Sermon Series: The Holy Spirit

What is the “baptism in the Holy Spirit”? Is it the same thing or different from being “filled with the Holy Spirit”? Is “speaking in tongues” the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit? Does it take place at or after conversion? There has been so much controversy and confusion over this subject, that I don’t pretend that we are going to solve all the difficulties in this study. We are seeking more light from the Scriptures on the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, and hopefully we have gained some ground in this study. If you see flaws in our reasoning or understanding of the Scriptures on this subject, please feel free to e-mail us and share your thoughts.

What is the “baptism in the Holy Spirit”? Is it the same thing or different from being “filled with the Holy Spirit”? Is “speaking in tongues” the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit? Does it take place at or after conversion? There has been so much controversy and confusion over this subject, that I don’t pretend that we are going to solve all the difficulties in this study. We are seeking more light from the Scriptures on the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, and hopefully we have gained some ground in this study. If you see flaws in our reasoning or understanding of the Scriptures on this subject, please feel free to e-mail us and share your thoughts.

Have the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit like prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues, healings and miracles ceased, or are the available for the Church today? This has been a hotly debated issue for some time. In this message, we pose the arguments of the Cessationists (those who believe these gifts ceased after the 1st century) and then try to respond with Scripture. Hopefully, our discussion here will help you as you sort through an issue which can be very confusing!

Have the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit like prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues, healings and miracles ceased, or are the available for the Church today? This has been a hotly debated issue for some time. In this message, we pose the arguments of the Continuations (those who believe these gifts are available to the Church until Christ returns). Hopefully, our discussion here will help you as you sort through an issue which can be very confusing!

We are sometimes told that God does not speak to men apart from Scripture. This got me wondering, so I decided to go through the Book of Acts to see how God soke with His people in the first century. What I found startled me. God spoke with surprising frequency. The big question is, “does God still speak in these ways today?” I have included some observations and conclusions from my study of Acts at the bottom of this study. I hope you find it useful and helpful!

What is the New Testament gift of prophecy? What authority does it have? Is it the speaking forth of the very words of God on a par with Scripture? Or, is there Biblical evidence that it was much different than the Scripture-level prophecies in the Old Testament? Let’s examine the Biblical evidence together to see if we can find the answer.

What is the New Testament gift of prophecy? What kinds of things will a prophecy reveal? What is the difference between teaching and prophecy? How should we define a “prophet”? Who may prophesy? These are the questions that we take up in this study of God’s Word. May our Lord enrich you in every good thing as you look to Him through His Word!

What is the “gift of healing”? In this study, we do a survey of the Old and New Testament teaching on divine healing, especially in relation to the ministry of Jesus Christ and His disciples.