WHY?
Have you ever wondered why we (people) began counting "time" from the death of Jesus? There was B.C., then A.D.
That seems a simple enough question, right...IF you're a Believer in Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD. Let me say that for myself...I haven't always been a believer of Him as "Lord", but that changed for me in 1978. It changed because Jesus Christ in His total control and mercy poured out His Holy Spirit upon me in the form of LOVE.
My reaction (which was all I had since I didn't have any teaching about this particular event) was to simply "respond" with a question in my heart: "Why do YOU (God) love ME soooo much?" Yes, I was baptized in love and I felt as if I were the only person on planet earth! It was truly intimate and surprising!
Following that AMAZING time of my life I began to DEVOUR books about the End Times! That was the result of seeing the movie, "The Late, Great Planet Earth" from the book by Hal Lindsey. I truly believed the "Rapture" was soooo near that it would happen that very year. By now I have become a bit more "educated" on that subject and others...but I'm no less convinced that the time is VERY NEAR for the followers of Christ Jesus who are LOOKING for His return!
So, for some who may be reading this, who aren't sure about this phenomenon..that Jesus instructed to WAIT FOR...in other words...expect....then I want to encourage "you" in particular.
Let me preface a few scriptures with this one:
Luke 10:21 - At that same Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and He said, "O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way."
Jesus went out of his way to share certain things in parables or as in this case...a "STRANGE" phenomenon because who was looking for those "whose hearts were perfect towards Him."
If we follow on into the book of Acts...Jesus had sent those who had ears to hear to "wait"...meaning...in my own vernacular......don't try to do things without the POWER I AM SENDING to you in the form of the Holy Spirit...3rd part of the Trinity...because without this power you won't be able to hear and obey my voice and see the signs and wonders take place as testimony to the truth of what you will speak about me and my Father in Heaven.
So, if you have heard a little about the Holy Spirit, then perhaps you were ready to welcome most of the accompanying gifts that He brings with Him...all of which are available to anyone who believes as the Holy Spirit himself desires to work through you. But, may I say...the one gift in particular that trips some Believers up is the gift of tongues!!!
I will simply encourage you to ASK for this gift along with all the others because it has a very important purpose...which is to "build you up in your Most Holy Faith." See Jude 1:20--But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, praying the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love.
Also, note occasions in the Word of God where people just like us were offered the privilege that God is offering you:
Acts 8:14-17 - When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Smaria had accepted God's message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:44-47 - Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish Believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking tin other tongues and praising God.
Acts 11:15-18 - As I began to speak, 'Peter continued, 'the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning. Then I thought of the Lord's words when He said, "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God's way?"
Acts 19:1-7 - While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? he asked them.
"No," they replied, "we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
"Then what baptism did you experience?" he asked.
And they replied, "The baptism of John."
Paul said, "John's baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus."
Paul went on to teach MORE regarding the public expression of the gift of tongues...named among the many gifts the Holy Spirit brings to us when we ask Him to.
1 Corin. 14:25-28 - As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, "God is truly here among you." Well, my brothers and sisters, let's summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues (the gift for interpretation..different than praying in your own prayer language in order to build yourself up in your Most Holy Faith), and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.
No more than 2 or 3 should speak (out loud expecting interpretation) in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to god privately.
WE MUST SPEAK IN TONGUES!
Paul finishes this exhortation: 14:39 - So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy and don't forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.
Paul goes on to say that He speaks in tongues more "than you all." And another place he exhorts us to imitate him and his way of life.
So, this is my exhortation: Be filled with the Holy Spirit and seek, ask for...the gift of tongues to build you up in your most Holy Faith!! You'll be glad you did!
I did ask...and started speaking just a few syllables at first, but as I kept praying the little I could "hear" then I was rewarded with a free flow of "other tongues."
Blessings,
Donna
Jesus went out of his way to share certain things in parables or as in this case...a "STRANGE" phenomenon because who was looking for those "whose hearts were perfect towards Him."
If we follow on into the book of Acts...Jesus had sent those who had ears to hear to "wait"...meaning...in my own vernacular......don't try to do things without the POWER I AM SENDING to you in the form of the Holy Spirit...3rd part of the Trinity...because without this power you won't be able to hear and obey my voice and see the signs and wonders take place as testimony to the truth of what you will speak about me and my Father in Heaven.
So, if you have heard a little about the Holy Spirit, then perhaps you were ready to welcome most of the accompanying gifts that He brings with Him...all of which are available to anyone who believes as the Holy Spirit himself desires to work through you. But, may I say...the one gift in particular that trips some Believers up is the gift of tongues!!!
I will simply encourage you to ASK for this gift along with all the others because it has a very important purpose...which is to "build you up in your Most Holy Faith." See Jude 1:20--But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, praying the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love.
Also, note occasions in the Word of God where people just like us were offered the privilege that God is offering you:
Acts 8:14-17 - When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Smaria had accepted God's message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:44-47 - Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish Believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking tin other tongues and praising God.
Acts 11:15-18 - As I began to speak, 'Peter continued, 'the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning. Then I thought of the Lord's words when He said, "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God's way?"
Acts 19:1-7 - While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? he asked them.
"No," they replied, "we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
"Then what baptism did you experience?" he asked.
And they replied, "The baptism of John."
Paul said, "John's baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus."
Paul went on to teach MORE regarding the public expression of the gift of tongues...named among the many gifts the Holy Spirit brings to us when we ask Him to.
1 Corin. 14:25-28 - As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, "God is truly here among you." Well, my brothers and sisters, let's summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues (the gift for interpretation..different than praying in your own prayer language in order to build yourself up in your Most Holy Faith), and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.
No more than 2 or 3 should speak (out loud expecting interpretation) in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to god privately.
WE MUST SPEAK IN TONGUES!
Paul finishes this exhortation: 14:39 - So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy and don't forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.
Paul goes on to say that He speaks in tongues more "than you all." And another place he exhorts us to imitate him and his way of life.
So, this is my exhortation: Be filled with the Holy Spirit and seek, ask for...the gift of tongues to build you up in your most Holy Faith!! You'll be glad you did!
I did ask...and started speaking just a few syllables at first, but as I kept praying the little I could "hear" then I was rewarded with a free flow of "other tongues."
Blessings,
Donna
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