Pentecost (Part 2)
 |
| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
In our previous message we shared some thoughts about the critical need for unity in the Body of Christ and the place of our personal Pentecost toward that end. In this message we want to continue sharing about Pentecost. We want to share the purpose of being baptized with the Holy Spirit, the intended results of being baptized with the Holy Spirit, and some aspects of speaking in tongues.
From Matthew 3:11-12, we read,
Those verses clearly state that there is a difference between John's baptism in water and being baptized with the Holy Ghost. In addition, the Feast of Passover corresponds to being born again and Pentecost, as we will see shortly, corresponds to being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is important to note that the Jewish feasts of Passover and Pentecost are two separate, distinct feasts, fifty days apart.
It is interesting to note that no scripture states that the first 120 disciples were baptized in water as a Christian. We will attempt to explain why that was so in our third message on Pentecost. However, too many professing Christians have never understood why they should be baptized in water. Then we have the verse in Mark 16:16, where Jesus said,
In verse 4, the promise of the Father is the Holy Spirit, as proclaimed by Jesus in the gospel of John. There is a very good reason why the disciples could not be baptized with the Holy Ghost before the risen Christ Jesus ascended for the last time into heaven. But it is more appropriate to answer that question in a later message when we share with you about intercession.
That word was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. The events of Acts 2 transformed the Jewish festival into a Christian reality. Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2 is usually recognized as the time of the birthplace of the Church.
We will have much more to say about the cloven tongues of fire in a later message. For now, let us remember that the Holy Ghost descended like a dove upon Jesus.
So Christians today speak of being filled with the Holy Spirit or being baptized in or into the Holy Spirit. I believe the latter expression is incorrect, although we should not mince over the technicalities of words. The Holy Spirit is pure and holy. Any introduction of a new believer into the Holy Spirit would contaminate that purity and holiness. For now, the key words in Verse 4 are that on the day of Pentecost they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. In our next message we will go into great detail about what it means to be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Many years ago the Lord gave me an analogy of the difference between receiving the Holy Ghost (being born again) and being baptized by Jesus with the Holy Ghost. The analogy is that of a sponge. Any sponge, by its natural composition can hold a certain amount of water. It then reaches its saturation point, after which if we try to introduce one more drop of water into the sponge, then one drop will have to come out. It becomes saturated with water. But then we could take that fully saturated sponge and immerse it into a container of water, much larger than itself. So the sponge, full of water (being born again) is immersed into water greater than itself (or baptized with the Holy Spirit). Peaceful water, when used as a type in scripture, refers to the Holy Spirit. We are sponges.
Purpose of Being Baptized with the Holy Spirit
There are several major reasons behind God's plan for us to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. The first and most important reason is to enable us to BECOME what the Lord wants us to be.
Here, just before His ascension, Jesus declares what MUST be considered a major reason for being baptized with the Holy Spirit ... to enable us to have the power within us to BE witnesses unto HIM! The word "witness" can also be translated as "martyr." So the baptism with the Holy Spirit gives us the power to be a martyr ... the power to die to our self. Note that the verse does NOT say that we shall have the power to SPEAK or DO a witness to other PEOPLE! There is nothing wrong with speaking or doing (provided it is prompted by the Holy Spirit). But please note that if necessary, the Lord can speak through a jackass or through stones.
The Lord desires for us to BECOME ... to have the fullness of Christ formed within us! Without the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, this transformation is not possible. But neither is that sufficient because we still have free will. So we must constantly make decisions to allow the Holy Spirit within us to have His way.
It is crucial to see that the Lord is NOT going to bring revival to our human flesh. The flesh must be crucified with Christ. There is NOTHING about the old man or the flesh that will be redeemed. We are NEW creatures in Christ, filled with His Holy Spirit, empowered by His Holy Spirit to become sons of God and joint heirs through Christ!
The Greek word that is translated as "power" in Acts 1:8 is "dunamis," from which we get the word "dynamite." This is an explosive power unequalled by any nuclear weapon. Paul said,
A second major purpose of being baptized with the Holy Spirit is to prepare us for the age to come. This is a topic that Christians rarely hear about. For those believers who sincerely desire to enter into the fullness of the Christian walk, the baptism with the Holy Spirit is undoubtedly the greatest single help that God has provided. Without being baptized with the Holy Spirit, we can only TRY to be good, TRY to do the right thing, etc. In other words the power of God to live a victorious life is missing in our life.
So the baptism with the Holy Spirit allows us to have a foretaste of power and glory divine! Through the baptism with the Holy Spirit, the Christian believer begins to experience right now, in a measure, the supernatural power reserved for its full manifestation in the world or age to come!
Results of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit
There are numerous results of being baptized with the Holy Spirit:
(1) a new spiritual perception of the Lord Himself
Moreover, the baptism with the Holy Spirit constitutes direct, personal evidence and assurance that our risen Lord has been both exalted and glorified at the Father's right hand.
(2) a new perception of spiritual warfare
An example of this is when Jesus was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil, in Matthew 1:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13. Also,
(3) a new understanding and anointing of the scriptures
Of course, none of the early disciples had any understanding until the day of Pentecost. That is evident from the question they asked Jesus as recorded in Acts 1:6. Consider also the account of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:27-40. The eunuch was reading from Isaiah the prophet. When Philip asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading, the eunuch replied, in Acts 8:31, "How can I, except some man should guide me?"
I remember the very first time that the Holy Spirit revealed to me directly, not through a person or a book, the meaning of a passage of scripture. It was in Matthew 5:13-16. I got so excited that I called another brother and ran over to his house to share what the Spirit had just revealed to me. But that should be part of the normal Christian life.
(4) a seal or protection
Needless to say, that scripture became a living reality to me and within me! Is the Holy Spirit our Protector? YES!!! I could share with you at least 4 or 5 times that either my wife or I could have been killed except for God's protection. Moreover, several of those events occurred even before the Lord apprehended us. And how many times does the Lord protect us when we are unaware!
(5) a new and more excellent way to pray
(6) a new language: speaking in tongues
We are fully aware that many Christian groups still do not accept "speaking in tongues" as being valid for today. Some of those professing Christians probably quote 1 Corinthians 13:8 and 10 which says, in effect, that tongues is in part and that which is in part shall cease when that which is perfect is come. So, they argue, since Jesus has already come and Jesus is perfect, there are no more tongues. The same argument, if we read 1 Corinthians 13:8, will throw out prophecies and knowledge as also being outdated. I am not sure how such believers explain a myriad of scriptures, such as when Paul told the church at Corinth,
The scriptures in Acts 2:4, Acts 4:31, Acts 10:44-48, and Acts 19:1-6 clearly state that they were all baptized with the Holy Spirit and they all spoke in tongues. The same is true for the account in Acts 8:14-17, even though the scripture does not explicitly say that they spoke in tongues. Acts 8:17 states that they received the Holy Ghost. How did Peter and John know that the people at Samaria received the Holy Ghost unless they in fact did speak in tongues?
Other believers say that tongues ceased after the first generation of believers in the early church, as recorded in the book of Acts, died. But historically numerous incidents have been recorded of many Christians speaking in tongues at numerous different geographical locations and at various time periods.
Perhaps we should also state that Jesus never spoke in tongues. Why? because Jesus always had perfect communication with the Father. None of us always have perfect communication with the Father except when we pray in tongues. That represents deep calling unto deep.
(7) a holy boldness
Before the day of Pentecost, the disciples not only had very little understanding, they also were weak in the faith (at best). When Jesus was crucified, ALL of the disciples forsook Him and fled! (Mark 14:50)
What a transformation came upon them after Pentecost! At Thessalonica, the Jews which believed not said, concerning Paul and Silas,
Have you or I, as a Christian, whether singly or in a group, turned the world upside down yet?
(8) a greatly increased zeal and love of God
They loved not their lives, even unto death.
Aspects of Speaking in Tongues
From our personal experience in a New Testament house church for 12 years, when a message in tongues is given for the whole congregation, what usually follows is a prophecy, which most believers assume is the interpretation of the message. However, since "he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God" (1 Corinthians 14:2), scripture indicates that the interpretation of the message in tongues should ALSO be speaking unto God, and normally in the form of praise and exaltation. Prophecy, in contrast, is God speaking unto men.
(3) as a sign to unbelievers
On the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven were assembled in Jerusalem.
All speaks of the disciples who were in one accord.
Finally, some Christians may say, "Do I have to speak in tongues if I am a Christian?" The answer is No, you do not have to. We still have free will. Further we cannot speak in tongues unless the Lord Jesus has baptized us with the Holy Ghost. But perhaps a better question is, "Can I really speak in tongues and exalt and glorify the Lord in a measure that exceeds my natural language?" The answer is Yes, if you have been baptized with the Holy Ghost.
In this message we have tried to emphasize the significance of Pentecost in our lives today, the purpose of being baptized with the Holy Spirit, the results of being baptized with the Holy Spirit, and the major aspects of being baptized with the Holy Spirit. From this message I believe you can better understand the great scope of our walk as a believer. So many different aspects of our walk are inter-related and it is difficult, if not impossible, to share everything in one message. In our next message we hope to continue with "how to be baptized with the Holy Spirit." We also will share some of our personal experiences.
So until next time, may the Lord continue to bless you as you seek after Him, for Jesus said, "seek and ye shall find."
From Matthew 3:11-12, we read,
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Those verses clearly state that there is a difference between John's baptism in water and being baptized with the Holy Ghost. In addition, the Feast of Passover corresponds to being born again and Pentecost, as we will see shortly, corresponds to being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is important to note that the Jewish feasts of Passover and Pentecost are two separate, distinct feasts, fifty days apart.
It is interesting to note that no scripture states that the first 120 disciples were baptized in water as a Christian. We will attempt to explain why that was so in our third message on Pentecost. However, too many professing Christians have never understood why they should be baptized in water. Then we have the verse in Mark 16:16, where Jesus said,
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
That verse does not mean that unless we are baptized in water we cannot be saved. If the dynamite power of the Holy Spirit cannot save you, do you think that a little H20 will save you? Further that verse in Mark 16:16 does not say "baptized in water," and it does not mean that. It means immersed into the nature, the character, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our objective is not to be baptized in water. Our objective is Christ in you, the hope of glory. In Luke 23:43 Jesus, just before His death on the cross, said to one of the malefactors who was crucified beside Jesus, "Today you shall be with me in paradise." That malefactor was never baptized in water. However, as I stated in the previous message on water baptism, every Christian should be baptized in water, if possible.
The disciples had no real understanding until the day of Pentecost. Jesus confirmed the words of John the Baptist.
The disciples had no real understanding until the day of Pentecost. Jesus confirmed the words of John the Baptist.
4 And, being assembled together with them, [Jesus] commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me.5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Acts 1:4-5
In verse 4, the promise of the Father is the Holy Spirit, as proclaimed by Jesus in the gospel of John. There is a very good reason why the disciples could not be baptized with the Holy Ghost before the risen Christ Jesus ascended for the last time into heaven. But it is more appropriate to answer that question in a later message when we share with you about intercession.
16 And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever;17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:16-17
That word was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. The events of Acts 2 transformed the Jewish festival into a Christian reality. Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2 is usually recognized as the time of the birthplace of the Church.
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4
We will have much more to say about the cloven tongues of fire in a later message. For now, let us remember that the Holy Ghost descended like a dove upon Jesus.
So Christians today speak of being filled with the Holy Spirit or being baptized in or into the Holy Spirit. I believe the latter expression is incorrect, although we should not mince over the technicalities of words. The Holy Spirit is pure and holy. Any introduction of a new believer into the Holy Spirit would contaminate that purity and holiness. For now, the key words in Verse 4 are that on the day of Pentecost they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. In our next message we will go into great detail about what it means to be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Many years ago the Lord gave me an analogy of the difference between receiving the Holy Ghost (being born again) and being baptized by Jesus with the Holy Ghost. The analogy is that of a sponge. Any sponge, by its natural composition can hold a certain amount of water. It then reaches its saturation point, after which if we try to introduce one more drop of water into the sponge, then one drop will have to come out. It becomes saturated with water. But then we could take that fully saturated sponge and immerse it into a container of water, much larger than itself. So the sponge, full of water (being born again) is immersed into water greater than itself (or baptized with the Holy Spirit). Peaceful water, when used as a type in scripture, refers to the Holy Spirit. We are sponges.
Purpose of Being Baptized with the Holy Spirit
There are several major reasons behind God's plan for us to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. The first and most important reason is to enable us to BECOME what the Lord wants us to be.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
Here, just before His ascension, Jesus declares what MUST be considered a major reason for being baptized with the Holy Spirit ... to enable us to have the power within us to BE witnesses unto HIM! The word "witness" can also be translated as "martyr." So the baptism with the Holy Spirit gives us the power to be a martyr ... the power to die to our self. Note that the verse does NOT say that we shall have the power to SPEAK or DO a witness to other PEOPLE! There is nothing wrong with speaking or doing (provided it is prompted by the Holy Spirit). But please note that if necessary, the Lord can speak through a jackass or through stones.
And He [Jesus] answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. Luke 19:40
The Lord desires for us to BECOME ... to have the fullness of Christ formed within us! Without the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, this transformation is not possible. But neither is that sufficient because we still have free will. So we must constantly make decisions to allow the Holy Spirit within us to have His way.
Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6
It is crucial to see that the Lord is NOT going to bring revival to our human flesh. The flesh must be crucified with Christ. There is NOTHING about the old man or the flesh that will be redeemed. We are NEW creatures in Christ, filled with His Holy Spirit, empowered by His Holy Spirit to become sons of God and joint heirs through Christ!
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, father.7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:6-7
The Greek word that is translated as "power" in Acts 1:8 is "dunamis," from which we get the word "dynamite." This is an explosive power unequalled by any nuclear weapon. Paul said,
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20
A second major purpose of being baptized with the Holy Spirit is to prepare us for the age to come. This is a topic that Christians rarely hear about. For those believers who sincerely desire to enter into the fullness of the Christian walk, the baptism with the Holy Spirit is undoubtedly the greatest single help that God has provided. Without being baptized with the Holy Spirit, we can only TRY to be good, TRY to do the right thing, etc. In other words the power of God to live a victorious life is missing in our life.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost.5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world [or age] to come ... Hebrews 6:4-5
So the baptism with the Holy Spirit allows us to have a foretaste of power and glory divine! Through the baptism with the Holy Spirit, the Christian believer begins to experience right now, in a measure, the supernatural power reserved for its full manifestation in the world or age to come!
Results of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit
There are numerous results of being baptized with the Holy Spirit:
(1) a new spiritual perception of the Lord Himself
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me.
John 15:26
He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.
John 16:14
Moreover, the baptism with the Holy Spirit constitutes direct, personal evidence and assurance that our risen Lord has been both exalted and glorified at the Father's right hand.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He [Christ] hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Acts 2:33
(2) a new perception of spiritual warfare
An example of this is when Jesus was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil, in Matthew 1:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13. Also,
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
(3) a new understanding and anointing of the scriptures
12 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.13 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. John 16:12-13
Of course, none of the early disciples had any understanding until the day of Pentecost. That is evident from the question they asked Jesus as recorded in Acts 1:6. Consider also the account of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:27-40. The eunuch was reading from Isaiah the prophet. When Philip asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading, the eunuch replied, in Acts 8:31, "How can I, except some man should guide me?"
I remember the very first time that the Holy Spirit revealed to me directly, not through a person or a book, the meaning of a passage of scripture. It was in Matthew 5:13-16. I got so excited that I called another brother and ran over to his house to share what the Spirit had just revealed to me. But that should be part of the normal Christian life.
(4) a seal or protection
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed. John 6:27
21 Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Needless to say, that scripture became a living reality to me and within me! Is the Holy Spirit our Protector? YES!!! I could share with you at least 4 or 5 times that either my wife or I could have been killed except for God's protection. Moreover, several of those events occurred even before the Lord apprehended us. And how many times does the Lord protect us when we are unaware!
(5) a new and more excellent way to pray
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.27 And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27
(6) a new language: speaking in tongues
We are fully aware that many Christian groups still do not accept "speaking in tongues" as being valid for today. Some of those professing Christians probably quote 1 Corinthians 13:8 and 10 which says, in effect, that tongues is in part and that which is in part shall cease when that which is perfect is come. So, they argue, since Jesus has already come and Jesus is perfect, there are no more tongues. The same argument, if we read 1 Corinthians 13:8, will throw out prophecies and knowledge as also being outdated. I am not sure how such believers explain a myriad of scriptures, such as when Paul told the church at Corinth,
15 I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also....18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 1 Corinthians 14:15, 18
The scriptures in Acts 2:4, Acts 4:31, Acts 10:44-48, and Acts 19:1-6 clearly state that they were all baptized with the Holy Spirit and they all spoke in tongues. The same is true for the account in Acts 8:14-17, even though the scripture does not explicitly say that they spoke in tongues. Acts 8:17 states that they received the Holy Ghost. How did Peter and John know that the people at Samaria received the Holy Ghost unless they in fact did speak in tongues?
Other believers say that tongues ceased after the first generation of believers in the early church, as recorded in the book of Acts, died. But historically numerous incidents have been recorded of many Christians speaking in tongues at numerous different geographical locations and at various time periods.
Perhaps we should also state that Jesus never spoke in tongues. Why? because Jesus always had perfect communication with the Father. None of us always have perfect communication with the Father except when we pray in tongues. That represents deep calling unto deep.
(7) a holy boldness
Before the day of Pentecost, the disciples not only had very little understanding, they also were weak in the faith (at best). When Jesus was crucified, ALL of the disciples forsook Him and fled! (Mark 14:50)
What a transformation came upon them after Pentecost! At Thessalonica, the Jews which believed not said, concerning Paul and Silas,
These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also. Acts 17:6
Have you or I, as a Christian, whether singly or in a group, turned the world upside down yet?
(8) a greatly increased zeal and love of God
They loved not their lives, even unto death.
Aspects of Speaking in Tongues
(1) for personal use
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself ... 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4
(2) to edify the church (assembly of believers)
Paul says that this use of speaking in tongues should be accompanied by interpretation.
Paul says that this use of speaking in tongues should be accompanied by interpretation.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest. 1 Corinthians 14:5, 13, 16
From our personal experience in a New Testament house church for 12 years, when a message in tongues is given for the whole congregation, what usually follows is a prophecy, which most believers assume is the interpretation of the message. However, since "he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God" (1 Corinthians 14:2), scripture indicates that the interpretation of the message in tongues should ALSO be speaking unto God, and normally in the form of praise and exaltation. Prophecy, in contrast, is God speaking unto men.
(3) as a sign to unbelievers
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: 1 Corinthians 14:22
On the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven were assembled in Jerusalem.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4
All speaks of the disciples who were in one accord.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.8 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying to one another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?11 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. Acts 2:6-8, 11
Finally, some Christians may say, "Do I have to speak in tongues if I am a Christian?" The answer is No, you do not have to. We still have free will. Further we cannot speak in tongues unless the Lord Jesus has baptized us with the Holy Ghost. But perhaps a better question is, "Can I really speak in tongues and exalt and glorify the Lord in a measure that exceeds my natural language?" The answer is Yes, if you have been baptized with the Holy Ghost.
In this message we have tried to emphasize the significance of Pentecost in our lives today, the purpose of being baptized with the Holy Spirit, the results of being baptized with the Holy Spirit, and the major aspects of being baptized with the Holy Spirit. From this message I believe you can better understand the great scope of our walk as a believer. So many different aspects of our walk are inter-related and it is difficult, if not impossible, to share everything in one message. In our next message we hope to continue with "how to be baptized with the Holy Spirit." We also will share some of our personal experiences.
So until next time, may the Lord continue to bless you as you seek after Him, for Jesus said, "seek and ye shall find."
No comments:
Post a Comment