What does it mean to be filled or "baptized" in the Holy Spirit? Is it necessary to be saved as Pentecostals say? Do all Christians need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit? What does it cause one to do when they are?
Some people say that when they are "filled" with the Holy Spirit it is like being drunk. They may references the verse, "Don't be drunk with wine but instead be filled with the Spirit."
The only other reference to someone acting oddly in the Spirit may be when Paul says in Corinthians that if an unbeliever comes into a service where everyone is praying in tongues he will think they are out of their minds.
However, what about Paul's commands to be alert and self-controlled. He says in Thessalonians that we are children of the day and we are to act like it.
Sometimes they will reference the new wine. They may say if someone hasn't had the "new wine" they just want the old. But that is not supposed to be literal wine. That was Jesus using an analogy to refer to the letter of the law vs. the spirit of the law.
The Pentecostal church doctrine is that you have to pray in tongues to be saved. The Assembly of God doctrine however is that you have to be saved and believe in Jesus first and then you can be filled with the Holy Spirit. They believe it can only happen after you are saved and it's not necessary for salvation, which I very much like and agree with.
But still, I don't like the term baptized in the holy spirit. That makes one think that it is just as important to one's salvation as getting baptized with water, but it is not.
I will hence forth think of it as an extra filling of the Holy Spirit which comes and goes. It is not like once people are filled they have some super power that the rest of us don't. It's that they had this radical experience or feeling for a moment and then it left.
In regards to tongues speaking at Pentecost, it only notes the Apostles speaking in tongues in that one instance in Acts. At no other time in Acts does it talk about them speaking in tongues.
Therefore I see it as a momentary extra filling of the Spirit to do something extraordinary, like the 2,000 being added to the church that day, or if God wants a person to "feel" him more to increase their faith, but that is it.
And perhaps some people just don't need it. "Blessed are those who have never seen a miracle and still believe" right? Yes. :) So that is the rest of us. :)
I read Acts in its entirety again the other day in one sitting, and another important thing to note is that there are 14 references in Acts where it says that people believed, were baptized and saved. In only 2 of those instances does it say that these people spoke in tongues.
One was when Peter went to Cornelius' house, so he was a Jew going to see a Gentile which was taboo at the time. Peter saw that the Holy Spirit was poured out on these Gentiles because he heard them speaking in tongues, or other languages. Therefore this made him realize that Gentiles too could be saved and receive the Holy Spirit.
The other instance of people being saved and immediately speaking in tongues is in Acts 19. This passage is a bit harder to understand why it happened here. At Pentecost it was used to speak to the crowds who all spoke different languages, and therefore start the early church. This second time it was used to give evidence to Peter that the Gentiles could be saved too. Here is the third instance.
"While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all." Acts 19:1-7
Something to note is that they did not speak in tongues and prophesy until Paul placed his hands on them. Also it says, "the Holy Spirit came on them."
However, we know that when someone just believes in Jesus they receive the Holy Spirit, because Romans 9: 9 says, "If anyone does have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." And Romans 10: 9-10 says, "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you WILL be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
Therefore, this was most likely a secondary filling of the Holy Spirit when Paul laid his hands on them. They already received the Holy Spirit when they were baptized.
Also Eph. 1:13-14 says, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory."
Therefore we receive the Spirit when we believe. So why do not all believers pray or speak in tongues then? Because, and this is my conclusion, praying in tongues is not the only evidence that you have received the Holy Spirit. There are 9 spiritual gifts, tongues is just one of the 9. Yours might be teaching, faith, prophecy etc. I believe mine is teaching and not tongues, hence why I write these blogs.
Another thing to note, did you know the disciples received the Holy Spirit BEFORE they spoke in tongues at Pentecost? Many Pentecostal churches fail to recognize this fact. The 12 disciples who became the Apostles received the Holy Spirit and did not pray in tongues right away.
John 20: 21-22 says, "Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'"
The disciples did not speak in tongues right after this. Read the rest of John 20 and 21.
So they had already received the Holy Spirit before Pentecost. So why did they receive it again? Because this was a secondary filling or a momentary filling to achieve a purpose, which was establish the first converts of the first church. "About 3,000 were added to their number that day." Whose number? The disciples. The church went from being 12 to 3,012. Wow! And why? Because the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples for this one moment to speak in tongues so that those in the audience who did not speak their language could hear the gospel as well.
There is never another instance in Acts of any of the disciples/apostles speaking in tongues. Did you realize that? Not one other time did they do this. Why not? God used other methods through the power of the Holy Spirit to grow the church more like miracles, but tongues was not used again. As long as they were speaking to people where they already knew their language, the gift of speaking in tongues was not needed.
So why is there such an emphasis on tongues today as if it was so necessary to our faith in charismatic circles? It is not.
However, there is something called praying in tongues, which is different than speaking in tongues. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:18-19, "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." Why does he say this? In 1 Cor. 14:2 he says, "For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit."
Tongues are also a prayer language that some who are saved pray in. This is different than using the gift of tongues in church to build up and edify the church, or in using it the way it was used at Pentecost to share the gospel with people who speak other languages.
This other use of tongues is when people are praying only to God and it seems to build them up or increase their faith. This is why Paul says in 1 Cor. 14:14, "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful." Hence the person is allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through them. I have never done this but I have seen it done and it is interesting.
Romans 8: 26-27 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." Now the NIV states "wordless groans" which would not seem to be a tongue or other language that one is praying in.
hm....the NKJV puts it this way, "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[a] with groaning which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Again it says they "cannot be uttered." Very odd. Many use this verse to describe what praying in tongues is like but this is not a reference to praying in tongues, apparently. May God give us eyes to see.
So what is praying in tongues? Is it an actual language or is it babbling? I have been in churches where I've heard both by people praying next to me. The Bible does not clearly state what praying in tongues is supposed to sound like.
Either way, Paul notes that prophesying is far more important that the gift of tongues. Why? Because if the tongue or language is not interpreted no one else understands it and it cannot edify anyone else.
Another thing to note is the Bible never uses the term "baptized in the Holy Spirit." That is a term the charismatic movement has made up.
And a note of warning:
I have been researching this a lot lately, reading articles and watching videos on the charismatic movement. Here is something that shocks and scares me. Please be very wary of any church where people fall back "in the Spirit." This is not biblical. They may be falling back in A Spirit sure enough, but it is not the Holy Spirit. "God is not a God of disorder but of peace." The falling back and shaking on the ground thing is not peace, it is complete confusion.
It is never noted in the Bible that people fell back when they were overwhelmed by God. No, what they did was they fell face down. They were not forced to fall face down, as what happens in these churches, they willingly laid themselves down before our Holy and Mighty God. They may have heard God's voice or knew that he was nearby and the Bible says they would lay "prostrate," meaning they would lay flat on the ground with their face to the ground.
People have done this in armies to honor a general or before a king to honor the king. It is a sign of honor, respect and submission. In the Bible when people did this it was not a being overwhelmed kind of thing and falling to the ground, apart from their own will. No, they, of their own will, got on their knees and laid down before the Lord. In Revelation it is noted that the 24 elders did this before God's throne.
If someone ever causes you to "fall back in the Spirit," that is not of God, but is most likely rather by the power of Satan. People many times in these services fall back and actually hit their heads on the ground. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are made in God's image. God would NEVER cause someone to do something that would hurt their own body, never.
So keep that in mind if you ever witness this falling back occurrence; it is not of God. Be on your guard. Know the word. Jesus said we are to be, "As wise as serpents but as innocent as doves." And ask for the gift of the discernment of spirits so that you can tell the difference. I know when something is from the evil one. I can just tell. If something does not line up with Scripture, it is not of God, remember that.
May God be with you and give you wisdom in all things! And may he pour out grace and peace on you! Amen. :)
3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all." Acts 19:1-7
Something to note is that they did not speak in tongues and prophesy until Paul placed his hands on them. Also it says, "the Holy Spirit came on them."
However, we know that when someone just believes in Jesus they receive the Holy Spirit, because Romans 9: 9 says, "If anyone does have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." And Romans 10: 9-10 says, "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you WILL be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
Therefore, this was most likely a secondary filling of the Holy Spirit when Paul laid his hands on them. They already received the Holy Spirit when they were baptized.
Also Eph. 1:13-14 says, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory."
Therefore we receive the Spirit when we believe. So why do not all believers pray or speak in tongues then? Because, and this is my conclusion, praying in tongues is not the only evidence that you have received the Holy Spirit. There are 9 spiritual gifts, tongues is just one of the 9. Yours might be teaching, faith, prophecy etc. I believe mine is teaching and not tongues, hence why I write these blogs.
Another thing to note, did you know the disciples received the Holy Spirit BEFORE they spoke in tongues at Pentecost? Many Pentecostal churches fail to recognize this fact. The 12 disciples who became the Apostles received the Holy Spirit and did not pray in tongues right away.
John 20: 21-22 says, "Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'"
The disciples did not speak in tongues right after this. Read the rest of John 20 and 21.
So they had already received the Holy Spirit before Pentecost. So why did they receive it again? Because this was a secondary filling or a momentary filling to achieve a purpose, which was establish the first converts of the first church. "About 3,000 were added to their number that day." Whose number? The disciples. The church went from being 12 to 3,012. Wow! And why? Because the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples for this one moment to speak in tongues so that those in the audience who did not speak their language could hear the gospel as well.
There is never another instance in Acts of any of the disciples/apostles speaking in tongues. Did you realize that? Not one other time did they do this. Why not? God used other methods through the power of the Holy Spirit to grow the church more like miracles, but tongues was not used again. As long as they were speaking to people where they already knew their language, the gift of speaking in tongues was not needed.
So why is there such an emphasis on tongues today as if it was so necessary to our faith in charismatic circles? It is not.
However, there is something called praying in tongues, which is different than speaking in tongues. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:18-19, "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." Why does he say this? In 1 Cor. 14:2 he says, "For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit."
Tongues are also a prayer language that some who are saved pray in. This is different than using the gift of tongues in church to build up and edify the church, or in using it the way it was used at Pentecost to share the gospel with people who speak other languages.
This other use of tongues is when people are praying only to God and it seems to build them up or increase their faith. This is why Paul says in 1 Cor. 14:14, "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful." Hence the person is allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through them. I have never done this but I have seen it done and it is interesting.
Romans 8: 26-27 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." Now the NIV states "wordless groans" which would not seem to be a tongue or other language that one is praying in.
hm....the NKJV puts it this way, "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[a] with groaning which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Again it says they "cannot be uttered." Very odd. Many use this verse to describe what praying in tongues is like but this is not a reference to praying in tongues, apparently. May God give us eyes to see.
So what is praying in tongues? Is it an actual language or is it babbling? I have been in churches where I've heard both by people praying next to me. The Bible does not clearly state what praying in tongues is supposed to sound like.
Either way, Paul notes that prophesying is far more important that the gift of tongues. Why? Because if the tongue or language is not interpreted no one else understands it and it cannot edify anyone else.
Another thing to note is the Bible never uses the term "baptized in the Holy Spirit." That is a term the charismatic movement has made up.
And a note of warning:
I have been researching this a lot lately, reading articles and watching videos on the charismatic movement. Here is something that shocks and scares me. Please be very wary of any church where people fall back "in the Spirit." This is not biblical. They may be falling back in A Spirit sure enough, but it is not the Holy Spirit. "God is not a God of disorder but of peace." The falling back and shaking on the ground thing is not peace, it is complete confusion.
It is never noted in the Bible that people fell back when they were overwhelmed by God. No, what they did was they fell face down. They were not forced to fall face down, as what happens in these churches, they willingly laid themselves down before our Holy and Mighty God. They may have heard God's voice or knew that he was nearby and the Bible says they would lay "prostrate," meaning they would lay flat on the ground with their face to the ground.
People have done this in armies to honor a general or before a king to honor the king. It is a sign of honor, respect and submission. In the Bible when people did this it was not a being overwhelmed kind of thing and falling to the ground, apart from their own will. No, they, of their own will, got on their knees and laid down before the Lord. In Revelation it is noted that the 24 elders did this before God's throne.
If someone ever causes you to "fall back in the Spirit," that is not of God, but is most likely rather by the power of Satan. People many times in these services fall back and actually hit their heads on the ground. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are made in God's image. God would NEVER cause someone to do something that would hurt their own body, never.
So keep that in mind if you ever witness this falling back occurrence; it is not of God. Be on your guard. Know the word. Jesus said we are to be, "As wise as serpents but as innocent as doves." And ask for the gift of the discernment of spirits so that you can tell the difference. I know when something is from the evil one. I can just tell. If something does not line up with Scripture, it is not of God, remember that.
May God be with you and give you wisdom in all things! And may he pour out grace and peace on you! Amen. :)
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