What Shall We Do

This is a good question and it has probably been asked many times.  On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out and the disciples became very bold in their witnessing after being baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

It speaks of this in Acts 2:1-3, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.”  

What were some of the results of this baptism with the Holy Spirit?

1.   They spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave them the ability. Remember some of these men were unlearned men which wouldn’t have known the languages that they were able to speak which was a miracle in itself.  These men who were speaking were all Galilean’s so without the Holy Spirit enabling them to speak all these different languages how would they possibly have been able to speak them.  If a Russian or Chinese person or anyone else of any other dialect spoke to me in English and never knew the English language I would have been amazed also, this is what it says about this in verses 6-12 “And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, ‘Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.’ So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘Whatever could this mean?’”

Paul spoke in depth about the tongues issue, read it for yourself in 1 Corinthians 14:1-25, if you are confused about it, do an in-depth study on this issue, praying and asking the Holy Spirit to teach you the truth.  

2.   They became bold in their witness and they spread the good news all over the world under heavy persecution and even at the cost of their own lives.  One of the examples was Peter, when he preached his first sermon after he had been baptized with the Holy Spirit and power.  You can read about it in Acts 2:13-41.  Prior to this Peter denied the Lord on 3 occasions, but at this time he stood very boldly proclaiming the good news of Jesus’ resurrection.  I want to add this here, so that you can read how bold Peter was for yourself.  It says this in 3:11-19 about Peter after the Lord used him to heal the crippled beggar, “Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

3.   Another result was a healing and deliverance ministry; along with even raising the dead and giving sight to the blind and opening deaf ears and on and on it goes.

After Peter had preached his first message in Acts 2:14-41, Paul said this in verses 36-41, “‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’

Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”

If you read this and you find yourself asking this same question and you feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, just do what Peter said to the people in his day.  Repent and be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to show the outward appearance to an inward change.  Then start growing in your faith and share your experience with others.  Something to think about, God bless and have a great day!!  Take some time to thank and praise the Lord.