OVERHEARD...
“Sounds spooky to me!” whispered one teenager to another.
They crowded closer to hear what was being said.
An interested group of high school students had surrounded a classmate, who was testifying about an experience he had received, which he termed the “baptism of the Holy Spirit.”
“I’ve heard my grandfather talk about that,” one of the boys remarked.
A girl injected, “My Sunday school teacher read something about that in the lesson last Sunday, but he couldn’t explain it!”
“Tell us more, Bob!”
“Ted, have you noticed Jim? The last couple of days he seems so different. I believe he’s really changed.”
“What happened?”
“He was telling some guys in shipping yesterday about a ‘baptism of the Holy Ghost’ or something.”
“Probably got mixed up with some religious cult!”
“I don’t think so. He started attending that nice new church on Second Street, and apparently what he has is real. He doesn’t curse like he did, and I haven’t seen him smoke a cigarette in days.”
“Aw, forget it!”
“Hard to do when it happens right before your eyes! We all need something like that!”
“Sarah, did you hear about some of our members having cottage prayer meetings?”
“No, but what’s wrong with that?”
“Well, nothing really. But several of them say they have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoken in other tongues. Our church doesn’t believe in that, does it?”
“Well, I’ve been reading some magazine articles and books about people receiving such an experience. Why don’t you and I go to one of these Bible studies and learn more about this? Frankly, I’m interested!”
These conversations are typical of thousands being carried on right now. Since God is pouring out His Spirit now in a greater measure than at any time since the days of the apostles, there is much discussion on this Christian experience.
What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Act 1:5 "For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Act 2:4 "And they were all filled of the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
In John 3:5 Jesus declared, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Before His ascension, Christ told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem “for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. . . . Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence” (Acts 1:4-5).
About ten days later, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell upon 120 obedient disciples who were gathered together in an upper room in Jerusalem. The twelve apostles and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were among this number. “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). This phenomenon and the powerful message of the Apostle Peter resulted in the conversion of 3,000 more on the same day.
Act 8:14 And the apostles in Jerusalem hearing that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them;
Act 8:15 who when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
Act 8:16 For as yet He had not fallen on any of them, they were baptized only in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 8:17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Act 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those hearing the Word.
Act 10:45 And those of the circumcision, who believed (as many as came with Peter), were astonished because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the nations also.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
Act 10:47 Can anyone forbid water that these, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we, should not be baptized?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to stay certain days.
Act 19:1 And it happened in the time Apollos was at Corinth, Paul was passing through the higher parts to Ephesus. And finding certain disciples,
Act 19:2 he said to them, Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? And they said to him, We did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit is.
Act 19:3 And he said to them, Then to what were you baptized? And they said, To John's baptism.
Act 19:4 And Paul said, John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe into Him coming after him, that is, into Jesus Christ.
Act 19:5 And hearing, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And as Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
But Today?
People from all walks of life and all religious convictions have proved the promise of the Scripture in Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
What About You?
Don’t settle for less! Forget about denominational dogmas, and study your Bible concerning this experience. Then find a church that preaches the full gospel, where the Holy Ghost is being received. Open your heart to Christ and let Him be real to you. He wants you for a temple of His Holy Spirit.
Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.”