“”If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17 (ESV) God and Jesus are seated in heaven, HOLY SPIRIT is now live in us and among us. To Him we are to communicate to live a holy life and to do mighty works for our God .2 Corinthians 3:17-18(ESV) . Jesus said one of the signs of a believer is speaking in new tongues. Mark 16:15-20(ESV) The following are the misconceptions about the Holy Spirit & the answers:
- Some say, we have got the Holy Spirit when we were born again?Of course it is true that without the help of the Holy Spirit you cannot be born again. But Holy Spirit of Baptism is not that. Both are different experience. Acts 8:14-17(ESV)
- Some are afraid of receiving an evil spirit instead. Why are you afraid? When Jesus had promised that OUR HEAVENLY FATHER would not give us any other spirit if we ask for HOLY SPIRIT. Luke11: 9-13(ESV)
- Some do not find any difference in the life of those who speak in tongues. But see the life of the disciples of Jesus. They were so powerless when Jesus was arrested and they all went and hid themselves. Jesus commanded them to tarry and get this Power of Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8(ESV) And when they listened to Him, they were all filled with the Power, went out boldly, proclaimed the Gospel and did Signs and Wonders. Hallelujah!
- Some just ignore thinking I am not sure. It is written that anything we speak against the Holy Spirit your sins are not forgiven so we better not enter into it. But Jesus said it is good that I am going away so that Holy Spirit the helper and Counsellor I will send to you. John 16:7-15(ESV)
- Some are believing signs and wonders were for those days and at present we should be content only with the Lord, quoting 1 Corinthians 14:22(ESV) Exactly that is why we need to be able to do Signs and Wonders because without that nobody is impressed by our Gospel. Jesus needed them. John 10:37-38(ESV)
- Some are not giving importance to speaking in tongues. But tongues is the sign of Holy Spirit anointing. Acts 10:44-46(ESV)
- Some emphasise on interpretation of tongues saying if we speak in tongues, we should be able to interpret also so we should not speak. This is only when you speak publicly in church but speaking in tongues is a prayer language to pray privately. 1 Corinthians 14:5, 39(ESV)
- Some high light on Love over speaking in tongues and they quote Corinthians13:1-2(ESV) . But in the same chapter it says Love believes all 1 Corinthians 13:7(ESV). So believe what God is saying.
My testimony: When I was Born again I fell in love with Jesus and Bible. I finished studying New Testament, but I did not understand the places where it is mentioned about Holy Spirit. Two years later my friend told me all about anointed by the Holy Spirit. I was excited when I saw them filled by the Holy spirit and I too prayed earnestly, I was anointed immediately and spoke in tongues when the pastor laid his hands on me. After that a decade went. I had no opportunity to attend such meetings. No one told me the importance of speaking in tongues. My aunty, who was against the speaking in tongues, got anointed when she was praying at home alone, asked about my position. I told her I lost it. She said that is not possible and she prepared me and prayed laying hands on my head. And I spoke again. She asked me to speak at home everyday. I tried to do, but every time I spoke alone, fear came thinking this might be an evil spirit. I stopped. After another decade, I asked one of our prayer group leader to pray with me in tongues. Because he used to tell me he speaks and I had no other company. But he asked me many questions and left me saying that I need to take water baptism; he even doubted that I was Born Again. I got so aggressive and told the Holy Spirit, “You are here and I am here; let us speak”. And then on I started speaking boldly. I gained a lot through speaking in tongues. I took water baptism and many of my family members took because I could testify to them. My life got changed entirely because of the Power of the Holy Spirit in me.