EMPOWER NIGHT

IMAGINE AND DREAM

SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS NARROWING THE GAP BETWEEN KINGDOM PROMISE, BIBLICAL NARRATIVE, SPIRITUAL MYTHS-MIRACLES AND STORIES AND OUR DAILY BOOTS ON THE GROUND PHYSICAL LIFE IN THIS WORLD.

THE ONE DISTINCTION THAT SEPARATES YOU FROM ADAM IS WE LIVE IN A FALLEN WORD AND STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH SIN AND THE BATTLE SPIRITUAL FORCES TO DRAW CLOSE TO GOD.
-YOU HAVE SPIRIT INSIDE OF YOU
-YOU HAVE A NEW HEART
-YOU HAVE HIS LAWS WRITTEN IN YOUR NEW HEART

“IF HE’S IN YOUR HEART, HE SHOULD GUIDE EVERY PART”
“IF THE SPIRIT IS IN RESIDENCE, HE MUST HAVE PRECEDENCE.”
“YOU CAN’T CLAIM HIS PRESENCE AND IGNORE HIS GUIDANCE.”
“IF HE’S IN YOUR SOUL, LET HIM LEAD THE WHOLE.”

SETUP

LAST WEEK WE ENDED EASTER BY TALKING ABOUT JESUS RESTORATION PROCESS FOR OUR LIVES. THE RESURRECTION BROUGHT US BACK TO THIS CLOSENESS WITH GOD I AM SPEAKING TO. THE VEIL WAS RIPPED THE BARRIER BETWEEN US AND GOD REMOVED AND BECAUSE OF JESUS OUR SINS ERASED AND I AM CLOTHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS WHAT IS NEEDED TO BE IN GODS PRESENCE AND IS THE VERY KEY THAT ALLOWS THE HOLY SPIRIT TO RESIDE IN A SINFUL HUMAN.

EVERYTHING WAS BEING RESTORED, RELATIONSHIP, RIGHTEOUSNESS, CLOSENESS TO GOD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLING, HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERMENT. AS I SAID A RETURN TO OUR PERFECT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WAS BEING RESTORED!

THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE WE SEE MAN STRIVING TO GET BACK TO THIS. EVEN SEE MOSES TRYING TO GET BACK TO THAT WHEN HE TELLS GOD IN EXODUS 33 THAT HE WONT GO WITHOUT HIM AND THAT HE SHOULD JUST KILL HIM.

JOEL 2:28 (ACTS 2:17)
28 “THEN, AFTER DOING ALL THOSE THINGS (THE RESTORATION PART), I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL PEOPLE. YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WILL PROPHESY. YOUR OLD MEN WILL DREAM DREAMS, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS.
29 IN THOSE DAYS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT EVEN ON SERVANTS—MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE.

LIKEWISE WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SPIRIT WOULD COME ON PEOPLE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:
-SAMSON IN JUDGES 14:6
-BEZALEL IN EXODUS 31:1-5
-OTHNIEL JUDGES 3:10
-GIDEON JUDGES 6:34
-SAUL TO PROPHECY
-DAVID TO LEAD
-BALAAM, THE 70 ELDERS, JEPTATH, AZARIAH, EZEKIEL, JAHAZIEL

NOW WE MOVE ON TO SEE WHAT JESUS AND THE NT SAYS ABOUT THE SPIRIT COMING

JOHN 16:7 (14:16, 14:26, 15:26) JESUS SENDING HS BETTER FOR US
7 BUT IN FACT, IT IS BEST FOR YOU THAT I GO AWAY, BECAUSE IF I DON’T, THE ADVOCATE WON’T COME.

JESUS TELLS US THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT COMING IS THE BEST THING FOR US AND THAT ITS GOOD THAT HE LEAVES.

BUT THERE IS ALSO OTHER LANGUAGE HE USED TO DESCRIBE THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKING IN AND THROUGH US NOT JUST COMING TO US.

JOHN 7:37-39
37 ON THE LAST DAY, THE CLIMAX OF THE FESTIVAL, JESUS STOOD AND SHOUTED TO THE CROWDS, “ANYONE WHO IS THIRSTY MAY COME TO ME! 38 ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME MAY COME AND DRINK! FOR THE SCRIPTURES DECLARE, ‘RIVERS OF LIVING WATER WILL FLOW FROM HIS HEART.’ ” 39 (WHEN HE SAID “LIVING WATER,” HE WAS SPEAKING OF THE SPIRIT, WHO WOULD BE GIVEN TO EVERYONE BELIEVING IN HIM. BUT THE SPIRIT HAD NOT YET BEEN GIVEN, BECAUSE JESUS HAD NOT YET ENTERED INTO HIS GLORY.)

MATTHEW 3:11 BAPTIZE BY HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE (JUDGEMENT DAY)
11 “I BAPTIZE WITH WATER THOSE WHO REPENT OF THEIR SINS AND TURN TO GOD. BUT SOMEONE IS COMING SOON WHO IS GREATER THAN I AM—SO MUCH GREATER THAT I’M NOT WORTHY EVEN TO BE HIS SLAVE AND CARRY HIS SANDALS. HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH FIRE.

ACTS 1:8
8 BUT YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES UPON YOU. AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES, TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT ME EVERYWHERE—IN JERUSALEM, THROUGHOUT JUDEA, IN SAMARIA, AND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.”

TWO THINGS ARE HAPPENING HERE:
-THE SPIRIT WILL COME ON YOU
-YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER

MARK 16:17
17 THESE MIRACULOUS SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: THEY WILL CAST OUT DEMONS IN MY NAME, AND THEY WILL SPEAK IN NEW LANGUAGES.

JOHN 14:12-17
12 VERY TRULY I TELL YOU, WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME WILL DO THE WORKS I HAVE BEEN DOING, AND THEY WILL DO EVEN GREATER THINGS THAN THESE, BECAUSE I AM GOING TO THE FATHER. 13 AND I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU ASK IN MY NAME, SO THAT THE FATHER MAY BE GLORIFIED IN THE SON. 14 YOU MAY ASK ME FOR ANYTHING IN MY NAME, AND I WILL DO IT.
JESUS PROMISES THE HOLY SPIRIT
15 “IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDS. 16 AND I WILL ASK THE FATHER, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER ADVOCATE TO HELP YOU AND BE WITH YOU FOREVER—17 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. THE WORLD CANNOT ACCEPT HIM, BECAUSE IT NEITHER SEES HIM NOR KNOWS HIM. BUT YOU KNOW HIM, FOR HE LIVES WITH YOU AND WILL BE IN YOU.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ FOR HOMEWORK

-ALL OF EPHESIANS 4
-ALL OF 1 CORINTHIANS 12-14
ALL OF ROMANS 12, THEN READ THE BOOK OF ACTS

WHAT IS A “SPIRITUAL GIFT?”

SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE ABILITIES THAT GOD GIVES TO EACH BELIEVER FOR SERVICE IN AND AS THE CHURCH. THEY ARE “SPIRITUAL” GIFTS OR GIFTS THAT OPERATE IN THE REALM, OR SPHERE, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WHILE THE SOURCE OF EACH SPIRITUAL GIFT IS GOD, THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT A SPIRITUAL GIFT IS THE ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING SUPERNATURAL.

CESSATIONISM: WHY DO SOME BELIEVE IN THE GIFTS AND OTHERS DON’T?

CESSATIONISM: THE SPIRIT NO LONGER SOVEREIGNLY GIVES INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS THE MIRACULOUS SPIRITUAL GIFTS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE SCRIPTURE AND THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE FIRST CENTURY CHURCH

WHY CESSATIONISM

#1 GIFTS WERE A WORK OF THE APOSTLES AND EARLY CHURCH TO GET THE BALL ROLLING FOR CHRISTIANITY
-OUR VIEW: PAUL TEACHES THE GIFTS TO THE CHURCHES
-1 THESS 5:19-20
-PAUL BELIEVES ALL SHOULD SPEAK IN TONGUES AND PROPHECY IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT

#2 A SIGN OF JESUS MESSIANIC POWER IN HIM AND HIS DISCIPLES
-OURVIEW: IT WAS A SIGN AND THEN JESUS SAID WE WOULD DO THE SAME AND GREATER WORKS

#3 THE LACK OF THE GIFTS IN CHURCH HISTORY UNTIL THE LAST 2 CENTURIES
-OURVIEW: THIS IS TRUE BUT MAINLY DUE TO CHURCH CULTURE AND STANCE ON THE GIFTS
-THERE WERE MANY CHURCHES THAT WALKED IN THE GIFTS

#4 WE HAVE A COMPLETE FINISHED BIBLE AND IN THE PAST THE GIFTS WERE USED TO REVEAL GODS WILL AND CHARACTER, NO NEED NOW.
-OUR VIEW: GIFTS SHOULD ALWAYS LINE UP WITH SCRIPTURE
-THE PURPOSE OF GIFTS IS TO ENCOURAGE THE BODY NOT GUIDE DOCTRINE
-THE GIFTS IN THE NT WERE NEVER MENTIONED FOR ANYTHING MORE
THAN ENCOURAGEMENT AND STRENGTHENING OF BODY, NOT TO ESTABLISH GODS WORD

POSITIVES OF THIS VIEW
-RELIANCE ON GOD AND NOT MAN.
-HIGHER VIEW OF SCRIPTURE
-PROTECTS AGAINST EXCESS RELATED TO GIFT MISUSE

BUT……..

OT SAYS GIFTS WILL HAPPEN IN END TIMES,
JESUS TEACHES ON IT,
PAUL TEACHES IT,
PETER TEACHES IT,
ACTS SHOWS IT ACTIVE,
THE EPISTLES WRESTLE WITH IT,
EARLY CHURCH HISTORY SAYS IT WAS PRESENT

AND THERE IS NOT ONE SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS THEY WOULD GO AWAY.

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO SEEK AND DESIRE THE GIFTS GOD HAS GIVEN US

I CORINTHIANS 14:1
FOLLOW THE WAY OF LOVE AND EAGERLY DESIRE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, ESPECIALLY PROPHECY. 2 FOR ANYONE WHO SPEAKS IN A TONGUE R DOES NOT SPEAK TO PEOPLE BUT TO GOD. INDEED, NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THEM; THEY UTTER MYSTERIES BY THE SPIRIT. 3 BUT THE ONE WHO PROPHESIES SPEAKS TO PEOPLE FOR THEIR STRENGTHENING, ENCOURAGING AND COMFORT. 4 ANYONE WHO SPEAKS IN A TONGUE EDIFIES THEMSELVES, BUT THE ONE WHO PROPHESIES EDIFIES THE CHURCH.

#1 DESIRE ALL THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS BECAUSE YOU DESIRE GOD HIMSELF AND HIS BEST FOR THE CHURCH

1 CORINTHIANS 12:7
7 NOW TO EACH ONE THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT IS GIVEN FOR THE COMMON GOOD.

#2 DESIRE ALL THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, KNOWING THAT “THE GREATEST SPIRITUAL GIFT IS LOVE”

1 CORINTHIANS 12:31
31 SO YOU SHOULD EARNESTLY DESIRE THE MOST HELPFUL GIFTS. BUT NOW LET ME SHOW YOU A WAY OF LIFE THAT IS BEST OF ALL.

#3 DESIRE ALL THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS BECAUSE YOU NEED THEM TO OVERCOME THE SATANIC FEAR THAT DWELLS IN YOUR HEART

2 TIMOTHY 1:6–7
6 FOR THIS REASON I REMIND YOU TO FAN INTO FLAME THE GIFT OF GOD, WHICH IS IN YOU THROUGH THE LAYING ON OF MY HANDS. 7 FOR THE SPIRIT GOD GAVE US DOES NOT MAKE US TIMID, BUT GIVES US POWER, LOVE AND SELF-DISCIPLINE.

#4 DESIRE ALL THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, KNOWING THAT DISCERNMENT IS NEEDED IN THEIR USE.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:19–20
19 DO NOT QUENCH THE SPIRIT. 20 DO NOT TREAT PROPHECIES WITH CONTEMPT 21 BUT TEST THEM ALL; HOLD ON TO WHAT IS GOOD, 22 REJECT EVERY KIND OF EVIL.

#5 DESIRE ALL THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS BECAUSE GODS WORD COMMANDS IT

1 CORINTHIANS 14:39
39 THEREFORE, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, BE EAGER TO PROPHESY, AND DO NOT FORBID SPEAKING IN TONGUES.

#6 DESIRE ALL THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS BECAUSE IT BUILDS UP THE CHURCH

1 CORINTHIANS 14:12
12 SO IT IS WITH YOU. SINCE YOU ARE EAGER FOR GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, TRY TO EXCEL IN THOSE THAT BUILD UP THE CHURCH.

#7 DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS BECAUSE GOD CREATED THEM FOR US TO ENJOY AND TO BUILD HIS KINGDOM.

EPHESIANS 2:10
10 FOR WE ARE GOD’S HANDIWORK, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO.

HOMEWORK:

ONCE YOU READ THOSE SCRIPTURES IF YOU HAVENT DONE SO IN THE LAST YEAR I WOULD LIKE YOU TO GO TO OUR CHURCH WEBSITE AND DO THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS TEST ON OUR WEBSITE. AFTER YOU ARE DONE SEND ME YOUR RESULTS.

IF YOU TAKE MY SPIRITUAL GIFTS CLASS I TEACH WHICH MAY HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FALL WE DO THIS DURING THAT CLASS AS WELL.

LIVINGWATERCOAST.COM/THEGIFTS

JUSTIN@LIVINGWATERCOAST.COM

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
SPEAKING IN TONGUES

BORN OF THE SPIRIT AT SALVATION VS. BAPTISM OF HOLY SPIRIT

MARK 1:7-11 JESUS FIRST OF THE NEW COVENANT

ACTS 2:1-4

BUT FROM THIS POINT FORWARD WE SEE THERE WERE TWO WORKS THAT HAPPEN WITH SALVATION. BAPTISM WITH WATER AND WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT CONSISTENTLY IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.

***EMPHASIZE HOW THEY RECEIVE (HANDS AND PRAYERS)***

ACTS 19:1-7
WHILE APOLLOS WAS AT CORINTH, PAUL TOOK THE ROAD THROUGH THE INTERIOR AND ARRIVED AT EPHESUS. THERE HE FOUND SOME DISCIPLES 2 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.”
3 SO PAUL ASKED, “THEN WHAT BAPTISM DID YOU RECEIVE?”
“JOHN’S BAPTISM,” THEY REPLIED.
4 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.” 5 ON HEARING THIS, THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. 6 WHEN PAUL PLACED HIS HANDS ON THEM, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME ON THEM, AND THEY SPOKE IN TONGUES J AND PROPHESIED. 7 THERE WERE ABOUT TWELVE MEN IN ALL.

ACTS 10:44-46
44 WHILE PETER WAS STILL SPEAKING THESE WORDS, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME ON ALL WHO HEARD THE MESSAGE. 45 THE CIRCUMCISED BELIEVERS WHO HAD COME WITH PETER WERE ASTONISHED THAT THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD BEEN POURED OUT EVEN ON GENTILES. 46 FOR THEY HEARD THEM SPEAKING IN TONGUES O AND PRAISING GOD.

ACTS 8:9-19
9 NOW FOR SOME TIME A MAN NAMED SIMON HAD PRACTICED SORCERY IN THE CITY AND AMAZED ALL THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA. HE BOASTED THAT HE WAS SOMEONE GREAT, 10 AND ALL THE PEOPLE, BOTH HIGH AND LOW, GAVE HIM THEIR ATTENTION AND EXCLAIMED, “THIS MAN IS RIGHTLY CALLED THE GREAT POWER OF GOD.” 11 THEY FOLLOWED HIM BECAUSE HE HAD AMAZED THEM FOR A LONG TIME WITH HIS SORCERY. 12 BUT WHEN THEY BELIEVED PHILIP AS HE PROCLAIMED THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, THEY WERE BAPTIZED, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. 13 SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED AND WAS BAPTIZED. AND HE FOLLOWED PHILIP EVERYWHERE, ASTONISHED BY THE GREAT SIGNS AND MIRACLES HE SAW.
14 WHEN THE APOSTLES IN JERUSALEM HEARD THAT SAMARIA HAD ACCEPTED THE WORD OF GOD, THEY SENT PETER AND JOHN TO SAMARIA. 15 WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY PRAYED FOR THE NEW BELIEVERS THERE THAT THEY MIGHT RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, 16 BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD NOT YET COME ON ANY OF THEM; THEY HAD SIMPLY BEEN BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. 17 THEN PETER AND JOHN PLACED THEIR HANDS ON THEM, AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT.
18 WHEN SIMON SAW THAT THE SPIRIT WAS GIVEN AT THE LAYING ON OF THE APOSTLES’ HANDS, HE OFFERED THEM MONEY 19 AND SAID, “GIVE ME ALSO THIS ABILITY SO THAT EVERYONE ON WHOM I LAY MY HANDS MAY RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.”

ACTS 11:15-17
15 “AS I BEGAN TO SPEAK, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME ON THEM AS HE HAD COME ON US AT THE BEGINNING. 16 THEN I REMEMBERED WHAT THE LORD HAD SAID: ‘JOHN BAPTIZED WITH WATER, BUT YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.’ 17 SO IF GOD GAVE THEM THE SAME GIFT HE GAVE US WHO BELIEVED IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO WAS I TO THINK THAT I COULD STAND IN GOD’S WAY?”

SO NOW WE TAKE THESE STORIES AND FAST FORWARD TO THE CHURCHES LAUNCHING ALL OVER AND NOW PAUL HAS TO TEACH ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO TONGUES BECAUSE IT’S A NEW THING.

1 CORINTHIANS 14:1-6
FOLLOW THE WAY OF LOVE AND EAGERLY DESIRE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, ESPECIALLY PROPHECY. 2 FOR ANYONE WHO SPEAKS IN A TONGUE R DOES NOT SPEAK TO PEOPLE BUT TO GOD. INDEED, NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THEM; THEY UTTER MYSTERIES BY THE SPIRIT. 3 BUT THE ONE WHO PROPHESIES SPEAKS TO PEOPLE FOR THEIR STRENGTHENING, ENCOURAGING AND COMFORT. 4 ANYONE WHO SPEAKS IN A TONGUE EDIFIES THEMSELVES, BUT THE ONE WHO PROPHESIES EDIFIES THE CHURCH. 5 I WOULD LIKE EVERY ONE OF YOU TO SPEAK IN TONGUES, BUT I WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU PROPHESY. THE ONE WHO PROPHESIES IS GREATER THAN THE ONE WHO SPEAKS IN TONGUES, UNLESS SOMEONE INTERPRETS, SO THAT THE CHURCH MAY BE EDIFIED.
6 NOW, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IF I COME TO YOU AND SPEAK IN TONGUES, WHAT GOOD WILL I BE TO YOU, UNLESS I BRING YOU SOME REVELATION OR KNOWLEDGE OR PROPHECY OR WORD OF INSTRUCTION?

-PAUL EXPLAINS DIFFERENCE IN PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE TONGUE

1 CORINTHIANS 14:18-19
18 I THANK GOD THAT I SPEAK IN TONGUES MORE THAN ALL OF YOU. 19 BUT IN THE CHURCH I WOULD RATHER SPEAK FIVE INTELLIGIBLE WORDS TO INSTRUCT OTHERS THAN TEN THOUSAND WORDS IN A TONGUE.

IS TONGUES FOR EVERYONE

MARK 16:17
17 AND THESE SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: IN MY NAME THEY WILL DRIVE OUT DEMONS; THEY WILL SPEAK IN NEW TONGUES;

I CORINTHIANS 14:5
5 I WOULD LIKE EVERY ONE OF YOU TO SPEAK IN TONGUES, BUT I WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU PROPHESY. THE ONE WHO PROPHESIES IS GREATER THAN THE ONE WHO SPEAKS IN TONGUES, UNLESS SOMEONE INTERPRETS, SO THAT THE CHURCH MAY BE EDIFIED.

-PAUL PRIORITIZES TONGUES

WHY SPEAK IN TONGUES?
#1 IT IS A SIGN OF THE INDWELLING SPIRIT
JOHN 14:16-17
16 AND I WILL ASK THE FATHER, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER ADVOCATE, WHO WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU. 17 HE IS THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO LEADS INTO ALL TRUTH. THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE HIM, BECAUSE IT ISN’T LOOKING FOR HIM AND DOESN’T RECOGNIZE HIM. BUT YOU KNOW HIM, BECAUSE HE LIVES WITH YOU NOW AND LATER WILL BE IN YOU.

#2 HELPS US TO PRAY GODS WILL
ROMANS 8:26-27
26 AND THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS US TO PRAY FOR. BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT PRAYS FOR US WITH GROANINGS THAT CANNOT BE EXPRESSED IN WORDS. 27 AND THE FATHER WHO KNOWS ALL HEARTS KNOWS WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING, FOR THE SPIRIT PLEADS FOR US BELIEVERS IN HARMONY WITH GOD’S OWN WILL.

#3 BUILDS US UP SPIRITUALLY/STRENGTHENS OUR FAITH
JUDE 1:20, 1 CORINTHIANS 14:4
20 BUT YOU, DEAR FRIENDS, MUST BUILD EACH OTHER UP IN YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH, PRAY IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,

#4 A WAY OF GIVING THANKS AND CONNECTING MY SPIRIT TO GOD 1 CORINTHIANS 14:14-15-17
14 FOR IF I PRAY IN TONGUES, MY SPIRIT IS PRAYING, BUT I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM SAYING.
15 WELL THEN, WHAT SHALL I DO? I WILL PRAY IN THE SPIRIT, AND I WILL ALSO PRAY IN WORDS I UNDERSTAND. I WILL SING IN THE SPIRIT, AND I WILL ALSO SING IN WORDS I UNDERSTAND. 16 FOR IF YOU PRAISE GOD ONLY IN THE SPIRIT, HOW CAN THOSE WHO DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU PRAISE GOD ALONG WITH YOU? HOW CAN THEY JOIN YOU IN GIVING THANKS WHEN THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING? 17 YOU WILL BE GIVING THANKS VERY WELL, BUT IT WON’T STRENGTHEN THE PEOPLE WHO HEAR YOU.

#5 IT ENABLES US TO PRAY FOR THE UNKNOWN
#6 IT REFRESHES US SPIRITUALLY ISAIAH 28:11
#7 IT FORCES YOU TO SUBMIT YOUR BODY TO GOD JAMES 3:8
#8 A WAY TO WORSHIP GOD ACTS 10:46

#9 IT BUILDS OUR FAITH BECAUSE IT IS A STEP OF FAITH

#10 IT IS PART OF YOUR ARMOR IN THE ARMY OF GOD EPHESIANS 6:10-18

THINGS TO REMEMBER BEFORE WE START PRAYING

#1 RELAX
#2 BLOCK OUT EVERYONE ELSE
#3 REALIZE ITS LIKE SALVATION YOU MIGHT NOT FEEL DIFFERENT BUT THE WORK IS HAPPENING
#4 REMEMBER YOU SPEAK IN TONGUES NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOU AREN’T
BEING POSSESSED BY GOD
#5 EVERY TONGUE SOUNDS DIFFERENT FROM ONE QUIET WORD TO 20 LOUD ONES
#6 IT WILL SOUND WEIRD AND MAYBE EVEN UNCOMFORTBALE, BE BOLD
AND BLOCK OUT THE IDEA OF SOUNDING WEIRD TO OTHERS

STEPS TO RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT
#1 ASK GOD LUKE 11:13
#2 HAVE PEOPLE LAY HANDS ON YOU AND PRAY
#3 STEP OUT IN FAITH
#4 BEGIN TO SPEAK