| |
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
Millions have received this experience have you?
Men and women of all persuasions and from all walks of life have become interested enough in the Gift of the Holy Spirit to search for greater understanding of this phenomenal spiritual experience. Capturing headlines, dominating the content of many religious periodicals, and generally creating excitement, I would argue that this canon of apostolic faith deserves a sincere appraisal.
WHAT ARE THE FACTS?
The Holy Spirit is God. “God is a Spirit” (John 4:24). “There is … one Spirit” (Ephesians 4:4). To become
a subject in the kingdom of God, Jesus said a person must be “born again,” or “born of water and
of the Spirit” (John3:3-5). You must keep in the mind that the birth of the Spirit and the baptism of
the Spirit are synonymous terms. The Apostle Peter understood this truth as he spoke to the
multitude in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost and said, “Repent, and be baptized every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts2:38).
This experience was received by the Jews on Pentecost (Acts2:1-4), the Samaritans
(half-Jews / Acts 8:15-17), and also the Gentiles (non-Jews / Acts 10: 44-48), plainly
indicating that it was meant for all people, regardless of race, creed, color, or station in
life. This new birth of both water and Spirit was never set forth as being optional or
unessential. The Bible clearly says, “You must be born again” (Jesus’ words in
John 3:7). Until a person is born of the Spirit, he cannot be called a “son” of God.
WHAT A PRIVILEGE
So why should anyone argue over whether it is necessary or not? Friend, it’s a
blessed privilege to experience a release of spirit, finding freedom of soul and
expression in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There is no other experience similar
to it. The transition that takes place in your life is to an entirely new realm and way
of life. A complete transformation takes place. You see, the soul has an empty place “in the shape of God” that nothing else will fit or satisfy. Drugs, Alcohol, multiple relationships … nothing can satisfy this place except God’s Spirit. The baptism of the Spirit completely satisfies every longing of the soul. In this experience is true fulfillment.
WHAT’S THE EVIDENCE?
There are 2 major evidences of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The initial, outward evidence is speaking with tongues, which means speaking miraculously in languages the speaker does not know.
Speaking with other tongues has been connected with Spirit baptism since the beginning of the church age. On the birthday of the New Testament church, approximately 120 disciples of Christ were inundated by the Spirit of God and “began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4). The household of an Italian centurion (Gentile) received the same spiritual experience, which the Jewish Christian onlookers readily identified, “… for they heard them speak with tongues” (Acts 10:44-48). In Acts 19:1-6, group of John the Baptist’s disciples heard about the Holy Ghost from the apostle Paul; they too were filled with the Spirit, “… and they sake with tongues.”
There’s really no way to put into words of what it’s like to receive this experience in one’s life or why God chose “speaking with tongues”as the initial evidence of being born of the Spirit. However, there are perhaps several other reasons why God chose speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of this spiritual baptism. One reason is that it is an objective, external evidence that recipients and onlookers can both identify with certainty (Acts 10:46). Also, it is a uniform evidence—all the disciples on Pentecost, all the household of Cornelia, and all the believers in Ephesus spoke in tongues. “So is everyone that is born of the Spirit” are the words of Jesus in His description of this spiritual new birth (John 3:8).
Speaking in tongues also indicates the complete control of the Spirit over our human wills. The Bible inform us that the tongue is the most unruly member of the body (James 3:8), and its being tamed by God is evidenced of His complete control.
Further evidence of the Spirit’s abiding presence in our lives is the fruit of the Spirit, which Paul mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
WHAT IS THE PROMISE?
Was the baptism of the Holy Spirit just for the apostles or early disciples only? Is it today available to only a select few who are“super-spiritual”?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! The apostle Peter made it very plain in his message on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 that the gift of the Holy Ghost is for everyone: “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39), (See Luke 11:13). Our faith, obedience, and submission to the Lord Jesus and His gospel qualify us for this most joyous of all experiences. (See Acts 5:32; 11:15-17). As Isaiah 12: 3 states, “With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
Friend, let me encourage you to seek him today. Join us at the First United Pentecostal Church for any of our weekend Spirit-filled services and come experience your own personal Pentecost. The Bible says that He is a “… rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). “Oh,every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1). This means you! For more information on the baptism of the Holy Spirit or for a free brochure on the Baptism of the Spirit or to schedule a in-home Bible study, please contact us today.
(www.centerfirstupc.com / 936.598.3646 / 800.973.7105) |
|
|
|
