Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ssc-vax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!we13!ihnp4!alberta!ubc-vision!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!tld
From: tld@ssc-vax.UUCP (Thomas L Davis)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Message-ID: <786@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 28-Jan-84 18:01:10 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.786
Posted: Sat Jan 28 18:01:10 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 5-Feb-84 12:00:59 EST
Organization: Boeing Aerospace, Seattle
Lines: 224



I will try to put together some thoughts and scriptures relating 
to the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. This will, I hope, answer 
questions I have been asked on this and other nets and lead to a 
deeper understanding of the "normative" Spirit-filled Christian life.

First, I will give a series of general references that one may wish 
to read before proceeding. Some of these will be well-known and 
available in most Christian bookstores. Others may require some digging.

	John 14: - describes the Paraclete/Advocate/Counselor to be sent
	by the Father.

	Acts - describes the work of the Spirit in the early Church.

	1 Cor. 12:4-11,14:1-33 - St. Paul's description of the 
	Charismata of the Spirit and their work in the Church.

	"Nine o'Clock in the Morning", Dennis Bennett. The effect
	of the filling by the Holy Spirit on an Episcopal priest
	and the beginning of the Charismatic renewal in the
	Episcopal Church. I was converted the first time I heard
	Fr. Bennett preach, so his books have a special meaning to
	me.

	"The Holy Spirit and You", Dennis and Rita Bennett. A
	study guide about the Baptism and how to receive it.

	"They speak With Other Tongues", John L. Sherrill. The
	search by a writer of magazine articles for information
	about the Baptism. A classic reference.

	"Miracle in Darien", by Bob Slosser. Another "Nine o'Clock
	in The Morning" it says on the top of the book. Close, but
	not quite. This one is about Fr. Terry Fullam, but it is
	more about his church and the effects when the
	congregation were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

	"See How the Wind Blows", Bob Slosser. An overview of the
	Charismatic Renewal movement. Either this or the Sherill
	book would be good place to start for someone who is
	looking for general information.

	"The Holy Spirit", R.A. Torrey. A collection of sermons by
	a turn-of-the-century evangelist. Some good basic material
	but not for the faint-of-heart.

	"How to Obtain Fullness of Power", R.A. Torrey. A smaller
	set of sermons by Torrey.

	"The Holy Spirit and Power", John Wesley. A set of sermons
	that have been paraphrased by Clare Weakley. Very good
	(especially for former Methodists!).

	"Like a Mighty Wind", Mel Tari. The absolutely astounding
	story of the work of the Holy Spirit in Indonesia. A
	modern-day Acts.

	"The Happiest People on Earth", Demos Shakarian. The story
	of the founder and the founding of the Full Gospel
	Business Mens Fellowship. Also gives some insight into the
	Armenian Pentecostals.

	"How to Receive the Baptism with th Holy Spirit", Casey
	Treat. I doubt that this is available outside the Seattle
	area. It is a small booklet written by one of our local
	Pentecostals. Much of the discussion that I give below is
	excerpted from it.

WHAT IS THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?

The Baptism with the Holy Sprit is a filling of the whole life of
a believer with the supernatural power of the Spirit. We are
'born' of the Spirit to be a part of God's family. We are 'filled'
with the Spirit to be victorious and fruitful in God's family.

Jesus left explicit instuctions for His disciples during His last
hours on earth; Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4,5,8. He commanded them to
wait until they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They stayed
together in an upper room and prayed in one accord, waiting for
what Jesus had told them would happen. After ten days, the Spirit
fell on them; Acts 2:1-4.

This was the beginning of the New Testament church age, which we
are now in. We are a part of the same church these 120 people
were. We have the same Father, same Savior, same Spirit, same
Word, and same faith. They were the beginning of what is still
happening today. The experiencing of the New Birth and the Baptism
of the Holy Spirit will go on just like Acts chapter two, until
Jesus returns.

NOT THE NEW BIRTH

To be filled or baptized with the Holy Spirit is not the same
thing as being born of the Spirit, i.e. 'born again' or converted.
It is one thing to be born, another thing to be filled. John
3:3,6. When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit
comes to dwell in us and to begin His revitalizing work. Every
Christian has the Holy Spirit indwelling him(her). 2 Cor. 5:17,
John 14:16,17. While talking about the Holy Spirit in the last
verse, He said that the world 'cannot receive Him'. This
"Advocate"(NEB) could not be that act of being born again, because
we were all in the world before we were born again. To receive
what Jesus is talking about here, you must first get out of the
world and into God's kingdom. When a person is born again they are
no longer part of this world, and they are now able to receive the
Spirit of truth or the Holy Spirit.

There is a difference between receiving the Spirit and being
filled with the Spirit. The word 'baptize' in Greek means to
"completely suffuse"--it is used in classical Greek of a sunken,
waterlogged ship. When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, the
Spirit that has been indwelling us is released to completely fill
us.

John the Baptist told the people about the ministry of Jesus in
John 1:33. Jesus is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit. To be born
again is something that the Holy Spirit does. To be baptized with
the Holy Spirit is something that Jesus does.

For example, see Acts chapter 8. Phillip had gone down to Samaria
and preached Jesus to the people there. He had good results, Acts
8:5-8, and many people were born again and baptized in water,
8:12. Many of the people believed in Jesus. They were born again
and had been baptized, but they still didn't have all that God had
for them, so Peter and John came down from Jerusalem, 8:14-16. If
they had received it all when they were born again, then Paul and
John would not have come down to pray for them to receive the Holy
Spirit. Acts 19 gives another example with Paul at Ephesus.

THE FIRST EVIDENCE

There is an initial evidence that takes place in the life of the
believer when they are filled with the Holy Spirit. It is not a
physical feeling. Some have been taught, (or have been told) that
when you are filled with the Spirit "you will feel power go
through you," "lightning bolts will go through your body," "glory
balls will burst on your head," "shivers will go up your spine,"
or "the power of God will knock you to the floor." You may have
heard one or more of these and they are all lies. 'Nowhere in the
Bible is a physical feeling associated with the Baptism with the
Holy Spirit.' You do not feel the Spirit physically. (This is not
to say that you never will, but a physical feeling is not the
norm.)

Others have said that when you are filled with the Spirit you'll
never sin again or have any problems in your life. That is also a
lie. The Baptism with the Spirit will not instantly transform you
into an angel and remove every negative circumstance. There will
be positive changes because God's power is released in you; but
not one big metamorphosis.

The initial evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit is
that you will begin to speak with other tongues. Acts 2:4. The
disciples began to speak something. It was the language of the
Holy Spirit, that the Bible calls other tongues. They were all
sitting in prayer, and when they were filled with the Spirit, they
began to speak with other tongues. This was the initial or first
sign of being Baptized with the Holy Spirit.

There are several other Bible passages that also describe this
event. In Acts 10:44-46, the effect of Peter's preaching to
Cornelius and his household tells the same story. Again, in Acts
19, Paul was ministering to people in Ephesus who did not know of
the Holy Spirit. When he laid hands on them, they were filled with
the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.

Some have said, "tongues are of the devil," but that is a
statement of Bible ignorance, and a very dangerous one. Matthew
12:31,32 describes the 'unpardonable sin' that is widely, though
not universally, believed to be ascribing to the devil those
miracles that are wrought through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul, 1 Cor. 14:18, didn't believe tongues were of the devil.

WHO IS THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR?

There are those who believe in being filled with the Spirit, but
they say it is not for everyone. Let's check the Bible and see
what God says. John 1:29,33. John the Baptist said Jesus would
take away the sin of the world and baptize with the Holy Spirit
and fire. Who is He going to baptize with the Holy Spirit? The
same people He took the sin away from. That includes everyone in
the world. Jesus took away the sin of every human being in the
world (1 John 2:2) and He provided the baptism with the Holy
Spirit for them too. Whoever will accept the forgiveness of sin
that Jesus provided can also have the baptism with the Holy Spirit
that Jesus provided. Acts 2:38,39. The promise is for:
	1) you (all that were present),
	2) for your children (all those born or not yet born),
	3) all that are afar off (everyone on earth at that time),
	4) even as many as the Lord our God shall call (all that
	   would be born again throughout time).
There is no one that is left out. The Baptism with the Spirit is
for all people. Mark 16:17. Whoever 'believes' will speak with new
tongues. The only people who do not speak with tongues are those
who do not believe. God can't make you do anything. You receive
His gifts by faith.

In 1 Cor. 12:30, when Paul asks, "Do all speak with tongues?" he
is speaking of the gift of divers kinds of tongues that are to be
interpreted in the church survice. This is one of the nine gifts,
Charismata, of the Spirit listed in that chapter for the body of
Christ. He is not speaking of the personal gift of tongues for the
believer. All believers do not have the divers kinds of tongues
that will be spoken out and interpreted in the body, but all have
the ability to pray in tongues for personal edification.

THE BENEFITS OF PRAYING IN TONGUES

	

HOW TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

	

This is a good place to take a break. I will provide the last two
parts of this message later. In the meantime, I suggest that
anyone who is really interested read some of the books I gave
above, particularly Sherrill and Bennett(THS&Y). Also, you might
want to contact a local chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men or
Women Aglow. Either of these organizations will be glad to supply
more information.