The Promise of An Experience with God!
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A Biblical study on Receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost
Written by Cecil Daniels
Pastor, Calvary Pentecostal Church
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Preface:
This study is presented free of charge to anyone interested in learning more about receiving the experience of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. It is available here on the Internet, without cost or obligation, of any kind. You can go through this study at your pace, in the privacy of your home.
This study is not intended to be a catalyst for division or strife. Nor is it meant to provoke arguing and quarreling. It is however, an honest effort to have open exchange and dialogue concerning this most exciting experience. After all, we can discuss a thing all we want to, but it is up to individuals to decide for themselves what they believe.
The Spirit is seeking people with a hunger in their soul, to know more about Christ, and the marvelous experience of receiving the Spirit of God in their hearts. The only reason this needs to be discussed is because it is addressed in the Bible. We would not even be talking about the infilling of the Holy Ghost if God Himself had not brought it up.
Our promise: No one from our Church will contact you by any method UNLESS you request it. We would love to visit with you, or have you visit our church services, but that is up to you. If you have questions, you can call or e-mail us.
318-687-8271
At no point will you be pressured to attend or give any money to a local church.
We want to expose as many hungry-hearted people as possible to this wonderful Truth, and leave it up to you to take any action you think necessary.
This study is actually offered in two ways: First, you may go through this study here on the Internet, at your own pace, and with your own interpretation. Second, a qualified instructor can come to your home (or another location if you prefer) for one hour each week, for seven weeks. Again, no pressure of any kind will be applied, just a simple presentation and discussion of the Word of God, by someone who may help you with questions you may have as you progress through the study.
We encourage you to go through EVERY lesson in order to see the complete picture. Each lesson builds upon the other.
Please pray, as you study, and ask God to reveal the fullness of what He has for you!
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Table of Contents
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INTRODUCTION – WHY THIS STUDY?
LESSON 1 – RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH
2 Timothy 2:15 is a key scripture in Bible study. We will see the importance of correct division and application of the Word of God. We will also see how God’s plan of redemption has unfolded over a long period of time.
LESSON 2 – HIDDEN THINGS REVEALED
This lesson reveals the mystery concerning the New Testament Church and Plan of Salvation– kept secret from the Prophets– now revealed unto us.
LESSON 3 – THE PROMISE OF THE EXPERIENCE
This lesson examines the teachings of Christ upon which the New Testament Church is built. We will take the words of the Prophets, the Apostles, and Jesus Christ Himself and establish the New Testament Plan of Salvation.
LESSON 4 – THE EVIDENCE OF THE EXPERIENCE
This lesson reveals the beginning of the New Testament Church. We will show the teachings of the Apostles, and Christ, concerning salvation. We will see how we can know we have received the promise of the Holy Ghost.
LESSON 5 – WHO THE EXPERIENCE IS FOR
This lesson reveals those in the Bible, who received the experience of the Holy Ghost, and that it is for us today.
LESSON 6 – WHY WE NEED THE EXPERIENCE
This lesson deals with why we need the Holy Ghost, what it is for, and what it will do in our lives.
LESSON 7 – HOW TO RECEIVE THE EXPERIENCE
This lesson shows us, step by step, how to receive the experience of the Holy Ghost in our own lives.
CONCLUSION
This lesson briefly covers some closing thoughts, misconceptions, and questions that people often ask.
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INTRODUCTION
Much is said and written about the baptism of the Holy Ghost. In fact, there is a lot of misunderstanding about it. These lessons are written in the hope of shining light on this most vital of subjects. This subject is too important to answer by tradition or a particular organization. We must have Bible answers. In future studies, we will find Bible answers to the following questions.
- What is the Holy Ghost, and how do we receive it?
- How do we know if we have received the Holy Ghost?
- Is receiving the Holy Ghost necessary to salvation?
- Who should receive the Holy Ghost experience?
- Is receiving the Holy Ghost for the church today?
- What does speaking in other tongues have to do with it?
The New Testament church is not an after thought of God. . According to Revelation 13:8, Jesus was, “… the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
Hebrews 1: 1-2, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” God did not put His full plan of salvation into place all at once. He revealed Himself and His plan of redemption a little at a time. That is why we have the different dispensations of time. The Church came into existence peace mill, or a little at a time, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” (Isaiah 2 8: 1 0) God has a specific time in which things are to happen. That is why the Bible says that Jesus came into the world in, “…fullness of time.” (Galatians 4:4) So we will start in the Old Testament, unfold God’s plan from the beginning, see how it was carried over and brought to fruition in the New Testament.
We will also see that God pre-announced His plans. He did this so His people would be able to recognize Him when He came. This would keep a pseudo-Christ or false Messiah, from posing as the Messiah, and deceiving the people. He gave some specific details about His birth, His earthly ministry, His intentions to suffer and die for the sins of mankind, His resurrection, and the New Testament Church.
Have you ever wondered how New Testament salvation differs from the Old Testament? What experience with God do we have that they did not have? Why did Jesus die? What were the results of His death? We will cover this in detail later, but we know, that Jesus died as a sacrifice for sin, to be able to come back into the world in Spirit form, to live in our hearts. The Old Testament Church had God with them; we have God in us.
As you study these lessons, I believe that you will find that…
The Holy Ghost is a GIFT God has promised to you. Acts2:38 “…and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost’ Acts 10:45, “…on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.” If God has a gift for us, I think we would want to accept it!
The Holy Ghost is an Experience with God.
Receiving the Holy Ghost is also an experience that God has promised us. To actually experience something is far different than just to imagine it. It is better to actually eat a nice meal (or any activity) than it is to just imagine it. An experience is more than imagination or a mental picture — something actually happens! In the dictionary, the word “Experience” means, “A particular instance of personally encountering or undergoing something”. We can imagine a thing or even hear it described, but we cannot say we have experienced it until it actually happens to us. The salvation of the soul is too important to leave to a simple mental acknowledgment. God wants us to experience a New Birth. When we are born again, we are new creatures in Christ Jesus. We receive a new mind, a new heart, and a new spirit. We are transformed from the natural kingdom into a heavenly and spiritual kingdom. We receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, after we believe. We will also show in these lessons that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is something we should receive after we have believed. We are not Spirit filled just because we have believed. Please, do not jump to conclusions on this matter, until you have carefully studied the Scriptures.
STUDY HINT – When you study the Bible, it is important to study the Word of God as a whole, and to divide it properly. The next lesson deals with this in more detail. In dealing with a particular subject, you take all the Scriptures that deal with that subject, and then obey the most complete revelation, that does not violate any other portion of Scripture. There are no throw away verses in the Word of God.
Example: John 3:16 tells us, “…whosoever believeth in Him should not perish”. Mark 16:16 says, “…he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved… If you believe and are baptized, you have fulfilled both Scriptures. However, if you just believe, and are not baptized, you violate the portion of the Scripture that says we should be baptized. It is important to remember that a truth, once established, is never done away with. No other Truth found in Scripture will annul it. Truth can be fulfilled, or developed further, but never just discarded. John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Without Truth, we are all lost. Truth is not defined by a man, a group of men, or an organization. Trust is set forth and defined in the Bible, which is the Word of God, and is the final authority. When we study any subject in the Bible, it is also necessary that we include both the Old and the New Testaments. 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Peter 1:20-21, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” It is equally important to keep all Scripture in context. In this study, many Scriptures are printed out, but space does not permit the printing of complete chapters or verses surrounding each Scripture setting. If possible, take the time to read entire chapters in the Bible dealing with any one subject. Keep your Bible close at hand.
As we all know, we can take any one Scripture and make it say just about anything. But the Bible gives supporting Scripture for all doctrine. God’s Word gives witness to itself and, in fact, requires two or three witnesses to establish a fact. (Deuteronomy 19:15, Hebrews 10:28)