Before Jesus made His ascension back to heaven, He commissioned His disciples saying, “And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high.” St. Luke 24:49. Now these are the words of Jesus to his disciples. A disciple, as Webster defines it, is one who receives the teaching of another; a follower. Jesus said unto His disciples or followers, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” Acts 1:8. Now the disciples in obedience to the command of Jesus were tarrying (waiting) in the city of Jerusalem, and the Bible says, “And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4.
What I’m trying to get you to see is that there is something else you need after you have been saved. And that is the Holy Ghost. And the way you know you have been filled with the Holy Ghost is that you will speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. In other words, you will speak in a language not known to you. Some may say I got the Holy Ghost when I went down in the water, but I didn’t speak in tongues. Then how do you know you got it? The Bible evidence of the infilling of the Holy Ghost is when you speak with other tongues. Some may say that was for the apostles, but let’s see what the Bible says. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” Acts 2:38-29.
Now what is the promise? “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear” Acts 2:33. The Bible says that the promise is to as many as the Lord our God shall call. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” St. Matthew 11:28. The Apostle Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16. The infilling of the Holy Ghost is very important and necessary.
A sinner can’t receive the Holy Ghost. He first has to be saved and then he becomes a candidate to receive the Holy Ghost. If you’ve never been born again why don’t you repent and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour right now? Don’t put it off until later. You never know when death may come. After you have accepted Him, ask Him in faith to fill you with the Holy Ghost. You don’t have to ask Him for the tongues because they come with the Holy Ghost. For it is the initial evidence that you have been filled with the Holy Ghost.
The Bible says, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” Acts 10:44
The Apostle Paul when he came to Ephesus and having found certain disciples, “He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied” Acts 19:2-6
Friend, have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? That is, have you received it the Bible way?
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