The root of Pentecostalism begins in Acts 2 in the upper-room with the gathering of the 120 disciples waiting in anticipation of the promised Gift from the Father; as what Jesus said the Holy Spirit will be sent in His Name (John 14:26). The disciples experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit as commended of the Lord (Acts 1:5)and recieved power to become witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). They were filled in the Holy Spirit and began to speak in unknown tongues 'gossalia' (Acts 2:4).
In 1906 the revival at Azusa Street, which was acknowledged by many scholars as the birth-place of Pentecosatlism; shared the similar experience of the early Church. The event at Azusa Street and the later series of separate revivals, led the Pentecostals to believe that it was the realization in the fulfillments of the last days predicaments; the outpouring of the Hoy Spirit (Joel 2:28, 29; empowerment to evangelize the world for Christ before the Judgment Day (Matt.24:14); and to prepare the Bride (Church) in holiness for the Wedding Day (Rev.19:7, 8).
Therefore, to be a Pentecostal is to hold on to the beliefs stated above. The Pentecostals emphasized greatly the 3rd Person of the trinity-the Holy Spirit. Baptism of the Holy Spirit allow the Spirit-filled Pentecostal to experience a spiritual purification and empowering for Christian witness. It is evidence by utterance in unknown tongues (gossalia). The Spirit-filled believers experienced the obvious manifestation of the Holy Spirit in their everyday life; including divine healing, prophecy, and tongues (gossalia).
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Dear Freddie,
In your last sentence, you said that the "Spirit-filled believers experienced the obvious manifestation of the Holy Spirit in their everyday life; including divine healing, prophecy, and tongues (gossalia)."
But as in 1 Corinthians 12:29,30 say:"29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?"
Also verse 8,9,10,11 says:"8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will
."
Is there a way to reconcile this?
Has Pentecostsalism changed beyond what they have originally intended?
What about us as Assemblies of God people? have we as Pentecostals lost our way?
What do you think?
Hi Jase Foo,
Thanks for commenting my blog. You may have misunderstood. What has been stated in my article is generally refers to a Pentecostal 'sets of belief'. You are actually quoting from 1 Cor.12 which refers to the 'operating' of gifts of the Holy Spirit in the body of Spirit-filled believers. Hope you are not confused.
Hi Lionel,
In the practical aspect, many AG churches have 'lost' the early pioneering spirit of Pentecostalism. Many reasons can be observed: lacked of emphasis by church leadership; fear of losing membership caused many churches to avoid the practice of speaking in tongues (glossolalia) which is the key distinctiveness of the belief in Pentecostalism; lacked of understanding; contributing factor from anti-intellectual movement etc. Nevertheless I still believed that Pentecostalism after surviving 100years history, still holds ground in the global over-all purpose of God in serving as reminder of early church experience; from where its name 'Pentecostal' derived; of God's promise of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the last days; though maybe in 'different-face' e.g. 2nd wave; 3rd wave etc.
Do you consider yourself to be a Pentecostal? If yes, why are you a Pentecostal?
hi freddie!
Since you've brought up the part on being a Spirit-filled believer - experiencing the obvious manifestation of the Holy Spirit in their everyday life; including divine healing, prophecy, and tongues (gossalia)...
How would you then 'group' us who believe that the initial evidence of baptism of the HS is speaking in tongues, but dont so manifest the other 'parts' of it in everyday life? Does this make us less or not Pentecostal?
Hi Kee Ming & Angeline;
Thanks for your respnd. As for Kee Ming, I am definitely a Pentecostal. Simple, being an AG member, I believed in the initial evidence of speaking in tongue in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. As for Angeline, I think you misunderstood the word used Spirit-filled. Maybe can refer to my reply to Jase Foo. To me Spirit-filled simply means one received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Like Paul says, speaking in tongues is an everyday affair. experiencing the obvious manifestations means open acceptance, believing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Maybe I left out the word - in comparison to the main-line churches who find it hard to accept the beliefs of Pentecostalism.
Hi Freddie,
I would like to know what if some people or even members who come to us saying that in the scriptures did not record Jesus himself baptized in the Holy Spirit with tongues, as He has chosen not use His divine attributes while he was on earth. Which they would conclude that Jesus was not examplery in that manner. What do you think? Is there a way to help them see in a different perspective in regards to imitating Christ example?
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