Cloven Tongues Of Fire

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1-4 KJV



How do I receive?

   

Hebrews 11:1-6 (NIV) “… Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.  By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.  By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”




How do I receive Salvation?

  1. Acknowledge that you are a sinner, unworthy of God’s love and acceptance and unable to reconcile yourself to God on your own behalf.

  1. Ask God to save you.

  1. Receive the free gift of salvation that God has offered to all mankind by believing that God, out of love, made a way for mankind to be reconciled to Him by becoming a man, living a perfect life, taking the punishment that we deserve upon himself, defeating sin (that which separates us from God) by dying on the cross and rising again from the grave after three days defeating death all on our behalf.

  1. Trust completely in the love of God expressed to all mankind through the finished work of Jesus

How do I receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

  1. Ask God for it

  1. Believe / expect you will receive it



Some things you need to know as you begin seeking:

·        People have received in all kinds of different ways

·        Emotions may or may not be a significant attribute of the Baptism experience

·        It is a gift available to every believer; you need only ask for it and then receive it.

·        Some have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit when they were completely alone.

·        The laying on of hands by someone who is already baptized in the Holy Spirit can sometimes play a significant role in the receiving of the baptism of the Holy Spirit

·        Some receive and experience significant emotions, while others experience little emotion.

·         Speaking in another language (in tongues) accompanies the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Some prayer languages are only one or two sentences while others are very elaborate.

·        Spending time in prayer can greatly help in receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

·        Spending time in worship can greatly help in receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

·        Some have received immediately upon asking while others have spent a significant amount of time in prayer, worship and seeking before receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

·        The Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues is available for all believers in and followers of Jesus Christ. It is a gift (not earned or attained) that is available to everyone who has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and invited Him into their heart and life.

·        You need to turn away from what you know is sin with a sincere heart and seek the Lord.

·        The Baptism of the Holy Spirit gives you strength to live a victorious Christian life.

·        The Baptism of the Holy Spirit brings a heightened sensitivity to the believer for the heart of God.

·        The Baptism of the Holy Spirit brings a heightened sensitivity to the spiritual needs of others.

·        The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is considered by many to be a threshold gift in that other gifts of the Spirit open up to the believer or are easier to receive once this initial gift is received.

·        Tongues are a prayer language where the believer can pray from their spirit to the Father, expressing what is otherwise inexpressible through one’s own understanding.

·        Tongues (prayer language) received in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit are distinctly different from messages in tongues which need interpretation and are a different gift altogether.

·        When you are seeking for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the devil will many times attempt to plant negative thoughts into your mind to try and discourage you and convince you to give up.




Situations to Avoid:


Any setting that...

- makes you feel condemned if you have not received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoken in tongues. 

-  pressures you to behave in a contrived manner as if to conjure up the Spirit of God.

- pressures you to do something that goes against your conscience.

- pressures for compensation, monetary or otherwise to bring about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

- does not elevate Jesus Christ as God / coequal with God / the Son part of the God head: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

- encourages unsafe behaviour.

- is man centered instead of God centered.

- is closed minded to the work, movement and gifts of the Holy Spirit.