Wednesday, August 08, 2007

A BIG QUESTION

There are those who believe and teach we receive all of the Holy Spirit when we are born-again.

There are those who teach that there is a second blessing called the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

For me - apart from my personal experience- there is a proof text where we find the answer. It is Luke 11:9-13. Here we see Christ exhorting children of God - Spirit filled believers - to ask, seek, and knock for their Heavenly Father to give them the Holy Spirit. It certainly must be something in addition to what they already have.

What do you think?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

On the night of the resurrection he told them to breathe in the Holy Spirit. I think that was when they were born again. On the day he ascended into heaven he told them to wait for the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1) that was fulfilled ten days later. Throughout the rest of Acts you see them receiving Christ and getting baptized in the Holy Spirit in many different combinations. I think you can get the baptism in the Holy Spirit when you receive Christ or after. The important thing is to make sure that it has happened. When we ask Christ into our lives we receive the Holy Spirit and are born again spiritually. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a release of the Holy Spirit within us for ministry to empower us. The timing is not important. What is important is that we have the Holy Spirit and we are empowered. If you feel you have not had this happen, all you have to do is ask Jesus. He gives us all of the Holy Spirit. Doug

Anonymous said...

I want everything that God wants for me. I want and need the baptism of the holy spirit. I try and use tongues when I am praying. I don't know if I have this will I know for sure?