Post by 2fw8212a on Oct 13, 2018 8:33:05 GMT -5
What is the difference?
Here I will tell what I believe about this matter.
There is a difference between having the Holy Spirit and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
To have the Holy Spirit:
To have the Holy Spirit means that you have the love and truth in you. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.
"the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive..." - John 14:17
This is the so called gift of the Holy Spirit that is indispensable to anyone's salvation...
because without the love and knowledge of truth one cannot understand and do God's will.
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." - Matthew 7:21
There is only one way to discern whether someone is talking by the Spirit of truth or not.
The only way is by the fruits, especially what the person speaks and how the person lives.
"...by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established." - Deuteronomy 19:15
By the mouth of two or three witnesses, this means that to say Lord, Lord is not enough.
The person must practice the truth.
"If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk
in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." - 1 John 1:6
"And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is
the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." - Acts 5:32
A person can speak truth to some extent without having the Holy Spirit in them.
But the person cannot speak and practice the truth of the gospel of Jesus without having the Holy Spirit in them.
"Therefore by their fruits you will know them." - Matthew 7:20
The gift of the Holy Spirit mentioned here:
"...Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - Acts 2:38
Is the gift of the Holy Spirit, which means love and knowledge of truth which leads to repentance to life.
No one can genuinely repent, or understand the seriousness of their sins without having the gift of the Holy Spirit.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God..." - Ephesians 2:8
Then it is God's decision to have mercy on the person or not.
God searches the hearts, and if He sees a sincere seeking heart then He will most likely have mercy and give the Holy Spirit to the person.
"So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by
giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us..." - Acts 15:8
Because God will not give something the person is not desiring in their hearts.
"I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings." - Jeremiah 17:10
"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13
Then if someone desires to be saved they must persevere in seeking the Lord Jesus (He is the Truth), so God may grant them repentance.
"So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy." - Romans 9:16
But if it is not of him who wills or runs then why the person must seek?!
Because without faith it is impossible to please Him.
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God
must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." - Hebrews 11:6
And God knows the hearts, then it is God who draws the person to Jesus.
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him..." - John 6:44
And who is Jesus Christ?!
"Jesus said to him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6
To be filled with the Holy Spirit:
To be filled with the Holy Spirit means to be filled with the Holy Spirit and manifest Its qualities, such as:
Joy, patience, power, love, etc...
This is not to be mistaken with having the Holy Spirit.
Many people are seeking just for a strong filling with the Holy Spirit and neglecting the love of the truth.
This is exactly what happened in the church of Corinth. Many people filled with the Holy Spirit and with no truth in them.
As they were all filled with the Holy Spirit for a moment, they could do signs, wonders, speak in tongues, and the like.
But they were unable to do the most important:
Preach the gospel, speak and practice the truth through love.
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." - Galatians 5:6
The reason they could not preach the gospel correctly and speak truth to edify is because they had no knowledge of truth.
"Many will say to Me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name,
cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" - Matthew 7:22
"And then I will declare to them,
‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" - Matthew 7:23
It is important to note here that, Jesus, who Himself has said:
"Jesus said to him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6
When Jesus told them ' I never knew you... ' it means they had no knowledge of truth.
They never knew the truth, they never knew Jesus for real.
In other words, they were filled with the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit was not in them.
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries
and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing." - 1 Corinthians 13:2
And this proves the people at the church of Corinth could not preach the truth of the gospel at all:
"Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead,
how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" - 1 Corinthians 15:12
And it is exactly what we see in many places today, they encourage people so much to pursue to be filled with the Holy Spirit...
they encourage people to be filled, but they do not encourage people to love and know the truth.
To be filled with the Holy Spirit is good, but love and knowledge of truth must come first.
As the latter will, consequently, be accompanied with the first.
Now, I will explain what happened in Pentecosts when they were all baptized with the Holy Spirit.
To be baptized with the Holy Spirit does not mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
To be baptized with the Holy Spirit means to receive the knowledge of truth which leads to repentance to life.
"I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." - Mark 1:8
To be baptized with water was a prophetic act that would prepare them to repent, in truth, by receiving the knowledge of the truth...
which is the baptism that leads to repentance to life and, consequently, salvation.
And this is clearly shown here when John states:
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after
me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit..." - Matthew 3:11
"He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,
‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient
to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." - Luke 1:17
All who experience the baptism with the Holy Spirit, as described here, will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
But not all who are baptized will speak in tongues, as is commonly known.
Because the Holy Spirit will not give people what to speak if it is not needed.
There were times it was needed, especially at the beggining of the gospel when persecution from Jews were very high.
And the Jews required a sign that the gentile believers was indeed being received by God.
Then, this is the reason why speaking with tongues was very important to them.
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word." - Acts 10:44
"And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter,
because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also." - Acts 10:44-45
"When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God,
saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”" - Acts 11:18
The person who receives the baptism, which leads to repentance to life through knowledge of truth has no need to speak with tongues.
They have no need because they have the witness in themselves. They know they have received it.
"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God..." - Romans 8:16
And here Paul expresses the importance of verifying they indeed received the...
knowledge of truth when they spoke in tongues and were filled with the Holy Spirit.
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God
dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." - Romans 8:9
"And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." - Galatians 5:24
"Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.
I speak this to your shame." - 1 Corinthians 15:34
It is true that they may want to speak with tongues after that to serve as a more edifying sign to them.
But when you have plenty of knowledge from God's word and can grow much faster from that then speaking with tongues is not as necessary.
"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church." - 1 Corinthians 14:4
"I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied..." - 1 Corinthians 14:5
Because no one can prophesy and speak truth unless the Holy Spirit is in them.
Then to prophesy would be a much more evident sign that the believer indeed received the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Tongues are a sign, obviously, but not for believers.
"Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers;
but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe." - 1 Corinthians 14:22
Because someone who speaks in tongues would not convince a believer they are genuine believers, unless they present fruits.
"Therefore by their fruits you will know them." - Matthew 7:20
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom
of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." - Matthew 7:21
"Therefore by their fruits you will know them." - Matthew 7:20
"Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal:
“The Lord knows those who are His,” and,
“Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”" - 2 Timothy 2:19
One can be filled with the Holy Spirit without having the Holy Spirit (its indwelling)...
and one can have the Holy Spirit (which means to be baptized; to have its indwelling) and yet not speak with tongues (but they can prophesy).
Then, this is what I have to say about this matter. May the Lord bless you abundantly!
Blessings, blessings to you in Jesus' name!
Here I will tell what I believe about this matter.
There is a difference between having the Holy Spirit and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
To have the Holy Spirit:
To have the Holy Spirit means that you have the love and truth in you. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.
"the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive..." - John 14:17
This is the so called gift of the Holy Spirit that is indispensable to anyone's salvation...
because without the love and knowledge of truth one cannot understand and do God's will.
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." - Matthew 7:21
There is only one way to discern whether someone is talking by the Spirit of truth or not.
The only way is by the fruits, especially what the person speaks and how the person lives.
"...by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established." - Deuteronomy 19:15
By the mouth of two or three witnesses, this means that to say Lord, Lord is not enough.
The person must practice the truth.
"If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk
in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." - 1 John 1:6
"And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is
the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." - Acts 5:32
A person can speak truth to some extent without having the Holy Spirit in them.
But the person cannot speak and practice the truth of the gospel of Jesus without having the Holy Spirit in them.
"Therefore by their fruits you will know them." - Matthew 7:20
The gift of the Holy Spirit mentioned here:
"...Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - Acts 2:38
Is the gift of the Holy Spirit, which means love and knowledge of truth which leads to repentance to life.
No one can genuinely repent, or understand the seriousness of their sins without having the gift of the Holy Spirit.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God..." - Ephesians 2:8
Then it is God's decision to have mercy on the person or not.
God searches the hearts, and if He sees a sincere seeking heart then He will most likely have mercy and give the Holy Spirit to the person.
"So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by
giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us..." - Acts 15:8
Because God will not give something the person is not desiring in their hearts.
"I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings." - Jeremiah 17:10
"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13
Then if someone desires to be saved they must persevere in seeking the Lord Jesus (He is the Truth), so God may grant them repentance.
"So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy." - Romans 9:16
But if it is not of him who wills or runs then why the person must seek?!
Because without faith it is impossible to please Him.
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God
must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." - Hebrews 11:6
And God knows the hearts, then it is God who draws the person to Jesus.
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him..." - John 6:44
And who is Jesus Christ?!
"Jesus said to him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6
To be filled with the Holy Spirit:
To be filled with the Holy Spirit means to be filled with the Holy Spirit and manifest Its qualities, such as:
Joy, patience, power, love, etc...
This is not to be mistaken with having the Holy Spirit.
Many people are seeking just for a strong filling with the Holy Spirit and neglecting the love of the truth.
This is exactly what happened in the church of Corinth. Many people filled with the Holy Spirit and with no truth in them.
As they were all filled with the Holy Spirit for a moment, they could do signs, wonders, speak in tongues, and the like.
But they were unable to do the most important:
Preach the gospel, speak and practice the truth through love.
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." - Galatians 5:6
The reason they could not preach the gospel correctly and speak truth to edify is because they had no knowledge of truth.
"Many will say to Me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name,
cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" - Matthew 7:22
"And then I will declare to them,
‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" - Matthew 7:23
It is important to note here that, Jesus, who Himself has said:
"Jesus said to him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6
When Jesus told them ' I never knew you... ' it means they had no knowledge of truth.
They never knew the truth, they never knew Jesus for real.
In other words, they were filled with the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit was not in them.
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries
and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing." - 1 Corinthians 13:2
And this proves the people at the church of Corinth could not preach the truth of the gospel at all:
"Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead,
how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" - 1 Corinthians 15:12
And it is exactly what we see in many places today, they encourage people so much to pursue to be filled with the Holy Spirit...
they encourage people to be filled, but they do not encourage people to love and know the truth.
To be filled with the Holy Spirit is good, but love and knowledge of truth must come first.
As the latter will, consequently, be accompanied with the first.
Now, I will explain what happened in Pentecosts when they were all baptized with the Holy Spirit.
To be baptized with the Holy Spirit does not mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
To be baptized with the Holy Spirit means to receive the knowledge of truth which leads to repentance to life.
"I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." - Mark 1:8
To be baptized with water was a prophetic act that would prepare them to repent, in truth, by receiving the knowledge of the truth...
which is the baptism that leads to repentance to life and, consequently, salvation.
And this is clearly shown here when John states:
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after
me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit..." - Matthew 3:11
"He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,
‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient
to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." - Luke 1:17
All who experience the baptism with the Holy Spirit, as described here, will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
But not all who are baptized will speak in tongues, as is commonly known.
Because the Holy Spirit will not give people what to speak if it is not needed.
There were times it was needed, especially at the beggining of the gospel when persecution from Jews were very high.
And the Jews required a sign that the gentile believers was indeed being received by God.
Then, this is the reason why speaking with tongues was very important to them.
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word." - Acts 10:44
"And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter,
because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also." - Acts 10:44-45
"When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God,
saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”" - Acts 11:18
The person who receives the baptism, which leads to repentance to life through knowledge of truth has no need to speak with tongues.
They have no need because they have the witness in themselves. They know they have received it.
"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God..." - Romans 8:16
And here Paul expresses the importance of verifying they indeed received the...
knowledge of truth when they spoke in tongues and were filled with the Holy Spirit.
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God
dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." - Romans 8:9
"And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." - Galatians 5:24
"Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.
I speak this to your shame." - 1 Corinthians 15:34
It is true that they may want to speak with tongues after that to serve as a more edifying sign to them.
But when you have plenty of knowledge from God's word and can grow much faster from that then speaking with tongues is not as necessary.
"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church." - 1 Corinthians 14:4
"I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied..." - 1 Corinthians 14:5
Because no one can prophesy and speak truth unless the Holy Spirit is in them.
Then to prophesy would be a much more evident sign that the believer indeed received the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Tongues are a sign, obviously, but not for believers.
"Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers;
but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe." - 1 Corinthians 14:22
Because someone who speaks in tongues would not convince a believer they are genuine believers, unless they present fruits.
"Therefore by their fruits you will know them." - Matthew 7:20
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom
of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." - Matthew 7:21
"Therefore by their fruits you will know them." - Matthew 7:20
"Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal:
“The Lord knows those who are His,” and,
“Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”" - 2 Timothy 2:19
One can be filled with the Holy Spirit without having the Holy Spirit (its indwelling)...
and one can have the Holy Spirit (which means to be baptized; to have its indwelling) and yet not speak with tongues (but they can prophesy).
Then, this is what I have to say about this matter. May the Lord bless you abundantly!
Blessings, blessings to you in Jesus' name!