Baptism of the Holy GhostThe “baptism of the Holy Ghost” is a subject that is often talked about. We hear questions, such as, Is it for today? Do we need it? Do we automatically receive it when we first believe? What about speaking in tongues? Will I speak with tongues, or is tongues a gift given to only certain people.
Is it for today? Yes! The “baptism of the Holy Ghost” is for today? Peter, in Acts 2:39, tells us the Holy Ghost is for as many as the Lord our God shall call. If the Lord has called you to follow Him, the Holy Ghost is for you today! Jesus made a promise, before His ascension, in John 16:7, “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.”
Do we need it? Yes! In Acts 1:8, we are told, “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” We need the power to be a witness, for we read, “ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” The Lord knowing the darkness of this world, and the weakness of human nature, understood our need for power from on high.
Many of the prophets were used by God in pointing forward to the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, but they themselves did not receive it, for we read, in Hebrews 11:39, “all these died, not having received the promise, God having provided some better thing for us.” On the day of Pentecost, when those who received the Holy Ghost, came down from the Upper Room, the multitudes, seeing the manifestation of God’s power, began to question. Peter was quick to explain that the outpouring was indeed scriptural; in fact, it was the fulfillment of God’s own promise given through the prophet Joel.
Jesus said, in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” His Church was birthed on the Day of Pentecost. In Acts 2:47, we read, “…and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Some may ask, “How do I get into His Church?" The Holy Ghost outpouring on the disciples formed the Church, so it only stands to reason that it would take the same Spirit to put us into the Church today. We must be born into it. The Lord adds to His Church by filling souls with His Spirit, which is not a side dish, but it’s the main line from earth to glory.
Is the “baptism of the Holy Ghost” automatically received when one first believes? No! Acts 19:2-6 records, that when Paul came across a group of believers at Ephesus, 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. And he said unto them, unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."
What about tongues? Tongues, which believers receive when they are filled with the “baptism of the Holy Ghost,” have no need for interpretation, but those who receive the “gift of tongues”, mentioned, in 1Corinthians 12:10, are instructed to pray for interpretation, so that the assembly may be edified. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he was writing to people who had already received the Holy Ghost. The “gifts of the Spirit” which includes the “gift of tongues,” only operate through Holy Ghost filled believers.
If you have any questions please feel free to Email me at:
lilahmac@nb.sympatico.ca
