Stages of Spiritual Growth, Part 4

[saint701]

Hello All,


Blessings!

We recall that we have now been born again, not of corruptible seed of our human body, but of the divine seed which is of God, of the spirit, and not corruptible. Nevertheless, we sense there is something more. We search the scriptures. We seek guidance. Have you been baptised in the Holy Spirit someone asks? Oh, of course we have we reply. We are confident that at our new birth that was accomplished. Do you speak in tongues the guide asks? Tongues? We reply. What are tongues? We are informed such is a heavenly language by which we communicate with our Lord. Would you like the gift of speaking in tongues we are asked? We are somewhat skeptical at this point. We use our Bible concordance to look up passages that may refer to the gifts of the Holy Spirit and find that yes, they are in the Bible, and delineated by the Apostle Paul.

We conclude that the gifts of the Spirit are indeed needed, that such is why we have been sad. Our recreated spirit has been guiding us to pursue them. We go up front at church after service and explain our need. Perhaps it is at that point, or some other time or place, perhaps even Christian television programming, but ultimately we receive the heavenly gift of speaking in tongues. However, much to our surprise much more comes with the gift! We are shocked! The overflowing power of God, the Holy Spirit immerses us in Himself. Tears gush as we are washed with warmth, light, and love. We are filled with the Holy Spirit, and speak in tongues. We praise God with this new gift. We praise our Lord with our new language, and praise Him over and over. This is it! This is the something more we have been searching for. Oh, how wonderful is the baptism of the Holy Spirit!

Other gifts of the Spirit may attend us for a time, such as the word of knowledge, or the word of wisdom, but we are too young in the spirit to continue in them, but tongues remain. Need we go farther? Of course! At this point we are only babies in the Kingdom of Heaven. We must become children, then young men and women, and fathers. Yes, we see that we must grow, as we have only just begun.


Blessings!
Love, In Christ Jesus, Saint701.