THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Dynamic Difference

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh…” Acts 2

“Am I Spirit filled?” “How do I know?”  “What do I have to do to be filled?” “Have I been baptized by the Holy spirit?”  “When?”  “How?”  “If I have the Spirit, can I lose Him?”  “Do I have to speak in tongues to be Spirit filled?”  “Am I saved if I don’t speak in tongues?”  “Are the manifestations of the Spirit in the Book of Acts still applicable today?"  How do I know if I have a spiritual gift? 

There is much confusion over these questions and many more concerning the subject of the Holy Spirit today.  So much so that He is often ignored almost completely by  many churches because of ignorance or He is made preeminent in other churches.  But the Spirit is tied to every facet of what happens in a Christians life.

When someone says, “I’m a born again Christian,” he speaks redundantly.  All Christians are born-again, or else they are not Christians at all.  The term, “born-again” speaks of the spiritual birth which makes us Christians.  It happens the moment we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and receive Him as our Lord and Savior.  At that moment, we are baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ.

To be Spirit-filled is another matter.  It is not a special experience for a select few.  We’re not talking about “super-saints” or unusually gifted people.  Being filled with the Holy Spirit is available to all believers and is essential to living the Christian life the way it was meant to be lived.   The confusion seems to be a problem of knowledge – what does Scripture say about the identity, personality, and work of the Holy Spirit and a problem of application – how we respond to what we know. How do we find the answers to these problems and are there answers?

 WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

The Holy Spirit is not an it, not “The Force”, or an influence from God.  The Bible teaches us clearly that the Holy Spirit is a real person and that He is God.  Not just a part of God: He is actually God!  When we talk of being filled with the Spirit, it’s not talking about just having some religious experience, like getting a shot of spiritual power with a hypodermic needle; we’re talking about having the God who made us coming into our lives and filling us with His presence.  God is not three Gods.  He is one God, but He manifests Himself in three separate and distinct Personalities-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

1. The Holy Spirit is called God in Acts 5:3,4

Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?  You have not lied to men but to God.

2. The H.S. does work that only God can do.

Only God can create, yet the H.S. was involved in the creation of the universe and mankind.  Gen.1:2 says that,  “…the Spirit of God was hovering over the faces of the waters.”  Job 26:13 states, “The Spirit of God was the One who beautified the universe as a painter or sculptor would do.”

3.      The H.S. has divine attributes – Heb.9:14, He is called the “eternal Spirit”

4.      The H.S. has equality with the Father -  In Matt.28:19 Jesus commands people to baptize in the (singular) Father, Son, and H.S.

Does it make a difference if we’re filled with the H.S.?

Of course it does!  If we’re filled with God Himself, it puts a new light on everything we say and do.  Our actions would reflect the character of God; what we say would echo God’s Word; what we believe about ourselves would glorify God more if we understood that the power and controlling factor in the Christian life is God, not just an experience we might have had.  It is what is meant by Gal. 2:20, “For I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”  The very Spirit of our Lord Jesus has come to take up residence in us!

The Holy Spirit is really a person!

The New Testament is full of  verses concerning the H. S..  In them we see Him called “He”, “Him”, John 14:16,17; John 16:7-15.  We see that He has a will, “1 Cor. 12:11 tells us that, “He distributes spiritual gifts to believers as He wills.”.  He has emotional responses.  Ephesians 4:30 says that He can be grieved; Romans 5:5 says that He loves; James 4:5 tells us that He “yearns jealously” over us because He dwells in us.

Symbols of the Holy Spirit

1.      A symbol of fire – Acts 2:3 tells us that “tongues, as of fire” appeared in the upper room.  In Matt. 3:1,12, John the Baptist says, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals I am not worthy to carry, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  This shows us that the baptism of the H.S. is for believers, but the Baptism by fire is for unbelievers  The chaff represents unbelievers and is burned up with unquenchable fire.  The wheat which is gathered into  the barn represents believers, who will be baptized with the H.S..

2.      A symbol of a dove – When Jesus was baptized by John, a dove appeared above His head.

3.      A symbol of wind – On the day of Pentecost, the H.S. came with, “…a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they where sitting (Acts 2:2).  Just like the wind, the work of the H.S. is invisible and works in ways we don’t understand.

4.      A symbol of water – Jesus, in John 7:37-39, says,   “He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”  But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the H.S. was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

What an amazing thing to say that we are filled with the Holy Spirit.  God is filling us with His own presence and power.  A real person has come to live in our bodies and seeks to control what we think, say, and do using our own personalities that He has given us, and our right to make choices and decisions.

What Happened on the Day of Pentecost?

Leviticus 23 tells us about the seven different feasts required of the Jewish people and Lev. 23:15-22 gives instruction  regarding Pentecost (the Feast of Weeks.)  Pentecost is a Greek word meaning,  “Fifty.”  This feats was one of three feast requiring every Jewish male of 20 years old to attend.  This is  a celebration of the Firstfruits of the harvest and comes 50 days after the fifteenth of Nisan, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Sunday of the Passover week.  This Sunday was celebrated as the Feast of Firstfruits and is the day our Lord was resurrected.

The Feats of Firstfruits represents the first of the harvest and a sample of more to come, and so the application to the Resurrection.  Jesus arose from the dead on the feast of Firstfruits; the rest of the harvest of which He is the “firstfruit” began to be reaped on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came and the church of Jesus Christ was born.

The Holy Spirit Before Pentecost

In the opening chapters of God’s Word, we see the H.S. involved with the creation of the universe and of humanity.  He was also involved with the writing of Scripture.  2 Peter 1:20,21 states, “..but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the H.S..”  He “moved” or controlled them to prophecy and to write what God wanted said, a guarantee that the Scripture is accurate and reliable.  Ezekiel says that, “The Spirit entered me when He spoke to me,” and David said, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue.”  All throughout the O.T. we see the Holy Spirit at work, guiding and speaking to man.  He came upon certain people for special ministries and times, and He also left certain individuals.

The Ministry Changes

A distinct change took place in the H. Spirit’s work after the day of Pentecost.  Jesus told His Disciples in John 14:16,17 that the Father would give them another Helper, the Spirit of Truth, that “dwells with you and will be in you.” The Greek word for “With” means “along side of”; “in you” deals with His ministry in your life – He indwells you and never leaves you.  Romans 8:9 tells us, “You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he is not His.”  In Luke 24:49 Jesus said, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you;  but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”  The “Promise of My Father” refers to the work and ministry of the H.S. from the day of Pentecost onward.  In Acts 1:4,5, He explains it further: He tells them again to wait in Jerusalem for the “Promise of the Father” and you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit, not many days from now.”

The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

Peter’s powerful speech, recorded in Acts 2:14-21, includes Joel” prophecy; “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh…”  It spoke of the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit by which God would bring a multitude of Gentiles to Himself.  The “Last Days” began on the day of Pentecost and will continue until Christ returns to earth.  Ezekiel 39:27-29 promises that God will also gather all of His people the Jews in those last days, they will know Him because He will pour out His Sprit in the House of Israel.

The Day of Pentecost started the following:

1.      The outpouring of the H.S.

2.      The permanent indwelling of the H.S.

3.      The Baptism of the H.S.

4.      The church of Jesus Christ

Unusual Manifestations of the Holy Spirit

Throughout the O.T., God prophesied that He would bring Gentiles to Himself through the outpouring of the H.S..  How will they know that this has taken place?  There must be evidence and undeniable proof that the Spirit actually came.  There should be signs.

See Acts 2:1-4  We see that they were “all filled with the H.S..  It would seem that the filling of the spirit should be characterized by what happened on that day (unless the Bible gives further insight and instruction to the contrary.

Four different things occurred to the 120 believers on that day:

1.      There was a sound from heaven

2.      there was an appearance of divided tongues upon each of them

3.      They were filled with the H.S.

4.      They began to speak in tongues

There is no record of the sound from heaven or the divided tongues every occurring again in the New Testament.  We read of tongues being spoken by believers at least two other times (Acts 10:46 and 19:6) and Paul speaks about tongues and other gifts in 1Cor 12-14.

Tongues of Fire

How appropriate for God to begin this day of Pentecost (the Feast of Firstfruits celebrated with two loaves of bread waved before the altar), with an outpouring of His H.S. and bring a multitude of Gentiles to Himself.  How would do this?  By putting His Spirit’s power in to the lives of believers, who would then use their tongues to proclaim the message of salvation to the world.  The “Divided Tongues” was a visual sign on each of them because God wanted all believers to witness trough the power of the Spirit – not just the apostles. 

Did the Apostles have to do anything to receive and be filled by the H.S.?  There is no indication of them being in prayer at this time, only that they were sitting – so no prayers or past experiences were necessary.  The H. S. came when the “Day of Pentecost had fully come.”  It never occurred again in Scripture.  It seems that its purpose was simply to announce the arrival of the H.S. and the beginning of God’s prophetic program for the last days.

Acts 4:31 reads, “When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the H.S., and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”  No sound was heard and no divided tongues appeared and no evidence of anyone speaking in tongues, rather they spoke with boldness.  It does say that they were all filled with the H.S.

What is meant by “other tongues?”  Two Greek words are used for “other”.  One means “another of the same kind” and our use here, “another of a different kind.”  The tongues spoken here were languages or different dialects spoken by the Jews from other parts of the world.  It was a wonderful way for God to announce the outpouring of His Spirit in the last days to reach the whole world – every tongue and dialect.

The Baptism of the Spirit

The baptism of the H.S. is mentioned seven times in the N.T., sometimes using the preposition “by”, “with”, or “in” but the same Greek word is used for each of these words.  The specific verse that tells us what the baptism of the H.S. is supposed to accomplish is 1 Cor. 12:13 which says, “By one spirit we are all baptized into one body – whether slaves or free – and have all been mad to drink into one Spirit.”  According to this verse, the baptism of the H.S. is that work of the Spirit which makes us all one body in Christ.  In other words, the baptism of the Spirit forms the church, the body of Christ.

There is confusion between the filling of and the baptism of the H.S..  Acts 1:4,5 tells us that the baptism of the Spirit took place on the day of Pentecost, and Acts 2:4 tells us that they were all filled with the Spirit.  The filling and the baptism happened simultaneously on that day.  The sound of the wind, the divided tongues and the speaking in tongues gave evidence that the baptism of the Spirit had taken place.  At least on the day of Pentecost, the evidence of the baptism of the Spirit was speaking in tongues.  In Acts 10:44-48, we see tongues spoken once again by the Gentile believers (the household of Cornelius), and we see it happen once again in Acts 19.  So we see, in Acts 2,10 and 19,  that the evidence of the baptism of the Spirit was speaking in tongues. 

Does this mean that everyone who speaks in tongues is baptized with the Spirit?  Or does it mean that you must speak with tongues in order to be baptized with the Spirit?  Or does it mean that if you have never spoken in tongues, you were not baptized with the Spirit?

In every case of the evidence of speaking in tongues as being baptized with the Spirit, the Apostles were present.  It would appear that the apostles and their message needed to be confirmed or authenticated.  God did this by unusual manifestations, which included speaking in tongues.  God continued to give dramatic proof that the new age of the Spirit ( a fulfillment of prophecy) had begun.

Are all believers baptized by the Spirit?

1 Cor. 12:3 tells us – YES!  You have the Spirit if you are a believer, but does the Spirit have you?  How do I receive the Spirit?

1.      By asking for it – Luke 11:13 - ¹³If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

2.      By believing in the Lord Jesus – John 7:39; Acts 11:17; Acts 19:4 - ³⁹By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

3.      By obeying God – Acts 5:32 - ³²We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." 

4.      By repenting and being baptized – Acts 2:38 - ³⁸Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

5.      Through the laying on of the apostles hands - Acts 8:17 - ¹⁷Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

6.      By having Christ breathe on you – John 20:22 - ²²And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

 Numbers 5 and 6 above, were works of Jesus or the apostles and are not applicable today.  The others are wrapped up in one word – faith – in Jesus Christ.  Jesus summed it up in John 7:37-39, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures has said, out of his heart would flow rivers of living water.”  But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive.”  The one prerequisite for receiving the Spirit is believing in Christ.  It seems to break down:

      1.      Conviction by the spirit

2.      Regeneration by the Spirit (being born again)

3.      Confession and repentance

4.      Faith in Jesus Christ

5.      Baptism, indwelling, and the sealing of the Spirit