When the Holy Spirit Comes

By Ann Doupont

It is interesting to have visited many churches, seen so many Christian television programs, read many books, and listened to many tapes. It is such a blessing to have all these resources available. It was not always like that.

For centuries, all that people had to rely on for understanding of the Scriptures were the Scriptures themselves and perhaps a family member or friend to help give them some insight into the meaning of God’s Word.

In these days, we have so many tools to help us along the way. We have concordances, Bible dictionaries, CD’s, the Internet, and many anointed ministers who have studied and prayed and then share what the Lord reveals to them to share.

No longer does a person have to learn it all from scratch, so to speak, but can glean what others have studied and then hear or read that through others. The Bible says that in the end times, knowledge will increase. (See Daniel 12:4.) It is certainly doing that.

Jesus promised the disciples that He would them send a Comforter after He went away – that this Comforter would lead them into all truth.

We see in the book of Acts, that as Jesus was ascending back into Heaven after His resurrection from the dead, an angel told the disciples who were gathered there that Jesus would return some day. (See Acts 1:11.) Shortly before that happened, Jesus instructed His followers to wait for a few days and that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4).

As they were gathered together those few days later, suddenly a sound came into the room. It sounded like a mighty, rushing wind and it filled the whole house. They saw what looked like tongues of fire coming upon each of them. Each person there was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in a language they had never learned.

This experience still occurs in many places today. It is what is known as having had a “Pentecostal experience,” or as becoming baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience is available to all believers.

As a new Christian, I was told to simply ask the Lord to baptize me with the Holy Spirit and that He would do it. I was told that when this happened, I would speak in other tongues. I believed what I was told, and so went home and prayed, and sure enough, it happened exactly as I was told it would.

As soon as I prayed for this baptism, I got up and began dancing all around the room. Going then into my bedroom, I knelt alongside my bed to give God thanks and a couple of words came out of my mouth I had never heard before. I had not asked for the gift of tongues, or for any other gift for that matter, but to be baptized in the Holy Ghost, and he did it.

The initial manifestation may be somewhat different for different individuals. You might not get up and dance like I did, but I believe that when you are filled with the Spirit, you will begin to speak with other tongues as He gives you utterance.

One woman prayed with me to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and spoke non-stop in tongues for two hours. Another woman began singing in tongues in the most beautiful voice.

I have heard it said that the Holy Spirit would go where He is welcome, and I believe it. As we welcome Him into our lives, He is sure to come. As we ask Jesus the baptizer to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire, He will do that. According to Acts 1:8, we will then be His witness as the Holy Spirit comes upon us. This does not have to be a one-time event, but we can continue being refilled repeatedly. (See Ephesians 5:18.)

The Holy Spirit will also give us others gifts, as we see in 1 Corinthians 12:1 and following. This list includes a “gift of tongues,” which is not to be confused with the tongues a person receives when they are baptized with the Holy Spirit. This “gift of tongues” is one, which requires an interpretation when used in a public gathering so that those who hear it can understand what is being said and benefit from it.

The other gifts of the Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12 are the “word of knowledge, word of wisdom, faith, gifts of healing, miracles, prophecy, and the discerning of spirits.” All these are the work of the Holy Spirit who gives them as He determines. (See 1 Corinthians 12:11.)

There are also at least two other lists of gifts found in the Bible. One is these is found in Romans 12:7-8. The other list, referred to as the ascension gifts, is found in Ephesians 4:11.

All of the gifts given by Him are not only for our own benefit, but also to benefit others in the body of Christ. It is by the Holy Spirit that we are made one. We are connected to one another by His Spirit, not by our own effort or desire, but as we yield to Him.

We find in Romans 8:11 that the One who raised Jesus from the dead will also quicken our mortal bodies (that is, make them alive, or heal them) by His Spirit that dwells within each born-again believer. As we yield to Him, and allow Him to have full reign and control in our lives, this will happen.

He will knit our hearts together with those who are like-minded so that we are then able to do more for the Kingdom of God that we could do if we were alone. This, too, is a work of the Holy Spirit.

Ann Doupont    Boise4Jesus@Yahoo.com

Ann Doupont
Author of two Christian Inspirational Books:

 Surrendered, ISBN #1-4141-0278X

Irons in the Fire, ISBN #1-59330-371-8