Growing up Pentecostal and attending a Assembly of God University I have wrestled with what I believe scripture teaches about Spirit Baptism.
I'm not sure I yet have a firm conviction. I do belive that it is a gift, and have been convinced of this by scripture.
I however do not think it is for everyone, just as not all the other gifts are as I was taught.
I also do not agree with the cessationist view which states that these gifts have ceased. I guess I'm somewhere in the middle.
My biggest struggle is many friends who were very spiritual in highschool & college and now are living quite contrary to Christ or have become pretty much athiest.
My struggle is that if Spirit Baptism is a "sign" of ones being filled where is the fruit in these peoples lives? They seem to have no deep spiritual insight or walk. It seems like it was much emotion and little grounding on Truth. When the emotion left they were gone!
Like I said I'm not yet convinced. I do think it's a gift, I think it should be sought and used properly and yet I do not believe that it is an "initial sign" but a gift as is prophecy, yet not all have it.
I have been helped by the resources of Sam Storms of Enjoying God Ministries. I found this article fair and helpful going through many views of this matter fairly and with the textual supports each view holds to.
His wife had a similar background and experience as I did and it was good to see him dig for the truth.
If any of you struggle with this issue this might be a great article for you.
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing....13 But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
1st Cor. 13:1-2,13
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