How Do I Receive The Baptism In The Holy Spirit?

.....Peter says in Acts 2:38-39, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.

.....Peter calls upon all to change their opinion of and attitude toward Christ and to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ as public acknowledgment that they have accepted Jesus as Messiah and Lord. "Name" suggests nature and character; therefore, to be baptized "in the name of Jesus" is to confess Him to be all that His name denotes. Baptism in and of itself is not a means of forgiveness and salvation. But for the early Church, however, there was no separation between ritual, and reality. Coming to Christ and being baptized were mutually inclusive. One thing to note is that the gift of the Holy Spirit must be distinguished from the gifts of the Spirit. The former is the Holy Spirit Himself, while the latter are the special abilities granted by the Spirit to equip believers for service, (1Cor 12:1-31).

.....The promise of the Holy Spirit, is a gift for every believer in every generation. All who are afar off includes the Gentiles as well. Every believer in every era and everywhere, have the surety to expect the same resource and experience that was afforded the first believers who received the Holy Spirit at the birth of the Church.

So, How do I receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

.....You need to do a number of things in order to receive this blessing. First, you need to be born again. The person who is going to be filled with the Spirit must have the indwelling Spirit and must belong to Jesus, (Romans 8:9).

.....The second you have to do is ask. The Bible says, if we ask for the Holy Spirit, that prayer will be answered, (Luke 11:8).

.....The third thing you have to do is surrender. The Apostle Paul made this need very clear in the Book of Romans when he said, "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, (Romans 12:1).

.....Fourth, you must be willing to obey the Spirit. God does not give this power to someone and then say, "You can take the parts you like in all this and leave the parts you do not like." If you want to be immersed in the Holy Spirit, you need to be prepared to obey the Spirit, (Acts 5:32).

.....Fifth, you need to believe. The Apostle Paul said, "Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:2). The answer, obviously, is faith. You have to believe that if you ask, you will receive.

.....Finally, you have to exercise what God has given you. Having asked, having received, having been willing to obey, you need to respond in a biblical fashion.

.....The Bible says that those baptized with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost "began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance," (Acts 2:4). This means they spoke the words that the Spirit gave them. The Holy Spirit gave the words, but the Apostles and the Disciples voluntarily responded. There was action based on faith, not merely passive acceptance of the blessing. That is the way it is with God, yesterday, today, and forever. God is offering the baptism in the Holy Spirit to people who need only to reach out and take it, and then enjoy the blessing.
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How Do I Pray For A Miracle?

.....When we are faced with a great need, either for ourselves or for others, we should begin by humbly seeking to know God's will in the matter; "Father, what do You want to do in this situation?" Jesus said, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working," (John 5:17). He listened to the voice of the Father, and He watched Him. Be careful not to start or end a prayer by saying blindly, "If it be Your will." Rather, you should seek to know God's will in the situation and then base your prayer upon it. Praying for a miracle is welcoming a gift of the Holy Spirit to manifest. When His will is to work one, He will witness that to your heart. Then you can ask Him to perform the miracle that you know He wants to bring about.

.....It is often important to exercise a key to the miraculous - the spoken word. God has given us authority over disease, demons, sickness, storms, and finances, (Mathew 10:1; Luke 10:19). Often, we may keep asking God to act, when, in fact, He calls us to employ His authority in Jesus' name: we may command needed funds to come to us, command a storm to be stilled, command a demon to come out, command affliction to leave, even command a sickness to depart.

.....Jesus said, "Whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says," (Mark 11:23). Believe in your heart that it has already happened! With the anointing of faith that God gives you, speak it forth. But remember, miracles come by faith in God's present power, not by ritual or formula of human works or willpower.
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Hearing God's Voice!

Hearing God's Voice - Are You Ready to Listen?

Hearing God's voice is something we all long for-but did you know that it's not hard to do? In fact, God wants you to hear His voice! He doesn't speak to us through a quiver in our liver or through vibes or mediums. Hearing the voice of God is as natural as hearing your best friend talk to you. What's more, we can hear Him everyday and not just on special occasions or by chanting special incantations. He speaks to us in the natural moments of life. Do you want to hear God's voice? Then you must be ready to listen.

Hearing God's Voice - Why Do You Want to Hear Him?

Why do you want to hear God's voice? That may sound like a silly question, but motives are important in anything we do. The Bible says this about God's Word: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Do you want to hear God's voice? If you do, it's possible you're hearing Him already, for He may be the one giving you the longing to hear Him.

Hearing God's Voice in the Bible

God has spoken to man, and the Bible is His Word, given to us to make us wise unto salvation.

The Bible itself declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). In another place, we read: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16).

You may hear people say that the Bible is just a book written by men, but the Bible itself claims to be God's Word! Can we rely on it? The evidence of history, archaeology, fulfilled prophecy and personal testimony over thousands of years is overwhelming that the Bible is, indeed, God's Word. Do you want to hear God's voice? Then read the Bible. Find a good daily reading plan, and stick to it.

Hearing God's Voice through Prayer

When you want to have a conversation with someone, how do you begin? Do you stand in front of the person and hope they will talk to you? That might work, if the other person is outgoing enough, but usually we begin a conversation by opening our own mouths and talking, engaging the other person's attention. It's the same with God! He loves to hear us talk to Him, and it's in those moments that we prepare ourselves to hear the voice of God. Prayer is like saying, "Hello, God, it's me. I believe You created me and that You know way more about how I should live my life than I do. I'd like to get to know You better. Here's what's going on in my life, and I'd sure like Your thoughts on how to handle it. Would You please speak to me about this today?"

In an ordinary conversation, we speak, then listen for the response of the other person. It's the same with God! Once we've prepared our hearts to listen through prayer, we're more likely to hear the voice of God. Does He speak to us through an audible voice? Some claim He does, but usually that's not the case. We may not actually "hear" the voice of God, but He speaks to us in many ways. Here are some of them:

• God speaks through His Word
• God speaks through our thoughts
• God speaks through conversations with others
• God speaks through circumstances

Hearing God's Voice through Jesus

The Bible also tells us that Jesus is God in the flesh. Therefore, if you want to hear the voice of God, you must study and know the teachings of Jesus. Here's how John describes Him: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life." (1 John 1:1). You must also have a personal relationship with Jesus. Have you ever tried to carry on a conversation of any depth with a person you did not know? It doesn't usually go very far.

Shortly before He was crucified, Jesus met with His disciples to reassure them of what would happen after He was gone. He promised them a helper: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - 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." (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit, then, is the fulfillment of the way we hear God's voice!

Hearing God's Voice with the Help of the Holy Spirit

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26). The second chapter of Acts describes the events that occurred on the day of Pentecost, after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Verse 3 says they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, the Counselor promised by Jesus. This unique aspect of God's personality did not come to them as someone they could see and touch, but rather He came to live inside them. That same Spirit is available to you and me today. Are you a Christian? If so, you already have the Holy Spirit available to you. Ask God for a fresh filling everyday, and He will prepare your heart to hear God's voice. His Spirit, that still, small voice inside you, is the One who will remind you of what God said, and help you recognize God's opportunities in your life.

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Why Should We Study The Bible?

.....Why should we study the bible? The simple answer is because God in His word tells us to. (2Timothy 2:15) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We are exhorted to preach the word and to be able to defend it. (2Timothy 4:2) Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. Scripture is the tool God has given us and it is our duty to study it, know it, and apply it. (2Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I have listed some of the benefits to studying God’s word:

.....Studying the bible develops an appetite for God’s word and allows for spiritual growth:

.....(Matthew 4:4) But He answered and said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." We must nourish our physical body with food. Without food our body begins to grow weak and can not function to its fullest potential. In this condition we can not properly perform our duties at home or the work place. We become ineffective and worthless. As our physical body needs nourishment, so does our spiritual part. If we do not take in a regular intake of bible doctrine, we become worthless as servants to God. To be strong spiritually and be good stewards we need a steady diet of His word. (1Peter 2:2) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, By feeding on God’s word we will become mature Christians. As believers we have a hunger that can only be satisfied by God’s word, anything else will leave us feeling hungry. (Job 23:12) I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

.....Studying the bible gives us the opportunity to know God and to reveal His character:

.....God is not an inanimate object but a living God. As believers we should know God on a much more personal level then the world. We learn through His word that He is a loving God offering comfort, peace, and mercy. He is our hope and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is our savior. The attributes of God and His love is probably a endless list but by studying His word we will develop a greater appreciation and a thankful attitude toward God as we see Him unfold in the scriptures. If we do not know God, how can we love and appreciate what he has done for us? (Ephesians 3:19) to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

.....Studying the bible helps us know the truth:

.....As students of the bible, we must not trust the authority of man, but search the scriptures to see what God says. We must study the bible with diligence and prayer. (Acts 17:11) These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

.....It is important to have prayer and communication with God so that the Holy Spirit can teach us. (1Corinthians 2:13) These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Truth is important, especially when it is God’s truth. If we study God’s word, we will know His truth and we will be able to recognize a lie when we hear one. (1John 4:1) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Discover the truth and do not be carried down the path of deception. (2Peter 2:1) But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. Studying God’s word protects us from traveling down this road.

.....In summary studying the bible allows us to be better workman for God. It equips us with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) so that we can quench the fiery darts of the devil and be more than conquers in Christ. (Romans 8:37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

.....Remember our citizenship is not on earth but in heaven and while on earth we are to represent Christ in everything we do. That is our job to represent Christ to the world and to preach His saving message. By studying His word we will be able to give reasons and to prove by the Word to the lost why Christ is our hope. The word of God will set you free, so discover His truth in the word and enjoy the freedom and peace it brings. (John 8:32) "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

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Consecration

.....Did you ever consider one of your New Year's resolutions to be consecrating yourself unto God? Consecration means - to set oneself apart, as Holy; make or declare sacred for God's use. To devote entirely or dedicate one's life.

.....The Bible says in Exodus 13:2 "Consecrate to Me all the firstborn." We are the firstborn among the born-again. God is claiming those He saves. We see this in 1 Corinthians 1:30, "But of Him you are in Christ, who became for us Wisdom from God - and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption. Through this we have four characteristics:

1. Sanctification in His Resurrection.

2. Redemption - (Ransom), Mark 10:45.

3. The firstborn belonging to God, Exodus 22:29.

4. Made Holy, Numbers 3:13.

.....In 1 Chronicles 29:5, the Bible asks, "Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day unto the Lord?"

.....God says in 1 Kings 9:3, that He will hear our prayer and supplication that we make before Him. He will also consecrate the house, (us, the dwelling place for Him), by putting His name their forever. He also says His eyes and His heart will be there perpetually, (lasting and enduring forever, continuing indefinitely without interruption). Never leaving us, nor for forsaking us. I invite you right now at this moment to pray the prayer below and dedicate your life to God. May He richly bless you in all areas of your life throughout this year.

Lord,
.....I pray the prayer of consecration. I present myself - spirit, soul, and body, whatever needs to be changed, I am ready to change it. Whatever needs to be made right, please help me to make it right. I come with a humble heart before You, God. Without You, I am nothing. I am placing my total dependency on You, not in my own ability, but in Your ability. I also ask You for forgiveness when I miss it.

.....Father, as I yield myself to You this day - spirit, soul, and body, I do not belong to myself. I belong to You, Lord, the day that I surrendered my life, I was bought with was a price, YOUR BLOOD. I am not my own, my life is not my own to do what I want. I am here to do Your plan, I am here to do Your Will my Lord. I will put my life on the altar at Your feet this day as a LIVING SACRIFICE. I yield to You in every area of my life; my heart, my family, my ministry, my job, my finances, every area - I give it all to You. Have Your way in my life Lord. I make a decision this day, and will try to obey You and do only what You want me to do. I commit to obeying the written Word and applying it to every area of my life. Forgive me Lord, for the many times I have not obeyed and for the times I have transgressed Your Word. I strive to make the adjustments in my life right now.

.....Lord, about Your unknown Will for my life, forgive me for running ahead of You, for all my good ideas and not Your ideas. Please allow the Holy Spirit to burn out everything that is not of Your Spirit and every desire that is not of You - REMOVE IT! Form me and fashion me into the vessel that You've created, desired, and called me to be. Lord, I want to please You by being obedient unto Your Plans, Your Purposes, and Your Will - THY WILL BE DONE ALWAYS. May my life bring glory to You. It doesn't matter if my friends don't even recognize me. It doesn't matter if they accept me, for You have accepted me and all I want is to manifest You, Lord, in every area of my life. Use my mouth to be Your mouth, trumpeting the Gospel of Jesus, to talk of your Wondrous Work, You're Finished Work, and Amazing Love. Use my feet to walk in Your ways, I choose to be a bond slave, a sevant, and a son in your Kingdom.

.....I Love You and Thank You Jesus for dying for me and as me. Thank You for shedding Your Blood to redeem me - Your Blood that is washing me now and making me whiter than snow, in my spirit, soul, and body. May the Holy Spirit burn deep within my heart, and that Your imprint is forever left. My wish is to be known only as a Holy person, consecrated unto You. Separate me and set me apart for your good use. For I have been made the Righteousness of God in Jesus Christ.

Thank You Father, In Jesus' Name I Pray,
Amen

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THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

Spiritual Warfare

.....God has designed every Christian for spiritual warfare. We are all commanded to resist the devil so that he will flee from us. We must all wrestle against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness or wickedness. In this combat, each of us must learn to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. In a day when the Church is being challenged to a contest of power by the forces of evil, it is essential every Christian learn how to carry out effective spiritual warfare, and put on the pieces of God's Armor and stand against the devil.

The Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6: 10 -- 20 ).

How to put on our Armor and Weapons.

.....A soldier must expend time and energy in order to put on his armor and take up his weapons. Similarly, a Christian puts on each piece of armor through precise disciplines in the Christian life. The spiritual armor of the Christian is similar to the physical armor of a soldier; however, it is of a different nature. Example -- David went out against Goliath in full armor, but all Goliath saw was a slingshot. David's armor had been forged and put on through the years of Godly disciplines which he developed in the wilderness caring for his father's sheep. ( See Psalm 78: 70-72)

1.) Belt of truth

.....Throughout history, the belt has been a symbol of strength, it is also been a means of freedom, and open times. Men wore outer garments which reached to the ground. If they ran in battle, they would be apt to step on the garments and stumble. To avoid this danger, they would raise their garments to the knee and secure them around their waist with the belt. Peter had this picture in mind when he quoted, "Gird up the loins of your mind." (1 Peter 1: 3).
Truth is also a means of freedom, as Jesus said, "And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free." (John 8: 32) (see also -- John 14: 6 ).

The Discipline related to the Belt of Truth:

Reading the Bible daily

.....Satan is a liar and the father lies. (See John 8: 44). He will tell us lies about God, ourselves, sin, the purposes for which God made things, and about every other aspect of our life. The best way to guard ourselves from Satan's lies is to have a daily program of reading and studying God's Word. ( The Truth )

2.) Breastplate of Righteousness

.....The Roman warriors who directly engaged the enemy wore plate armor around the trunks of their bodies to protect vital organs. In the same way, Christians are directed by God to guard "Their hearts with all diligence; for out to of them are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4: 23) The plate armor was heavy and restricted motion somewhat; however, the protection it gave was necessary for the soldier's survival.

The Discipline related to the Breastplate of Righteousness:

Memorizing God's Word

.....The ability of the Word of God to protect our heart is explained in Psalm 119:11, "Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee."Satan is the accuser of the bretheren (Christians) and brings condemnation to our hearts, (attacking the mind) if we do not know how to offset it with the Truth, such as passages in Romans 8. As we memorize God's word, our hearts, (minds) are sanctified and cleansed, according to John 15: 3, "Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you." (See also Galatians 3: 6 )

3.) Feet Shod with the Gospel

.....The foot is a symbol of authority. When a king was conquered, he would be brought to the victorious ruler and made to bow his head down to the ground. The conqueror would put his foot on the neck of his defeated foe, symbolizing that he had jurisdiction(and victory) over him and his kingdom.

The Discipline related to the Shoes of the Gospel:

Meditating on Scripture

.....Since Satan is the author of rebellion, he will do all he can to cause us to rebel. However, by engrafting Scripture into our souls,( mind, will, and emotions), we will be able to think God's thoughts,(revelation, wisdom, knowledge,) after Him. Meditation On Scripture is the way to engraft God's word into our lives so we can walk in his ways and bring peace to many others through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

4.) Shield of Faith

.....Roman shields came in various sizes and shapes, but the purpose was the same: To protect a warrior from deadly spears, arrows, and swords of the enemy. Even with the other pieces of armor, a soldier had vulnerable areas and needed the added protection of a shield to stop or deflect what would otherwise be lethal blows. The Roman shields were designed to interlock with one another. With this feature, soldier's interlock their shields over their heads and advance towards the walled cities of the enemy. The fiery darts that came down upon them from their enemies on the walls, were thus ineffective.

The Discipline related to the Shield of Faith:

Fasting Regularly

.....Satan is the one who buffets the Saints and watches for openings to attack. It takes spiritual discernment to anticipate and deflect these assaults. Such discernment comes through fasting. Jesus promised to reward openly those who fast secretly, and Isaiah 58 promises good judgment to those who fast. When Paul was buffeted by Satan, he resorted to prayer and fasting.

5.) Helmet of Salvation

.....A variety of helmets were worn by soldiers of different armies. In hand to hand combat, it was a distinct advantage for a soldier to have a helmet which protected not only his head, but also is face, an especially his eyes. A blow to the uncovered head would immediately disable the soldier; therefore, this was one of the most important pieces of armor.

The Discipline related to the Helmet of Salvation:

Rising Early

.....One of Satan's most devastating tactics is to disable us with fear. (False Evidence Appearing Real). If he can bring fear to our minds, we will take our focus off the power and protection of the Lord and lose our will to sustain the battle. By rising early in the morning and having a communion time with the Lord, we renew our minds to what's true of us in Christ and focus on God's power and purposes for us through the day. (Reflection and repentance also). David wrote, "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and I will look up." (Psalm 5: 3)

6.) Sword of the Spirit

.....The first five pieces of armor are defensive; however, the sword is to be uses an offense a weapon. The effectiveness of the sword depended on the hardness of the metal and the sharpness of the edges. The two edged sword was essential in battle because the soldier could wheeled it at the enemy in either direction.

The Discipline related to the Sword of the Spirit:

Using Rhema in Warfare

.....The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The Greek term used in this verse for "Word" is not Logos but Rhema. Rhema is Scripture which the Holy Spirit gives us for a particular situation. Jesus demonstrated how to use Rhema when he was tempted in the wilderness. With each temptation, he quoted a verse of Scripture from the Old Testament Logos. ("It is written" or "God says").The disciplines of reading, meditating and memorizing Scripture will provide the basis of receiving Rhema from the Holy Spirit. A wise exercise in spiritual warfare would be to match Rhema with temptations which you anticipate. (Rightly understanding God's Word and the right use of it.)

7.) All Prayer

.....Our second offense a weapon is prayer. "The effectual ferverent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (Makes much power available.) (James 5: 16). The scope of the influence of prayer is extensive: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make know the mystery of the Gospel." (Ephesians 6: 18 -19).

The Discipline related to Ferverent Prayer:

Establishing Priorities

.....Satan is a hinderer of the Saints (see -1 Thessalonians 2: 18). It is our responsibility to determine what is most important in our lives and to choose the things that are excellent. (Good, perfect, and pleasing to God). Ferverent prayer for the salvation of non-believers and for the strengthening of our brothers and sisters ( In Christ) damages Satan's kingdom. Satan will, therefore, do all he can to hinder Christians from engaging in prayer. We can, however, be more than conquerors if we turned Satan's temptations into signals for prayer. This brings victory in a Christians life. Prayer is the battle itself. God's word is the chief weapon. The bottom line is that an unbroken, ongoing relationship with God is the only absolute guarantee of being constantly dressed in the Whole Armor of God, thus producing true freedom. (Fully Renouncing Every Evil Dominion Over Man.)

.....In conclusion, notice that the Armor of God does not protect the back of the Christian. That is because first of all, God has our back, and also our brothers in Christ. Also we are to stand against the wiles of the enemy, not to run from or shy away but to stand. For weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual and mighty in the pulling down of strongholds, warring against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness.

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