This will be a brief commentary as I think the Reverend's sermon "The Significance of Pentecost" pretty much covers what I have to say on the matter so I do recommend listening to it. This sermon is one in a series of sermons in his "Great Biblical Doctrines" series and this one in particular discusses the specialness of the Holy Spirit infilling those gathered together at Pentecost. While, as the Reverend discusses, the Holy Spirit had been active in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, particularly at Pentecost, it takes on a new quality, that of unifier. When the believers gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost they were collectively baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ, which until this time did not exist, as if the Holy Spirit were the medium of Christ's body, connecting all of its members. It brings to mind Psalm 133: "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" (English Standard Version).
As the Reverend discusses with reference to Acts 19:1-6 there are actually two separate baptisms, one of repentance (of John) and one of the Holy Spirit with fire (of Jesus Christ). I have heard of people in the modern body who apparently are not sure whether or not they were baptized by the Holy Spirit or not. I can only testify that in my case I did feel the inrushing and indwelling of the Spirit and I would think everyone should feel something but I don't want to speak out of turn. If you are a Christian and have not had this feeling of an indwelling I would pray for it.
Finally, I call attention once again to Psalm 133 as I believe there is a special good that accrues to all of the Body of Christ when we are in "unity." Now, with so many denominations and diverse doctrines, that may be hard to achieve, but I believe it is something we should strive for, of course not at the cost of fidelity to the Word and to our Lord Jesus Christ, for false peace is no peace at all.
Lord Jesus Christ, who is the head of the Church, your body, I pray for unity in your body and your peace over us. Please heal all unnecessary divisions and fractioning so that your body may be unified and you may be glorified.
As the Reverend discusses with reference to Acts 19:1-6 there are actually two separate baptisms, one of repentance (of John) and one of the Holy Spirit with fire (of Jesus Christ). I have heard of people in the modern body who apparently are not sure whether or not they were baptized by the Holy Spirit or not. I can only testify that in my case I did feel the inrushing and indwelling of the Spirit and I would think everyone should feel something but I don't want to speak out of turn. If you are a Christian and have not had this feeling of an indwelling I would pray for it.
Finally, I call attention once again to Psalm 133 as I believe there is a special good that accrues to all of the Body of Christ when we are in "unity." Now, with so many denominations and diverse doctrines, that may be hard to achieve, but I believe it is something we should strive for, of course not at the cost of fidelity to the Word and to our Lord Jesus Christ, for false peace is no peace at all.
Lord Jesus Christ, who is the head of the Church, your body, I pray for unity in your body and your peace over us. Please heal all unnecessary divisions and fractioning so that your body may be unified and you may be glorified.
