Tabernacle of Praise Church

CHURCH ORDINANCE: We believe that Christ left ordinances for the church; BAPTISM IN WATER AND HOLY COMMUNION. The ordinances of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. This identifies the believer with the death, burial , and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:29, Mark 16:16, Rom. 6:4). Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:14); a memorial of His suffering and death (I Cor. 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (I Cor. 11:26).


BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe that all born again believers should seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early church. With it comes the endurement of power for life and service, the receiving of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:25, Acts 1:4, 8), I Cor. 12: 1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:14-16, Acts 15:7-9). With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43, Heb. 12:28), an intensified consecration of God and dedication to His Work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love for Christ for His Word, and for the lost (Mark 16:20)


THE INITIAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT: The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4)
SANCTIFICATION: Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God (Rom. 12:1-2, I Thes, 5;23). Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith. Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man can see the Lord" (Heb 12:14)