After The New Birth

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Monday February 4, 2008

After the disciples were born again on the very day Jesus arose from the dead, Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem to receive the gift God promised; the baptism of the Holy Spirit:

Acts 1:4,5 (NIV)
4. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

The disciples were born again the very day Jesus arose from the dead; so here Jesus was telling them about a separate experience! He goes into further detail in verse 8:

Acts 1:8 (NIV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes ON you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The disciples already had the Holy Spirit IN them; now God was going to put His Holy Spirit UPON them as well! Every born again believer has the Holy Spirit IN them; but in these New Testament times, God is pouring out His Spirit UPON believers as well!

In Old Testament times, God anointed prophets and put His Spirit UPON them; He could not put His Spirit IN them because their spirits were not made righteous by the new birth. But here in Acts, we see the believers-- who already have the Holy Spirit INSIDE them-- anointed by the Holy Spirit: the Holy Spirit comes to rest UPON them!

Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)
1. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 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.

Notice that when the Holy Spirit came UPON them, they began speaking in tongues; the first New Testament spiritual gift to be manifested! The early church came to recognize speaking in tongues as a way of knowing that the Holy Spirit was UPON believers:

Acts 10:44-46 (NIV)
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.

At first the Holy Spirit was poured out on the 120 Jews on the day of Pentecost, but here in Acts 10, He is poured out on the gentiles as well!

The Bible separates the new birth from the baptism of the Holy Spirit over and over again:

Acts 8:14-17 (NIV)
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.

Notice that these believers had believed and accepted the Word and were even baptized in water; but they had not yet received the baptism of the Holy Spirit! The Bible clearly states that the Holy Spirit had not yet come UPON any of them! (He was already INSIDE them though!)

If the baptism of the Holy Spirit happened at the new birth, then Paul was out of his mind for asking the people in Acts 19 whether they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed:

Acts 19:1,2 (NIV)
1. While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2. and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

PRAYER
Thank You Father for the Holy Spirit within and the Holy Spirit upon us. Thank You for our wonderful salvation that gives us access to so many wonderful gifts and promises. Help me to remember the great blessing I have received and not take it for granted.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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