NOTE: An updated version of this post is available on my new website. Click here to read it: http://bornofspirit.net/the-baptism-with-the-holy-spirit-is-for-all-believers/
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Have you ever wondered if the Baptism with the Holy Spirit (and the ability to speak in tongues that comes with it) is available to all believers?
Are you wondering if it is available to you?
Consider the following two stories from the bible, and hopefully they will help you find the answer. (By the way, the answer is yes!)
In Acts 1, we see Jesus spending time with His followers after the resurrection. He spends 40 days with them before He ascends from into heaven. Some of His last words before leaving are recorded for us in verses 5-8. Jesus tells His followers that they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.
Acts 1:5 - "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
After saying this, the bible says that He ascended up into a cloud and was seen no more. Then, later on in that same chapter, after His ascension, we are told that there were about 120 people present in the group of believers. The members of this group included:
- the 11 apostles (Peter, John, etc)
- Mary the mother of Jesus
- The brothers of Jesus (James, Jude, etc)
- lots of other people
Moving on into the story, in the next chapter, we see the whole group receiving the Holy Spirit baptism ten days later on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:1-4 - When the Day of Pentecost had 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 the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Notice in verse four is says that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. All of them. Not just the apostles...not just the leaders or other "special" people. It came to each one of them. They all received it.
There were no exceptions.
Nobody was left out.
It was available to everyone present.
This is the start of the Christian church, and we can plainly see that 100 percent of the members received the baptism with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. This means that Mary spoke in tongues. It also means that all of the writers of the New Testament spoke in tongues, with the possible (though very unlikely) exceptions of Mark and Luke.
This story we just discussed from Acts 1 and 2 is the first time the Holy Spirit baptism occurred in the history of the world, and so obviously this is the first time it is mentioned in the bible..
If we skip ahead to Acts 19, we can read about the last time it is mentioned in the bible, and see if we get the same results.
In Acts 19:1-7, Paul comes across some men that had been disciples of John the Baptist. John the Baptist preached about repentance, and he talked about the coming messiah.. Since these men were disciples of his, we can assume that this is probably the state of mind of these men. They have repented, and they are looking forward to the messiah who is coming soon.
Paul has a short conversation with them, and tells them about Jesus..the Messiah has come! They believe and get baptized in water. After that, Paul laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit baptism and they all speak in tongues.
In this story, it says there are about 12 men present. So, 12 out of 12 receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit. 12 out of 12 speak in tongues. 100 percent of the believers receive the Holy Spirit baptism and speak in tongues.
There were no exceptions.
Nobody was left out.
It was available to everyone present.
And if you are a born-again Christian, then it is available to you too.
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