HOLY SPIRIT FULLNESS
The Bible makes it clear that God desires us to have a vibrant relationship with His Son through the person of the Holy Spirit. When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes immediately and completely indwells us. His indwelling presence is to then influence (fill) every aspect of our lives, as we daily grow in our understanding of living under His influence. Holy Spirit fullness develops Jesus' character in us and matures the gifting He's given us.

Read: Romans 8:9; 12:1-8; Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16-26

THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Bible also makes it clear that in addition to our primary spiritual gifting, power and special manifestations of the Spirit are available to all believers throughout Church history. This allows us to minister as Jesus did. In Acts, one term for such "power encounters" with the Holy Spirit for ministry is the "baptism with the Holy Spirit". Such is part of our three-fold relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Read: Acts 1:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12,14

OUR THREE-FOLD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
The invitation of Scripture is that all believers be passionate in their life with the Holy Spirit in order that we could function in life as intended to, in His power and character!

Read: John 7:37-39

The role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer can be illustrated in three different aspects of His ministry to us. Firstly, He was with us before our salvation, leading us to Jesus. Secondly, He comes in us when we accept Christ's gospel. Finally , He comes upon us or "baptizes" us for special ministry at our request after salvation.

WITH ...John 14:17 records Jesus speaking of the promise of the Holy Spirit before Pentecost. He said, "He lives with you and will be in you." This describes the disciples' relationship with the Holy Spirit to that point. The "with" ministry of the Holy Spirit also describes the work of Holy Spirit when you start praying for someone and He follows them around convicting them of their sin and need for God.

IN ...after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, He breathed His Holy Spirit into His disciples (John 20:22). Romans 8:9 tells us that when we commit our heart to Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into our life. To be "born again" is to receive the Holy Spirit; He lives in us.

UPON ...in Luke 24:49, Jesus spoke to His disciples about "being clothed with power from on high." He was preparing them to go out into all the world to preach the gospel. This is recorded in the Book of Acts. The second chapter of Acts tells how, as they prayed, the Holy Spirit initially settled upon them. He was with them previously, then in them, And now He came upon them for ministry. Before Pentecost, the disciples were a small, frightened group of people. Afterward, they were "clothed" with power from on high; their numbers grew rapidly; and the world was forever changed .

A PERSONAL PRAYER LANGUAGE
One of the benefits of a life of Holy Spirit fullness and baptism is a "personal prayer language" - believers speaking in languages they don't know. These can be other known languages or "tongues of angels". Paul assumes this privilege will be operative in each believer's life; Luke records the reception of one's prayer language as a common initial witness to Holy Spirit baptism. Once received, our prayer language is to be exercised daily as part of our prayer and worship life.

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:1; 14:5, 23; Acts 8:14-18

HOW CAN I RECEIVE HOLY SPIRIT FULLNESS AND BAPTISM?

* If you're not in a personal, saving relationship with Jesus Christ, come to Jesus for salvation. Repent and believe the Gospel!

* Following salvation, ask God daily to fill you with the Spirit, so as to live a "Spirit-filled" life in all that you do.

* If you have not had an "initial baptism" with the Holy Spirit to receive your prayer language, ask Jesus to baptize you and to release to you a prayer language for worship and prayer; then, use it daily.

* Following your initial Holy Spirit baptism and reception of your prayer language -

Ask God to baptize you afresh with the Spirit's power to work and witness for Jesus.

Ask God daily to Spiritually influence the gift(s) He's given you and develop His fruit in you.

Ask God daily to release the Spirit's power manifestations to you as the need arises and He sees fit.

WHY SPEAK IN TONGUES?

* Tongues bring personal, spiritual edification (1 Corinthians 14:4a). They're like a "spiritual battery charge".

* Tongues enhance worship (Acts 10:46; 1 Corinthians 14:15).

* Tongues enhance prayer (1 Corinthians 14:2, 14).

* Tongues enable us to most effectively pray the will of God (1 John 5:14-15).

* Tongues enable us to most effectively resist the enemy (Ephesians 6:18)