THE HOLY SPIRIT

(CONTINUED)

This current blog topic is not intended to give an exhaustive teaching on the person of the Holy Spirit. There is much to know and to learn concerning the Person, Work, Nature, Bible emblems, Characteristics, and Ministry of the Holy Spirit - which can be readily researched on the internet through various ministry sources.

That being said, let me briefly address another related topic concerning the Holy Spirit, which over the years has been fraught with divided and divisive opinion, each camp claiming to be able to support their personal stance with strong Biblical backing.

I refer to the subject of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and the present day operation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians Chapters 12-14.

My motivation, in part, for addressing this topic at this time, has been kick-started by my concerns raised in my mind by high profile pastor, Bible teacher and author, John Macarthur's recent "Strange Fire" book and conference. John Macarthur is a fundamentalist Calvinist, who unashamedly has for many years publicly denounced the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, and the associated manifestations or gifts of the Holy Spirit. He is a cessasionist, meaning that he is of the firm belief that with the passing of the original 12 apostles and the completion of the canon of Scripture, that not only the ministry of apostles and prophets ceased, but also the gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12-14. He even boldy asserts that the gift of "speaking in tongues", one of the hallmark features of the Pentecostal and Charismatic experience is demonic in origin. He also states that those who practise speaking in tongues and other Pentecostal or Charismatic manifestations are actually guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. As a Christian who has been firmly in the Pentecostal / Charismatic sector of the Body of Christ (the Church) for some forty four years now, for all but two years of my Christian life, I can only respond to such claims with astonishment. My reading of Jesus' words in Matthew 12 concerning blasphemy against the Holy Spirit seems to signify that attributing the work or ministry of the Holy Spirit to Satan or demons is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. To that end, I feel people such as John Macarthur are on very, very dangerous ground.
In all four Gospel accounts, John the Baptist, whom God sent as a messenger to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is recorded as saying of Jesus that it is He who would "baptize believers in the Holy Spirit" (and with fire, as stated in Matthew and Luke's accounts). This was obviously going to be a key element of His ministry to believers from the commencement of the Church age. 

In John 20, after the Resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week, He appears to ten of his disciples (Judas Iscariot had betrayed Him, and committed suicide, and Thomas was not there). In verse 21, Jesus encourages them with these words: "Peace be unto you; as my Father has sent Me, even so send I you".

Then verse 22 says: And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said unto them, "Receive the Holy Spirit". It could well be argued that this was the point in time when the Holy Spirit came to indwell the lives of the disciples in the same way that He does when any person commits his or her life to Christ, being, as the Bible says born again of the Spirit.

Were these disciples of Jesus "baptized in the Holy Spirit" at that time? No, they weren't. In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 24, again, after the Resurrection of Jesus, just before His ascension to the Father,Jesus gives this encouragement and direction to the disciples: "And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but wait in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high".
In the first chapter of the Book of Acts, Luke records these words, adding more detail to the above direction given in Luke 24.
In Acts 1: 4 it reads: And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which", He said, "you have heard from Me;
for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Jesus further said in verse 8: "But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
True to the words of Jesus, the embodiment of Truth, ten days later on the Jewish feast Day of Pentecost, which also was fifty days after the Resurrection of Jesus, as 120 of Jesus' disciples and followers (men and women) were gathered in the Upper Room, being in one accord in one place,
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 2:2-4 NKJV
The 120 in the Upper Room were the first New Testament believers to be "baptized in the Holy Spirit" by Jesus, the one who as foretold by John the Baptist would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

AH! BUT WAIT! THERE'S STILL MORE (In other words......To Be Continued).