The BIG Picture (Q&A)

In this dispensation of grace, a person is not baptized WITH the Holy Spirit (Act.1:5) as what happened on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. In this grace age, a person is baptized BY the Holy Spirit, (1Cor.12:13), thus sealing them into the Body of Christ the instant they are saved. I mention this because the Holy Spirit does not come upon us to empower us like in Pentecost. Today, we are filled with Christ (Gal.2:20) by taking in (receiving into us) the written Word of God. The true spiritual ‘fruit-bearing’ capacity we have is in direct relationship to the capacity of the Word in us. In other words, the fruit of the Spirit is the outward manifestation of our obedience to the living Word of God working inside us. If a saved person does not have the Word of God within them, then they are not walking by the Spirit. In actual fact they cannot. Thus, the fruit they will produce is of the flesh, which is emotional, fickle and selfish. If a saved person spends time in the Word, allowing ...

Pentecost (in Acts 2) was a precursor to the fulfillment of the New Covenant which will happen at Jesus second advent to fulfil the verses below, Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. Acts 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: What is the New Covenant for Israel? The pouring out o...

A question in response to this post:  Should we have a 'Pentecost' encounter today? Question: Answer Request: So then, how do you dismiss the testimonies of millions of believers today who testify to a “Pentecost” experience? How do you explain the thousands documented in Acts that came to faith through the preaching of the disciples (not directly by Jesus) who also were baptised by the Holy Spirit? I can see how one may arrive to the conclusion you have drawn (although it is quite a stretch) but I and millions of others see no clear, unambiguous directive in Scripture that states that the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church has ceased, or that signs and wonders should not accompany those who believe.  Joel‬ 2:28-32 And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservan...

To answer this question, lets analyze what Jesus said to his disciples just before He ascended into heaven. Most of what we need to answer the question can be found in the following verse.  Acts 1:5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. ... 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Who baptized the disciples? The writings of Matthew and John make it clear that Jesus was the baptizer of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire : (See also John 1:33; John 14:16; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7) Why was the Holy Spirit to come?  Jesus provides the answer. It was so that the disciples could receiv...