Baptism In The Holy Spirit

Bible memory verse Acts 1:8 Learn this verses:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth".

A further part of the blessings of our salvation is the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is God's means of bringing us into the realm of spiritual power. He wants us not only to enjoy the new life he has given us, but also to be effective messengers in transmitting the gospel to others.

John 1:33:  'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit'.

Acts 2:4:  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:17: "In the last days," God says, "I will pour out my Spirit on all people, your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."

Let us look at five questions which will help us to understand the Scripture and lead us into the blessing:

1) Who is to be baptized in The Holy Spirit?

This blessing is not just for a select few, but for all believers. God has promised, "I will pour out my Spirit on all people" (Acts 2:17).  Peter clearly proclaimed, concerning the gift of the Holy Spirit, "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call".  (Acts 2:39)

2) Why be baptized in The Holy Spirit?

a) Through the baptism in the Holy Spirit we receive power (Acts 1:8) and ability (Acts 9:17-22).

b) We are enabled to pray in the Spirit and sing praises in the Spirit, as distinct from normal prayer and praise expressed in our own language (See Romans 8:26-27 and 1 Corinthians 14:15).

c) Our own spirit becomes more sensitive to the 'voice of God's Spirit' (See Acts 13:2,  Mark 13:11 and Acts 1:1-2).

d) We become eligible for the Gifts of the Spirit (Acts 19:6) and a new level of God's power in our lives (1 Corinthians 14:1, 1 Corinthians 1:5-7 and Acts 1:8).

e) We begin to live our daily lives in The Spirit, by The Spirit's power and should  constantly be being filled with The Spirit (Ephesians 5:18 and Colossians 3:16).

3) How do we receive the baptism in The Holy Spirit?

Sometimes God baptizes believers in the Spirit by a sovereign act. This is what happened to the disciples on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and to the household of Cornelius described in (Acts 10).  At other times, He is received by the laying on of hands, as in Samaria (Acts 8 and Acts 19:6).

Individually, however, we receive the Holy Spirit baptism in the same way we receive all the blessings of God by faith. Luke 11:13 "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him"?

So we see that it is important that we ask Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Having prayed, and believing God has heard our prayer, we begin to praise God and worship Him with Thanksgiving. This is a powerful means of drawing near to His presence to receive the Holy Spirit. 'Come near to God and He will come near to you' (James 4:8).

As we become aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit there is a breaking within us and our spirit springs up to respond to the Spirit of God. At this point, an anointed servant of God may lay hands upon us to impart the Holy Spirit, just as Paul did in Acts 19:6, but this is not always necessary. As the Holy Spirit rests upon us He stimulates us to praise The Lord. Our own words seem inadequate to praise God as we should. The Holy Spirit then leads and encourages us, but never forces us, to speak in tongues, enabling our organs of speech to form strange words and syllables as we yield to his prompting.

4). Must those who are baptized in The Holy Spirit always speak in tongues?

This is a wrong question!  In 1 Corinthians 14:5, Paul says, "I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy". What he is in fact saying is that we should both speak in tongues and also prophesy. When we speak in tongues it is edifying for our souls, when we prophesy we edify the whole congregation. When you receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit you can speak in tongues, you should expect to speak in tongues, you will speak in tongues, provided you do not let prejudice or fear hinder the flow of the Holy Spirit.

According to James 3:8 the tongue is the hardest member of the body to tame, and God wants to demonstrate His mighty power in the toughest member first. Therefore expect to speak in tongues when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit. Expect also to prophesy. 

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