The Power Of The Holy Spirit

Acts 8, beginning at verse 14: "Now when the apostles were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: for as yet he was fallen upon none of them". They were believers but they did not have the baptism. "(...Only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost". Next is the case of Paul himself in acts 9. He was smitten on the road to Damascus. When he was smitten on the road to Damascus, he said, "Who art thou, Lord?... And what wilt thou have me to do"? And you know the conversation that he and the Lord had.

How do you know that Paul was saved there? Because the Bible says, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved". Paul is saying, "Who art thou, Lord... And what wilt thou have me to do"? How many of you recognize that is surrender? I do. Then in acts 9:17, Paul goes to the house of Ananias, who had come from the prayer meeting over at the Cornerstone Church. And Ananias said, "Brother Paul, the Lord told me that you were coming". And he put his hands upon him and scales fell off of his eyes, because the Jewish people are judicially blinded from the identity of who Jesus Christ is. And the scales fell off of his eyes and he received the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, as the Word of God describes in that verse of scripture.

The seventh Bible evidence is in Acts 19:2. Acts 19:2, turn to that please. "And he said unto them, have you received", read it with me, "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed"? Do you see that? How many of you can see in that simple verse of scripture there is two experiences here? "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed"? You believe first, and then the Holy Ghost came second. "And when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came upon them: and they spake with tongues and prophesied". Continue. Matthew 3:11, this is the eighth verse.

And you say, "Pastor, why are you teaching this in such a belabored fashion"? Because many of you have had it drilled into your brain that once you get saved, that's really fundamentally supernaturally all there is. If you can cross this bridge, I'm going to open the door for you into a whole world of the supernatural signs and wonders of God. But I'm trying to break you out of an intellectual prison that you've been incarcerated by tradition, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. That's why I'm dwelling on this to such length.

Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist is speaking. "I indeed baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than i... He (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire". How many of you can recognize that as a separate experience from water baptism? The ninth evidence, Acts 1:4 and 5. "For John baptized with water: but before many days, you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit". That is the ninth verse. Here is the tenth biblical evidence in Ephesians 1:13. Paul is reminding the gentile Christians of how they became Christians. "In whom ye also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth", do you hear that? "After that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom after you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise," Ephesians 1:13.