Title: Baptism of the Holy Spirit
“Examples of People Filled”
Text: Acts 1:8
I want to spend the next few weeks on a subject that has become neglected amongst Pentecostal churches. It is a subject and doctrine that we were founded upon. I want to spend some extensive time on “The Baptism of the Holy Ghost.” Some of you may wonder why I spend so much of my time preaching series. It would be very egotistical of me to think that because you hear a message once, you will always remember it. I am not that good of a preacher. So, I preach series to help you understand a subject and to get it deep within our hearts.
Every message should have one goal in mind. We learned this in homiletics class. Well this series has two goals in mind. First, that every one that is not filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues will be before this series is over. The next goal is to have every believer that does have the Holy Ghost receive a deeper revelation of what that Holy Ghost will do for you. This is the most powerful subject that we could ever preach because if you truly receive what I will give you over the next few weeks it will change your life.
I am not going to give an altar call for the baptism of the Holy Ghost because we receive the Holy Ghost by faith. Faith comes from hearing the Word. I want to be sure you hear the Word and increase your faith and are ready to receive when that time comes. It may be against our religious customs, but I believe this is what the Lord wants me to do. So, those that have never received the baptism, you need to be here every service this message is preached, even if that means coming out on a Sunday night when you normally don’t. You need to hear this Word.
We used to say that we are a Pentecostal church and be so proud of that fact, but I am not so much proud that we are Pentecostal as I am that we are Spirit filled. North America is filled with dead, dried up, Pentecostal churches. I don’t care if we are Pentecostal, however, I do care that we are Spirit filled. You can be Pentecostal and still be dead, but you can’t be Spirit-filled and be dead. It is impossible.
I will stop rambling and get on with the message. The infilling of the Holy Ghost should be our pattern today. I have heard some people say that the Holy Ghost is not preached on often enough. I agree 100%. However, there is a whole Bible to preach and if you give me enough years as your Pastor I will attempt to preach the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible. This morning I want to take a journey through the book of Acts and find some different instances where people were filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. In order to do this series justice, we must start at the beginning.
Just before Jesus ascends to heaven we see this great scene:
Acts 1:4-5; “And, being assembled together with them, (Jesus) commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
We see a little later what happened on the day of Pentecost:
Acts 2:1-4; ¶ “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
We learn from the day of Pentecost that speaking with other tongues is the initial sign of receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost. We see this in several other instances that we are going to cover this morning as well. After the day of Pentecost, the disciples did great exploits for the kingdom. They saw souls saved, bodies healed, people raised from the dead. Amazing! I want to go over some different instances throughout the book of Acts where we see believers receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
I. BELIEVERS FILLED IN SAMARIA
The events in the book of Acts cover a number of years. Eight years after the day of Pentecost we see Philip carrying the gospel to the people of Samaria.
Acts 8:5-8, 12; “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”
Would you say that these men and women received salvation that day? Absolutely! I want to clear some misconception up before we move on any further with the Holy Ghost. There is an experience after salvation which is the infilling of the Holy Ghost. There are two wrong beliefs that linger in the house this morning. The first wrong belief is when you get saved you receive the Holy Ghost with no evidence of tongues. The second wrong belief that some have is the belief that you are not saved until you speak in tongues. One is just as wrong as the other one. I am here to set you all straight this morning.
Jesus said; Mark 16:15-16; “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
These Samaritans believed and were baptized. Were they saved? According to Jesus they were.
If you believe you are saved. This message series is not about getting you saved, it is about getting you to the next level of your walk with the Lord.
When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard of the wonderful things God had done through Philip’s ministry in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to lay hands on the new converts that they might receive the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:14-17; ¶ “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”
Now some who object to speaking with tongues argue that the Bible doesn’t mention the Samaritans spoke with tongues when they received the Holy Ghost. But, it doesn’t say that they didn’t speak with tongues either. I find it is apparent from this passage that they did speak with other tongues. Listen:
Acts 8:18-19; “And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.”
According to Acts 8:9, this was Simon the sorcerer. The Bible says; “When Simon saw…” You can’t see the Holy Ghost. He is a Spirit and cannot be seen with the physical eye. Right? There had to be some physical sign that Simon saw that would cause him to know they had received the Holy Ghost. Simon had to have seen something with his natural senses in order to know that these men were baptized with the Holy Ghost. All evidence points towards one thing and that is speaking in tongues. So, the people in Samaria were filled with the Holy Ghost after they believed, not in order to believe, but after they believed.
II. BELIEVERS FILLED IN CORNELIUS’ HOUSEHOLD
About ten years after the Day of Pentecost the Word tells us about Peter going to the house of Cornelius to carry the gospel.
Acts 10:44-46; ¶ “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.”
Notice that it was the speaking with tongues which convinced Peter’s company that these Gentiles had received the Holy Ghost. The Jewish believers were amazed that this Holy Ghost could be given to the Gentiles also. That means that the Holy Ghost is for everyone who believes. The believers were filled in Samaria, in the house of Cornelius and also:
III. BELIEVERS FILLED IN EPHESUS
Eight years after the Day of Pentecost they were filled in Samaria, ten years after Pentecost, they were filled in the house of Cornelius. Now we have twenty years after the Day of Pentecost Paul journeyed to Ephesus. There he met some people and introduced them to the Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:1-6; ¶ “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”
As we see from the verses above, these believers at Ephesus had never heard about the Holy Ghost. But when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon them and they spoke with tongues. Every one of them spoke with tongues without waiting, without tarrying, without praising; they just all spoke with tongues as the Spirit gave them the utterance. Isn’t that amazing! I find it amazing that we Pentecostals feel we need to wait and tarry for the Holy Ghost when the only time Jesus told anyone to wait for it was in the upper room. Every other experience, they received it almost instantly. These people at Ephesus never heard of the Holy Ghost. I think sometimes it would be easier to receive it if we didn’t have all the religious junk to sort through in our heads.
IV. PAUL’S INFILLING OF THE SPIRIT
Paul, who laid hands on these folks in Ephesus, was previously known as Saul of Tarsus. The account of his experience of receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost is found in the following:
Acts 9:10-12, 17; ¶ “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”
Paul received the Holy Ghost immediately. He didn’t have to tarry or wait for it. He received instantly. Some people say, “it doesn’t say he spoke with tongues.” Although it does not say right there that he spoke with tongues it does say in I Corinthians 14:18; “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more then ye all.” We know he didn’t start speaking with tongues before he received the Holy Ghost, so, it shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out when he started speaking in tongues. He started when he received the baptism, just as the rest of us did. Tongues go along with the baptism.
Speaking with tongues is an initial, supernatural sign or evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. We are going to see great things from this series.
