For years people have confused baptism of the Holy Spirit with fullness of the Holy Spirit.  This confusion is quite understandable for several reasons:

In three places the book of Acts in the Bible (2:1-13; 10:44-46; 19:1-7) shows people speaking in tongues when they receive the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, some have interpreted this… that if you haven’t spoken in tongues when you became a Christian, then you have not yet experienced the Baptism of the Spirit.  You may be a Christian, saved by the grace of God they say, but there’s a fuller experience to be had.  Some refer to this as the second baptism, the first one occurring at the moment you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, and the second occurring sometime later and being accompanied by power and speaking in tongues.

In Acts 2:1-13, while the disciples are waiting in Jerusalem, according to what Jesus instructed them to do, the Holy Spirit came upon the people.  The Spirit’s coming was accompanied by a violent wind and what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

The followers of Christ were already believers in Jesus as the Messiah and so, some believe this coming of the Spirit is a subsequent baptism after their initial belief.  And that this is the norm for today.  I would argue however, that this event ushered in a new era in God’s program called the Church Age or Times of the Gentiles.  God was expanding His focus from a single nation (Israel) to the world at large. The mission didn’t change, just the methodology.

Rather than indwelling a physical temple, where He made His presence known, as He did in the Old Testament, He will now indwell every believer.  Our bodies have become temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  Each of us is a living stone being built up one upon another into a spiritual house for God’s dwelling (1 Peter 2:4-5).

In Acts 10:2, we learn that Cornelius, a Gentile, was already a God-fearing man (a believer) and yet he had not received the Holy Spirit.  This again leads some to conclude that there is first a belief, at which time the Holy Spirit seals us for salvation, but then there is a second baptism when the Spirit comes upon us in power.

But again, I would argue that this is the inauguration of the Holy Spirit.  In Acts 1:8 God said there would be an unfolding plan beginning in Jerusalem, on to Judea, to Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the earth.  This occurrence took place in order for the Jews to understand the full scope of the Gospel also included Gentiles. You can see this context when you read chapters 10 and 11 of Acts.

Finally, we have the Apostle Paul in Acts 19 laying his hands on some disciples in Ephesus (in modern day Turkey).  As he does they receive the Holy Spirit and begin speaking in tongues and prophesying.  So, there are some today who see this as the normative way that God works.  First one believes, then at a subsequent time you receive an initial or second baptism of the Holy Spirit, evidenced by His power (speaking in tongues).

When we take the whole of the NT in we realize this view is inconsistent with the rest of scripture.  The Apostle Paul writes to the believers in Ephesus, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called ; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:4-6).

What we do receive subsequent to believing faith is empowerment from the Holy Spirit for specific tasks (see Acts 4:8, 31).  God will fill us with boldness to preach, for instance. He may fill us with courage to face persecution, or with compassion to give to those in need.  This is all done through the Holy Spirit.

At Powerhouse Christian Church we believe that the Holy Spirit is still working today in the same way as He did during the days of the Apostles.  We see and experience His empowerment and His miraculous powers.

Our heart is to share God’s Spirit with the communities all around us.  If your live in Bergen County or Passaic county you may be very close to us!  You are within a very short distance if you are from Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, Oakland, Wayne, Hawthorne, Prospect Park, Haledon, North Haledon, Paterson, Midland Park, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn, Saddle Brook, Paramus, Ho-ho-kus, River Edge, New Milford, Bergenfield, Oradell, Westwood, Cliffwood Lake, Closter, Ridgewood, Washington, Allendale, Upper Saddle River, Saddle River, Ramsey, Mahwah, Pompton Lakes, Pompton Plains and more.

Powerhouse is a Contemporary Christian Church with Sunday services in Wyckoff at 9 and 10:45 am.  And at Bridgewater we begin service at 11 am.