Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 5/11/2009

Question
I am a beleiver and follower of Jesus Christ. Upon repentance and asking Jesus to forgive my sins and lead my life (be Lord of my life), I experienced salvation, new life and power which changed the course of my life.  I walked in the same situations but with new clearer sight, hearing and awareness of people. For me it was very dramatic.  It's been 21 years now and I wonder if I'm missing the Holy Spirit (baptism) you believe in as separate. No one I know has had hands laid on them or speaks in tongues (I've never heard this speaking).  If I have indeed not fully received all God offers me through Christ, naturally I want to receive what's missing. Can you direct any next steps I should consider?

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

As a Baptist, I believe that when you are saved you are sealed by the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit indwells in you, gifts you, speaks to you and helps you throughout life.  Most Christians forget that Spirit inside them and try to rely on their own powers.

One day, a group of pastors laid hands on me, and asked the Lord to fill me with the Holy Spirit.  I already knew that God's Spirit was inside of me, but that day was a turning point in my life.  God filled me, differently than at salvation.  I received power and gifts that I did not have before.  

As the years have passed, I have realized that God never intended for us to get the Spirit just at Baptism and be done.  I preach that every Christian should constantly be trying to refill themselves with God's Spirit.  In fact I haven't ever preached a sermon just to get people to get filled with the Spirit.  For me, every Sunday is an opportunity to see lost people get saved and to see Christians grow and be active with their faith.  

The Bible calls us "jars of clay"  that are cracked.  In other words, we leak.  You may be on fire for Jesus on Sunday, but by Saturday you have leaked out your enthusiasm.  You need refilling.  

So as a leaky pot, you need to be refilled with worship, prayer, Bible study and fellowship with other believers.  You do not need to go out and find a group of Pentecostals or charismatics to pray for you.  Ask your Christian friends to lay their hands on you and ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit.  Don't look for God to give you tongues or some other gift.   Just ask Him to fill you.  Have faith that He will even if you don't FEEL any different.   God will answer.

Also, the debate among Christians and the Spirit is tongues.  Pentecostals believe that the evidence of the Spirit is tongues.  I disagree.  If a person shows the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), then it is obvious that person has the Spirit of God.  To say that tongues is the only way to show a person is filled with the Spirit is wrong.  I know a lot of really great Spirit-filled Christians who don't have the gift of tongues, so don't get hung up on which gifts you have.

Seek God out.  Pursue Him, you will find what you are looking for.