ADULT STS LESSON 178 BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY GHOST

MEMORY VERSE: “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).

TEXT: Acts 2:1-47

The text records the most important incident that forms the basis of all the miracles and exploits in the Acts of the Apostles. It explains the transformation of the erstwhile fearful and feeble disciples into a team of faithful, fearless and formidable witnesses for Christ, and accounts for the unprecedented spread of the gospel far beyond Israeli coasts. This was in fulfilment of several Old Testament prophecies and Christ’s promises in the gospels. It shows God’s commitment and faithfulness to His word. Also revealed is the higher pedestal on which New Testament believers stand in comparison to their counterparts in previous dispensations. What remained a promise to them has now become a possession for us. Though Christ has ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit has now come to comfort, guide, enable and empower believers for worldwide witnessing. Therefore, the outpouring was a benefit to the initial recipients as it is to subsequent generations of Christians.

PENTECOSTAL OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT ON EARLY BELIEVERS (Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-46; Exodus 23:14-16; Leviticus 23:15,16; Ezekiel 36:25-28; Joel 2:28-32; John 7:37-39; 16:7-15; Acts 1:4,5)

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them” (verse 1-3). Many Jews in diaspora and proselytes from different countries and continents came to join their counterparts at home to attend the feast of Pentecost, also called the feast of weeks. It comes up fifty days after the Passover as one of the three annual feasts, which every adult Hebrew male was expected to attend (Deuteronomy 16:16).

It was at such a time when so many people (strangers and foreigners) were present that the Holy Ghost descended with startling suddenness typified by wind and tongues of fire. Wind, indicative of life and activity (Ezekiel 37:9,10), shows that one who is filled with the Spirit becomes an active soldier of Christ. Fire, a consuming and cleansing agent, reveals the divine fire which burns off the chaff and takes a believer to a higher level of Christian service. “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (verse 4). Speaking in previously unlearned tongues is the initial expressible evidence of true baptism.

It is, therefore, unscriptural to teach others or submit to be taught how to speak in tongues. Such monotonous ranting makes mockery of a divine and sacred experience. Speaking in tongues by those who are truly baptized with the Holy Spirit is refreshing to the speaker as well as intelligible and comprehensible to those who understand and speak those languages. To believers who are thus baptized, the Bible comes alive in a new way as the Spirit illuminates the heart and makes the written Word a living word. Faith increases and the Christian life becomes more fulfilling with seeming weaknesses giving way to energy by the Spirit. Passion for the salvation of ignorant, hell-bound souls grow into burning flames and gospel-preaching becomes piercing and convicting.

There is also stability through the Spirit’s comforting, guiding and continued transformation. The Holy Ghost baptism is not intended as a once in a lifetime experience. Scripture records continuous outpouring, infilling and refilling after Pentecost. It further promises a continuing rehash for subsequent generations of believers, including ours (Acts 4:30,31; 2:39). At Pentecost, all the one hundred and twenty believers were filled. Gender, age, social or economic consideration did not constitute any constraint to any of them. This agrees with Joel’s prophecy: “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh…” (Joel 2:28). Today, as many as have similar spiritual credential of salvation, sanctification, thirst, faith and prayerful expectation are all eligible for the Spirit’s baptism.

The peculiarity of the setting in Jerusalem was to afford multitudes of these congregants the privilege of hearing the gospel, be transformed by it and become agents of its spread to different climes from where they had come. Bewildered, the native speakers of those languages who heard the disciples speaking in tongues, sought for the bestowal of the Pentecostal power and the tongues they heard recipients speak. “… Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongues, wherein we were born?” In fact, some “Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine…” (Acts 2:7,8,13).

POST-PENTECOST PATTERN OF CHRIST-CENTRED PREACHING (Acts 2:14-36; 17:16-34; 26:24,25)

In this first post-Pentecost sermon, Peter explained the incident as a fulfilment of prophetic promise made in the Old Testament. His response to the sincere enquiries and censoring cynicism of others reveal six important features of Christ-centred preaching. These are calm response to situations, complete reliance on the Scripture, convicting rebuke for sin, clear reference to the Saviour, call to repentance from sin and call to separation from the excesses and lust of this present evil world. One, despite the wrong accusation by some mockers, Peter was not provoked. His response was calm. “For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day” (verse 15). His justification for his assertion was logical. The Jewish day usually started around six in the morning. As at the time of this incident (around nine in the morning), pub houses and booze shops were yet to be opened. His defence was not offensive or insulting to the audience. This teaches that the pain, agony and anguish of Spirit-filled believers are subsumed under the overriding interests of God.

Two, Peter began to appeal to relevant Old Testament Scripture prophecies. “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel…” (verse 16). He quoted both Joel and the Psalms off hand. This is proof that he was conversant with God’s word. This challenges those who cannot memorise Scripture verses correctly to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Jesus Christ Himself validated and relied heavily on the Scripture (Matthew 5:17,18). Reading and studying from it must be a daily Christian duty. Preaching without reference to the Bible is like trying to wash without water. “Faith cometh by hearing… the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The preacher and believer must rely completely on the Bible because it is the final authority on every matter. Three, the apostle also pointed to our sin as hateful and damning.

Four, he skilfully linked his sermon to Christ as the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy. “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear” (Act 2:33). In the build up to thematic revelation of Christ, he summarised His miracles and their guilt for complicity in unjustly crucifying Him (Acts 2:22,23). He also spoke of Christ’s resurrection, ascension and future coronation. As he drove the point home, he proved that Christ was more excellent than David, Israel’s best king (Acts 2:24-36). By these, he showed that Christ is an unparalleled, incomparable Character.

He made it very clear that Jesus was the long expected Messiah and Lord of all. For any preaching to be effective or profitable, Christ must be the central theme, the core around whom every speech, allusion or illustration revolves (Luke 24:47). Apostle Peter’s sermon also included a call to repentance from sin and separation from the excesses of this present evil world. It is not enough for a preacher to rebuke sin or paint it in the darkest colour; he or she must call sinners out of it through Christ, the only Way. Recall that Peter came to Christ at the invitation of Andrew, his brother and had been part of a successful preaching expedition (Luke 9:1-5).

He had an unenviable record of being rash and boastful, of denying the Lord thrice and of abandoning the ministry with other disciples for his previous secular preoccupation (Matthew 16:33; 26:69-75; John 21:1-17). Forgiven and restored by the Lord, He became a recipient of the Pentecostal power and preached with supernatural unction. The change in Peter’s life is courtesy of the Lord’s forbearance, compassion and intercession that rescued him from Satan’s wiles and plot to abort the divine plan and prediction that he would be made a “fisher of men”.

Practical care and sincere intercessory prayer support can go a long way in defeating Satan’s schemes against believers. Unstable believers are assured of Christ’s forgiveness, love and empowerment for usefulness in God’s kingdom as happened in Peter’s life. The Peters of today can grow up to become earnest contenders and defenders of the faith tomorrow. The Scripture is replete with cases of those who were fraught with faults but were later transformed and mightily used by God. Moses, Jonah and Jeremiah are notable characters who overcame their initial reluctance to become mighty agents for execution of divine projects. The lesson here is that we must put records of past failings and feelings of inadequacies behind us and prepare to work for Jesus with pentecostal power. A true pentecostal preacher is one who has been filled with the Holy Spirit. Having tasted of God’s grace and been baptized with divine flame, one, he is ever ready to testify of Christ fearlessly (Acts 9:17-20).

Two, he is committed to continual prayer and ministry of the word of God (Acts 64). Three, he is sensitive to God’s leading and willing to move or stay at His bidding (Acts 16:6 10).

Four, he is totally yielded to the Lord and willing to be used in any capacity the Lord approves (Acts 5:15,16)

Five, he is ready to suffer for Christ’s cause joyfully (Acts 5:41).

Six, he contemns any present gain that may stand in the way of eternal rewards (Philippians 3:7,8). Peter was a faithful pentecostal preacher who proved that all Old Testament prophecies had been fulfilled in Christ whom he declared is the Messiah; that He is preeminent as God’s exalted Prince; that He is superior to David since He resurrected; that He is Lord and Saviour of all sinners who repent of sins and Baptizer with the Holy Ghost, a gift reserved for all present and future recipients of the gospel. The speech had significant effect on the audience.

POSSIBILITIES THROUGH THE PENTECOSTAL POWER (Acts 2:37-47; 16:30,31; Psalms 119:105; 51:11-13; Ezekiel 37:1-10; Luke 4:18,19; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

As the audience heard Peter’s fiery message on Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, ascension and lordship, they were convicted by the Holy Ghost. They sensed an imminent danger if nothing was done about their load of guilt. So, with contrition, they implored “…what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). They obeyed God’s requirement of repentance before salvation that Peter preached and they were converted. About three thousand people made commitment to the Lord, submitted for water baptism and became part of the Church the family of God. With pentecostal fire, wonderful, extraordinary successes will be recorded in Christian living and ministry.

One significant effect of Pentecostal preaching is the preservation of converts in the faith. That the converts sought common edification and gave diligent attention to the apostles’ doctrine was proof of the genuineness of the conversion (Acts 2:42). Till date, compliance with Christ’s teaching is the acid test of the “authenticity of any claim to salvation.

Two, it leads to a deep sense of unity among the brethren and fosters cooperation among the leaders. Certainly, Peter could not have baptized the three thousand converts in one day, all alone. Members and leaders in contemporary church setting should complement, not compete with one another in the work of the ministry.

Three, with the pentecostal fire burning, brethren will delight in fellowship as it was in the early Church. They will meet together for service, as well as for prayers. They will also part with personal property willingly to meet the needs of others with like precious faith.

Four, there will be manifestation of divine presence and power. The gifts of the Spirit will be in operation, and many signs and wonders will be done (Acts 10:38; Luke 4:18,19).

Five, with the Holy Ghost in action will melt and many will find irresistible attraction in the church. The outcome of this will be that souls will be added to the church daily (Acts 5:14). The outpouring of the Spirit is of immense benefit to the body of Christ. Early believers experienced great breakthroughs through His operation. The church of our time cannot do without Him. Believers have a responsibility to ensure that they do not, in any way, impede the move of the Holy Ghost. Rather, we should strive to keep our lives, families and churches in such a saintly state to attract His divine power and keep Him perpetually working in and through us. Christians need to make good use of such periods and locations that attract multitudes to declare the gospel. Festive seasons, sporting events, holiday resorts, and others should be used to publicise special programmes, testify to God’s goodness and win souls for Christ. As believers obey the Lord, there will be supernatural intervention that will result in great awakening and revival of righteousness, and there will be healing for the sick, deliverance for the oppressed, prosperity for the impoverished, revelation of secrets and destruction of demonic deeds (Acts 3:1-8; 2 Kings 6:12; John 4:16,18,29; Acts 16:16-18).

Questions for review:
1. What can we learn from the timing of the outpouring of the Spirit?
2. State the differences that the Holy Ghost baptism make in a Christian.
3. Mention the prerequisites for the Spirit’s infilling.
4. Why were the believers baptized at Pentecost?
5. Enumerate the things we can learn from the positive change in Peter’s life.
6. Mention the focus and features of a genuine pentecostal preaching.
7. What are the effects of pentecostal power in the church?