HolySpiritBIbleStudy10

The Holy Spirit

Part Ten: by turtle

Every church seems to have a different take on the filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit. They use
scripture to back up their beliefs. But even with differences there is unity that can be found.

First lets take a look what it means to be filled. If I fill a glass of water and do not stop until it is
overflowing no doubt it is definitely filled. If a river overflows its banks the banks are definitely filled
to overflowing. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be overflowing with the love of God in our
hearts.

Back in Old testament times the temple when it was consecrated to the Lord was filled with the glory
of God and overflowing to the outside of the temple that all that witness knew without a doubt God
was present.

1 Kings 8:10-13 KJV
(10) And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the
house of the LORD,
(11) So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD
had filled the house of the LORD.
(12) Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
(13) I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.

God's glory filled the House of the Lord. In this same way God overflows in our life when we are
filled with Him. What about in the New testament, you proven one point but does God really fill up
a human. First one must be saved to be filled with the Holy Spirit. A non Christian can not be filled
with the Holy Spirit. So do not even ask until you are saved.

Christ own words:

Luke 11:13 KJV
(13) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall
your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

John 7:38-39 KJV
(38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living
water.
(39) (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.)

First Christ had to be glorified before the Holy Spirit could come. Jesus makes it clear it be out of the
belly shall flow rivers of living water. Living water is the gospel or the truth about God. Remember a
few lesson back near the beginning I talked about who the Holy Spirit spoke of. He spoke the
wonderful works of God. God would be magnified. To be filled is to be able to speak the wonderful
works of God to minister in the gifts God has given each believer and to bear fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Yep this lessons seems to tie up a lot of loose ends I have left behind.

When did the first Biblical filing take place after Christ, how do you know it is so. Let's begin.

There are two accounts of the first filling after Christ resurrection. Both take place in the upper
room. One record by John in John and the other recorded in Acts, by Luke. Let's take a look at both
stories.

John 20:21-22 KJV
(21) Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I
you.
(22) And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy
Ghost:

The great commission is laid even in John, but I do not doubt many miss it in these verse. Father
sent me so I send you. Christ purpose in training the disciples was for sharing the gospel. That is
why churches teach and preach the gospel to train individuals to share the gospel. I will stop there
because I could really preach a message on that alone. So Christ gave them instructions and then
breath on them to receive the Holy Ghost. God's breath anointing. Wow.

God breathes on each of us, so we can witness for Him. We are to share Christ Love and the
purpose that He came.

What about the account in Acts is it really the same story just told by a different Author. If you ask a
Baptist, a Pentecostal, a Catholic, and any other denomination about the Holy Spirit no doubt you
are going to get different answers. Are they all wrong? Yet most will say that group is wrong that one
is wrong and will you get the picture. It is like the difference in each of the account of the filling or
baptism of the Holy Spirit through out Acts. What needs to be consider is what happened when God
fills a person with the Holy Spirit? The word of God gets spread, and His name is
glorified/magnified. And the gifts of the Holy Spirit is present as will as the fruit of the Spirit. God
makes His present known to the believer in such a way that they are filled to the brim.

Acts account starts in the first chapter with Christ giving the great commission and orders to wait for
the Holy Spirit to come.

Acts 1:5-9 KJV
(5) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days
hence.
(6) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time
restore again the kingdom to Israel?
(7) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath
put in his own power.
(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.
(9) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received
him out of their sight.

When the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples they will be witness in all over the world. Wow,
World travelers for the gospel of Jesus. The will receive power, God given ability to do what ever
God ask. To heal the sick, to preach, to teach which ever gift God calls you to use. No longer need
to fear because God will give the power to do all He ask. It will not be in our ability, but His.
Now the good part. The description in Acts 2.

Acts 2:1-6 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 all the
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.
(5) And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
(6) Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because
that every man heard them speak in his own language.

This is where a lot of people get trapped by the events. And not focusing on What God was doing
through the disciples, but getting trapped by the things the disciples were able to do. First God gives
the ability to witness with the gifts of the Spirit to whoever you will come in contact with. Second I
think we need to look at how the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. I have yet to here of a modern
day account of this description.

(2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the
house where they were sitting.
(3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Wow what a description and what a sound to hear the power and wind in such away. Something
was definitely taking place. The wind could be described as God breath. Or the Spirit going forth
from God. Cloven tongues symbolizing the word of God resting on each of the disciples.

And then they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:4 KJV
(4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit gave them utterance.

They were filled and they began to speak in tongues. Tongues being a gift of the Holy Spirit. And
they only Spoke has God gave them the ability. Purpose of tongues is clear in the next verse.

Acts 2:5 KJV
(5) And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Devout men of God living in the city from every nation. Gift of tongues was need to talk to that
many people about the Lord. Also no doubt it was a great attention getter. God uses the gifts to get
our attention. Whether it be gift of tongues, interpretation, helps, preaching, teaching, prophecy, etc.
Each gift should glorify God.

So the Disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. The third person of the Trinity. No doubt the
disciples felt the Holy Spirit come upon them. But the feeling is never described accept in the terms
of being full elsewhere in scripture. To be filled is to be filled with God's very presents. To know
with out doubt He abides in you.

We will continue with the filling of the Holy Spirit looking at other cases closely in scripture next
week.