Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Holy Spirit Baptism VS Spiritual Gifts



There is much misunderstanding and misinformation among believers about the difference between the baptism in the Holy Spirit and Spiritual gifts.

The Pentecostal experience, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is promised to ALL those who believe in Jesus Christ and who OBEY Him. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a PREREQUISITE for Spiritual Gifts . Spiritual Gifts are not given to those who are not baptized in the Holy Spirit. You FIRST have to be baptized in the Holy Spirit  as the first believers were to become part of the Body of Christ, to receive Spiritual Gifts and to function in the Body as part of the Body. If you are not FILLED with the Holy Spirit and not LED by the Holy Spirit then you will not receives Spiritual Gifts to SERVE as MEMBER of the Body of Christ.

You first need to REPENT and be BAPTIZED IN WATER  and receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ promised to those who obey Him. When Jesus Christ ascended to heaven He commanded His disciples to first go to Jerusalem and WAIT for the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, that He promised so that they would receive POWER, so that they would be ENDOWED with the PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ IN THEM and be guided by the Holy Spirit in order for them to function under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as the apostle Paul wrote:" Those who are led by the Holy Spirit, (the Spirit of God) they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14).

Spiritual Gifts are for those who have already received the baptism in the Holy Spirit WITH THE EVIDENCE OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES as the first believers also did when they received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

I read from 1 Corinthians 12:14 The apostle Paul writes:

"4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.6There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons." (THOSE WHO ARE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT) 7But to each one is given the MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT for the common good." (THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN ONLY MANIFEST THROUGH US IF WE ARE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT) "8For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills."

The purpose of the holy Spirit gifts is to EQUIP the Saints for the work of SERVICE.

We read in Ephesians 4:8, Paul writes:"Therefore it says,

“WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,

HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES,

AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.”

(What are these gifts? God called certain people to serve in His kingdom as part of His Body, to build up and EQUIP the Body of Christ for work of SERVICE.)

"11And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,12for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ."

The purpose of Spiritual gifts is to EQUIP the SAINTS, to teach them, to bring them into relationship with Jesus Christ as a GROWN MAN  in Christ that does the will of Christ, functioning under the unction and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That is the purpose of the Holy Spirit Gifts but we first need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit before we can be led by the Holy Spirit. God gives Gifts  to certain people whom He calls so that He can use them.

Those gifts are not qualifications. Those gifts are the working of the Holy Spirit to equip the Saints, to EMPOWER them, to bring them into unity with Christ so that they can be led by the Holy Spirit. It is not about the individual. it is about the Body of Christ, so that we will function as a body, led by the Holy Spirit in obedience to Jesus Christ. He leads us to unity in Him, He leads us to perfect obedience to Him to UNDERSTANDING of His WILL and to execution of the plan, the purpose for which He has called us.

We need to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit to come into relationship with Christ, to be led by the Holy Spirit and then we need to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

If we make ourselves available to Jesus Christ He will use us as He wills. He will use us to build His kingdom and to bring others into relationship with Him . The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a PREREQUISITE for the saints, the followers of Jesus Christ to enter into service for His kingdom.

Have you received the baptism in the Holy Spirit? Seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit so that you can be endowed with POWER to be ABLE to do His will.

May Jesus bless you.

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