thanksgiving and your life

7/29/2019 Thanksgiving and Your Life

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Thanksgiving and Your Life

View Rearrange

Pastor Caspar McCloud The Upper Room Fellowship

Let us pray

Papa God we thank You for today, and for Jesus and for the Holy Spirit.We thank You foreternal life, and we come now and want to enter in your gates with thanksgivings in ourhearts and give You all our praise as we come and worship You. As we approach thisHoliday called Thanksgiving. We are Thankful for Your patience with us as a nation.

We are so grateful and thankful that You allow us to partner with You like this againtoday

That we can be joint heirs with Christ. Covered by His precious blood. That You love uswith an everlasting love.

That You came and saved us and You tell us we are the apple of Your eye. That You sent

the Holy Spirit to get us really good.

That we are a chosen generation, and a Royal Priesthood, A blessed people. We are sograteful You have gathered us together to be of one accord like this. We are thankful forevery breath we take and for food, water and shelter and all the gifts you give us.

Help us be able to learn of Your ways and have intimacy with You this Day that You havemade.

That we can come boldly anytime of Day or night into Your throne room and make ourrequest know to You. Even as You know our request before we can even ask.

That You are so full of mercy grace and love

That we can put on the mindset of Christ and think and talk and do the things that youdo according to John 14;12 this and greater things shall we do because Jesus went backto be with You and sent us the Holy Spirit to direct our steps.

We pray peace for Your Holy City of Jerusalem that you protect those who even now areunder such constant persecution.

That we can watch and pray always that we may be accounted worthy to escape all these

things that shall come to pass and that we can stand before You our Lord before the Son

of Man.
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We invite You Holy Spirit to come now and teach us and take us over. We ask thatblessings overtake us and chase us down in Jesus of Nazareth name. Amen

The Grace of God View Rearrange

This study seeks to present a Biblical teaching of how we can keep on receiving God's grace,

life and power in our lives, so that we can be what we ought to be as Christians, both in the

church and in the world. We will examine the subject of what God's grace is, and how it can

be received and applied in our lives. This will help us to avoid the cycle of failure,

resolutions, repeated failure, frustration and condemnation which is a common problem

amongst those wishing to please God.

The Problem

The problem that we have as Christians armed with lots of theory about what God has done,

and what we should be doing, is that we can still find ourselves falling desperately short of

our own ideals, principles, convictions and hopes. Sometimes the power to make the Christian

life and ministry practical and real seems to be sadly lacking. It is possible to talk about love

and yet find oneself bound by selfishness and irritation. It is possible to talk about God's

power and compassion in healing and yet be unable to demonstrate it or testify about how He

has helped you personally.

This is due in part to a misunderstanding and neglect concerning God's grace - which is the

working of His life in us. God has not simply left us commandments and principles to follow,

without giving us the ability to live out what He is talking about. Let us see what the Bible

says on this point in 2 Peter 1:2-4.

"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His

divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the

knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us

exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the

divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

Grace is not a cover for rebellion and wilful disobedience

Grace is not given to us so that we can indulge in sin without any serious consequences, as

some have taught. It is given that we might escape sin's grip and fully do the will of God. It is

given that we might escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. Without doing the

will of God, no one will enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21). Grace does not

guarantee eternal salvation to someone who knew God but then was overcome again by the

corruptions of the world again and would not repent (2 Peter 2:20), nor does it guarantee

eternal peace with God to those who never escape the fundamental slavery to sin and rebellion

that is characteristic of unregenerate people. What DOES cover the failings of one who hastruly committed his whole life to Christ, who has renounced the lordship over his own life and
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defers to Christ is MERCY obtained through the blood of Christ, not GRACE. God does more

than "cover" - He cleanses. The Bible says if we confess our sins he will CLEANSE us and

FORGIVE us. This is MERCY, and should not be confused with GRACE, which is

empowerment to do God's will. But those who imagine themselves secure and "saved by

grace" while continuing in wilful sin and rebellion against God are "turning the grace of God

into lewdness" (Jude 4) and are in for a horrible shock unless they repent. There has been a lotof false teaching on grace in the last 100 years and a careful honest look at the Scriptures will

refute it.

Grace gives the power to say 'No' to sin, and deny self for the one who is convicted of his

need and humbles himself recognizing his need to change. Grace is needed because even the

person who totally commits to Christ is powerless to honor this commitment or have a change

of heart or nature without God's working in his or her heart.

God has already given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. He has already given us

everything we need to live out everything that forms part of the Biblical plan for our lives as

His followers. Where is the problem then? The problem lies with our failure to receive andtake hold of the grace and power of God in our daily lives. The provision of power for holy

living, for gracious living, for supernatural strength and anointing is there for us. Jesus is

willing to share all He is with us, so that we can be like Him - not so much outwardly, but

especially inwardly - in our thoughts, our attitudes, our love, faith and purity. He is also

willing to share a measure of His power with us so that we can continue His mission of

destroying the works of the devil and setting others free from Satan's destructive grasp. The

question then becomes, "How do we then receive all that Jesus is wanting to offer to us of

Himself?" We will consider this issue more later in this study.

It is a mistake to try to earn merit with God by our own religious activities. We cannot earn

God's supernatural blessing on our lives through religious activity, sacrifice or anything else.

It is also an error to suppose that simply taking part in some of the ordinances of the Christian

church will give us all that we need. Being baptised in water, or receiving regularly the Lord's

Supper, or even having hands laid on us in the name of the Lord in themselves will not

guarantee our receiving of the favour, power or grace of God so as to make a serious

difference for our lives. Multitudes who have at some time received some or all of these

ministrations and have been told to be good have found themselves nevertheless powerless to

overcome sin within and temptation without. It is a mistake to assume that the power of the

Lord is always going to work in us if we outwardly keep certain rituals and practices - even if

they are Biblical!

What is Grace?

Grace (Grec.: charis) has been defined in many ways at many times. The Bible, especially the

New Testament speaks much of grace. It is important to know what it really means.

Grace has been defined as the unearned, unmerited favour of God, but really this is a very

inadequate definition. All grace is favour, but not all unearned favour is grace. This definition

does helps us to see that it is something good that comes from God, which we don't deserve. It

is a gift. "The Lord will give grace and glory" (Psalm 84:11). "God .. gives grace to the

humble." (James 4:6).


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Two important things to realise about grace is the totally undeserving nature of the recipient

(us), and the totally generous nature of the giver (God).

It is important to realize that God may give grace as He pleases. He can set conditions, or

waive them. No one can demand grace from God based on what they have done. Grace is

something you cannot earn by good works or even by suffering. No amount of religiousactivity - Bible study, prayer, obedience to church leaders, fasting, church programmes gives

you the right to expect God to bless you or help you in any way. Giving money to the poor or

to the church does not earn us any right to God's favour or blessings. Your struggle to obey

God's commandments does not earn you God's grace either. Nothing you do can make God

owe you grace. "Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt."

(Romans 4:4). The things we do for God or others - our works - if they earned favour with

God, this favour would not be grace, but rather something that God owes us according to the

principle of what is just and fair. "And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise

grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no

longer work." (Romans 11:6)

The fact that grace is unearned and unmerited does not tell us everything about grace, because

it does not tell us what grace does. A more practical definition of grace could be "God's life,

power and righteousness coming to us, the undeserving, as a gift." It is through grace that

God works effective change in our hearts and lives. God's laws in themselves do not have the

power to make us what we should be. It takes God Himself, working in the human life, to

make us what we ought to be. At every step, we are dependent on God's life and power to

come to us and work within our hearts, if we want to be what God wants and do what He

wants.

It follows therefore that we cannot say that our life and power, independent of God, is

sufficient to fulfil God's plan. No, every proud religious effort to keep a set of rules, even

Biblical rules, is doomed to failure. To live under the law in this way is to be separated from

Christ and to be fallen from grace. Paul wrote to some people who had come to fall exactly in

this trap. He writes, "You have become estranged from Christ, you who are seeking to be

justified [made right] by law [rules]; you have fallen from grace!" (Galatians 5:4).

So then, grace is God's life, power and righteousness coming to us, the undeserving as a gift.

Grace gives us a new life which is not condemned by God. Through God's grace we are

forgiven. Grace also transforms our thinking, resulting in the renewal of the mind. Through

grace we are sanctified and made holy. Grace enables us to live the kind of generous, carefreelife of service and joy that God would like every one of His children to experience.

We will now consider more in detail what the grace of God does.

WHAT GRACE DOES

Grace saves us

"For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of

God, not of works, lest any man should boast". (Eph 2:8,9).


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It is important to see here that by God's grace we have been saved. It is not by works.

Salvation is all that God does in taking a fallen man and making him into a son of God -

righteous, holy and glorified. Legally it all belongs to us now. God's grace works to make it a

reality in our being. First God saves our spirits, making us born again. Then in this life He

saves our souls - our minds, emotions and wills, as the process of sanctification in this life

unfolds. He also saves our bodies - firstly in part through divine healing and health, and theneternally through the resurrection and redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23). All this, and

anything else which God does in salvation, is strictly on the basis of God's grace. God's gift,

not our works, made it all possible.

Grace justifies us

"... being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans

3:24). See also Titus 3:7.

We may be considered to be right by God only because of the grace of Jesus Christ, which is

available to us because Jesus willingly layed down His life for us - paying the price wedeserved for our rebellion against God. Our justification is not something we receive because

of good works, but because of the payment Jesus paid for us at the cross when he suffered and

died.

Grace santifies us

Indeed, not only our right standing with God, but also our right living depends on grace. God

does not leave us to struggle in our own power to think, speak and act correctly. He gives

grace after grace. "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace." (John 1:16).

We need to "continue in God's grace" (Acts 13:43) in order to go on with God. The Word of

God's Grace "builds us up and gives us an inheritance among all those who are sanctified"

(Acts 20:32). As we hear about all that God's grace does for us, our faith grows and we can

then receive the actual grace to make all this a possibility.

The work of sanctification and perfection belongs firstly to God, not to us. This is why it says,

"But may the God of all grace, who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after

you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you." (1 Peter 5:10). It is as

the "God of all grace" that the Lord "perfects, establishes and strengthens us."

Grace gives us the power to conduct ourselves correctly in the world. "For our boasting is

this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in allsimplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more

abundantly toward you." (2 Corinthians 1:12). It is only by God's grace, and the graciousness

He puts in us, that we can conduct ourselves simply and with godly sincerity in the world.

By Grace We Have Strength to Stand Against Opposition

A Christian must stand in the grace of God (Romans 5:2). He must be strong in the grace of

God. "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:1).

The Scripture says plainly that is is "good that the heart be strengthened [or established] with

grace" (Hebrews 13:9). "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His

might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles ofthe devil." (Ephesians 6:10,11). All the armour of God is received by the grace of God. We


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did not pay for the "breastplate of righteousness" or "the shield of faith" or any other parts of

that armour. It is therefore by drawing on the grace of God that we are going to be able to

resist temptation and stand against all the temptations and trials that Satan wants to discourage

us with and make us fall, if possible.

Under Grace we are not ruled by the Power of Sin

Some imagine that the correct understanding of grace frees the believer to do whatever he

wants - to sin against his conscience, against others, against the Word and against God.

However, this cannot be correct, since the Scripture says, "Sin shall not have dominion over

you, for you are not under law but under grace" (Romans 6:14). Paul asks, "Shall we sin

because we are not under law but under grace?" His response is clear. "Certainly not!"

(Romans 6:15). Grace is not a license to commit sin. It is a force that both pardons us and

empowers us to live right, without falling into temptation.

Grace Teaches Us Godliness

Rather than teaching us to sin freely, grace is "teaching us that, denying ungodliness and

worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age" (Titus

2:11,12). Here we see how closely related is the concept of grace with the working of the

Holy Spirit. For it is the Holy Spirit Himself who convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment

(John 16:7). It is the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth (John 16:13). It is the anointing

of the Holy Spirit that "teaches us concerning all things" as we learn to abide in Jesus (1 John

2:27). All these things: the anointing, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the grace of God, are

closely related. We can say that the anointing itself is a very special and important expression

of the grace of God.

When we sin, it is the Holy Spirit who makes us feel this personally. He gives us an

opportunity to repent. When we sin, He helps us to feel that something is wrong. He does not

do it by condemning us (telling us that we are now condemned), but by convicting us

(showing us where we are wrong), and by removing the fulness of peace and joy from ourlives. We should let the peace of God rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). If not, we will

sense something is wrong. All this is an expression of God's grace. God wants to lead us to

repentance, so that we will neither suffer loss, nor be destroyed.

Grace makes us what we are in God

"But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Corinthians 15:10) What we are in Christ isbecause of God's life and power which has been at work in us. No one can make himself a

great man of God. Even the callings to be this or to do that in God's Kingdom are by grace

(Galatians 1:6). Paul said that God called Him by His grace from His mother's womb

(Galatians 1:15). This means that it was God, not Paul, who initiated Paul's being chosen for

apostolic ministry. In a similar way, Jeremiah was called from His mother's womb to be a

prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). We cannot become special ministers of God without

His calling. We can only be what God gives us grace to be. If through His grace we fulfil a

special function in God's Kingdom, then it was not on the basis of our merit and work, but

rather, because of God's grace - God's gift, God's favour.


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Does this leave us without responsibility before God? No, it is very important for us to take

hold of the grace of God, so that we can be what God intends us to be. We will see more on

this in a later section.

God's Grace Empowers Us for Service

As we have stated before, the anointing for service is a part of God's grace. The ability to

exercise a gift or ministry from God comes from God! This can be seen in the following

Scriptures:

"From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for

the work which they had completed" (Acts 14:26). The early church recognised that these

apostles needed God's grace in order that the work they were supposed to do be accomplished.

"Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all

nations for His name" (Romans 1:5). It was by the grace of God that Paul was able to get so

many Gentiles in different lands to believe and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid

the foundation." (1 Corinthians 3:10). Paul was able to do his work of laying the foundation in

the Corinthian church only by the grace of God. This grace was for Paul the ability to do his

work as an apostle.

"For I say, through the grace of God given to me, to everyone who is among you..." (Romans

12:3). It was God's grace that gave Paul the power and authority to say to the church at Rome

and to us as well what he had from God to say. A similar idea can is expressed in Romans

15:15, 16. "Nevertheless, brethren, I have written to you more boldly on some points, as

reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, that I might be a minister of Jesus

Christ to the Gentiles." Here we can also see that it was the grace of God which gave Paul the

power to be a minister of the gospel.

"... I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective

working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was

given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." (Ephesians

3:7,8). We can see hear that the ability to be a minister, to preach the gospel among the

peoples of the world comes through the grace of God.

"Having then gifts that differ according to the grace that is given to us: let us use them."(Romans 12:6). The receiving and operation of the gifts we have from God depends upon the

grace that is given to us. Therefore it is through grace that we have certain gifts and ministries

of the Spirit among us.

"Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of

Macedonia" (2 Corinthians 8:1). In the context we see that this grace mentioned was grace

that made them to operate powerfully in the ministry of giving, even beyond their natural

ability (2 Corinthians 8:3).

"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift" (Ephesians

4:7). This verse makes it clear that grace has been given to each one of us believers that wemight be able to serve with the gifts that God gives us.


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In conclusion we see that God's grace empowers us for the service of God in three ways.

Firstly, by making us a minister or servant of Christ. Secondly, by giving us gifts and ministry

abilities necessary. And thirdly, by giving us power and authority to operate those gifts and

ministries. It is God's grace that gives us the right words and the right way to communicate

those words. It is God's grace that actually spreads through us to work in those that are

hearing and receiving the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:15).

God would like us to be so full of His grace in our lives that we can say with Paul the apostle:

"His grace towards me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not

I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10). The grace of God is not

received by works, but it produces work done in God. Grace, which is God's life, comes into

us and begins to live in us. And God is working even now (John 5:17). In the same way, His

grace is to work in us and through us so that we can be all and do all that He wants.

God's Grace Enables Us to Reign

God's Word says, "much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift ofrighteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17). We have been

made kings and priests to our God (Revelation 1:5). Grace is necessary to rule and reign in

life. Grace is necessary to exercise authority in the way that God desires. God rules, but not

harshly. He rules in grace, justice, mercy and truth. In order to exercise authority over the

situations that we are in, we need to receive more and more of God's grace. This grace gives

us power not only to use authority over the demons behind many of the negative situations in

life, but also to lead and direct people in a way that will build them up and not destroy them.

WHAT WE MUST DO IN RELATION TO GRACE

1. Believe. The Scripture tells us that Apollos helped those who had "believed through grace"

(Acts 18:27). Even the faith which saves us comes through God's grace. We don't produce

faith - we receive it as a gift from God. "For by grace you are saved, through faith, and that

[faith] not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8).

Nevertheless, we must choose to exercise the faith which God has given us (Romans 12:3).

God has given us the grace to believe. We need to use that grace in whatever measure we

have received it until now.

By the grace we have, we must believe God - His Word, His promises, His commandments,

His judgments.

2. Receive. God's Word says, "much more those who receive abundance of grace and the

gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17). Paul

says in Romans 1:5, "We have received grace and apostleship." God may give grace, but we

must also be willing to receive it.

Grace must be received as grace. It cannot be received as payment for good behaviour or good

works. If we are thinking to receive grace from God on the basis of our good behaviour or

good works, we will not be able to receive it as grace. We will therefore not be able to receive

it at all. This is why God many times seems to greatly bless a sinner recently turned to him

and gives them a great ministry, while seemingly ignoring many "good church people" whohave been struggling faithfully for years - but with a wrong mentality concerning grace.


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3. Continue in It. "Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout

proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue

in the grace of God." (Acts 13:43). It is vitally important that all of us, especially those who

have recently turned to God and trusted in His grace, continue in the grace of God. We need

to allow God to keep guiding our hearts to the place where He can continue to work in us by

His grace. In the moment when we cease to allow God's grace to work in us, in the momentwhen we no longer abide in Christ through disobedience; in that moment we start to dry up as

Christians and that life of God in us begins to lose its effectiveness. God will not force us to

remain in His grace. It is something He gives us the power to do, but we must choose to go

on. Don't give up!

4. Use and Manage it. "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good

stewards of the manifold grace of God." (1 Peter 4:10). Every born-again Christian has

received a spiritual gift, and should use it. We have all been given grace to serve somewhere.

God's grace takes many forms. There are many different anointings. A steward or manager

must use what has been entrusted to him and multiply it. Otherwise, he is not being a good

and faithful steward.

This means that whatever gifts and abilities God has given us by His grace, we should use

them for His glory. God's grace and blessings were not given simply for us to sit in church

and feel good. Rather, they were given that we might not only be blessed, but also be a

blessing.

5. Spread It. "For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many,

may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God." (2 Corinthians 4:15). Grace and

peace will multiply as more and more people spread it. We can spread God's grace through

giving, through preaching the gospel, and by "speaking such a word as is good for necessary

edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear" (Ephesians 4:29). It is the privilege

and responsibility of every true Christian, and not just of a special few, to spread God's grace

to as many as possible. When we to this, more and more people will give thanks to God, and

so pleasure will come to the heart of God.

THE IMPORTANCE OF GRACE

In the light of all that we have seen so far it is clear that it would be difficult to over-estimate

the importance of God's grace as far as our lives are concerned. Without grace we would not

only be useless as Christians in God's sight - we would also be lost. There is no work that man

can do to make him "good enough for God". Everything that we do outside of God's grace isworthless. Everything good that comes in us and through us is only by the grace of God.

It is therefore very important that we respect God's grace and follow the Scriptural warnings

not to sin against the grace of God. To sin against the grace of God has serious consequences.

If we wilfully go on sinning against God in this way, we "insult the Spirit of Grace" and "no

sacrifice for sins remains" (Hebrews 10:26,29).

It is good to see the whole Bible in the light of grace, and not of law. If we read the Bible only

in the light of law, it will condemn us, but never set us free to please God. By reading and

interpreting the Bible in the light of grace, we may have hope for this life and for eternity -

because we see the reality of forgiveness and blessing in Christ. At the same time, if weproperly understand grace, it will lead us to God and away from sin. To see grace as an


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enouragement for sin is to "turn the grace of God into lasciviousness". This false

understanding of grace is very dangerous.

We therefore see that it is good for us to study, understand, receive and apply the grace of

God to every aspect of our lives.

SINNING AGAINST THE GRACE OF GOD

There are a number of different sins against the grace of God mentioned in the Scriptures.

1. Setting Aside the Grace of God (Galatians 2:21)

This is teaching that efforts to adhere to moral laws are all that is required for us to please

God. It is a denial of our need for God's partnership in our transformation.

2. Receiving God's grace in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1)

This implies it is possible to actually receive God's grace, and yet fail to take hold of it and

flow with it in such a way as to allow any good fruit to result.

3. Turning the Grace of God into Lasciviousness (Jude 4)

This is teaching that we can sin sexually, live to please our flesh or commit other sins and

somehow the grace of God makes it so that we are still right with God while we go on like

this.

4. Falling from Grace (Galatians 5:4)

This is to reject Christ after you have known Him, and turn back either to a system of rule-

keeping and self effort, or to slide into sinful and rebellious ways, hardening the heart to God.

5. Falling Short of the Grace of God (Hebrews 12:15)

This is to fail to come up to the mark God has enabled you to attain by His grace.

6. Insulting the Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10:29)

This is to speak against God, His ways, His system of salvation through the cross and theHoly Spirit.

7. Turning Aside from Grace (not continuing in it)

This is to get our eyes off God and go after other things.


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The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Introduction

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).

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto

perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith

toward God,

Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of thedead, and of eternal judgment.

Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.

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).

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he

do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

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 itHERE.

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

As we have seen before (inthis lesson), the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is God. (Acts

5:3,4).

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heartto lie to the Holy Ghost,and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Acts 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine
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own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men,

but unto God.

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.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for

he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will

shew you things to come.

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.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my

name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I

have said unto you.

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).

Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and

understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the

LORD;

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

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).

John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and

of judgment:

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).

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for

he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he willshew you things to come.


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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 spiritsaccording to the standard of the Holy Scriptures.

3. He regenerates (John 3:5,6).

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and

of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

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. (2Corinthians 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).

John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

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 ourbody 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 matureson. 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 ofthe Spirit. It is by the Spirit however that our sanctification is achieved. This process of


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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 witnessesto 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).

1Co 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

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 notrest 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 thereforelearn 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).

Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

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).
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Romans 8:11 But 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 your mortal bodies by his Spirit that

dwelleth in you.

Luke 11:36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall

be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

10. He teaches us to pray (Romans 8:26,27; 1 Corinthians 14:15).

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we

should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings

which cannot be uttered.

Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

1Co 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding

also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

The Spirit of God knows what we shouldprayand 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).

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Ultimately the only way you or I can know for sure that we are a genuine child of God is by

the Holy Spirit making us know this fact with certainty deep within.

12. He produces in us the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23).

Gal. 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

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).

1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of

knowledge by the same Spirit;

1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same

Spirit;

1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning

of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man

severally as he will.
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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 andin 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).

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of

Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even

as many as the Lord our God shall call.

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 hisconversion. 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).


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Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came

with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

Acts 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received

the Holy Ghost as well as we?

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).

Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God

hath given to them that obey him.

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).

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed

away; behold, all things are become new.

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).

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,

but of God.

As we grow in Christ we produce the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22,23).

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

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)

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall

be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the

uttermost part of the earth.


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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.

1Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his

abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christfrom the dead,

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.

Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not

depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard

of me.

Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not

many days hence.

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).

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of

God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

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. UnderPhilip'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).

Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received

the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Acts 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the

Holy Ghost:

Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name

of the Lord Jesus.)

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

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


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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 tothe 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).

Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands onhim said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou

camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

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 understandable 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).

Act 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

Act 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized

with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

Why? "For they heard them speak with tongues and magnifying God" (Acts 10:46). Thatsettled 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).

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues,

as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and

they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

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 init make the same kind of mistake as those in formal traditionalistic churches who reject the


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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 whenPaul 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 initialconversion 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).

Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

1Co 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues ...

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 beenbaptised 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


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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 otherthings 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 - messages in tongues from man to God. 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 aboutministries in the church - not about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. According to Mark 16:17


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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 signfor 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 isnot 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 bedeeply conscious of the fact that God lives in us. Speaking in tongues therefore strengthens
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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 ourspeaking, 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 morethan 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.

THE PROMISE IS FOR YOU

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.


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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; howto 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 yourheart 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
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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").


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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.)

thanksgiving and your life

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