On the Day of Pentecost, the 120 disciples of Jesus Christ were baptized with the Holy Spirit. They were previously told by Jesus Christ to tarry in Jerusalem where they would be endued with power from on high, (Luke 24:49).

It was on the Day of Pentecost, while the disciples were sitting together in one place, on one accord, that there suddenly came a sound from heaven, (on high), as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting, (Acts 2:1-2). It was at that moment when the disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the act by which Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, at conversion, brings the believer into a relationship with Him and makes the believer part of God’s people, the Church, the Body of Christ.

It is also with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, that the believer has been given, through the Grace of God, the free gift of Eternal Life, his/her name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and Jesus begins to prepare a place for that believer in his Father’s House.

With the Baptism of the Holy Spirit the believer is also granted spiritual gifts to equip them for the work of Jesus’s ministry and for the building of the Church, (Ephesians 4:12) This too was illustrated on the day of Pentecost when in Acts 2:3, cloven tongues sat upon each of the disciples and they henceforth begin to speak in other languages. This gift of speaking in other tongues, (languages) equipped the disciples to perform the ministry of spreading the gospel to the thousands of others who were also in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost. As a result, the Body of Christ, (Church), was build up further (edify) by the addition of 3,000 new souls, (Acts 2:41)

Also at that same moment the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4. Herein lies the biggest mishap of the church of today. In order to understand the truth of God’s word one must always compare scripture with scripture. In Ephesians 5:18 we as believers have a command from Jesus Christ thru the Apostle Paul that we must be filled with the Holy Spirit.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is something only the Lord does and can do, thus there is no commandment from Him for us to do so. But the filling of the Holy Spirit is a command because it is the responsibility of every believer to do so. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is permanent and once, for all. The filling of the Holy Spirit is ongoing and expresses an action performed at various times and moments.

The filling of the Holy Spirit is an issue of control. The more you allow yourself to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the more control the Holy Spirit has over your life. The more you are able to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh. This helps to explain why a saved person can at times do terrible and sinful things not pleasing to God. They are able to do these awful things because they have failed to have a consistent and ongoing filling of the Holy Spirit.

The filling of the Holy Spirit takes place in many different forms. Every time you attend a worship services there is a filling of the Holy Spirit. Every time you study the Word of God or attend a Bible Study, there is a filling of the Holy Spirit. Every time you spend time talking, (praying) to God there is a filling of the Holy Spirit. Every time you praise Him there is a filling. Every time you thank Him there is a filling. Every time you talk to someone about the Lord and His Gospel, there is a filling. Every time you use your spiritual gift for the glory of God there is a filling of the Holy Spirit. Some believers, depending on their circumstances and purpose need more fillings than others.

The failure of any believer to be constantly filled opens the door for Satan and his spirits to gain some control over a believer’s life. When that happens, mature believers should pray for that person and ask God to lead such a one to fill himself with God’s Spirit instead of condemning that believer, which is most often the case.

A saved believers, sealed with the Holy Spirit and on our way to heaven, we must steadfastly obey the Lord’s command to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

By Gilbert Owens

Contributing columnist

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