You shall receive power 3

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You shall receive power 3

By Ivan Ho   27 Aug 2017

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:1‭-‬4 NKJV

The coming of the Holy Spirit was a fulfilment of what Jesus promised His disciples, that He would send the Holy Spirit to earth as their Helper after the Ascension of Jesus.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

John 16:7 NKJV

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came and filled everyone who were in the upper room. They all received the power of the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

There are some myths surrounding what Jesus calls ‘baptism of the Holy Spirit’ that need to be addressed:

Myth 1. Everyone who are born again in Christ are filled with the Holy Spirit.

This idea is only partly true in the sense that some believers are filled with the Holy Spirit at the same time they heard  and received the word of God. This happened in the following incidence as recorded in the book of Acts:

“To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? ” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Acts 10:43‭-‬48 NKJV

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came and filled all those who received the word. Peter was preaching: “through the name of Jesus, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” The people heard the word and responded with faith and at that moment, the Holy Spirit came and filled them and they began to speak in tongues. The speaking of tongues, which is the language of the Holy Spirit, was evidence that they were baptised with the Holy Spirit. The filling of the Holy Spirit happened at the same time when they received Jesus in faith.

For most believers, however, myself included, baptism with the Holy Spirit happens some time after we are born again in Christ, as exemplified by the following incidence in Acts 8:

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:14‭-‬17 NKJV

Note that on this occasion, the Bible says: “For as yet He (the Holy Spirit) had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Realising that people in Samaria had received the word of God, the apostles Peter and John laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

The above scriptures shows that just because someone is a born again believer and baptised in water does not mean he or she has been baptised with the Holy Spirit.

John the baptist, who preached a message of repentence, said:

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Matthew 3:11 NKJV

The Holy Spirit reveals and leads us to Jesus so that we may become born again in Christ. He then fills us with His power so that we can become effective witness of Jesus. The first experience is one of being born again in the Spirit whereas the second experience is one of empowerment by the Holy Spirit! They are two distinct spiritual experiences that happen to the believers of Christ, sometimes at the moment they become born again, but usually some time after they accepted Jesus.

The people who gathered at the upper room were all disciples of Jesus who had been following Him for some time but they had not yet received the power of the Holy Spirit until the day of Pentecost.

When the day of Pentecost had fully come, the fire of the Holy Spirit came upon them and immediately they began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

You shall receive power 4

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