When Jesus fed the multitude (Matt 14:17), He took five loaves, two fishes and by His word He blessed them. This act turned this meager lunch into more than enough for about five thousand people. After everyone had eaten, twelve baskets of food remained. This is an example of God’s supply for His children of today. He heals the sick and provides for people that trust in Him. He knows our needs, He even desires for all of His promises to be fulfilled in us. He is more than enough for our life on earth. It is unfortunate that people lose what God has for them because they do not know they are to have a surplus, more than enough.

In the wilderness, God supplied a covering, water and food, for the children of Israel. At the same time, through Moses, He spoke to them. His instructions for the children of Israel was enough to get them to the time when The Word of God was manifest in the flesh (John 1). When Jesus came on the scene, He spoke to His Apostles and gave more instructions from His Father in heaven. But there was more. After Jesus ascended to His heavenly estate, more than enough came to the spirit of man. Jesus prayed the Father and He sent the Holy Spirit, a helper for His people. By His Spirit we take on the mind of Christ and communicate with Him. By His Spirit, through the mouth of man, His word continues to do His work on earth (1 Corinthians 12:6-10).

It is easy to relate the loaves and fishes story, and the manna story to God supplying more than enough for man. But how does God do these things? Obviously, God spoke to the children of Israel through Moses. Then He spoke to us through Prophets. This was followed by Him speaking to us through His Son, Jesus. God followed this pattern by speaking to His people in tongues and prophecy on their behalf. Because of this we must ask, "Is speaking in tongues an important part of more than enough?". The answer is yes. Therefore, we need to take a closer look at this phenomena.

What I am about to write may be unusual for a Baptist, but through the Apostle Paul, God gave an important message that no denominational lines or traditions should interfere. The Apostle, writing to the Corinthians, told about speaking in tongues and said, Now I would that you all speak in tongues, but even more that you prophesy ... (1 Corinthians 14:5 R.S.V.). Paul continued and said, So, my brethern, earnestly [sincerely] desire to prophesy, and do not forbide speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:39 R.S.V.). He also said, For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God. (1 Corinthians 14:2). He that speaketh in tongues edifieth himself:... (1 Corinthians 14:4). Therefore, when one is speaking with the gift of tongues, he is allowing the Spirit of God to use his tongue. He is speaking on behalf of himself or someone else. Simply, through him, a perfect prayer is being prayed by the Holy Spirit. Therefore by this method, God is more than enough. This is not to be confused with speaking in tongues and having an interpretation for the Church.

Many Christians say, "I have salvation and that is enough". Is it? When one receives the gifts (Re: 1Cor 12) of the gift, the Holy Spirit, he receives the ability to be more than enough. So why do some people not operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Jesus, speaking about the Holy Spirit and His gifts, said, If you ask any thing in my name, I will do it (John 14:14). So, we do not have what we do not ask for.

Because of this message I am going to take an excerpt from a previous newsletter. It is about the two oils of the Old Testament and how they were an example for the two spiritual oils of the New Testament.

God told Moses to use "pure olive oil beaten for the light," a lampstand to burn constantly in the Tabernacle of God (Exodus 27:20). This lamp oil had to be replenished perpetually. Lamp oil relates to Christ's Spirit which is put in people who accept Jesus as their Savior. Paul wrote of this, "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." (Romans 8:10). To the Ephesians he wrote, "... be filled with the Spirit;" (Eph. 5:18). The Greek word for filled was written in the present imperative tense. It is a command to do something which involves continuous or repeated action (lamp oil). Paul wrote that you are a temple of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, this oil causes one's lamp to burn as a light unto the world. However, in order for the lamp to burn continually, a refilling must take place repeatedly. (Matt. 25:1-13). This is done through prayer, reading, and hearing God's Word perpetually. (Deut. 1:18-20). Receiving lamp oil gives one a desire to be more like Jesus, but traditions or fears stop many people from asking God for anything more. Therefore, they remain "babes in Christ" like those Paul addressed in 1, Corinthians 3:1-4.

God told Moses to blend olive oil with sweet spices for an anointing oil. As Levites matured they were prepared for the priesthood. The High Priest washed them with water and poured the anointing oil upon their heads, baptizing them into the priesthood. However, the High Priest was forbidden by God from pouring anointing oil upon any stranger, anyone but a Levite. In order to better understand this read Exodus 30:22-33. After Paul had written about lamp, oil he wrote, "But [on the other hand] if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [bless] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Rom. 8:11). This is anointing oil from above blended with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians, Chapter 12). The oil of Exodus 30, appertains to this oil. Notice that it was never poured upon a stranger to God. It is poured on believers, those men and women who have lamp oil. The standard was set on the day of Pentecost, A.D. 33. (Acts, Chapter 2). All believers should mature and be baptized with the anointing oil; anointing them into the omnipotent priesthood under the High Priest, Jesus; becoming priests in the order of Melchizedek. (Heb. 7:15-21). These receive power and instructions to do the works of God. (Acts 1:8; John 14:12; Mark 16:16-18). As their knowledge and wisdom increases, their thinking becomes different from others. The gifts of the Spirit working through them causes them to be like Jesus who is like the Father. (John 5:19-20). When others see God's power in action they make Jesus their Lord. Many Christians do not receive this oil because they do not understand the order, or they do not wish to be peculiar to others. (James 4:1-6). Any believer (spiritual Levite) can ask the Father, in the name of Jesus, for the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit and receive it. It is their right and no man should be cheated out of what God has for them. False doctrines, traditions, or vain imaginations must not get in our way.

Thank you for continuing to pray for JoAnn’s complete restoration. Today, the cancer damage is extreme, but we believe what the Apostle John said. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth (III John 2). We also believe the many scriptures revealing what the Lord said about healing the sick. We also know that He said, ... let your communication be, yea, yea: and nay, nay: (Matthew 5:37). Therefore, what we prayed in the beginning, we will continue to pray, standing firm and expecting God’s word to also stand firm. Otherwise, we would be like a double-minded man. James wrote that we are to ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave on the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:6-8). Almost six years ago, we started praying for JoAnn’s healing. We have not, and will not, change that prayer just because death appears to be near. During many years of ministry I have seen so many people give up and change their prayers when they go by what they see and not by what the word of God says. If we are wrong, so be it, but we ask that you too continue to stand by what you have prayed in the beginning. "The fat lady has not sung, yet." We must, however, remember that positive words bring a positive result, and negative words bring a negative result. We must also not accept the norm for God’s work.

We appreciate you and your support for us and this ministry!

In God’s Love,

Dean and JoAnn Hubbard