I have had many conversations with many different people over the years regarding the Holy Spirit, or more particularly, the baptism in the Holy Spirit. There are many schools of thought regarding this. Some people are Pentecostal and embrace the baptism in the Holy Spirit, but not all agree. I have heard argument such as "There is no second blessing" through to "I received the Holy Spirit when I received Christ". There are of course many other arguments.
I was out with some Christian friends a while ago and had a finger pointed at me and the accusation "He's a Pentecostal" as though it were some sort of disease. It was done in jest and received as such, but there was nevertheless some conviction behind it. I don't consider myself to be Pentecostal. In fact much of the traditional Pentecostal teaching is considerably different to what I believe, but let's not stray off the subject. Here's the question:
Should we be baptised in The Holy Spirit?
First of all, I would like to share what a difference having the Holy Spirit has made to me. When I first became a Christian at the age of 16 I knew nothing of the Holy Spirit and often wonder if I had received Him things would have been different for me.
In 1978 when I made my commitment to God, His coming into my life set me so free from all that had had me bound that I was excited and would often sing to Him and praise His name. When I was baptised in water they prayed for me to receive the Holy Spirit, and to be honest, nothing seemed to happen other than my getting very wet, which tends to happen with full immersion baptism.
I remember walking down the street on my way into town one day. I felt very close to God and being the introvert I was, it was all I could do to stop myself skipping down the street like some kid. I was praising Him and telling Him how much I loved Him when I opened my mouth without knowing what I was going to say, and started speaking in tongues! Wow!
The reality is, while speaking in tongues is a sign of having received the Holy Spirit, it has a lot more use than that, as is pointed out in the Scriptures. Things like praying when you're not sure how to pray for example.
Personally, having the Holy Spirit in my life has been amazing. The Bible describes Him as Comforter, Teacher, Guide etc, but through Him the fruit of the Spirit also becomes established in our lives, the fruit being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. The gifts of the Spirit are speaking in tongues, miracles, word of knowledge, prophesy, healing, wisdom, knowledge and faith.
The bottom line is, God has made provision for us to receive His Holy Spirit and trying to live a Christian life without the Holy Spirit can be likened to climbing Mount Everest without a guide. It just doesn't happen and you're not going to make it!
Luke 11:9 And I say to you, Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you.
Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks receives. And he who seeks finds. And to him who knocks it shall be opened.
Luke 11:11 For what father of you, if the son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake for a fish?
Luke 11:12 Or if he shall ask for an egg, will he give him a scorpion?
Luke 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?
Top
I was out with some Christian friends a while ago and had a finger pointed at me and the accusation "He's a Pentecostal" as though it were some sort of disease. It was done in jest and received as such, but there was nevertheless some conviction behind it. I don't consider myself to be Pentecostal. In fact much of the traditional Pentecostal teaching is considerably different to what I believe, but let's not stray off the subject. Here's the question:
Should we be baptised in The Holy Spirit?
First of all, I would like to share what a difference having the Holy Spirit has made to me. When I first became a Christian at the age of 16 I knew nothing of the Holy Spirit and often wonder if I had received Him things would have been different for me.
In 1978 when I made my commitment to God, His coming into my life set me so free from all that had had me bound that I was excited and would often sing to Him and praise His name. When I was baptised in water they prayed for me to receive the Holy Spirit, and to be honest, nothing seemed to happen other than my getting very wet, which tends to happen with full immersion baptism.
I remember walking down the street on my way into town one day. I felt very close to God and being the introvert I was, it was all I could do to stop myself skipping down the street like some kid. I was praising Him and telling Him how much I loved Him when I opened my mouth without knowing what I was going to say, and started speaking in tongues! Wow!
The reality is, while speaking in tongues is a sign of having received the Holy Spirit, it has a lot more use than that, as is pointed out in the Scriptures. Things like praying when you're not sure how to pray for example.
Personally, having the Holy Spirit in my life has been amazing. The Bible describes Him as Comforter, Teacher, Guide etc, but through Him the fruit of the Spirit also becomes established in our lives, the fruit being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. The gifts of the Spirit are speaking in tongues, miracles, word of knowledge, prophesy, healing, wisdom, knowledge and faith.
The bottom line is, God has made provision for us to receive His Holy Spirit and trying to live a Christian life without the Holy Spirit can be likened to climbing Mount Everest without a guide. It just doesn't happen and you're not going to make it!
Luke 11:9 And I say to you, Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you.
Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks receives. And he who seeks finds. And to him who knocks it shall be opened.
Luke 11:11 For what father of you, if the son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake for a fish?
Luke 11:12 Or if he shall ask for an egg, will he give him a scorpion?
Luke 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?
Top