I was recently reflecting on being a child in Sunday school and all the cute little Bible songs we sang. I’m sure many of you can relate to singing, This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. In my mind, as a youngster, I envisioned holding a small flickering birthday candle in front of me carrying it wherever I went.
I knew from experience that a birthday candle was small, and that tiny flame could easily be snuffed out. So, I understood that I must be careful to keep it shining. The misconception was the idea that the flame was on the outside of me. I was responsible for making sure my flame was seen.
I’m so glad it doesn’t work that way in real life. You see, when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, we receive such a precious gift. When we nurture that gift by praying in the Spirit on a daily basis we are fanning the flame as Paul encouraged Timothy to do.
“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.” 2 Timothy 1:6 NLT
That precious flame burns inside of us. We don’t have to physically carry a candle to let others know about what God has done in our lives. The evidence becomes obvious in the way we treat others, love people, and trust God.
When we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, people will naturally be drawn to us. We carry a flame within us that shines so brightly it becomes irresistible to those who desire a relationship with God, or more from God than they have yet experienced. That small flame inside us causes others to hunger for every gift God has available to us.
Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine.
So many of us in charismatic circles have shrunk back from talking about the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. We may feel like others will think we are weird, or even crazy. But we are living in treacherous times. People need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit now more than ever before.
The Holy Spirit gives us the boldness and courage to do what God has called us to do. He gives us discernment. We need to be equipped with everything God has made available to us to do His work. And, if He wants us to share the gospel, do you think He would withhold the tools to help you to do so? No.
It is His desire to use each and every one of us. So, He wants each and every one of us to be equipped with the gifts of the Spirit, so we can do all He has planned for us.
If you have not received the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, I have good news for you! There are only three requirements to receive the gift. First, we must be saved and strive to live our lives according to His Word in the Holy Bible.
Next, we must truly desire the gift of the Holy Spirit. He will not force Himself on us. We must believe He wants to give us the gift, and we must desire the gift as well.
And last, we must be willing to yield to Him. The Holy Spirit will not take control of your mouth and cause you to start speaking uncontrollably. You received your salvation by faith. You had to believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God and that He died for your sins, and rose again on the third day.
If you had faith to believe for your salvation, you have faith to believe for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. You only have to pray and ask Jesus to give you the gift. He is faithful. He will never give you something harmful or evil if you are seeking Him.
So, be sure to share your testimony with others, but don’t leave out the powerful gift of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Keep fanning that flame by praying in the Spirit daily, and watch God begin to move even more powerfully in your life!
“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Luke 11:11-13 NL
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Donna Sparks
Featured Image by andalusian from Pixabay
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