Receiving the Holy Spirit

[Vickilynn]

Butero said:

No, the scriptures do not say these men were considered believers in Jesus Christ. Notice what Paul says afterwards in the same passage:

vs. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

These men merely believed in the baptism of repentence of which John the Baptist taught, but Paul goes on to say that they should believe on Jesus Christ, which infers that they did not believe on Jesus Christ.

That is not what it is saying. Paul says that John the Baptist baptized with the baptism of repentance and that John the Baptist said they should believe on Christ Jesus. Remember him saying that he must decrease that Christ would increase?

Shalom Butero,

Yes, I believe what Toni posted IS what the Scriptures are saying and what Ovedya posted. These men were not Believers in Jesus. And when they DID believe, they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

[Vickilynn]

Evidence? You do realize that demons can imitate and are very good at deception.

Shalom E,

Yes, that is the truth. This is why "experience" cannot be the judging factor, only the Scriptures are the authority and truth.

[Vickilynn]

I have yet to read that the Holy Spirit baptizes us at the exact moment of conversion. It's not there.

Shalom FA,

Well, they've been given numerous times. And yes, they are there. However, if someone reads the Scriptures with already made-up minds about what they believe, then they will not be open to see anything else.

[Vickilynn]

Tongues is certainly a sgn of the presence, baptism of the Holy Spirit. You misunderstand the Scriptures. Its use is for a sign to unbelievers, but its appearance in the life of a Christian is an evidence!

You err by teaching otherwise. Understanding is faulty here in many of you.

Shalom,

<sigh> Here we go again. I guess we'd better let the Mods know we are going down the same path of ugliness again.

[Fiosh]

There's been alot of discussion about the Holy Spirit lately. When its done with love and reverence, it's a very good thing. Would anyone care to share what your Church teaches about receiving the Holy Spirit---when/how/why it occurs?

Shalom Fiosh,

I would rather share what the Scriptures say about receiving the Holy Spirit, because while churches differ in their actions and beliefs, the Scriptures do not.

This is what I believe the Scriptures say about when and how we receive the Holy Spirit:

We receive the Holy Spirit (in all fullness!) when we are born-again.

Ephesians 1:13-14

13In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded to be "baptized with the Holy Spirit." We are commanded to be filled (Ephesians 5:18), but never to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:17-19

17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart,

I believe this verse is used incorrectly as a command to be "baptized" in the Holy Spirit, it says that INSTEAD of being filled with wine, be filled with the Holy Spirit. IOW, walk in the Holy Spirit, not the flesh.

Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit when He saves us:

Mark 1:7-9

7And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

We are all baptized in the Holy Spirit when we are saved and we do receive spiritual gifts. However, not everyone has the gift of tongues. Not every person has every gift, although we all have the Holy Spirit, HE gives the individual gifts to the individuals:

1 Corinthians 12

4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

We are filled with, joined with and baptized in the Holy Spirit and into the Body of Messiah (family of G-d) when we are born-again.

1 Corinthians 12

12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

We do not receive the Holy Spirit in bits and pieces. G-d does not "fill us" partially, but FULLY!

G-d does not give us a little bit and make us ask for more, HE FILLS US with the Holy Spirit (that is baptism) and that means filled.

The word filled means to be full.

We should be concerned with how much of ourselves we are giving the Holy Spirit to do His work in our lives.

The Scriptures say plainly that we are filled with the Holy Spirit when we are saved. Jesus' sacrifice is ALL we need. We do not need "something else". Jesus has done it all and given us all. We simply need to walk in it and Him. To teach that we must ask for more diminishes the work of the Cross and renders Jesus' sacrifice as ineffective.

The Scriptures say:

Ephesians 4

4There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Hi Vickilynn,

I have 1 question and 1 comment. (If I'm repeating something that's already been discussed just point me to the approximate post number and I'll search for it.)

Question: How do you not contradict yourself when you say:

Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded to be "baptized with the Holy Spirit."

and

We are all baptized in the Holy Spirit when we are saved

and then you quote this: "but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing (sp?) only asking how you reconcile those two seemingly contradictory statements.

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Comment: I don't think any of us will ever fully understand the actions of the Holy Spirit

John 3:8 The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

It does seem from Scripture that we can receive the Holy Spirit more than once. And He works in each of us differently, blessing us with His gifts that are best suited to His purposes in us. Also, as some here have mentioned, we are more or less open to His promptings and various times in our lives.

Peace,

F

[Fiosh]

I recieved the HS when i recieved christ. And since i haven't ever been baptised by water, it can't be that act that does it.

I'm curious---why have you never been baptized???

How do you know you received the Holy Spirit? If you already explained I'll find it. I'm just getting thru the thread now.

Peace,

Fiosh

[Fiosh]

We all need to remember, we are not enemies, but FAMILY in Jesus. Yes, we may have differing views and interpretations of Scripture, but the bottom line is, we all profess to love Jesus and we should be able to discuss in love.

Amen! Preach it, sister!

[Floatingaxe]

Mark 1:8

I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Acts 1:5

for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:47

"Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"

Acts 11:16

Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

All references are for an experience of baptism of the Holy Spirit for those who have already accepted Christ in salvation. Hence another act of the Holy Spirit--after salvation. It is how it happens, except in some occasions where a person is totally yielded and so blessed with such an anointing at that time. Rare, but not impossible.

[Vickilynn]

Hi Vickilynn,

I have 1 question and 1 comment. (If I'm repeating something that's already been discussed just point me to the approximate post number and I'll search for it.)

Question: How do you not contradict yourself when you say:

Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded to be "baptized with the Holy Spirit."

and

We are all baptized in the Holy Spirit when we are saved

and then you quote this: "but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing (sp?) only asking how you reconcile those two seemingly contradictory statements.

Shalom Fiosh,

Good questions!

Actually, I was countering the assertions by others that we are commanded to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

My statement shows we already ARE when we are born-again, it is not something we seek after we are born-again.

I was not contradicting myself, I was supporting my position by saying it was already done, when we were saved. We are not commanded to seek it AGAIN.

That's what I was saying, does that clear it up for you?

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Comment: I don't think any of us will ever fully understand the actions of the Holy Spirit

John 3:8 The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

I agree. The Holy Spirit is G-d and we cannot ever fully comprehend Him and His ways, they are much higher than ours and our understanding is limited.

It does seem from Scripture that we can receive the Holy Spirit more than once.

I don't see that we receive Him more than once, just like we don't receive salvation more than once. However, as we submit ourselves to Him, He will work more and more in our lives.

And He works in each of us differently, blessing us with His gifts that are best suited to His purposes in us. Also, as some here have mentioned, we are more or less open to His promptings and various times in our lives.

I agree.

[Fiosh]

I believe pretty much the same why Vickilynn stated above. When we believe the Holy Spirit resides in us, and He is always with us. Sometimes we listen when He speaks and sometimes we don't, but He is always there.

When does your denom teach that you actually receive the Holy Spirit?