"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled saying one to another, Behold, are not all these Galilaens? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elimites, and the dwellers of Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?" (Acts 2:1-12)

I suppose there is no other Divine manifestation given by God that has been so abused in the Christian community as this one. This need not be ...IF... we will read the account and keep everything in its proper context.

Come, let us reason together saith the Lord...Jesus entered into this world with a great manifestation. Out on the Judean hillside, Holy angels were sent from God to lowly shepherds to declare His birth.

This is that eternal message that they heralded... "Unto you this day is born in the city of David a saviour which is Christ the Lord."

God also created a special star to guide the wise men from the East to present their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to this new King.

Peter later wrote: "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty."
(2 Pet.1:16)

Isn't it just reasonable that the Holy Spirit's entrance into this world should also came with a great manifestation? Jesus had instructed His followers to go to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father. This portion of scripture that we have shared from the book of Acts, declares that manifestation.

Suddenly, there came from heaven a sound as a rushing mighty wind. This was symbolic of the great power of the Holy Spirit. The cloven tongues of fire were symbolic of the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, which destroys all sin in the life of a true believer by faith. Next, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues.

Was the "speaking in tongues" the proof that they had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit? No! The scriptures tell us that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. The gift of tongues meaning other languages was given to the disciples to proclaim the message of Christ.

This was not an incoherent muttering, as is heard in many religious assemblies today. This was s definite gift of recognized languages.

Thus it is written...."Every man heard them speak in his own language."
They all marvelled, because these men were Galilaeans and yet it is said that, every man heard in his own tongue wherein he was born.

What was God's purpose in all of this? Was it to prove to the disciples that they had received the Holy Spirit? No! God's purpose was that all those who had gathered together in Jerusalem for the Passover feast should hear the good news! The disciples proclaimed that Jesus was indeed the Messiah for God had raised Him from the dead! The Holy Spirit was sent to testify of Jesus, not of Himself or to give anyone a proof that they had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

God's word strongly teaches that true believers live by faith! The Bible warns us that a wicked generation seeketh after a sign. Believers receive the Holy Spirit by FAITH, as we offer ourselves unto God as a living sacrifice. (Romans 12:1)

Jesus spoke these words of hope to His disciples...
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall TESTIFY of me. (John15:26)

This was His admonition and His prayer...
"If ye love me keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world (unconverted) cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John14:15-17)

The Holy Spirit can only be received by those who have become believers. God cannot impart His Holy Spirit to the world, meaning the unconverted. Salvation, justification and the cleansing of sin through the blood of Jesus, must be experienced first, before God's Holy Spirit can enter into His temple. He is a Holy God and must have a cleansed temple to enter into.

Romans 12:1-2 is addressed to "Brethren," those who had believed..."I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies as living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."

The body, mind and spirit of man cannot be presented to God as a living sacrifice HOLY and acceptable to God until salvation has come. The Holy Spirit is given to those who have become God's born again children for their power to live a holy life. A victorious life free from sin is promised through His indwelling presence and Person.

IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE TO LIVE
A VICTORIOUS SINLESS LIFE?

Let us look into God's word for the answer
to this most important question.

John writes..."And ye know that he (Jesus) was manifested to TAKE AWAY OUR SINS; and in him is no sin. "WHOSOEVER ABIDETH IN HIM SINNETH NOT: whosoever sinneth hath
not seen him neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD DOTH NOT COMMIT SIN; for his seed (His Holy Spirit) remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

Multitudes of ministers in the Christian community of today have not experienced true salvation and the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore they cannot verify this truth to those whom they minister to. None the less, the Word of God still proclaims and offers this experience to ALL who will believe and choose to abide IN CHRIST. This is the reality of our promised victorious FAITH.

Again we hear this affirmation..."For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, EVEN OUR FAITH."
(1 John 5:4)

Our faith must be activated by the Word of God. God honors His word even above His name. Let no man deceive you my true Christian Sister or Brother.

* It is written: "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not."

* We are taught through the word to, "Lift up the shield of faith to quench all the firey darts of the wicked one."

* We are taught how to fight this fight of faith through calling upon the Holy Spirit's power from within.

* It is written: "Greater is He that is within you, than he hath is in the world."

Yes! the battle is the Lord's, but the fight of faith is ours!
We are instructed to, "Resist the devil and he will flee from us." Yes! We have a definite part in our salvation experience!

We are admonished to "Work out our own salvation in fear and trembling."

This is the true "Doctrine" of Sanctification. This is the believer's assurance...

"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." (1Cor.1:30)

God is faithful who has promised..."And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ." (1Thess.5:23)

* Have ye received the

Holy Spirit since ye believed?