Speaking In Tongues Does Not Equal Salvation.

[BroGary]

Originally Posted by mfblume

John 20:29 KJV Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Seeing is not believing. Believe and then see!

Anything God does must be taken from the Word and BELIEVED BEFORE we can see it.

Good point, we must receive the promises by faith, including the promise of the Holy Ghost, some people may take a while to reach the point where they really expect God to fill them.

Lack of complete repentence is another possible hinderance to receiving the Holy Ghost quickly.

The mindset with many people in today's world is to get whatever you want to give them, but don't ask them to change how they live, they may want the Holy Ghost, but some of them might not have reached the point of being willing to change how they live, or perhaps they might have some unforgiveness in their heart, someone they have not forgiven.

There is a tract called "Keys to receiving the Holy Ghost" that can help people be aware of what might be hindering them from receiving.

In the book of Acts, after hearing Peter preach, some of those who heard the message said -

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Note that they were "pricked in their heart", they felt deep conviction that led them to be willing to do what they needed to do.

How many people try to receive the Holy Ghost without first reaching the point of such Godly sorrow that they cry out with tears of repentence and with a willing heart that says "what shall I do ?"

In today's world the public in general is probally dull of hearing, they have been so engulfed with "christian" religions all their life and many have a false view of what church is (a solemn and dry ritual) that they might have a hard time accepting what it really should be like, whereas back in the apostles day this was a new and fresh thing they had not heard before.

Having said that, there have been, and still are, large services in various parts of the world where multitudes of people do get the Holy Ghost all on the same day, I remember hearing how Billy Cole preached at some of them.

God is still willing to give anyone the Holy Ghost immediately on the spot without having to tarry for days or even hours, but we must have our hearts where it needs to be in order to receive, and some people take longer to get their hearts and mindset to where it is like those in Acts 2:37.