Testing for genuine baptism in the Spirit
| February 8, 2016 | Posted by Pastor Viju Mathai under Bible Study, Holy Spirit |
Comments off
|
Pastor Viju Mathai
Associate Pastor at Philadelphia House of Worship Community Church
viju.mathai@gmail.com
Latest posts by Pastor Viju Mathai (see all)
- Discernment vs. Judgment – V (God’s Guidelines for Discerning) - April 4, 2016
- Discernment vs. Judgment -IV (How do we Discern) - April 4, 2016
- Discernment vs. Judgment -III (Diakrino, Dokimazo) - April 4, 2016
Act 10: 44-45 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 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.”
Scripture declares that believers must test and weigh all things alleging to be from the Holy Spirit (1Th 5319-21; 1Co 14:29). “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1Jn 4:1). The following are Biblical principles by which to test whether a professed baptism in the Holy Spirit is from God.
- A genuine baptism in the Holy Spirit will give us a greater desire and power to witness concerning the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 4:18; Ac 1:4-8; 2:1-4; 37-42; 4:8-33; Ro 9:1-3; 10:1). Conversely, any assumed baptism in the Spirit that does not result in a more intense desire to see others enter into a saving relationship with Christ is not from God.
- A genuine baptism in the Holy Spirit must be preceded by our turning from sin and faithfully obeying Christ (Ac 2:38; 8:15-24); it will be sustained only as long as we continue to be sanctified by the Spirit (Ac 2:40; 3:26; 5:29-32; 8:21; 26:18; Gal 5:16-25), to “put to death the misdeeds of the body,” and to be “led by the Spirit of God”(Ro 8:13-14; cf. Gal 5:24-25). Conversely, any assumed baptism in the Spirit that rests on one who is not set free from sin and who lives according to the sinful nature cannot be ascribed to the Holy Spirit as its source (Ac 2:38-40; 8:18-23; Ro 6:22-23; 8:2-15); any power on that person is from another source, the deceptive activity of Satan (Ps 5:4-5; 2Co 11:13-15; 2Th 2:9-110).
- A genuine baptism in the Holy Spirit will cause a greater love for and appreciation of Scripture. The Spirit of truth (John 14:17), who inspired the Scriptures (2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 1:20-21), will deepen our love for the truth of God’s Word (John 16:13; Ac 2:42; 3:22; 1John 4:6). Conversely, any assumed baptism in the Spirit that diminishes our hunger to read God’s Word is not from God (John 8:31; 15:4-7).
- A genuine baptism in the Holy Spirit will cause us to love, magnify and glorify God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ more than before (John 16:13-14; Ac 2:11,36; 4:12; 7:55-56; 10:44-46). It is the Holy Spirit who causes love for God to grow in our hearts (Ro 5:5). Conversely, any assumed baptism in the Spirit that draws our prayers, worship and adoration toward anything or anyone other than God and the Lord Jesus is not from God.
- A genuine baptism in the Holy Spirit will increase the consciousness of our relationship with the heavenly Father (Ac 1:4; Ro 8:15-16), will lead to a greater awareness of Christ’s presence in our daily lives (John 14:16,23; 15:26) and will increase the heartfelt cry of “Abba, Father” (Ro 8:15; Gal 4:6). Conversely, any assumed baptism in the Spirit that does not result in a greater fellowship with Christ and more intense communion with God as our Father is not from God.
- A genuine baptism in the Holy Spirit will deepen our love and concern for other followers of Christ (Ac 2:42-47:4:31-37). Christian fellowship and communion can take place only in the Spirit (2Co 13:14). Conversely, any assumed baptism in the Spirit that decreases our love for all who seek to sincerely follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is not from God (compare Ro 5:5 with 1John 4:21).
- A genuine baptism in the Holy Spirit will intensify our displeasure with the sinful enjoyments and godless pleasures of the world and will diminish the selfish pursuit of earthly riches and reputation (Ac 4:32-37; 8:14-24; 20:33; 1Jn 2:15-17). Conversely any assumed baptism in the Spirit that increases one’s acceptance of the world’s ways and philosophies is not from God, for “we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God” (1Co 2:12).
- A genuine baptism in the Holy Spirit will cause us to be more receptive to the Spirit’s operation within God’s kingdom and his gifts within our personal lives, particularly the gift of speaking in tongues, which is presented in Acts as the initial outward sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Ac 2:4,16-18,43; 4:29-30; 5:12-16; 6:8; 8:5-7; 10:38, 44-46; 1Co 12-14; Gal 3:5). Conversely, any assumed baptism in the Spirit that does not result in the manifestations of the Spirit in our lives is an obvious departure from the experience of NT believers and the norm presented in the book of Acts (Ac 2:4,18; 10:45-46; 19:6).
- A genuine baptism in the Holy Spirit will cause us to be more conscious of the work, guidance and presence of the Spirit in our daily lives. After receiving the fullness of the Spirit, NT believers were continually conscious of the Spirit’s presence, power and guidance (Ac 2:4,16-18; 4:31; 6:5; 9:31; 10:19; 13:2,4,52; 15:28; 16:6-7; 20:23). Conversely, any assumed baptism in the Spirit that does not increase our awareness of the Spirit’s presence, strengthen our desire to obey his leadings, and reinforce our goal to live before him in such a way as not to grieve him or put out his fire (Eph 4:30; 1Th 5:19) is not from God.