Holy Spirit baptism

Direct Operation? Acts 20:32

1. On Pentecost - To give power to the apostles - Acts 1:8 & 2:1-4 2. At Cornelius' house to show that Gentiles accepted - Acts 11:15-18 & 15:7-8 3. Paul later wrote that there is now only "One Baptism" - Eph 4:4 4. Baptism in the name of Christ is water baptism - Acts 2:38. See Lk 24:47

It is commanded of everyone - Matt 28:19; Mk 16:16.

5. Prophesied in Lk 3:16

Today, in Pentecostal churches around the world, the phenomenon of “speaking in tongues” is an utterance of unintelligible syllables that resembles nothing of the phenomenon of the “speaking in tongues” in the New Testament. In the New Testament, “speaking in tongues” simply meant speaking in other languages. These other languages were known, actual languages, not “mumbo-jumbo”:

Acts 2:6-11

When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own languages!"

Take special notice of the phrase, “IN OUR OWN LANGUAGES” (or “in OUR OWN TONGUES”). The speech of the Apostles was not incomprehensible syllables! It was in actual, spoken languages of the world. Although the Apostles had neither studied nor taken any foreign language courses, they incredibly were given the power of “miraculous, instantaneous translation.” Any missionary knows that the biggest obstacle to taking the gospel to foreign nations is always the language barrier. Perhaps this is what Jesus was referring to when he told the apostles, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) Not even Christ spoke the way in which God now gave ability to the Twelve. The people who heard the Apostles “speaking in tongues” understood them-- unlike when people “speak in tongues” today.

The “baptism of the Holy Spirit” was a fulfillment of prophecy made as proof that the Apostles were God’s chosen instruments-- just as God did miracles in the past (such as with Moses and Pharaoh), to demonstrate that certain people were the bearers of His message and commands. John the Baptist spoke of this and then Christ followed it up in more detail. At Pentecost in Acts Chapter 2 we read about the Holy Spirit coming on the Apostles. Even unbelievers witnessed this phenomenon. Later, in Acts 10 when Peter was having difficulty understanding that the Gospel message was for the Gentiles also, God demonstrated to him that the Gospel message was indeed for all nations and God proved to Peter, by sending the Spirit on the Gentiles, that Peter needed to understand this fact.

Key points:

In the New Testament, “speaking in tongues” simply meant speaking in other actual languages

In the New Testament, “baptism of the Holy Spirit” was outwardly VISIBLE and AUDIBLE

In the New Testament, “baptism of the Holy Spirit” happened only twice—ONCE to the JEWS (Acts 2) and ONCE to the GENTILES (Acts 10)

In the New Testament, “baptism of the Holy Spirit” was never commanded upon anyone, only water baptism was

The “baptism of the Holy Spirit” (visible tongues of fire) is not to be confused with the invisible “gift of the Holy Spirit” which is internal and which is received through water baptism (Acts 2:38, Galatians 3:26-27,4:6-7)

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines the word “counterfeit” as: to copy or imitate in order to deceive, sham, spurious, forged, pretend, fake, imposture, fraud, deceit, deception

So in conclusion, when we compare both “speaking in tongues” and the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” with the practices of today against the examples in the Word of God---we see two different things!

The Bible speaks of counterfeits, and deceit -- and not in a good light! 2 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

HOMOSEXUALITY ISN'T GENETIC: 1 Cor 6:9-11, Genesis chapter 19, Leviticus 18:22; Rom 1:24-27, 1 Cor 6:9-10, 1 Tim 1:9-10, Rom 1:26-27, Rev 21:8

HOMSEXUALITY IS NOT NATURAL: Rom 1:26-27