HAVE YE RECEIVED SINCE YE BELIEVED? - PART 39

Have you received His Holy Spirit since you believed? This question was originally asked by Paul when he met certain believers. Their reply? "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit." Paul then asks, "Unto what then were you baptized?" And they replied that they were baptized in the fashion practiced by John the Baptist.

As the scriptures relate, Paul then sets out to explain that John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. Preparing the heart and minds for the soon appearing of the lamb of God whom had been crucified. Jesus. John said he was the 'early news edition' forecasting the imminent appearing of Jesus. As John pointed out, Jesus, "who I John am not worthy to even fasten His shoes." Yes, indeed I baptize you with water but He that comes after me, Jesus, will baptize you with His Holy Spirit. The believers received Paul’s words and were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul laid his hands upon them in Jesus name, the promise of God descended upon the twelve disciples and they began to speak in other tongues. The tongues were accompanied with prophesy.

In other words, as the scriptures state, there is only One Lord, one faith, one baptism. For by one Spirit have we all been baptised into one body. We are buried with Him by baptism into His death and we rise up out of the water clothed in justification. We are sealed with His promised Holy Spirit. We can speak in tongues. The language of our heavenly Father adopting us and making us His redeemed children. His Holy Spirit confirms that we are now His children.

He had seeded us in His death. And now, He that has the son has life. We are not endeavouring to introduce an alternative gospel here. Rather, we are confronting those who have been side swiped by so called men of God. Individuals appointed and titled by organised religion that haven't adhered to the Word of God. Like the false apostles that Paul exposed, Paul submitted that they were messengers of Satan transforming and presenting themselves as messengers of light.

If indeed they were messengers of light, then they would preach the Word of God! As it is written in the scriptures. As we were commanded. The scriptures tell us not to preach any other doctrine, other than the doctrinal truths which were delivered. It's time to stop hiding in the bushes. Like Adam in the garden. Only in their case, they hid behind the Bible in order to make merchandise of you. We have just read that Paul and company baptised 12 persons into the name of Jesus. These 12 were not baptised into descriptive titles such as the case advocated today. The "in the name of the father, son and spirit" as adopted by the so called church fathers in 300 AD. They, having laid aside the scriptures, altered the word from the original which was baptism into the name of Jesus. His  name is Jesus!

Still they march on in defiance of the truth. Those who are of God will hear the Word of God, receiving God’s engrafted Word with meekness. It is they who will abide in God’s Word with thanksgiving. As concerning the receiving of God’s Spirit, they did speak in tongues as the Spirit of God gave them utterance. Today does not differ from the experiences shared in Acts chapters 2 and 10. Some advocate that this experience has ceased, now that we have entered into the 21st century.

Well, I think they ought to go through the Acts of the Holy Spirit and reflect on how, when He enters into a believers heart, God pours out His Spirit upon all believers. His spirit which He has housed in fleshly bodies and His promise which extends to all generations does not change because time has passed. God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever,

Instead, run from those who oppose God’s Word. God is no respecter of persons. When the scriptures state that they were all filled with His Holy Spirit, rest assured that is exactly what occurred. Similarly, when you are filled with the comforter which is His Holy Spirit, you will experience the same pouring of the Holy Spirit. Then, and only then, move on into the epistles. In the meantime, tarry before God allowing Jesus to breathe His breath on You.

May God’s Word find in your heart good soil, causing you to grow in grace and the knowledge of our great God and only Saviour the Lord Jesus (the Christ). Peace to all who are in Jesus.