Vida en Cristo - El Verbo, lleno de gracia y de verdad.

Every Christian is born of the Spirit (Jn. 3:5) and if he does not have the Spirit, he is not of God (Rom. 8:9). At the moment of the new birth, the believer is baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). However, being baptized BY the Spirit INTO the body is not the same as being baptized in or with the Spirit by Jesus. In the first case, it is the Spirit who immerses us into the body of Christ. In the second case it is Jesus who fills us or immerses us into the Spirit. These are two different events.

   
The immersion of the born again believer into the Spirit can happen at any moment after being born again. It is called, "the promise of the Father" (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4, Acts 2:39), being endued with power (Luke 24:29), receiving power (Acts 1:8), being baptized in or with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5 and many others), being filled with the Spirit (Acts 4:31), receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15-17), having the Holy Spirit fall on you (Acts 11:44) and having the Holy Spirit come upon you (Acts 19:6). This event happens subsequent to believing and being born again in every example mentioned.

   
Speaking in tongues (praying in the Spirit) is the normal manifestation and is available to all who are baptized in the Spirit, though not all step out in faith and release this gift. Prophecy is another manifestation mentioned in scripture.

 
There are three kinds of tongues mentioned in the New Testament. The first kind we see on the day of Pentecost when every man heard the gospel in his own language. These tongues needed no interpretation. The second kind we find in the church meeting when it must be interpreted and only two or three should give such a message in tongues.

 
The third kind involves praying in the Spirit and speaking mysteries that edify us and build us up on our most holy faith. Paul said he speaks in tongues more than all, but not in the church. So the question is, where? And then he says he wished that all spoke in tongues. So there is a prayer language that is available to all Christians who have been filled with the Holy Spirit.

 
When we ask for the Holy Spirit, in faith believing that we received when we ask (because God cannot lie), then we know we have it. The manifestations are different for every person. But we don't walk according to our feelings or lack of feelings. We walk by faith.

Lu 11:13     If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

 
When we believe that the anointing and power of the Spirit have been poured out upon us, we can begin to release the gifts of the Spirit in our lives.

 
The heavenly prayer language exists in the believer who has asked to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It’s just a matter of releasing it. As we praise God in English, we can simply switch over to a heavenly language that our mind won't comprehend.

 
It is similar to receiving the inspiration for a song. We hear it on the inside, but it is up to us to take paper and pen and write down the impressions that we have had. God doesn't force us to write, nor is it 'automatic handwriting.'

 
So it is with speaking in tongues. The inspiration of the Spirit is within, and we provide the vocal chords, the tongue, the lips and the will. We can start and stop and speak loudly or softly as we wish. The Spirit gives the inspiration but we control how much we want to release.

 
So it is with the other gifts as well. We have inspirations, 'ideas,' 'burdens,' etc., and we begin to step out in faith with words or actions to bless others. We know that we know that the ability of God is within us and that He wants to flow through us. But we must get out of the boat. God does not force these things, nor take over our bodies and make us do things without our cooperation.