I believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. I do not believe that it is just a collection of stories and illustrations that were assembled as a book for people to read. I believe that the words, ideas, thoughts and history were given to the authors to write down by God. In those words, God gives hope, encouragement, guidance and wisdom. It is in those words that I look for the way God wants me to live my life.
In my last post I said that we started a new class. This one is on evangelism. We are starting the study by looking at and comparing the Great Commission as it is written in the four gospels and Acts. At the end of the lesson we discussed how in Luke and John’s accounts the Lord commands us to receive the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We as humans do not have the power to complete the work God has for us to do, so He has sent a Helper to us. We need to accept that Helper through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Near the end of our discussion, we became slightly sidetracked over a misunderstanding about the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. This is mentioned several times in the Bible. On the day of Pentecost as described in Acts 2:4, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” When Peter was at Cornelius’s house in Acts 10:23-46. “While Peter was speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God” (Acts 10:44-46).
Peter also says in Acts 11:15-17, “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?” In this passage Peter was explaining his actions at Cornelius’s house. And he stated that those there were baptized with the Holy Spirit just as the believers were in Acts 2:4.
If the inspired word of God (aka the Bible) gives us these examples of how the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred in the early church, why would it be any different for us today? Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” If He does not change, why would He change the gift He gave during the gospel times to something else today? Why would He not allow us the same experience? And as with those on the day of Pentecost, why wouldn't God give me an outward sign or evidence that I too have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
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