As Many As Received Him Gave He Power To Become The Sons of God (Part 1)

Paul’s Spiritual Experience

Paul’s Conversion

• He studied under Gamaliel, a teacher of the law
• They took the scriptures of the gospels out of context, and say that they don’t need to speak in tongues because Jesus didn’t teach his disciples to speak in tongues

God Gave Paul A New Name

• His old name Saul was infamous (notorious, abominable, & offensive)
• This was similar to Abraham, when his name was changed from Abram to Abraham – 2 Cor 5:17
• In the mind of a believer, they can backslide from the baptism of the Holy Ghost and just be saved (converted)
• It’s not good to start believing this way (doctrine) is difficult, but the way of transgressors is hard – Pro 13:15
• Fasting is not hard
• Many of Jesus’ disciples went back – John 6:66
• When one leaves this doctrine, the Holy Ghost also leaves them

Paul’s Holy Calling

• Called to be an apostle by the will of God Eph 1:1
• Jesus gave the disciples power without speaking in tongues
• Luke’s gospel was written through research by the Spirit, interviewing witnesses on the account of Jesus & people being filled by the Spirit Luke 1
• His own people (the Jews) received Him (Jesus) not John 1:11
• Jesus gave power to those who would receive Him to become sons of God John 1:12
• Jesus would save these people & give them the Spirit and power John 1:12-13
• Jesus saved the twelve disciples & afterward he saved seventy more disciples Matt 10:1
• Jesus gave the twelve & seventy disciples power Luke 10:1
• The 12 & 70 didn’t speak in tongues because the Spirit had not been poured out John 7:38-39

Some Churches Definition of “Saved” is defined as conversion in The Bible

• If a believer just wants to be saved (converted) that believer won’t go any further, and won’t operate in the gifts of the Spirit 
• That’s why those who are saved (converted) don’t have power 
• When one is saved (converted) they don’t want any gifts 

The Necessity of Speaking in Tongues 

• Tongues were added on the day of Pentecost as a sign to show that the Holy Ghost is now poured out upon Jews & Gentiles alike  Acts 2:1-4 
• Poured out means given freely to all Acts 2:17 
• That was another reason why Paul’s greatest enemies would follow him from city to city, because of tongues and Jesus the Christ 
• We must have the Holy Ghost 
• The first gift of the Spirit one receives is the gift of tongues

When You Have The Holy Ghost, You Have Power

• Acts 1:8 meant the Spirit was going to be poured out again
• The disciples already had the Holy Ghost, so when Jesus was telling them about the power, He was going to give them more power
• If you have the Holy Ghost, He is going to urge you to get the rest of the power
• You don’t receive the Holy Ghost without having power
• Abraham had power, he was a prophet, and he had the Holy Ghost
• Casting out devils is a sure sign of power
• Satan won’t cast himself out Matt 12:25-28
• They said Jesus was casting out devils by Beelzebub Matt 12:24
• There was another man casting out devils and the disciples forbade him. Jesus said, forbid him not, he that is not with me is against us Mark 9:38-40
• The man the disciples saw, took hold of faith. He started using the power he received from Jesus’ ministry