5 May 2018

WHAT IS THIS BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT? (1)

By John Ollis

I am sure like me, you are glad you were born on this side of the Reformation, and been privileged to experience the reality of the truths that the Holy Spirit restored to the Church, such exciting truths as:
Justification by Faith, (to be born again of the Spirit)
Water Baptism by Immersion (Believers Baptism)
The Priesthood of All Believers
Divine Healing
Sanctification
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
This last truth was restored around the turn of the century a hundred plus years ago, there have been many other truths restored or freshly emphasised by the Holy Spirit since then as well, but these initial 7 are the important truths for EVERY BELIEVER, that had been lost in the Dark Ages.
All Evangelicals completely accept the need to be BORN AGAIN,  some have never yet seen the truth of  BELIEVERS BAPTISM,   (by immersion) again some churches do not believe and teach THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS, strict Calvinists reject DIVINE HEALING, because they believe the Gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased at the death of the last of  the original Apostles. There has been some extreme and unbalanced teaching in some areas regarding the work of the Holy Spirit in SANCTIFICATION, but all proclaim a Believer can live a Victorious Holy and Pure life. Then came this experience called the BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. This truth caused the greatest reaction far more than any of the other restored truths, some even saying it was demonic, here 100+ years later, it has impacted the Church more than any other truth (apart from Justification by faith) and it is believed at least 50% of the current Christian population around the world believe and have experienced it. Sadly, once again there are various interpretations but the majority hold that a Believer CAN AND SHOULD BE  BAPTISED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, and this experience gives the opportunity for a Believer to receive a PRAYER LANGUAGE that can continue to revolutionise a Believer’s spiritual life. As some of my readers are not from Pentecostal/Charismatic churches, I want to share and comment on what is called the BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The Gospel writers Matthew and Luke both record John the Baptist’s prophetic words, that although he baptised in water, there was one coming who would baptise people with the Holy Spirit and FIRE. Jesus just prior to His Ascension declares in Acts 1:5  NKJV for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. Jesus goes on to say in Acts 1:8 NKJV  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” that when they are baptised in the Holy Spirit they will receive POWER (dunamis) to be WITNESSES. Jesus had already told them to remain in Jerusalem until this happened. We know for 10 days the 120 Believers spent much time in prayer together, I believe it was a time of heart searching, and letting the Holy Spirit do a work of Sanctification in their lives.  Remember the Holy Spirit had already come into the  Believers lives we read in John 20:22 NKJV He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. A term that became very popular during the time of the Charismatic Renewal was:

YOU RECEIVED ALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT  WHEN YOU WERE BORN AGAIN, NOW HE WANTS ALL OF YOU.

During those 10 days in the Upper Room the 120 came to a place of complete surrender to the Lord, and what happened then ? The  Holy Spirit who was resident in them became the PRESIDENT of their lives, and the Holy Spirit was free to FILL THE HOUSE” and completely take over their lives. This included their tongues and they were able to begin to pray in other tongues (languages) as the Holy Spirit enabled them. Please note every one of the 120 began to speak in tongues, undoubtedly these tongues  are  related in some way to the public  Gift of  Tongues that Paul refers too in 1 Corinthians 12. which he teaches and experience proves only a small amount of individuals have. Or some may say this  is the PRIVATE use of tongues (that does not require Interpretation). Never after Acts 1:5 is the term Baptised in the Holy Spirit used again, right from Acts 2:4 Luke (the author of the Book of Acts (of the Holy Spirit) uses the term FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT, Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:18 (AMP) And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit. This must become A PRESENT  CONTINUOUS EXPERIENCE for the Believer, as he continually presents himself to the Lord in surrender Romans 12:1 NKJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Much I have written here, I have written in various ways in numerous blogs, I will continue this series next week this series, and write about:
1.THE RESULTS OF BEING FILLED (BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
2. THE MANY BENEFITS OF BEING ABLE TO PRAY IN TONGUES,
I have more to write on Worship too.
Your comments as usual are always a blessing to read.
May you have a blessed powerful Holy Spirit filled Sunday.