Personal Renewal

The church was birthed on the day of Pentecost. 120 believers waited over a ten day period after Jesus had ascended to be with His Heavenly Father. We don't know what those believers said or did over that ten day period but we do know that "when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place". In other words they had arrived at a place of common expectation and unity. We also know that when the Spirit came they were seated. Being seated speaks of being in a place of rest. It also speaks of identification with what Jesus had accomplished by way of His finished work.

On that day, people from known parts of the world heard different people groups speaking their own native languages. As believers "began to speak with other tongues...everyone heard them speak in his own language." (Acts 2:4,6) Initially the recipients were Jewish believers but later on it became clear that the same Holy Spirit would reveal Himself to Gentiles as well. Peter shared with fellow Jews in Jerusalem how "God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life" (Acts 11:18)

One of the manifestations of Holy Spirit life was speaking in other tongues. The apostle Paul when teaching about the use of spiritual gifts to the Corinthian church, said that "he spoke in tongues more than any other person." (1 Cor.14:18) He wasn't bragging when he said this. I believe that what he was declaring was that he needed to be built up because he was on the 'frontline'. He needed to be edified. We are the same. Living in a fast paced world filled with pressures and the modern disease of stress, speaking in a heavenly language can be the best antidote to pressure and pain. I have found that speaking in my heavenly language helps me to de-stress and facilitates the return of 'ease' rather than 'dis-ease'.

Is. 28:11-12 says "for with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people to whom He said "This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest and this is the refreshing, yet they will not hear." Could it be that when we speak in a heavenly language we are also learning to rest in the Lord? Try it. Next time you are stressed begin to speak in your heavenly language. If you have never spoken in other tongues, ask Jesus, the Baptiser of the Holy Spirit to fill your mouth with His language. Your vocal chords; His language. If you trust and believe Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, you can expect to be baptised in His Spirit.






This blog is based on a message given by Ross Smith at The Vine Church, Logan City, Queensland, Australia on Sunday 15th May 2016. The full message, entitled Personal Renewal, can be accessed by podcast from www.thevine.org.au