Pentecost After the Apostolic Era
Holy Spirit at Work
God's Spirit is still at work in our world
There has been evidence of the Holy Spirit poured out in all ages and times, at least somewhere in the body of Christ, since the time of the Apostles!
Healings, exorcisms, and validating signs and wonders continue to be experienced in the church. Just as miracles and wonders added to the credibility of the first-century apostles, so they continue to draw unbelievers into the Christian fold
Origen of Alexandria, 3rd Century AD
After the Apostolic era, does it seem other Christians witnessed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
Even Augustine, who died a full 400 years after Christ and even today remains the most highly regarded Christian theologian of the early church, talked about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the reality of the spiritual gifts. Through the middle ages, many well-respected Christian monks and mystics lived their Christian lives with this assumption as well. Even in the more recent centuries, just before the rise of “Pentecostalism” in the 20th century, history records many revivals that were a result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and included the use of spiritual gifts and speaking in tongues.
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It spurs me on to press in for more. I’ve been a pentecostal follower of Jesus for basically my entire life, but it reminds me there’s no end to the infilling of the Spirit!
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I think it shows that the Holy Spirit is clearly an important part of Christian life (post Jesus’ ascension). God intends to connect with us through the Holy Spirit and have a personal relationship through the Holy Spirit as a sort of “conduit” for his presence. It also shows that the Spirit does in fact empower us in many ways and one of these ways includes Glossolalia and Xenolalia.
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It is summed up for me really in scripture…”these signs shall follow them that believe”
I see a big problem when there is no power (supernatural evidence be it tongues, healing, deliverance etc.) behind the preaching of the Gospel.
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What stands out is that Holy Spirit never stops moving, speaking, or working. He’s pouring out over those who ask, those who pursue Him. I love how language doesn’t need to be a barrier for us. If God’s got a plan for encounter, then nothing is going to get in the way.
I’ve had friends who experienced xenolalia on several occasions while on missions trips. It’s absolutely incredible! Hundreds gave their lives to Jesus and were baptized all because these missionaries were obedient and stepped out in faith. Amazing!
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