What does having the Holy Spirit mean?

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Felicity

I read a post by one of the elders on another forum a couple weeks back that impacted me greatly. I still haven't come to a conclusion totally ..... but it did open my eyes and gave me a perspective on receiving the baptism of the Spirit that I hadn't had previous to that. I still believe a person is regenerated before they are Spirit filled with tongues evidence. However, I do believe that the enduement of power we receive ushers us into a new position spiritually speaking and gives us benefits (again spiritually speaking) that we don't have .... and that don't come with initial conversion!

I'd like to read a post that made an impact on you!

I haven't even touched on scriptures that point to the new birth as water and Spirit baptisms. I don't believe I've heard a sound explanation of the Bible which explains the new birth as other than the baptisms found in Acts 2:38 and Hebrews 6:1-2.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

I'd like to read a post that made an impact on you!

I haven't even touched on scriptures that point to the new birth as water and Spirit baptisms. I don't believe I've heard a sound explanation of the Bible which explains the new birth as other than the baptisms found in Acts 2:38 and Hebrews 6:1-2.

I haven't yet heard a *3 steps to salvation* argument that is rock solid or water tight enough to persuade me that a person hasn't been regenerated spiritually before they speak in tongues.

As I said earlier there are questions on both sides of the issue that can't be answered conclusively enough to convince me .... and I have my own salvation experience. I know what happened to me. I know the relationship I had with God long prior to me speaking in tongues. I know I was His child and He was my Father.

That event took place when I was 6 years old. The conviction of the Holy Ghost hit me like a flash out of the blue! Repentance on my knees a few moments later with my mom at my side .... pouring out my heart to God and to my mom ..... understanding of sin ....... understanding of my need of a Savior...... resulted in me turning my life over to God and my relationship with Him began that evening. I was forever changed! And after that my heart and my mind and my soul belonged to Him.

I didn't receive my own personal Pentecost and spoke in tongues until I was 15. Not because I hadn't asked and prayed and sought and tarried for it hard enough or long enough. LOL. For some reason (fear mostly of it being "me" and not the Holy Ghost) I just had a hard time letting go and surrendering to that degree.