Holy Spirit Baptism - Acts 2:1-13 - Comments by Mike Kines

This transcription discusses Acts chapter 2, focusing on the promise of the Father and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were obedient and gathered together in one place on the day of Pentecost. They heard a sound like a rushing wind and saw cloven tongues of fire. They spoke in tongues, which were interpreted by the Holy Spirit for the people listening. There are different interpretations of this passage, but it is believed to be controversial because it marks the birth of the Church. Satan may have caused division over this issue. Regardless of beliefs, it is important to recognize the need for the Holy Spirit's power in our lives. We should pray to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit for guidance and sanctification. This passage is a reminder of the obedience and unity of the early believers and the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Commentary on Acts chapter 2, we're looking at verses 1-13, and this passage of scripture is talking about the promise of the Father, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples, tarry in Jerusalem until you be endued with power from on high so that you can be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, and Judea, and Samaria, and to the outermost parts of the earth. So, the disciples were obedient. They didn't necessarily understand everything that Jesus was talking about, but they were obedient. They were in one accord in one place, and they gathered together, and they were there on the day of Pentecost. It says that they heard a wind sound like a wind from heaven, like a mighty rushing wind from heaven, and they saw cloven tongues like as a fire touching down each one of them, and the disciples and the apostles, they spoke with tongues. People heard them speaking in tongues, and to the people that heard them, it sounded like they were speaking in their own languages, and all these different various languages. Now, my opinion is, I think the Holy Spirit was interpreting what these people were saying in tongues, that the Holy Spirit was interpreting it in the ears of the people so that it would be a witness and a testimony to those people that were hearing. Depending on who you talk to and what denomination you belong to, you're going to believe completely different things about this passage of Scripture. And to me, actually, it seems astounding that people can have so many different views on this passage of Scriptures. But I think that one of the reasons, in my opinion, one of the reasons why this particular passage of Scripture is so controversial is because this was the birth of the Church. And I think that Satan sowed division and strife amongst God's people today because, especially over something like this, the beginning of the Church, because Satan absolutely hates the fact that the Church was born on this earth, that God brought forth His Church, the body of Christ, in this earth. And so this is something that's attacked by the enemy, and I think that is one explanation for why you see so much division and strife over this issue of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, because these supernatural events were associated with the beginning of the Church, the actual birth of the Church on the day of Pentecost here. This is not something we need to get riled up about, but something we need to rejoice the Lord over, because none of us would be here today without the events that happened here on this day, because this was when the Church was born. They were empowered by the Holy Spirit, and so we need the power of the Holy Spirit today, no matter what we may think about, what Bible doctrines we may hold on to, whether we believe in tongues or we don't believe in tongues, we need the Holy Spirit today. We need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit today, because without the Holy Spirit, you can do nothing. You can't witness for the Lord, you can't serve the Lord, and you can't live for Jesus without being filled with the Holy Spirit. And so we need more of the Holy Spirit. We don't need less, but we need more of the Holy Spirit to fill our lives. And so we should always be praying, like it says in the book of Ephesians, being filled with the Holy Spirit, be filled with the Spirit. So this is a present, continuous sense of each and every day waking up and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Now, I know that when you're born again, when you're saved, the Holy Spirit does come in and gives you life, and so the Holy Spirit does come and live within you. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit. But there's also a sense of being continually filled with the Holy Spirit in order to have power to live a holy life and have the Holy Spirit to continuously apply the finished and completed work of Christ and sanctify us with the Word of God. So there's a continual process of the Holy Spirit being active and working in our lives each and every day. I'm thankful for this passage of Scripture, Acts chapter 2, verses 1 through 13. And I think that it's beautiful how these men and women were obedient to the Lord, and they were gathered together in one accord that day, praying, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you, and the Lord give you peace.