For many, receiving of the Holy Spirit was a one time event. Even though He came into our lives at our new birth, there is the opportunity to be "filled" daily with His new and exciting presence. When the Holy Spirit comes into our spirit and brings about our new birth, He will "never leave us or forsake us."
The "one time" experience was to be an eternal time of knowing and growing in the knowledge of our Heavenly Father and Jesus. He came to build an understanding and relationship with our Father. Only the Holy Spirit can fully reveal the Mind of Christ within the new child of God. Without His teaching and leading us (the children of God), we simply will return to religion instead of relationship.
One of the greatest things I've found in my walk with God, is the ability to speak in tongues. Many Christians have taught that this gift from the Holy Spirit has "passed away" or they've been given watered down teachings about this gift. 1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified) tells us, "For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks not to men but unto God, for no one understands or catches his meaning. But in the Holy Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding)." Paul also says in 1Corinthians 14:4 (Amplified) that, "He who speaks in a (strange) tongue edifies himself and improves himself."
Jesus spoke to His disciples about the Holy Spirit and the Truth of the Word in John 6:63 (Amplified) saying, "It is the Spirit Who gives life (He is the life-giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life." The only way to receive "Truth and Life" from reading the Bible, is by having the Holy Spirit revealing it to you.
All of God's Words is truth, but all of God's Word hasn't been revealed as truth or life. We can read the Word and still not receive the truth and life of it. The Holy Spirit has nearly become a forgotten Entity for many Christians, but it was He, Whom God sent to nurture and raise His children into maturity. Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit in John 16:13-14 (Amplified) saying, "But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the truth giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the truth (the whole, full truth) For He will not speak His Own message (on His Own authority) but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him) and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)." Verse 14 tells us that these "secret things and hidden truths" are edifying and building up the person who is praying. If I am praying in tongues, then I'm not praying for things I know about, but I'm receiving things I didn't know (which are the things of the Spirit).
Everything I have learned about my Heavenly Father and His plan for me (and all of His family), has come by the Holy Spirit's revelation. The Holy Spirit is the only One Who can reveal it to your spirit. Once it's revealed to you, you can understand and implement it in your life and daily walk with Jesus.
There are many Christians who have received the Holy Spirit (and all who have been born again have received the Holy Spirit) and remained babies in Christ. 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies, you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, the Word of God that you may be nurtured and grow unto (completed) salvation."
The "completed salvation" is the renewing of our minds, according to Romans 12:2 (Amplified) which says, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age) (fashioned after, and adapted to its external, superficial customs). But be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude). So that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, Even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
These are some of the things a believer will receive of, that are the "secret and hidden things" the Holy Spirit will reveal to us in the Truth and Spirit of the Word. This is how we can renew our minds and renew our way of thinking about the Father and His new covenant with us, through Jesus. When we pray in the Holy Spirit (in tongues), we can pray above our own understanding and in the true understanding of the Spirit.
It doesn't matter how educated a person is, he can still only speak by what he knows. Our own understanding and intellect cannot reach the wisdom of God. Even though we might be well educated, we can't determine how Jesus raised the dead, multiplied the loaves and fishes, or walk on water. Can our own understanding explain how with simply His Word can heal the sick or raise the dead? The Spirit of God is the Only One Who can reveal these things in our lives and duplicate these things in our lives.
Jesus said in John 14:12 (Amplified) that, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he himself will be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these because I go to the Father." Without knowing the secret things of the Father by His Spirit, there is no way to even consider this statement as true. We all would admit that we could not do any of those things in our natural selves. But, Jesus said we can do them. The only way of understanding His statement is by the Holy Spirit and praying in Him (praying in tongues).
We hear multitudes of various teachings, from multitudes of various churches, about our Heavenly Father and this has caused much confusion about Who He is. Only the Holy Spirit can correctly reveal the character and the true mind of God to His people. We've been walking in darkness, by not allowing the Holy Spirit to bring the Light of God's Word to us.
Paul speaks about the difference between the Gifts of the Spirit in the congregation and the personal tongues of the believer in 1Corinthians 14:27 (Amplified) saying, "If some speak in a (strange) tongue, let the number be limited to two or at the most three, and each one (taking his) turn, and let one interpret and explain (what is said)." This is the Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues he spoke about in 1Corinthians 12:8,10 where he said, "To one is given in and through the Holy Spirit (the power to speak) a message of wisdom, and to another (the power to express) a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same Holy Spirit." In Verse 10 he says, "To another the ability to interpret (such) tongues."
These gifts are ministerial gifts for primarily congregational usage, but the tongues Paul speaks about in 1Corinthians 10:2, aren't to be "interpreted" to the congregation, because it's not "speaking to men, but unto God." The interpretation of this prayer is of personal use to the one who is praying. It's for his edification and the building up of his faith. The other is for the edifying of the Church. Can you see the difference between the two?
When we pray in tongues, we receive from God, through the Holy Spirit, the hidden truths and secret things that God has laid up for His family. This language of the Spirit doesn't seem so strange once we try thinking of it in terms of God's Word. If you're born in Mexico, then you probably speak Spanish. If you're born and reside in Germany, then you speak German. If you're born in China, then you speak Chinese. Why is it so strange that if we are born of the Spirit, then we speak in the Spirit?
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