Baptism In The Holy Spirit (Number Two)
Baptism In The Holy Spirit (Number Two)
A few years ago The National Catholic Reporter, an official
organ of the Roman Catholic Denomination reported, "At the
private gatherings, a growing number of Catholics have been
experiencing the same 'baptism in the Spirit' that Protestant
Pentecostals experience." The "Protestant Pentecostals" have
generally held reception of Holy Spirit baptism as their
hallmark. They add further that it is always evidenced by
speaking in tongues. The charismatic movement has touched and
influenced just about every religious movement in existence.
Among nearly every religious group all around the world you will
find someone who claims to have received this extraordinary
experience which they call "Holy Spirit Baptism." Are their
claims valid? What do you think about these matters? I hope you
will stay tuned -- we will investigate the question of Holy
Spirit Baptism a little more in depth today.
But first, again let me warmly invite you and your family to
visit the West End Church of Christ today. We begin Bible study
at 9 a.m. -- just under an hour from now. During this period of
time we divide into various classes, usually by age grouping, and
some very fine teachers conduct stimulating discussion of various
biblical themes. At 10 this morning we meet for our
congregational worship. Wednesday night at 7 p.m. we have more
classes for all ages. We urge you to come and visit with us if
you possibly can. Our meeting house is at the corner of Old
Morgantown Road and Parkside Drive, just across from Lampkin Park
and Tapp’s Drive-in restaurant.
We also offer a free religious paper twice a month called
"The Voice of West End." There is no hidden meaning in that word
free. We sell nothing, ask for nothing, accept nothing by way of
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to receive it, be ready at the end of today's broadcast to take
down our address. All you have to do is ask for it.
The different claims for Holy Ghost baptism are interesting -
- but very confusing. Holy Spirit baptism is something the Bible
teaches -- of that fact there can be no dispute. The confusion
rises from two things: (1) the nature of Bible Holy Spirit
Baptism, and (2) the views held by those of our day who claim to
have received it. For example, the term "pentecostal" is a broad
term embracing just about anyone who claims to have received Holy
Spirit Baptism. It does not seem to matter that there are
serious and fundamental doctrinal differences among them, as long
as they all have come under this baptismal experience in the
Spirit they are all "Pentecostals." Some who claim the Holy
Spirit's baptism affirm it is essential to salvation while others
do not. But there are even others.
Among those who are followers of the late Joseph Smith, Jr.,
founder of those called "Mormons," this claim is also heard.
Please listen to Brigham Young, successor to Joseph Smith, Jr. as
president, prophet, and seer of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints. In a speech in Salt Lake City, April 8, 1885,
Young said, "Again, if a pure Gentile firmly believes the Gospel
of Jesus Christ, and yields obedience to it, in such a case I
will give you the words of the Prophet Joseph -- "When the Lord
pours out the Holy Ghost upon that individual he will have
spasms, and you would think that he was going to have fits.
"Joseph said that the Gentile blood was actually cleansed out
of their veins, and the blood of Jacob made to circulate in them;
and the revolution and change in the system were so great that it
caused the beholder to think they were going into fits." (Journal
of Discourses, Volume II, page 269). Journal of Discourses is an
official chronicle recognized as authentic by the Latter Day
Saints Church.
With this before us, consider how confused the situation is.
Some argue there is only one person in the Godhead and pronounce
that all who do not believe it are in heretical error. They
claim they have received Holy Spirit baptism and speak in
tongues. Others flatly deny that there is only one person in the
Godhead and also claim to have received Holy Spirit baptism and
also speak in tongues. Others recognize John Paul as their
spiritual father. They call him Universal Father to the Church
on Earth, or Pope. They also claim they were baptized in the
Holy Spirit and speak in tongues. Others recognize only Joseph
Smith, Jr., and his successors as true prophets of God in these
latter days and claim to have been baptized in the Holy Spirit.
I gently suggest that doctrinally, none of these various groups
making this claim will recognize or endorse any of the others.
And when they speak in tongues, none of them understand anything
anyone utters. If I am wrong I will stand to be corrected. The
point, however, is that the same Holy Spirit allegedly baptized
them all, was poured out on all of them, and the only thing at
all they have in common is speaking in tongues. Beyond that they
would quickly denounce all others as teaching error and heresy.
My understanding of the Holy Spirit's power as it is poured
out in the baptismal measure is quite different. I freely affirm
that one baptized with the Holy Spirit would proclaim and
understand precisely like any other individual who received the
same gift. No one who thinks straight would accuse the Holy
Spirit of the chaos and confusion that reigns among so-called
"Pentecostals," regardless of what denominational stripe they
bear. To do so would border on blasphemy.
The truth is the Spirit of God is one with the Father and the
Son, and the divine three make up what Paul called "the Godhead."
(Acts 17:29). And whatever the Godhead does is done as a unit.
The unit consists of three separate and distinct divine Beings,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Remember that it was
Jesus who gave the promise of Holy Spirit baptism (Acts 1:5).
And on the glorious day of Pentecost the Spirit came upon the
apostles. Read it with me: "And when the day of Pentecost was
now come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly
there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty
wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And
there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of
fire; and it 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 2:1-4).
Several facts stand out in clear relief from this passage.
First the pronoun "they" refers to the apostles, not the one-
hundred twenty. Let me show how clear this is:
1. Acts 1:15 tells us "in these days, Peter stood up in the
midst of the brethren..." which later Luke said were about one
hundred and twenty in number. "These days" include the entire
period of waiting in Jerusalem which Jesus commanded. But the
contrast is clear in chapter two. It begins with the definite
day, "when the day of Pentecost was now come." This is an
entirely different setting from chapter one, verse fifteen.
2. Chapter one ends with the selection of a replacement for
Judas. The disciples put forth two men, Joseph and Matthias.
They prayed to the Lord to select one of the two. The Lord
selected Matthias and he was "numbered with the eleven apostles"
(verse 26). Now the next chapter begins with "they." "They were
all together." What "they?" It can be none other than Matthias
and the eleven -- making up the twelve apostles.
3. It was upon these twelve, and only upon these twelve that
the Holy Spirit fell in the baptismal experience. The "they" of
Acts 2:1 is the same they and them throughout the context of Acts
2:1-4. Therefore, only the apostles had Holy Spirit Baptism.
The baptism of the Spirit was promised only to them -- not to any
other individual in Jerusalem.
Here are some other facts:
1. The baptism of the Spirit was from Heaven -- it also came
with an audible sound -- like a mighty rushing wind. Very likely
it sounded like an oncoming hurricane or tornado. I have
attended revivals and other meetings in which people claimed to
receive Holy Spirit baptism. The only sounds came from within
the building from the people -- never from heaven -- never as the
sound of a mighty rushing wind.
2. The sound filled all the house where they sitting. It was
a sound that everyone could hear. Holy Spirit baptism does not
come as some inward or subjective feeling -- it is something
external to the recipient and completely fills the house. Have
you ever seen anything like that in the modern day claims of Holy
Spirit baptism? I haven't.
3. There was a visible evidence of the Spirit's presence.
Luke said, "there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder,
like as of fire." Notice it says "there appeared." They were
able to see the tongues that parted asunder. It further says
these tongues were "like as of fire," not that the tongues were
actually fire. Has anyone who has attended a revival where the
Holy Spirit supposedly baptized someone ever seen such a thing?
I have been present a number of times over the years at such
meetings and never seen anything other than human beings present.
4. They were all filled with the Spirit. When and if there
is such a meeting today, all who are present will be filled with
the Holy Spirit exactly like those on the day of Pentecost.
Unless all are filled, none will be filled. But I remind you
again that I have attended numerous such meetings at which some
claimed to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit but others did
not.
There is really only one sensible conclusion anyone can draw
from all this -- people today may go through an emotional
experience and think it is the Holy Spirit, but they have to
understand it as merely a delusion.
They are like the mother of Zebadee's sons. She made a wrong
request to Christ and He replied, "You do not know what you ask."
My dear listening friend, never ask for the baptism of the Holy
Spirit -- it is not even promised to you. Act upon what those
who received it have revealed to us, the New Testament Gospel and
obey it and be saved, secure, and sanctified by faith that obeys
from the heart. We urge you to study the New Testament alone,
for it alone is true and right. If there is any way we can be of
help, let us know.
Should you disagree with anything said on this broadcast, or
any other we produce, let us know. Respectful disagreement is
healthy. If you would like to receive our free religious paper,
write to the West End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside Drive,
Bowling Green, Ky. 42101. Till next time, I sincerely pray for
you to be blessed and happy and safe so that you may learn the
will of the Almighty and do it. Good bye and God bless you.
Radio Sermon No. 10, Page 1
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