Good morning Spirit-filled one!

God promised through the prophet Joel in Joel 2:28-29,

  • And it shall come to pass afterward that:
  • I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT on all flesh;
  • Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy
  • Your old men shall dream dreams,
  • Your young men shall see visions.
  • And also on My menservants and on My maidservants 
  • I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT in those days.

Over the years, there has been a widespread misconception about receiving the Holy Spirit, and I believe the Lord would like us to examine the Scriptures on this subject.

First of all, Jesus said in Luke 22:49,

  • “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

See, this was only the beginning.  There is no end to this kind of beginning.  You will never come to an end when you receive the Holy Spirit until you end up in glory ~ until you are right in the presence of God forever.  And even then, we will be forever conscious of His presence.

About 2 weeks after I was born-again in a little firehouse church in 1979, I received the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.  I speak in tongues every day.  I always ask the Holy Spirit to remind me if I’ve stopped praying in the Spirit because I want to be in constant communion with the Lord every moment of every day.

When I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, I had the backing of the Scriptures.  You will always be okay if you have the backing of the Scriptures.

I would like to throw out a challenge to any person who can prove to me that he has the baptism in the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues.  I only say this because the Lord Jesus wants those who preach the Word of God to have the Word in evidence.  Don’t be misled by anything else.  Make sure you have Bible proof for all you have, and then you’ll be in a place where no one can move you. 

Let’s take a look at the Scriptures to prove my position.  In the cases of law, if there are two clear witnesses, you could win a case before any judge.  On the clear evidence of two witnesses, any judge will give a verdict.

I would like to give you three clear witnesses on the baptism in the Holy Spirit – more than are necessary in courts of law.

The first is in Acts 2:4,

  • And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

See, “this is that” which Joel prophesied about and God wants you to have this and nothing less than this! He wants you to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit according to this Scripture.

Secondly, in Acts 10, we have another witness.  Cornelius had a vision of an angel and sent for Peter.  The Bible tells us what happened when the power of God fell upon them.  In Acts 10:44-45 we read,

  • While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the Word.  And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.  For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

What convinced these prejudiced Jews that the Holy Spirit had come?  They heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.  There was no other way for them to know.  This evidence could not be contradicted.  It’s Bible evidence.

Be sure that what you receive is always according to the Word of God.

We have heard two witnesses, and that’s sufficient to satisfy the world, but God gives us one better.  Let’s look at Acts 19:6.  It says,

  • And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

These Ephesians received the identical Bible evidence as the apostles at the beginning and they prophesied in addition.

So, three times in the Scripture we can see this evidence of the baptism in the Spirit. 

Well, what are tongues for?  Look at 1 Corinthians 14:2 and you will see.  It says,

  • For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

It goes on to say in verse 4,

  • He who speaks in a tongue EDIFIES himself…

Let’s enter into all the promises of God and not miss out on one of them.  It’s your inheritance!  

I encourage you to ask the Lord to baptize you with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues and you will do more in one year when you are filled with the Holy Spirit than you could do in fifty years apart from Him.

I pray that you are so filled with Him that you wil bring a revival everywhere you go! 

Filled with His Spirit,

Lisa Gordon

Assistant Pastor

Jesus City Church