I accepted Christ at 11 years of age, and I wasn't really disciplied in what the Word of God says about what happened to me. To be discipled means to be "taught," and that teaching is a pivotal part of a new believer's walk of faith. I was in "youth group" in my youth years, but I still missed some critical parts of what it meant to be "alive" or "born again" in the Spirit. I had no understanding of the Holy Spirit and that is an ongoing learning experience to this very day as God shows me more and more about the work of the Holy Spirit. I know this: the Holy Spirit is vital to our new birth, and being "born again" in the Spirit is the "experience" of salvation. But repentance is an important part of the salvation experience also. In Acts 19: 1-5, Paul returns to Ephesus and meets several believers. They were believers of God, and that was good, but Paul knew they lacked the Holy Spirit because they had not even heard of it.
This following scripture has been abused, confused, and refused by many of the faithful and I don't claim to be someone who can make the best sense of it, but hopefully this will explain something that is very important to understand. I do not believe scripture speaks of a "second blessing" because it just doesn't say that in the Bible, but I do believe there is a moment when the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and that is at the point of being born again. Or, as John 3:3, Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” 4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
Jesus stated these facts: If we are not born again in the Spirit, we cannot see the Kingdom of God or be saved. Nicodemus was looking at this statement through very humanistic reasoning, and Jesus was trying to help him realize that this was a "spiritual" experience, as the conversion experience truly is. Here is what happens in Acts 19: 1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”
Jesus said you must be born again in the Spirit. Enough said!! Repentance is a part of the salvation experience as well, and God spoke through to those people crying out for salvation by saying you must repent in Acts 2:37. Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Those who believed and repented received the Holy Spirit at that moment, and their lives were made right with God, and they were empowered to live the life of a new creation. After that group of people was saved, they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship by sharing meals and praying together. This is the model of the church, and it is a great model to follow because many more came to faith, and the church grew.
Everything we learn in scripture speaks to the Holy Spirit coming into a believer's life and that is because Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to all who come to Him by faith. The believers in Acts 19: 3 had not even heard of the Holy Spirit because they only had the repentance element. Paul led them to the real experience that comes through faith in Jesus and they received the gift of the Holy Spirit and truly came alive. Many different "opinions" have been shared about the effect of a person receiving the Holy Spirit. Every person is different in how they experience what the Holy Spirit does when they receive Him. My experience is different than yours, and yours is different than the next person's, but it is the same Holy Spirit. Paul knew these new believers were in for a spiritual battle, and it is fitting that I bring in what he wrote to this church at Ephesus. Ephesians 6:10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Paul goes on to say in verse 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.
Everything about us is attached to the teaching of a spiritual battle we are fighting and then need to fight that battle on our knees in prayer and praying at all times in the "Spirit." God has equipped all of us through His Holy Spirit to live abundant life in the midst of a great battle with the forces of evil. Jesus has defeated those forces, and He has given us the Holy Spirit to empower us, enable us, and equip us to live in this victory. The believers Paul addressed in Acts 19 believed in God, but there needed to be the filling of the Holy Spirit. James said it this way in James 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish!
If there is anything the devil would try to confuse in the salvation experience it would be the need for the Holy Spirit. Then, others looking at the Holy Spirit through humanistic reasoning would try to manipulate the Holy Spirit or totally stay away from the truth of the Holy Spirit. Neither is right because we must not muddy the waters regarding teaching about the Holy Spirit. I pray in the Spirit, but never have I spoken in tongues. I have had the Holy Spirit guide me in my walk with God. That is how the Holy Spirit is alive in my life and I am alive in Jesus. The whole issue comes down to the fact "Have you been born again in the Spirit?" Then you have the Holy Spirit, whether you realize it or not, and you need to study God's Word, and the Holy Spirit will make that Word come alive in your thinking. Nuff said!!
Paul also told the believers in Ephesus to quit trying to come alive in their thinking by getting drunk. If all believers everywhere would realize and learn from the Holy Spirit the power He gives us they would never even think of drinking a bit of alcohol. JUST SAYIN.
Paul hammered down the point of living according to God's Word and the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 5:15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. He cannot be any more clear in his words than these. We just need to put down our Holy Spirit resistance and trust God in His Word.
Vesselogical Out,
David Warren
Comments