5: You Need the Holy Spirit
Christianity is so much more than holding a certain set of beliefs. It is infinitely more than joining a religious organization. Christians have the privilege of a personal, tangible interaction with God. The agent of contact, the One who keeps it real, is the Holy Spirit. The Bible provides for every Christian to have an experience with the Holy Spirit just like those in the book of Acts. This is called being baptized, or filled, with the Spirit. Jesus said this would bring power to tell others about Him. Paul tells us it provides a way to pray when we don’t know how. The Holy Spirit is the Person who keeps our faith from hardening into ritual. Without His supernatural help, religious form sets in. The Holy Spirit Baptism helps us keep our faith vibrant and vital.
Three Big Ideas to Remember:
1. After salvation, there is a second experience with the Spirit. The Spirit dwells in every believer (John 14:17). In Acts 1:1-4 Jesus tells born again people that before they go out to preach the Gospel they should be baptized with the Spirit. In verse 8 He tells them they will receive power when the Spirit comes upon them. This sequence, Spirit within then Spirit upon, is typical of the early church: Acts 2:2-4 / 8:4-19 / 9:17-18 /10:44-48 / 19:1-7.
2. Being baptized with the Holy Spirit brings power:
Power to be a witness: The Spirit empowers us to give witness (evidence) of the resurrection of Christ (Mark 16:14-20). This power, or ability, enables us to pray for the sick, cast out demons, and do other works of spiritual power demonstrating that Jesus is really alive. It also gives us a new boldness in proclaiming our faith. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 / Romans 15:18-21 / I Thessalonians 1:5 / Hebrews 2:4 / Luke 24:49 / Acts 5:31-31 / I Peter 1:12 / Acts 4:5-13.
Power to worship: The Spirit brings new life to our worship. Acts 2:12-16 / Ephesians 5:18 / Colossians 3:16 / 1 Corinthians 14:15 I will sing with the Spirit.
Power to pray: I receive a new language from God. By praying in other tongues, I am able to pray the perfect will of God, even when I don’t know what to pray for. It actually builds me up while I pray. 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4, 15, 39 / Romans 8:26-27.
3. You can receive the baptism with the Spirit by faith:
Mk 11:24. Faith begins where the will of God is known. Once I see it in the Bible, I can ask and believe I receive when I pray.
Acts 2:1-4. When the Spirit comes upon us, all are filled and speak with tongues (unknown languages). No one is left out! Notice the people do the speaking. You have to open your mouth and speak by faith. The Spirit supplies the words.
Luke 11:9-13. It is a certainty, ask and you will receive. If you are born again, then God is your Father. You will never receive any wrong Spirit. The Father passionately wants you to have the Spirit. Your only job is to ask Him, believing you receive when you pray.
Somebody said: “If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.” A.W. Tozer
Here’s the Point: God has provided us with His Spirit to give us ability to live for Him. This empowerment is available to every Christian. If God thought you needed it, then you need it.
Action Steps: Read through the references in the Book of Acts where folks were filled with the Spirit (See Section 1) Ask the Father to fill you according to Luke 11:13. (See Section 3 above) If you have questions or you get stuck, obtain and read the mini-book The Bible Way to Receive the Holy Spirit by Kenneth Hagin. Find a church that teaches and practices the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
To watch the full video of this lesson, click You Need the Holy Spirit.
Click Here for the next lesson: Communion is Not a Religious Ritual.
(Contact us at fcftoffice@fcftucson.org for info on books and available churches, or any questions you may have regarding the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.)
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