Finally--I Think
 

Hi there !
After reading this forum for many months and joining in July, thought that I'D finally say something, even if it makes sense. When I figure out what that is, I'll let you know. Any Ideas ?

Re: Finally--I Think
 

Welcome to the jungle!

Re: Finally--I Think
 

Jump right in...making sense is certainly not a requirement of AFF J/K :)

Re: Finally--I Think
 

Maybe you can start by answering some questions? :D

Do you know JESUS?
Maybe you can share your experience(s) in that area.
I know its always been MY favorite topic! ;) There's
always something to talk about when JESUS name
comes up. :thumbsup

Re: Finally--I Think
 

Hi WillVan. Welcome. :)

Re: Finally--I Think
 

Glad to have you!

Re: Finally--I Think
 

Welcome aboard Willvan.

Re: Finally--I Think
 

Welcome to the group. As you've already seen we are a pretty diverse group. You mentioned waiting to say something that made sense. Well, you've said something that made sense in your post about receiving more of Jesus. Sounds like you've had a great experience in the Holy Spirit.

I think all of us here believe that Jesus lives in us as the Holy Spirit. Some believe He does not live in us until we speak with tongues. Others believe He comes in to live in us when we invite Him and then there is a subsequent experience when we receive an empowering in the Spirit or a release of the gifts of the Spirit and that subsequent experience is a baptism in the Spirit.

The birth of the Spirit and the Baptism in the Spirit as two separate experiences has been compared to:

1. Jesus was born through the work of the Holy Spirit and indwelt by the Holy Spirit for about 30 years before He received an anointing or empowering of the Spirit or a baptism in the Spirit.

2. Salvation is compared to a well of water in our soul in John 4:1-26 and Isaiah 12:1-3 and the HGB or Holy Ghost Baptism is compared to a river of water gushing forth from our innermost being in John 7:37-39.

3. Salvation is compared to a pilot light (some here may be too young to know what that is) and the baptism in the Spirit is compared to that pilot light bursting into a full flame.

4. A visual picture of the two experiences has been done with a pitcher full of water and an empty glass. First, water from the pitcher is poured into the glass. The glass is full of water depicting the Spirit coming in and filling a person. Then that glass of water is carefully picked up and lowered into the pitcher of water. The glass is still full of water but now it is submerged, immersed, baptized in the water.

5. In the Book of Acts there are various accounts of folks who were converted/saved/born again and then subsequently baptized in the Spirit such as in Acts chapters 2, 8, 9, and 19.