Pentecost
Many are really ignorant (some willingly) concerning the work of the Holy Spirit in the world and the church. These people fall into two categories: unbelievers and Christians with erroneous teaching on this subject. The Christians in error are often caught in the deception of believing the teachings of men rather than the Word of God. Their Bible notes and commentaries become the source of their doctrinal authority. This should never be!
We are totally dependent upon the work of the Holy Spirit:
1. If we love Jesus, we will obey Him to receive the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:15-18).
2. The Holy Spirit will testify about Jesus through us (Jn. 15:26-27).
3. He will convict the world (Jn. 16:8-11).
4. He will guide believers into all Truth (Jn. 16:12-15).
The Day of Pentecost (Acts 1 & 2):
1. About 120 believers obeyed His command to wait upon the Holy Spirit baptism for many days.
2. They had already experienced the Holy Spirit, yet not His fullness. This proves our need for the Baptism of the Spirit after conversion.
3. The Holy Spirit came on each one of them, and they spoke in tongues enabled by the Spirit.
4. They were immediately made fun of by ignorant observers.
This was their initial filling of the Holy Spirit:
1. We are baptized only once in water, yet we must daily remain dead to the flesh and live by the Spirit.
2. We are baptized only once in the Spirit, yet we must regularly be re-filled with His Spirit (Acts 4:31 & Eph. 5:18-20).
This was the New Testament pattern:
1. The Samaritans received the Lord, yet the Spirit had not come upon them (Acts 8:14-19).
2. Saul’s conversion, then baptism in the Spirit several days later (Acts 9:17-18 & 1 Cor. 14:18).
3. Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-48).
4. Disciples at Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7).
5. In each case, the believers were baptized in the Spirit as a distinct experience after their conversions, following the pattern of the Lord on the Day of Pentecost.
6. In every case, except Samaria, the Word says they spoke in tongues as the initial evidence of the Baptism. In Samaria, however, something demonstrative occurred which caused the reaction of Simon. So based upon the other events, it is reasonable to infer that they, too, spoke in tongues. After all, Saul’s baptism included tongues (1 Cor. 14:18), yet we don’t see it specifically noted in Acts.
1 Corinthians chapter 14:
1. Anyone who speaks in tongues speaks to God in mysteries (v. 2).
2. He edifies himself (v. 4).
3. Paul wanted every believer to speak in tongues (v. 5).
4. Tongues with interpretation edify the church (v.5).
5. Your spirit prays, while your mind is unfruitful (v. 14).
6. We should pray and sing both in tongues and in understanding (v. 15).
7. Paul spoke in tongues often (v. 18).
8. Tongues are a sign both to unbelievers and believers who are ignorant of this gift (v. 20-25). The Lord uses tongues to “resist the proud” like he used parables to confound them. Therefore, tongues often cause these people to ridicule Pentecostals.
9. Tongues are to be used according to Scriptural order (v. 26-28).
The weight of Scripture supports the need for each believer to be initially baptized in the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues and regularly re-filled with the Holy Spirit to walk in obedience to His plan. Be careful not to be deceived by false teaching that says otherwise.
We are totally dependent upon the work of the Holy Spirit:
1. If we love Jesus, we will obey Him to receive the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:15-18).
2. The Holy Spirit will testify about Jesus through us (Jn. 15:26-27).
3. He will convict the world (Jn. 16:8-11).
4. He will guide believers into all Truth (Jn. 16:12-15).
The Day of Pentecost (Acts 1 & 2):
1. About 120 believers obeyed His command to wait upon the Holy Spirit baptism for many days.
2. They had already experienced the Holy Spirit, yet not His fullness. This proves our need for the Baptism of the Spirit after conversion.
3. The Holy Spirit came on each one of them, and they spoke in tongues enabled by the Spirit.
4. They were immediately made fun of by ignorant observers.
This was their initial filling of the Holy Spirit:
1. We are baptized only once in water, yet we must daily remain dead to the flesh and live by the Spirit.
2. We are baptized only once in the Spirit, yet we must regularly be re-filled with His Spirit (Acts 4:31 & Eph. 5:18-20).
This was the New Testament pattern:
1. The Samaritans received the Lord, yet the Spirit had not come upon them (Acts 8:14-19).
2. Saul’s conversion, then baptism in the Spirit several days later (Acts 9:17-18 & 1 Cor. 14:18).
3. Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-48).
4. Disciples at Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7).
5. In each case, the believers were baptized in the Spirit as a distinct experience after their conversions, following the pattern of the Lord on the Day of Pentecost.
6. In every case, except Samaria, the Word says they spoke in tongues as the initial evidence of the Baptism. In Samaria, however, something demonstrative occurred which caused the reaction of Simon. So based upon the other events, it is reasonable to infer that they, too, spoke in tongues. After all, Saul’s baptism included tongues (1 Cor. 14:18), yet we don’t see it specifically noted in Acts.
1 Corinthians chapter 14:
1. Anyone who speaks in tongues speaks to God in mysteries (v. 2).
2. He edifies himself (v. 4).
3. Paul wanted every believer to speak in tongues (v. 5).
4. Tongues with interpretation edify the church (v.5).
5. Your spirit prays, while your mind is unfruitful (v. 14).
6. We should pray and sing both in tongues and in understanding (v. 15).
7. Paul spoke in tongues often (v. 18).
8. Tongues are a sign both to unbelievers and believers who are ignorant of this gift (v. 20-25). The Lord uses tongues to “resist the proud” like he used parables to confound them. Therefore, tongues often cause these people to ridicule Pentecostals.
9. Tongues are to be used according to Scriptural order (v. 26-28).
The weight of Scripture supports the need for each believer to be initially baptized in the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues and regularly re-filled with the Holy Spirit to walk in obedience to His plan. Be careful not to be deceived by false teaching that says otherwise.
