BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Thursday – October 19, 2017
What a wonderful fall picture from my library of pictures. God is so good to give us all the beauty around us if we will but look. Just think how things will look in Heaven (like earth before the fall) and once the one-thousand-year reign of Christ is established. Still great residual beauty in the midst of the curse. Well let’s jump back into our wonderful Bible Study from the Book of Hebrews. God is so good to give us His Word, knowing God and His will is not a guessing game for us but it requires diligence. I know the word diligence is a naughty word but we must get over it and move into the will of God. The author of Hebrews, really God, is strongly urging us to move onward from the first principles of our faith, from milk to strong meat. In our text God mentions four basic principles of the doctrine of Christ that we must learn and move on from. Let’s read the text and move into today’s teaching.
Hebrews 6:1-3 (KJV)
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
The past few days I have been addressing the doctrine of baptisms. Thus far I have discussed being baptized into God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, water baptism, and today I will talk about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There are a great many who are convinced that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a separate experience from salvation. Their contention is that you receive the Holy Spirit at salvation, so there is no more Holy Spirit to receive. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the speaking in a tongue or language unknown to the speaker such as happened on the Day of Pentecost. Some say that the speaking in tongues is of the devil. Sounds a little like those who said that Jesus was casting out demons by Beelzebub (Satan).
Matthew 12:22-25 (KJV)
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
All of those who were with Jesus on the day that He made His final ascent to the right hand of Majesty on high were saved, born again. They had received the Holy Spirit known as the breath of life we see in Genesis 2:7. However Jesus told them in effect that although it is wonderful to be saved I don’t want you going anywhere until you are endued with Power from on High. Please go back and read Jesus repeated instructions to the disciples from the Tuesday publication titled “Fully Wet”.
Now let’s take a look at the Day of Pentecost following the Resurrection and Ascension.
Acts 2:1-4 (KJV)
1 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.
The rushing wind and the fire were able to be perceived by the disciples in the Upper Room. The rushing wind is the legal return of the Holy Spirit and Holy Angels in fulness into the earth, available to all, and specifically into that room and persons where the Holy Spirit was requested. The fire that appeared and sat upon them was that same fire that did not consume in the wilderness when Moses was commissioned to lead the Children of Israel free from bondage, and the same fire that led them in the wilderness by night. The Holy Spirit did not just swirl around them and light upon them but filled them and they spoke in other tongues. This is not a lone occurrence but sentinel event kicking things off and is an ongoing reality to this day. This spiritual reality was prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 28:11. Take a look at the following Scripture for another example.
Acts 19:4-6 (KJV)
4 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.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
These young men (about twelve years old) were already saved (apparent from the text), Paul water baptized them and when he laid hands on them they were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues. Speaking in tongues was one of the most difficult things for me personally. Perhaps like you, I had been prayed for and received all the advice that is typically given in those circumstances but no go. I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in prayer by myself. I had received an invitation to speak at a Full Gospel Business Men’s meeting but I had heard from others that they really preferred someone filled with the Spirit. So, I was in prayer and telling the Lord I really needed to receive the Holy Spirit. I think a major issue was pride, I was too sophisticated for this, you know I am a doctor. The initial words that came to me sounded ridiculous something like abra kadabra. I thought, said to the Lord I cannot say that, I’m a doctor you know. Like He did not know. And do not act like you haven’t said stupid stuff to the Lord. Immediately the following Scripture came to me and the rest is history.
Luke 11:11-13 (KJV)
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
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?
If you have not received ask Him today. The prayer language you will receive for your prayer time, anytime, will be invaluable especially when you do not know exactly how to pray.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
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