Considering answers to those faith-questions we all ask…
Category: THE HOLY SPIRIT
Throughout the gospels Jesus Christ is seen to give sight to the blind, make the lame walk, raise the dead, walk on water and feed thousands. Today many Christians are determined to hold to the notion that they are doing miracles in their churches and on the streets, when in fact they are belittling the name of Christ, the glory of Christ and the true power of God.
In the "Great Commission" Jesus told his disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. What exactly did he mean by "power"? What kind of power would it be, and what would it be used for?
According to Biblical examples, being in the Spirit is a worshipful state in which any true believer - anyone who has come to saving faith in Jesus Christ - can engage with God. It's a focusing on God and HIs written word. It's a prayerful or meditative state of mind and heart. It's submission to the will of God according to HIs word. It's a humble, loving and repentant communion at any specific time, and it can and should be a way of life.
The gift of speaking in tongues is often defined as the ability to speak in heavenly languages - the languages of angels or of the Holy Spirit Himself. Such languages are said to be powerful and carry more weight when it comes to prayer, healing, testimony and spiritual warfare. If this is all true, the believer with this gift is truly on a higher spiritual plain than those without the gift, and the motivation or even the obligation for all of us to receive it is great.
A passage of Paul's letter to the Romans is commonly held up as "exhibit A" in support of the practice of "praying in tongues". However, when you really look at it closely, you see that these verses have nothing to do at all with tongues.
Fuel for Faith, Food for Thought 