New Covenant Living: Facts about the Holy Spirit, Part 5 |
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| The topic
we're gonna discuss tonight is a continuation of our
lesson last week, especially after class! :) It is a
topic that has caused much controversy and contention in
the Church ... and our concern is to share what the Bible
says and let you draw your own conclusions, not to start
an UNholy war over it. Father God we bless your holy Name tonight and speak love and peace to all gathered here. We rejoice in Christ our Savior and reaffirm that we are brothers and sisters in the family of God. OlePappy - Father, abide with us tonight as we study Your Holy Word. Lord give the wisdom to learn and use what we get from His Holy Word. Father4 I thank You in the name of Jesus. Amen Holy Spirit we look to you as our teacher and guide and ask that you would open the eyes of our understanding and enlighten us with wisdom and knowledge in Jesus Name AMEN. We've been studying the Holy Spirit for several weeks now. We've been looking at the Holy Spirit, Who He is and what He is doing to us, in us and through us in the world today. Last time we were looking at the difference between the baptism into Christ BY the Holy Spirit when we are born again or converted or saved, whatever terminology you wish to use ... AND The Baptism of the Holy Spirit for believers by Jesus after we are born again. Out of this discussion arose questions about Spiritual Gifts, particularly speaking in tongues. We want to look at some of these concerns tonight, and probably for the next study as well. I want to underscore the fact that we are here to learn, not start a controversy ... and to ask you to open your hearts and minds to the Holy Spirit and let HIM teach you. I can type till my fingers fall off, but unless the Holy Spirit makes the Word alive in YOUR heart, you haven't learned a thing. We've looked so far at 19 facts about the Holy Spirit, and before we get into the topic of tongues, there's a couple of things we need to cover briefly. 20) The Holy Spirit abides with us forever. Some teach that the Holy Spirit will be taken out of the world before the antichrist is revealed, or that perhaps the Holy Spirit is no longer active in the Church, but the Bible says that He will abide with us forever. Isaiah prophesied of the coming of the Spirit after the coming of the Redeemer:
Well the Holy Spirit draws out of us the Word we've hidden in our hearts, sure enough. But first we must read, meditate, memorize and live the Word to get it into our hearts. Isaiah 59:20-21 "The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the LORD. "As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants FROM THIS TIME ON AND FOREVER," says the LORD.
Kristin, the antichrist as far as my studies show is pretty much "hidden" until he leaps upon the world scene in the last days. Notice that Isaiah prophesies that the Redeemer will come to Zion, and that initiates the New Covenant of the Spirit. And that the Spirit will come upon them from that time on FOREVER. John 14:16-17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you FOREVER-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. Jesus also confirmed that when the Holy Spirit came in His fullness at Pentecost, He would be here FOREVER. So any doctrine that teaches that the Holy Spirit is not active in the church and in believer's lives today, or that He "takes off into outer space" at some time is contradicting not only the prophet Isaiah, but the Lord Jesus Christ. And we've discussed before how the Holy Spirit abides with us and in us as our Counselor, Teacher, Guide, Convictor of sin, etc. 21) The Holy Spirit and His gifts are still available to anyone who requests them. Along this line, some teach that the Holy Spirit appeared with His gifts to sort of "jump start" the Church, but now the gifts and work of the Holy Spirit are no longer applicable. But that is merely a tradition of man. There is nowhere in the New Testament that the Holy Spirit says "Bye, bye. You got a good start. Gotta go back to Heaven. You're on your own now!" But look what Jesus says in the next passage. John 7:37-39 (NIV) On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By 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. Notice that Jesus said that the gift of the Holy Spirit was for WHOEVER believes on Him. Are people still believing on Jesus? Then He's still giving the Spirit as streams of living water flowing from within. And Peter also gave witness to the fact that the coming of the Spirit and His Gifts are an ongoing event in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:38-39 Peter 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. THE PROMISE IS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR ALL WHO ARE FAR OFF--FOR ALL WHOM THE LORD OUR GOD WILL CALL." This is a quote from Peter's sermon on the Day of Pentecost ... and he was referring to the gift of the Holy Spirit that was poured out with the evidence of speaking in tongues ... and by extension of the gifts of the Spirit. Peter said that this gift of the Holy Spirit is for all who the Lord calls. Is He still calling people? Then the gift is still available for us as it was for the early Church. And I for one think we desperately need spiritual gifts in the Church today, not to mention the fruit of the Spirit and the ministry gifts ... and above all the power of the Spirit to overcome the deep darkness on our land. And above all love which ties it all together in perfect unity. In my own life, I know if I try to do God's work in MY strength, I fail miserably. But when I lean on the Holy Spirit, and let Him guide me, then the Lord anoints what I do for Him, and it becomes easy and light... a joy not a burden or duty. I Corinthians 13:8-10 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
Deb the gift of the Holy Spirit includes HIM and all of His spiritual gifts, ministry gifts and fruit. Some say that tongues and other spiritual gifts are not for today, because in this passage they've been told that "that which is perfect" or "when perfection comes" is talking about the completion of the Bible and because the Bible is here, we no longer need the gifts of the Spirit.
However in I Corinthians 13:8-10 Paul also tells us that when "that which is perfect" appears, that knowledge also will be done away with ... and I don't think anyone believes we no longer need knowledge! Or prophecy ... understood in the sense of God speaking to us today.
There is a time coming when tongues, knowledge, prophecy will ALL disappear, when the PERFECT sinless One will appear on the clouds of Heaven, when we receive our perfect, resurrected bodies, when we shall "know as we are known"! Glory! Then we won't need all these gifts, because we will have the GIVER. The Holy Spirit is the agent of our salvation and we have the Spirit in a measure when we are born again. But to be filled of the Spirit, we must drink of the Spirit, yield to Him and let Him fill us and overflow us in whatever gift or manifestation He desires to do. And the Holy Spirit is the interpreter of the Word, don't forget that ... without Him we can't understand the Bible or "rightly divide the Word of truth". The REASON for spiritual gifts after all is to build up the Church ... to bring unity to the Body ... Is there unity YET? Also, to be a sign for unbelievers. There are STILL unbelievers, aren't they? Knowledge does come from studying the Word, but in the context of I Corinthians 12-14 (all three chapters) Paul references prophecy, a gift of the Spirit, tongues, a gift of the Spirit, and knowledge, which a "word of knowledge" is also a gift of the Spirit (I Corinthians 12:8). A) The Holy Spirit Baptism Prophesied Mark 16:15, 17 He [Jesus] said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. …And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; THEY WILL SPEAK IN NEW TONGUES; Mark reports that before Jesus left the earth He gave us a commission to go out and preach the gospel to every creation and said that certain signs would follow [all] them that believe ... one of which was tongues. John 7:37-39 (NIV) On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." We've already touched on this verse ... but repeat it to show Jesus promising the coming of the Holy Spirit. John comments that: By 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. This shows that the coming of the Spirit ... as Jesus promised... rivers or streams of living water flowing from within him - would come after Jesus was glorified - or returned to glory - heaven. Acts 1:4-5 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with [or in] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He reminded the disciples of His promise "which you have heard me speak about" ... here Jesus calls the promise the baptism with the Holy Spirit. In other places this experience is also called being filled with the Spirit, receiving the Spirit, having the Spirit come upon you, etc. And Jesus told them to WAIT, and to not leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came. They didn't know how long, or what they were really waiting for at this time, but were obedient to Jesus. And again Jesus says in Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." So the disciples - included men and women - knew that they were waiting on a baptism with the Holy Spirit and that they would receive power to witness ... and they were to wait ... Now we're going to look at the Biblical account of the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost ... and if time permits, the other four outpourings specifically mentioned in the Book of Acts. B) The Outpouring at Pentecost Acts chapter 1, v.12-15, tells us some of those who were present. The Eleven remaining disciples, along with the women who followed Jesus (such as Mary Magdalene), Mary the mother of Jesus, Jesus brothers ... and others 120 in all. As they are waiting, they appointed Matthias as apostle in Judas' place. Acts 2:1-2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Notice that they were all together in one place in one accord ... they were waiting obediently as Jesus commanded when the Holy Spirit came.
Now in the Greek and Hebrew the words translated "spirit" (pneuma and ruach) also can mean wind or breath. And the Holy Spirit is sometimes referred to as the breath of God. So one evidence the believers had that this was the promised Holy Spirit was the appearance of a rushing mighty wind, a "holy tornado" if you will. Acts 2:3-4 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Also John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and FIRE, and the cleansing power of this holy fire is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Bible ... so another evidence that this indeed was the promised Holy Spirit.
Now all the gifts of the Spirit that we've spoke about existed to some degree or another either in the Old Testament or is mentioned in the New Testament before Pentecost, but tongues. And I'm reminded when I read about the manifestation or revealing of tongues on the Day of Pentecost as to how it is the OPPOSITE of what God did at the tower of Babel. There used language to confuse people who were sinful and not submitted and in obedience to Him. Here language was used to show the obedient ones the power of God and as a witness. Acts 2:3-4 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Notice that it says that ALL were filled with the Holy Spirit ... not part, not just the men, and that all began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them or as the KJV says "gave them utterance". Being "filled with the Holy Spirit" is another way of saying being baptized with the Holy Spirit ... the terms are used interchangeably. Notice that THEY spoke ... using their own tongues and breath ... but it was the SPIRIT that enabled them or gave them utterance. Speaking in tongues is a divine/human activity. It is not something that is all human - as a language you can learn by effort. It is also not all divine - as the Holy Spirit taking control and making you speak against your will or without your cooperation.
As we've stated before the Holy Spirit is a gentleman, He does not force us to do anything against our wills. He does not take control like we are a puppet or robot. The Holy Spirit, as we have seen in other lessons, is not some vague force, but He is a person and He speaks. Speaking in tongues is connected to the intellect … in that you are speaking … and to the spirit, as you are receiving what you speak through your spirit from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives the utterance or enables you, but YOU do the speaking... The Holy Spirit will not just "take over" and do your speaking for you. He gives the utterance … the words… the language, but you must use your tongue and breath to do the speaking, speaking what you hear in your spirit. Acts 2:5-6 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Notice that the 120 spoke in tongues that they didn't know ... and that these tongues were actually languages of people that were in Jerusalem, and they HEARD in their own languages! Now this was the festival of Pentecost and there were Jews in Jerusalem from every nation. They were bewildered because they weren't hearing God praised in Hebrew, which most probably would have understood, but their own native tongues. Acts 2:7-8 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Now Galileans were the "hill billies" of that day ... nobody expected THAT SORT to know much of anything, much less be fluent in many foreign tongues!
That's my point Rev. Mike, the Holy Spirit does not "possess" and control you against your will! And Luke records what some of these nations were: Acts 2:9-12 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
Here 15+ different nationalities heard the 120 declaring the wonders of God in THEIR tongues. Acts 2:12-13 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine." They were amazed and puzzled and wondered what it all meant. Remember most of these as far as we know were NOT Jesus' disciples, they weren't expecting something unusual to happen on this day ... and they couldn't figure out what was happening.
Of course there were the scoffers and mockers who said "These are just a bunch of drunks!" (LOL OT's translation) Acts 2:14-15 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! Then Peter and the other 11 apostles STOOD UP and Peter RAISED his voice! I imagine he had to shout to be heard in all the commotion. Peter said ... I'm gonna explain this to you! Pay close attention. These men aren't drunk, it's only 9 am!!! Acts 2:16-17 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: "`In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Then Peter directed them to a well known prophecy by Joel about the outpouring of the Spirit in the last days. Peter said THIS is THAT which Joel told you about. This put it in perspective for them and gave the experience meaning .. God had said this would happen and now it has!
Good point Festuss, Peter was so down because he had betrayed Jesus, and so fearful. Now with the holy boldness and power Jesus had promised, he faced a potentially dangerous crowd. From this side of the event, we sometimes forget how easy the highly religious inhabitants could turn on someone if they felt he/she was out of order! Acts 2:16-17 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: "`In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Also we forget how unusual this outpouring was ... because before this time the Holy Spirit had only been poured out on certain individuals for certain tasks: prophets, priests and kings. NOW it would be on ALL people ... we are told in Revelations that we are a kingdom of priests unto God.
Also notice that it now includes DAUGHTERS!!! Amazing in a society that thought women were property. Acts 2:18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. Not only that, but this outpouring of the Spirit was for servants ... literally slaves... those thought to be of little or no worth to the "upper crust". The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the Great Leveler ... breaking down all walls of all kinds for all time.
Acts 2:19-21 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' Jesus4 ever - There are 3 types of tongues: 1 when we receive the Holy Ghost.. 2 Tongues and interpretation… 3 worship tongues Acts 2:32-33 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. Then Peter confirms the fact that this outpouring is also the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the streams of living water flowing from within that Jesus promised and has given.
Now sometimes in all the controversy and all about tongues, we forget that the primary purpose of the coming of the Holy Spirit is to testify of Jesus. And that day in Jerusalem, Peter didn't point to the gifts of the Spirit or to the manifestations or excitement as ends in themselves, but as EVIDENCE of Jesus being resurrected and exalted to the right hand of the Father ... in other words pointing to Jesus as their Messiah and Savior, Son of God. Peter went on to "preach a salvation message" and in v. 37 we are told that the people were "cut to the heart". Now our preaching today can cut to the heart or it can just cut ... and a lot depends on whether we listen to the Holy Spirit before we speak, for He testifies of Jesus, brings conviction of sin, and salvation if His voice is heard. And their response is what true Holy Spirit inspired preaching does - the asked "Brothers what shall we do?"
Acts 2:38-39 Peter 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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." Peter was ready with an answer ... First of all we must repent of our sins and believe in Jesus. Be baptized. And then RECEIVE the gift of the Holy Spirit. Again the Holy Spirit does not force Himself upon us, we must RECEIVE Him in His fullness. The baptism with the Holy Spirit by Jesus as they had just witnessed. Notice again as we said before that Peter said THIS PROMISE, what was the promise? THIS promise is for you and your children ... and looking WAY into the future, say 2,000 years plus --- ALL who are far off - for ALL whom the Lord our God will call. OK that was the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit, also called the baptism with the Holy Spirit or being filled with the Spirit or having the Spirit come upon you, etc. C) Outpouring at Samaria: Acts 8:14-16 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Now the believers in Samaria had repented of their sins, believing in Jesus, and followed that with baptism in water in Jesus Name, but they had not received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not YET come upon any of them. Now we know that when we are born again, we are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ. But the baptism or receiving of the Holy Spirit is something that happens AFTER that. Acts 8:17-19 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." So Peter and John placed their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Notice that it does NOT say that they spoke in tongues here. However it does say that Simon "SAW" that they received the Holy Spirit. What did Simon "SEE"? What did Simon "see"? The verb translated "saw" is the Greek word idon, which means to perceive, notice, discern or discover by ANY of the senses. Simon had already seen miracles of healings and exorcisims. What did he PERCEIVE here that was different? Well most scholars, even those who don't profess to be "Pentecostal" or "charismatic" believe that what Simon perceived was the believers speaking in tongues. He thought it was so cool, he wanted to BUY this ability from Peter and John. Of course he got rebuked from it. The next account we have of someone receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts is: D) Paul receives the Holy Spirit Remember that Paul had just had an experience with Jesus on the Damascus road and had been told to go to Straight Street in Damascus. There Ananias came to pray for Paul. Acts 9:17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 9:18-19 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. It is interesting that Saul/Paul was baptized in water AFTER he was baptized in the Holy Spirit ... and Peter said to Repent and then be baptized and then receive the Holy Spirit so apparently after salvation you can be baptized in either water or the Holy Spirit first ... the order is not important.
AMEN Hez! Thanks.
Now you notice that it does NOT specifically say that Paul spoke in tongues here either, but Paul was the NT writer who "promoted" tongues you might say. He said that he wished all the believers in Corinth spoke in tongues, to forbid NOT to speak in tongues and in 1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
So according to the pattern established at the Day of Pentecost, when else would Paul have began speaking in tongues than when He received the Holy Spirit in Damascus on Straight Street? Now the next outpouring mentioned in Acts is: E) Outpouring on Gentiles at Ceasarea Acts 10:45-46 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND PRAISING GOD… Now the "circumcised" meant Jewish believers ... a lot of whom had a BIG problem with Gentiles (Non-Jews) receiving Jesus as Savior WITHOUT first becoming Jewish converts. Acts 10:47 "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." Here's another case where people became believers and received the Holy Spirit before being baptized with water. And notice that hearing them speaking in tongues and praising God was evidence that they had received the Holy Spirit. Now the last outpouring mentioned in Acts is: F) Outpouring at Ephesus Acts 19:1-2 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when [or since] you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." Paul was visiting the believers at Ephesus and asked them if they had yet received the Holy Spirit. They didn't even know Who the Holy Spirit was! I think this is one reason the gifts of the Holy Spirit are so misunderstood today ... many people don't know the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:3-4 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." And not only had they not heard of the Holy Spirit, they hadn't even been baptized in Jesus Name yet! However they WERE believers. Acts 19:5-6 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues] and prophesied. In this case they were baptized in water in Jesus' Name next, then received the Holy Spirit after Paul laid hands on them as evidenced by them speaking in tongues and prophesying.
So in Acts we have five accounts of people being filled with the Holy Spirit: at Pentecost, at Samaria, the Apostle Paul, at Caesarea and at Ephesus. In three accounts, speaking in tongues is specifically mentioned as initial evidence that they were baptized with the Holy Spirit Paul we know spoke in tongues because he said so, and following the Biblical pattern, probably when he first received the filling of the Holy Spirit. In the case of the Samaritan believers, Simon the magician perceived something different that happened when hands were laid on them and they received the Holy Spirit, something different from what ever he had seen before that was immediate and they all did ... and tongues is the best explanation for what Simon perceived. This is why many believers and commentators believe that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit. Next time we're going to talk more about tongues ... what it is... what types of tongues their are... what the purpose is, etc. So I know you all still have lots of questions ... and we will try to answer them next time. Father take the Word that was given tonight and bring understanding and enlightenment to each heart in Jesus Name. Remove the confusion and disorder, bring the peace of your Spirit into every heart and life. Mend every tear. In Jesus Name AMEN |
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