The Pentecostal Experience
A 30 Minute Bible Study
By Pastor L. Britt Prince
The Pentecostal Experience
The Pentecostal Experience is a deeper experience with God than most Christians obtain. It is a genuine new birth experience. The terms “new birth” and “born again” are some of the most common phrases in Christendom, yet 90% of all church members do not know what it really means.
There are a lot of believers that have had experiences with God, but have not had a new birth experience.
Let’s read the scripture that tells about the new birth.
I John 3:1-10
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Jesus made some very strong statements here.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus said, we cannot see nor enter the kingdom of God unless we are born again.
That’s plain; We must be born again to be saved.
Who to be saved?
Everyone, because we are all sinners.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Since we’re all sinners, what do we need to do to be saved?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
As a sinner coming to God, we must believe that he is and seek Him.
How do we seek Him?
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
We must all come to a realization that we are sinners and accept Jesus as the Savior and confess our sins to the Lord.
This is called repentance.
Repentance means to ask forgiveness of our sins and forsake them. This was the first theme that Jesus preached.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Repentance is a very important part of salvation. It prepares our hearts to be born again.
Jesus spoke very strongly about repentance, just as He did about being born again.
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Since Jesus spoke so strongly and said all of us must, we ask you have you ever repented of your sins? We have a promise in I John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from an unrighteousness. ” Would you like to now?
(Teacher lead a prayer of repentance).
Prayer
Lord, I realized that my life has not been pleasing to you, and I realize that I have fallen short and have sinned. I am asking right now for you to forgive me and I pledge that I will forsake my sins and will live for you form this day forward. Amen.
So, we see that is a must, repentance is a must, and being born again is a must.
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Faith and repentance are the foundation.
Let’s look closer at what Jesus told Nicodemus about being born again.
Jesus wants everyone to be a born again believer, not just a believer.
John 3:3 Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus wanted to know how to be born again.
John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Nicodemus thought to be born again was another natural birth, but Jesus explained that it is a spiritual birth.
John 3:5 Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Notice, there are two things that the new birth consists of: a birth of the water and a birth of the Spirit.
To be born again means to be born the second time, of the water and the Spirit.
Some religious leaders say that being born of the water is referring to the natural birth, since we are born of water, or amniotic fluid.
But the truth is, that Jesus is referring to baptism as a birth of the water. Notice the words “born again” and “second time.”
We are born the first time by a natural birth. It was a birth of water or amniotic fluid.
The second birth of the water is baptism.
The Greek word for born in our text is Gennao, meaning to be delivered of.
The Greek word for baptism is bapto and baptiso, meaning to cover wholly with a fluid.
So, then, to be born again of the water means to be baptized.
Jesus spoke very strongly about baptism.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
If baptism is so important to Jesus, then it must be properly administered.
Jesus himself set an example of immersion.
Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
All other Biblical accounts are by immersion. The method of sprinkling is not found in the Bible.
What does baptism do for us?
It removes, remits, or washes away our sins.
Ananias told Paul:
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Peter told the crowd at Pentecost:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Some religious leaders of our day would have us think that baptism is just an outward sign that we have accepted Christ and that it does not remit sins.
Some tell us that the proper formula to pronounce over the baptismal candidate is to use the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
The Catholic encyclopedia states that the original formula that was used by the Apostles was in the name of the Lord Jesus and the Trinity formula was developed later, being introduced at the Council of Nicea in the year 325 A.D.
This formula is known as the Trinity formula and was developed at the Council of Constantinople in the year 381 A.D.
Jesus commissioned his apostles in Matthew 28:19:
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Notice the term “name” is singular.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are titles, not names.
Let’s look at another account of the great commission.
Luke 24:45-47 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Every account of baptism in the New Testament was administered in the name of Jesus.
Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Shouldn’t we choose to obey the Bible instead of man-made historical creeds?
Peter, the first New Testament preacher, used the name of Jesus, not the titles.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The name of Jesus is what saves us. It puts the virtue in the water to wash away sins; by His blood are we saved.
Paul thought the name of Jesus was so important that he rebaptized some disciples in the name of Jesus.
Acts 19:1-5 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
If you have not been baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus, won’t you consider being baptized or rebaptized?
Jesus spoke very strongly about being born again of the water to enter the kingdom of God.
Jesus spoke of another birth.
John 3:5 Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
To be born again of the spirit means to be baptized by the Spirit.
John the Baptist said,
Mark 1:8 1 indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost
Jesus said,
Acts 1:4-5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Jesus died on the day of the-Passover. He rose again the third day.
Acts 1:3 To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Not many days later, in a seven-day prayer meeting that culminated on the 50th day, God baptized them with the Holy Ghost.
Pentecost means the 50th day. Therefore, Pentecostals are referred to as those who have received the same experience as they did that day. What happened?
Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was 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 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.
Some religious leaders of our day insist that this does not happen today.
Life magazine, the Millennial Edition 1997, stated that there are over 500 million Pentecostals in the world.
Acts 2:16-17 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:
That’s why the Pentecostal movement is the fastest growing movement on the face of the earth.
If you have never been born again of the Spirit, this experience is for you.
Some religious leaders would have you believe that you automatically receive the Holy Ghost at the moment you believe.
There is no scripture that states this.
The Apostle Paul asked some believers in Acts 19:2,
Acts 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Jesus said,
John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
These verses prove that a person does not automatically receive the Holy Ghost at believing. Receiving the Holy Ghost is a part of the full salvation experience that is built on the foundation of believing, repentance, and water baptism.
Jesus gave Nicodemus a secret about those who are born of the Spirit.
John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Jesus said, you can’t tell where the Spirit comes from nor where it goes, but you will be able to hear the sound of the Spirit.
There was a distinct sound that happened on the day of Pentecost, and it happens every time someone is born of the Spirit.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filed with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Tongues is the evidence that a person has received God’s spirit.
Verse eight said, so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.
Isaiah 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Why did God choose to use tongues as the evidence of the Holy Ghost?
James 3:6-8 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth whole body, and on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
The tongue is the most unruly member. Man cannot tame it himself, only God can.
The tongue is the last member of our bodies to yield to God.
That’s why God chose to use it as the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Some religious leaders of our day don’t understand these things.
Nicodemus didn’t understand either. He asked, “How can these things be?”
Jesus said to him, “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?”
Even though Nicodemus was knowledgable in the scriptures, he didn’t know about being born again of the water and the Spirit.
Everyone needs to know how to be born again.
Jesus wants everyone to be born again of the Spirit. It is a must to enter into the kingdom of God.
What does the Holy Ghost do for us?
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, end peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
The Holy Ghost will lead us into all truth, it gives righteousness, peace, joy, and power to overcome sin; and if the Spirit dwells in us, it will quicken our mortal bodies in the rapture.
If you have repented of your sins, why don’t you seek Him diligently for the Holy Ghost?
TEST
1. According to Romans 3:23, how many of us are sinners?__________
2. What is the first step in coming to God according to Hebrews 11:6?__________
3. Confessing our sins to the Lord is called__________________.
4. According to Hebrews 6:1, faith and___________ is the foundation that our relationship with God is built upon.
5. Jesus said, “Except ye__________________, ye shall all likewise perish.”
6. The new birth is a birth of the___________________ and of the__________.
7. Jesus said, “He that believeth and is_______________ shall be saved.”
8. What is the name that should be pronounced over a baptismal candidate?_________
9. Ananias told Paul to be baptized and wash away his_______________.
10. Being filled with God’s Spirit is called the____________ of the Holy Ghost.
11. The day of Pentecost was the______________ day after Passover.
12. Can people still receive the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues? ________________
13. Does a person automatically receive the Holy Ghost at the moment they believe? ________________
14. Paul asked some believers, “Have ye received the __________ since ye believed?”
15. Is the new birth essential for salvation? _____________
16. According to Romans 8:11, what will quicken our mortal bodies in the rapture? ______________
17. Jesus told Nicodemus a secret: The wind bloweth were it listeth, and thou hearest the ___________ thereof.
18. Isaiah said, “For with stammering lips and _____________ will he speak to this people.”
19. The tongue is an unruly evil, set on fire of hell and no man can ___________it.
20. After a person receives the Holy Ghost they receive power to be a ________________.
THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY PASTOR L. BRITT PRINCE, RICHLAND UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH, RICHLAND, MISSISSIPPI, 1998, PAGES 1-16. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.
