THE BAPTISM OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT: IS IT REAL?
By Evangelist Emil Solbrekken, Edmonton , AB
CHAPTER ONE
I was twenty years old when the message of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire came to me. I'll be eternally grateful to God that I didn't reject the message, but that I accepted it and was filled with the Holy Spirit.
At that time I was working in Calgary , Alberta
I remember the first time I heard someone speak with tongues. As the people lifted their hands toward heaven and worshipped God, a woman stood up and began speaking fluently with great power and anointing in a language I didn't understand. When she finished, the interpretation was given in English. This was the very first time I had ever heard anyone speak with tongues. It was all new to me. I didn't know anything about it. I didn't under- stand it. BUT, I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING, I KNEW GOD WAS IN THAT PLACE! I could feel His divine presence all around me.
In this church, there was GREAT BIBLE PREACHING that resulted in conviction and repentance of sin, and many a sinner walked down the aisle and knelt at the altar to give his heart and life to God. When the invitation was given for believers to come and seek the Lord, I saw teenagers and young people flock to the altar and prayer rooms, get down on their knees before God, raise their hands toward heaven and start to worship and praise the Living Christ.
As I watched, I saw the glory of God come upon their faces and they would begin to shake and tremble under the mighty power of the Holy Spirit. One by one they would be filled with the Holy Ghost and begin to speak in an unknown language and magnify God. THIS WAS REAL. THIS WAS SOMETHING I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
Young people and older folk alike all on fire for God. In other denominational churches I had attended, the young people and many of the older ones as well, didn't seem to have too much zeal toward God. But here it was different, because the Holy Spirit was present in such a marvellous way.
As I saw all this, I BEGAN TO GET HUNGRY FOR GOD, I WANTED WHAT THESE PEOPLE WERE RECEIVING! I was a Christian. I had received Christ as my Saviour. I knew my sins were forgiven. I had peace with God, BUT WAS THIS EXPERIENCE OF BEING FI LLED WITH THE HOL Y GHOST AND FIRE FOR ME, a Lutheran?
I started to seek the Lord. I became hungry for God as never before. I took my Bible and spent hours searching the scriptures, and want to share with you some of the things I found that convinced me beyond a shadow of a doubt THAT I REALL Y NEEDED THIS EXPERIENCE WITH GOD!
WE WERE LUTHERAN
I was brought up in the Lutheran faith. Mom and Dad came to Canada from Norway
The Lutherans were strong believers in the Salvation experience. They believed that a person had to be saved if he was ever going to see inside the pearly gates of heaven. If a person was not born again and died in his sins, he would end up in hell and the lake of fire forever.
The central theme of their message was the same as what Martin Luther had proclaimed during the 16th century, which was "JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH." If a man or women, boy or girl had faith in Christ as Saviour, they would be born again. Their sins would be forgiven. They would be justified in the sight of God.
But they didn't stop there. They also believed in holiness. They believed that if a person had been converted, his life would be changed. 2 Cor. says "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY: behold all things are become new." If a person used to smoke, drink, curse and steal, he would stop doing those things when he got saved. And by the grace of God he would start living a clean life.
Ever since I was a child, I grew up with faith in Christ within my heart. I loved God and knew Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. BUT, THERE WAS ONE THING THAT WAS VERY SADLY LACKING IN THE OLD LUTHERAN CHURCH
The preachers didn't preach it. They knew nothing about it. WE KNEW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE! We didn't know that a believer could be filled with the Holy Ghost and RECEIVE POWER FROM GOD to live a constant victorious Christian life and become a real witness for Jesus Christ. Anybody who has studied the New Testament and especially the Book of Acts will notice:
1. THE EARLY CHRISTIANS HAD SOMETHING FROM GOD THAT A GREAT NUMBER OF BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS TODAY DON'T HAVE.
2. THE EARLY CHRISTIANS HAD TWO DISTINCT, SEPARATE EXPERIENCES WITH GOD. FIRST -THEY WERE SAVED. SECOND -THEY WERE FI LLED WITH THE HOL Y GHOST.
YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER
Jesus told His disciples, "Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem
Every Christian needs to be endued , to be "clothed upon" with this supernatural power from heaven, and to receive this anointing that breaks the yoke of sin, ( Isaiah 1: 27) lifts the burden and lets the oppressed go totally free. (Luke 4: 18)
You must remember that GOD HAS NOT CHANGED, HIS WORD IS THE VERY SAME, AND HIS POWER HAS NOT DIMINISHED. For Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever. {Heb. 13:8) When a sinner TODAY repents of his sins, gets genuinely saved - he receives the SAME SALVATION the early church experienced, including the joy of sins forgiven, and the peace of soul and mind.
When a born again Christian TODAY is filled with the blessed Holy Spirit, he receives the SAME HOLY SPIRIT, he receives the same powerful experience, with the same outward evidence that the early church received, including the same power and victory over sin!
The Apostle Peter declared that THIS SALVATION WITH THE HOLY GHOST SENT DOWN FROM HEAVEN is so wonderful the very angels of God would like to look into it and have a taste of it, if that were possible. (I Peter -12) But praise God, it was reserved for us who are the heirs of salvation!
The Bible tells us that when Jesus was here on this earth, toward the end of His ministry, He started to prepare His disciples for His going away.
JESUS WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE
He had been with them for approximately 3 years. They had walked and talked with the Son of God. They had seen Him as He was moved with compassion on the multitudes. They had heard Him preach to the people. They had seen Him forgive the sinful, heal the sick and tormented, cleanse the leper and even raise the dead! He had sent them out across Palestine
When the seventy returned after they had been out preaching the gospel, they came back to Jesus and said, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us THROUGH THY NAME." (Luke 1: 17) They had preached in His name. They had driven out devils in His name. They had learned to depend on Him, to bank on Him, and to fully trust in Him. He was their comforter when He was here on earth.
ANOTHER COMFORTER
And now He said, “I'm going away, BUT I WILL SEND YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER, THE HOLY SPIRIT." (John ; ) He will take My place here on earth. HE WILL DO MY WORK FOR ME. Then you will have to learn to depend on Him. You will have to learn to rely on Him.
And He, the Holy Spirit will guide you, and teach you, and lead you into all truth. Jesus said, THE HOL Y SPIRIT SHALL T AKE OF MINE AND SHALL SHEW IT UNTO YOU: HE SHALL BRING GLORY TO MY NAME AND SHEW YOU THINGS TO COME. (John 16:13. 15) It is the Divine Holy Spirit of God that CONVI'CTS men and women and boys and girls of their sin and DRAWS THEM TO CHRIST FOR SALVATION.
Sometime ago I was talking with a man from a denominational church -a real born-again Christian. I was telling him about the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and how Lutherans, Baptists, United Church
He turned to me and asked, "Can the unsaved receive the Holy Spirit?" I said, "No, the unsaved cannot receive the Holy Ghost, and I showed him the Scripture in John , 17 where Jesus said, "I will pray the Father and He shall give you another comforter. EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TR UTH, WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him." Then he mentioned a certain denomination and said, “How can they receive the Holy Ghost?"
I answered, “lt is the born again Lutheran, the born again Roman Catholic, the born again Baptist who can receive the Holy Ghost. You've got to be saved first - THE HOLY SPIRIT WON'T ENTER AN UNCLEAN VESSEL! When your sins have been washed away with Jesus precious blood, then you can receive the Holy Ghost REGARDLESS OF WHAT CHURCH YOU BELONG TO!"
Jesus had prepared His disciples for what was about to happen. And just like He had told them, the chief priests, scribes and elders, the religious people turned against Him. They caused Him to be put to death on the cross of Calvary . He was buried in a borrowed tomb. But praise God, early in the morning on the THIRD DAY, Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead, triumphant over death, hell, and the grave. After His resurrection He was seen of His disciples for forty days.
CHRIST'S LAST COMMAND
One day as the. disciples were gathered together on Mount Olivet
Some 800 years before, the Spirit of God came upon Joel the prophet one day, and he prophesied that in the last days God would pour out of His Spirit upon all flesh, (Joel 2: 28 -32), and now that prophesy was about to be fulfilled. As Jesus finished His instruction to His followers, while they beheld Him, He was taken up into Heaven out of their sight and was seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
CHAPTER TWO
HOW THE EARLY CHURCH
RECEIVED THE HOly GHOST
Let us now turn to the Book of Acts and see HOW the early church received the Holy Ghost and see WHAT they experienced.
PENTECOST- Year 33 A.D
In obedience to Christ's last command, His followers went back to Jerusalem
On the morning of the 10th day, all of a sudden there came a mighty rushing sound from Heaven like a strong, great wind. It came down over Jerusalem
Oh, thank God, the blessed Comforter had come! He came on the day of Pentecost. Pentecost was an Old Testament Feast Day which marked the completion of the wheat harvest. People would gather from all the different nations at Jerusalem
Now, when this great mighty rushing sound came down over Jerusalem
The multitude was amazed and marvelled. They could not understand it! How could these uneducated Galileans speak in their foreign languages perfectly and fluently? They said one to another, "What does this mean?" (Acts ) Others mockingly said, "These men are nothing but a bunch of drunks."
That's when Peter stood up and began to preach to the great crowd that had gathered. He said, "We are not drunken, as some of you suppose, for it is still only in the morning!
“ BUT THIS IS THAT WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET, JOEL. AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAITH GOD, I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH: AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHECY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS. AND ON MY SER- V ANTS AND ON MY HANDMAIDENS I WILL POUR OUT IN THOSE DAYS OF MY SPIRIT, AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY.” (Acts 2: 16 -18) "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED. “ (Acts )
PETER'S PENTECOSTAL SERMON
And he went on to tell them how Jesus had been crucified and how God had raised Him up. "Therefore being by the right hand of God, exalted and having received of the Father, the promise of the Holy Ghost, HE HATH SHED FORTH THIS, which ye now SEE and HEAR." (Acts )
He said, "I want you all to know, that God hath made that SAME JESUS, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Acts )
When the people heard this, they were pricked in their hearts. The Holy Spirit began to convict them of their sin. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "What shall we do to be saved?"
Peter answered, "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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, AND TO ALL THA T ARE AFAR OFF." (Acts , 39) My friend, this includes YOU! You can receive the Holy ‘Spirit of Promise’ if you will be obedient to God's Word, as He is given to them that OBEY GOD. (Acts )
As a result of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, and the disciples receiving this mighty experience with God, they were able to lead 3.000 lost souls to Christ that very day .And this was just the beginning! Now let us continue through the Book of Acts and you will see HOW BELIEVERS were filled with the Holy Ghost, WHEREVER THE REAL GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST WAS PREACHED:
God was moving in a mighty manner after the Day of Pentecost. Multitudes were being saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. Great and mighty miracles and powerful signs, wonders were taking place all throughout Jerusalem
As a result, they stoned Stephen and A GREAT PERSECUTION arose against the church at Jerusalem Samaria
Philip, the evangelist, one of the great soul winners of the early church, went down to the city of Samaria
In this city there was a man called Simon, who was a Sorcerer. He practised witchcraft and black magic. He was a devil worshipper, and through deception and trickery had deceived the people. WHEN PHILIP, HOWEVER, CAME preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ - the Son of God - telling them of THE ONE WHO CAN SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST, the people BELIEVED his message. They repented of their sins and were saved!
The Bible records, "But when they BELIEVED Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God Samaria reached Jerusalem
We notice here that these Samaritan people BELIEVED IN CHRIST and had been baptized in water, (Acts 8: 12, 16) yet not one of them had received the Holy Ghost, "For as yet the Holy Ghost was fallen upon none of them! " (Acts )
The Bible says, ‘THE HOLY GHOST HAD NOT YET FALLEN UPON THEM. My friend, when a rain shower passes over your home, if you walk out your front door into that rain and let the rain fall upon you, YOU WILL FEEL IT. If you have a normal body, there is feeling in your body, and you will feel the rain FALL upon you and your whole body will get soaking wet if you stay outside long enough!
Likewise, when the Holy Ghost, the wonderful Spirit of God COMES UPON or FALLS UPON an individual, that person's whole being is flooded with God's power and presence, and God's love comes flowing into that person's soul. It makes you want to seek God - to love and worship Jesus, to uplift and glorify the Lord and to magnify His Holy name. It gives you a great desire to read and to obey God's Word. Yes, it's this power, this anointing, this presence of God that gives believers ability in their lives to stand true to God in this wicked and sinful world.
Then, the Bible says Peter and John LAID their hands on them, and THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST. And when Simon, the sorcerer, SAW that through the laying on of the apostle's hands THE HOLY GHOST WAS GIVEN, he offered them money saying, "give me also this power, that on whom soever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost." (Acts - 19)
How did Simon, the sorcerer, know that these Samaritan Christians had received the Holy Spirit? It says, "WHEN SIMON SAW." What was it that Simon saw? Something VERY SUPERNATURAL AND OUTSTANDING must have happened, that would make him desire to receive the power to lay hands on people so they too would receive the same experience.
Also, how did Peter and John know that they had received the Holy Ghost? I believe there is ONLY ONE POSSIBLE ANSWER -the same way that Peter knew that Cornelius household had received the Holy Spirit in (Acts 10:46), "For they heard them SPEAK WITH TONGUES, and magnify God. "
Next, let us turn to (Acts 9:1 - 20) where is:
PAUL'S EXPERIENCE - 34 A.D One Year after Pentecost!
Saul, the havoc making persecutor of the early church, who later became the great Apostle Paul, was on his way to Damascus
Suddenly, Jesus appeared unto him in a great light from heaven, saying, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" And Saul said, "Who art thou, Lord?" The Lord said, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." Saul answered, "LORD, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6) Right there on the Damascus
When Saul arose from the earth he saw no man, but was led by the hand into Damascus
"And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, BROTHER SAUL (Saul was already a saved man. Ananias called him brother) Brother Saul the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST." (Acts ). Here, we see that Saul had been saved only a short while when Jesus sent unto him Ananias - not one of the apostle - but an ordinary believer to lay hands on him so he would receive sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost!
CORNELIUS’ HOUSEHOLD – A.D. 41 - 8 years after Pentecost
“He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon whose surname is Peter." (Acts 10:3 -5) "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house SHALL BE SAVED." (Acts )
Immediately, Cornelius sent his servants to Joppa. As they drew nigh unto the city, God spoke to Peter and said unto him, "Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for J have sent them." (Acts 1 0: 19, 20)
Up until this time, the apostles did not know that the Gentiles could be saved, and it was also unlawful for a Jew to keep company with a Gentile. Therefore, Peter took with him six Jewish believers, and when they arrived at Cornelius' house found that he had called together many of his kinsmen and near friends. (Acts )
Then Peter opened h is mouth and told them "How God ANOINTED Jesus of Nazareth with the HOLY GHOST and with POWER; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil." (Acts ). And how He had been crucified and raised up the third day, "To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL RECEIVE REMISSION OF SINS.
While Peter yet spake these words, THE HOLY GHOST FELL ON ALL them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed (that's the Jewish believers) were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them SPEAK WITH TONGUES, and magnify God." (Acts - 46)
These Gentiles ALL BELIEVED Peter's preaching. "That through Jesus' name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts ) Instantly God purified their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:8, 9) The, while Peter was yet speaking THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, and began to SPEAK WITH TONGUES and magnified God.
Then answered Peter, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" (Acts ) But how did Peter and the six Jewish believers that came with him from Joppa know that these Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit? "For (BECAUSE) they heard them SPEAK WITH TONGUES and GOD MAGNIFY." (Acts )
This sign of speaking with tongues ABSOLUTLEY CONVINCED Peter and his Jewish friends that the Gentiles had received the Holy Ghost. Also, when Peter made his defence for going to the Gentiles - before the apostles and brethren that were in Judæa - Peter said, "THE HOLY GHOST FELL ON THEM, AS ON US AT THE BEGINNING." (Acts ) "Forasmuch then God gave them the LIKE GIFT as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, WHAT WAS I, THAT I COULD WITHSTAND GOD?" (Acts )
When the apostles and brethren heard what had happened, it FULLY CONVINCED them also that the Gentiles had received the Holy Ghost; and that God had granted them REPENT ANCE UNTO LIFE. (Acts )
The last recorded place in the Book of Acts where believers received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, is in Chapter 19 verses 1 -6. Here, we find that in the year 56 A.D. God was still filling obedient believers with the Holy Ghost and fire. And praise God, His Spirit IS STI LL BEING POURED OUT TODAY upon thousands and thousands of believers around the world of practically every denomination, kindred, people, nation and tongue. God loves everybody alike and is LONGING for you to receive this blessed experience, that YOU TOO will love and worship Him more and more, for this wonderful salvation that He hath provided for the children of men.
THE 12 DISCIPLES AT EPHESUS
Wherever Paul went, he always preached the FULL GOSPEL and kept back nothing from the people that was profitable for them. (Acts ) He said, "I have not shunned to declare unto you ALL THE COUNCIL OF GOD." (Acts 20:2])
As this humble servant of Christ was on one of his missionary journeys, he came to Ephesus
Then said Paul, "John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM; and THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES, and prophesied." (Acts 19: 1 -6)
We notice here that these twelve Ephesians were born-again Christians; in verse one they are called DISCIPLES, verse two calls them BELIEVERS, they had been baptized with the baptism of repentance, FOR THE REMISSION OF THEIR SINS. {Mark 1:4). Therefore, they were genuinely saved with their sins forgiven.
When Paul came, he asked them saying, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost SINCE (AFTER) ye believed? {Acts ) They answered and said, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." Many born- again Christians today are in the very same situation. They know absolutely nothing about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and that this WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE WITH GOD is for them personally.
These Ephesian Christians were baptized in water, YET NOT ONE of them received the Holy Ghost UNTIL PAUL LAID HIS HANDS UPON THEM. THEN THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM, AND THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES and prophesied. (Acts 19: 6)
Christian friend, have you RECEIVED the Holy Ghost SINCE you believed the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ? Remember, the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is for the believer. Christ died to provide it. God wants you to have it. And it is up to you to receive this marvellous experience! Amen.
