My last blog entry dealt with the Promise of the Holy Spirit and how every believer can and should expect this promise from God. This last blog entry will cover the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:13 & Acts 2:33 will be the main text for this teaching.
“Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.””
Acts 2:13 NIV
“Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.”
Acts 2:33 NIV
Peter in his Pentecost Day sermon told the people gathered that what they were SEEING & HEARING was the result of God's gift being given to the believers as He had promised. (Joel 2:28-32)
So it is important to note that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit will carry with it certain signs and markers for others to witness that the Holy Spirit has been given, and these signs may very well have the appearance of drunkenness.
So what are some signs of drunkenness?
1-Slurred speech
2-Some people like to dance
3-Passing out
Now Traditional Pentecostals will say this is only Tongues (Acts 10, 19, Mark 16) & being Slain in the Spirit (Revelation 1:17, Ezekiel 1:28, Daniel 8:17, 18) But are these the only signs? We know from the text it is something visible (SEE) and audible (HEAR), and it can appear that we are drunk.
So what were the people on Pentecost seeing and hearing? The text only gives one definite answer and that goes back to the start of the chapter in Acts 2:1-4, they spoke in tongues. Now I am not going to delve into the controversy surrounding the gift of tongues I am only going to say this. If you are seeking the Lord for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit you do not need fear that you may speak in false/demonic tongues. Why? Because Jesus promised if you ask for something good you will NEVER get something bad! Luke 11:11-13 (we will come back to this passage)
Now at this point I would like to interject a brief comment that everything we do in the Christian life is based on faith. If you have not faith just forget about it because it won't happen (Hebrews 11:6).
So are there any other AUDIBLE signs we can expect? Well Peter does mention the Joel prophecy which also suggests prophecy as being a sign of the Holy Spirit being given. In Acts 19:6 we see this also happening when the Ephesian disciples received the Holy Spirit via Paul and spoke in tongues as well as prophecied.
Now prophecy in the New Testament is different than in the Old. And there are varying levels of prophets in the church. As with tongues I will not delve into that specific teaching here, only to mention 1 Corinthians 14:3 & 1 Corinthians 14:31. "You can all prophecy" & "Prophecy edifies, encourages, comforts". So not all prophets will predict the future, in fact most won't, the standard NT gift of prophecy is to encourage other believers.
So tongues and prophecy are the only two audible signs mentioned in context with the Spirit being given, so what are the visible signs?
Again we know from Acts 2 that the people who were witnessing the church thought they were all drunk! So it must have some correlation to that. It is my belief that being slain in the Spirit can be a sign of receiving the Holy Spirit. I have never experienced this but I can tell you my wife has and she told me it was as if she lost all control of her body and just collapsed onto the floor and couldn't get up until God allowed her to. Are there any others? Let's look into the Old Testament for just a moment to see.
In 2 Samuel 6 we read a story of how David danced before the Lord, notice the conversation in 2 Samuel 6:20-22 between David and Michal his wife. She thought David was making a fool of himself and his crown by dancing in such a way, but David said he was celebrating and would do worse than that if he could. Is this not another description of "being drunk?" (Acts 2:13). Even in Acts 8 when the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit Simon SAW the effects of the Holy Spirit being given so there must be some visible signs as well.
So in conclusion, we should expect some sign(s) that the Spirit has been given to us, either audible or visual or both. Doesn't mean you will get them all or even both a visual and audible sign, but you will know that you have received the Spirit.
Audible signs can include speaking in tongues and prophecy.
Visual signs can include being slain in the Spirit and dancing in the Lord.
Of note, Paul when he received the Holy Spirit regained his eyesight and that is the only recorded sign in scripture of any signs at his conversion. So it is possible to as well have healing manifested when someone receives the Holy Spirit.
Bottom line is it is all about faith. Many teach that these things are not so and lead millions astray. Many simply do not accept such "radical" concepts as tongues and being slain in the Spirit, but you must believe if you are to receive the Holy Spirit. You cannot receive the Holy Spirit with conditions, nor can you dictate to the Lord how he will give the Spirit to you. Just come with a child like faith that does not give up until you have received Luke 11:9-10. I do not accept the common Pentecostal idea that just one prayer will suffice. I say you keep asking until you know that you know you have the Holy Spirit, God honors persistence in prayer!
Acts 2:13 & Acts 2:33 will be the main text for this teaching.
“Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.””
Acts 2:13 NIV
“Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.”
Acts 2:33 NIV
Peter in his Pentecost Day sermon told the people gathered that what they were SEEING & HEARING was the result of God's gift being given to the believers as He had promised. (Joel 2:28-32)
So it is important to note that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit will carry with it certain signs and markers for others to witness that the Holy Spirit has been given, and these signs may very well have the appearance of drunkenness.
So what are some signs of drunkenness?
1-Slurred speech
2-Some people like to dance
3-Passing out
Now Traditional Pentecostals will say this is only Tongues (Acts 10, 19, Mark 16) & being Slain in the Spirit (Revelation 1:17, Ezekiel 1:28, Daniel 8:17, 18) But are these the only signs? We know from the text it is something visible (SEE) and audible (HEAR), and it can appear that we are drunk.
So what were the people on Pentecost seeing and hearing? The text only gives one definite answer and that goes back to the start of the chapter in Acts 2:1-4, they spoke in tongues. Now I am not going to delve into the controversy surrounding the gift of tongues I am only going to say this. If you are seeking the Lord for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit you do not need fear that you may speak in false/demonic tongues. Why? Because Jesus promised if you ask for something good you will NEVER get something bad! Luke 11:11-13 (we will come back to this passage)
Now at this point I would like to interject a brief comment that everything we do in the Christian life is based on faith. If you have not faith just forget about it because it won't happen (Hebrews 11:6).
So are there any other AUDIBLE signs we can expect? Well Peter does mention the Joel prophecy which also suggests prophecy as being a sign of the Holy Spirit being given. In Acts 19:6 we see this also happening when the Ephesian disciples received the Holy Spirit via Paul and spoke in tongues as well as prophecied.
Now prophecy in the New Testament is different than in the Old. And there are varying levels of prophets in the church. As with tongues I will not delve into that specific teaching here, only to mention 1 Corinthians 14:3 & 1 Corinthians 14:31. "You can all prophecy" & "Prophecy edifies, encourages, comforts". So not all prophets will predict the future, in fact most won't, the standard NT gift of prophecy is to encourage other believers.
So tongues and prophecy are the only two audible signs mentioned in context with the Spirit being given, so what are the visible signs?
Again we know from Acts 2 that the people who were witnessing the church thought they were all drunk! So it must have some correlation to that. It is my belief that being slain in the Spirit can be a sign of receiving the Holy Spirit. I have never experienced this but I can tell you my wife has and she told me it was as if she lost all control of her body and just collapsed onto the floor and couldn't get up until God allowed her to. Are there any others? Let's look into the Old Testament for just a moment to see.
In 2 Samuel 6 we read a story of how David danced before the Lord, notice the conversation in 2 Samuel 6:20-22 between David and Michal his wife. She thought David was making a fool of himself and his crown by dancing in such a way, but David said he was celebrating and would do worse than that if he could. Is this not another description of "being drunk?" (Acts 2:13). Even in Acts 8 when the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit Simon SAW the effects of the Holy Spirit being given so there must be some visible signs as well.
So in conclusion, we should expect some sign(s) that the Spirit has been given to us, either audible or visual or both. Doesn't mean you will get them all or even both a visual and audible sign, but you will know that you have received the Spirit.
Audible signs can include speaking in tongues and prophecy.
Visual signs can include being slain in the Spirit and dancing in the Lord.
Of note, Paul when he received the Holy Spirit regained his eyesight and that is the only recorded sign in scripture of any signs at his conversion. So it is possible to as well have healing manifested when someone receives the Holy Spirit.
Bottom line is it is all about faith. Many teach that these things are not so and lead millions astray. Many simply do not accept such "radical" concepts as tongues and being slain in the Spirit, but you must believe if you are to receive the Holy Spirit. You cannot receive the Holy Spirit with conditions, nor can you dictate to the Lord how he will give the Spirit to you. Just come with a child like faith that does not give up until you have received Luke 11:9-10. I do not accept the common Pentecostal idea that just one prayer will suffice. I say you keep asking until you know that you know you have the Holy Spirit, God honors persistence in prayer!
