REVISED
Now is the time for this to apply to you if you believe the Bible. I will go as far as I can with this article in the time and space allocated me. There are many books written on this argument, but I do not have the time here to write a book. I feel compelled to make my point and leave it to you to delve into it deeper if you need more proof.
The great physician presents the question asked by the Apostle Peter to the believers. Peter asked Acts 19:2 (GW) 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered him, “No, we've never even heard of the Holy Spirit.” They replied that they had never heard of the Holy Spirit. That is quite amazing since the acknowledged that they were believers. We know today that if you are a believer you have heard Romans 10:9 (KJV) 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
In essence, they acknowledged that they believed in their heart and confessed with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord. This means they had the initial part of salvation complete. I believe this is where most followers of Jesus Christ find themselves today because many leaders themselves do not believe what Jesus told His disciples to do in Acts 1:5 (KJV) 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. I believe many believers have received the HOLY SPIRIT (GHOST), but not baptized (Filled) with it.
Let me say this right here that those who have received the Holy Spirit only have not received the power to do all the added things that come with being baptized with Holy Spirit; I believe they are limited in performing signs and wonders. Who have you witness casting out devils without power of the Holy Ghost in them? As you do a study of those in the upper room and those after the upper room acknowledging receipt of the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in other tongues.
Please understand that the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the spirit gives utterance is one of the many gifts of God that not every believer will do. The Apostle Peter said it this way Acts 2:38 (KJV) 38 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. Many do not accept the way the Apostle Peter presents this gift by stating that you need to baptize, in the name of Jesus Christ then you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The key I believe to what the Apostle Peter is saying is the Holy is a gift.
When something is a gift, you must receive it, or it reminds out of your possession. You do not need to steal it or buy it because God told the Apostle Peter to tell us it is a gift. Here is one definition of gift - a thing given willingly to someone without payment, a present. I believe that if more Believers knew the value of this gift from God, they would learn how to receive it and use it. This article is not about teaching how to receive it or use it, but rather to stress the importance of the gift.
If more people saw the active working of Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in tongues as the spirit gave utterance, we would see the power of God at work not just in witnessing but also in signs and wonder, miracles, and divine healing. Too many in the church today are weak which is true without the baptism of the Holy Ghost. To see the hand of God at work with the drawing power of the name of Jesus the church needs to go back and complete the first works on receiving Jesus as Lord and then go on to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. They were obedient to Jesus to do according to Acts 1:8 (KJV) 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. We find that those who received the Holy Ghost with the evidence of tongues throughout the rest of the New Testament perform signs and wonders, miracles, and healing.
The evidence was witnessed in Acts 2:1-4 (KJV) 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. As you go through the rest of the New Testament you discover that all who did incredible, works were baptized and filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost. No scripture after these in the New Testament says anything about stop receiving the gift of Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Why stop what is working?
It is time for the church world to reconsider why it has lost its power and not blame it on the end-time ministry.
Do you want the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance?
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