The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
It is now time in our series of foundational studies to consider the Holy Spirit, and especially, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, also referred to be some as "the Baptism of the Holy Spirit" although this is not technically correct. This subject forms part of the foundational doctrine of baptisms (see Hebrews 6:2). It is important for every Christian not only to correctly understand what is this baptism in the Holy Spirit so as to be able to explain it to others correctly, but also to actually experience this baptism in the Spirit, and thus enter into a dimension of life full of the power of God. Christians need the power that comes with the Baptism in the Spirit in order to do their part in continuing the supernatural ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus promised the believers that they would do greater works than He (John 14:12). How can this be done unless the Holy Spirit is with us as He was with Jesus? Truly the church today needs the power that comes through the Holy Spirit and ought to remain in fellowship with the Holy Spirit so as to maintain this power and ability to minister the reality of Christ to a world in trouble.
I have also written a short practical guide to being baptized and filled continually with the Holy Spirit which covers the issue of speaking in tongues also. You can find it HERE.
As we have seen before (in this lesson), the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is God. (Acts 5:3,4). The Holy Spirit is not a power, a force or an energy; He is a person. As a person, He has feelings (Ephesians 4:30), a mind of infinite knowledge (Romans 8:26,27) and a will. He speaks. (Acts 13:2; John 16:13). A force or power does not have these attributes and abilities.
The Holy Spirit is called "the Spirit of Truth" (John 16:13). He always speaks truth. He doesn't like lies. He loves to bless people of truth and honesty.
The Holy Spirit is also called "the Comforter" (John 14:26). He communicates the comfort and healing love of the Father to our hearts, giving us encouragement, joy and spiritual pleasure especially in times of trial and difficulty.
Also known as "the Spirit of God" and "the Spirit of the Lord", the Holy Spirit is the one who gives and inspires wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2).
As well as those things mentioned above, the Holy Spirit is at work to do the following:
1. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8). Without this special work of the Holy Spirit people would not be deeply convinced of their sinfulness, God's righteousness or the coming judgment. Therefore in communicating the Word of God to others we must depend on the Holy Spirit to convince people of these truths. We may say what the Word says on these issues but it is the Holy Spirit who will do the convicting.
2. He guides us into all truth (John 16:13). If we allow ourselves to be guided by Him, He will indeed show us what the truths from the Bible we need to understand. Being the author of the Bible, He is best qualified to interpret it to us. He will show us many things both directly from the Word but also through other means. What He shows cannot be the mere product of logic and reason, although it is not illogical. We must realise that the Holy Spirit never guides us in any way contrary to the Holy Scriptures. We must not believe every spirit claiming to be from God, but test the spirits according to the standard of the Holy Scriptures.
3. He regenerates (John 3:5,6). When a person turns to Christ for salvation and trusts Christ from the heart, the Holy Spirit is involved. At this time, the Holy Spirit causes the spirit of that person to be made new. (2 Corinthians 5:17). The human spirit, once dead in sin, is regenerated or made new by the power and working of the Holy Spirit. This is what it means to be born of the Spirit.
4. He glorifies Christ (John 16:14). The Holy Spirit always works to bring glory and honour to Jesus Christ. He does not seek His own glory, but the glory of Jesus. He does this by revealing who Jesus is to us and through us so that all may praise Jesus. He makes Jesus real to people, by bringing the resources and reality of Jesus to the people on earth.
5. He reveals Christ to us and in us (John 16:14,15). Jesus said, "He will take of what is mine and declare it to you". It is the Holy Spirit who communicates to our soul the knowledge of who Jesus is and what He is like. At the same time He works to form the nature of Christ in us also. Being filled with the Holy Spirit in our body and soul, our nature is changed into the nature of the Son of God.
6. He is our leader - willing to lead us (Romans 8:14). "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the [mature] sons of God". The word for son here is the word for a mature son. Indeed, the only way to Christian maturity is to be led by the Spirit. It is not following a path determined by ourselves and our understanding of God's laws that will make us mature Christians, but the path in which He, the Spirit, leads us. We need the Spirit to be mature. Maturity is more than knowledge, it is fruit that comes from relationship with the Spirit of God.
7. He sanctifies. The Holy Spirit is given that we might be holy. It is the Holy Spirit who, working together with the word of God in our minds, sanctifies us. This means He sets us apart for God, cleanses us and puts us in order so that we can more truly show forth the love of God and the nature of Jesus. Holiness is the work of the Spirit. It is not a work based on self- effort or "trying harder". Our part is to believe God's word, and to yield to the leadings of the Spirit. It is by the Spirit however that our sanctification is achieved. This process of sanctification occurs mainly in the soul - the mind, the will and the emotions. "Sanctification is possessing the mind of Christ, and all of the mind of Christ." - John Wesley. It happens more or less rapidly depending on how we learn to yield to God, to change our thinking so that it centres on God's love and God's Word, and persist in prayer.
8. He empowers. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8). The power we receive from Him is power to preach and demonstrate the gospel of the kingdom of God, not in word only, but in power. (1 Corinthians 4:20). Paul said that his message and preaching were not with the persuasive words of human wisdom, but with the demonstration of the SPIRIT and of POWER, that your faith should not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4). There are many kinds of demostrations of the power of the Spirit. They are sometimes unexpected. Certainly the Spirit wants to give us power to heal the sick and cast out demons. (Matthew 10:1; Mark 16:17,18; John 14:12). This power of the Spirit is often referred to as "the anointing". It is the anointing which enables us to do what Christ wants us to do as sons of God. And that is, to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8b).
For a born again Christian, the normal path to receiving this power involves at least 3 things.
a. The Baptism (immersion) in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:5; John 7:37- 39). This is the normal introduction of the believer into the realm of personally flowing in the power of God.
b. Total dedication to God. Dedication to prayer, dedication to love, dedication to win souls for Christ, dedication to focus on the Word and on the voice of the Spirit. This dedication involves self-denial (usually including fasting - going without food for a time), a constant dedication to humbling oneself, understanding the authority we have as believers, learning to hear the voice of the Spirit, faith and boldness.
c. Brokeness. We realise that our own self-will, selfishness, stupidity and pride are the main reasons for our failures in God. We realise in ourselves (not in Christ, but in ourselves) we are rotten, corrupt and unable to do anything of value. (Romans 7:18; John 15:5b). We therefore learn to surrender quickly to the Spirit's voice, not trusting our own minds, nor caring about our own reputation. When we make mistakes, we receive correction meekly. When we have success, we give all the glory to God.
9. He fills us (Ephesians 5:18). We are commanded to be filled continually with the Spirit. This being filled effects our whole personality, our ministry for Christ, and the focus of our minds. It affects our body also. (Romans 8:11; Luke 11:36).
10. He teaches us to pray (Romans 8:26,27; 1 Corinthians 14:15). The Spirit of God knows what we should pray and how. We don't. That is why we must let Him help us here. One way is through the special prayer language He gives us when we are baptised in the Spirit. Another way is by inspiring our minds with the prayers that get results. Yet another way is through the deep groanings of intercession He produces in us.
11. He tells us that we are children of God (Romans 8:16).
The Holy Spirit is wanting to bring us to the place where all these things are part of our lives.
12. He produces in us the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23). As part of our sanctification, the Holy Spirit produces in us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control. These characteristics are formed in us by continual yielding to the Spirit of God.
13. He gives special supernatural gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). These gifts are given as the Spirit decides. However, we are not passive in the reception and operation of these gifts. To use the gifts requires faith, boldness and a degree of sensitivity to the Spirit. These gifts are given to help people by the supernnatural wisdom and power of God. They are not the product of the rational mind. Rather they are supernatural operations of the Spirit which occur through those who are open to them. They are useful in evangelism and in every part of Christian ministry. In neglecting them, the church has neglected an important God-ordained means for achieving God's work in the world.
Born of the Spirit, Baptised in the Spirit
Every true Christian is born of the Spirit. As such they have experienced the work of the Holy Spirit in a number of important ways. These ways include but are not limited to: conviction, regeneration and the witness of the Spirit in our lives that we are children of God. However, the dimension of power that God wants for His children can only be reached through the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is God's will that every Christian be baptised in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38,39). Even though some Christians achieve results without the actual baptism in the Holy Spirit, they would achieve more if they yielded to God so as to receive the Baptism in the Spirit. It is possible for a Christian to recognise many aspects of the Holy Spirit's work and enjoy a measure of His blessing in life and ministry, without ever being baptised in the Spirit in the Biblical way.
Some say that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit no longer exists today. Others take another approach and say that EVERY born again Christian was baptised in the Spirit at his conversion. Both kinds of teaching have the effect of robbing believers of something very important that Christ provided for them as part of their necessary inheritance in this life.
We will see from the Bible that the baptism in the Spirit is not the same as regeneration. It is important that we do not allow tradition - even "evangelical tradition" - to take a higher place than the Word of God in our doctrine and in our lives.
Biblical proof that these are Separate Works
Although the Bible does give examples of people who were baptised in the Spirit at the same time as their regeneration, we will see that this is not always what happens. The Book of Acts reveals that repentance, baptism in water and the baptism in the Holy Spirit, although all part of our salvation package, do not necessarily happen in the same order all the time. It is interesting to note that in Acts, where the Baptism in the Spirit happens to believers at the time of their conversion, the Bible puts emphasis on the fact that the apostles knew they were baptised in the Spirit "for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God" (Acts 10:46; Acts 11:15- 16). We certainly do not believe that speaking in tongues is the proof of being born again. However, we can see that consistently it is the sign accompanying the New Testament Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
It is important to state that every true born again Christian has the Holy Spirit. "Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." (Romans 8:9). The Holy Spirit is given by God "to those who obey Him" (Acts 5:32). To receive Christ is an act of obedience by which the person submits to the work of the cross and becomes a new person (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The Holy Spirit enters our human spirit when we are born again of the Spirit of God (John 3). Jesus comes into us by his Spirit (John 1:12). As we grow in Christ we produce the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22,23).
However, there is an empowering by the Holy Spirit which is distinct from being born of God. We get authority (exousia) to be sons of God at the new birth (John 1:12), but we receive power (dunamis) after the Holy Spirit comes upon us and we are filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8)
The apostles received the Holy Spirit in regeneration before the ascension when Jesus breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (John 20:22). They were born again of the Spirit through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (1Peter 1:3) at that time. But this was before the day of Pentecost. Jesus told them later to wait for the Promise of the Father in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4), for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5) after they had received the Spirit in regeneration. Therefore in the case of the apostles, the Baptism in the Spirit and being born of the Spirit were two separate events. They were born of the Spirit in John 20:22 before the ascension, but were baptised in the Spirit on the day of Pentecost after the ascension. And it is important to note that only then was the promise of Mark 16:17 fulfilled in the lives of the believers then, for beginning at Pentecost "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4).
The Samaritans believed the gospel and were baptized (Acts 8:12). Many were healed and delivered. They were born again through repentance and faith in Christ, but it was obvious to Philip that something was missing in their experience. Under Philip's ministry the believers were not baptised in the Spirit. So later, Peter and John came down that these Samaritan believers might receive the Holy Spirit as they ought to receive Him (Acts 8:14-17). The power which the apostles released was so impressive that Simon the famous magician at that time wanted to buy the ability to release this power. Of course this was an evil and foolish desire. But he wanted to be able to impress people further with the same kind of power he was seeing accompany the reception of the Holy Spirit. The Scripture does not lead us to suppose that the reception of the Holy Spirit was some kind of quiet blessing.
Some point out that no record is made of speaking in tongues in this Biblical account. That doesn't mean that it didn't happen. Some early church writers said it did. But what we should learn from this account is that no matter how wonderful our salvation experience of turning to the Lord was, we should not be satisfied with that, but we should go on in God until we receive the Spirit in mighty demonstration and power.
Further proof that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit does not always or even usually occur at the moment of repentance and faith can be seen in the life of Paul (formerly Saul). Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus and confessed Him as Lord, which meant he was converted (Acts 9:3-8; Rom. 10:9). But God knew that was not all that Paul needed, Three days later, God had Ananias lay hands on Saul so that he would receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17). But did Paul speak in tongues then? Let Paul himself speak here. In writing to the Corinthians he said "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all." (1 Corinthians 14:18). Not so much in church, of course, but outside the meetings in private so as to build himself up. In this way, his preaching was both understadable and powerful (1 Corinthians 14:19; 2:1-4).
Cornelius' household and close friends were baptised in the Spirit at the moment of their conversion. How did Peter know this? "For he heard them speak with tongues and magnify God." (Acts 10:46). These people received the Holy Spirit just as the apostles (Acts 10:47). Peter realised that they were not only born again, but also baptised in the Holy Spirit, at that time (Acts 11:15,16). Why? "For they heard them speak with tongues and magnifying God" (Acts 10:46). That settled the issue for Peter. In the Bible, the speaking in unknown tongues is a Biblical sign of the true New Testament baptism in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4, Acts 19:6, Mark 16:17). Let us remember that God did not trust the writing of the New Testament to anyone who did not speak in tongues. And people who despise tongues because their churches don't believe in it make the same kind of mistake as those in formal traditionalistic churches who reject the idea of regeneration by the Spirit at the moment of repentance and faith because it contradicts the long-held dogmas of the church. The Bible must settle the issue - not our traditions, theologies and lack of experience. And the Bible says, "Desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues." (1 Corinthians 14:39).
The Ephesian believers in Acts 19 were not true Christians in the full sense of the word when Paul met them. They only knew the John's baptism of repentance. They did not even know there was given a Holy Spirit. After Paul explained to them about Jesus "they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied." (Acts 19:5,6). Here we see that Paul was interested in these disciples' relationship with the Holy Spirit. He showed them their need to be baptised in water and the Holy Spirit. Once again, speaking in tongues is revealed to have accompanied this initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the believers.
To add to the testimony of the Scriptures, there are, scattered throughout church history, and especially in this 20th century, there are many thousands and now tens of millions of people who have testified to having received this power from God some time after their initial conversion to Christ.
In summary then, the Scripture shows that being born of God is not always happening at the same time as being baptised in the Spirit. The Scripture further shows that it is always desirable and God's will for people to be filled with the Holy Spirit in such a way as to be clothed with the power of God and to speak with other tongues. (Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 14:5a). All this and much more is promised to the believer who earnestly seeks a relationship of submission to the Word of God and to the Holy Spirit.
Purpose of the Baptism in the Spirit
The purpose of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is manifold. He is poured out so that all the 13 works and purposes of the Holy Spirit mentioned above might be . The Holy Spirit of course will be wanting to do these things in every believer, not just those actually baptised in the Spirit. But these things are much more easily and naturally realised in those who have been baptised in the Spirit and speak in tongues. To achieve His purposes in the believer's life, the Holy Spirit usually requires the voluntary submission of the believer. We must trust God's Spirit to lead us in our battle with the world, the flesh and the devil.
In short, the purpose of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is that men and women will become not only children of God, but children of God like Jesus the Son of God in nature, holiness and power. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit gives us the same possibilities of relationship to the Father and power ministry as Jesus had in His earthly ministry. God wants us to move into these possibilities. The Scriptures make this intention of God clear to us in Scriptures such as John 14:12 and John 17:22. God does not expect us to do the works of Jesus and to be holy as He is holy without having available to us the same measure of the Holy Spirit as Jesus had. But like Jesus, we need to be completely dependent as submissive to the Holy Spirit if we want His purposes in and through us to be fully accomplished. For the baptism in the Spirit is no substitute for the day-by-day choices the believer must make to keep submitting to the revealed will of God.
The main purpose of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit in this life then is to give us more power to demonstrate Christ and win people to Him, so that they can be saved. (Acts 1:8). All other things being equal, the believer baptised in the Spirit will have more success in preaching the gospel, because the Holy Spirit is freer to work through him. The Holy Spirit has many ways to convince people. The Holy Spirit gives us power to heal the sick and cast out demons (Mark 16:17,18) so that people can see and know that Jesus is alive and that his salvation is real and makes a difference. It is much easier to lead people to Christ after they have been healed through Christ's power by the laying on of hands of the Spirit-filled believer, for example. With the Holy Spirit working through many believers, there are actually greater possibilities for the effective proclamation of the gospel of the Kingdom that there were in the days of Jesus' earthly ministry. The Baptism in the Spirit therefore is an essential ingredient in the plan of God to multiply Jesus' earthly ministry of preaching, healing and casting out demons so that He can touch the whole world with its billions of people.
Speaking in tongues - What, Why, When?
“Speaking in tongues” refers in general to speaking in languages unknown to the mind of the speaker, by the power of the Holy Spirit. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4). They may be tongues of men or of angels (1 Corinthians 13:1). It is something which is happening in our time also! (Read the section towards the end of the lecture - are Tongues for Today?) There are many misunderstandings to do with speaking in tongues in many churches today. Therefore it is important to study carefully everything that follows in this lesson.
On occasions, the hearers may understand what is being said (Acts 2:8), but usually they do not (1 Corinthians 14:11). The speaker does not speak with his mind or understanding, but with his spirit (1Corinthians 14:14). In the case of tongues inspired by the Holy Spirit (we are not dealing here with satanic manifestations of tongues), the speaker speaks words as the Holy Spirit gives him utterance. In general, he speaks not to men but to God (1 Corinthians 14:2), although God can and does give messages in tongues to people through speakers who do not know what they are saying. In most cases, however, such messages will require interpretation or they are without value to the hearer. (1 Corinthians 14:9, 11, 27).
There are therefore three types of tongues:
(1) Praying in tongues. Tongues from man to God, for private edification, prayer and praise to God, and messages in tongues from God to man. Obviously tongues to God (1 Corinthians 14:2) require no interpretation, since God understands all languages.
(2) Prophecies in tongues (with interpretation) (1 Corinthians 14:5- 9).
There are also messages in tongues from God to man. Tongues which form a message to people require interpretation in most cases. This kind of tongues is a spiritual gift for the edification of others. It was of this gift and ministry that Paul was speaking of when he taught that not all speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28-30). In those verses it is talking about ministries in the church - not about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. According to Mark 16:17 all can speak in tongues in the sense mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:2 - prayer in tongues to God - see point (1). But not all those baptised in the Holy Spirit will prophesy or give messages in tongues.
(3) However, in the case where the speaker is speaking by the spirit words in a human language understood by the hearers but not by himself, it can be said that tongues are a sign for the unbelieving (Acts 2:8; 1 Corinthains 14:22). This kind of sign is happening sometimes even in our days.
Jesus said, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues." (Mark 16:17). We have seen from the Book of Acts that this promise of speaking in tongues was fulfilled in the lives of believers when they were baptised in the Holy Spirit. Although not all true Christians today speak in tongues, nevertheless, they may, they can and they should - when they are baptised in the Holy Spirit! This is the will of God for all Christians. Paul said, "I wish you all spoke with other tongues" (1 Corinthians 14:5) and "Do not forbid to speak with tongues." (1 Corinthians 14:39) Some Christian leaders discourage speaking in tongues or even forbid it because they teach that it is not Biblical or not for today. Who or what gives them the right to say that? Who gives any preacher the right to say what parts of the New Testament are and what parts are not relevant for the believer today? "ALL SCRIPTURE is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
Praying in tongues can be done anywhere and at almost any time after you are baptised in the Holy Spirit. (1 Timothy 2:8). You can pray in tongues while travelling, while reading, while listening as well as while kneeling in prayer. We will now consider several reasons why it is good for Christians to spend a lot of their time praying in tongues.
1. He who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks to God (1 Corinthians 14:2). That is, he prays. But the prayers he prays are prayed with his spirit in words given by the Holy Spirit. Therefore these prayers will be effective because they are according to the will of God.
2. Speaking in tongues enables us to pray much. God says, "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17). While there are many forms of prayer it is great to have the ability to pray in tongues at any time, without taxing the mind. The mind can rest or do something else while the spirit prays. This ability will help us to be "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18) even when our minds are tired and we don't know how or what to pray. (Romans 8:26,27)
3. Speaking in tongues allows us to pray for things and situations we don't know about. There are a lot of important things happening or threatening to happen in life that we don't know about. But praying in tongues helps us to pray for these things also - that God steps in and changes these things or people we don't know about and we certainly don't know how to pray for.
4. "He who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself." (1 Corinthians 14:4). This means that speaking in tongues builds up our spiritual life. Jude exhorts the Christians as follows: "But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God." (Jude 20,21). Much speaking in tongues helps us to be deeply conscious of the fact that God lives in us. Speaking in tongues therefore strengthens our relationship with God which will result in greater love and faith being known in and through us than we would otherwise experience.
5. Speaking in tongues can be a spiritual gift to help others, when translated. It also helps us to train our spirits to hear the voice of God and to operate in the other gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). Especially in Western culture, we have been trained to base all our speaking, thinking and actions on reasoning that we can understand. However, the place where God speaks to us first is in our spirits. Our spirit is the part of us through which we hear the voice of God. It is not through rational processes or deduction that we arrive at what God is saying. We don't arrive at the experiential knowledge of God through philosophy (1 Corinthians1:21), but through revelation by the Holy Spirit. That does not mean that God is illogical or irrational, but that He transcends natural knowledge and brings us extra knowledge we can't obtain by natural reasoning. By speaking in tongues much and meditating on the Word of God, or waiting silently in the presence of God, and by stepping out in faith, we will learn to hear and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit.
6. We should imitate Paul (1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 4:9), who spoke in tongues more than all the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 14:18), and they were a church that were proud of their gifts and especially of speaking in tongues! The majority of God's people with a significant healing ministry like John G. Lake or Smith Wigglesworth testify that speaking in tongues was a very important key to their ministry.
7. Speaking in tongues refreshes our spirits and our minds. Isaiah 28:11-12 speaks of a rest that comes to those who accept the blessing of speaking in tongues. Our minds can rest while we speak in tongues and we can receive power from God through it which affects our physical health postively also. (Romans 8:11).
8. Speaking in tongues helps God get control of our tongues. We must yield our tongues to God when we speak in tongues. This is a good habit to get into, since the tongue is by nature the most unruly member of our bodies, the most dangerous and the hardest to control. (James 3:8). By speaking in tongues much we learn to quieten our minds and quieten our tongues from saying wrong and hurtful things. Instead, we train our tongues to speak things that are positive and life- giving.
It is therefore important for every Christian to speak much in tongues, so as to be of the greatest usefulness to others and to God in the work of the Kingdom of God.
In Acts 2:39 Peter says "For the promise is for you and your children,and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself."
We may be far off from the day of Pentecost but the promise is for us if God has called us to Himself.
What is "the promise"? It is the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
"And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:49). See also Acts 1:4.
This is the promise recorded in Joel 2:28-32 and Acts 2:17-21.
"And it shall be in the last days, God says, that I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams (Acts 2:17).
Before "the last days" the Holy Spirit was only poured out upon specially chosen servants of God, especially prophets, priests and kings. But now, the Bible teaches us, all Christians are royal priests (1 Peter 2:9). The Holy Spirit can be poured out on all mankind (Acts 2:17), so this certainly includes you. The applicable time period for the promise, the last days, is the time between Christ's ascension and second coming. The last days aren't over yet as Acts 2:19,20 have not yet been fulfilled. Therefore the promise is still fully applicable to all believers today.
How to Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
We now arrive to the very important question - how to receive the promise of the Father; how to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. The word of God gives us the answers here.
Remember, if you are a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit already (Romans 8:9). The word "receive" is used in the sense of making a guest welcome. The Holy Spirit is holy, and also a gentleman. He will not barge in if you don't want Him to. His power is freely available to those who will trust and obey (Acts 5:32).
It is not essential to have hands laid on you to receive the Holy Spirit, but it is helpful provided the believer who lays hands on you is spirit-filled and of good character. There is a spiritual impartation that comes with the laying on of hands. We see the laying on of hands mentioned in connection with receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts 8:17, Acts 9:12 and Acts 19:6. Its important to realize that we receive the Holy Spirit by faith, and not merely by the laying on of hands.
This is what needs to happen for you to be mightily filled with the Holy Spirit.
REPENTANCE (necessary for salvation. See Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38)
Examine yourself. Be honest with yourself and God. God demands thorough repentance from ALL KNOWN SIN. Decide to live for God wholeheartedly. Confess and forsake your sins, trusting Jesus for forgiveness (Prov 28:13; 1 John 1:9). If you have unforgiveness in your heart towards anyone, you must forgive that person (Mark 11:25)
RENOUNCE EVIL POWER
If you have ever dabbled in false religions or ANY form of the occult (including astrolgy) you must renounce that evil power now in the name of Jesus. It is from Satan and his demons.
If you are in doubt about some practice or habit then renounce that too (Romans 14:23). God's power and demon power don't mix well!
THIRST AFTER GOD
Jesus explains in John 7:37,38 "If any man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water'".
The next verse tells us that this refers to the Holy Spirit.
We must have a desire to experience more in God in order to be filled with the Spirit. The more intense our desire is, the more powerfully we will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. We should never give up seeking God. Faith is born out of desire.
ASK IN FAITH
Jesus said, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him" (Luke 11:13).
"Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24)
We can have faith because we know from God's word the promises such as these. See also Acts 2:17,38-39. It is obviously God's will to keep his promises.
DRINK
"We have all been made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:13). In Hebrew and Greek the word for spirit is the same as the word for breath. When coming to God to be baptised in the Spirit, it is sometimes helpful after prayer to take a few deep breaths in faith, and as it were, to breath in the Holy Spirit. We should come with a thirsty heart to Jesus and drink. (John 7:37- 39).
RECEIVE
We receive the Holy Spirit as a gift, not on the basis of works, but by "hearing with faith" (Galatians 3:5). We don't receive by doing outward things, we must simply believe that we receive.
Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you."
YIELD TO GOD
As the expression of our faith in God's word, we yield control of our tongue to God. This yielding is an ACTIVE thing - WE do the speaking, and the Holy Sprit gives the language.
Paul says "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful" (1 Corinthians 14:14).
Acts 2:4 says "And they ... began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance (Margin reads "ability to speak out").
You must begin speaking, trusting God to give the language. Do not worry about whether you understand the sounds you make - you will make the sounds according to the language that the Holy Spirit gives you.
Keep speaking in tongues, allowing the Holy Sprit to flood your spirit, soul and body, drenching you in his presence. Keep receiving until you are absolutely full of the Holy Spirit. Begin to praise God in your new language from God, thanking him for what he has done!
Suggested Prayer to Ask for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Dear Jesus, thank you for the most wonderful gift of all - the gift of salvation. Lord, you promised another gift - the gift of the Holy Spirit. I want all you have for me. Baptize me in the Holy Spirit like you did in the days of the Early Church. I consecrate my life to you. I am a believer and you said Lord that believers would speak in unknown languages (tongues). Give me now this gift of tongues. I believe I have now received the power to do what I have asked for. Thank you Jesus!
(Now concentrate on Jesus. Your step of faith here is to open your mouth and make syllables you don't understand. Trust that the Holy Spirit within you will control what you say and make it into a language for prayer and praise! It really happens when you believe enough to act this way.)
Is tongues for today?
Yes, today multitudes experience the power and blessing of God as they speak in other tongues (languages given by the Holy Spirit). God has never withdrawn tongues from the church, but they largely died out through unbelief, ignorance and apostacy - the predominating characteristics of the institutional church for hundreds of years. We know tongues, prophecies and knowledge will cease when the perfect comes (i.e. Jesus comes again and the Kingdom of God is fully manifest) but then they will be swallowed up into something far greater. (1 Corinthians 13:82). Even throughout church history men and women have spoken in tongues (e.g. Charles Finney (see his autobiography), the Huegenots and many other groups) but this has been largely ignored or suppressed until the 20th century, where God is restoring more Biblical truth.
Certainly, the new Testament is not outdated. We ought to speak in tongues for the same reasons as the early church did. If you start with the unproven assumption that the supernatural
is not for today, large portions of the Scriptures become irrelevant, describing a God whose ways have fundamentally changed. But all Scripture is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16).
How do I know its from God?
We know on the basis of God's promise in his Word. God is our Father. If we ask Him for a good thing he will not give us something of no value that will waste our time, or worse yet, a demonic counterfeit.
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11). In Luke 11:13 Jesus says in identical fashion that God will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. It is clear then that our loving Father wants to give us what we ask for, not something evil.
But isn't love the better way?
Of course love is the more excellent way. But love does not replace the gifts, nor the need for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. "Pursue love, and eagerly desire the spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy." (1 Corinthians 14:1). God's will is not one or the other - but both. If we had to choose between love and the gifts of course we should choose love (1 Corinthians 13:1), for without love we are nothing. But there is nothing to say we must choose one or the other. In fact, all our practising of the gifts of the Holy Spirit should be done in a loving way, with a motivation of love for all that we do.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit should cause us to receive and reveal a greater measure of God's love than we would otherwise know. And speaking in tongues is a form of praying in the Holy Spirit which helps us to keep ourselves in the love of God.
Be filled with the Spirit continually.
Ephesians 5:18 tells us, "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled continually with the Spirit." The Greek tense for filled implies the idea of keeping on being filled. It has been stated that it takes just as much consecration to remain filled with the Spirit as it does to get filled with the Spirit or baptised in the Spirit in the first place. Perhaps it takes more.
In any case, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is an introduction to the realm of the Holy Spirit. We must continue to "walk by the Spirit", and so, "not fulfil the lusts of the flesh". It is possible to begin in the Spirit and then later "fall from grace" (Galatians 3:3; 5:4). This happens if we turn back to the law and ignore the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore we must not become proud and self-satisfied with the idea that we have been baptised in the Holy Spirit, but we must continually humble ourselves, deny the flesh and be led by the Spirit day by day (Luke 9:23).
The Holy Spirit wants us to meditate on the Word and on good things (Philippians 4:8). Let us not grieve Him. Let us be obedient to Him. Let us talk to Him and continue in a wonderful relationship with Him. Then the purposes of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit will be achieved in our lives. It would be good to re-read this lesson and meditate more on what the Holy Spirit wants to do in us,
Praise be to God for His wonderful gift!
Ps. John Iuliano's teaching on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
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Comments
Mark 16:19 I Need Clarity
I have been speak with a Jehovah Witness friend who doesn’t believe in the trinity. This friend continues to bring up Mark 16:19 :
19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
The Jehovah Witness feels that if Jesus and God are the same person how can Jesus sit at the right hand of God. I am very unsure of how to interpret this scripture for myself. I do know that they are one but this scripture makes me believe that when I get to heaven I will see two separate being. It makes me believe I will see God the Father and Jesus the son sitting next to each other. I’ve always known that we will only see one when we get to heaven however I am not sure how to interpret this scripture.
Can you please shed some light?
Re: Need Clarity
Dear Monicur76
This question is the same kind of question Satan asked Eve.
It is only to cause doubt about the God Head.
The following scriptures, are for you to understand the situation, in which you find yourself.
This person, as all Jehovah Witnesses, are deceived, no amount of talk will dissuade them of this belief.
Rom 14:1
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
1Jn 4:6
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1Ti 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Jehovah's Witnesses, have always taught, Jesus Christ was no more than a perfect man, "certainly not the supreme God Almighty in the flesh."
Rev 22:11
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
2Th 2:11,12
11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
1Jn 4:2,3
2) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2Jn 1:7
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
I will finish as I started.
This person, as all Jehovah Witnesses, are deceived, no amount of talk will dissuade them of this belief.
When God draws them by His spirit, to the truth which is to be found in Jesus Christ, there will not be some long debate about issues like this, they will come seeking the truth, and "They "WILL" Receive it" (period).
Joh 6:65
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
In answer to your question about Mar.16:19
Is there really a question there for you, has there ever been a question there for you?
From the sound of your post, the seed of doubt was planted, this has caused you confusion, this is what the question was designed to do.
Do not let this bother you.
We who are of the faith, accept the teachings to be found in the Bible.
This is not the kind of question that your Salvation hinges upon, it has never been a question you have asked, any time you have read this passage the Holy Spirit has given you the security, that Jesus IS in Heaven Sitting at the Right Hand of God.
When you get to Heaven you will see how it actually is. Until then, it doesn't matter.
For now, accept that Jesus is in Heaven, as The Advocate with the Father, for you and all mankind.
Be Blessed,
My prayer for you is, the Peace of God will overshadow you in this matter, giving you rest.
JIM
And what would you say if
And what would you say if your friend brought up John 1:1... "in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.." ?
I had already provided them
I had already provided them that scripture to help them understand that God and Jesus are one. At this point I will accept that the holy spirit just needs to reveal that to them.
However I am still uncertain what Mark 16:19 really means. What is your interpetation? I am confused on what it means?
Monicur, Mark 16:19 is not a
Monicur,
Mark 16:19 is not a problematic verse. When seeking to find what something IS, we often must deduce from what it IS NOT. To say that Jesus sat on the right hand of God, is not to say that He is NOT God. Your friends are insisting it is saying that so that they may hold to their delusion and draw you into it. Do not let their stubbornness to receive the full counsel of God (That Jesus is the Word who was God and was with God) be a reason for you to abandon the faith once delivered. You are right, the Holy Spirit must reveal this to them. "Buy the truth, and sell it not."
I have spent a lot of time
I have spent a lot of time studying this, at least a year and a half actually, because I had also known a Jehovah's Witness and he denied the Trinity. If you want, I can go into detail later with what God has shown me throughout His Scripture. For now, though, I've got to run off to bed. I will leave you with two things to help you out.
The first being a website that has many Scripture references pertaining to the Triune nature of God and specific details. It is: http://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html
The final thing is for confidence' sake: 1 John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
Hope this all helps you.
Thanks for This Post
Hi Michael,
Thanks for this post! It was very helpful for me in preparing to teach a Bible Study on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, a lot of "Bible Scholars" deny the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
This article was very well researched, well documented and very well presented.
Enjoyed your testimony!
Akili Kumasi
www.rfathers.net
Your language is here!!!!!!
Hi Monicur76
Luk 11:13
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
You say
"I have been crying out to God praying for my prayer language and I still have not received it."
It's really simple, if you have asked, you have received. It says in Heb. "it is impossible for God to lie.
Think of it this way, how long does it take for a baby to speak, then say sentences. You are no different at this point.
Open your mouth and speak, if this is something you have asked for, then you must have heard it spoken before. Imitate what you have heard, that is what children do God will honor it. He will also build you vocabulary, as fast as you will let Him.
But you will not be filled as those apostles on the day of Pentecost, if that is what you are expecting, it all comes down to an act of faith.
Do you believe speaking in tongues is real?
Have you asked for it?
Then speak, your prayer has already been answered. The same as when Jesus said rise and walk to someone, it took an act of faith to get up and take a step.
JIM
Jim, that is how it happened
Jim, that is how it happened for me. I realized I had asked, God is faithful, therefore I had received it. As a relaxed, I believe it actually came first in the form of a spirit song in my heart and then I was able to speak my prayer language afterwards. You have received....
Praying to receive my Prayer Language
Last year for the first time in life I felt the Holy Spirit come over me. It was an amazing feeling and since then I have continued to surrender myself to allow God to take control. Initially I was always afraid to Let go and Let God but once the spirit fell upon me it changed my life. Lately I have been praying that God gives me my prayer language along with whatever other gifts he has for me. I have been crying out to God praying for my prayer language and I still have not received it. I want to be closer to God and I feel sometimes I don’t know what to pray for, so that is why I want my spirit man to pray and talk to God. I feel like my motivation is pure but I don’t understand why I haven’t spoke in my prayer language yet. Any suggestions?
Praying in the spirit
This will not go down well on this page, But when Paul is writing in 1Cor 14 verse 14 & 15 he is saying he is praying in MY SPIRIT, The word my means of me and the word spirit here speaks of his whole person, the word here is not the Holy spirit. So all the words you speak in tongues in prayer are like God talking to himself or are you like the Corinthians who in 1st Cor 14 v 12 are seeking after Spiritual, the word gifts is not in the greek and the word spiritual means Lit spirits, Check out your greek lexicon my dear friends. Do not be deceived into beleiving in the biggest con in Church history.
These sign gifts were to establish the church and to speak to Israel 1 Cor 14 v 21
. This quote from the writer above may not be correct ( Pasted here) We know tongues, prophecies and knowledge will cease when the perfect comes (i.e. Jesus comes again and the Kingdom of God is fully manifest)
Sorry by AD 70 when most of the cannon or the word was completed these gift seemed to have ceased, WHY, The word perfect in 1 Cor 13 10 means something coming to completion and interesting enough is in the neuter gender , If in the masuline it would mean Christ coming. if the femine it would mean completion of the church but sorry it is in neither of these. It would appear it could just be the completion of the word of God.
So please be like the Church at Berea and check out if these things are so, Don't take my word or your preachers word for it . Get yourself a Greek Lexicon and concordance and see it these words have the meaning I say they have, from Jeff
Re: Praying in the Spirit
Jeff, if Paul was truly saying "in my spirit" why did he go through the trouble of saying that when one speaks in tongues there is to be an interpreter? Why would he differentiate between praying in the spirit and praying with understanding?
I trust in the Bible and the
I trust in the Bible and the Holy Spirit, as He reveals the Bible and leads me into all truth :p I pray with the help and in the Holy Spirit, waiting and depending upon Him, thanks be to God, because without the Holy Spirit I would never be able to be a christian, and I would never be able to live the christian life or please or rejoice in God. I also try depend on the Holy Spirit from moment to moment to lead me and guide me, lest I am in danger of following after my flesh. You can have as many Greek lexicons and concordances as you want, but you cannot understand the Bible in your own wisdom, power or understanding, only by the revelation, leading and teaching of the Holy Spirit as you wait upon Him to reveal His Word in truth and Spirit.
Galatians 5:16
'This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.'
Ephesians 6:18
'...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchul to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-'
Galatians 3:3
'Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?'
Philippians 3:3
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh...'
********Praying in the Spirit ********
Praying in the Spirit is mentioned three times in Scripture. First Corinthians 14:15 says, “So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.” Ephesians 6:18 says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Jude 20 says, “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.” So, what exactly does it mean to pray in the Spirit?
The Greek word translated “pray in” can have several different meanings. It can mean “by means of,” “with the help of,” “in the sphere of,” and “in connection to.” Praying in the Spirit does not refer to the words we are saying. Rather, it refers to how we are praying. Praying in the Spirit is praying according to the Spirit’s leading. It is praying for things the Spirit leads us to pray for. Romans 8:26 tells us, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
Some, based on 1 Corinthians 14:15, equate praying in the Spirit with praying in tongues. Discussing the gift of tongues, Paul mentions “pray with my spirit.” First Corinthians 14:14 states that when a person prays in tongues, he does not know what he is saying, since it is spoken in a language he does not know. Further, no one else can understand what is being said, unless there is an interpreter (1 Corinthians 14:27-28). In Ephesians 6:18, Paul instructs us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” How are we to pray with all kinds of prayers and requests and pray for the saints, if no one, including the person praying, understands what is being said? Therefore, praying in the Spirit should be understood as praying in the power of the Spirit, by the leading of the Spirit, and according to His will, not as praying in tongues.
Praying in vs praying WITH the spirit
I agree that praying in the Spirit refers to Spirit-led prayer, not NECESSARILY praying in tongues. Praying WITH the spirit could easily mean praying in tongues though. Different words, different means. In the latter case it could easily be referring to the human spirit, because it is set up in contrast to praying with the understanding.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
I recetnly received teaching on this very subject and I have read the bible and and seeking more information about it. I have read all of the postings and I'm encouraged. I have been praying for my bapstism of the holy spirit and it was comforting to hear that it was not immediate for everyone but that it did happen- in God's timing.
Do you think its prehaps a
Do you think its prehaps a matter of Faith? Hope this scipture helps - Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you."
Bro Tim: Pray and ask, believe that you have received them
Bro Tim ,
Does this apply only to Spiritual Things , ....or to
'All Things" ?
If I ask for a new car by tomorrow morning ,. ....would
I receive ?
Or are there additional conditions ?
Cheers
Vijay
Re: Pray and Ask, believe that you have received them
Hi Vijay
There is nothing wrong in asking God for a new car. I don't think it is scriptural to give God a deadline or time limit though. Mark11v24 say whatever you ask in prayer believe that you receive them and you shall have them.
This verse did not say when you shall have them, but it did say that you should believe that God has granted your request the moment you pray.
When we receive probably depends on God's timing, sometimes i have had to wait quite a long time but i also have experiences of receiving immediate healing.
other conditions for answer prayer would be forgiving people and walking in love, and lovingGod more than the things you are believing for.
let us know when you get your new car!
Brother vijay, In accordance
Brother vijay,
In accordance with Matthew 7:11, the Lord is able to supply "good things" to his children that ask for them. So yes, whatever you ask in faith, God will supply according to his riches in glory.
However, consider James 4:3 - "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. "
Hope that answers your question
Brother Vijay, Why don't you
Brother Vijay,
Why don't you ask the Lord in faith for a new car by tomorrow morning, and get back to us with the results?
Blessings, :-)
Tim
Asking for a new car....?
You know, if you're really walking with God, it won't occur to you to treat Him like a giant vending machine, with your prayer being like a quarter. You won't read those verses with the idea of gaining material wealth, but to instead seek blessing for others and for your own spritiual well-being.
God will keep His eye on you, and if He sees that you really need a new car, He'll meet the need.
Re:: Pray and Ask, believe that you have received them
Thanks friends.
The matter of asking for a car was only an example.
I've have a car and that is working fine. I don't really need a new car.
Actually , I wanted to be delivered from a bugging legal
problem.
I asked the Lord , to deliver me from it.
After meeting my lawyer an hour ago , I came back
greatly relieved.Praise the Lord !!!
I have my answer , ........
Yep , the Scripture works !!! Alleliua
In the Lord Jesus
Vijay
Re: Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Tisa,
In my case I received when I prayed, but did not receive the manifestation of my prayer language until a week or two later when I trusted that God had given it to me, but I was too fearful of using it. Also, its important to add that speaking in tongues is not the only evidence of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You have asked, and so the Lord has answered. Ask what gifts of the spirit He has given you and then listen quietly for Him to answer. I'd be glad to hear what He tells you!
Tim
Question to anyone who is
Question to anyone who is following this post. I am charismatic by experience but because of abuses of the " shepherding movement" still found in most charismatic churches I am now in a reformed presbyterian church ( think CS Lewis and RC Sproul ) they obviously are cessionists. So I find myself not speaking in tongues as often as I used to. Has this happened to anyone else?
How do you correct it? and NO I am NOT in major sin but those influencing in the shepherding movement are they just don't know it yet.
It has happened
I can relate to this. I am not praying in tongues very often at all, and, having read this teaching, I am again reminded of the fact that it was meant for our edification and to strengthen us. I had the picture of a gift that I had received, but had set high upon a shelf in the back of the closet and only get out once in a while on "special occasions" and I thought how this must sadden the Holy Spirit. I think the remedy is in confessing to the Lord our failure to treasure His gift of the Holy Spirit to us, and in seeking perhaps the company of those whose walk we recognize as being empowered by the Holy Spirit and asking them to pray with and for us for repentance, as well as a refreshing and a renewal. That's what I hope to do, for I am feeling convicted, but in a gentle and encouraging way to seek the Lord and be continually filled with the Holy Spirit, as in Ephesians 5:18.
Blessings in Jesus,
Katie
its not a formula
i dont believe that something that is an act of the holy spirit can be reduced to a formula..
Is it a Formula?
Salvation is an act of the Holy Spirit.
Would you interpret, "Repent and be baptized" as a formula? We could call it a formula and then choose to ignore it, but would that be wise?
Whether or not something is a 'formula' is in the heart of the believer. There are steps that need to be taken, but if we do them with our head and not our heart, we have made it a formula of works, rather than a sequence we follow in faith born of a living relationship with the Living God.
I hope that helps.
Tim
Lindsey, I absolutely agree
Lindsey, I absolutely agree with you. Some of the things that have come from the falling away is that the teachings, stories, lessons, miracles, you name it, from the Bible have been reduced to a few simple steps or a method or a formula. The problem I have is that when you make something a checklist and you plan everything out, you take an awful lot of steps toward pushing God out of the picture and doing all the trying and changing or whatever, by yourself.
On the other hand, how do you teach something that goes deeper than you can imagine or explain something that you just can't put into words? How do you do this without reducing it to something we can understand or live out? One thing I notice is that I cannot teach everything about anything, especially with the things of God, but I can definitely share what He has done to and through me, and what He has said to and through me. Many of the articles I've read on here are different than anything I've found anywhere else, because it has an air of experience and authority behind them and at the same time does not contradict what the Bible says. (I do not mean everything on this site, but many of the articles and even posts I do mean.)
I do not argue whether or not something God does can be reduced to a formula, because the sad truth is that this is what has happened to everything. On this just go to a bookstore and look at the titles, or the titles of the chapters within them or do a simple Google search. In fact, just open up most "Bibles" and you'll see it too. It is for this reason that I just cannot sit through a "contemporary" book of any sort or even worship services for that matter. However, I do believe (and I think that this may be what you really meant) that God or anything about Him can be limited to well anything, especially something as simple as a formula.
What is written in this article, at least as I read it, is more of an example or an interpretation and not necessarily the exhaustive "how-to and what-is" concerning the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
How come that there is no
How come that there is no example of praying to the Holy Spirit, but there is a command to pray in the Spirit?
Reply: Why is there no example of praying to the holy spirit but
Well it's alittle tricky to explain but very easy to understand for me anyways. There is no example of prayng to the holy spirit specifically because when you are praying to God you are praying to the holy spirit. You see God the father, Jesus the son, and the holy spirit are all one person. Alot of people dont know that. God is called different names just as the same reason as i am called a sister a cousin and ashley. God is a father a son and Jesus. all in one.. And if i lost you there then there is also explaing this way. If you do believe God is ompinent {spellcheck} meaing being in more than one places at once then why cant he be different people at once?Jesus claimed, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (v. 9). He was saying that he spoke and acted for God because he was in God and God was in him (vv. 10-11; 17:20-23). He proclaimed that the Father and Son equally possess all the attributes of deity. In other words, Jesus was claiming to be God in the flesh. and also in John 1:30 it says "I and my Father are one" How can you deny that?
So there is no need to adress the the holy spirit individually if your praying to God because the holy spirit is God!!! and oh yea when you are praying in the spirit the holy ghost is upon you. Meaning you speak in tongues. That is what praying in the spirit is
I hope this helped you :)
RE: Prayer and the Holy Spirit (Marian Toana)
That is a very good question Marian, we assume that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are ONE.
I wish I could answer your question. I heard Derek Prince give teaching on the Holy Spirit recently and he addressed this topic.
I can only say what I learnt from the Derek Prince teaching, wish I could remember more. It is God the Father who sits on the throne listening to our prayers and He is the one who answers them. In Revelation we see the prayers being presented to God, not Jesus nor the Holy Spirit.
We see Jesus when asked how to pray by his disciples He began his prayer with "Our Father who is in Heaven..." of course meaning God. While on Earth Jesus himself prayed to His Father in Heaven.
I can't remember fully what was said about Jesus and the Holy Spirit accept that their ROLE in the Godhead was not the same as our Father in Heaven. The Holy Spirit is revered in the Bible. He is Holy as is Jesus and God. Actually you know the unforivable sin is Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Anyway it is the Holy Spirit's ROLE to interpret our prayers.
The Holy Spirit has other work to do, he isn't in Heaven receiving our prayers but interpreting them, interceding as we pray. I guess even God's Spirit has enough on His plate being here on Earth doing all the work He does with Believers to be listening to and answering prayers.
Meanwhile Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf until he comes back to Earth to Rule and Reign from Jerusalem.
You see God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are all fullfiling their allocated ROLES.
The other thing Derek Prince pointed out is this. We see in the Bible where in Heaven God the Father is Praised and Worshiped and so is Jesus but never in the Bible do you see any form of worship for the Holy Spirit? We are neither instructed to pray to the Holy Spirit nor to worship the Holy Spirit. We are to revere/respect the Holy Spirit as we should for he is of God Himself.
I don't think I was able to directly answer your question. However, I hope I gave you something to think about. If you have a concordance or an electronic Bible maybe you might like to do some research on the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible and see what you come up with. Do reserach on Prayer as well. There are free Bible Research tools on the Internet. The Blue Letter Bible site is one I have used and recommend.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/
Cheers
Mel
RE: Holy Spirit praying
Emilian
Your question
"How come there is no example of praying to the Holy Spirit, but there is a command to pray in the Spirit?"
Think about it, we are told to pray in the Spirit, speaking in unknown tongues is the same, either term you want to use,
We are also told , this form of speaking is for you to pray to God in the privacy of your own prayer closet,
for your own edification, and those things that you pray in private God will reward you openly.
With that in mind, where would you then find an example of praying in the Spirit, except as some ones private prayers. Look in 1 Cor. 14 , and Matt.6:6
JIM
My understanding of the
My understanding of the Godhead is that in our creation we reflect it. We are spiritual beings who have a soul (mind, will, emotions) and live in a body. The Holy Spirit functions in the Godhead very much the same way our bodies function. He does the will of the Father. Jesus spoke and it was done at creation, yet Psalms shows us that "you send forth your spirit, you renewest the face of the earth."
If I want you to hand me a dish rag I would not speak to your hand and say "Emiliian's hand, please give me the dish rag." The Spirit responds to the Heavenly Father's directives and in accordance with the will and spoken word of the Son.
I have not considered it to be a command as much as an exhortation to pray in the spirit, but you have given me something to think about! God's spirit indwells us and makes us one with God. Our point of communication flows through Him according to the will of God.
I hope that helps.
Tim
What Do you think of Perry Stone?
Ok, I know perry stone is a big time preacher who is on t.v. So this got me curious if he's like many of our other tv "preachers" who are out for money and not really teaching God. I went to a church service last friday where he preached and i was impressed. You could feel the holy spirit moving in the place. The Presence of God was So powerful that the hair on my arms were standing straight up at some points during worship. He offered us books on asle but he never once asked for money, asked for offering, or even asked us to buy anything. He seems like a true man of God, what do you all think?
Baptised in the Holy Spirit
A couple of years at a camp, there was an altar for people who want the baptism in the holy spirit. I went up, and stood there, crying to the Lord to be filled (as I have done numerous times before). My pastor came by to me...and after the altar call, she told me that I have received the baptism in the holy spirit as I was speaking in tongues. More than 2 years have passed, and I am still grappling with the issue...I feel so fake when I speak as I feel it is something I willed myself to say... the words.. SO ...am I filled?
Being filled with the Holy Spirit
If you have received power to make Jesus real to others - then you have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
If you doubt that you are filled with the Spirit, I would say you are not - but that is not to say that the tongues are not real. There is a difference between speaking in tongues and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Tounge's and The Holy Spirit
Me and The rest of the youthgroup im in have been studying spiritual gifts, and the holy spirit. I too have had this problem always wondering about speaking in tounges, yes i do believe ive been filled and i have spoke in tounges but them thought have crossed my mind. In my oppion thats satan trying to distract you.
but my question is to you michael, isnt being filled evident by speaking in tounges? so if you speak in tounges arent you filled?
I need someone's help ASAP.
I need someone's help ASAP. I need to talk to someone on some sort of Instant Messenger about the Baptism. I think there is a serious problem going on behind the scenes or with me.
My myspace IM is azbycxdwevfugt43(please don't ask it is from the drug years)
Facebook is jesseedavis
yahoo is jesseedavis
I need to talk to someone live, this is important.
Thanks,
Jesse
Jessee, look me up
Jessee, look me up on FB I sent you an email with my name. There are too many jessee davis out there.
Blessings and Peace,
Timothy
PS 20 minutes later.... sorry I we couldn't connect. Family is home and have sick ones to tend....
I got your emails, I'm sorry
I got your emails, I'm sorry I missed you. Thanks for trying, maybe you may end up back on later. Anyways, I didn't find you on FB. If you search jesse davis in the peoria, IL network you'll find me.
Anyways, I'm still needing someone that I can talk to.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
After reading the other comments, I remembered how I felt as well. I had asked, but nothing immediately happened. The wise woman who was praying with me said for me to have faith. Faith is believing in something I couldn't see, yet! My faith had to be exercized. She also told me to seek the Giver of the gifts more than the gifts themselves. I was looking for proof or evidence, but my knowledge of Jesus was very shallow. One day, as I was driving to school, I started to proclaim out loud what I believed. I started in Genesis and everything I could remember I said out loud. Before very long, I started to feel His presence. As I opened my mouth to say, "I believe You are with me, right now," I received my prayer language. God is not withholding from you like sometimes a parent would, He likes to be persued. Forgive your parents if that is what they did or do. You may be judging God in the same way you judged your parents. He is not a man that lies. If He said He will give good gifts to you, He will.
Thanks so much for the
Thanks so much for the thorough explanation of being filled with the Holy Spirit! I received the gift of speaking in tongues, not right away, but after much prayer and yielding my voice to God as a little child. I was at summer camp, waiting for chapel time to start, and just began praying in tongues right then! I was so thankful and excited. I was eleven years old, if I remember correctly.
Now as I teach this to the children in our church, I can share with them about the awesome annointing God provides through the Holy Spirit. Once we understand the scriptural basis for the Holy Spirit, I think we should approach it as a little child would.
It is such as joy to see the excitement on the childrens' faces when they receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
I'm scared.
This is article is amazing. Our God is amazing!
I have prayed for this many times and have not received it. The second or third time I prayed for it I fasted for purity in the Lord's eyes and then went to a Church of God that is really incredible and had the elders and pastor lay hands on me and we prayed and prayed..and nothing happened. Needless to say I left very embarrassed and after a little while I became bitter. The pastor had taken my aside after it was all said and done and told me what the Lord told Him was going on. The truth is that I was afraid and that I was holding back on the Lord. The same thing is happening here tonight. I'm scared. I'm scared of opening myself up to demonic influence, or to end up faking it with some sort of fleshly version of it. (They call it emoting or something.)
I need the baptism and I need more of God, but what is going on! Needless to say, I'm in tears and I feel embarrassed and like a failure.
holyspirit baptism
Hi jesseedavies,
I think you should die to your flesh completely and dont care what people around you think if you want to receive this gift because the flesh and the spirit are constantly at war but the spirit should and will always win but it's up to you. It's a choice at free will.
I received the gift just by asking and having faith to receive and the rest is histrory in Jesus name. Practice make perfect as i now use it everyday and everytime I pray, am so excited.
Do not care after being prayed for if what you are saying makes sense or if it's fake,just open your mouth in faith and utter anything that comes out eventhough at first the language would not make sense but continue in faith and the holy spirit would help and perfect it with time. Don't give up, put the devil to shame because he does not want you to have it. He is to scared and a coward!
God bless and we must keep up our faith, always live in spirit and in truth..........Amen
I belive that you need the
I belive that you need the holy Spirit to confess Jesus Christ!! If its speaking in tounges the problem worry not, God will hear your heart!! God Bless you
I'm Scared
Jessee, I know what you are saying. This is where faith comes in. I did not receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit outwardly when I first asked for it. I was pulled aside and asked if I had ever heard preaching against the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I said, "I even taught it myself."
Repented. Read scripture and did not see the need to go back for another prayer. Why not? because I had asked God for it and then I read the Bible.
Matthew 7:8-11 "For EVERY ONE that asketh RECEIVETH; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Did I ask God for the Holy Spirit baptism? Yes. Did I receive it? No. Oh, wait a minute... by sight, "no". By God's Infallible Word, "YES" I asked, and so I received, even if I did not perceive. Sight said no, faith in God said yes.
So here I am in the middle ground. I asked, I received, but I did not perceive. I held onto the truth. I talked to God about life in the middle ground. I let Him know that I knew the truth, that I had asked, that He is good and faithful, and so I indeed had received. I thanked Him for it, because I KNEW He delights to give good things to His children.
Within a few days I had broken through the fear of the devil using it, and trusted God to speak through me instead. I found it easier to sing in tongues on my way to work and back. One day I sang to my wife in tongues and she told me that the Lord used it to minister to her. I now had a witness that the Lord had answered my prayer.
Jessee, You have asked God for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Repent for fearing the devil more than trusting God. Lean into Him and trust that He will speak through you.
Side note: Fear of sinning. We should not be afraid to sin. Fear of sin will keep us from doing much good. God is not afraid of our sin, so why should we be. It is better for us to sin out in the open where we can see it for what it is and then repent, than it is for us to hold it in and never deal with it.
EXAMPLE: Peter. The Lord said "you will deny me thrice." Peter said, "No way Jose'!" Jesus knew Peter was entering into a sin season. If Jesus was afraid of Peter sinning, He could have sent him back to Galilee to get his watch (that's silly, Peter slept on his watch) or his money bag - anything to get him away from the area.
Jesus saw the fear in Peter's heart. Peter, like us, saw only his faithfulness and courage. "You say you see, therefore your sin remains with you," Jesus told the Pharisees. Peter HAD TO SEE the sin in his heart by witnessing it pouring forth in denial of Jesus Christ, before he could truly REPENT for his sin.
What was the gravity of the sin Jesus allowed Peter to sin? "If any man deny me, I will deny him to the Father." Pretty serious sin issue. Yet, it was cleansed upon repentance.
So, do not let the fear of sinning keep you from the goodness of God. Be afraid to not sin. For it is in sinning that we can see the evil within and repent of it from the heart and be set free. If you trust God and an evil spirit speaks through you, there is repentance and forgiveness and healing. But to hold your tongue from letting the Holy Spirit minister to and through you, that is as great a loss as if Peter had never gotten over his fear of martyrdom by living in denial of it.
Blessings and Peace,
Timothy
I'm scared.
I know what you mean. To make things worse, I woke up bitter this morning. I just hate this! This is how I feel:
I reach out to God, seek Him, pour everything into Him, and now I'm left feeling empty and rejected. To be honest, it hurts. It truly does. It happened the first time, and I hated God for it, I ran from Him, slowly He led me back, and now, though, I refuse to, I feel like doing it again. It just doesn't seem there is anything good in this. I honestly feel like I have been abused.
It doesn't make sense.
RE: I'm Scared
First of all God will not give to you anything to cause you distress....He will not give you a spirit of fear but He will give you power, love and a strong mind....
You are seeking the baptism of the the Holy Spirit ......You are wanting more of God and this is excelllant...
Remember Luke 11:11...If a son asks for bread from any father among you,will he give him a stone? Or is he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?
When it comes to having people lay hands on you, know who it is and do not let just anyone randomly lay hands on you...
Reject those feelings and rejoice that God is able and willingly will give you your heart's desires.......
My heart goes out to you and I know it hurts but just hold on to our Friend and Saviour for joy shall come in the morning and He will do much more than what you can ever imagine or think.......
Praise Jesus
I have similar experience with maleen, I pray for God to be filled with His Holy SPirit.And God answer me also in March 2008. I have been waiting for 8 years. Duting that time God taught me with everything and gave me grace to do His will and preserve my faith in Jesus.Jesus Bless All.Halleluyah!