L14 – "What Will it be Like When I Receive?" Part 02.
Continued from Lesson 13...
Act 19:2a
(2) He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"..."
Please Note: Please read the Book of Acts as a prerequisite for Lessons 9 trough 14.
The Fourth Recorded Receiving - Act_10:1-48 ; Act_11:1-18
In this instance the Lord Jesus began to go outside the nation of Israel to the gentiles. Remember Peter said on the day of Pentecost that this promise was for all that the Lord would call. The apostles all thought that He meant all the Jews He would call, but God meant all mankind He would call and He needed to show them that, so He made an elaborate encounter with Peter over this issue while Peter was in Joppa. It is notable to mention that Peter, when recounting the events to the elders, refers to the words of Jesus, "'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' " ( Act_11:16 ). Peter said "How He used to say...". It had only been a short while and it was already becoming just a memory that they were to be reminded of. How highly significant this message is for us today, who are thousands of years past the parting of Jesus and the initial coming of the Holy Spirit. We need to be reminded of the same words that Peter was reminded of. This promise is for all those whom the Lord will call, for all time. Periodically throughout the history of the church, people have grasped this truth and received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. All believers everywhere are eligible and even mandated by Jesus to wait and be filled before we embark on our spiritual journey with Christ. Although not encouraged, there can be many days, months, or even years before a believer receives the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. We see here for the first time since the initial filling of the 120, that these folks received the Holy Spirit without any laying on of hands. It was spontaneous and instant, as they believed, they received.
Things we observe:
Number
of People:
Many (exact number unknown)
External
Manifestations:
None noted other than Jesus sending Peter and
instructing him via a vision, and instructing Cornelius via vision
of an angel.
Internal
Manifestations:
Tongues were yielded to the Holy Spirit and they
spoke in unknown languages as the Spirit gave it to them. (Holy
Spirit spoke through them)
Visible
Signs in the Life of the Believer:
None noted.
Subsequent
to and separate from Salvation:
No. At the same instant.
Duration
between salvation and the filling of the Holy Spirit:
None.
Before
or After baptism in water:
Before
The Fifth Recorded Receiving - Act_19:1-7
This is the final record in the book of Acts that we have of anyone receiving the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
This took place some time after Paul's conversion. We can see that the practice of praying for believers at their conversion to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit was still in place at this time by Paul. Paul asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit since they believed, and they said that they did not even know if there was a Holy Ghost. ( Act_19:2 ). They responded that they had been baptized under the teachings of John the Baptist, a baptism of repentance. Paul instructed them that John's baptism was to prepare the way for believing in Jesus. ( Act_19:3-4 ) As soon as they heard this, they received the message and were baptized in the name of Jesus. ( Act_19:5 ) True to the pattern we have seen so far, Paul immediately laid his hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit, and they did receive, manifesting both speaking in tongues and prophesying.
Things we observe:
Number
of People:
12
External
Manifestations:
Paul laid his hands on them
Internal
Manifestations:
Tongues were yielded to the Holy Spirit and they
spoke in unknown languages as the Spirit gave it to them. (Holy
Spirit spoke through them) and they prophesied.
Visible
Signs in the Life of the Believer:
None noted
Subsequent
to and separate from Salvation:
Immediately after they accepted
Jesus
Duration
between salvation and the filling of the Holy Spirit:
None
Before
or After baptism in water:
After
Additional References to the Gift of the Holy Spirit:
See 1 Corinthians, Chapters 12, 13,14
In these chapters Paul discusses some details of our interaction with the Holy Spirit individually and collectively. The study of which is for another time. One notable thing Paul states in 1Co_14:32 that the Holy Spirit's manifestations in and through us are subject to us, meaning that we have control. If the Holy Spirit wants to manifest Himself in or through us, we have the choice as to whether to yield to Him or not. So, for example, if He wanted to speak through us in an unknown tongue, we would have to yield control of our speech to Him before before He could do it. It is always a joint effort when the Holy Spirit is going to use us. We are literally yielding control of our faculties to Him in a continuous flow, being able to stop yielding at any instant. This explains why so many report having received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and have not spoken in unknown tongues at that time. Everyone who receives can speak in tongues, if they yield themselves to Him. He is consistent in doing it with all of those who will yield to it. There is an eternal debate within the body over this issue which also beyond the scope of this lesson. Each individual must look at the scripture and make their own decision.
Conclusion:
The objective of this lesson was to look at the way the Holy Spirit baptized believers in the early church to get some idea of how we might expect Him to do it in our lives today.
Things that we have observed:
Jesus stated to the disciples to wait for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit before continuing their spiritual journey. ( Luk_24:49 ; Act_1:4-5 ). In all the instances we saw above, there was an emphasis on receiving Him as soon after conversion, as possible. Therefore, it would follow that we should do the same.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is intended for all believers for all time. ( Act_2:38-39 )
Speaking in an unknown tongue is a common experience at the time of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Speaking in an unknown tongue as the Holy Spirit gives utterance was never spoken against, but treated as normal, valid, and as being generated by the Holy Spirit as we yield.
When He baptizes us, His presence and control in our lives is intended to continue. We see following the Holy Spirit's baptism of Peter and Paul for example, how His control continued throughout their lives because they continued to yield control of their lives and faculties to Him. It doesn't get old. However, we can grow cold and stop yielding to Him. Jesus in the greatest example of ongoing yielding of control. ( Joh_14:9-11 ; Joh_8:29 ) He said in the next verse, that the works of God being performed in Him would continue through us. ( Joh_14:12 )
Although, in the house of Cornelius, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit took place spontaneously at the time of conversion, it was much more common for it to take place at some time after conversion and with some agency of man involved. The common practice was laying on of hands. In every case, it is treated as something separate from conversion.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit can take place before or after water baptism.
The Baptism can take place with many or few.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is God's Will for every believer, at conversion, or as soon after as possible. He, ( the Holy Spirit ), will never force Himself on anyone. He must be sought for and yielded to for Him to take control, and we determine when, for how long, and to what extent He has control of our faculties. God intends to continue the work He began in Christ in us via the agency of the Holy Spirit, just as He did in the life of Jesus.
If you haven't received, make it your highest priority to be baptized in compliance with Jesus command, and if you have, endeavor to keep your heart and will at His disposal and to be continuously yielded to His control.
Regarding Speaking in Tongues:
What other way would God have to convince the unbelieving world that He was speaking through His followers than that they speak a language unknown to them?
What other way would God have to dispel our unbelief over His control over our own tongue than Him speaking through us in a language we do not know?
What other way would God have to dispel our unbelief over us having received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit than Him speaking through us in an unknown tongue?
What other way does God have to allow us to show our ultimate submission to Him than to allow Him to have complete control of our entire being by yielding up control of our speech faculties. ( Jam_3:1-12 )
He chose this method, we didn't. Don't try to figure it out, just yield to Him.
Let Him have His way and do it the way He has chosen. Don't let anyone, (including yourself), keep you from allowing Him to take complete control of your life.
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