Monday, 12 September 2011

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

 Many of us are familiar with baptism by water, but not so with the baptisms that Jesus Christ was to give, that of the Holy Spirit and of fire. Last Semester I did a survey on the Baptism of Holy Spirit with approximately 30 believers from various Churches Denomination; 50% believe that they have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and believe that speak in tongues as initially evidence baptism of Holy Spirit; 30% do not believe in the baptism of Holy Spirit and speak in tongues is not the initially sign baptism of Holy Spirit and 20% did not know anything about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.


I believe as follower of Christ Jesus we need to be baptize in the Holy Spirit and I believe speak in tongue is one of the initially evidence of baptism of Holy Spirit (others signs is prophesy) this is in line with the Word of God in Acts 9: 6 in the day of Pentecost after the Apostles were baptize by the Holy Spirit the bible say they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2: 4). Act 19:6 and when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. Raymond Carlson in his book “The Acts Story: the Work of the Holy Spirit in the Early church” also claimed that speaking in tongues is the one sign repeated in each instance when believers received the baptism in the Spirit

With the Biblical teaching I believe that baptism of Holy Spirit play an important role in our life and ministry as a body of Christ. This is to:
1. To empower us to perform the duties of the ministry Jesus has entrusted to us.
2. The gift of HS is to unite us in diversity

3 comments:

  1. I am in total agreement with what you have penned. But in reality, we see people 'receiving' the baptism but no external evidence of speaking in tongues. In many cases 'stammering lips' (Isa.28:11) are accepted as initial evidence and the speaking in tongues as something that will develop naturally as the person continues being filled in the Holy Spirit. Any input?

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  2. Then how can we know that the person receiving the Baptism of Holy Spirit without external evidence? and how the speak in tongue can be develop naturally in person without being baptize in the Holy Spirit first?
    Because the Bible clearly teach us that "they began to speak in tongues after they receive the Baptism of Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4 ; 19: 6).
    My point here is speak in is not something that will develop naturally without receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit because the Bible clearly say "they ONLY speak in tongues after they receive the Baptism of Holy Spirit." HOWEVER the person could have seemed to pray in tongues just because they are influenced by friends who prayed beside him in tongues. :D

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  3. The filling of the Holy Spirit starts from one that hunger and thirst for it and a true believer in Jesus or else one will not understand the way of the Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit convicts and touch our inner soul where no one can understands or describes, is the inner witness between you and God.

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