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From the Word: Receive the Holy Spirit [AGAIN?]
Posted on January 7th, 2010 in Faith, From the Word by Fred McKinnon
As I continue through the M’Cheyne 1-Year Bible reading plan at YouVersion.Com I am enjoying some observations from the Book of Acts. What an incredible time in our church history. The power of God was so strong in the early church.
One doctrinal issue that differentiates those of a more “Charismatic” or “Pentecostal” vein is that of the “baptism of the Holy Spirit”. It’s called many different things … “the baptism” … “the infilling of the Holy Spirit” … “the baptism of fire” … and on and on. It typically refers to an encounter post-salvation where we receive God’s Holy Spirit … again.
I say “again” because we all agree that upon our salvation experience and profession of Jesus Christ as Lord, we receive the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13 says we are “sealed” with the Holy Spirit, Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will be “in us” in John, etc).
Yet, throughout the Book of Acts we see examples where Christians have an experience where they are “filled” with the Holy Spirit. In many cases, this experience is initiated through another Believer praying for them.
Here’s one such example:
14
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8, 14-17, ESV, YouVersion.Com)
So, they had “received the word of God” … I think this means they’ve received Christ as Savior. They are now Christians. Jesus has risen and ascended, and the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Day of Pentecost. We are “officially” in the New Testament, New Covenant church now. These Christians received the word just like us. Yet, it says they had not received the Holy Spirit, though they have been baptized.
Through the prayer of Peter and John, these new Christians “received” the Holy Spirit. This occurs throughout the book of Acts.
I believe that we, as Christians, can receive the Holy Spirit again and again. It’s a different type of “infilling”. It’s not essential to salvation, yet who wouldn’t desire this?
I’ve heard some argue that God used the original apostles to distribute the Holy Spirit in the early church. Huh? So, once they die, we don’t get that? I don’t think so. Or maybe God was overwhelmed with the exponential increase in Believers, and needed some assistance … the Holy Spirit wasn’t coming fast enough from His throne directly, so he recruited some people to help Him get over the hump? By no means.
All I know is this. If I see evidence that Christians are being “filled” with the Holy Spirit … I want “in” on that bonus. I want all of God’s Spirit. In me, on me, around me.
Your thoughts? Join the discussion by leaving a comment below.
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8 Responses to “From the Word: Receive the Holy Spirit [AGAIN?]”
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Bring it Fred.
Mostly I have a question. Could this also mean going to the well and getting “Living Water”?
John 4:14
Have a good day!
You’ve opened the proverbial can of worms with this one, bro.
Many “full gospel” folk believe that when you are born again, the Holy Spirit “overshadows” you the way He did Mary and places within you the spirit of Christ. Then comes back to “reside” upon being “baptized with the Holy Spirit”.
I, like you, believe you receive the Holy Spirit when you are born again.
For me, you receive the Holy Spirit upon new birth, you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit once and you can be “filled” on a continual basis.
I’ve seen more arguments on this topic than I have tongues! lol
John 16: 5-15
“Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
Regardless of the various phrases in Acts or what the modern church may decide to call it, since Jesus refers to the Spirit as “counselor” and that he will guide us “into all truth,” I think it is clear that Jesus expects the work of the Spirit to continue beyond the initial receiving of salvation.
Fred, you referred to the ongoing work as a “bonus,” and I would agree that because of much of the modern experience in the church, it does seem like a bonus. However, this ongoing work was probbaly essential to the survival of the early church. If we truly believe our prayer “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” then it is essential to the modern church as well.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Peter 4:10
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
Fred, I like your perspective on this – that whatever we see God doing, we want in.
I was raised Southern Baptist, walked away from God early in my teenage years, and renewed my relationship with Him at the age of 24. I had an experience soon after that of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, that I cannot fully explain, yet I believe is biblical and radically changed my relationship with, understanding of, and yieldedness to the Lord.
However, since then I have not leaned on that one experience, but have intended, as you say, to live full, or being continually filled with the Spirit of God. It’s about living a life experiencing God and being led by His Spirit. I want to be filled with Him so He can have His way with me and be glorified in my life. I expect wonderful, glorious, supernatural experiences with God, all of which must line up with the Bible and be for the glory of God, not me, with the end goal of bringing His rule, His Kingdom, from heaven to earth through my life.
I feel like there’s a fresh move of the Spirit of God in the earth bringing us all together with the heart you expressed – “I want all of God’s Spirit. In me, on me, around me.” Where we all bow our knees to see Him as He is and respond to Him with lives of worship, He’ll keep us on right paths. Thanks for posting on this.
Harold
New blog post: From the Word: Receive the Holy Spirit [AGAIN?] http://bit.ly/6zBOSD
RT @fmckinnon: New blog post: From the Word: Receive the Holy Spirit [AGAIN?] http://bit.ly/6zBOSD
From the Word Receive the Holy SpiritAGAIN | FredMcKinnonCom: As I continue through the M'Cheyne 1-Year Bib.. http://bit.ly/7Ujqj4
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