THE HOLY SPIRIT
(continued)
There is so much to be said about the Person and work of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers and in the Church of Jesus Christ. That being said, this current blog is not meant to be an exhaustive teaching.
Much much more about the Person, Work, Nature, Fruit, Gifts, Nature, Bible Emblems, Characteristics and Ministry of the Holy Spirit - can be readily researched on the internet through various ministry sources.
That being said, let me briefly address another related topic concerning the Holy Spirit, which over the years has been fraught with divided and divisive opinion, each camp claiming to be able to to support their personal stance with strong Biblical backing. I refer to the subject of the Baptism in or with the Holy Spirit, and the present day operation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, as outlined in 1 Corinthians Chapters 12-14.
Six years ago, in 2013, I remember experiencing a mixture of emotions - disappointment, anger, a sense of grieving in my spirit - because of the bold presentation of high profile US pastor, John Macarthur in his book and conference bearing the name "Strange Fire". The conference was hosted by John Macarthur, a cessationist Calvinist pastor and theologian, who, for many years has denounced the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements as aberrations of Christianity, and whose Pentecostal distinctives are not valid for today's church.
As a cessationist, he is of the firm belief that with the passing of the original twelve apostles and the completion of the canon of Scripture, that not only the ministry of apostles and prophets ceased, but also the gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit, as outlined in ! Corinthians 12-14. Macarthur even boldly asserts that the gift of "speaking in tongues", one of the hallmark features of the Pentecostal and Charismatic experience, is demonic in origin. He also states that those who practise speaking in tongues and display other characteristic Pentecostal and Charismatic manifestations are actually guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. As a Christian who has been firmly in the Pentecostal sector of the Church of Jesus Christ for almost all of the fifty three years I have been a committed follower of Christ, I can only respond to such claims with astonishment.
My reading of Jesus' words in Matthew 12 concerning blasphemy against the Holy Spirit seems to signify that attributing the work or ministy of the Holy Spirit to Satan or demons is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. To that end, I feel that people such as John Macarthur, Phil Johnson (one of John Macarthur's associates, who edits all his books) and Todd Friel - all involved in the "Strange Fire" conference - are on very, very dangerous ground.
Having said the above, though, I must admit I have not followed John Macarthur's ministry, but I understand he is generally a respected Bible teacher, author and pastor, as well as hosting a popular syndicated radio program "Grace To You."
I have heard respected Pentecostal / Charismatic leaders such as Dr Michael Brown and Christian social commentator, Bill Muehlenberg who writes his regular "Culture Watch" blogs - express some admiration for Macarthur's othewise integrity in ministry and his exposition of the Word of God.
Dr Michael Brown, who has several ministry degrees, including a PhD - a Pentecostal Biblical scholar, wrote his own rebuttal of "Strange Fire" in his book, "Authentic Fire", which I must admit I have not as yet read, but intend to obtain a copy in the near future.
Concerning the experience of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, in all four Gospel accounts, John the Baptist whom God sent as a messenger to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, is recorded as saying of Jesus that it is He who would "baptize believers in the Holy Spirit" (and with fire, as stated in Matthew and Luke's accounts).This was obviously going to be a key element of His ministry to believers from the commencement of the Church age.
In John 20, after the Resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week, He appears to ten of His disciples (Judas Iscariot had betrayed Him and committed suicide, and Thomas was not there). In verse 21, Jesus encourages them with these words: " Peace be unto you; as my Father has sent Me, even so send I you".
Then verse 22 says: And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said unto them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." It could well be argued that this was the point in time when the Holy Spirit came to indwell the lives of the disciples in the same way that He does when any person commits his or her life to Christ, being, as the Word of God says, born again by the Spirit of God.
Were these disciples of Jesus "baptized in the Spirit" at this time? No, they weren't. In the Gospel of Luke, in chapter 24, again, after the resurrection of Jesus, just before His ascension to the Father, Jesus gives this encouragement and direction to His disciples: " And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but wait in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high."
In the first chapter of the Book of Acts, Luke records these words, adding more detail to the direction given in Luke 24.
In Acts 1:4, it reads: And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father,"which", He said, "you have heard from Me;
for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Jesus further said in verse 8: "But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
True to the words of Jesus, the embodiment of Truth, ten days later on the Jewish feast Day of Pentecost, which was also fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, as 120 disciples and followers of Jesus (men and women) were gathered in the Upper Room, being in one accord in one place,
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. Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
The 120 in the Upper Room were the first New Testament believers to be "baptized in the Holy Spirit" by Jesus, the one who as foretold by John the Baptist, would "baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire."
As you read on in this chapter, it is stated that there were many devout Jews living in Jerusalem "from every nation under heaven" and they were all amazed as they each heard the 120 speaking the wonderful praises of God in their own languages. Peter the apostle explained that this was fulfillment of Joel's prophecy in Joel 2:28-32 "In the last days I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh....." If it was the last days then, 2,000 years ago, then we are certainly living in the last of the last days now, and therefore the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our day with attending gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit must certainly be valid for the Church today!I, for one, am glad to be alive in this exciting Church era, and connected to a church family with a vision to see the Holy Spirit moving powerfully to lift up the name of Jesus with mighty life-changing and transforming demonstrations of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, bringing glory and honour to the Living God in our times!
If you have read this blog, and desire to know more about how you can become a Christian, one resource I can recommend is:www.vision.org.au This is the online home of Vision Christian Media in Australia. Click on the Grow your faith tab at the top of the page, then from the drop-down menu, click on Looking for God?
As a cessationist, he is of the firm belief that with the passing of the original twelve apostles and the completion of the canon of Scripture, that not only the ministry of apostles and prophets ceased, but also the gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit, as outlined in ! Corinthians 12-14. Macarthur even boldly asserts that the gift of "speaking in tongues", one of the hallmark features of the Pentecostal and Charismatic experience, is demonic in origin. He also states that those who practise speaking in tongues and display other characteristic Pentecostal and Charismatic manifestations are actually guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. As a Christian who has been firmly in the Pentecostal sector of the Church of Jesus Christ for almost all of the fifty three years I have been a committed follower of Christ, I can only respond to such claims with astonishment.
My reading of Jesus' words in Matthew 12 concerning blasphemy against the Holy Spirit seems to signify that attributing the work or ministy of the Holy Spirit to Satan or demons is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. To that end, I feel that people such as John Macarthur, Phil Johnson (one of John Macarthur's associates, who edits all his books) and Todd Friel - all involved in the "Strange Fire" conference - are on very, very dangerous ground.
Having said the above, though, I must admit I have not followed John Macarthur's ministry, but I understand he is generally a respected Bible teacher, author and pastor, as well as hosting a popular syndicated radio program "Grace To You."
I have heard respected Pentecostal / Charismatic leaders such as Dr Michael Brown and Christian social commentator, Bill Muehlenberg who writes his regular "Culture Watch" blogs - express some admiration for Macarthur's othewise integrity in ministry and his exposition of the Word of God.
Dr Michael Brown, who has several ministry degrees, including a PhD - a Pentecostal Biblical scholar, wrote his own rebuttal of "Strange Fire" in his book, "Authentic Fire", which I must admit I have not as yet read, but intend to obtain a copy in the near future.
Concerning the experience of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, in all four Gospel accounts, John the Baptist whom God sent as a messenger to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, is recorded as saying of Jesus that it is He who would "baptize believers in the Holy Spirit" (and with fire, as stated in Matthew and Luke's accounts).This was obviously going to be a key element of His ministry to believers from the commencement of the Church age.
In John 20, after the Resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week, He appears to ten of His disciples (Judas Iscariot had betrayed Him and committed suicide, and Thomas was not there). In verse 21, Jesus encourages them with these words: " Peace be unto you; as my Father has sent Me, even so send I you".
Then verse 22 says: And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said unto them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." It could well be argued that this was the point in time when the Holy Spirit came to indwell the lives of the disciples in the same way that He does when any person commits his or her life to Christ, being, as the Word of God says, born again by the Spirit of God.
Were these disciples of Jesus "baptized in the Spirit" at this time? No, they weren't. In the Gospel of Luke, in chapter 24, again, after the resurrection of Jesus, just before His ascension to the Father, Jesus gives this encouragement and direction to His disciples: " And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but wait in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high."
In the first chapter of the Book of Acts, Luke records these words, adding more detail to the direction given in Luke 24.
In Acts 1:4, it reads: And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father,"which", He said, "you have heard from Me;
for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Jesus further said in verse 8: "But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
True to the words of Jesus, the embodiment of Truth, ten days later on the Jewish feast Day of Pentecost, which was also fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, as 120 disciples and followers of Jesus (men and women) were gathered in the Upper Room, being in one accord in one place,
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. Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
The 120 in the Upper Room were the first New Testament believers to be "baptized in the Holy Spirit" by Jesus, the one who as foretold by John the Baptist, would "baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire."
As you read on in this chapter, it is stated that there were many devout Jews living in Jerusalem "from every nation under heaven" and they were all amazed as they each heard the 120 speaking the wonderful praises of God in their own languages. Peter the apostle explained that this was fulfillment of Joel's prophecy in Joel 2:28-32 "In the last days I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh....." If it was the last days then, 2,000 years ago, then we are certainly living in the last of the last days now, and therefore the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our day with attending gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit must certainly be valid for the Church today!I, for one, am glad to be alive in this exciting Church era, and connected to a church family with a vision to see the Holy Spirit moving powerfully to lift up the name of Jesus with mighty life-changing and transforming demonstrations of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, bringing glory and honour to the Living God in our times!
If you have read this blog, and desire to know more about how you can become a Christian, one resource I can recommend is:www.vision.org.au This is the online home of Vision Christian Media in Australia. Click on the Grow your faith tab at the top of the page, then from the drop-down menu, click on Looking for God?
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