Bible Question:
I don't know if Ezekiel is still posting on the forum, so I will ask this of everybody. He has written of the coming of the spirit, the filling of the Holy spirit [sic], received the holy spirit, and filled with the spirit. Others have spoken of the filling of the Holy Spirit, receiving the Holy Spirit, filled with the Spirit. How do we understand the spirit or Spirit? What do people feel that they are filled with when they speak in tongues? Who or what gives them "utterance"? Acts 2:4 Who or what gives them the ability to speak out? Could we see spirit AND Spirit in Acts 2:4? From the heart, Ray |
Bible Answer: What you have asked is the basis of the "Pentecostal experience." We believe that all believers can receive a second experience of the Holy Spirit which we call Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The evidence of this baptism is the speaking in an unknown tongue by the believer. We believe that the Spirit of God gives us the utterance. We believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in us at the time of conversion, acceptance of Jesus as Lord of our life. At a later time or at the same time, we give ourselves over completely to the Holy Spirit and Jesus baptises us with the evidence of speaking in an other tongue. We can quench that utterance the Holy Spirit gives us, so there are some Pentecostal or not who have the baptism but do not speak in tongues. Unfortunately we Pentecostals can become too rigid in our beliefs and say such things as "If you don't speak in tongues then you haven't received the "baptism". Poppycock. Here are some scriptures that we base our beliefs upon. Matthew 3:11 11“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Acts 2:4 Acts 19:4-7 ( 4Paul said, "John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.), the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke in tongues. Acts 11:16 16And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John baptised with water, but ye shall be baptised with (the) Holy Spirit. 17If then God has given them the same gift as also to us when we had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who indeed was I to be able to forbid God? 18And when they heard these things they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then indeed God has to the nations also granted repentance to life. There are more references but these will do as a short list. Ckeck out my profile if you have more questions. I have more information. By the way, read Luke 4, paying particular attention to verse 1 and verse 14. Verrrry interesting. In most bibles if the word "spirit" has a capital "S", it denotes the Holy Spirit. If it has a little "s" it is some other spirit, man's spirit of fear, stuff like that. Although it has been my experience that sometimes a translator can make a mistake. |