Page 300 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

HOLY SPIRIT

The Sealing of the Holy Spirit. The method of the other way promoting the Holy Spirit Himself. The Lord
sealing: Believers are sealed with the Spirit when they Jesus Christ taught us to pray to the Father, not to the
trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour (Jn. 7:39; Ep. Spirit (Mt. 6:6, 9; Jn. 16:23). Christ’s own prayers were
1:12-14; Ga. 3:14). The meaning of the sealing: Security always addressed to the Father (Mt. 11:25; 26:39; Jn.
(Da. 6:17); ownership (2 Co. 1:21-22); authority (Ge. 11:41; 12:28; 14:16; 17:1). The Apostle Paul taught us
41:41-42; Es. 8:8; 2 Co. 5:20; Mt. 28:18-20); likeness— to pray to God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ
a seal imparts its own image (Ga. 5:22-23). (Ro. 1:8). There is not one example of believers praying
The Filling of the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit means to be yielded to the Holy Spirit’s promotes the Lord Jesus Christ and focuses the
control (Ep. 5:18). The evidences of the filling of the believer’s attention upon Christ. The believer does not
Holy Spirit in the book of Acts include: (1) Witnessing receive the Holy Spirit by seeking the Holy Spirit; he
in supernatural, foreign languages (Ac. 2:4-11). This is receives the Holy Spirit by trusting in the Lord Jesus
the only time that tongues speaking is connected with Christ (Ephesians 1:12-14). Contrast this clear Bible
Spirit filling. (2) Bold witness of Jesus Christ (Ac. teaching with that of the Pentecostal-Charismatic
4:8-12, 31). (3) Good reputation (Ac. 6:3, 5). (4) movement where there is an unscriptural focus on the
Heavenly-mindedness (Ac. 7:55-56). (5) Standing Holy Spirit. Consider the example of Pentecostal leader
against false teaching (Ac. 13:8-10). The book of Benny Hinn. In his book Good Morning, Holy Spirit,
Ephesians gives instruction about the filling of the Holy Hinn prays to the Spirit, seeks the Spirit, invites the
Spirit but says absolutely nothing about the gift of Spirit to come, etc. None of this is based upon the
tongues (Ep. 5:18-21). None of the other N.T. passages testimony of Scriptures.
that deal with the Spirit’s influence in the believer’s life Baptism by Fire. The baptism of fire has been
mention tongues, but they DO mention the following promoted by the Pentecostal movement since its
marks of a Spirit-filled life: Abounding in hope (Ro. beginning in the early 20th century. Some Pentecostals
15:13); spiritual fruit (Ga. 5:22-24); spiritual wisdom have named themselves such things as “Fire Baptized
(Ep. 1:17-18); spiritual strength (Ep. 3:16); sound Holy Ghost” people. The concept of being baptized by
doctrine (1 Jn. 2:27). the Holy Spirit and fire comes from John’s prophecy in
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Matthew 3:11-12. Pentecostals ignore the context. John
Holy Spirit was the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Baptist was speaking to the Jews when he quoted
empower the churches for world evangelism (Ac. 1:8). this prophecy. Those Jews which believed in Christ were
(1) It was promised by John the Baptist and Jesus Christ baptized with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost,
(Mt. 3:11; Ac. 1:4-5). (2) It was fulfilled at Pentecost but the baptism of fire is a warning of judgment for the
and at Cornelius’s house (Ac. 2:1-13; 10:44-47; unbeliever.
11:13-17). The baptism at Pentecost was for the Jews, Spirit Slaying. “Spirit slaying” is practiced by
and the one at Cornelius’s house was for the Gentiles. Pentecostals and Charismatics. Allegedly, the Holy Spirit
(3) Christians are never told to seek the baptism of the knocks people down and sometimes even holds them on
Spirit. After Pentecost there is no record of Christians the floor so that they cannot rise. This experience is also
waiting for a Spirit baptism. The apostles taught that called “Holy Spirit glue” and “carpet time.” There is no
every true Christian has the Holy Spirit (Ro. 8:9; 1 Jn. example of such a thing in the New Testament. Consider
2:20, 27). Throughout the Epistles it is taken for the New Testament examples of people falling down: (1)
granted that believers have the Holy Spirit (Ro. 8:1-27; Believers sometimes fell down before Christ to worship
15:13; 1 Co. 3:16; 6:11, 19; 12:3-11; 2 Co. 3:18; 13:14; Him (Mt. 2:11; 18:26; Lk. 17:16; Jn. 11:32; 1 Co.
Ep. 2:18, 22; 3:16; 4:3-4; 5:18; 6:18; Ph. 1:19; 2:1; Co. 14:25). The term “fall down” is frequently used in
1:8; 1 Th. 1:5; 5:19; 2 Ti. 1:14; 1 Pe. 1:2, 22; 1 Jn. Scripture to describe worship (Ps. 72:11; Is. 44:19;
3:24). (4) Similarly, every reference to the reception of 46:6; Dan. 3:5; Mt. 4:9; Re. 4:10; 5:8, 14; 19:4). (2)
the Holy Spirit after the book of Acts is in the past tense The disciples fell down on their faces and were afraid on
or fulfilled tense (Ro. 5:5; 1 Co. 2:12; 3:16; 6:19; the Mt. of Transfiguration (Mt. 17:6). (3) The men who
12:13; 2 Co. 1:22; 5:5; Ga. 3:2; 4:6; Ep. 1:12-14; 2:22; took Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane went backward
4:30; 1 Th. 4:8; 2 Th. 2:13; 2 Ti. 1:14; Tit. 3:5-6; 1 Pe. and fell down when he spoke the words, “I am he” (Jn.
1:2; 1 Jn. 2:20; 3:24; 4:2). 18:6). (4) Saul fell to the ground when the Lord
The Holy Spirit and Prayer. The Holy Spirit does not appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4).
promote Himself; does not draw attention to Himself (Jn. (5) Ananias fell down when he was stricken of God for
16:13-15). Nowhere in the New Testament do we find his sin (Acts 5:5). (6) John fell at Christ’s feet “as dead”
the apostles praying to the Holy Spirit, worshipping the in Re. 1:17. Consider the differences between these events
Holy Spirit, inviting the Holy Spirit to come, or in any and Pentecostal/Charismatic “spirit slaying”: (1) In the

300 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity