As I started my day with God. I went to read the Hope Conference ACTS Devotions. It talks about the miracle of the Holy Spirit, and as I read I realized that the worship I was listening to was Holy Spirit by Jesus Culture. And that was during the line "Holy Spirit you are welcome here, come flood this place with your atmosphere". :)
And as I read through the devotion, I pondered about it. It talks about how the gifts of tongues is given to all who are Holy Spirit baptised. I wondered whether it is truly for all as it is a gift of the Spirit and the Holy Spirit allocates gifts to different people. While one may not receive all the gifts of the Spirit, he will develop the fruits of the HS as he yields to the HS.
However as I looked up, it is mentioned that in Acts, whenever people were baptised they break out in tongues as they were filled with the HS. There are 2 kinds of tongues, one which allows people to speak in other languages foreign to theirs, another in which the Spirit intercedes for us to God as we pray. Seeing as to how the speaking of tongues can connect us closer to God, and that that is the desire of our hearts. I believe that the gift of tongues is given to all or almost all who desires for it. However, if you do not have the gift of tongues, it does not mean that you are not saved, for those who truly believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior are saved.
"Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." -1 Cor 12:10-11
However, it is shown in the book of Acts, over and over again that people do receive the gift of tongues when they repent and baptized. I believe that the speaking of tongues is a sign from God to assure us that we have received the HS, which is the seal for us for the day of salvation. So, if you do not have the gift of tongues, earnestly pray and ask the HS to give you this gift. God is not stingy, but a loving father, but note that at the end of the day, the HS distributes these gifts to us just as he determines.
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Another point to raise is how it said that we need to be Holy Spirit Baptised to be filled with the HS. I believe that when we repent and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the HS will already come to dwell in us. But we may not be aware of it, and truly acknowledge the HS. The HS will fill us to a different measure for different occasions, such as when we share the gospel, or serve in Church. And what more, even if we do know of the HS, it is important to yield to the HS to let him do his work in our lives.
There are a few scripture passages that highlights how it is not necessary to undergo Holy Spirit Baptism to receive the HS, all of them are from Acts, which is in line with our Church ACTS Conference. But I also believe that many receive a greater infilling of the HS when they go for 'Holy Spirit Baptism' as they are yielding their hearts to the HS and desire for more of him, such as to receive the gift of tongues.
(Three Thousand Believe)
"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”" -Acts 2:37-39
On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached to the people who made fun of those who were filled with the HS. They heard about Jesus as the Messiah and about the coming of the HS and they repented and baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they received the HS.
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said,“Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days." -Acts 10:44-48
They were filled by hearing the gospel, and that was even on the Gentiles in the early Church. And then they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
"While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all." -Acts 19:1-7
After they heard about Jesus, believed and baptized, the HS came on them.
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Lastly, I was ending off my quality time with God by reading Revealing Jesus Devotions. Just as I was about to start reading, I saw on the worship video I was listening to "Victor Crown" by Darlene Zschech, a picture of the same devotion. It was God reaffirming that this was a devotion book he lead me to buy and will speak to me through it :)
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