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Topic: Baptism of the Holy Spirit
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Michael Harrison
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posted
But I still like you Les. Good teacher!
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Michael Harrison
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![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Back to the parable of the talents:
The guy who would only dip his toe was the man who accepted Christ as his savior.
The man who got the five talents, the 'wader', got the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
But Les referred to the experience as a feeling. Let me tell you Les, that it does not qualify. For if it is a feeling (which is unfortunately the only way that people know how to describe it) it is not one that you will be familiar with no matter if you live two lifetimes or a hundred. It isn't possible, for it only comes from the fearful, Living God! Amen? Amen!!!
Blessed is He forevermore!
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Michael Harrison
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I listened to Les Feldick today. I like Les. He is such a good Bible teacher. He is plain and straight forward, and often reinforces what he is currently reading by drawing from other places in scripture to help set up what he is saying.
Now I know that Les does not believe in Pentecost as being relevant today. I know this by the way that he says that it is “Faith and nothing else,” when he teaches, implying that faith alone is all that is necessary to salvation. But today he laid out the bare inner workings of his belief on this as he read through 1 Corinthians. It was so sad to hear him limit God by his understanding, and I will say something about that.
But in typical Les Feldick fashion, he used the book of Acts to reinforce what Corinthians was teaching about Pentecost and the gifts according to the way that he understood it. It was funny for me to hear him elaborate on, and rationalize away something with which I am familiar, and can testify to as current realty of the operation of the Holy Spirit of our God. Yet he teaches so well otherwise.
In today's lesson he drew attention to where the Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred as recorded in the book of Acts. In chapter two he pointed out where the original visitation occurred. Then in chapter ten, illustrated that Peter was addressing some gentiles when the Spirit fell upon them also, to the astonishment of some. Later, in chapter nineteen there were some Jews who had been through the baptism of John, which he illustrated, was a baptism of repentance only. Of course the baptism of John was accompanied by water immersion, a symbol of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. For John himself witnessed that the one who will come after him will baptize in the Holy Ghost.
But Les saw all of this very differently, as he explains it, from the way that I see it. He explained away these events as never occurring after this originally recorded. He rationalized utterance as being limited to these timely, and profound events, and that there was a specific audience that the very utterances were designed for, to be found in that very hour only. He did away with apostles. Prophecy he compromised to simply being the speaking of the word as it is written for us to read (as though that fits the definition). So this illustrates something about one’s understanding, if I get to it.
But it is ever so funny. Really! I have come to a humorous conclusion about the differences between members of the body of Christ who have the profound experience, unmistakably of God’s design and calling, such as I am familiar with, and those who limit God to the satisfaction of their own limited understanding by having their security bound up safely in the worldly, rather than the other-worldly when it comes to investing one’s confidence in matters concerning knowing the Lord. For such is the case of one who trusts their own searching and interpretation of scripture in these matters.
In fact, I do not know how that these can declare such things (such as I myself relate to as real), not to be fact, or substantive. One stands on the most precarious ground there is, when he states such things, and emphatically states it, and thereby limits certain others from searching the matter out for themselves.
For I see that the gentiles received this gift of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit there in chapter ten of Acts. To me this spells out that God spilled over out of Israel, and into the future generations of both Jew and Gentile alike. For if it went this far, then why would it stop there. Besides, I am living proof. Careful what you say, for you will be judged by every idle word!
And to reinforce this notion of being immersed into God himself by His outpouring of His own Holy Spirit which He gives to those who ask, the Jews in chapter nineteen of Acts were themselves incredulous that this gift was given to the gentiles also. All were amazed. So why would this be the abrupt stopping point of this miraculous gift of His Love which He longs to pour out??? Why would any be amazed that this is considered to be ongoing, to the extent that they flatly deny it? Well! They are insecure! They want only something that they can solidly feel beneath their feet, for their confidence, not something of 'faith', which they are not sure that they can trust. No! No light and airy floating around with the angels for this crowd, even if God himself wants it this way. They want their feet on the ground.
Now that leads me to the parable of the talents. I have illustrated this before. But there are three conditions of belief illustrated therein. One is of someone who believes in the Lord, who is only willing to put his big toe into the swimming pool. Another is the one who is willing to go wading. Alas, the third is the one who will take the dive. But the one who is willing only to test the water with his big toe, invests no confidence in the Lord His God. And we know that God embraces those who invest in Him, so the toe dipper is in danger of losing what he has so far acquired. When you put your hand to the plow, keep on plowing; or in the case of the swimmer, get baptized. Get wet!!! Amen! God loves you and this is one way He shows it. Will you tell Him no?
Anyway, when you come to the Lord Jesus by believing on His Name to surrender yourself to Him by faith, you receive the Spirit of God. Indeed! By this manner you are “Born Again.” But I have come to this humorous conclusion concerning where different people are in their walk with the Lord. You Methodist and Lutherans will love this one. The difference between you, and the likes of me is that you are only willing to get sprinkled! When it comes to the Spirit of the Most High, those with whom I associate get dunked! Amen? Amen!
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Isaiah
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(not in response to any particular post)
Water baptism was not replaced by baptism of the spirit. After Christ died and the spirit was made widely available after that noteworthy Pentecost in Acts, water baptism was no less important or practiced, but it then forward PRECEDED the laying on of hands and the receiving -God willing -of God's spirit WITHIN one (though God's spirit was UPON some under other circumstances -there is a difference).
In Acts 9, Christ personally tells Saul to go to a certain place and receive instruction -when he gets there -after receiving his sight again -he is instructed first to be baptised.
and we read in the previous chapter...
Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16 (For as yet he (it) was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
I really don't understand why people want to do away with it or diminish its importance -it never ceased -never decreased -in fact it (water baptism) increased after Christ died!
Men -without God's authority -have thrown his holy days aside, his sabbath, his commandments, his spirit... what among those things which our example in all things -not to mention the new testament church long after his death -did and taught do we have left????
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Thunderz7
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John truly baptized with H2O,
but
Jesus will do otherwise.
Consider the water of life, the living water, the river that flows from The Throne;
come on out past the ankle deep,
past the knee deep,
past the debth of the loins,
come to water to swim in;
Rev. 22:2 calls it a street!
T7
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Isaiah
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Excellent point about seeing baptism as the end-all be-all, so to speak, as it is just the beginning and even a time of great vulnerability.
We know from scripture there was a difference between baptisms before Christ -which those in Acts called the baptism of John -and baptisms after the pentecost of Acts 2 -after the comforter -God's spirit -had been given and made available to many.
Act 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Act 18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
Act 18:25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
(not that the spirit was in him yet -many great things were done by those who had the spirit with them -but not yet in them)
Act 19:2 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.
Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Act 19:4 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.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.
1Pe 5:11 To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
...and lions attack the young and ailing first.
Mar 11:21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Mar 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
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Michael Harrison
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Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
Way back in the old days...
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Michael Harrison
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The trouble with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, if there is such a thing (as trouble with it, which there is no such), is that once the person receives this, they stop there. They think that they have arrived. One author that I have read likens this to remaining in the nursery. They know the baptism of love, which is inexplicable, but they still don't know Jesus as they should. And they are entertained by manifestations that accompany believers in meetings with those who have this same blessing. But they don't see past this to the blessor. It is nearly impossible to tell them, for they consider such to be a heretic. This is what Chip experienced.
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Isaiah
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Adamant? Immovable. I am not trying to convince any that the spirit is not a person, but rather show that not all believe the spirit is a third God person, as some have not heard differently... just as some have never heard that the sabbath is not sunday. I have proven these things, and speak of them in case some have not heard -but it is not my responsibility to make any believe. People will believe what they believe, and God will cause people to understand as he sees fit. I can only write about what I have read, believe and, more importantly, have experienced.
I have known people who believed many things, but as for the spirit, I know those who have it by their fruits.... I have seen those things quoted from the bible in my previous post happen with those who believe the spirit to be God's -not a third person -who have sincerely repented, begun to sincerely keep the commandments, been baptised, etc....and have not seen them with those who believe otherwise.
As for acts 10....
Notice that -though the spirit fell upon those, this is not to say that the spirit was yet in them -as it says it is first with -then in -one.
Peter had just received a vision concerning these gentiles on which the spirit would soon fall(not actually about food). It was a brand new thing for gentiles to be considered ...their speaking in tongues was as much to tell the non-gentiles that the gentiles were to be included as anything else -as those who heard it among the circumcision were amazed! God was telling them it was ok -and notice they were THEN BAPTIZED. So -even if you are not sure whether the spirit was with or in them, we still need to do those things which our examples did -this also helps avoid doubt ... repentance, baptism, laying on of hands of God's minister -receiving the spirit... in all righteousness. These acts are for our benefit -that we might understand and not doubt -physical symbols of spiritual things -but definitely to be done.
It was even Peter who had said...
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Even Christ had to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness, though he certainly -being God -already had God's holy spirit... but for men it is not at belief, not at baptism, but at the laying on of hands afterward, that the spirit is put WITHIN one -though it is with one -God calls them by his spirit -before this time.....
1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
(note "he" here again due to translation) Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Notice also in this chapter that Simon was baptized but certainly did not receive the spirit. One's heart must first be right with God.
Act 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Act 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
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Eden
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Whatever the hypotheses and theories and scholarship may be around the subject of water baptism, when I began to think that there might be some advantage to getting myself baptized in water, I had myself baptized in water very fast.
Then water baptism was for me, as it said in the ![[Bible]](graemlins/bible.gif) :
Acts 8
36 And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said {to Philip}, See, here is water; what {if anything} still hinders me to be baptized?
37 Then Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he {the eunuch} commanded the chariot to stand still: and they {both} went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Whatever the hyptheses and theories and scholarship may be around the subject of water baptism, when I began to think that there might be some advantage to getting myself baptized in water, I had myself baptized in water very fast.
a wet eden, but a water-baptized eden, whatever that may mean exactly
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Michael Harrison
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But Jesus says specifically to "ASK," for something that is indicated by His aluding to it in the same passage. What is so hard to understand about this? One can settle for less, and make that argument before the judge on that final day; but will He not ask if you received all that He died to give you? Some have no shame whatsoever. These are they who prevent others from entering in, and do not enter themselves.
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WildB
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Read Acts 10, concerning the account of Peter taking the gospel (which saves, Romans 1:16), to Cornelius and the Gentiles. As Peter proceeds through the gospel message (vs. 34-43), the Scriptures relate that the gift of the Holy Spirit was received upon believing by these Gentiles before they were baptized in water (10:44-48; 11:17-18). Additionally, the Scripture teaches that this is the same way all are saved (Acts 11:15-18, 15:7-11).
http://www.watchman.org/reltop/baptism.htm
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That is all.....
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Isaiah
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Water baptism does not guarantee one will receive God's spirit.
We know this from scripture, as some who were of the 'baptism of John" -water baptism for the remission of sins ... were baptised AGAIN after the holy spirit was made available to many (the comforter -after that noteable pentecost) -though also water baptism (which is to be preceded by true repentance)for the remission of sins, it was followed by the laying on of hands by Christ's ministers -at which time -God willing -God puts his spirit in one.
1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Act 19:2 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.
Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Act 19:4 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.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 19:7 And all the men were about twelve.
Water baptism symbolizes the death of the old man and the cleansing of the vessel in which God will put his spirit.
We know that the spirit is first with -then in -one. God calls them by his spirit -and eventually puts his spirit in them.
(In the following, and in many verses about the spirit, the words for "he", "whom", etc... can also -and should -be translated "it" and "which", etc... as the spirit is not God -it is God's....which is why he said he would pour out his spirit.)
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Joh 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
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Michael Harrison
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Hey one! Well I never thought that I had a testimony (I keep spelling it testamony).
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oneinchrist
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Hi Michael,
My friend in the Lord, thanks for sharing your testimony of faith in Jesus.
With love in Christ, Daniel
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Michael Harrison
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quote:
Luke 11:13
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them who ask Him?
This illustrates my earlier post. I was saved. The Holy Spirit came in fullness when I asked. Yet I didn't ask. I submitted myself not having a clue about this, which was inchildlike trust. It was the same as asking which is what this verse says to do.
There are many who will not ask. They will refuse without any further ado, satisfied that they are already qualified in their walk. This is what i mean by "It is faith and something else. It is faith and receiving all that He is to you."
Those who refuse this council, and who reject those who do, fight against the Kingdom.
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Michael Harrison
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I have learned not to put God in a box as though everyone must match this description. However, this is my testimony: I was saved one day when a missionary named Grace, led me in the sinners prayer. That day I knew that Jesus was real. However, a few weeks later I was compelled to go into a separate room where a group of people who had just been singing and witnessing on stage, were praying for people, for whatever the need. They laid hands on me and what happened was so exciting and profound that words are meaningless. This was the washing of regeneration. Jesus was more real by magnitude than He was on the day I believed. (I will not discuss the subject of utterance. It is too disconcerting for some sheep.) Moreover, "From glory to glory He is changing me," and it din't stop there.
Those who seek to justify themselves will give lengthy dissertations of what is to them, logic. What happened to me though, on that day separated me from a lot of other people. It separated me unto Him. This is where one each and every one should be. Note that scripture says that "We are a pecular people." The proud, who walk before men don't want this to be so. Therefore they will not subject themselves to what I have just expressed as being of Him.
But Eden, with love, I place no importance on water baptism. I was baptized in a cow pond eventually. It was a blessing to be. But it has nothing to do with one's salvation. It is a gesture. It represents - Pentecost. It does not bring it. It is a type and shadow of things to come.
But Pentecost meant that I knew the love of Christ in an unshakable, undeniable way. It was the love of God poured out upon me from head to toe. I didn't get it by works.
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oneinchrist
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Hi Homedude 47,
Interesting question. You are asking if baptism of the Holy Spirit ACCOMPANIES water baptism?
Homedude 47, please listen to me. What the most important thing is ..........is that baptism(water or not) ACCOMPANIES naming the Name above all names....Jesus Christ. That is the only Name by which a man may receive forgiveness of sin and the only Name by which a man may receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
With love in Christ, Daniel
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becauseHElives
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Eden has the most complete answer.
Carol the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a one time deal. The scriptures commands the child of Yahweh to be continually being filled with the Spirit everyday, just as we are commanded to take up our cross everyday.
I can only receive what I can use for the day, just as the children in the wilderness could only gather what was needed of the manna needed for the day and in reference to Yahshua's words pray for your daily bread.
Warren Wiersbe’s is wrong about the baptism of the Holy Spirit never happening again,while it is true nothing is ever exactly the same twice, the outpouring of the Spirit is recorded happening several times in scripture (new testament) and many times in Church history.
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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Eden
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Hi, homedude47. You said quote:
I'd like to know if you believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit accompanies water baptism, and why.
Thanks.
I think it can, but I think access to the Holy Spirit is received immediately upon salvation even before a believer decides to get water baptized.
Luke 11:13
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them who ask Him?
Here the Holy Spirit is given just for "asking for it".
On the other hand, Peter said:
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Assuming Peter meant "baptized in water in the name" of Jesus, then Peter said that they would receive the Holy Spirit "afterwards".
However, there are examples of people receiving the Holy Spirit "without prior water baptism", like the Cornelius group of friends:
Acts 11
14 Who shall tell you words whereby you and all your house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how He said, John indeed baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Now, I think that when I believe I immediately receive access to the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit quickens my spirit by coming to live inside of me.
But, whether the "baptism in the Holy Spirit" is a different thing than the above 2 things, that I'm not sure of. I think there may be a baptism of the Holy Spirit to the extent that I have been able to "get out of the way of God". There are times when I sing to God that I break into weeping about what God has done for me and is doing for me, and I suppose there is a "fall down to the ground" kind of immersion when a believer becomes "immersed in God".
But whether baptism with the Holy Spirit means something more than having access to the Spirit again, which I think starts at salvation to help the believer, and having my spirit quickened immediately which I am saved because that also has to happen at the start of a believer's salvation, whether baptism with the Holy Spirit is more than that, I'm not sure of as yet.
with love, eden
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Eden
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Hi, Michael Harrison. You said quote:
It could. I am not aware of anyone who has that testimony. Generally, water baptism is symbolic. It is a blessing, but not a legal requrement, and beyond the symbolism, all that you do is get wet.
But I do think that when a believer puts the Biblical pieces properly together, like an enigma or puzzle, as the pieces of God's Word fall in their correct place, including water baptism, then the believer can see and experience a deeper level with God, as it were, the "next" level with God, of the whole picture that God has in Mind.
And water baptism is one of the pieces of that puzzle. It is saying that God has not only saved that person through the initial "prayer of salvation", but the saved believer now also understands himself much more of WHAT God has actually done for the believer on the cross, including being "put in Christ" and being "buried with Christ" and "rising again in Christ".
It is one thing for the believer to be saved. It is much more, like a divine puzzle filling in, when the believer himself also mentally and emotionally realizes the things that he has IN Christ.
And so the believer "buries himself because he sees that he is dead in Christ", and to do this, the believer has himself "baptized in water", to signify to God and to the angels and to men, that he knows what God has done for him, in Christ.
Angles beware, and men beware, because those realiztions deepen the relationship with their God, and increase the usefulness of these believers to God.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman who needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Michael Harrison, to repeat what you said quote:
It could. I am not aware of anyone who has that testimony. Generally, water baptism is symbolic. It is a blessing, but not a legal requrement, and beyond the symbolism, all that you do is get wet.
Understanding water baptism is one of those deeper truths that enhance our relationship with God, and increase our "usefulness" to God.
with love, eden
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Carol Swenson
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Warren Wiersbe’s “Be” Series: Old & New Testaments
When a person trusts Christ as his Saviour, he is immediately baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). Nowhere in the New Testament are we commanded to be baptized by the Spirit, because this is a once-for-all experience that takes place at conversion . When the Spirit came at Pentecost, the believers were baptized by the Spirit and thus the body of Christ was formed (Acts 1:4-5). But they were also “filled with the Spirit” (Acts 2:4), and it was this filling that gave them the power they needed to witness for Christ (Acts 1:8). In Acts 2, the Jewish believers were baptized by the Spirit, and in Acts 10 the Gentile believers had the same experience (Acts 10:44-48; 11:15-17). Thus the body of Christ was made up of Jews and Gentiles (Eph. 2:11-22). That historic baptism, in two stages, has never been repeated any more than Calvary has been repeated. But that baptism is made personal when the sinner trusts Christ and the Spirit enters in to make him a member of the body of Christ. The baptism of the Spirit means that I belong to Christ’s body. The filling of the Spirit means that my body belongs to Christ.
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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Michael Harrison
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Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Mat 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Mat 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
This passage from Luke indicates one is to specifically to ask:
Luk 11:7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
Luk 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
Luk 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Luk 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Luk 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Luk 11:12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Realize also that John the Baptist said of Jesus:
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
Lest any limit the saying of verse Mat 3:11 to a particular time.
Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007
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Michael Harrison
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It could. I am not aware of anyone who has that testimony. Generally, water baptism is symbolic. It is a blessing, but not a legal requrement, and beyond the symbolism, all that you do is get wet.
Concerning Pentecost, scriptures says to ask for it. Some churchs however have experienced it falling on the entire congregation. Some have been split down the middle. And one little ol lady in a dry church told a friend once that that must have been what happened to her. But she didn't know what it was really until my friend brought it up and explained it to her. No one in her congregation knew what she was talking about.
YOu will never be the same afterwards, for it testifies of Christ in a way that expresses His love and security beyond words. Let's leave it at that.
Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007
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homedude47
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I'd like to know if you believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit accompanies water baptism, and why.
Thanks,
homedude47
Posts: 2 | From: Salem, OR | Registered: Feb 2008
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