Fire of Pentecost, an indepth study into the baptism in the Holy Ghost

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

The Doctrine of the Holy Ghost

It is essential that we, as believers, recognize the importance of the Holy Ghost in God’s redemptive plan. Many Christians have no idea what it would be like without the Holy Ghost in this world. Without the Holy Ghost there would be no creation, universe or human race(Gen. 1:2; Job 33:4). There would be no Bible(2 Pet. 1:21), no New Testament(John 14:26; 15:26-27; 1 Cor. 2:10-14), no power to proclaim the gospel(Acts 1:8). Without the Holy Ghost there would be no faith, no new birth, no holiness, and definitely no Christians at all in this world.

The Person of the Holy Spirit

Throughout the Bible the Holy Spirit is revealed as a individual person. He is indeed a holy and divine Person just like God and Jesus Christ(Acts 5:3-4). Therefore, we must never think of Him as merely an influencing power or feeling. He has the capacity to think(Rom. 8:27), feel(Rom. 15:30), will(1 Cor. 12:11) and to love and enjoy fellowship. His existence in the world and in our hearts is to bring us as believers into the presence and fellowship of Jesus Christ(John 14:16-18,26)(see Jesus and the Holy Spirit). In the light of this we must regard Him as the infinite presence of a living God within our hearts.

The Work of the Holy Ghost

1. He is the agent of salvation.
He convicts us of sin(John 16:7-8), shows us the truth about Jesus(John 14:16,26), gives us a new birth(John 3:3-6) and brings us into the body of Christ(1 Cor. 12:13).

2. He is the agent of sanctification.
At conversion all believers come under His sanctifying influence(Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19). Take note of some of the things He does as He dwells in us. He sanctifies, cleanses, leads, guides, and motivates us to live a holy life(Rom. 8:2-4; Gal. 5:16-17; 2 Thess. 2:13). He shows us we are the children of God(Rom. 8:16), helps us in our worship(acts 10:45-46) and in our prayer life(Rom. 8:26-27). He produces Christlike characteristics in us(Gal. 5:22-23; 1 Pet. 1:2). He is our teacher(John 16:13; 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:9-16). He gives us joy, comfort and help(John 14:16; 1 Thess. 1:6).

3. He is the agent of service to God.
When we are baptized in the Holy Ghost (see Baptism in the Holy Ghost), we receive power to become a witness for Christ(Acts 1:8). We receive the same anointing that was upon Christ(John 1:32-33) and upon His disciples(Acts 2:4), thus enabling us to proclaim God’s Word(Acts 1:8; 4:31) and work miracles(Acts 2:43; 3:2-8; 5:15; 6:8; 10:38). It was God’s intention that all Christians experience the baptism in the Holy Ghost throughout this age(Acts 2:39). The Holy Ghost gives gifts(see Gifts of the Holy Ghost) to the individual members of the church to edify and strengthen the church(1 Cor. Chapters 12 and 14). These gifts are a manifestation of the Spirit by which Christ’s presence, love, truth, and righteousness are made real to the body of believers.

4. He is the agent who brings the believers into one body of Christ.
He abides in the church(1 Cor. 3:16), builds the church(Eph. 2:22), inspires her worship(Phil. 3:3), directs her mission(Acts 13:2,4), appoints her workers(Acts 20:28), anoints her preachers(Acts 2:4; 1 Cor. 2:4), gives gifts to the church(1 Cor. 12:1-11), guards the gospel(2 Tim. 1:14) and promotes her righteousness(John 16:8; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:18-20).

The different activities of the Holy Ghost are complementary and not contradictory. At the same time, the facets of the Spirit’s work are interlocked and cannot be fully separated. We cannot experience the fullness of life in Christ, righteous living, power to witness for Christ or fellowship with Him without becoming involved in all four.

More on the subject:
*    Baptism in the Holy Ghost
*    Speaking in Tongues
*    Jesus and the Holy Spirit
*    Gifts of the Holy Ghost
*    Proof of Genuine Baptism in the Spirit

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