FAQ.....

 Who are the Pentecostals

Pentecostals are very much like other Evangelicals in that we proclaim the need of a personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.  This is often referred to as receiving Jesus Christ as Saviour or being Born Again.  The thing that distinguishes Pentecostals is the belief that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still operational today. We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit is available to believers and is evidenced by speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit comes upon the person. We sometimes call this our Prayer Language - understood by God, but not by mankind.

Why do we sing as we do?

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God".  (Colossians 3:16)        
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Why do we lift our hands?

The act of lifting our hands is a form of praising the Lord. More than fifty times in the Psalms the word towday or yadah is translated praise where in actuality the word means to extend the hands in praise.

"I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands."
( Psalms 63:4)
"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing."
(1Timothy 2:8)    
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Why do we clap our hands?

The act of clapping our hands is a form of praise which is mentioned frequently in the scriptures: "
Clap your hands, all you nations: shout to God with cries of joy." (Psalms 47:1)   
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Why do we praise the Lord out loud?

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs." (Psalm 100:1-2)    
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Why do we use many musical instruments

 "Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him with strings and flute, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals." (Psalm 150:3-5)   
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Why isn't everyone silent during prayer?

 "When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. 'Sovereign Lord' they said, 'you made the earth and the sea, and everything in them." (Acts 4:24)
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Why do we anoint with oil?

 "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. (James 5:14, 15)
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Why do we practice 'laying on of hands'?

 "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ........ they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (Mark 16:17,18)
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Why do people pray in tongues and English?

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

And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; (Mark 16:17)

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. (1Co 14:15)
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What is prophecy and how is it used?

 Prophecy is an inspired utterance in an understood language. "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation."
(1Cor 14:3)
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What is interpretation of tongues?

Interpretation is not a 'translation' of the message, but rather the 'essence' of the message that was spoken in tongues.  Tongues & interpretation are equivalent to prophecy and are meant for edification, exhortation and consolation.
"Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying." (1Cor 14:5)
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