June 2016 Words of Life (Week 4)

Words of Life

 Filled with the Holy Spirit

For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.  Acts 2:39

          How can you know for sure if you have been baptized or filled with the Holy Spirit?  According to Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44, and Acts 19:6 when believers were baptized in the Holy Spirit they spoke in tongues.   Some people say that tongues is not for today based on what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:8.   “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.”  However, you must read the next 2 verses.  “For we know in part and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”  We are living in the “in part” until Jesus comes back for us.  When He does, that is when the “in part” will cease.  Paul even said in 1 Corinthians 14:5 that he wished all spoke with tongues and then in 14:18 said, “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.”  Acts 2:38-39 says that the gift of the Holy Spirit is for, “.. you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”  It is not just for some and not just the original disciples.  Speaking in tongues is for all “Christians” (John 14:15-17, 1 Corinthians 2:14).  Jesus even said in Mark 16:15-18 that those who believe will speak in new tongues.

          Another misconception is that you were filled with the Holy Spirit when you were saved.  That is possible, but not always the case.  If you read Acts 8:5-17, you will see an account of many people who heard the gospel, believed and were saved.  Yet Peter and John prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit in verse 15.  Verse 16 says, “[The Holy Spirit] had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  They were saved, but did not receive the Holy Spirit till verse 17.  You can read a similar account in Acts 19:1-6.  If you have not been filled with the Holy Spirit, keep asking the Father for It and He will give it to you (Luke 11:9-13). 

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