Is the Pentecostal Experience still relevant in today's church?
Acts 2:1-21
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one
accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat
upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began
to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there
were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under
heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and
were confounded because that every man heard them speak in his own
language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another,
Behold are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man
in our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and
Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea and, Cappadocia,
in Pontus, and Asia. Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of
Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and
Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What
meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But
Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto
them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known
unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye
suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that
which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last
days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons
and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my
handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall
prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth
beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: The sun shall be turned into
darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the
Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name
of the Lord shall be saved."
The Bible plainly states the early Church experienced Pentecostal power and fire in a real, literal fashion.
The question many ask today is what will be addressed in this article.
Is the Pentecostal Experience still relevant in today's church?
Look no further than the Word of God for the answer.
The great Apostle Peter is quoted in Acts 2:38 & 39.
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children,
and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord shall call."
(ITALICS MINE)
Even the unlearned can plainly understand the meaning of the word "all" in verse 39.
"All" simply means everyone or whosoever.
"Afar off" means literally or figuratively at a distance or a great way off, pertaining to distance or time.
Before it is argued that it is referring to distance only, one must examine the context of the whole
sentence or verse. The verse's context is certainly referring to "generations of people" easily recognized
by the phrase, "unto you, and to your children,..."
Therefore, this verse is obviously speaking of a future happening and a continual outpouring of God's
Spirit.
Let us now examine the teaching of Jesus Christ himself on this subject.
John 14:16,17, & 26
"And I(Jesus) will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth
him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. &
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my
name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (EXPLANATION MINE)
Also in Luke 24:49.
"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the
city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."
Again in John 7:37-39.
"In the last day, that great day of the feast,(the Feast of Tabernacles-v.2)
Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and
drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his
belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit,
which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not
yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." (EXPLANATION MINE)
Jesus certainly believed in the coming promise of the Holy Ghost, which is the third Person of the Triune
Godhead. He taught in the aforementioned scriptures that the Holy Ghost will "abide with you for ever"
and that "they that believe on him should receive...the Spirit or Holy Ghost".
It must be stated that the Holy Ghost does not manifest Himself in the believer so he or she can speak
with unknown tongues. The "speaking in other tongues" is the initial "evidence" or "proof" that the
believer is filled or baptized with the Holy Ghost.
The main purpose of God "baptizing" a believer with the Holy Ghost is to "empower" them to be a soul
winner. This idea is clearly portrayed in Acts 1:8.
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me(Jesus) both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
(ITALICS & EXPLANATION MINE)
The baptism or filling of the Holy Ghost, also known as the Pentecostal Experience, manifests itself in
the life of the believer only after that individual is born again or regenerated.
Many refer to the time or times of prayer and meditation while waiting for the baptism of the Holy Ghost
as "seeking for the Holy Ghost." This is Biblical because the disciples of Christ, along with about 100
other people,also followers of the teachings of Jesus, were instructed by Jesus to go and "tarry" or
"wait" to be filled. I personally prayed and "waited" off and on for approximately 5-8 days for the
baptism of the Holy Ghost. I know one young preacher who "sought" for the baptism for 2-3 years!
One must also understand that the baptism of the Holy Ghost, like Salvation, cannot be earned or
"worked-for". It is a "gift" from God, just as Salvation is a gift. Just like on your birthday you must simply
"receive" it.
The baptism of the Holy Ghost cannot be "taught." This point is where many fall short of God's truths.
Many churches have "lessons" in which they "teach" the members of the congregation "how to speak in
tongues." My friend, that is purely blasphemy. Every individual is different, thus their experience in God
is different. The words that I may say while the Spirit or Holy Ghost is manifesting Himself through me
will be different than the words someone else will speak.
Possibly at a later date we will cover more in-depth the workings of the Holy Ghost. But for now we will
close.
Thank you for your attention and interest. May God Bless You in your walk with Him.