Are You Missing The Icing? (ePub)

The Church of Jesus Christ has never been more divided over spiritual gifts although one of the main purposes of spiritual gifts is to unite the body of Jesus Christ. Extreme teachings about spiritual gifts in general, and the experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in particular, have left some faithful Christians confused, condemned, or even to have turned away from their initial excitement for the deeper things of God.

Within charismatic congregations, the overemphasis of a particular aspect of the Christian practice, the creation of doctrines based on experiences, and church politics have caused some believers to doubt their personal experiences of spiritual gifts. As a result, a number of believers have stopped praying tongues and have become sceptical of healings, deliverances and miracles. Many also question whether their initial experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was indeed real.

Through the years, God has led me as a conservative evangelical Christian to experience His presence and power in praying in tongues, praying for the sick, ministering deliverance, and occassionally ministering through the word of knowledge.

I have entitled this book "Are You Missing The Icing?" because I have observed that many Christians have missed out on so much because they did not appropriate the gifts that God has given to them. I see SALVATION as the "cake" and SPIRITUAL GIFTS as the "icing". With or without the icing, the cake still remains a cake. The icing only make the cake more interesting and enhances the presentation and taste. Likewise, Christians are saved when they received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. With or without spritual gifts, they are still saved.

It is my prayer that my humble experience and understanding of the biblical teachings of charismatic gifts and the baptism of the Holy Spirit will help the reader overcome confusion and doubt. Hopefully, this book will help bring the reader back to a meaningful, exciting, powerful and awesome experience with our Living God.

This book is deliberately written in a manner that intersperses my life story with spiritual lessons learnt and the underlying scriptural basis of such lessons. I hope that the reader can relate such experences and lessons that I have learnt to their own encounters. I have also intentionally included the full text of many Bible references so that readers can read the Word of God for themselves.

I understand that other Christians may hold different views and I respect their rights to hold such views. This book is simply and expression of my own views. All glory and honour go to Father God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

May you be blessed by God as you read this book.