The Class A Truckstop Chapel
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
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Baptism in the Holy Spirit
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What is the baptism in the Holy Spirit for?
Jesus said that we would "receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon
you"
in Acts 1:8. Power to live holy lives, power to witness, power to pray,
to
understand scripture, to minister, and to lay our lives down (Acts
9:17-20;
John 16:14; Luke 24:24; Rom . 8:26). The Holy Spirit is to be received
by
all believers so that they can receive, with the power, certain "gifts"
from God.
Gifts of healing, power wisdom, power faith, power knowledge, power
miracle
and power to speak the truth of God. In other words , the Holy Spirit
is
to be
received to receive power to be the active "body of Christ" ministering
in the
earth today. The Apostle Paul said for us to "earnestly desire
spiritual
gifts".
(1 Cor. 12:31, 14:1)
Who is the baptism in the Holy Spirit for?
Jesus said that "the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be
forgiven"
so the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not for the casual inquirer (Matt.
12:31).
It is for 'born again' Christians, it is not 'dead religion' it is a
living
relationship
with God, it is not for the unbelieving (John 14:16-17). When you are
sure
you are a believer and also are willing to obey God in your life, then
ask for
the Holy Spirit to enter your life and to fill you and cleanse you with
His fire
(Matt. 3:11); "Your heavenly father will give the Holy Spirit to them
that
ask of Him" (Luke 11:13). The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for now and
has always been available for any believer bold enough to trust God and
obey Him. When the believers asked for advice of the apostles on the day
of Pentecost "What should we do?" they were told to "repent", "be
baptized"
and "receive the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Jesus said in His sermon on
the mount
blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they
shall
be filled
(Matt . 5:6).
Who does the baptizing?
Jesus is the baptizer (Matt 3:11) He baptizes with fire not water. Fire
either
purifies or destroys. You may want to have other Spirit Filled
Christians
lay
hands on you and pray but it is not necessary. This is between you and
God,
just as your salvation is. (Acts 2; 10:44-46; 19:6)
How can I receive the Holy Spirit?
With other Spirit filled Christians or privately, raise your hands up
to
God in
thankfulness and praise. You might close your eyes or leave them open.
The
important thing is to "ask" - believing God's promise is for you - and
then to
"receive" of your own free will the blessing of God, called the Baptism
of the
Holy Spirit. Start to praise God with your voice, tongue and lips. He
will
not
force you to speak in tongues but you may if you wish. As the "Truth"
of
God's
promised blessing fills you, let it set you free. Step out in faith.
Try
to say
something in a language that only God could understand speaking
mysteries
to God (1 Cor. 14:2). Maybe you will only be bold enough to speak a few
syllables but as you boldly repeat them God will bless you with more .
Like a
child, your new language of prayer to God will grow. Don't be afraid.
This
language is not for the benefit of other people it is between you and
your
Lord
and Savior. You will probably not even understand what you are saying,
but be
assured that God says that as you use this prayer language you will be
built up
and become stronger in faith (Jude 20). Your private worship of God
will
be
blessed. You do not pray in tongues with your mind but with your spirit
(1 Cor. 14:14-15) you are praying with y our spirit to God who is a
spirit
(John 4:24).
Word of Wisdom - God's supernatural perspective on how
to
achieve God's will.
God's knowledge rightly applied to specific situations.
Word of Knowledge - "facts" given by God that are unknowable without revelation.
The Gift of Faith - the supernatural ability to believe
God
without doubt.
Essential to the Gift of Healing and Miracles.
The Gift of Healing - supernatural healing through
special
anointing of the
Holy Spirit.
The Working of Miracles - a supernatural display of power
that goes beyond
the natural to counteract earthly and evil forces.
Discerning of Spirits - Spiritual insight into
differences
between the
Holy Spirit, the Human Spirit, and evil Spirits at work in the earth.
It
is not the
discerning of character faults.
The Gift of Prophecy - the forth telling of God's
utterance.
It is not of the
intellect but of the Spirit. It is divinely inspired and anointed words
spoken
by a believer.
Different Kinds of Tongues - This is not to be confused
with the use of
tongues in private prayer or worship. This refers to the ministry of
tongues
to others. An utterance from a believer to another in a language unknown
to the speaker (Is. 28:11, Mk. 16 :17, Acts 2:4; 10:44-48; 19:1-7,
1 Cor. 12:10; 13:1-3; 14:2; 14:4-22; 14:26-31; 28:31)
Interpretation of Tongues - Supernatural power to reveal
the meaning of
tongues. Not a translation, but an interpretation. Tongues and
Interpretation
working together can be the equivalent of prophecy.
The working of
these nine Gifts is for the profit of advantage of the
Church.
They are for the benefit of the Church and are specifically available
to
every
believer as the Holy Spirit wills (1 Cor. 12:7-11; 14:12). They should
all be
actively welcomed and expected in your life (1 Cor. 14:1)
How Many Gifts Do We Get?
The Holy Spirit
distributes His gifts to each believer severally as He
wills
(1 Cor. 12:11). It is not up to us how many gifts we want or are
willing
to
use but up to the Holy Spirit to give whatever He wants to whoever He
wants
whenever He wants. It is up to us to appreciate all of them and to
allow
the
Holy Spirit to use us in any of them to minister to others.
Some Christians teach that we each get one gift. That teaching
conflicts
with
God's Word. In 1 Cor. 14:1 Paul says desire Gifts and in 1 Cor. 14:5 he
says
that he wished that we all spoke in tongues. In 1 Cor. 14:31 he says
"you
all
can prophesy". In addition to these evidences it is practical knowledge
that
one gift cannot be in operation without the use of other gifts
([Tongues,
Prophecy,
Interpretation, Healing, Miracles, Faith, Wisdom, Knowledge,
Discernment]).
Our Proper response to God - God will let us know in variety of ways
when
we are to exercise the different Gifts. Sometimes the hands actually
feel
anointed or other times words or thoughts just flood our consciousness
as
we grow in the Spirit these thing s will become more clear. Above all we
need to understand that God works through spirit gifts to reproduce the
ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in his Church. Mostly with the laying
on of
hands, the spoken command, or the active intervention of one human being
in the lives of others. We will all do this only according to our
faith.
Thus we
need to accept the importance of tongues for Holy self edification.
(1 Cor. 14:1-5)
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is God's way of empowering us to manifest
his love to His Church and to cleanse us and make us Holy. We need
therefore to acknowledge that love is necessary for the proper use of
the
Gifts - faith works by love (Gal. 5:6). Love edifies others (1 Cor.
8:1)
As
God has shown His love for you by giving you faith to believe in and
trust
in
and cling to and rely on Jesus. Repent of anything that would hold you
back
from experiencing and walking in His fullness through the Baptism of the
Holy Spirit. Ask Him for it. Receive it. Freely it has been given to
you
-
now freely give (Matt. 10:8).
If
you want to get saved, but not sure how, click here.
The
difference between Religion and Salvation, click here.
Click
here
for Weather links, ect.
Click
here
for 'A Love Letter from Jesus'.
Click
here
for 'Trucking with the Holy Spirit'.
Click
here
for 'The Baptism in the Holy Spirit'.
Click
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for 'The Names of Jesus'.
Click
here
for 'When there is Trouble in your Life'.
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Click
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for 'Footprints in the Sand'.
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here
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for more inspiring stories.
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the spiritual growth page, click here.
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here
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