This is the Truth Network. When the original Christians were baptized with the Holy Spirit in the upper room, was it a fulfillment of Old Testament promises? And was it a fulfillment of something Jesus had predicted?
Well, stay with us, listen, and learn. You're listening to Until He Comes, a blend of prophetic and practical biblical studies with Dr. Greg Hinnant, author of The Second Coming of Christ, His Appearing, His Return, Our Preparation. And now, author and teacher Greg Hinnant. Welcome to the program, my friend.
Today we're going to continue our discussion of tongues of fire. Our text for this series is Acts 2, verses 1 through 4, where the original believers were baptized with the Holy Spirit. And then they began to speak with tongues. But at that time there were What the Bible says, cloven tongues of fire or flames of fire that appeared over everyone's head. What did God mean by this?
Well, we're exploring that in this series.
Now, in the last episode, we were discussing uh the facts related to the tongues of fire, biblical facts. And we said that the tongues of fire were received through given in and a part of The baptism of the Holy Spirit.
So the tongues of fire pointed to the experience. of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Now we cited five examples in the book of Acts about this experience, and we concluded from that. And just for your information, they were in Acts 2, Acts 8, Acts 9, Acts 10, and Acts 19. We concluded from this that. The Holy Spirit has laid tremendous emphasis on this vital Christian experience.
So the question arises. Why? Why is it that today, in many evangelical churches, this doctrine receives no emphasis? often no mention. Not at all.
It's completely ignored, as if it wasn't in the Bible. As if John the Baptist had not clearly predicted it in the opening of. The four Gospels, all four. And if the Church had not begun with this, I will say, admittedly strange phenomena, But it did.
So we can't ignore something which is received so much attention in the Bible. If we do, we err.
Now some ministers speak About this experience, as if it's not needed. They say you've received all of the Holy Spirit in the First experience you have had, your rebirth, your spiritual regeneration, that simply isn't true. It just simply doesn't stand up to the biblical record. I pointed out to you how in Acts 2, 8, 9. and nineteen.
There were two distinct experiences with a separation of time between the Regeneration And then There. being filled with the Holy Spirit.
So it's very clear in the book of Acts. It should be clear in our minds.
Sometimes I think it's true to say this: that. Uh you have heard things and seen videos about charismatic churches and And Pentecostal churches, and you don't like the way they behave in their worship, etc., some of the things that they do, they say.
Well, let me explain to you for 25 years, I've been a Bible teacher. And I visited many charismatic churches that had schools in their churches, and they were very sound. Very sound. I will say with equal emphasis, many are not.
Now, you say, well, I don't want anything to do with that because they do this or they act that way or they are saying this or they worship this way. Friend, let me just cut through all that. Chaff and give you the colonel. When you stand before Jesus, He will ask you. Why did you not?
received my baptism with the Holy Spirit. I died for you to receive the Spirit as well as the blood of cleansing and salvation. And you may say, but because these people did this, or I heard these people do that, that will not hold water, my friend. You and I are responsible to study the Word of God and to receive everything that is in the Bible. This is a vital experience.
It's not a An addendum It's a key issue. and we need to face it, study it? And then prayerfully seek this experience because it is only good. How can I say that? It comes straight from Jesus.
Now Let's talk about the promise of the Father as he spoke of in Acts 1:4. He said, I will send the promise of my Father to you or upon you. What promise was he talking about?
Well, we find that in Ezekiel 36, verses 26 and 27. Here, the Lord is talking about the new covenant. He also talks about it in Jeremiah 31. And here he says in verse 26: A new heart. Also I will give you.
And the new spirit I will put within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
So he's saying, Look, I'm going to take that hard heart of yours and remove it, and I'm going to replace it. He says, I'm going to do heart surgery. I've got to replace that. With a heart that is of flesh.
Now, normally, flesh has a negative connotation. Here it has a positive. Why? Because he means that's responsive, open, plenty. is implacable.
It's uh unteachable. You can't do anything with it.
So he said, I'm going to give you a new heart. Then he says, And this is verse 27. I will put my spirit within you. Notice, my spirit. Within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them.
Now the implication here is very clear, that the presence of God's Spirit in our spirit Will enable us to obey. much easier, much more readily, Again, the Holy Spirit doesn't force you to obey. But he certainly inclines you more strongly to obey the word of God. Of God. This is a very important issue.
It is a key to walking the Christian walk. I think it's accurate to say. When we're born again, we're introduced to the new life of the Lord. We receive his eternal life. We receive a measure of the Spirit.
But to walk this Christian walk in this sinful world, we need empowerment from on high. That's why Jesus referred to the baptism in this way in Luke 24 and Acts 1. He said, Tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you receive power from on high. We need the power of God in our lives to walk out the word of God, to work out our salvation. And we need it for ministry.
D.L. Moody. was told by Two ladies? that he needed the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He was already saved in preaching.
And he went and prayed about it. And so he sought this experience. And he said he was so blessed when he received the Holy Spirit that he had to beseech the Lord to stop blessing him. He didn't feel like he could stand it anymore.
So he received two works of grace. Also, AW TOSER, a very famous twentieth century writer of great Great insight into the Word of God and into the condition of the Church. He spoke very plainly of two experiences of salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And then Oswald Chambers Oswald Chambers was saved. as a young man, and he heard A speaker?
come to one of their meetings at Denoon College. And he Wanted the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which the speaker was speaking of. And he said he stood up and said, I receive the Holy Spirit now by faith, whatever that means.
Well, I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, whatever that means. He didn't understand that all, but he knew it was biblical. Maybe you're in that place right now. that I would encourage you to continue to study about this subject, in this podcast series and also on your own. Research it.
See what the Bible has to say about it. what a certain preacher has to say about it. That should not be the final word. It should be, what does the word of God say about it?
So we're getting into the word now.
So here we see in the 6th century BC, God promised to give his people a new covenant in which. They would have not only a new heart, one of flesh that's responsive to him, but also his spirit would live. within them.
So The father Promised us the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
So now we see Jesus is the one who. Carries it out. And the father is the one who designed The new covenant.
So that we would not only be born again, but have His Spirit living inside of us and urging us, impelling us and enabling us To be fully obedient to Him. I'm not speaking of sinless perfection, obviously, but I am speaking of very consistent. Trust. and obedience. to God Jesus promised also, wells of springing, life giving spiritual water would reside inside Those who believed in him And asked for this spiritual water.
We find him. teaching this in in in all places. in Sychar in Samaria to a woman who was living in fornication at the time. In verse ten, Jesus answered and said unto her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that saith to you, Give me to drink. You would have asked of him And he would have given thee living water.
Now, Jesus is the gift of God. John 3:16 says God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son.
Now the gift is speaking. And he's saying, if you knew who I was and who I am, ma'am. That is, if you recognize me as the Meshiach, the Messiah. You would ask me for water instead of me asking you for water from this well here in Sykar because I'm Physically thirsty, and this is physical water. He said, You would ask me.
And I would give you living water. There wasn't living water down in that well, it was stagnant water. Living water is flowing water that's oxygenagated, and so it's. typically in that day was clean. free of pollutants and toxins.
So he was saying, I've got another kind of water for you. But you got to ask for it. Note again, he said, if you knew me, you would ask.
Now, knowing Christ is equivalent in biblical terms. To be born again. What Jesus said to Peter at Caesarea Philippi, who do men say that I am? And Peter responded, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus immediately replied and said, Blessed art thou Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this unto you, but my father.
in heaven.
So the Father gave Peter A revelation. Of who Jesus was. He knew him for the first time as the very Son of God. Uh that was saving To his soul. In other words, he knew the Lord, he was regenerated, he was saved.
So when Jesus said to this woman in Sychar, if you knew the gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, Give me to drink that if you knew who I am. Madam? Then you could ask. Translate this Into 21st century terms. Jesus is saying, if you've been born again, you can ask for the Holy Spirit.
Friend, have you been born again? If you haven't, let me urge you today. Come to the Lord in prayer. Confess you're a sinner. and that you have sinned, and you're willing to repent.
Of your sins and all sin, as you understand it. That is, turn from it, turn away from it, so as never intending to go back to it again, and turn to. Christ Ask him to come into your heart. Tell him you receive him as Lord and Savior. And John chapter 1 states To as many as received him.
gave you the power, the ability, the authority. to be the children of God. Believe you have received new life from Him. Believe that he died on the cross for your sins. He paid the penalty for your sins.
That penalty was death. He shed his blood.
So you could now have an eternal relationship. with the Heavenly Father. Fruit. Christ. This month, for a gift of any amount, receive Dr.
Hinnant's book, The Tribulation Story, a 242-page book that describes in chronological order the shocking, swift-moving, prophesized events of the seven-year tribulation period and offers practical biblical instruction on how to escape it and help others escape also. For a gift of $60 or more, we'll send you the complete four-volume Hinnant End Times Prophecy Collection, The Second Coming of Christ, The Tribulation Story, Revelation Notes, a verse-by-verse commentary on Revelation, and the Day of the Lord commentary, which interprets all Old Testament prophecies and foreshadowings of the end times. And if you are a Logos Bible software user, you may purchase all four of these books. From the Logos Online Bookstore. You may give your gift today by visiting the donation page at greghinnantministries.org or sending your checks to Greg Hinnant Ministries, PO Box 788 High Point, North Carolina, 27260, or by calling 336-882-1645.
Now, again, Dr. Hinnant.
So believe that. And the first chance you get Tell someone that you believe you have been born again. Then be water baptized and find a church where Christ is honored and Christ is the center. of that church. The Holy Spirit is received and active in teaching and preaching in the programmes of the Church, in the Council of the Church.
And Go there. and be a faithful member of that church, and you will grow in the Lord.
So If you're not saved, you can be, and if you are saved, this word is for you. Again, Jesus said, If you knew me, you could ask. Friend, today you can ask Him for the fulness of the Holy Spirit.
Now the woman said to him, Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. From whence hast thou thou, that living water. In other words, where are you going to get that water from? She was thinking naturally he was speaking spiritually. Art thou greater than our father Jacob?
who gave us this well, and drank thereof himself and his children and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him. Understand that, my friend. In him, a well of water. Springing up?
Into everlasting life. Oh, my goodness, Jesus is saying, Look, ma'am, I'm going to offer you an artesian well of the Holy Spirit. An Artesian well Of the Holy Spirit.
Now, you may not know. what that means. A typical well Is drilled and the water is extracted in ancient times simply by putting a bucket down in the water and bringing it up. An artesian well is entirely different. It's water that's under pressure underground because of its positioning in a rock or among rocks.
and as the ground water Increases the water comes up and out of that Source Without being extracted by human means. In other words, the well. gushes water. You know, in Jerusalem, and I think Jesus had this in mind, in Jerusalem, the Gihon. Spring.
operates just like this, and it did particularly in Jeepsa State. It was very active. And um there The There was an artesian well that had a siphon-like exit. Above it. And when it filled with water, the waters gushed out, and the siphon effect pulled out all the water that was in that.
Pool, that underground pool, and it was transferred later to the pool of Salom, where the Jews would. Um go up and wash as they went up to worship. It was a mi'kma. But this well of Gihon, which means gushing or gusher. was a very important Resource in Jerusalem.
Of course, the Middle East is very dry. And so the people there needed water, and the Gihon was the main water source. Four. Jerusalem up to the twentieth century.
So I think Jesus had that in mind. And, you know Let's put that into practical terms. That means when you receive the Holy Spirit, you have a new fullness of the Holy Spirit in your life. And when you draw near to the Lord in the morning or the evening and during the day, And you surrender and pray and Thank you, Mim. And enter into his presence with praise.
And then you get into the word of God. And you're studying, and you're reading, and you're researching truths, and texts, and references. As you're doing this, the Spirit of God is rising within you, you're getting fuller and fuller in your inner. cistern, if you will, your inner Gihan. And then That water, will gush out.
It will flow out in some form of ministry. If you're in the teaching or preaching ministry, it will flow out with a fresh message that's timely and people are blessed. Perhaps lives are eternally changed. If your counsellor, Then, as you're full of the Holy Spirit, and the Gihon within you will spring up with. new thoughts and new ideas that may Totally.
deliver.
someone who's been desperately troubled for years. Or that water will flow up in you and it'll come out in the form of love. You will have God's love with a new consciousness as you interact with people. Or that well, as you fill up with the wor the water of the Word and the Holy Spirit through worshiping God and praying at Christ's feet, that water will well up within your soul and gush out in the form of intercession, which is the most important ministry and least sought after.
Now, it may be many other ways that the spring of the Holy Spirit within you will flow up and out. But, my friends, this experience is necessary If you want that to happen in your life. May I say something else about this? In John 3. Jesus introduced salvation, you must be born again, said it twice there.
In John 4, he introduces here. The baptism of the Holy Spirit. I see a very orderly progression of divine truth. It was not accidental. that Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in the sacred text precedes his conversation with The warmer by the well.
It was not accidental. It was the leading of the Holy Spirit. Your Bible is meticulously controlled. by the Holy Spirit. I'm speaking now to the original writing and the preservation of it.
So, Jesus was very clear that this would be an experience his people needed and. should ask for. And this tells us, too, that the Father wants us to have the baptism with the Holy Spirit, or he would not have said in Ezekiel 36 that he was going to give us. Not only a new heart, but he was going to put his spirit. within us.
I want you to ponder these things, friend. These are life-changing truths. If you've never received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, today is the day to begin to seek this experience.
Now, if you're not ready for Jesus to be the Lord of your life through the Holy Spirit, you probably need to wait and just keep reading about it. Because the Holy Spirit comes into your life in fullness, not to help you do what you want to do in life, but to totally turn you around. The fire of the baptism will burn out the chaff of sin. And you may have sinned in your attitudes and your motives. and the way you feel about certain people and situations.
Or He will also burn out the self-will. And then He will cause you to know Christ more closely and walk with Him more closely. He'll change your life.
So, you must receive the baptism if you want to have a deeper purging and then a new power. The Lord wants you to have that. The Father has promised you. Jesus is offered it and John Four. And it's yours for the taking.
So please ponder these truths that we found today. We will continue. This subject in the next episode. What you can think about these texts. John Ford.
It's after what Jesus has been doing God for. Not accidental. But to show us there are two works of grace.
So my friend, Please ponder these things until we meet again in the next episode. God bless you. If this message has blessed you, tell your friends and please consider helping us stay on the air by sending your tax-deductible donation to Greg Hennett Ministries. Also, remember, you may download the Until He Comes podcast from your preferred podcast app. May you walk closely with Christ and trust and obey Him in your daily tests of faith and patience until He Comes.
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