"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 like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:2-4
The bible tells us that “All” the apostles were “Filled with the Holy Ghost.” This prophecy is mentioned in the book of Joel. The scripture tell us that “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors" (Joel 2:28-32). In The Book of Acts, chapter 2 this prophecy is partially fulfilled with the out pouring of the Holy Spirit. The "mighty wind' demonstrated that God was present and active in a powerful way. The "cloven tongues of fire" symbolised consecrating and separating believers to God for the work of ministry and bringing Glory to God.
What was the significance of being filled with Holy Spirit at Pentecost? This is the baptism that John the Baptist was speaking of, when he said that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire. (Matt. 3:11) This meant the beginning of God's promise that written in the book of Joel, Chapter 2:28, to pour out his His Spirit on all people in the end times. Speaking in tongues (another language) is a demonstration of that out pouring and should never be exploited by those who have not been filled with God's presence. Understand this, not all tongue speaking is of God. Satan is a counterfeiter, and we must be sure the tongue we receive is of God. The Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost will not enter into an unclean vessel. Notice that these 120 people were praying, and had been praying and in one accord, for ten days when this happened. I say again, this not something you learn, it is a gift from God to those who God has called to minister. Another thing that is greatly misunderstood, it is not an unknown tongue, as you will see in (Acts, 2:6) the next verse. It is a language the person receiving has never learned to speak. You will notice that the tongue they were speaking in was a language of another country. Language that perhaps was unknown to the person receiving it but easily understood by someone who knew the language. Notice where the utterance came from; (the Holy Spirit). Notice here that "Spirit" is capitalized, meaning the Holy Spirit. When you repeat a language after someone else, you have learned a language. You must not learn to speak in tongues. You must receive the gift of the Holy Spirit from God alone. The things of the Spirit cannot be learned. They must be received. Amen!
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