The Holy Ghost

By Pastor Jeff

There is much debate on whether the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with speaking in tongues is really necessary today. Romans 8:6-8, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” See it’s clear here that if we are living according to our fleshly nature whatever we do we can never please God, Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”  Pretty clear isn’t it, let’s go back to Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” 

So we see it’s apparent that we need the Spirit of God or as it sometimes refered to the Holy Ghost in our life, where the problem comes is when and how we receive such gift. Some say as soon as you believe, others say when you are baptized in the water, others when you repent, but what does the word of God say? The book of Acts is the history of the church, if you are getting your salvation doctrine from anywhere else you are in error, for the Epistles are letters written to those that have already received the Born Again experience. Acts 2:1-4, “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.” When those that received this experience were questioned about this Peter after giving them a rebuke answers them in verse 38 this way, “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.” It’s not when you repent, it’s not when you are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ! We see this repeated several times in the book of Acts, chapter 10, we find Cornelius and those with him receiving the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues as Peter spoke, and Peter then commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. So we see that it is not in water baptism that you receive it. In Acts 19:1-7 we have Paul if Ephesus challenging them about the Holy Ghost to “believers”, so once again it’s clear that you don’t receive it simply because you believe.

Let’s not be deceived, we must be born again the bible way, don’t be fooled, the only evidence that we find in the word of God is that when someone does receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is that speak with other tongues. Remember without the Spirit you are known of His!