All Discussion PAGE 1571

Thank you!

Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary (concise)

Acts 19:1-7.

Paul, at Ephesus, found some religious persons, who looked to Jesus as the Messiah. They had not been led to expect the miraculous powers of the Holy Ghost, nor were they informed that the gospel was especially the ministration of the Spirit. But they spake as ready to welcome the notice of it. Paul shows them that John never design that those he baptized should rest there, but told them that they should believe on Him who should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. They thankfully accepted the discovery, and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. The Holy Ghost came upon them in a surprising, overpowering manner; they spake with tongues, and prophesied, as the apostles and the first Gentile coverts did. Though we do not now expect miraculous powers, yet all who profess to be disciples of Christ, should be called on to examine whether they have received the seal of the Holy Ghost, in his sanctifying influences, to the sincerity of their faith. Many seem not to have heard that there is a Holy Ghost, and many deem all that is spoken concerning his graces and comforts, to be delusion. Of such it may properly be inquired, "Unto what, then, were ye baptized?" for they evidently know not the meaning of that outward sign on which they place great dependence.

for they evidently know not the meaning of that ( OUTWARD SIGN )on which they place great dependence.

He called their water baptism an outward sign! He see it the way some of us do.

Water baptism ritually points to the baptism of the Holyspirit.

Acts 19:4.

And when they believed, by believing they were baptized in the name Jesus.

Acts 19:5.

Amen.

Gigi Skip comment on Mathew 3:2 wrong context.

Hi Rick

That sounds like a wild situation. Boy, I'd walk out, too.

I have participated in two charismatic style church fellowships in my walk.

One an Assembly of God and the other a FourSquare church.

I never observed any of what you described. Services were orderly and reverent. So, I think there are wide degrees of differences from one congregation to another, since many are "independent" or "non denominational"

But, we are to test the spirits in such situations. I would not remain in a fellowship that overemphasized emotional manifestations that they attribute to the Holy Spirit over the reading and preaching from the word, singing, praising, and praying in an orderly way.

God's ways for us are not sensual and sensational. We are to have a sober, controlled mindset as we joyfully worship Him and interact with one another in holy ways.

Free for alls are not usually grounded in correctly dividing the Word or being led by the Holy Spirit.

I left this type of church when it was evident that most were readily embracing the. Newest " move of the Holy Spirit" without questioning it. I thought that that was a dangerous way to approach one's spiritual walk.

I still have close friends from those situations who have been dear to me for 40 years.

I am blessed to have them in my life.

Revelation 20:2,

Praying for you

Is Satin and the Devil the same methodically?

Explain more on times and Seasons with bible verses

Bro Dan

You are so right on explaining what is meant by "baptizing with water and the Spirit"

So many here just seem to resist the idea of water baptism. If some think it is an action added to the work of Christ, then we should not lay hands on someone or pray for them to be "baptized in the Holy Spirit" because it involves action on the human part. We cannot "see" what God does to a new believer when they are water baptized, but, by faith, one believes that God is at work in this rite because He instituted it, just like He instituted the Lord's Supper.

Partaking of the Supper is an action, but like baptism by water or laying on of hands, it isn't adding to the finished work of God in Christ. It is just following in the way Jesus instructed. We pray, it is an action. I would ask those who balk at water baptism because it is a "work" added to that of Christ, "is praying a work that adds to the work of Christ , since God knows what we need before we ask?

God bless you all for this platform. I am asking all of the sisters and brother in Christ to please pray for me. I have had surgery 7 days ago and the recover process has been the most painful. I can barely get out of bed to head to the bathroom. It has brought me closer to the Lord, but I am asking for complete healing in Jesus name. Amen.

Matthew 10:29-34,

Revelation 8:8-9, Hosea 4:1-19, vrs. 3, 2 Esdras 5:1-13,

Thanks Rick, I'll toast to that!

Praying for you. May God guide you and bless you.

Gigi My concern with the charismatic movement so to speak is there not lining up what they do with what is written,

my wife and i went to an assembly that were doing some off the wall stuff, then the so called pastor walked out on

the pulpit picked up a telephone back in the day and said when he hung up that God was telling Him what to do

for the congregation. The man who invited us there when everything was done looked like he was on a drug, but I

ask Him one question the whole time there nobody opened a bible! He had no words and we never went back, so

if these are what people are seeing I would think somethings wrong too. Thank God we have the Truth of Scripture.

Alex

Water baptism as John, Jesus , the apostles, and disciples did throughout the apostolic times was never a part of the OT law.

Hi Ethel Mae The psalms in the bible were song and written by David the King inspired of God of course or men

under His leadership they are prayer and prays and wisdom and asking forgiveness and as everything else in Gods Word

perfect! So Go to them for a spiritual Heart Boost!

I felt led to tell you personal experience. 1st time I saw something in resemblance of what you said. I was working 110 hours weeks + taking care of small children. Totally sleep deprived. I was driving after leaving work little early, right before sun rose. The freeway was well lit & from median, I saw dark shadow dart across freeway, in front of my vehicle, going aprox.60mph. It really rattled me. I actually watched it trying to figure out what the image was. Fear gripped me, I prayed. I chalked it up to sleep deprivation but even then, that was rattling. I felt in that moment danger. I stopped working as many hours. I may have seen a few more dark shadow creatures during my life, seems to be during dangerous situations.

Here are some scriptures I hope will be helpful.

Ephesians 6:10-18, Hebrews 13:2, 2 Samuel 22:3-20,

1 Chronicles 21:15, Exodus 10:21,

1 Corinthians 13:1-13,

Hi Rick

Good job explaining this.

The disciples on Pentecost were compelled to open their mouths and speak by the Holy Spirit. They had no preconceived ideas of what to expect. I think that this is the normal way that the Spirit works with this gift.

For some, it comes during times of singing , praise, or prayer. But you are right, in the assembly it is to be orderly, and we do have some control over exercising it once it is received.

I do not believe that everyone receives this gift. Paul's teachngs in Corinthians seems to indicate that the Spirit assigns the gifts as He sees fit. And, giving the body as an analogy, it isn't all made up of one single part, but has diverse kinds of parts. A hand cannot be a foot, or a mouth be an eye. The same with gifts, everyone does not have the same gift, but gifts differ from person to person. Speaking in tongues should not be a litmus test to determine if someone has the Spirit or not. It is the truth of the word that determines this.

It says that no one can say Jesus is Lord without the Spirit. That is the proof.

We should not judge anyone's "spiritual level" by the gifts that operate on a person.

That is being a "respecter of persons".

We just believe that those who claim Jesus as Lord and Savior have the Spirit in them and us working in and through them, whether we "see" it or not.

How wrong is it to become pregnant before marriage?

If Jesus is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow, he did not have to be glorified to be the head of the church. The disciples were with him for three plus years. He was leading them, His infant church. He also knew that the eternal plan was for Hom to return to heaven to be glorified and that the Holy Spirit would CONTINUE His work of growing the church.

I just don't believe the church started at Pentecost. Scripture does not state that anywhere.

The Holy Spirit always points us back to Jesus, the author and perfect or of or faith, not to Himself. His mission is to bring people to Jesus. Jesus is the focus of our faith, because in Him we can know what God is like in a way that makes human sense, since we are but crestures.

Over-emphasizing the Holy Spirit is often done in charismatic circles, but I think that is misplaced "allegiance".

We worship a Triune God who wants us to know Him through His Son, Jesus Christ by the power and work of the Holy Spirit.

Darnita One other point even in my life I've been to assembles where people were supposedly operating

other spiritual gifts but again so out of order and not lining up with scripture so me and my family just walked

out, no profit. Everything the true God does in an assembly or church should be decent and in order which is

why Paul spent 1 Corinthians chapters 12, 13 and 14 they had major confusion with matters of the Spirit.

Precious friends, no one is "content/ignoring tons of scripture" that commands we be 'water baptized' Today, Under God's GRACE. We have "studied" Much, Prayerfully And Carefully, And Have Found ONLY "ONE Baptism" for Today, and it is NOT "water"! Link

We Must Be Very Careful not "to blaspheme The Holy Spirit" = (as the Jews did) "attributing The 'Work Of The Holy Spirit' unto men/Satan, Instead Of To God." Matthew 12:31; Mark 3:28-30 Correct?

Some 'May Be confused' so, Other "Confirming" studies are here

Solving water Confusion:

Part 1 Link

Part 2 Link

Israel's 'water' for the priesthood = various washings:

Part 1 Link

Part 2 Link

All are invited to study "ALL The Holy Scriptures" on this Important Issue - Be Encouraged!

Gigi I have taken the time to do that but again when you start getting into the original language translations

then your thought of changing scripture so wisdom says don't go there. You can't upset an apple cart if you dont

supply more apples.

Jesse, I appreciate your well thought out sincere posts as well. So many people contribute good words to ponder and hold up to the word to see if the view is supported by Scrpture or not.

We have an obligation to do that as well as an obligation to speak sound biblical doctrine to others.

We may have many words in our minds, some may be of questionable scriptural merit, but we should not post those thoughts, but only those that we believe honor the truth of God's word. We all can err and have make mistakes in inerpretation, but there is a whole body of writing online from devout Christian thinkers over the centuries who have spent their lives searching, studying, and teaching scriptures and the doctrines of the church that we can read and find out more about a view and help us form a mindset that aligns with revealed truth.

Some on here do not value the contributions of these forefathers, thinking each person can decide for themselves how to interpret Scripture. We are all fallible, and I do not think that anyone on their own can correctly interpret scripture and doctrinal views solitarily without the input of others. I think it is foolish to believe that, that is why I research and have done so all my life.

I have had to change my thinking on some things over the years. We can stay flexible enough to let the Spirit mold our mind to conform with truth.

I deeply appreciate what I read on this site. I am blessed everyone I read on it.

Jesse You can't wash away old man nature needs to be spiritually toasted, cooked from inside out. This

sounds odd I'm getting hungry.

Praying for your comfort in the love of our Lord through Christ Jesus

In scripture the normative meaning when it speaks of baptism, it is talking about water baptism.

One could google that and find out if what I am saying is true or not. I encourage people to read up on what Christian history shows to be the meaning and type when it speaks of baptizing, which means to immerse in or pour water over a person.

But

Many on here will argue against this because they don't want the text to mean water baptism due to their desire to have it mean something different. That is why I suggest someone research it outside of the comments on this site if one wants to really find the answer.

Darnita Acts 2 :4 and they the twelve apostles were all filled with the holy ghost and again began to speak in tongues as the spirit gave them the utterance. It says they began they did it by the ability given them hence as the spirit gave

them then they acted on what the spirit gave them. It's your operation of the God given ability, also the things of God

are to be done decent and in order which is the way God wants it. If its out of order red flags God is not the author of confusion. That is not to say that if someone does not speak in tongues there not born again and don't operate the spirit, I've seen both sides. Just showing you Gods Word, also in Acts 2:11 Gods Word says they were speaking the wonderworks of God. I didn't write the book. So do what believing God for.

Hello Gigi,

Off the top of my head, I believe the scripture you are referring to is in the book of Titus but don't quote me on that one. I'd have to look it up. As far as equality, I think scripture would support God seeing both men and women as equal in His eyes, just not when it comes to function and the role of each in the church. But yes, this is one of those hotly debated topics that will get us put in the hot seat no matter what view we present. However, sticking with scripture is the best indeed!

My dear sister in Christ Jesus, thanks for all you contribute to this forum. God Bless!!!

Jcbu It was not to spread the word of God it was a display of evidence of what they received Acts 10:45+46,

and other places and i have also evidenced this being done in confusion and out of biblical order like other things

of God but that does not make it Gods fault because as Paul states God is not the author of confusion. 1 Corinthians

14 :40