tld@ssc-vax.UUCP (Thomas L Davis) (01/29/84)
I will try to put together some thoughts and scriptures relating to the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. This will, I hope, answer questions I have been asked on this and other nets and lead to a deeper understanding of the "normative" Spirit-filled Christian life. First, I will give a series of general references that one may wish to read before proceeding. Some of these will be well-known and available in most Christian bookstores. Others may require some digging. John 14: - describes the Paraclete/Advocate/Counselor to be sent by the Father. Acts - describes the work of the Spirit in the early Church. 1 Cor. 12:4-11,14:1-33 - St. Paul's description of the Charismata of the Spirit and their work in the Church. "Nine o'Clock in the Morning", Dennis Bennett. The effect of the filling by the Holy Spirit on an Episcopal priest and the beginning of the Charismatic renewal in the Episcopal Church. I was converted the first time I heard Fr. Bennett preach, so his books have a special meaning to me. "The Holy Spirit and You", Dennis and Rita Bennett. A study guide about the Baptism and how to receive it. "They speak With Other Tongues", John L. Sherrill. The search by a writer of magazine articles for information about the Baptism. A classic reference. "Miracle in Darien", by Bob Slosser. Another "Nine o'Clock in The Morning" it says on the top of the book. Close, but not quite. This one is about Fr. Terry Fullam, but it is more about his church and the effects when the congregation were all filled with the Holy Spirit. "See How the Wind Blows", Bob Slosser. An overview of the Charismatic Renewal movement. Either this or the Sherill book would be good place to start for someone who is looking for general information. "The Holy Spirit", R.A. Torrey. A collection of sermons by a turn-of-the-century evangelist. Some good basic material but not for the faint-of-heart. "How to Obtain Fullness of Power", R.A. Torrey. A smaller set of sermons by Torrey. "The Holy Spirit and Power", John Wesley. A set of sermons that have been paraphrased by Clare Weakley. Very good (especially for former Methodists!). "Like a Mighty Wind", Mel Tari. The absolutely astounding story of the work of the Holy Spirit in Indonesia. A modern-day Acts. "The Happiest People on Earth", Demos Shakarian. The story of the founder and the founding of the Full Gospel Business Mens Fellowship. Also gives some insight into the Armenian Pentecostals. "How to Receive the Baptism with th Holy Spirit", Casey Treat. I doubt that this is available outside the Seattle area. It is a small booklet written by one of our local Pentecostals. Much of the discussion that I give below is excerpted from it. WHAT IS THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT? The Baptism with the Holy Sprit is a filling of the whole life of a believer with the supernatural power of the Spirit. We are 'born' of the Spirit to be a part of God's family. We are 'filled' with the Spirit to be victorious and fruitful in God's family. Jesus left explicit instuctions for His disciples during His last hours on earth; Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4,5,8. He commanded them to wait until they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They stayed together in an upper room and prayed in one accord, waiting for what Jesus had told them would happen. After ten days, the Spirit fell on them; Acts 2:1-4. This was the beginning of the New Testament church age, which we are now in. We are a part of the same church these 120 people were. We have the same Father, same Savior, same Spirit, same Word, and same faith. They were the beginning of what is still happening today. The experiencing of the New Birth and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit will go on just like Acts chapter two, until Jesus returns. NOT THE NEW BIRTH To be filled or baptized with the Holy Spirit is not the same thing as being born of the Spirit, i.e. 'born again' or converted. It is one thing to be born, another thing to be filled. John 3:3,6. When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us and to begin His revitalizing work. Every Christian has the Holy Spirit indwelling him(her). 2 Cor. 5:17, John 14:16,17. While talking about the Holy Spirit in the last verse, He said that the world 'cannot receive Him'. This "Advocate"(NEB) could not be that act of being born again, because we were all in the world before we were born again. To receive what Jesus is talking about here, you must first get out of the world and into God's kingdom. When a person is born again they are no longer part of this world, and they are now able to receive the Spirit of truth or the Holy Spirit. There is a difference between receiving the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit. The word 'baptize' in Greek means to "completely suffuse"--it is used in classical Greek of a sunken, waterlogged ship. When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit that has been indwelling us is released to completely fill us. John the Baptist told the people about the ministry of Jesus in John 1:33. Jesus is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit. To be born again is something that the Holy Spirit does. To be baptized with the Holy Spirit is something that Jesus does. For example, see Acts chapter 8. Phillip had gone down to Samaria and preached Jesus to the people there. He had good results, Acts 8:5-8, and many people were born again and baptized in water, 8:12. Many of the people believed in Jesus. They were born again and had been baptized, but they still didn't have all that God had for them, so Peter and John came down from Jerusalem, 8:14-16. If they had received it all when they were born again, then Paul and John would not have come down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 19 gives another example with Paul at Ephesus. THE FIRST EVIDENCE There is an initial evidence that takes place in the life of the believer when they are filled with the Holy Spirit. It is not a physical feeling. Some have been taught, (or have been told) that when you are filled with the Spirit "you will feel power go through you," "lightning bolts will go through your body," "glory balls will burst on your head," "shivers will go up your spine," or "the power of God will knock you to the floor." You may have heard one or more of these and they are all lies. 'Nowhere in the Bible is a physical feeling associated with the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.' You do not feel the Spirit physically. (This is not to say that you never will, but a physical feeling is not the norm.) Others have said that when you are filled with the Spirit you'll never sin again or have any problems in your life. That is also a lie. The Baptism with the Spirit will not instantly transform you into an angel and remove every negative circumstance. There will be positive changes because God's power is released in you; but not one big metamorphosis. The initial evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit is that you will begin to speak with other tongues. Acts 2:4. The disciples began to speak something. It was the language of the Holy Spirit, that the Bible calls other tongues. They were all sitting in prayer, and when they were filled with the Spirit, they began to speak with other tongues. This was the initial or first sign of being Baptized with the Holy Spirit. There are several other Bible passages that also describe this event. In Acts 10:44-46, the effect of Peter's preaching to Cornelius and his household tells the same story. Again, in Acts 19, Paul was ministering to people in Ephesus who did not know of the Holy Spirit. When he laid hands on them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. Some have said, "tongues are of the devil," but that is a statement of Bible ignorance, and a very dangerous one. Matthew 12:31,32 describes the 'unpardonable sin' that is widely, though not universally, believed to be ascribing to the devil those miracles that are wrought through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul, 1 Cor. 14:18, didn't believe tongues were of the devil. WHO IS THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR? There are those who believe in being filled with the Spirit, but they say it is not for everyone. Let's check the Bible and see what God says. John 1:29,33. John the Baptist said Jesus would take away the sin of the world and baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Who is He going to baptize with the Holy Spirit? The same people He took the sin away from. That includes everyone in the world. Jesus took away the sin of every human being in the world (1 John 2:2) and He provided the baptism with the Holy Spirit for them too. Whoever will accept the forgiveness of sin that Jesus provided can also have the baptism with the Holy Spirit that Jesus provided. Acts 2:38,39. The promise is for: 1) you (all that were present), 2) for your children (all those born or not yet born), 3) all that are afar off (everyone on earth at that time), 4) even as many as the Lord our God shall call (all that would be born again throughout time). There is no one that is left out. The Baptism with the Spirit is for all people. Mark 16:17. Whoever 'believes' will speak with new tongues. The only people who do not speak with tongues are those who do not believe. God can't make you do anything. You receive His gifts by faith. In 1 Cor. 12:30, when Paul asks, "Do all speak with tongues?" he is speaking of the gift of divers kinds of tongues that are to be interpreted in the church survice. This is one of the nine gifts, Charismata, of the Spirit listed in that chapter for the body of Christ. He is not speaking of the personal gift of tongues for the believer. All believers do not have the divers kinds of tongues that will be spoken out and interpreted in the body, but all have the ability to pray in tongues for personal edification. THE BENEFITS OF PRAYING IN TONGUES <TBA> HOW TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT <TBA> This is a good place to take a break. I will provide the last two parts of this message later. In the meantime, I suggest that anyone who is really interested read some of the books I gave above, particularly Sherrill and Bennett(THS&Y). Also, you might want to contact a local chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men or Women Aglow. Either of these organizations will be glad to supply more information.
co@cbscc.UUCP (Corinna Owens) (02/07/84)
> The initial evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit is > that you will begin to speak with other tongues. Acts 2:4. The > disciples began to speak something. It was the language of the > Holy Spirit, that the Bable calls other tongues. They were all > sitting in prayer, and when they were filled with the Spirit, they > began to speak with other tongues. This was the intial or first > sign of being Baptized with the Holy Spirit. According to Acts 2:5+6 there were men witnessing the utterings. These men were from many nations, each nation having a different language. "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language." Acts 2:8 (KJV). "And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" Acts 2:4. The gift of tongues the disciples received was the ability to speak in other languages. > Whoever 'believes' will speak with new tongues. The only people > who do speak with tongues are those who do not believe. Are you saying that a believer who has not spoken in tongues, languages he/she has not learned, that he/she is not a believer, and consequently, cannot be saved?
jlp@inmet.UUCP (02/18/84)
#R:cbscc:-166900:inmet:11600005:000:3223
inmet!jlp Feb 17 17:14:00 1984
ABSTRACT: A series of Biblical quotes provided to expedite elucidation
of the subject of gifts, teaching, healing, etc. for the
interested reader. The KJV is used ( Nelson's Open Bible
edition) as the quotation source. A summary of the references
for the non-interested follows:
Mark 16:17-18
Ephesians 4:10-13
I Corinthians 12:4-11,27-31
Luke 11:9-13
For your perusal:
MARK 16:17-18
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name
shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall
take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
EPHESIANS 4:10-13
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that
he might fill all things. And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the
saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, and unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ:
I CORINTHIANS 12:4-11
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differ-
ences of administration, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of
operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifes-
tation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is
given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by
the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of
healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to
another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds
of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh
that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
I CORINTHIANS 12:27-31
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some
in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after
that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers
of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all
interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet I will show unto you a
more excellent way.
LUKE 11:9-13
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall
be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask
bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask
a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg,
will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good
gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the
Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
The Organ Keyboard of
Jerryl Payne
{esquire,harpo,decvax!cca!ima}!inmet!jlp