THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
                                       WHAT IS IT?

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

All believers have the Holy Spirit but the Baptism of the Holy Spirit gives you the fullness of the Spirit. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit gives you power to overcome sin and live a victorious Christian life. It gives you the power to be a witness for Jesus.

All Filled With The Holy Spirit

Acts 2:4 they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Just as the Holy Spirit filled the disciples so He will fill you. The Biblical evidence of being Baptized in the Holy Spirit is the speaking in tongues.

You speak the words, the Holy Spirit gives you the utterance. The Holy Spirit will not open your mouth for you. It is up to you, after you have received, to begin to speak out the words from your spirit and not in a language you already know. Just speak it out, don't be concerned about what it sounds like.

The devil will try to keep you from praying in tongues because he cannot understand what you are saying, therefore, he can't stop  your prayers. Praying in tongues is direct communication with God.


WHY SPEAK IN TONGUES?
Praying God's Perfect Will

Romans 8:26-27  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities (weakness): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groaning's which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The Holy Spirit has the ability to help your weakness in prayer. When you pray in tongues, you can't pray a wrong prayer because it is the Holy Spirit who is helping you pray.

SPEAK TO GOD, NOT MEN

I Corinthians 14:2  for he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God.

When you pray in the Holy Spirit you are praying to God not to men.

EDIFY YOURSELF

I Corinthians 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself.

Praying in tongues, builds up your spirit. You become charged up on the inside and are able to overcome oppression and depression and have clear thoughts.

I Corinthians 14:14 for if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

When you pray in tongues, you pray in a language that your mind does not understand but your spirit understands.

ACT OF YOUR WILL TO RECEIVE

I Corinthians 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding.

Paul said "I will". It is a decision of your will. It is an act of faith. God does not force you but He leads you.

                BUILDS YOU UP/STIMULATES YOUR FAITH

Jude 1:20-21 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping yourself in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

By praying in the Holy Ghost, you build yourself up on the faith that God gave you which is your most Holy Faith. You build yourself up above the sense dominated realm.  You then have faith to believe what the Word of God says rather then being moved by the negative circumstances. You keep yourself in the love of God.

When you pray in tongues, you are looking for the mercy of God because your eyes and your thoughts are no longer on yourself but on the One Who Created you. As His love and mercy permeates every area of your life, it will flow through you to others. God intended for you to release His Power to others so they can receive His blessings also.

HOW DO I RECEIVE?

Luke 11:10-13  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

To receive, you simply ask in faith knowing that your Heavenly Father will give what He has promised you.

Acts 19:6  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues.

It is scriptural to have hands laid on you to receive.

You must open your mouth and began to speak.


ONLY REQUIREMENT-YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

John 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

To receive you must be a believer for the "world cannot receive". Now in faith ask Jesus to Baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER OF ASKING

 Father God, you said in your word that when I ask to receive the Holy Spirit that I would receive. Father God, fill me with your Holy Spirit, endure me with your power that I might be your witness. And now as an act of my Will, I open my mouth and pray back to you in other tongues as the Spirit gives me utterance in Jesus' name.

EXPLANATION

Many Christians are living defeated lives because they are not living in the power of the Holy Spirit. Praying in tongues daily causes you to stir up the gifts of the Spirit and the anointing that is on the inside of you. The anointing of God breaks the yokes of bondage and you are able to receive with clear thoughts the knowledge of His Will for your life.

Jesus said in Luke 10:19  "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."  Is it any wonder why the devil does everything he can to keep  you, the believer, from receiving this gift?  It is because with understanding comes knowledge. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Receive this free gift today and walk in victory every day!



   Please read the letter at the bottom of the page from Dave Roberson.  Dave was one of the men of God that spoke into my life and gave clear direction and instruction for me starting Norma Stibbs International Ministries and stepping into the vision of God for my life.











            
           DAILY  CONFESSIONS     

   I am The righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus.  ll Cor.5:21
   I am Heir to the Blessings of Abraham  Gal. 3:13-14

   I am Called by Name from before the foundation of the world.  Is. 43:7
   I am Created to be the reflection of His Glory. Eph 1:12

   I am Fearfully and Wonderfully made.  Ps. 139:14
   I am Blessed Coming in and Going out. Deut. 28:6

   I am Establishing God's Word here on Earth.  Matt. 16:19
   I am Blessed with all Spiritual Blessings     Eph. 1:3

   I am a Joint  Heir to the Kingdom of God with Jesus Christ.  Rom. 8:17
   I am An Over-comer by the Blood of the Lamb and Word of my Testimony 
   Rev. 12:11

   I am Forgiven  Col 1:13-14
   I am Daily Overcoming the Devil  l John 4:4

   I am Saved by Grace through Faith.  Eph 2:8
   I am Not moved by what I see.  II Cor. 5:7

   I am Justified by Faith in Christ Jesus  Rom. 5:1
   I am Walking by Faith and not by Sight.    II Cor. 5:7

   I am Sanctified   I Cor. 5:17
   I am Casting down vain Imaginations    II Cor. 10:4-5

   I am A new creature   II Cor. 5:17
   I am Bringing every thought into Captivity    II Cor. 10:4-5  

   I am A Partaker of His Divine Nature    II Pet. 1:4
   I am Free from sin and Death    Rom. 8:2

   I am Led by the Spirit of God    Rom. 8:14
   I am Redeemed from the Hand of the Enemy.  Ps. 107:2

   I am Strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might       Eph. 6:10
   I am Being Transformed by Renewing My Mind           Rom. 12:1-2

   I am An Heir of Eternal Life.               I John 5:11-12
   I am Exercising my Authority over the Enemy        Luke 10:19

   I am Healed by His Stripes      I Peter 2:24
   I am Anointed     II Cor. 1:21 ,    I John 2:20

   I am Above and not Beneath    Deut. 28:13
   I am Holy     I Peter 1:15

   I am More than a Conqueror        Rom. 8:37  
   I am Created in the image of God.     Gen. 1:26

   I am A Child of God     I John 3:2
   I am Blessed      Eph. 1:3

   I am  An Over-comer     I John 5:4
   I am Called by God      Rom. 8:28 

   I am Redeemed from the Curse of the Law.     Gal. 3:13 
   I am Provided for            Phil. 4:19

   I am A Son of God       Rom. 8:14
   I am A co-worker with God      II Cor 6:1

   I am Kept in safety wherever I go.        Ps. 91:11
   I am Dead to sin but alive in Christ      Rom 6:11

   I am Getting all my needs met by Jesus.      Phil. 4:19
   I am Predestined, Called, Justified and Glorified     Rom. 8:30

   I am Casting all my cares upon Jesus.  I Peter 5:7
   I am The dwelling place of God       Eph. 2:22

   I am Able to do all things through Christ Who Strengthens me.  Phil. 4:13
   I am Observing and doing the Lord's Commandments.     Deut. 28:1-2

   I am The Head and not the tail   Deut. 28:13
   I am Blessing the Lord at all times and  Praising the Lord with all my  heart. 
   Ps. 34:1

   I am Above and not beneath            Deut. 28:13
   I am Being renewed in my mind, daily       II Cor. 4:16




  Speak The Word, God's Word Has Your Answer!

You can open your life to God's best and defeat the enemy in every area by speaking His Word over your situations and circumstances.

WISDOM
I am filled with the knowledge of the Lord's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; I am a new creation in Christ; I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus. Because of  this, I have His wisdom and my decisions are ordered of Him.
  (Col. 1:9; ll Cor. 5:17; I Cor. 2:16 )


JOY
I will have joy by the answers of my mouth so today I speak His words of power. I will enter into the joy of the Lord today.
(Proverbs 15:23; Matt. 25:23; ll Cor. 1:24)


HEALTH
The Lord sent His Word and healed me and delivered me from all destruction. I serve the Lord and He blesses my food and drink; He takes away sickness from me and my family; He heals all our diseases.    
    (Ps. 103:3, 107:20; Ex. 23:25)


SAFETY
I hear the voice of the Lord through His Word. Therefore, I dwell safely and am quiet from fear of evil.
(Proverbs 1:33)


FAMILY
God has set before me life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore I choose life; that both my seed and I may live. I know that my home shall be in peace and my seed shall be great and my offspring as the grass of the earth.  The wicked are overthrown, and are not; but my house shall stand.
(Deut. 30:19; Job 5:24-25; Proverbs 12:7)


FAVOR
I thank you, Father, that You surround me with favor as with a shield and therefore I have favor with my family and coworkers and also with all the people I come in contact with today.
(Psalms 5:12)


LEADERS
Our nation, pastors, and churches are blessed because our God is the Lord and we are the people He has chosen for His inheritance.
(Psalms 33:12)






                     Confessions from the Word to lift you higher


   I am the Body of Christ. My body is the house of God. God lives in me and I belong to Him. I've been bought with the price of the blood of Jesus, so I glorify God in my body and in my spirit.
   1 Corinthians  6:15-19; 2 Corinthians 6:16, 3:16. 

   Satan has no power over me. I have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son - Colossians 1:13.

   Therefore sin has no power over me - Romans 6:14.  

   I separate myself from every unclean thing - 2 Corinthians 6:17.

   I submit myself to God. I resist the devil and he flees from me - James 4:7.

   I choose the fear of the Lord, which is to hate evil, pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the disobedient  mouth - Proverbs 8:13

   I present my body as a living sacrifice to God - holy, devoted, and consecrated to please Him, which is  a part of my spiritual worship to Him. I am not conformed to this world's way of thinking, but I am  continually being transformed by the renewing of my mind to His Word so that I can prove what is the  good, the acceptable, and the perfect will of God in my life - Romans 12:1,2

   I have the mind of Christ - 1 Corinthians 2:16

   I cast down imaginations and every thought that tries to exalt itself against the knowledge of God. I bring my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ and His Word - having a ready mind to revenge all  disobedience - 2 Corinthians 10:4,5

   I think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. If there be any virtue or praise, I think on these things - Philippians 4:8

   Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee - Psalm 119:11

   If I sin, You said if I confess and repent of my sin, You are faithful and just to forgive me of it and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness - 1 John 1:9

   I live and walk by faith and not by sight or feelings - 2 Corinthians 5:7

   I live by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God - Matthew 4:4



Try saying these every day, meditate on them, and watch how fast your life changes.  This will make YOU a man or woman of The Word!
God Cares About YOU 

God cares about every detail of your life…
He collects every tear in a bottle. (Psalm 56:8)
He numbers every hair on your head. (Luke 12:7)
He knows every hurt in your heart. (Psalm 34:18)

The Lord knows all you are going through.
He loves you, He cares for you,
and He will make sure not one detail is overlooked.

God cares, right down to the last detail.
(James 5:11)

Did God bring someone to mind that needs to know they are loved?
     Call them, email them, text them, give a hug if you can, but let them know God loves them and cares about every detail of their life.
                                                                                                                   September 2012
 

Dear Norma, 
 
 After almost forty years in full-time ministry, I've witnessed firsthand time and again the transforming power that comes from a lifestyle of praying in tongues. In my own life, I've received the revelation knowledge and personal edification I needed to walk in victory over circumstances and spiritual battles that I've had to face through the years. And I know the wisdom and edification I received was in large part due to the time I spent praying in tongues.

I didn't start out understanding the importance and direct relationship that praying in the Spirit has on the fulfillment of a believer's call, but now I know each time I pull aside to spend time fellowshipping with God through praying in tongues, I am praying everything Christ is in me, the hope of glory, allowing His wisdom to be revealed on the inside of my spirit, and giving the Holy Spirit what He needs to supply the revelation knowledge for me to fulfill my call step by step. 

Once people begin to understand the power and importance of their heavenly language, they oftentimes come to me asking how they can start praying. What they are usually asking is how they can establish themselves in a prayer life that will put them on the path to fulfilling their divine call. I always answer by encouraging these believers to jump into prayer with both feet, not bothering to look back. 

Although there are several spiritual keys that every born-again believer needs to make a priority in his fellowship with the Lord--such as private worship, meditation on the Word, and confession of the Word--praying in tongues is the foundational key that not only edifies the person praying but will help reveal the next step needed in a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. 

When I first went full-time in the ministry, it was mostly by accident that I began to spend extended hours praying in tongues. You see, I had purposed in my heart and made a promise to God to pray the same amount of hours each day that I would have normally spent working at my old job. It didn't take long that first day in my little prayer closet before I ran out of words to pray in English, and staring at the clock knowing I still had hours to go, I began to pray in tongues because I didn't know what else to say. I was determined not to break my promise to God--maybe more out of stubbornness than dedication--and even though I had been filled with the Holy Spirit years before, until then, I had never specifically set aside time to pray in tongues. Honestly, I didn't know I could, and I certainly didn't know the impact it would have on my life. 

Almost four decades later, I'm all the more thankful for the revelation gift of praying in tongues. When I get asked by people how to start, I tell them to spend as much time as they can as often as they can because I know none of that time will go to waste. I'll tell a person who says he just can't possibly devote a block of time to prayer with his full work schedule, family, and other responsibilities to start with the time he does have--start by praying as he drives to and from work, while running errands, mowing the lawn. If he has a job where he can pray quietly under his breath while working--even better! 

The only thing you need to establish yourself in a consistent prayer life is a willing heart. If your prayer is for more time to spend in fellowship with God through praying in the Holy Spirit, just continue being faithful with the time you have and He will orchestrate the necessary changes in your life that will allow you to set aside more time to spend with Him without neglecting the responsibilities you have day to day and to your loved ones. 

At different times over the years, we've opened up the church sanctuary in the evenings and on the weekends specifically so people and families could come and spend time praying in the Spirit. We've also learned from experience that making prayer a priority attracts a lot of attention from the kingdom of darkness. There's nothing that Satan fears more than a born-again, spirit-filled believer who makes a point to pray and listen for the leadership of the Holy Spirit. 

Let me share with you some of the wisdom I learned over the years in overcoming the difficulties and obstacles that will line up in front of every believer attempting to establish himself in a consistent prayer life. 

From the moment a believer decides he is ready to move deeper in his relationship with God and begins to use the time he has to pray out the mysteries of Christ, the devil will show up with his favorite tools of resistance. For some, he might use legalism and condemnation. He will remind them of every hour they purposed to spend in prayer that they got pulled away and didn't pray like they planned. Then he will try to convince them that God cannot move in their life because they failed to keep up their end of the bargain. 

This tactic will only work on a person who believes it is his bodily effort of praying that is pleasing God. But the truth is, God does not fellowship with the amount of time we spend in prayer but with the change that is produced in us. The reason we devote time to praying in the Spirit is because our prayers are a necessary ingredient in our transformation into the image of Christ. Our Father is delighted with however much fellowship we decide to give Him, but the more time we spend with Him, the more time we'll want to devote to prayer so we can become more and more like Him. 

Another method the devil uses to stop believers from establishing themselves in a consistent prayer life is discouragement. When people do not understand how God answers prayers, it is easy for them to get discouraged and disappointed in their perceived results or lack of results. 

Imagine a person faithfully reporting to his prayer closet day in and day out for a season of time and then thinking God has let him down when he doesn't see the change, miracle, or prosperity he was expecting. What generally happens in a case like this is that the person stopped praying before God could manifest Himself in the areas he was believing for. 

You see, many times we are expecting God to show up and seize control of our circumstances and magically take away our debt, heal our bodies, or fix the people around us. We sometimes are busy waiting for the external changes to take place, but the Holy Spirit is working on the change taking place within us. In times like these, it is important for us to remember that the main way God answers the prayers we pray in the Spirit is in our own edification, just as First Corinthians 14:4 says, He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself. In other words, each syllable we pray in the Spirit is helping to build us up on our most holy faith (Jude 20). 

Because lasting change comes from within, if you refuse to stop praying, you will reach a place of peace where your internal storms must cease and your outward circumstances will line up with the Word of God.

Even with the many tools the devil will try to use against a believer wanting to make prayer a priority, the most difficult obstacle a believer will have to face in his prayer closet is himself. 

The truth is, as you pray and edify yourself, the Holy Spirit searches your heart and shines a light on everything that does not line up with the image of Christ in you and the Father's plans for your life. As you continue to pray and edify yourself, that light grows brighter and brighter until even you can see the areas of ungodliness in your life--the selfishness, fears, unforgiveness, unclean habits and addictions. And like most creatures that prefer to remain hidden in the cover of darkness, your flesh will not appreciate the light exposing its deeds. 

At this point, you will have a decision to make: You can either bow to the emotional war your flesh will launch against you to get you to stop praying--to stop shining the light of conviction--or you can continue to pray and edify yourself, putting to death those things in you that are standing between you and a closer walk with God. If you decide on the latter, the Holy Spirit will help you to see the darkness for what it really is--a hindrance in your relationship with God--and will help you destroy the strongholds of the flesh so you can enjoy a life of freedom and victory with Him.

           Regardless of our individual calls, God wants to use each one of us as an effective intercessor--someone who has spent time building himself up on his most holy faith, praying out the plan of God for his life, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead the way--in order to stand between hell and the countless number of people trying to get there. 

I believe in the not-too-distant future that there will be thousands of intercessors here at The Family Prayer Center and around the world who have qualified themselves to stand in the gap on behalf of those in need of salvation, having learned how to prevail against everything Satan has used to stop believers from establishing themselves in prayer. 

I believe you and I will be among those counted who have found our security and identity in what God thinks about us, who desire His approval above all others, and have allowed His love to pour through us to those who need Him most. 

Thank you for every moment you give to praying in tongues. With each minute and hour you spend in prayer, you are changing for the glory of God!
 
Your co-laborer,


Dave Roberson
 
 

DAVE ROBERSON                     Tulsa, OK 74101               



   Your Words           have Power!



   What you Say and
   what you Believe is      what you'll Achieve.








     I Believe All His              Promises
     Are For  Me!