Bible Question:
what is the evidence of being filled with the holy spirit? how do we know this? beside tongues |
Bible Answer: The Baptism in the Holy Spirit Read (Luke 3:16), then read (John 1:32-34) Jesus emphasized the importance of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Read (Acts 1:4,5). Jesus gave us the purpose for being baptized in the Holy Spirit. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not for the purpose of cleansing from sin, but for the purpose of empowering for service. Read (Acts 2:1-4). Receiving the Holy Spirit upon conversion and being baptized in the Holy Spirit are two separate and distinct experiences. The disciples received the Holy Spirit on the day of Christ's resurrection for the New Testament experience of salvation.(John 20:21,22) Fifty days later they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the upper room. Read (Acts 2:14-18). "Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:38,39). So after repenting and receiving Christ as Savior, you are eligible to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Peter denied Christ three times before receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit, but on the day of Pentecost he had power and boldness to preach to the multitudes and 3000 were born again. Philip, one of the early deacons, went down to Samaria and had a city-wide revival. People were healed and demons were cast out. People received Christ as Savior and were baptized in water. "Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Read (Acts 8:15-21). So here again, we see that receiving the Holy Spirit upon conversion and being baptized in the Holy Spirit are two separate and distinct experiences. We have Paul receiving Jesus on the road to Damascus. He often referred to the Damascus Road experience as his conversion experience. However, he did not receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit until three days later when Ananias laid hands on him.(Acts 9:17). Also see 1 Corinthians 14:18 where Paul says "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all." Ten years after Pentecost, Cornelius invited his relatives and friends to hear Peter preach on the plan of salvation. "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. " Read (Acts 10:36-48). The household of Cornelius received Christ as Savior and the baptism in the Holy Spirit immediately after being born again. We find in verse 46 that they spoke in tongues and magnified God. About 20 Years after Pentecost, Paul went to Ephesus. "And finding some disciples he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all" (Acts 19:1-7). It would have been pointless for Paul to ask, "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?", if believers automatically receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit when they believe on Jesus as Savior. When Paul laid hands on them, they spoke in tongues and prophesied. We see from scripture that every time someone was baptized in the Holy Spirit, they received their prayer language to praise God. |