What About The Baptism With The Holy Spirit?
If you have been saved and have accepted Jesus as your Lord, but think
that there is more to come ... you are right. At the time of salvation
the Holy Spirit baptises you into the Body of Christ. In water baptism
you are baptised into the death, burial, and ressurection of Jesus Christ.
The next step is when Jesus baptises you into the Holy Spirit.
If you want the fullness of the Holy Spirit, read on.
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all
flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream
dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even upon the menservants
and maidservants in those days, I will pour out my spirit." Joel 2:28-29
This is the same experience that Peter spoke of in Acts when he was
preaching in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. This experience is
repeatedly spoken of in Acts and 1st and 2nd Corinthians. It is refered to
throughout the new testament from Acts on.
Is this still for today? Has this passed away with the founding of the
church? Don't be deceived!
For the promise (of the gift of the Holy Spirit) is to you and to your
children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls
to him. Acts 2:39
What about that? It didn't die away like you thought! Read on ..............
As Christians (Christ's followers) it is incumbent upon us to follow in the
steps of our Lord. We should imitate Him at every opportunity. Lets see
what happened to Jesus our Lord...
And when Jesus was baptised, he went up immediately from the water, and
behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like
a dove, and alighting on him ... Matthew 3:16 This scene of Jesus receiving
the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is again repeated in Mark 1:10, Luke 3:21-22,
and John 1:32-33.
What did John the Baptist have to say about Jesus and the Baptism With the
Holy Spirit? He was very plain on this subject .....
"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is
mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Matthew 3:11 Once again this statement
is made in Mark 1:7-8, Luke 3:16, and Acts 1:5.
I know. You want proof. You want me to show you examples of this happening
in the Bible. Okay lets look at a couple of them ..........................
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word
of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for
them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then
they laid their hands on them and they recieved the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:14-16
This shows you that water baptism and salvation are not the same thing as the
Baptism with the Holy Spirit. It was a separate experience.
... "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you
came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy
Spirit." Acts 9:17
While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the
word. And the believers from among the circumcised who cam with Peter were
amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the
Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God.
Acts 10:44-46
Notice how they knew that these folks had received the Baptism with the Holy
Spirit.
This kind of scene is repeated in Acts 11:15-16 and Acts 19:2-6. It is
apparent that this is something God wants for us or He wouldn't have wasted
so much space.
Is this safe? Can I trust the Bible? Can I trust God? Read on ...........
"Ask, and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be
opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and
to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him
for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a
serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to
those who ask him!" Matthew 7:7-11
The question is, "Do you believe and trust God?". Well?
Why should I have this? What is in it for me? Good questions ..............
And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city,
until you are clothed with power from on high. Luke 24:49
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he
will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said
to you. John 14:26
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive
the Holy Spirit. John 20:22
... for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized
with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:5
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you ... Acts
1:8
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
I think you should be getting the idea by now. This is real! This is what we
are told to receive! Why hasn't this happened before? Huh?
"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist
the Holy Spirit." Acts 7:51
And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And
they said, "No, we have never even heard that here is a Holy Spirit."
Acts 19:2-3
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and
they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:6
What about this tongue business? Must I submit to this? Is it for real?
Here are a few verses about that subject .......
For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God. 1 Corinthian
14:2
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself .... 1 Corinthians 14:4
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray
as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for
words. Romans 8:26
For if I pray in a tongue my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am
I to do? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I
will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.................
1 Corinthians 14:14-15
In the law it is written, "By men of strange tongues and by the lips of
foreigners will I speak to this people ....... 1 Corinthians 14:21
Thus, tongues are a sign for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for
unbelievers ...... 1 Corinthians 14:22
Paul goes on and on about this. You can't take parts of the Bible out at
will. Where will you stop? Last of all Paul puts it plainly .......
... and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:39
After Jesus has given you the gift of the Holy Spirit, then the Holy Spirit
will bestow upon you gifts also. Read 1 Corinthians 12 thoroughly. This
is for you! Praise God!
What are the signs of those having been given the gift of the Holy Spirit?
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe
will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in
my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will
pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them;
they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. Mark 16:16-18
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
What you receive from God is strictly up to you. Why not have it all? Why
not have the annointing of the Holy Spirit? Why not preach the gospel with
the power of the Holy Spirit? Why not have the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
And last of all, couldn't you use the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
This is all up to you. I leave this up to you and Jesus. I you need help,
just ask ..................................................................
Larry
Author Unknown
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