Insolomonsporch's Blog

And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly]. Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for Him. For this reason I am telling you whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it]. Mk 11:22-24 Amp

Absolutely every promise offered by the Father through the Son is inherited by faith. (Rom 4:16)  So the very first thing that you want to check when hitting a wall in receiving any promise – is your faith.  Are you standing in a place of faith?  Do you believe God can do what He says, and watches over His Word to perform it? Or are you doubting, wavering and uncertain?  This very posture will lock you out of the ability to receive….

I want to focus in specifically where people have trouble receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit…and speaking in tongues as the evidence of that receipt…

I was a problem child in this issue. Living in Utah, a military reservist and spouse, I had just recently come back to the Lord from wandering away after a childhood salvation. I pursued the Baptism of the Holy Spirit for a solid year meeting with a woman from the Assemblies of God church for mentoring on this topic.  After she set the Biblical foundation and studying with me every concept, this friend began to take me to churches and homes – anywhere, anytime there was even an inkling that the Spirit would be present and working. ( Let me just say here – the purpose of studying this topic in the Scriptures is not to master it mentally, but is instead to build up your faith muscle to apprehend and receive this, by trusting fully on the Lord.)

I hit wall after wall with no breakthrough.  But things began to soften.  I began to soften and change. I set aside any worry of Tongues (because it was a worry). Instead, I began to focus on pursuing a deeper relationship with the Lord – because ultimately that is the heart of the Baptism.

What kept me going was hunger for Him, and armed with the Scripture truth – I knew He wouldn’t fail me or refuse me. So after countless times of having hands laid on me in various settings I finally received the Baptism and spoke in tongues.  But not in the way I anticipated.

I was at home one night. The kids were in bed, my husband was away TDY.  Sitting on my bed with my Bible I came before the Lord and told Him I wanted this, whatever it was going to look like, because I wanted Him. Because I am a pretty reserved person, and highly controlled – the issue of releasing control especially of my mouth was a big hurdle for me.  But in that moment I had faith that more than enough hands had been laid on me to receive.  I was out of the public arena where performance fear continued to plague me. I had been afraid of failing the test of speaking.  However, there in that moment of quiet, safety, and peace in my room, I was able to let go of all fear, and just receive. 

The Lord met me where I was.  He actually presented what was like a teleprompter to read from in my perception.  I don’t even begin to know what it said. But after reading from it, I haltingly was speaking in tongues. Unfortunately, after that night I convinced myself that I had done it myself, that it wasn’t the Lord at all, and I didn’t speak again for another six weeks.

Pressure and restlessness began building in me. Desperately and humbly I came before the Lord and I had to repent of denying Him and doubting the previous event.  As I committed even more fully to enter into this deeper experience I began to speak fully and flow in a dialect or language I had never known—like a fountain gushing forth I might add.

Why do I share this?  Because in hindsight, I was the biggest obstacle to receiving.  Imagine giving a reluctant cat a bath.  He clings to everything to stay clear of the water.  He may want to be clean – but he doesn’t want the water. While I wanted the Lord, I was very reluctant of the process and of somehow disappointing Him.  But the only way to disappoint the Lord and the Holy Spirit in this process – is to give up!  This cat had to enter the water– before it could be immersed! I had to totally yield control, and that is not something we like to do at all. But it is necessary.

One big question that arises for people is: “What am I lacking or missing by not receiving this experience? What can I not do that you can do?” So let’s look at that:

Without the Baptism of the Holy Spirit you cannot:

– prophesy ( tell forth the divine counsels and predicting future events especially pertaining to the Kingdom) (Acts 2:16-18)

– have visions (divinely granted appearances) (Acts 9:10-12, 10:10-19)

– have power, efficiency, and might to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8, 4:29, 33, 5:28-32)

– perform signs and wonders (Acts 2:43, 3:16, 5:12, 13:8-12)

– speak in full and accurate boldness (Acts 4:13, 9:22, 10:28-29, 18:24-26)

– walk in true unity with the Spirit (Acts 2:42-44, 4:24, 32)

– have dreams (divinely inspired dreams)

– be translated (Acts 8:39-40)

Yeah … you just can’t be the world shaker the Lord has called us to be without the Baptism… yup!

It is also worthwhile to note some things about what is actually happening as you speak in other tongues…

– the people in the upper room had the Spirit alight upon them, but the power and effect diffused throughout their entire souls (Acts 2:3-4)

-1Cor 2:1-16 demonstrates that as you have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit you experience with greater understanding the wisdom of God, His purposes and His counsels

– this is not from an effort of self-reasoning or study, but it is conveyed directly by the Holy Spirit to our Spirit, then to our understanding

– when you speak in unknown tongues, the Holy Spirit is giving you utterance and it actually bypasses your mind/intellect and is expressed directly through your own mouth – this is the reason we must yield all our faculties (soul) and members (physical body) (Romans 6:13).  You are speaking out of your spirit as inspired by the Holy Spirit.  For this reason it is considered that Speaking in Other Tongues is a gateway for operation in all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit — which you cannot actually employ then without first having the Baptism – which means tongues too of course.

Now for the final clincher…

Everything hinges on believing – well. Your faith hinges on your willingness to believe – to trust God and to submit to His opinion. (Mk 11:22-24) So look at this…

In Acts 2:14-41 is the Apostle Peter’s first big show after the upper room.  As he is speaking in verse 37  people were stung to the heart with what he was saying.  This is often the way in Scripture. If you are gonna get your panties in a wad over something – you will receive nothing.  But here, they ask, “What shall we do?”  This should be your question, if you have ever felt left out in the whole Baptism of the Holy Spirit process.  Now listen to what Peter said in response to them – for this is your best and continual guidance until you receive…verse 38:

“And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be Baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

“Every one of you”…Did you get that?  You shall receive!!!!  There is nothing blocking you except your old perception, and your sense that you have been left out.  But you have not been left out!!! The Lord’s love and inclusion of you has not changed, nor will it. But you stand in the driver’s seat here.  Like me… do you need to repent and ask forgiveness for denying Him? I sure did. But don’t let a delay become a lifetime of disappointment and bitterness. This is yours if you want it.  Jesus wants it for you – He wants you to be His witness. So don’t let the devil steal it. Tell that old mountain to be lifted up and thrown into the sea!

The word says in Acts 2:39:

“For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away, [even] to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself.” Amp

He’s offered already. He has invited you to be His.  You got the promise. Open the box. It’s got your name on it… love and blessings JESUS.