On the Day of Pentecost, 120 followers of Jesus were gathered. The Holy Spirit came, appearing as tongues of fire near their heads. They began to speak in unknown tongues. And Peter preached a bold, powerful seven minute sermon, annointed by the Holy Ghost, and the Bible reports that at least 3,000 people were saved.
In addition to speaking in tongues, the Apostles did miraculous things, such as healing the sick. The small, early Christian church was turbocharged with miraculous power, and these things served as evidence that the word they preached was true.
While nearly everyone agrees that this Pentecost power was widely used during the ministry of the original Apostles, most Christians wrongly believe that this power dried up after the Church was established and the last Apostle died.
Yet there is no convincing teaching in the Bible to prove
that point, although many gladly take things out of context and distort
Bible passages to "prove" the early end of Pentecostal power.
After receiving salvation from Jesus as described on the previous page, we Pentecostal Christians believe that a believer should ask God for--and receive--the gift of Baptism of the Holy Spirit, as evidenced by speaking and praying in unknown tongues. The Scripture clearly teaches that if you ask God for this Holy Spirit Baptism, He will provide it immediately as a free gift.
The Bible says in Acts 2 that Holy Spirit baptism was given to those listening, to their heirs and offspring, and to those who are far off--as many as the Lord shall call. Now "far off" here means both in a linear distance and also "far off" in time. Since the terms as many as our Lord shall call is used, and since He is still calling people, obviously this applies today.
Holy Spirit Baptism differs from Believer's Baptism, immersion in water as an act of obedience commanded by Christ which publicly displays your belief and symbolizies that, as a new believer, you have experienced a death and burial of your old unsaved self and a resurrection to new spiritual life. That's why water immersion baptism for believers--not the sprinkling of babies --is correct way to administer Believer's Baptism.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit turbocharges you with God's power. It not only empowers you speak and pray in unknown tongues, but it confers supernatural spiritual gifts to the believer-- given in a unique mix by decision of the Holy Spirit himself. These gifts include: word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, prophecy, gift of healings, miracles, etc.
These gifts, used correctly, provide signs confirming God's word, as Mark 16 says.
Ask for and receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and ask Him which gifts He is giving to you and how He wants you to use them. These gifts provide a heaven on earth for the believer in a hellish world.
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