PNEUMA: LIVING IN: PRAYER

The Bible shows a difference between the Spirit that is in us because we are Christians and when we are "Filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Peter, an apostle, a Christ follower. Has the Holy Spirit in him because he’s a Christian. But the Bible say in Acts 2:4 that while they were praying all the apostles were “Filled with the Holy Spirit.”  Later in Acts 4:31 it says that Peter was praying and was “filled with the Holy.”

If being “Filled with the Spirit” doesn’t happen when you become a Christian then how do you know when you’ve been filled with the Spirit?

JESUS

Acts 1:5 “...in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;” 

ACTS 2
The Apostles are praying and waiting for the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

How did they know they were “Filled with the Holy Spirit”? There was some evidence. Some signs.

• They had fire on their heads
  
• They spoke in tongues

ACTS 8
Peter is on a missionary journey to Samaria.

Acts 8:14   When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:18   When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

There was some sort of obvious outward, visual result of being “Filled with the Spirit.” He saw something that told him they were “FIlled”.

How did Simon know they were “Filled with the Holy Spirit”?

• It’s was obvious

ACTS 10
Peter is in Caesarea.

Acts 10:44   While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

How did the circumcised beleivers know the Gentiles were “filled with the Holy Spirit”?

• They heard them speaking in tongues.

ACTS 19
Paul is in Ephesus.

Acts 19:4   Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

How did the people know they were “filled with the Holy Spirit”?

• They spoke in tongues.

We’ve just looked at 4 cases where people were “filled the the Holy Spirit” and what was the common denominator? The common sign?  Speaking in tongues. When you looked at the Bible and at these stories objectively I feel like you have to come to this conclusion.

Q. "If I don’t speak in tongues I am not “Filled with the Holy Spirit?”

A. Every time a person is “Filled with the Spirit” in the new Testament there is something obvious that happens. And the Bible says that this obvious experience is speaking in tongues.

CONFUSION

Speaking in tongues is awkward and uncomfortable because its not explained. So let me highlight two areas of confusion.

1) SHELF LIFE
Many people say that speaking in tongues was an experience for the first century church and was not to be experienced beyond that.

1Cor. 13:8   Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 

It says that “tongues” will stop when perfection comes.

Some say he’s referring to the perfection and completion of the Cannon.  And once the books of the Bible have been collected then tongues, prophecy, and knowledge will pass away.

I would argue Paul is referring to the 2nd Coming of Christ. If you keep reading he talks about this imperfection with words like “childish” and “poor reflection.” And when does this imperfection disappear?  Verse 12 says when “we see face to face” The second coming!

2) ITS PURPOSES
Speaking in Tongues has two purposes.

a) In the public setting.
1 Cor 12 and 14 talked about the different gifts of the Sprit. Everything from healing to faith to to prophecy, to tongues to interpreting tongues and more.

And in this public setting we are encouraged to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit as long as they are done in order. We are encourage to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit to encougage the body of Christ in order. 

b) In the private setting.

Jude 20   But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

Rom. 8:26   In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

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