Bible Truths Concerning the Holy Ghost
TRUTH #3 - THE ACT OF BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST IS NOT A ONE-TIME EXPERIENCE.
It is unceasingly amazing how many people today, even in churches that emphasize the presence and power of the Holy Ghost, make it evident by their lives that they believe "once filled, always filled." In my study of the scriptures, I am more convinced at this moment than ever that God never intended for a person to receive the fullness of the Holy Ghost "once and for all."
Note the following:
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 recipients of this infilling of the Holy Ghost were the disciples and others who had tarried in the upper room, numbering approximately 120. Some of the same disciples are found in the fourth chapter of the book of Acts, and here we find the following:
Acts 4:31 - "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they had assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
These disciples were filled in Acts 2, and filled again in Acts 4. Consider the experience of the apostle Paul:
Acts 9:17 - "And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, 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."
In this verse, Ananias came to Saul of Tarsus (same man as "Paul the apostle"). Ananias tells Saul that Jesus had sent him so that Saul could receive his sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. This passage does not specifically say the words, "Saul was filled with the Holy Ghost," but there is no reason to believe that he had not been filled. Notice:
1) Jesus had sent Ananias to pray for Saul to be filled with the Holy Ghost and to be healed of his blindness.
2) The passage does explicitly say that Saul was healed of his blindness, so it is highly likely that he was filled at this instance as well.
3) Saul exhibited great power in Damascus as he preached boldly in the synagogues.
So, Ananias was sent to Saul of Tarsus that he might be filled with the Holy Ghost in Acts 9. But in Acts 13, we read:
Acts 13:9 - "Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him."
Here is Paul again, filled with the Holy Ghost a second recorded time in the book of Acts.
This is an important truth that we must understand - just because you have been filled with the Spirit in the past does not indicate that you are filled with the Spirit this moment. It is important to keep ourselves full of the Spirit of God. Problems are continual; Holy Ghost power must also be continual. The lostness of the world around us is continual; Holy Ghost preaching must be continual. Hypocrites are continual in their hypocritical practices; Holy-Ghost-filled Christians must be continual in their practices. Vile sinners are continual in their practice of sin; we must be continual in our Spirit-filled opposition to it!
I think we may understand this truth more clearly when I bring out the next truth.
TRUTH #4 - THE HOLY GHOST POWER IS DISTRIBUTED FOR THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF SERVICE.
I cannot expound here upon all the benefits of the Holy-Ghost-filled life. There are benefits of prayer, of victory over sin, of greater understanding of the scriptures, of having a keener ear to the Spirit's leading, of a greater anointing in preaching and teaching, and other benefits upon which I may expound at a later time. But it is important, at this point in the discussion, to understand clearly that the gift of the Holy Ghost's manifestation in our lives is primarily to equip us for service.
All Who Are Saved Are Called to Work
I have made it very clear in this blog that we are not saved by works. I have made it even more clear that if works cannot get you saved, works cannot keep you saved. NO MAN WHO WORKS FOR HIS SALVATION WILL ATTAIN SALVATION. Salvation is neither attained nor maintained by works. We are saved through faith in Jesus Christ; we are kept through faith in Jesus Christ.
But it is equally true that faith works! Faith without works is dead. Genuine faith in Christ produces good works. When I say "good works" I am not referring to "abstaining from sin." I am referring to "working for Jesus Christ" in the field of lost souls. When you are saved, you are called to be a witness for Jesus Christ. The Great Commission makes this plain.
Matthew 28:19, 20 - "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Mark 16:15 - "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
You Cannot Work in the Field of Lost Souls with Your Own Power
If you give the gospel to those who are around you, you will find quickly that you cannot change their minds with your own power. You will find that you do not have the strength in yourself to cause people to desire to be saved. You do not have all the answers. As a matter of fact, I have found in my dealings with people that I didn't even have all the questions! But there is One who CAN show people their sin. There is One who CAN convince people that they need Jesus Christ. There is One who CAN give ALL the answers to every question presented! He is the Holy Ghost. The first and foremost reason that we are given the power of the Holy Ghost when we are filled with His presence is NOT to speak in tongues. It is not to shout, dance, roll in the floor, jump up and down, and "laugh in the Spirit," as some call it. I have a great issue with those who claim to have been full of the Holy Ghost for years, who perform all kinds of emotional outbursts, but are not responsible for the first soul being saved. THERE'S A LOT WRONG WITH THAT. Let me say it again for the sake of emphasis. THERE'S A LOT WRONG WITH THAT! Let me say right here that I am not against anyone being emotional. I am not against the lifting of the voice in prayer or praise to God. I am not against any form of worship that is done in Spirit, as long as it is also done in truth. The Bible is truth. And if your emotional form of worship is not in the Bible, you need to stop worshipping in the flesh and worship IN TRUTH.
Although I am not against emotional forms of worship provided they are Biblical, I am greatly disturbed about anyone's experience of being filled with the Holy Ghost who has no passion whatsoever regarding the lost, hell-bound souls of men. Jesus did not command his disciples to be filled with the Holy Ghost for the purposes of speaking in tongues, shouting, dancing, or any other emotional show. He wanted them to be filled with the Holy Ghost that they might be witnesses! Let us examine some scriptures we have already read:
Acts 1:8 - "But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and YE SHALL BE WITNESSES unto me..."
Acts 2:4, 40, 41 - "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance... And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day THERE WERE ADDED UNTO THEM ABOUT THREE THOUSAND SOULS."
Acts 4:31 - "...and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and THEY SPAKE THE WORD OF GOD WITH BOLDNESS."
In Acts 1, the Holy Ghost was promised to the disciples to make them witnesses. In Acts 2, they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and three thousand were saved. In Acts 4, they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke with boldness. The infilling of the Holy Ghost was not given to the disciples in the book of Acts just to exhibit a show of emotion, but to rather empower them for the work of God!
CONCLUSION
In the church today, we have so many showing off their tools. The power of the Holy Ghost is given as a tool to reach the lost and edify the body of Christ. You can show it off with your emotional exhibition if you wish, but it is time to use the tools for working in the field. May the church of Jesus Christ take the power of God to this world, and win them to Jesus Christ while we can!
I began this post declaring the truth that being filled with the Holy Ghost is not a one-time experience. How often should you be filled? YOU SHOULD BE FILLED WITH HOLY GHOST POWER EVERY TIME YOU ARE WORKING IN THE FIELD AND FIND THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO GET THE JOB DONE! Christians are not constantly filled with the Holy Ghost for one of two reasons:
1) They are not working as they should; or
2) They are working, depending upon their own wisdom and strength.
The sooner we be honest with ourselves, the sooner we will admit that we do not have wisdom and strength in ourselves to perform the task at hand. As a result, we will constantly, daily seek the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives.
TRUTH #3 - THE ACT OF BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST IS NOT A ONE-TIME EXPERIENCE.
It is unceasingly amazing how many people today, even in churches that emphasize the presence and power of the Holy Ghost, make it evident by their lives that they believe "once filled, always filled." In my study of the scriptures, I am more convinced at this moment than ever that God never intended for a person to receive the fullness of the Holy Ghost "once and for all."
Note the following:
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 recipients of this infilling of the Holy Ghost were the disciples and others who had tarried in the upper room, numbering approximately 120. Some of the same disciples are found in the fourth chapter of the book of Acts, and here we find the following:
Acts 4:31 - "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they had assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
These disciples were filled in Acts 2, and filled again in Acts 4. Consider the experience of the apostle Paul:
Acts 9:17 - "And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, 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."
In this verse, Ananias came to Saul of Tarsus (same man as "Paul the apostle"). Ananias tells Saul that Jesus had sent him so that Saul could receive his sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. This passage does not specifically say the words, "Saul was filled with the Holy Ghost," but there is no reason to believe that he had not been filled. Notice:
1) Jesus had sent Ananias to pray for Saul to be filled with the Holy Ghost and to be healed of his blindness.
2) The passage does explicitly say that Saul was healed of his blindness, so it is highly likely that he was filled at this instance as well.
3) Saul exhibited great power in Damascus as he preached boldly in the synagogues.
So, Ananias was sent to Saul of Tarsus that he might be filled with the Holy Ghost in Acts 9. But in Acts 13, we read:
Acts 13:9 - "Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him."
Here is Paul again, filled with the Holy Ghost a second recorded time in the book of Acts.
This is an important truth that we must understand - just because you have been filled with the Spirit in the past does not indicate that you are filled with the Spirit this moment. It is important to keep ourselves full of the Spirit of God. Problems are continual; Holy Ghost power must also be continual. The lostness of the world around us is continual; Holy Ghost preaching must be continual. Hypocrites are continual in their hypocritical practices; Holy-Ghost-filled Christians must be continual in their practices. Vile sinners are continual in their practice of sin; we must be continual in our Spirit-filled opposition to it!
I think we may understand this truth more clearly when I bring out the next truth.
TRUTH #4 - THE HOLY GHOST POWER IS DISTRIBUTED FOR THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF SERVICE.
I cannot expound here upon all the benefits of the Holy-Ghost-filled life. There are benefits of prayer, of victory over sin, of greater understanding of the scriptures, of having a keener ear to the Spirit's leading, of a greater anointing in preaching and teaching, and other benefits upon which I may expound at a later time. But it is important, at this point in the discussion, to understand clearly that the gift of the Holy Ghost's manifestation in our lives is primarily to equip us for service.
All Who Are Saved Are Called to Work
I have made it very clear in this blog that we are not saved by works. I have made it even more clear that if works cannot get you saved, works cannot keep you saved. NO MAN WHO WORKS FOR HIS SALVATION WILL ATTAIN SALVATION. Salvation is neither attained nor maintained by works. We are saved through faith in Jesus Christ; we are kept through faith in Jesus Christ.
But it is equally true that faith works! Faith without works is dead. Genuine faith in Christ produces good works. When I say "good works" I am not referring to "abstaining from sin." I am referring to "working for Jesus Christ" in the field of lost souls. When you are saved, you are called to be a witness for Jesus Christ. The Great Commission makes this plain.
Matthew 28:19, 20 - "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Mark 16:15 - "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
You Cannot Work in the Field of Lost Souls with Your Own Power
If you give the gospel to those who are around you, you will find quickly that you cannot change their minds with your own power. You will find that you do not have the strength in yourself to cause people to desire to be saved. You do not have all the answers. As a matter of fact, I have found in my dealings with people that I didn't even have all the questions! But there is One who CAN show people their sin. There is One who CAN convince people that they need Jesus Christ. There is One who CAN give ALL the answers to every question presented! He is the Holy Ghost. The first and foremost reason that we are given the power of the Holy Ghost when we are filled with His presence is NOT to speak in tongues. It is not to shout, dance, roll in the floor, jump up and down, and "laugh in the Spirit," as some call it. I have a great issue with those who claim to have been full of the Holy Ghost for years, who perform all kinds of emotional outbursts, but are not responsible for the first soul being saved. THERE'S A LOT WRONG WITH THAT. Let me say it again for the sake of emphasis. THERE'S A LOT WRONG WITH THAT! Let me say right here that I am not against anyone being emotional. I am not against the lifting of the voice in prayer or praise to God. I am not against any form of worship that is done in Spirit, as long as it is also done in truth. The Bible is truth. And if your emotional form of worship is not in the Bible, you need to stop worshipping in the flesh and worship IN TRUTH.
Although I am not against emotional forms of worship provided they are Biblical, I am greatly disturbed about anyone's experience of being filled with the Holy Ghost who has no passion whatsoever regarding the lost, hell-bound souls of men. Jesus did not command his disciples to be filled with the Holy Ghost for the purposes of speaking in tongues, shouting, dancing, or any other emotional show. He wanted them to be filled with the Holy Ghost that they might be witnesses! Let us examine some scriptures we have already read:
Acts 1:8 - "But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and YE SHALL BE WITNESSES unto me..."
Acts 2:4, 40, 41 - "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance... And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day THERE WERE ADDED UNTO THEM ABOUT THREE THOUSAND SOULS."
Acts 4:31 - "...and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and THEY SPAKE THE WORD OF GOD WITH BOLDNESS."
In Acts 1, the Holy Ghost was promised to the disciples to make them witnesses. In Acts 2, they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and three thousand were saved. In Acts 4, they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke with boldness. The infilling of the Holy Ghost was not given to the disciples in the book of Acts just to exhibit a show of emotion, but to rather empower them for the work of God!
CONCLUSION
In the church today, we have so many showing off their tools. The power of the Holy Ghost is given as a tool to reach the lost and edify the body of Christ. You can show it off with your emotional exhibition if you wish, but it is time to use the tools for working in the field. May the church of Jesus Christ take the power of God to this world, and win them to Jesus Christ while we can!
I began this post declaring the truth that being filled with the Holy Ghost is not a one-time experience. How often should you be filled? YOU SHOULD BE FILLED WITH HOLY GHOST POWER EVERY TIME YOU ARE WORKING IN THE FIELD AND FIND THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO GET THE JOB DONE! Christians are not constantly filled with the Holy Ghost for one of two reasons:
1) They are not working as they should; or
2) They are working, depending upon their own wisdom and strength.
The sooner we be honest with ourselves, the sooner we will admit that we do not have wisdom and strength in ourselves to perform the task at hand. As a result, we will constantly, daily seek the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives.
