Nothing in all of Acts, Chapter 2, says believers asked for the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:1-4 teaches two distinctive truths. At Pentecost, Christian believers were baptized with the Holy Spirit into the body. Then the Holy Spirit filled those believers to give a miraculous testimony -- the ability to speak in other languages. Believers since that time have all been baptized with the Holy Spirit by the Lord Jesus Christ at conversion. How are we filled? When we yield to the Spirit who is already there, we have access to the Spirit's power and fullness. Paul told the Ephesians to be kept filled with the Spirit as a constant pattern for living (5:18).
Nowhere in Scripture is the Christian taught to tarry and wait for the baptism. Nowhere in Scripture are we taught to get with a group of people who can teach us to speak in tongues. Christians are admonished to keep being filled with the Spirit, but that is not the same thing as waiting to be baptized by the Spirit. There is one simple key to knowing the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit in your life: obeying the Lord. As you walk in obedience to the word of God, the Spirit of God fills you and energizes your life (see Gal. 5:25).
Not only have believers been placed into Someone (Christ), but they have had Someone placed into them (the Holy Spirit). As Christians we have the Holy Spirit. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19). God Himself indwells our bodies (II Cor. 6:16). All the resources are there. The promise of the Holy Spirit has already been fulfilled for us. The Bible is absolutely clear on that point. There is nothing more to wait for. The Christian life consists of yielding to the control of the Spirit who is already in us. We do that through obedience to the Word (Col. 3:16).
Significantly, charismatic writers are not all agreed on how believers are to receive the baptism of the Spirit. Why all the confusion and contradiction? Why is it that charismatic writers do not quote the Bible plainly and let it go at that? The reason no charismatic writer can do that is the Bible never tells how to get the baptism of the Spirit; it only tells believers that they are already baptized with the Spirit.
One of the greatest realities the Christian will ever have is contained in two brief and fulfilling statements. One is by Paul, The other is by Peter:
"In Him, you have been made complete" (Col. 2:10).
"His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3).
There is no point in seeking what is already ours.
- John F. MacArthur
Pentecostals are wrong. Faith Movement are wrong.
Victory Churches are wrong.
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!
Satan is responsible for what is going on in these churches -- not God.
