We at the Awakening strive to be like the early church outlined in the book of Acts. We want to be a church that operates in the same power of the Holy Spirit so that they are healed, delivered, set free, and saved from their sins. In order to experience signs and wonders, see the lost get saved, and encounter the power of God, we must as a church family seek for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit for empowerment unto service to God and also the continual filling of the Holy Spirit for each new need arises unto the Lord. What happened on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4 is not only possible for the church to experience today, but will experience today as we seek God for this blessed gift of the Holy Spirit. We must desire a “Pentecost” like experience such as described in Acts 2:1-4 for today, as well as a continual filling of the Holy Spirit. It is important that we realize that the term “filled” here in Acts 2:1-4 is also called a “baptizing” (Acts 1:5; 11:16), “a pouring out” (Acts 2:17; 10:45), and “a receiving” (Acts 10:47). So the terms “filling of the Holy Spirit,” the “baptism in the Holy Spirit,” the “gift of the Holy Spirit,” the “Holy Spirit being poured out”, the “Holy Spirit falling,” etc. all point to a single experience and the gift of the Holy Spirit (for the sake of simplicity, in this article we are going to use the term “baptism in the Holy Spirit” to describe this gift unless otherwise indicated). Therefore the basic act of receiving the Spirit can be described as being baptized or filled with the Holy Spirit, but the verb “baptize” is not used for subsequent experiences anywhere in the New Testament. Therefore, it is probably best to see the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a one-time experience, whereas a believer in Jesus Christ needs a continual filling of the Holy Spirit as the need for service arises (one baptism and many fillings, although we cannot be dogmatic on this point because it is an argument from silence). This is made clear in Ephesians 5:18 and in the book of Acts (this will be discussed further down below). We do not believe that the gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was a one-time historical event for only the early church to experience, nor do we believe that it happens at the initiation of conversion, but rather is an experience for the whole church to experience and receive after one is saved and born again (thus distinct and subsequent to salvation).
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What is divine healing?
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Why does God heal?
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What is divine healing?
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Is it God’s will (desire) for people to live in perfect health?
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Why do people become sick?
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How should we pray for people to be healed?
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How should we pray for people to be healed?
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What part does medicine play in healing?
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Where does faith play into healing?
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What should my response be when I am sick?