Baptism In The Holy Spirit
The Word Of God - Lesson IV B
Baptism In The Holy Spirit
Having looked at the subject of Water Baptism we will now look at the subject of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. We know that every one who is born from above or born again already has the Holy Spirit living on the inside of him/her according to:
John 3:5-8
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at My saying, "You must be born again." The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
This means that person is now a child of God as we can read in:
John 1:10-13
He (Jesus) was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognise Him. He came to that which was His own (the Jews), but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
Those of us who are born of God have received eternal life as we can read in:
I John 5:13
I (John) write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
We can know that at the time of our death we will be with Jesus just as the criminal at the cross in:
Luke 23:40-43
But the other criminal rebuked him, "Don't you fear God", he said, "since you are under the same sentence. We are punished justly, for we are getting our deeds deserve. But this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
This man never received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit for God had not yet send the Holy Spirit into the world as we can read in:
John 7:37-39
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living waters will flow from within him.” By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not yet been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
And John14:26
But the Councellor, the Holy Spirit, who the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
And Acts 1:4-5
On one occasion, while He (Jesus) was eating with them, He gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit."
However, this man did not need the Baptism in the Holy Spirit since his earthly life was coming to an end and he was about to enter Paradise by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Please understand that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not necessary for believers to enter heaven but is helpful for believers who are still here on earth to enable us to fulfil our God-given task.
John the Baptist explained that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is done by Jesus as we can read in:
John 1:32-34
Then John (the Baptist) gave his testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him (Jesus). I would not have known Him, except that the One who sent me to baptise with water told me, "The Man on whom you see the Spirit come down will baptise with the Holy Spirit." I have seen and testify that this is the Son of God."
Jesus imparted to the disciples the Holy Spirit as we can read in:
John 20:21-22
And Jesus said, "Peace be with you. As the Father sent Me I am sending you." And with that He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
At that time Jesus commissioned the disciples to go as He had gone to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God and He prepared them by giving them the Holy Spirit.
However, the initial experience of the disciples was not sufficient for them to be able to fulfil their commission so He told them to wait until they received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit as we can read in:
Acts 1:4-5
“..... Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit."
And in Acts 1:8
"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."
This happened at the Day of Pentecost as we can read in:
Acts 2:1-4
When the Day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each one of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
The 120 were then empowered by the Lord to fulfil their commission.
We have other examples of believers who received the same Baptism in the Holy Spirit as in:
Acts 8:14-17
When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they simply had been baptised into the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
And in Acts 9:17
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Although this verse does not indicate that Saul, whose name was later changed to Paul, did receive the gift of tongues, we know from other passages in Scripture that he did as in:I Corinthians 14:18
“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you."
Another example is Acts 10:44-47
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can any one keep these people from being baptised with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
And Acts 19:6
When Paul placed his hands on them (the believers in Ephesus), the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied….
Just as the believers in the Early Church needed to be baptised in the Holy Spirit, which was accompanied by a gift of speaking in tongues, so today we who are believers need to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, accompanied by a gift of tongues. This particular experience will empower us for our God-given task.
Furthermore, we, as believers, need to realise that after the initial Baptism in the Holy Spirit it will be necessary to receive a daily infilling of the Holy Spirit in order for us to live an overcoming Christian life as we can read in:
Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit.
This word "filled" means to be continually filled so it has to be an ongoing experience. We receive this daily infilling of the Holy Spirit by daily submitting to His leadership in our lives as we walk in close relationship with Him.
The Apostle Paul encouraged believers to have a close walk with the Holy Spirit in:
II Corinthians 13:14
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
We will look next at the subject of the gifts of the Spirit.