Hell, and repentance. As he lovingly and passionately warned the college students about the eternal consequence of Hell, a college student began to raise his voice against the street preacher. “I’m a christian,” the college student announced, “And what this man is doing is unloving! Jesus accepts you and loves you. Am I’m sorry this man is giving Christians such a bad name.” Just then, another college student, an atheist, spoke up. The atheist asked the student, “Does the Bible teach that there’s a Hell?” The student paused for a moment and then answered with a stutter, “Yes, the Bible teaches there’s a Hell.” The atheist replied, “I’ve seen you on campus almost every week for the past year. You say you believe in Hell, yet not once have you ever warned me about it. I can only conclude one of two things: either you don’t really care about me, or you don’t really believe the Bible.”

We need to begin living and preaching repentance again.

We need to live in repentance, because God has called us to be holy.

14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14, NLT)

Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. (Matthew 3:8, NLT)

Repentance is the turning away from sin that comes about as the result of a changed mind. Far too many believers are stuck in sin because they imagine that repentance is simply feeling bad about wrongdoing. But to repent is to say, “God, I agree with you that this is wrong. I agree with you that it needs to be removed from my life, permanently, in every way. I will not return to it. I will not allow my flesh to try to keep it in small portions. I will cooperate with you in removing this from my life, for the rest of my life.”

To repent is to recognize that you’ll have to say “no” to what you desire.

To repent is to acknowledge that at no point in the future should you allow yourself even a taste of that which you sinfully desire.

To repent is to set aside whatever excuses you may have made for your wrongdoing. 

To repent is to walk in holiness by the grace of the Holy Spirit. 

And once we begin living it, we must preach it too, and boldly so.

When the Church is pure, the Church is powerful. When the Church is powerful, true and lasting transformation is brought about in the world.

I know it’s not popular to preach against sin. I know the trends of the day demand that we avoid the truths of the cross, the blood of Jesus, the evil of sin, and God’s ability to transform. But if we the Church don’t preach the gospel, nobody will. If we don’t warn the world about the consequences of its wickedness, nobody will. 

In the book of Acts, we see that Peter preached repentance as a part of the new testament message.

18 But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. 19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. (Acts 3:18-19, NLT)

We see a similar message again in Acts 17:30.

God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. (Acts 17:30, NLT)

We’re so afraid of “turning people off” from the gospel that we try to modify the message, as if God didn’t get it right the first time. But understand this: it’s not our preaching of truth that turns people away from the gospel; it’s their desire for sin.

19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. (John 3:19-20, NLT)

Clearly, we are to both live and preach repentance. If you live repentance but don’t preach it, you’re being selfish. If you preach repentance but don’t live it, you’re being a hypocrite. If you both live and preach repentance, you’re being obedient to God.

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We Need to Focus on Soul Winning Again

Some live for the moment, and others live to make history. But there will come a day when every moment, and even history itself, will be consumed by eternity. Only what we do for eternity has actual purpose.

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. (Colossians 3:2, NLT)

Lately, the Holy Spirit has had me thinking about the destiny of the soul. I’ve also wondered what it might take to see believers, on a mass scale, focus again on the practice of soul winning.

I believe in ministry to the saints.

I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I believe in prophecy.

I believe in healing, deliverance, and good works.

Yet I can’t help but wonder: what good does it do to feed a man today who goes to Hell tomorrow? What good is it to minister healing to someone’s body without ministering salvation to their soul? What good does it do to cast out someone’s one demon if they eventually go to Hell with all of them? What good is it to prophesy someone’s future if that future doesn’t include Heaven?

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t show kindness and charity to the unsaved. On the contrary, good works often open doors for the gospel. I’m not saying that good works don’t please God or matter in the moment. And I would never stop praying for the sick, operating in the spiritual gifts, and casting out demons - at least not while I’m on this earth.

But my question is “What about souls?”

It’s wonderful that we have our Christian gatherings, revival services, fellowships, conferences, worship events, and meetings. It’s great that there’s Christian media, e-courses, music, and more. But what about the lost?

In all of our charity, in all of our power demonstrations, in all of our Kingdom building - let’s not forget about souls.

Practice evangelism. Identify ministries that focus on soul winning and support them. Encourage others to do the same. We have a world to win.

What does it profit a man to win the whole world yet lose his own soul? What does it profit the Church to wow the world yet lose its soul?

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The Coming Financial Crisis?

Many are talking about a coming financial crisis. What is true, what is false, and what is exaggerated isn’t always easy to discern. The media stokes fear. The unbeliever frets.

What’s coming? I don’t know. All I know is this:

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalm 37:25, KJV)

Whether the sky is truly falling or not (Personally, I’m always hopeful), we believers don’t worry as the world worries. We have the guarantee of God’s provision and protection.

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. (Matthew 6:31-32, NLT)

If you’re allowing fear to infect your heart, if you’re allowing the talk of doom and gloom to rob you of peace, it’s time to remember Who we serve. Sure, be a good steward and prepare for challenges. But never be consumed by fear.

No matter what happens around you, you can have peace within. God is in control, and He has never failed. For the believer, the future is always bright.

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10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Quit

We’ve all felt like quitting at one point or another. The desire to quit is as much a part of growth as success. For those who do not quit, a reward waits. Nothing worth having is easy to obtain. And everything that has value also has a cost. This is why so few actually reach their God-given goals: though most acknowledge that hard work is needed, most fail to realize just how hard that work will be. We know good things take years, decades even, but when the years begin to pass by, many are still caught off guard.

Make no mistake: the bigger the vision, the longer it will take and the tougher times will be. God will give no weighty thing to the one who cannot stand under its pressure. It is the process that makes you a person who can handle what God wants to give you. I assure you: there are no shortcuts.

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” - 1 Corinthians 9:24

Trials, testing and tragedy – these cause us to grow weary. Setbacks, disappointments and long-term delay – these add to the demise of our resolve. But in our weak and frail moments, we can find the strength to continue.

We see the vision. We hold onto the dream. We pray that we become someone who pleases God. But sometimes life doesn’t align with our ambitions and hopes. People, discouragement and demonic powers speak to your heart, “Just quit and try something else.” I’ve even heard preachers say, “If it’s God, it’ll flow easily” and that’s absolutely false. When you do something for God, when you pursue the dream that He placed in your heart, opposition will come. And it will come ferociously. But in difficult times, I am reminded of this scripture:

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” - Galatians 6:9

Hold this thought captive in your mind: “I will not quit.”

In your life, work, relationships and, even ministry, you may have had moments where you wanted to quit. It may feel as though you’re stuck, trapped and just “making it”. It’s tempting to look forward to an ideal situation. It’s easy to put your happiness on hold until things “settle down” or “fall into place.” But the key to not quitting and walking in joy is two-fold. Enjoy the journey and keep the vision. Enjoy where you are now but don’t lose sight of the future. Be happy in the moment and grateful for what you have.

And if you can just hold on a little longer, I believe breakthrough is just around the corner. Who knows what can change in the next 24 hours? You just may be standing on the brink of your breakthrough. Here are at least 10 reasons that you shouldn’t quit.

#1 Don’t quit, because what you are doing now may be positively affecting a life, and you may not even be aware of it.

#2 Don’t quit, because you may be just days away from a tremendous breakthrough.

#3 Don’t quit, because everything you do in love will count for all of eternity.

#4 Don’t quit, because faithfulness pleases God.

#5 Don’t quit, because quitting would undo all that you have worked for up to this point.

#6 Don’t quit, because quitters are more filled with regret than those who persevere.

#7 Don’t quit, because the world is still in need of the gospel, and you are a vital part of the church.

#8 Don’t quit, because future generations of your family will reap from your obedience.

#9 Don’t quit, because truth is worth the fight.

#10 Don’t quit, because life is too short to re-take divine tests.

This gospel will be preached and we will continue to walk in victory.

If God is with you, who or what can be against you?

You are a child of God. The favor on your life is uncommon, and the vision God has placed before your eyes is unstoppable. God has never failed you and continues to expand you further than you ever thought you would go.

Don’t quit… ever.

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Is Being Slain in the Spirit Biblical?

by David Diga Hernandez

Yes, it is, and I’ll tell you why it is.

But before I can present the “why”, I must define the “what”.

There are many different terms coined for the manifestation of which I write: Slain in the Spirit, Falling Under the Power, overwhelmed in God’s presence, etc.

Many believe that the phenomenon is either purely psychological or, on the more extreme view, demonic in nature. Now I want to make it completely clear that I do not make this a priority in my ministry. The “Slain in the Spirit” manifestation is not essential to my core beliefs about Christ. My faith is founded on the life, death, resurrection and identity of Christ. So rather than teaching that “Falling Under the Power” is primary, I teach that it is only incidental.

I do not seek the manifestation. Rather, I seek God. And, in doing so, the manifestation is sometimes experienced. Someone being “Slain in the Spirit” can occur during a spiritual encounter with God, but if someone is not “Slain in the Spirit”, that doesn’t mean that they didn’t have an encounter with God.

Because many often ask about it, I have been inspired to write a Biblical explanation and defense of the “Slain in the Spirit” phenomenon.

The Definitions

I want to define what I mean by “Slain in the Spirit”.

Here is my definition: A temporary, physical response to a spiritual encounter with God that involves some or much difficulty with standing.

Now, it’s important to realize that there are people who fake these encounters, and, at the same time, there are people who simply allow themselves to fall in an almost ritualistic fashion. There’s the genuine, there’s the real and there’s the ritualistic. Don’t confuse the three. The one of which I write is the genuine – I mean the one that holds truest to the definition I presented. It is, by definition, genuine. But I will lend you its scriptural support in later sentences.

The Ritualistic

Some people voluntarily fall out of reverence, because they sense God’s presence. In some cases, it’s not that they are trying to fake an experience but rather that they are, in their known traditional way, responding with respect to the presence of God. You can tell the difference between when someone voluntarily falls out of reverence and when someone falls as a result of being touched by the power of God. So someone could be experiencing the presence of God, and, even though they’re perfectly able to stand, fall out of reverence. It’s almost a tradition in some Pentecostal circles. For some people who grow up in a church culture that is accepting of the manifestation, falling over when a preacher lays hands on them becomes just as much a part of their tradition as bowing their heads when they pray. In many cases, it’s not that an experience is being faked, but, rather, a tradition is being upheld.

I must go as far as saying that these people are not deceitful or evil. Is bowing out of reverence evil? Is closing your eyes when you pray evil? Do those who practice this do so with the motive to fake an experience? Not the ones in this context.

For them, it is not that they are trying to fake an experience. They are simply being ritualistic, as their tradition has taught them to be. This “Ritualistic Slain in the Spirit” is not evil or deceptive, but I do not necessarily support it.

The Fake

Then, of course, as with anything good, you have those who intentionally fake the experience. Some people, when they feel absolutely nothing, act as though they are experiencing the manifestation when, in fact, they are not. These people, too, can be easily identified.

These are the ones who are being emotional or deceitful (sometimes a little of both). Sometimes, they are not trying to deceive others per se, but they are emotionally deceiving themselves. Other times, they may be so desperate for a “Slain in the Spirit” experience that they work themselves up and into a frenzy. Perhaps wanting to be regarded as “Spiritual” or perhaps being starved of attention, some people deceitfully fake a holy and pure spiritual experience. I definitely do not support such behavior.

The Genuine

What I am specifically writing of is the genuine encounter with God that causes your physical body to react. I am writing of the effect God’s presence has on an earthly vessel.

The Negative Arguments

So what are some of the arguments against the “Slain in the Spirit” manifestation? What issues do people take against it? And why do some vehemently deny that it is Biblical? Categorically, though specificity might seem to reveal more, there are four basic arguments that opponents of the manifestation will use. They are as follows:

#1 – Being “Slain in the Spirit” is Not Biblical

#2 – Being “Slain in the Spirit” is Present in Other Religious Faiths or It Can Be Counterfeited

#3 – It’s Purely Emotional or Lacking in Purpose

#4 – It Brings Glory to Man, Not to God

So, now, I will address the arguments:

Argument #1
Being “Slain in the Spirit” is Not Biblical

Now, as far as this specific argument goes, there are really two main positions. Firstly, there are those who believe that the manifestation is “anti-Biblical”. Secondly, there are those who believe that the manifestation is “extra-Biblical”.

However, there is nothing in scripture that specifically condemns the manifestation itself. The manifestation cannot be considered “Anti-Biblical”, as there is nothing in the Scripture that labels it as demonic or of the flesh. In fact, the opponents will say, “It’s not even found in scripture.” If that were true, what grounds would they have of labeling it as “anti-Biblical” in the first place? At that point, it would simply be “extra-Biblical”.

So those who say it is “anti-Biblical”, say so without any justification whatsoever.

Now what about those who say it is “extra-Biblical?”

I find it quite humorous that opponents of the manifestation will pick at the supporting scriptures with statements like, “Well, they fell but they didn’t fall backwards. They fell, but nobody laid hands on them.” They demand very specific mentions, yet the criticisms that they raise are themselves not found in Biblical specifics. Rather, they base their criticisms on Biblical principles. It’s insincere to then say that the manifestation cannot, therefore, be supported using the same approach.

If one is to believe, based upon the Scripture’s supposed silence, that the manifestation is something to be avoided, the same must commit to a very subtle form of hypocrisy, particularly if he denies that the silence can also be an endorsement.

After all, if the Scripture doesn’t address it, should not they be silent to condemn it, especially if they are so concerned about adding to the Scripture? Most who reject the manifestation do so because it is “extra-Biblical”. Yet their condemnation of the manifestation is itself “extra-Biblical”. We don’t see the apostles or Christ specifically condemning the “Slain in the Spirit” phenomenon. So if anything, the Bible’s silence on the issue should lead them to be silent on the issue; that is, again, if they are really that concerned with adding to the Bible.

But, in fact, that’s not their position. They base their opposition upon Biblical principles. If then the opposition is based upon principles like “defending the faith”, should we not then first look to see if the manifestation can be supported by Biblical principles?

In fact, it is supported by Biblical principles. My response to critics can be summarized in four premises that lead to one conclusion. Each premise is based upon a Biblical principle, and the principles together make a solid, undeniable conclusion, that the manifestation can be supported with scripture. My argument is as follows:

Premise A: God manifests His Presence.
Premise B: God’s Manifested Presence can cause a physical reaction.
Premise C: The Spirit dwells in us.
Premise D: The Spirit and His power can be transferred through touch.
Conclusion: Therefore, being “Slain in the Spirit” is Biblical.

So we take Biblical principles and apply them to being “Slain in the Spirit”. You won’t see that term in the Bible, but neither will you see “rapture” or “Bible” in the Bible. Just because something is not specifically mentioned – chapter and verse – does not mean that the foundational principles for it are not. The question we must ask then is not, “Is it in the Bible?” The question we must ask is, “Is it in God’s Nature?” And, if someone were to disagree, they would have to deny one or all of the premises above.

Premise A is so Biblically solid that I don’t feel I even need to show scriptural support for it. For we know that, in fact, God manifested Himself to people, time and time again. The same goes for premise C.

What about premise B? Does the manifested presence of God sometimes cause people to physically react? Indeed, it does.

“They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.” - John 18:5-6

“At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” - Acts 26:13-14

In the instances above, those who fell at God’s glory did not do so voluntarily and did not do so out of reverence. They did not faint, and they did not collapse in fear. And they did not fall back out of surprise (yes, that’s an actual argument someone tried). They were simply unable to stand in the presence of God.

In each of the instances above, they fell because that is what the Glory and presence of God caused to happen.  It is very clear, from the Scriptures above, that God’s manifested presence can cause the physical human body to react.

Again, we are not looking for this specific instance: a preacher lays hands on someone and that person falls backwards. Rather, we are searching to see if the principle, that God’s manifested presence sometimes causes a physical reaction, is well founded.

Some would argue, “But in the Bible, they fell forward, not backwards like at revivals”. And they would be correct in speaking of other references besides the ones above. In the Scriptures above, they fell backwards and were also unable to stand. It is obvious that the manifested presence of God causes physical and emotional reactions. In the case with the priests, they were unable to stand.

But I don’t even think that’s the main issue for opponents. The effects of God’s presence on a human are both plainly and often seen all throughout the Old and New Testaments.

The challenger might here interject, “Yes, but nobody laid hands on them!” That leads us to premise D.

So how about it? Can the power of God be transferred through touch?

“When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled." - Acts 19:12

“Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my robe?’" - Mark 5:30

“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands." - 2 Timothy 1:6

“Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." - Acts 8:17

So we see, from scripture, that spiritual things can be transferred and given through the laying on of hands. The Spirit and His power can be transferred through human touch.

And what happens when the Holy Spirit and His power are present? In some cases, people are unable to stand or otherwise react physically. We see the reactions to the Glory of God all throughout scripture.

So to say that the manifestation is unbiblical, one must deny one or all of these premises. Otherwise, he cannot reject the conclusion.

Premise A: God manifests His Presence.
Premise B: God’s Manifested Presence can cause physical reaction.
Premise C: The Spirit dwells in us.
Premise D: The Spirit and His power can be transferred through touch.
Conclusion: Therefore, being “Slain in the Spirit” is Biblical.

Argument #2
Being “Slain in the Spirit” is Present in Other Religious Faiths or It Can Be Counterfeited

This next argument is a rather weak one that seems to be based more so on fear than on scripture. The argument is that, because it can be faked or duplicated, it must, therefore, be rejected. Opponents often reference Kundalini.

But think of the concept of the anti-Christ. If Christ’s identity can be faked then is Christ Himself therefore to be rejected? Of course not!

My point is that the existence of the fake does not prove the absence of the real. In fact, the enemy duplicates all sorts of God’s manifestations:

1. Moses vs. Egyptian Sorcerers
2. Prophets vs. Psychics
3. Word of Knowledge vs. Divination
4. Tongues vs. Satanic Tongues
5. Christ vs. Anti-Christ
6. Gospel vs. False Gospel
7. Church vs. Cult
8. Prayer vs. Incantation

You can counterfeit even the purest of things. This is why we are to judge with righteous judgment, according to the Holy Spirit.

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." - John 7:24

“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:" - 1 Corinthians 12:8-10

The Church has been given the gift of discernment. We are to judge between the real and the fake. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us in these matters. He reveals, and He reminds. He guides us in the new and happening. At the same time, He grounds us in the foundational truths. He is our guide in all these things. So don’t let the fake discourage you from experiencing the real. If we reject the manifestation because of the existence of counterfeits, we must do the same with all else.

#3 It’s Purely an Emotional Experience and Yields No True Results

Now this argument is more of an opinion than a matter that can be refuted with scripture. I have already shown that being “Slain in the Spirit” is Biblical, but, for this argument, I will use the principles already established to form my point.

It’s not “Being Slain in the Spirit” that changes an individual, just as it’s not the anesthetics that heal a person who undergoes surgery. The surgery is what causes real change, while the anesthetics come with the surgery. God’s presence causes change, while being “Slain in the Spirit” is simply a side effect. We do not seek to encounter God in order to be “Slain in the Spirit” no more than one goes into surgery just to receive the anesthesia. Rather, we seek God’s presence, and the manifestation of His presence will sometimes cause you to be “Slain in the Spirit”.

Besides, what exactly is wrong with having your emotions touched by God? Isn’t He the One who created them? Just as He has given you sight to see, He has given you emotions to feel. Every aspect of our being responds to the touch of God – intellect, physical body, spirit and even emotions. People ask me, “Should we have an emotional experience or a true encounter with God?” But I believe that an encounter with God is, indeed, an emotional experience. Please, notice that I am not saying, “An emotional experience is an encounter with God.”

I’ll admit that emotion can sometimes cause a pure, holy and reverent encounter to be turned into a foolish display. But I argue that, even in the midst of great emotion, God can be doing a great work. Just think back on all of the ways God’s people responded to His presence: washing feet with tears, dancing almost naked in front of the ark, appearing drunk, etc. It seems to me that the critics focus more on the emotional aspects of it than do those experiencing it.

So, yes, emotion is involved. But that’s just a side effect to what’s really happening. And who are we to say it didn’t cause change in someone’s life? What if that experience simply encouraged the person? What if God did a subtle work? What if God did something deep in the individual’s heart that won’t manifest until later? If it were purely emotional, I would agree with the critics. But, again, realize that I’m writing about the genuine manifestation. It’s true that some people only experience emotional hype, but that’s not what I’m defending here.

#4 It Brings Glory to Man, Not to God

All throughout scripture, a consistent theme is found. God uses men. He uses former murderers, liars, fornicators, prostitutes, deceivers, thieves and rebellious men of all sorts. God uses people. Among believers, there is no debate about that. Whenever men are being used of God, there will always be those who wrongfully glorify them.

Here are some other things for which man wrongfully receives glory:
1. Preaching the Gospel

2. Praying for the Sick

3. Taking Care of Orphans

4. Teaching God’s Word

5. Missionary Work

6. Taking Care of Widows

7. Tithing and Giving

8. Having Faith

9. Comforting Others

Man can get glory for just about anything godly.

So just because “The Focus” can fall on a man, that does not mean that the action of that man is wrong in and of itself. If that’s the case, you might as well just throw out all of the spiritual gifts. The problem doesn’t rest with the act but with the people who give glory to men for the act. Should we do away with all things for which people glorify man? Or should we just teach the people to instead glorify God?

Conclusion

So, even if you put all of the weak opposing arguments together, they just make one big weak argument. There is nothing in the Bible against the manifestation, but the Scripture (God’s nature, Biblical principles and simple study) shows us that it’s not unlike God to use such a manifestation. It’s more of a stretch to reject it than it is to defend it.

The Bible teaches us of the nature of God (e.g. speaking through visions, causing deep sleeps, causing trembling). It is perfectly reasonable to believe that God is involved enough to manifest His tangible presence to us. And it is no great leap to say that those manifestations sometimes cause physical reactions.

Some Questions for the Critic

Now, I have some questions for those who oppose the phenomenon: Is God’s presence not strong enough to produce this effect? Cannot God move in this way? Is it unlike God to move in this way? Can you prove, Biblically, that being “Slain in the Spirit” is not of God? How do you know it’s not truly the Holy Spirit? Do you reject it because of true discernment or personal discomfort? Does believing in or experiencing the manifestation void someone’s salvation? Can someone know Jesus and believe in the manifestation? Would you reject Christian unity because of your disbelief in the manifestation? Is rejecting the manifestation central to your fundamental Christian beliefs or the essence of the gospel?

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The Sound of Heaven

We who are in ministry are stewards of God’s work. Therefore, we must remember to build God’s work God’s way - by His Spirit. 

In the book of Acts chapter two, when the Holy Spirit suddenly manifested His presence, a loud noise was heard at His entry. Like a mighty wind, His influence blew through the atmosphere. His fire rested upon His people. And the believers began to speak in tongues.  

The sound of this occurrence drew a crowd. 

When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. (Acts 2:6, NLT)

There’s just something about the sound of Heaven that has a magnetic pull on people. Wherever the Holy Spirit is moving, people are drawn. 

When the Spirit moves, believers and unbelievers alike come running to see what He’s doing. 

We who are in ministry can take no credit when the Holy Spirit draws people. We must remember that people come for His presence and power, not our talent or charisma. 

In our meetings, we have people who fly overseas to be in a single service. Many drive for miles, wait in line for hours, and arrange their whole week that they might sit in one of our services for a few hours. Why do they do that?

I promise you they’re not coming to hear me preach or hear our worship team play (as talented as they are.) The people come for the presence. The Spirit’s presence and power draws them. 

Surrender to the Spirit. Let Him do as He pleases. And people will come running to the sound of Heaven.  

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Seeing Divine Visions

When it comes to supernatural experiences, our only part is faith in action. God does the rest. Though none of us have the ability to, by our own will and effort, bring about divine visions, we can position ourselves to become more spiritually keen - surrendered.

Looking to Scripture, we see how visions become more likely.

#1 Paul was praying 

Paul was in a deep place of prayer when he received his vision from the Lord.

“After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance. I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’ “‘But Lord,’ I argued, ‘they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’ “But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’” The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, “Away with such a fellow! He isn’t fit to live!” (Acts 22:17-22)

Paul’s vision from the Lord brought clear instructions for Paul’s journey. 

#2 John was worshipping 

John was focused on simply adoring the Lord when his vision came about - a vision which became the book of Revelation.

I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. It said, “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. (Revelation 1:9-13)

Revelation can come through divine visions, as we see in the case of John.

#3 Isaiah was serving 

Isaiah was simply doing as he should have been doing - serving, living right, walking in the ways of God. It was this simple and seemingly mundane routine of living that positioned him to glimpse the glory through a divine vision.

It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” (Isaiah 6:1-8)

We mustn’t neglect the simplicity of right living and faithfulness. Such living can help to position you for supernatural experiences. 

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Healing, Deliverance, Gifts, and Miracles are for Today: The Problems with Cessationism

It is my prayer that every believer would come to know the fulness of the Holy Spirit’s power. Every believer has the Holy Spirit, but that doesn’t mean that the Holy Spirit has every believer. As I see it, those who reject the spiritual gifts are simply choosing to settle; they’re choosing to do things the hard way. 

Though I prefer to avoid labels, traditionally speaking, some- one who believes that the spiritual gifts are no longer in operation is called a “cessationist”; the belief that the spiritual gifts have ceased to be operational is called “cessationism.” 

Ultimately, it’s very difficult to debate a cessationist with Scripture, because they really don’t have anything even closely resembling a scriptural basis for their belief. They simply just assert their belief. 

Now to properly weigh in on the discussion, I would need to write an entire separate book. But I at least want to give you a few very basic thoughts on the matter so that you might be loosed from the intellectual chains that hold you back from speaking in tongues. Whenever you hear a cessationist speak of why they believe the gifts have ceased, I want you to listen very closely. Generally speaking, they will use one of the three following lines of logic: 

#1 Speculation 

The cessationist can offer many points of speculation but never any portion of Scripture that clearly teaches that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased. 

Example 1: Only the early epistles mention the spiritual gifts, but the later ones make no mention of them. So the gifts must have ceased. 

Example 2: Paul the apostle had poor eyesight; because God didn’t heal him, that demonstrates that the gift of healing (and the other gifts along with it) has ceased. 

Here’s the issue with that sort of reasoning: In order to demonstrate biblically that the spiritual gifts have ceased, you have to be able to point to the Bible verse that tells us so. Otherwise, you’re just left with speculation. The biblical evidence is overwhelmingly supportive of the spiritual gifts; it’s not even close. The entire New Testament is fundamentally supernatural. If someone wants you to believe cessationism, they need to do better than offering unfounded inference and wishful speculation. 

#2 Arguments from History 

Another line of logic followed by the cessationist is the historical one. 

Example 1: Some of the early church fathers believed that the gifts had ceased, and, therefore, we should believe the same. 

Though we honor our early church fathers, we get our truth directly from the Scripture. Even if it can be proven (and that’s a key “if”) that most of the early church fathers believed the gifts had ceased, all that proves is that we had cessationists in the early church too. The question is not, “What did the early church fathers believe?” or “What does the history of the church record?” The question is, “What does the Bible teach?” We mustn’t put people on pedestals, not even the early church fathers. They were men, not gods. We have to be humble in our assessment of ourselves; we are only human. We must stick with just the Word of God, period. 

Example 2: Church history records a decline in the use of the spiritual gifts. 

Just because something isn’t properly recorded in history doesn’t mean it didn’t occur. There are several things you do each day that won’t be preserved in history’s record. The cessationist is being pre- sumptuous when he claims that generations of believers didn’t pray in tongues. How on earth could the cessationist know what didn’t happen in the early Church? To know that, one would have to have a complete record of every life of every believer—a record detailing even daily activity. We don’t have that. In fact, to make the claim that a certain Christian figure or group of people certainly didn’t pray in tongues, we would need a record of them telling us just that. So anyone who tells you that the early Church didn’t pray in tongues is making a big assumption. In fact, it’s presumptive to make that claim about any believer in history’s timeline. 

#3 Poor Biblical Interpretation 

Unfortunately for the cessationist, the burden of proof rests on those who claim that the gifts have ceased. From Genesis to Revelation, we see our powerful God performing miracle after miracle, involving Himself in the lives of His children. And we’re supposed to believe that God just suddenly stopped? Out of nowhere, His tangible interaction with mankind just ceased? It’s unreasonable to think that we’re supposed to just insert some imaginary marker on the timeline of all of history and say, “Right here is where God stopped.” 

Here, the cessationist might interject, “We believe that God still moves. God still does miracles. We just don’t believe that God gives power, such as healing the sick, to individuals anymore.” Or they might say, “We believe God still moves; we just don’t believe men can heal the sick by their own will anymore.” But who actually believes that the power to perform the miraculous ever came from human beings in the first place? Who actually believes that men ever healed according to the exercising of their own will or power? Who believes that man on his own ever wielded the power to heal the sick? I sure don’t. 

Going back to even the Old Testament, where cessationists admit that God was moving miraculously, we see Moses, supposedly given power of his own, unable to immediately heal the sick through prayer. 

So Moses cried out to the Lord, “O God, I beg you, please heal her!” But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had done nothing more than spit in her face, wouldn’t she be defiled for seven days? So keep her outside the camp for seven days, and after that she may be accepted back” (Numbers 12:13-14). 

That God left the prayers of Moses unanswered does not mean that He stopped working miraculously through people—the rest of the Bible is proof of that. So why would anyone’s unanswered prayer today indicate that God no longer moves? If cessationists were there with Moses, they might have suggested that God was done moving in Israel. 

King David was likewise unable to heal the sick through prayer: 

Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered (Psalm 35:13). 

But we all know that God continued to do miracles long after King David left the earth. It’s been God all along, and He works through people. 

I don’t believe Peter carried his own power to heal the sick; it was sourced by the Holy Spirit. I don’t believe that Elijah or Moses had any ability, apart from God’s empowering presence, to perform miraculous displays of authority over creation. It was always God. 

It’s simple: just as God moved according to His will through people in the Old and New Testament, so God moves according to His will through people now. There’s never any indication in the teaching of Scripture that states otherwise. 

It’s all semantics, word play. Either you believe God still works among us or you don’t. This middle ground doctrine of “God still moves but not like He used to” is a dodge on the part of the cessationist. Truthfully, the best a cessationist can offer is a misapplication of this portion of Scripture: 

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). 

Obviously, we won’t always need the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I can’t imagine the need for the gift of healing in Heaven where there is no sickness, the need for the gift of prophecy in eternity where there is no time, or the need for the gift of faith in Heaven where God can be seen. The day will come when the gifts of the Holy Spirit will cease. 

So when will the gifts cease? Let’s look at what the Bible says in the very next two verses: 

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely (1 Corinthians 13:11-12). 

We are given two clues. The gifts of the Holy Spirit will cease when we see everything with perfect clarity and when we know everything completely (just as God knows us completely). 

Do we see everything with perfect clarity now? Some sincere cessationists might believe so. Cessationists argue that the time of perfection was fulfilled when the Bible was completed. However, even though we have the Word of God, I don’t know a single living human who knows “everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” 

Of course, in my spirit I know God, but only Heaven will fully manifest what is known in my spirit—without the trouble of the flesh. 

So clearly, First Corinthians 13 is describing eternity, not the here and now. So the gifts will cease when we are all face to face with God, as the King James Version puts it. 

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away child- ish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known (1 Corinthians 13:11-12, KJV). =

Furthermore, it cannot possibly be that the gifts will cease before the end of time, because Jesus promised that those who believe in Him will do greater works. 

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father (John 14:12). 

He didn’t say that a select few before a certain dispensation would do greater works. He didn’t say that greater works would be accomplished for just another couple of generations. He promised that “anyone” who believed in Him would do greater works. 

So cessationism fails miserably as a biblical doctrine. Yes, when we know “everything completely,” the gifts will cease. Until then, flow in the gifts, especially the gift of tongues. 

Excerpt from “Praying in the Holy Spirit” by David Diga Hernandez.

The Unstoppable Favor of God

When God gives you a vision, He also gives you the favor to see that vision come to pass. Consider Nehemiah. After recognizing that Jerusalem’s walls needed to be repaired, Nehemiah set out to complete His God-given mandate. The favor of God was on Nehemiah, and that was proven when King Artaxerxes’ heart was inclined to grant Nehemiah’s request.

3but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” 4The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.” 6The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request. (Nehemiah 2:3-6, NLT)

But the favor didn’t stop there. Not only did the king grant Nehemiah the permission needed to fulfill his task - he also provided resources. 

8And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me. (Nehemiah 2:8, NLT)

Of course, there was opposition to what Nehemiah was trying to accomplish for God, but the favor of God overruled the complaints of people.

That’s what happens when God’s favor is on you. 

You might be low on resources. People may speak against you. You may, at times, become discouraged and doubtful. But the gracious hand of God will cause you to see it through. If God gave you an assignment, He will give you to favor needed to complete it.

If God is for you, nobody can successfully come against you.

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How a Tornado Became Our Testimony

My heart sank as soon as I read the text: “So everyone is hiding out. Jess is under the stairs now too.” At the time, I was in Florida - miles away from home, away from my wife Jess, away from my daughter Aria.

I was told that tornados weren’t common to the Austin area. So I was taken back when I first heard about the tornado warning. It came from seemingly nowhere, and so suddenly. 

I was in Florida. My wife and daughter were at our home in Texas. Being long distances away from family is one of the sacrifices that traveling evangelists have to often make. The situation was completely outside of my control, and I didn’t like that one bit. There was nothing I could do to protect my wife and daughter except pray.

I was in Orlando ministering. Meanwhile, my wife and daughter were huddled under our stairs, bracing for a possible tornado. And there was nothing I could do about it.

The tornado warning lasted for just about 40 minutes. But it seemed much longer. I was hanging on every update. Then relief. Another text came through. It read, “Cleared up. Looks good.”

Life for my family then resumed to normalcy.

But just as quickly as I had been relieved, I became mindful again.

The tornado didn’t touch down upon our home. According to the reports, it had touched down somewhere in Round Rock. That’s when I realized: “Our new studio is being built in Round Rock!”

I sent a text to our ministry group chat, asking someone to check on our studio to assess potential damage. Several of our team members were already on their way. 

Our operations manager messaged me saying, “The building took on some damage from the tornado. We don’t know the extent of it yet. I will give you updates when we get them.”

At this point, I know that my story sounds discouraging, but there’s a powerful testimony here.

Now, I hesitated sharing this testimony, because I was concerned that it may have come across as insensitive to those who suffered great loss from the tornado. But I think it’s important to share testimonies, even testimonies set in surrounding tragedy. 

Our building was, in fact, heavily affected by the tornado. But, you see, we are still in phase 1 of a 3 phase project, which means that we haven’t yet taken over the entire building. There are still a few months left for the tenant who leases the other side. And then we’ll lease 100% of the property. 

After a survey of the damage, it was discovered that part of the roof was removed from the building. But only from the other half.

There were fences taken out. But only on the other half. 

Equipment was damaged. But only on the other half. 

But our side of the same building was left intact. 

Same building. Same tornado. Different story.

Even the house behind our studio was significantly damaged. 

We only had a small hole in our roof which was patched in a matter of hours. 

And, by the way, the water from the rain (that came through the hole in the roof) didn’t damage any of our camera equipment. It was all packed away, because we just so happened to have been in Florida.

Only days later, construction resumed on our studio.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. (Psalm 91:7, KJV)

That’s God’s favor. That’s God’s protection. When you put God’s Kingdom first, He takes care of the rest. 

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:33, NLT)

My prayer is that you too would walk in this kind of favor.

I want to thank everyone who has been praying for this project. It’s God’s project. 

I also want to thank everyone who has given toward this project, who plans to give toward this project, and who plans to give again toward this project. Your support has been overwhelming. God will bring this to completion.

To give toward the completion of our new studio, to see our progress, and to help us meet our goal date, click here: https://www.davidhernandezministries.com/expand

Faith in Action

Faith is the key to the miraculous. Nothing is impossible when you put your hope in God Himself. That is the reality that ten lepers experienced.

11As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. (Luke 17:11-14, NLT)

Jesus spoke it. The lepers believed it. And their confidence in His Word was demonstrated by their actions. The lepers were healed as they went. They simply dared to believe the Lord at His Word.

Dare we believe the Lord at His Word?

All too often, we wait for God to move when He’s waiting for us to move by faith. Too many are frozen in fear when they should be progressing in God’s promises. Rest assured, if God promised it, you can believe it. And if you truly believe it, faith will move you to action. 

Some miracles are instant, and sometimes the miracle happens as you go.

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Let God Speak for You

In the book of Numbers chapter 17, we see a story of God endorsing His servant Aaron through a miracle. Because the people were complaining against God-ordained leadership, God instructed that a leader from each of the 12 tribes of Israel should bring a wooden staff to Moses. God instructed…

3 Inscribe Aaron’s name on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe. 4 Place these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark containing the tablets of the Covenant, where I meet with you. 5 Buds will sprout on the staff belonging to the man I choose. Then I will finally put an end to the people’s murmuring and complaining against you.” 6 So Moses gave the instructions to the people of Israel, and each of the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron, brought Moses a staff. 7 Moses placed the staffs in the Lord’s presence in the Tabernacle of the Covenant. 8 When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds! (Numbers 17:3-8, NLT)

By way of the miraculous, the Lord vindicated His chosen servant. 

If God has called you, people will come against you. That’s a fact. In times of attack, it’s tempting to try to explain yourself or speak up for yourself. Don’t. Just allow the Lord to handle it. He has a way of vindicating His people that is clear and conclusive.

When you speak for God, God will speak for you. Let Him blossom something that will demonstrate His hand upon your life.

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Permits Granted: Construction Begins Monday

For this week’s blog, I’m writing to you an update for Project ETV. After several weeks of waiting, we finally had our permits stamped by the city of Round Rock, TX.

This means that we can now begin building and renovating on Monday, March 7th.

My team and I will be documenting the progress with photos and videos, so be on the lookout.

Additionally, our fundraising progress is moving along efficiently.

Check out the details and progress for this project this project by clicking here.

Please, continue to pray for this Kingdom-expanding project, as it will position us to be more effective than ever before.

Nothing is Impossible with God,

David Diga Hernandez

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How to Preach with Power: One Simple Key

Do you want to preach with power? Remember this: God does not anoint our opinions; He anoints His Word. He doesn’t back our ideas; His backs truth. If you want there to be power behind what you preach, then you need to preach God’s Word.

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (Mark 16:20, KJV)

God has bound Himself to His message. Wherever His message goes, His miracle-working power goes. Think about this: the Word of God carries such power that it produces results even when a hypocrite preaches it. Consider those in Matthew 7:

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ (Matthew 7:21-23, NLT)

If we want to see real results, we need to stay faithful to preaching what the Bible teaches. We mustn’t try to force our ideas upon the Scripture. We must humble ourselves before the Word. When we honor the Word, God will honor our preaching with His power.

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The Crucified Life

“Your dreams are about to come true." 

“Your breakthrough is on the way.” 

"The toughest times come just before the greatest blessings.” 

“God is getting ready to catapult you into greatness.”

Statements like those find their power by pulling on a person’s deep longing to be successful, wealthy, put-together, respected, and otherwise well-positioned in life. In fact, the Word “breakthrough” has become a Christian code word that means “The day I never have any more struggles.” We have sermons that give you steps to a better you and keys to success in this area or that area. It seems that every message you hear is about how your dreams are just within arm’s reach. But the reason we have so much preaching on climbing mountains is because we don’t have the faith or power to move mountains. And we lack faith and power to move mountains because we lack the preaching of the cross.

Sadly, many are promising a life without troubles, trials, sacrifice, or commitment. Honestly, that’s just contrary to what Jesus told us:

John 16:33

In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Sure, the blessings of God abound in the life of every believer. He prospers, provides for, protects, and loves His people. God does not despise the prayer request. God does not become angry with His child’s request for a blessing. God loves to bless His children. But one thing we should all remember is this: God’s cause takes precedence over the believer’s comfort.

Mark 8:34-35

34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

Jesus spoke those challenging words just after prophesying His own death. His disciple Peter was resistant to the idea of Jesus giving His own life on the cross. The Lord rebuked Peter, saying, “Get away from me, Satan! You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Get away from me Satan? Those harsh words exposed the source of Peter’s resistance to the cross. No, Peter was not possessed, as it’s well-established that Christians cannot be demon-possessed. 

But he was being influenced by Satanic thinking. Resistance to the cross is Satanic. Think of how the Devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Satan offered to Jesus a cross-less path to glory. Yet Jesus, filled with both the Word and the Spirit, overcame the temptation to deny the cross. He chose instead to deny Himself. 

A cross-less gospel is a Christ-less gospel. The gospel is not about self-improvement; it’s about self-abandonment. It’s not about our dreams; it’s about God’s will. We must stop trying to build what the Word of God has told us to crucify.

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