What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Westside Christian Fellowshihp ^ | Nov. | Shane Idleman

[metmom]

This is part II in a series on the Holy Spirit

Last week I asked, “Why is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit so divisive when the Bible is crystal clear on the need for the Spirit’s power?” There is a critical need for “balance”. Many churches tend to embrace one extreme, or the other. We identified the two extremes as resembling circuses or cemeteries.

In the circus environment, anything goes. Bizarre acts are excused by thinking “the Spirit is moving.” Often, the Spirit is not moving; human emotions, and fleshly impulses are. I Corinthians 14:33 and 40 remind us, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace,” and to “let all things be done decently and in order.” God works through brokenness, humility, and full surrender, not chaos and confusion. If you have ever been to a major league game, you may have noticed that fans (all who are clearly devoted to the players) come in all shapes and sizes, and with a spectrum of personalities. They all express themselves differently. I want to be careful not to discredit this.

At the other extreme lies the cemetery. Good churches have died pursuing knowledge instead of anointing, theology instead of surrender, hermeneutics instead of holiness…you get the picture. We “stand on sound doctrine” but rarely sit under the fountain of life. We study to be powerful in the pulpit, but rarely kneel in prayer to receive the Spirit’s power.

[metmom]

Ping

[WKUHilltopper]

4 later

[DonkeyBonker]

“This “coming upon a person” is where the doctrine of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit comes from. This move of the Spirit is so powerful that people often feel that they were never saved to begin with once experiencing it.”

Jesus said to tarry after he was resurrected. 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.

And to quote Kenneth E. Hagin: Linguists tell us that there’s a word in our modern vernacular that is closer to the meaning of the Greek word translated “edify,” and that is the word “charge.” We charge a battery; we build it up. Jude 20 says, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.”

In other words, when a person prays in the Holy Spirit, he charges himself up. He builds himself up like a battery that is charged or built up.

Edifying yourself by speaking in other tongues is just one of the many blessings that God has provided through the baptism in the Holy Ghost. And this wonderful blessing, this glorious gift of the Holy Ghost, is available to every born-again believer.

[metmom]

I find that regularly staying in the Word works better.

We are to abide in Christ. This emphasis on the Holy Spirit and the constant focus on Him is misplaced. The Holy Spirit’s job is to exalt Jesus, not Himself.

Nor are we told to charge ourselves up.

We are to obey and the Holy Spirit is then free to work in us as HE sees fit.

Every believer has the Holy Spirit abiding in him and while I’m sure that speaking in tongues makes people feel better, the true fruit of a Spirit filled life is the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians; that is the character of Christ developed in us.