Acts 2:1-21

The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit

I was raised a rural southern pentecostal back in the 50’s and 60’s. Of course I didn’t know it at the time. Since then I have gone through a lot of changes about a number of things regarding my faith. I’m as solid as ever on the essentials but the peripherals have changed considerably. I believe in tongues but am not longer sold on the notion that tongues are the “initial physical evidence” of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. In fact, I’m really far more concerned with an ongoing evidence of the Spirit’s presence than any initial event. Let me tell you a few other things I believe about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and things I see in this passage.

It is not at all unlikely or unusual for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to be accompanied by signs. Tongues is the most often recorded sign in Acts; however, a great sound from heaven and tongues of fire will do just fine. Honestly, someone can fake tongues fairly easily. You can’t very easily fake these other two.

Even seeing great signs there will always be those who just don’t get it. Let’s see... hum... We heard a great unexplained noise. We see fire dancing above the heads of these people. Even though it is clear that these Galileans don’t know these other languages they are speaking them perfectly. That must mean...? That must mean that they are drunk! Of course! These are all well know signs of drunkenness. (Sarcasm alert.)

Some people say that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit isn’t for today. They are believers who share similar mental powers of reasoning with those who decided the disciples must be drunk. That may have been a bit harsh, but really, come on. If Peter, James, and John needed this baptism then how is it that Tom, Dick, and Harry don’t need it? Flesh can only give birth to flesh. Spirit gives birth to spirit.

Beyond that, Peter gets up to explain what is going on. He goes to the prophet Joel and says that what these people are seeing is the fulfillment of a prophecy. “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”

If almost two thousand years ago were the last days then what about today? The Word says this is for the last days. That’s us. It says that it will be for all people: sons, daughters, young, old, servants, men, women... Check. Check. Check. Until the last days end or we stop being humans it appears that the deal is still on.

I don’t really care if you speak in tongues or not. I do, and I find it useful in my devotional prayer life (just as Paul did in 1 Corinthians 14). And I agree that if you know Christ then you have some measure of the Spirit within you; however, you need the fulness of the Spirit. Some is some and full is full and they are two different things. All you have to do is ask, believe, and receive.