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I have had many people ask me lately: "What religion are you?". I acknowledge that it's because I seem different from most people, not just in the way I dress; but my attitude, conversation, and spirit. I give all glory to God for this. My goal is to help people understand that it isn't about a religion, it's about a relationship with the creator. What I have is not religion. It is the Holy Ghost living in me, and that makes all the difference in the world. But as many times as I have talked about this, some people still have no idea what the Holy Ghost is, or what it's purpose actually is in our lives. This includes Christians. Here I will address this issue to help people understand that we, as spirit filled believers; may see things that others don't. The things of the spirit cannot be understood by the carnal mind. I am going to list the reasons why we need the Holy Ghost, and why it is so important for our salvation, understanding, witness, guidance, spiritual gifts, and so much more!
(Bible Study by Earnest Angley)
The Bible teaches speaking with tongues. When the Holy Ghost comes in to set up His abode within a life today, He does just what He did on the day of Pentecost: with another tongue He speaks through the person being baptized. Speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of the Holy Ghost baptism.
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people (Isaiah 28:11).
In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord (I Corinthians 14:21).
What Did Jesus Say about the Holy Ghost Baptism?
Jesus told the disciples that when the Holy Ghost came in, He would testify or speak. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me (John 15:26).
Jesus said that the Spirit would testify, and that the disciples would be the ones to witness. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning (John 15:27). 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 (Acts 1:8). These verses speak of the witness by the disciples; read them along with John 15:26 which plainly tells that the Holy Ghost will speak when He comes in.
Just to make sure that Jesus meant exactly this, let us go to the second chapter of Acts and see what happened when the Holy Ghost filled the disciples at Pentecost: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4).
Did People Speak with Tongues after Pentecost?
Ten years after Pentecost, the Gentiles received the gift of the Holy Ghost; the Holy Ghost also testified through them when He came in. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 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. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God (Acts 10:44-46).
Twenty-five years later we find some people receiving the same Holy Ghost in the same way. He took over their vocal organs and spoke in another tongue. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues (Acts 19:6).
There is no place in the Bible that tells us the method has been changed, so why try to find another way? If you ever receive the real Holy Ghost as the disciples did on the day of Pentecost, you, too, will speak with tongues.
Have Tongues Really Ceased?
Some say that speaking with tongues has ceased: whether there be tongues, they shall cease (I Corinthians 13:8). But we must take the whole verse and discover what Paul was really saying. Verse 8 tells us Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. Paul said prophecies would fail, knowledge shall vanish away. Have prophecies failed yet? Has knowledge vanished away? No, of course not; and tongues have not ceased, either.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away (I Corinthians 13:9-10).
Paul was not referring to Christ here: Christ had already come when Paul was writing this. Paul said we know now in part and prophesy in part, but, when we get to Heaven where all is perfect, then we will see clearly.
to view more, visit A Religion vs A Relationship part 2