WHO IS PENTECOSTAL?
There are many religious groups today that proudly declare they are Pentecostal. Is this desirable? Are we or should we be Pentecostal? What is meant by it? There are different ideas that enter into what is called “Pentecostal”, but they all seem to involve special direct workings of the Holy Spirit or an effort to continue the same manifestations of the Spirit that took place on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus, as is set forth in Acts 2. Many believe in a special baptism of the Holy Spirit for all believers which they call a “baptism of fire.” There are two things wrong with this. The baptism of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was not for all believers and it was not called a “baptism of fire.” Acts 2:3 makes it clear that there were “divided tongues, as of fire.” Those who pray for a baptism of fire should desire that their prayers are not answered. The reference to Jesus baptizing with fire is found in Matthew 3:11,12 and is associated with punishment in “unquenchab
