Receiving the Holy Spirit

[FredFlanders]

John 3 v 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

We are born of the Spirit when we receive the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

John 3:8 says The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

The word wind is translated from the Greek word pneuma. Everywhere else pneuma is translated spirit.

The word bloweth can be translated breathes.

The word listeth can be translated will. It comes from the Greek word thelō which means -To will, wish, desire, implying active volition and purpose.

The word sound can be translated voice. It comes from the Greek word phone which means - the cry of a living being which can be heard by others.

So the better translation of John 3:8 would be -

The Spirit breatheth where he will and thou hearest his voice: but thou knowest not whence he cometh and whither he goeth. So is every one that is born of the Spirit.

When we are born of the Spirit we hear the voice of the Spirit - which gives us the utterance when we speak in tongues.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The terms born of the Spirit, baptized in the Holy Ghost, receiving the Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, and the Spirit of Christ are synonymous terms - why? because the Bible says there is one Spirit.

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

1Corintians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.

[Glad-iator]

Fred,

Yes, you are correct, "born again", "baptism of the Spirit", "receiving the Spirit" are all synonymous terms for what happens to someone at conversion.

Acts 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Acts 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as [he did] unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

Peter equates what happened to him (being "baptised with the Holy Spirit") with what happened to Cornelius. I would like to hear your testimony sometime.

[FredFlanders]

Gladiator,
My account of receiving the Holy Spirit is the same as you. Some 28 years ago l was prayed for by someone who had the Holy Spirit. I was not searching for this other than l wanted to follow Christ. When l was being prayed for l could feel the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ through my body and at the same time l spoke in tongues.

This experience enabled me to believe and grow in Christ.

Only through this experience l can now follow and do the works of Christ.

Christ's message for His follows was simple and all believes can recieve the same experience.

Fred.

[themuzicman]

Did someone interepret your speaking in tongues, as Paul commands in 1 Cor 14?

[FredFlanders]

No Them, interpretation is not commanded at the time of receiving the Holy Spirit or in private prayer. Interpretation is only commanded in a Church meeting if someone can do so at the meeting.

Fred.