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The Baptism in the Holy Spirit Study

The Second Work Of Grace After Conversion

 

 

As we continue this study on the Baptism of the Holy Ghost let the writer state once more that salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit are two separate and distinct experiences when it comes to the believer. Salvation is the greatest thing that can take place in the life of a believing sinner while the Baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues is the greatest thing that takes place in the life of the BELIEVER, AFTER one comes to Christ through salvation! A person may experience salvation, die and make heaven his eternal home without ever receiving or experiencing the baptism in the Holy Ghost. I know several born again people who, for whatever reasons have never taken that next step in their Christian walk and been filled with the Spirit. The argument would be made by some that they were filled even though they never spake with tongues; that is to be discussed in the next journal in this installment so we'll leave that alone for now.

 

This writer grew up Southern Baptist, learned about the blood of Jesus and the Cross when he was a young child in a Sunday school class in my dad's Baptist church in Atlanta, Georgia. I learned the foundational truths that have kept me grounded in Christ today from the Baptist church. However up until 1986 all that I heard about the Holy Ghost was always negative and believe me NOTHING was said to encourage me to move on to seeking after the baptism in the Holy Ghost. In 1987 that all changed when on a glorious Saturday night in February I received the infilling of the Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave the utterance. In the fall of 1986 I had went forward many times seeking this tremendous gift to no avail. The Lord had to take me to the private kitchen of my now deceased Aunt, who was filled to the brim with the Holy Ghost. I remember to this day as a young child laying in the upstairs room of her house while she would kneel in the late afternoons downstairs crying out to God in intercession and prayer for us boys (she kept us while we were children while mom and dad worked).

 

I remember the days when we'd hear her pray in English then all of sudden feel something like electricity fill that small house she lived in and she would begin to pray in a heavenly language the angels in heaven probably only knew and God Himself but we knew she was touching another world and our names were being called to God. Friend, children don't escape that type of experience no matter how far from God they try to run later on in life. Parents we need to be doing the same today with our young people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Instead of us spending time in front of that hell-sent NUT BOX called television hours at a time we need to be on our knees crying out to God in travail for the hearts and souls of our children.

 

The reader must understand this writer has been part of both the Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal worlds and have no bone to pick with either one. I have ministered in just about any type of church one can think of other than a Catholic church and the cults like Jehovah Witness or Mormon - even though if the Lord opened that door I'm sure we'd have a ball preaching under the anointing of the Spirit there - they may have to carve out a wall in the back of the church for me to escape but it'd be fun! That's what actually happened in 1992 when preaching at an Independent Baptist church in Mableton, Georgia! As I was preaching the Spirit of God came upon me and I spoke briefly in tongues and the church devils came out of the wall in a horrible way. My late Uncle Owen (whom I later referred to as Uncle Abraham who rescued Lot that night) stood between me and several demanding I tell them what I prayed in tongues. Uncle Owen told those screaming in unbelief that the church needed to repent of resisting the Holy Ghost and that if all they were concerned about was the 30 seconds I prayed in tongues and not the message from the Word of God that was delivered they needed to get saved! It was at that moment that this writer started looking into body guards when he went to preach at Baptist Churches!

 

I've been around people both Spirit-filled and those who have never experienced what I write about in this journal and it's a fair statement and assessment that many who have never spoke in tongues sometimes exhibit more of a Christ-like Spirit than most so-called Spirit-filled people do who go around in arrogance and pride and boast of their superior spiritual condition. I say that to underscore the fact that one can be saved and not speak in tongues but for one to experience the baptism in the Holy Ghost ONE must be BORN AGAIN! Being Born again gets one ready for heaven; the baptism in the Holy Ghost gets one ready for service on this EARTH.

 

One true trait always evident in the life of a Spirit-filled believer is humility!!! I learned this the hard way 20 years ago when at the age of 22 I received this glorious infilling only to watch my life unravel into shreds over the next ten years due to pride, arrogance and self-righteousness. It almost cost me my eternal soul to be frank when in 1996 I fell totally away from the Lord, ran from the call to preach that was on my life and backslid into some of the worst immorality one could imagine. Be it not for the GRACE OF GOD today, this writer would not be in front of a computer late at night sharing his heart with you on this all important subject - the Baptism of the HOLY GHOST! I love the song John Starnes, one of my favorite gospel singers, used to sing " Don't give up on the child of God, he's the one God is keeping." When it looks like we're down for the count friend, God the HOLY GHOST picks us back up and puts us back into the ring to fight on for another day and another and another! Praise God.

 

I know there are people in ALL denominations - no exceptions - who truly love the Lord and are saved - even though many whether through ignorance or sadly through unbelief have never and will never go on to receive this mighty infilling of the Holy Spirit we speak of that is terribly NEEDED and COMMANDED for ALL believers who want to make a difference in the Kingdom of God for Christ! Friend, YOU and I NEED TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY GHOST and if we have already been baptized in the Spirit, we need to WALK IN THE FULLNESS OF THE EXPERIENCE of HIS POWER, GRACE, ANOINTING and GUIDANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ephes. 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be (continually being) filled with the Spirit;
 

The baptism or infilling of the Holy Ghost MUST be preceded by salvation (regeneration); only THEN can the HOLY GHOST flow from us in fullness of power; He DWELLS within us at salvation without a doubt but His work is not complete in us when we get saved, it's JUST BEGINNING. Let me say that again; the indwelling of the Spirit DOES take place at Salvation but it's the ENDUEMENT of power for service that releases the Spirit's indwelling power to MOVE in us, through us and to others after we've been baptized in the Holy Ghost. In John 4:14 Jesus said that those who come to Him would experience "wells of water springing up unto everlasting life;" in John 7:37-39, He described the baptism of the Holy Ghost as "living waters," that would "flow" out of HIS (CHRIST'S) innermost being to the believer. Jesus is the baptizer in the Holy Ghost! The Holy Ghost brings us to Christ at salvation; the LORD JESUS immerses us IN THE HOLY GHOST after we get saved. We have a WELL of water in us at salvation from which we draw of Christ; when we're baptized in the Holy Ghost BY JESUS we then have rivers of living water FLOWING from within us that reproduces CHRIST in others as we become powerful WITNESSES upon the earth for HIM!

 

Isaiah 12:1-4
And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. [2] Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. [3] Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. [4] And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

John 4:14
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:37-39
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. [38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Acts 1:8
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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Great numbers of people are experiencing this mighty infilling of the Spirit as God is tearing down religious walls in the hearts and lives of scores of people wanting more of HIM while getting more and more sick of organized religion that teaches unbelief and rejects everything supernatural in trying to be "fundamental" and "evangelical." NEIGHBOR the very term "evangelical" means to "evangelize" and without the HOLY GHOST doing the evangelizing - there would BE NO EVANGELICAL community or movement! That is what has happened with the recent revelations of homosexuality among this community's top churches and leadership. When the church divorces the HOLY GHOST friend, we're left to the powers of darkness controlling us! When we divorce Christ from the power of the Spirit, we have committed Spiritual adultery and in essence apostatized unto "another Jesus," and "another Spirit." What we see paraded in front of us as "evangelical," is nothing but a bastardized version of Christianity and NOTHING close to the heart of God. To be frank, this current crop of evangelicals would be the first to drive the nails into the hand of the Lord Jesus were He back on earth today! They resist everything supernatural yet still label themselves "fundamental." I have a better term for them that I heard from another evangelist recently - "MENTAL!" Not to sound unkind but it grieves my heart and I know it grieves the heart of the Lord to hear the absolute STUPIDITY and MORONIC statements come from men who call themselves preachers and lead millions astray to a Christ-less gospel and one void of the power of God.

 

2 Cor. 11:3-4
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Christians want a personal relationship and experience with God! Most draw tired of listening to what their preacher has to say "about" God without experiencing the joy and power of a one on one relationship with the Heavenly Father through the ministry of the Son who reveals Himself through the power of the intercessory and revelatory work of the Holy Ghost! Jesus said the Holy Ghost would "speak of Me (speaking of Christ) and REVEAL to the Church that which He takes from Christ and SHOW it unto us - the believer! This is not a promise to the sinner but to the saved!

 

John 15:26-27
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: [27] And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

 

John 16:15
All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

 

Even though ALL believers can have this glorious experience if they wish very many reject it outright and refuse to ask for it because of unbelief; yes, some reject it out of ignorance but that many times can be laid at the door of backslidden or in some cases just plain LOST preachers who refuse to preach this all important subject. Very very very precious few ministers of God give room today in their services and churches for the Lord Jesus to baptize people in the Spirit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If the Baptism of the Holy Ghost was preached more we'd see more people willing to receive this precious gift! Because it's approached with unbelief and hardness of heart it's inevitable those who hear such messages will never seek after more of the power of God! Friend, it's not what your denomination says about this that counts; it's what the WORD OF GOD says and it says, "HE SHALL Baptize YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND WITH FIRE."

 

Matthew 3:11
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:

At salvation, life is imparted to someone who was formerly dead in sin; the baptism in the Holy Ghost EMPOWERS someone who was formerly a weak, ineffectual Christian; The believer then is fitted for God's service; it is clearly the mandate of God that every Christian SHOULD receive the baptism in the Holy Ghost; Jesus COMMANDED the disciples to WAIT until they received the baptism of the Spirit before starting out in their ministries.

 

Acts 1:4-5
And, being assembled together with them, 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.

Luke 24:48-49
And ye are witnesses of these things.
[49] And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
 

The activities of the Holy Spirit are many and varied; He is a comforter, a teacher, a leader, a communicator, a guide; He is the director of all of God's activities on the earth today. When the sinner comes to the moment of salvation, he does "receive" the Holy Ghost - within the context of being "born-again," under the INFLUENCE of the Spirit. However, assuming that being born of the Spirit is the same as the "baptism of power," has lead to erroneous doctrine which has caused untold numbers of Christians to fail to receive this deeper relationship with the HOLY GHOST because of this teacher. Let me tell you something friend. I don't have the answers to the problems of the human race; you don't have the answer to the problems of the human race; we can't even find the answers to our OWN problems! But there is ONE WHO DOES have the answer and He is the HOLY GHOST, sent from the throne of God to be a PARACLETE, a COMFORTER, a GUIDE OF TRUTH, and a LEADER and DIRECTOR in all our affairs here on earth if we will but be sensitive to His leading and obey His every command!


John 16:7-11  - Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. [8] And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [9] Of sin, because they believe not on me; [10] Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; [11] Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

John 14:14-17  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
[15] If ye love me, keep my commandments. [16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
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.

Look at the progression the Lord Jesus spoke of concerning the Holy Ghost:

Our pastor stated a few Sundays back that on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Ghost came to dwell with the believers. That statement was half right but in a way half wrong in the way he presented it. He DID come to dwell and stay with us at Pentecost but He also came to do a whole lot more than just that. The Spirit of God was already influencing the work of God upon the Earth before Pentecost. It was at the Day of Pentecost when He came with such power and force that 120 ineffectual followers of Jesus were filled with the power of God and became "men who turned the world upside down," for Christ! Yes He came to dwell but He also came to EMPOWER and SEND FORTH! Yes He came to dwell but He also came to KNOCK DOWN THE GATES OF HELL and break the powers of darkness off the face of the Earth!  Yes He came to DWELL but He came to give believers something more than a dead form of religion - He came to infill us to overflowing with the presence of Jesus and to MOVE in power THROUGH US, TO US, and IN US as the Kingdom of God is revealed to a lost and dying world through those who allow Him to empower them for service!

 

His work in us is not for us to just sit on a church pew from week to week and listen to sermon after sermon but to anoint us with the Holy Ghost and with power as God did Jesus who went about doing GOOD and HEALING ALL that were oppressed of the devil - for GOD WAS WITH HIM! Listen to me Baptists - Jesus was anointed by the HOLY GHOST and GOD WAS WITH HIM - NOT AGAINST HIM as so many of you are against this mighty infilling power of the Spirit of God! You need to let go of your traditional unbelief and see the glory of God revealed in the church  in these last days. You'd be surprised pastor at how quick those empty altars will start filling up on Sunday morning! You'd be surprised pastor at how much your people will want to read the Word of God and learn more about Christ!  You'll be surprised man of God how your church services will be more lively than a Tennessee Vol football game on Saturday and how your services are no longer funeral services -but worship services vibrating with the presence of God!

 

Oh, brother Chris, our church is just not one of those "emotional" churches. Oh, I'm sure you're not emotional (I'M laughing hard at this one). Let your youth director take your church youth to a ball game and you'll see how emotional you are. We're emotional all right - that's not the issue - the issue is we're emotional for the WRONG THINGS AND NOT EMOTIONAL ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS - JESUS CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Lord has ordained the church to move in the kind of power Jesus moved in while on Earth and do His works to heal ALL those oppressed of Satan. That is the ministry of the New Covenant Church - to do the WORKS of Christ and without the power of the Holy Spirit present - we can NEVER do the works of Christ or any other works for that matter!

 

Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

 

Ephes. 2:20-22
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; [21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: [22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 

The Holy Spirit is being revealed as a vibrant, dynamic force within the lives of individuals. God and man were never intended to lead separate existences; we were created to have intimacy and fellowship with the Father! Many, many people have become so sick and dissatisfied with cold, formal religion and have hungered froa greater spriitual reality. They long to experience a dynamic Christian life. I sit in our church every week crying out inside for God to transform our congregation into one where the Spirit of God quickens the preaching into a conduit of conviction where the altars become full each week. I feel His presence there at times for sure but He does not move as He ought to because He's not given the proper place and atmosphere to move! The Holy Spirit IS moving where He is welcomed and allowed to operate - both in the lives of saints and in the activities and confines of the local church.

 

Friend, I have NEVER met a disappointed person who has experienced the baptism in the Holy Ghost. I've met a few disillusioned individuals because they looked around after they received the Holy Sprit baptism and realized that their fellow spirit-filled believers, though endued for service, still have to maintain a daily walk with Christ, or they will fall and fail just as one who has never been filled with the Spirit tends to do on a regular basis. The foundation of the Holy Ghost baptism is the CROSS OF CHRIST. Being filled with the Spirit does not abrogate our responsibility of taking up our cross and walking after Christ on a daily basis. On the contrary; it actually GIVES us the POWER to take up that cross and WALK in the power of HIS GRACE which is necessary for us to do just that. The Holy Spirit calls this "ACCESS into this GRACE," and power in Romans 5:1 meaning that for those who come to Christ and are willing to obey the Spirit of God there is more than abundant grace for the trip ahead and journey to glory.

 

Romans 5:1-2
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: [2] By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
 

Because of the Cross of Christ, we have been given the power of the HOLY GHOST to STAND in this grace we have been given and REJOICE in the HOPE of the glory of God! Praise God, praise God, don't you feel that neighbor? We have been declared "not guilty," because of the blood which has made it possible for us to be filled with the HOLY GHOST, the GRACE, or POWER that makes Calvary and its effects REAL in our hearts and lives. Whatever God demands, His grace always provides and supplies for in our heart and life. Our job is to BELIEVE on the only TRUE SON OF GOD - THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and keep our faith anchored in what He has done for us at the Cross!

 

The Holy Ghost is more than a religious concept, a vague symbol or even a "force," as some put it. The HOLY GHOST IS GOD, who as a force if you will comes within one's life as any who have stepped forward to invite Him into their lives will so testify.

 

Acts 2:38-39
Then Peter said unto them, 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. [39] 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.

Joel 2:28-32
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: [29] And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. [30] And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. [31] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. [32] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

Acts 2:16-18
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; [17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: [18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Numerous times in the book of Acts we read of people being FILLED with the Spirit of God and in ALL cases it is stated or implied those being filled spoke with other tongues as the SPIRIT OF GOD gave them the utterance!

Let the writer be clear on what we believe and teach on this all important subject:

 

1 Cor. 14:4-10
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church.


Jude 1:19-22
These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. [20] But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, [21] Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. [22] And of some have compassion, making a difference:

Paul says under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost that "he that speaks in an unknown tongue 'edifies' or builds up himself; there is nothing wrong with that done in a proper manner and attitude of seeking to become more like Christ. Jude goes a step further and says those who pray in tongues "build up their MOST HOLY FAITH, praying in the HOLY GHOST," which means praying in tongues. The Spirit of God prays with "groanings that cannot be uttered," through the believer according to Romans 8:26-28:

 

Romans 8:26-28
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. [27] And he that searches the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. [28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
 

While we don't want this journal to be solely on tongues it's important the reader understand where we're coming from when we say one has been FILLED with the HOLY GHOST. I know there is great argument and division over what the initial evidence of one being filled. Let's save that discussion for a future journal in this series. I want to get back to the point we were trying with the Lord's help to make in part one of this journal - the question of whether the baptism of the Holy Ghost is a separate work of Grace and takes place AFTER conversion as we believe the Bible teaches or do we just get it "all" as most well meaning but erroneous ministers teach?

 

I do want to interject a thought here. I grew up Southern Baptist and know exactly what most Southern Baptists believe about the Holy Ghost. I believe there are people within the Southern Baptist Convention who are very  hungry for God and want ALL that God has for them. I also know there are tremendous religious forces - not just in the Southern Baptist Convention - but ALL denominations seeking to divorce Christ from the Cross, the work of the Spirit's anointing and the ministry of Jesus, and what the Holy Spirit does and the Holy Spirit Himself. We can do none of these things and expect the power of God to move and operate within our churches. Sadly, so many have opted for humanism in place of Holy Ghost power. The prayer meeting has been replaced with fellowship meals and family fun night. Times and seasons of intercession have been replaced by self-help programs, bingo games and softball teams. Spiritual matters have taken a back seat to other things that matter nothing when dealing with eternity and the state of men's souls. Friend, the subject of the Holy Spirit is MORE than just a doctrinal argument between the Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal camps within the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit is GOD and believe me, there IS NO argument in heaven about Who He is, What He Does, When He Does it and How He Does it.

 

I've always said that if we don't stop resisting and rejecting the Holy Spirit in our church structures God is going to remove Himself totally. He has already removed Himself to a degree as we witness this continued slide into apostasy and false doctrine by the church. When the Holy Spirit is given TOTAL freedom - LIGHT always overrules the darkness. When the Holy Spirit is given some freedom, as He is in some churches, then SOME light exists yes, but there is also darkness. There are some churches however that the Spirit's power and work has been so pushed aside for the ways of men that LIGHT has left and darkness has taken abode among the leadership and laity of those bodies. The results of this darkness are NO SOULS being saved, altars being empty every Sunday, no sick bodies healed, no bondages broken and in many cases these same bondages accepted and applauded i.e. homosexuality, no restoration of broken homes and NO unction and conviction coming from the pulpit. We're so worried about being "Baptist," or "Methodist," or "Pentecostal," or "whatever else we are," than being concerned we are IN CHRIST and FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST!

 

Southern Baptists, I love you and don't mean these journals to be a slap directly at you. But I know most of my Southern Baptist friends reading this take issue with this Biblical experience and many shun and reject it because of things they've been taught by preachers and others, not what is in the Word of God. ANYONE can take one scripture i.e. "tongues shall cease," and use it to form a doctrine laced with unbelief. I am told often by those discussing this "Well, brother Chris, God wants all things to be done decently and in order in our churches." Yes, God is a God of order but sometimes God uses CHAOS to bring order to a situation. Had we been present the day Jesus set the Maniac at Gadarra free I have a feeling most of us would have been offended at Jesus ministering to a naked man cutting himself with stones. Jesus rebuking evil spirits and by the power of God setting this captive free was NOT very "in order!" But the end result of what took place WAS order! Many times we interpret scripture in an attempt to do nothing more than provide a cloak and cover for the unbelief of our HEARTS!

 

Other argue that Paul said "well I'd rather speak in my own language 10,000 words than speak in unknown tongues." Well if Paul or any of us are addressing a corporate gathering we ALL need to address them in our own language or pray for an interpreter! That is common sense. But if we're in a prayer closet or alone and praying to God one on one - neighbor we don't need an interpreter for that! That's not a reason to shun and reject the baptism of the Holy Ghost!

 

You need the baptism in the Holy Ghost. The church needs a fresh enduement of Holy Ghost power and to be re-baptized in the Holy Ghost. The Pentecostal denominations - Assemblies of God, Church of God, Pentecostal Holiness, Foursquare, ALL need to come back to the foundation of the Holy Ghost and let Him reenergize us with His power and fire. JESUS WILL BAPTIZE US WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND WITH FIRE!

 

Individuals Are Baptized IN the Holy Spirit After Conversion

 

John 3:3-8
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? [5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. [8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

 

As already mentioned, many teach that the Holy Spirit comes automatically after conversion, and there is nothing else to be sought, asked for or even requested from God. They say, in effect, that our relationship with God once we get saved is then complete. While some outright reject the notion of ANY work of the Spirit at salvation, there are some who do believe in a "filling" of the Spirit after conversion and that one must seek the Lord for this and overtly ASK for it. Most of the time however, these folks deny that is is accompanied by speaking in tongues. That is another journal soon coming but for this journal we want to look at the scriptural basis for the answer and question of receiving the Holy Ghost after conversion.

 

Not to be redundant but redundant I feel I must be - the action of the Holy Ghost in regenerating the heart and the life of the unsaved is far different from the baptism IN the Holy Ghost! This is a completely different action and manifested by a baptism of POWER. We emphasize again - there is a DIFFERENCE between being BORN of the Spirit and being baptized IN the Spirit!

 

Acts 2:1-4
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 2:4 describes the filling of the 120 with the Holy Spirit. These 120 gathered on the day of Pentecost were not gathering to be saved. Acts 1:4-8 tells us some who were present including Mary, the mother of Jesus and the 11 apostles who had actually just chosen the 12th (Matthias).

 

Acts 1:12 -14 -Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey. [13] And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. [14] These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.  [15] And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

 

The list of these in Acts 1:12 do not include those who needed to get saved! In Luke 10:20 the Master had told His disciples when they were rejoicing over the fact of devils being subject to them (within the authority of Jesus), that they should rather rejoice BECAUSE THEIR NAMES WERE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN.

 

Luke 10:20
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
 

This of course confirms the fact they were already saved, with their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life. So these were all previously saved people. They were receiving this ADDITIONAL gift in compliance with the commandment of the Lord and at the same time witnessing the advent of the Holy Spirit's indwelling power in His fullness. It was not to become "more saved," but was a baptism of POWER. This was subsequent to salvation for those gathered. Mary the mother of Jesus had already tasted a small portion of what took place at Pentecost earlier on when the angels foretold the birth of Christ as a result of the "HOLY GHOST COMING UPON THEE!"

 

Luke 1:35
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Matthew 1:15-21
And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; [16] And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. [17] So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.  [18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. [19] Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. [20] But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. [21] And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

The SAME HOLY GHOST that came upon MARY giving birth to the Christ, would now COME UPON HER again and IN HER on the day of Pentecost!

We read in the 8th chapter of Acts of Philip going to the city of Samaria and preaching Christ unto the people there. It ways in the 6th verse:

 

Acts 8:6
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
 

This same passage speaks of unclean spirits coming out and of many being healed. There was great joy in the city. Then in verse 12 it tells of the Samaritans believing what Philip was preaching - concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ - and how they were being baptized, both men and women. This is exactly what the Word tells US to do in John 3:16, Acts 10:42-43, and in other Scriptures.

 

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Acts 10:42-43
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. [43] To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

When anyone "believes" the things of the Kingdom of God and on the NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST that person is saved! So these Samaritans were saved by the blood of Jesus when Philip preached. They were washed in the blood, their names written down in the Lamb's Book of Life! Then the 14th verse of this passage talks about the apostles (who were in Jerusalem) hearing about the Samaritans receiving the Word of God. They then sent unto them Peter and John. In the 15th verse, we are told that Peter and John "prayed that they might receive the Holy Spirit."

 

Acts 8:14-15
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: [15] Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

Now, if an individual receives EVERYTHING at conversion, why in the world were Peter and John there? What was the point of going down and preaching the Holy Spirit and praying for them if they had automatically received the Spirit of God in full at conversion - as is commonly taught today? One Baptist commentator I read behind on this matter made the stupid suggestion that the Samaritans had not gotten actually born again under Philip's preaching and that John and Peter came down to pray for the Spirit to indwell them. That is how people who don't want to just simply believe what the Word of God says about the baptism of the Holy Ghost twist scripture to fit their own unbelief. Now, had this event taken place BEFORE the Cross, I would actually agree in part with the Baptist brother. Those who were born again under the Old Covenant could be saved through faith in the Covenant but the Spirit of God never "dwelled" inside them as He does us today under the New Covenant.

 

Acts 8:16
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

 

The Samaritans had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus under Philip's preaching; as a result they experienced salvation AFTER the Cross and as a result all those who received the Word of God were BORN AGAIN and received the Spirit of God at salvation. They had been saved, but NONE OF THEM HAD BEEN FILLED with the Holy Spirit. They had been baptized in water according to the Scripture passage, but they had not received the baptism IN the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. In the 17th verse it says that hands were laid on them and only THEN did they receive the Holy Spirit!

 

Acts 8:17
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

 

Those are two distinct and separate experiences that took place at the Revival in Samaria and those are the two distinct experiences that takes place in the hearts of lives of every single individual who comes to Christ today! When we are lost, we experience salvation by being BORN OF THE SPIRIT, being dead in trespasses and sin then experiencing NEWNESS of life; after we get saved, we then become qualified to experience the mighty baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance.

The 9th Chapter of Acts describes the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (Paul) and the 12th verse recounts God's command to Ananias to go and pray for Paul and put his hands on him that Paul might receive his sight. Ananias was not directed to lay hands on him that he might be saved - because Paul had already accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as His Saviour on the Road to Damascus, as a result of the great vision recorded in the 3rd through the 7th verses of the 9th chapter of Acts.

 

Acts 9:12
And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

 

Acts 9:3-7
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: [4] And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [5] And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. [6] And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. [7] And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
 

The 17th verse states that when Ananias met Saul he called him "Brother Saul." He would NOT have done so if Paul had not accepted Jesus for it was this same man who hours or days earlier may have KILLED Ananias and every single other Christian he could find - that's what Saul was before he changed his name to Paul - a Christian killer!

Acts 9:17
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
 

Paul was saved; his name written in the Lamb's Book of Life; he was already washed in the blood of the Lamb. Ananias was sent to pray for him that he might receive his sight again (since Paul's blindness was caused by the great light coincident with the vision on the road) AND that he might be filled with the Holy Ghost! If one is baptized in the Holy Spirit at conversion, what in the world was Ananias doing and WHY was he praying for Paul? Yes, the Holy Spirit indwells us at salvation, but there is a distinct and more powerful work the Lord Jesus wants to do in our hearts AFTER we get saved and that is FILL US WITH THE HOLY GHOST! Jesus is the baptizer in the HOLY GHOST! The baptism in the Holy Spirit does NOT take place at conversion but is an act subsequent to salvation!

In the 10th chapter of Acts, it would seem that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place almost immediately after conversion in the home of Cornelius - this immediate outpouring is also a common occurrence today (at least in churches where the Holy Spirit is preached). It should be the NORM instead of the exception. The things we read about in Acts should be ear marks of our churches today but instead most of what this writer is discussing is shunned, rejected and in some sad cases labeled of Satan. Neighbor, we need the Holy Spirit to come back in His fullness to the church of the Living God!

The 19th chapter of Acts describes the Apostle Paul as speaking to the disciples of John at Ephesus. He asked them (as recorded in the 2nd verse) "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" And they replied that they did not even know what Paul was talking about. That is the state of most churches today as it relates to the baptism in the Holy Ghost! There is certainly a great deal of ignorance concerning this but this ignorance is the result of preachers refusing to preach the whole counsel of God. Every time I mention this to most preachers the quip I get back almost immediately, "Well we just believe in 'balance' and preaching on things that edify the body." EDIFY THE BODY? WHAT GREATER MESSAGE AND POWER WOULD EDIFY THE BODY THAN THE HOLY GHOST AND THE BAPTISM OF HIS POWER to those who would receive this glorious gift?  What "balance?" If balance means preaching a message void of the power of the Holy Ghost then neighbor this writer would rather be OUT OF BALANCE and in the will of God than to have all the balance in the world and be in apostasy! Preacher, preach the Word. Preach the Holy Ghost. Preach the mighty baptism in the Holy Ghost. Preach the power of almighty God. Preach the anointing and the leading and the guiding of the Holy Ghost. After Paul explained the message of the Holy Ghost to them he laid hands on them, "and the HOLY GHOST came on them."

 

Acts 19:1-3
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, [2] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. [3] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Acts 19:6
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Now if again as most preachers want to proclaim that we get EVERY single thing the HOLY Spirit has for us at salvation, why in the world did Paul even bother about discussing the matter of the Holy Ghost with these brethren? He was not there to get these men saved, he was there to lay hands on them to receive the baptism of the HOly Ghost. I heard one preacher over radio the other day slur the Apostle Paul by stating that even "if the apostle Paul came into his church speaking in tongues he'd kick him out." I don't know who this minister was but if I had a chance to tell him something I'd tell him that it's not PAUL that he'd better be worrying about kicking out. When we blaspheme the HOLY GHOST through our ignorance and unbelief we kick GOD out of our churches and when He leaves friend we're in far worse shape than if Paul or any other human came and attended.

 

Paul was there to lay hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit, "and they spake with tongues and prophesied."

 

The Spirit of Sonship, The Power Of The Spirit

 

Romans 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Romans 8:14-16
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. [15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. [16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

As we close this second installment of this brand new ongoing series of messages on the Holy Spirit let this writer make some very important statements, some of which will be redundant but made to hammer home extremely important points when seeking to understand the baptism in the Holy Ghost! Every Christian receives the Holy Spirit of adoption into sonship with God at the time of salvation (Romans 8:9) This was not, however, what Paul was referring to when he addressed John's disciples at Ephesus when he asked them "had they received the Holy Spirit since they believed?" The Apostle was asking about the Spirit baptism John had prophesied and preached about, which goes back to the original text of our journal today: "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire."

 

Matthew 3:11
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:

John described how Jesus would baptize them AND ALL OTHERS WHO COME TO HIM IN FAITH AND ASKING FOR THIS PRECIOUS GIFT with the Holy Spirit and fire.

 

John 1:31-34
And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. [32] And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. [33] And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. [34] And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Acts 1:4-5
And, being assembled together with them, 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.

This has NOTHING to do with the New Birth by the Spirit; it is the enduement of POWER for service AFTER one is born again! When one reads this, it is easy to see that a person can be saved by the blood of Jesus and believe for salvation, YET be in ignorance of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is clearly stated that such was the case here, and millions are in the same condition today. They have been saved by the blood of Jesus, yet know LITTLE or nothing about the baptism in the Holy Ghost.

 

John 14:17
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.

Jesus states plainly in John's gospel that a SINNER could not and cannot receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit; it is IMPOSSIBLE! The vessel must be first CLEANSED (through the born-again experience) and only THEN will the Spirit of Truth (whom the world cannot receive) enter in in fullness. He does come in at salvation as one would pour water into a well; when Jesus baptizes us in the Holy Ghost that well turns into a RIVER that is flowing with living water.

 

John 7:37-39
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. [38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 4:14
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
 

The well of John 4 springs up into everlasting life; the "RIVERS" of living water FLOW out of the Lord Jesus into the believer when one is baptized in the Holy Ghost; John defined this experience at the end when he clearly says: "THIS SPAKE HE OF THE SPIRIT because He was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified." Let the reader never forget this important fact about the Spirit of God: before the Cross men could not be filled with the Spirit as they are today under the New Covenant. There were many times under the Old Covenant when the Spirit temporarily came upon people for specific service may even have briefly dwelled within men but He could not stay as He did on the Day of Pentecost and beyond because man's sin debt had not been paid in the throne room of heaven. Praise God however 2,000 years ago on a hill far far away, on an old rugged cross, the price for man's redemption and freedom was paid through the blood of Christ, which broke down the wall of partition between man and God and made man fit to be a habitation of the Spirit of God.

 

Ephes. 2:22
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 

Individuals who insist that a person automatically receives everything at salvation and does not have to seek anything further from the Lord are not correctly interpreting the Word of God. There IS an experience after salvation and it is called the baptism IN the Holy Ghost; it must follow AFTER and take place subsequent to salvation, not before. There are times when I've seen people saved and filled with the Spirit almost immediately but the infilling came IMMEDIATELY AFTER being born again as it happened in the house of Cornelius. One must ASK to receive this second grace experience; it is not an automatic gift from our Heavenly Father, yet this infilling of the Spirit is something EVERY SINGLE CHILD OF GOD who has been saved should seek after they are born again.

 

Luke 11:13
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?

Neither the church that teaches, nor the pastor who preaches, nor the teacher that teaches, that an individual receives everything at conversion is conforming to the Word of God and even more sad are probably keeping scores of others away from one of the greatest events in the life of the believer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The sad fact is though that the majority of churches in this country and many around the world lead their people down a primrose path by telling they once they are saved they have everything God has to offer. This writer will be the first to tell you that some of this is done in ignorance but the Spirit of God tells us in Acts that God winked at man's ignorance in the past but NOW because of the Cross and what He has done for all mankind commands men to REPENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

The church needs to REPENT of its ignorance concerning the things of God. We have a great deal of knowledge of things that don't matter to a hill of beans but we have very little knowledge of Christ. This writer says that to our shame and disgrace. The fact is that even those baptized in the Holy Ghost NEVER have all that God has to offer. Even the infilling of the Spirit is but a door to a deeper walk with the Lord that never ends for those who are truly maturing in Christ. The more mature one gets the more one sees their utter helplessness in this Christian walk without the grace and power of the Holy Ghost. This is what the Spirit termed the "access into this Grace whereby which we all STAND." For us to inherit eternal life we must learn the simple child like means of standing and believing!

 

Romans 5:1-2
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: [2] By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

One must always continue to GROW IN GRACE and in the knowledge of the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
 

The very second friend you and I stop thinking we need to grow in grace and know more of JESUS through the power of His Spirit is the day friend we have committed spiritual suicide! The baptism in the Holy Ghost is a door friend to a greater revelation and love for Jesus Christ you'll ever receive. Only the Holy Ghost can produce this in the heart and life of the believer! We cannot divorce Christ from the Holy Spirit and we cannot divorce the gifts and ministries of the Holy Ghost from the Holy Ghost Himself - He will not allow us to do that. Some churches proclaim smugly they believe in "all the Bible," yet the minute something happens out of the ordinary as a result of the Spirit's work they seek to shut down what God is doing to make sure there is nothing done outside the realm of what they can control.

 

Friend, the Holy Spirit don't work in such environments - I don't care how huge the steeple is outside or how pretty the carpet is inside. I don't care how many buildings the church has or how many are on the roll. Many churches brag they have thousands coming - but my question is coming to what? A morgue? A spiritual slaughterhouse? A place void of the Spirit of God? A place where ICHABOD has been written over the threshold that says "the glory of God has departed from this place?" A place where there is a form of godliness but the power of God is denied and rejected and resisted? A place where emphasis on numbers on the roll books takes precedent over the number of those coming whose names are found written in the Lamb's book of LIFE? Neighbor, we had better be more concerned about what number that attends our church are truly born again than the number who pay their tithes and give into our social club events each Sunday. God help the modern church to repent of its foolishness and wicked idolatries!

 

And as I close today I'll tell you that the greatest thing I can see the Holy Ghost has done in my own heart and life is He has given me a daily desire to love Jesus more and more and learn of HIM as I've never learned of Him before.  This writer has many flaws but he knows today beyond the shadow of a doubt WHOM he has believed and is persuaded that HE, not me, IS ABLE to keep that which I committed unto Him against the fateful day when we all stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account of the talents and grace He gave us and what we did with that grace.

 

I know the Spirit of God has a TON of work to do on this writer believe me; He who began this good work in me however, is up to the task and more and if I will but yield myself to His leading and guidance and obey what He tells me and leads me to do - the finished product will one day be presented to the Father, full of LOVE for Jesus, full of passion for others to see those lost come to Christ, and all self slain that the world see only HIM! That is the work of the Spirit of God! When one gets saved that work begins yes, but if the believer truly wants to be empowered for service and come into the fullness of their Christian experience and walk with God they need to ask and seek for the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

 

Whom do we seek that for, you may ask? You seek for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit from the BAPTIZER - The Lord Jesus Christ whom John the Baptist pointed to 2,000 years ago and said HE IS THE ONE COMING AFTER ME THAT WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND WITH FIRE. I pray you have received the baptism of the Holy Ghost today. I pray if you're lost and have not gotten saved, that you'll get saved and THEN seek the baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, what we believe and teach to be the INITIAL physical evidence of the infilling of the Spirit which we will deal with more in this next installment.

 

I ask you today as Paul asked the disciples at Ephesus, "Have you received the Holy Spirit SINCE you believed?" If that answer is no, then ask Jesus to fill you today. He waits patiently and willingly to do more and above all we ask and pray. God bless.


 

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