Baptism of
the Holy Spirit
Jesus pouring out His Spirit upon believers for the purpose
of power is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The believer receives a new sense
of boldness as one or more of the gifts is manifested. This is an experience
promised by Jesus and intended for every Christian.
Key verses
Act1:8 You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
upon you and you will be my witnesses.
Jn16:7 I must leave
so the Holy Spirit will come. The Spirit of truth that proceeds from the
Father.
Mt3:11I baptize with
water but one comes after me that baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Key Questions
1.
What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
2.
Who is the baptism of the Holy Spirit for?
3.
How can I receive the baptism of the Holy
Spirit?
Our understanding of the baptism of the Holy Spirit
Jesus did not do miracles until the Holy Spirit came upon
Him at His baptism. It was by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus did miracles.
This is how God who emptied Himself of everything that is God could heal, raise
the dead and exercise super natural abilities.
The word “baptism” in the New Testament at times simply
meant an experience. Like when Jesus said; “I have a baptism to be baptized
with and how I wish my baptism were already here.” Or when James and John
wanted to sit at Jesus right hand and He asked them; “can you be baptized with
the baptism I am going to be baptized with?” Neither of these referred to water
but to an experience.
The word baptism in the literal sense means “emersion.” It was
used of pickling cucumbers. They were completely saturated and surrounded by
the vinegar water in a jar.
The “baptism” in baptism of the Holy Spirit utilizes both
meanings. It is an experience and it is to be literally saturated and
surrounded by the presence of God. The purpose of this experience is to empower
the believer to be a more effective witness. Those who have been baptized in
the Holy Spirit will testify of increased boldness, passion, and desire to win
others to Christ.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all believers. Since
the day of Pentecost in Acts2, the Spirit of God is being poured out upon all
flesh. In Peters’ powerful sermon that day he said; “this promise of the Holy
Spirit is for you, your children and as many as are afar off that will believe.
This experience is most often separate from salvation. It is
to be “filled” and refilled. As one reads the book of Acts they will see over
and over the same people being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in
tongues. We are to “be being filled with the Holy Spirit (eph5:18)” constantly.
This experience is to be replicated. That is what it is to be” Pentecostal” to
have that same experience that had on Pentecost.
Jesus spoke in great detail of this gift of the Holy Spirit.
This was purchased at the cross at great expense. How tragic many don’t receive
it?
Faith is all that is required to receive the baptism of the
Holy Spirit. Simply ask. God is a good father. He will not give you a scorpion
if you ask for an egg. If you lack faith or are skeptical because of the abuses
of the gifts you have seen. I encourage you to read Jn14-16, 1Cor12, and the
book of Acts.
In Conclusion
Experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit has been the
most empowering experiences I have ever had. I went from a Christian trying and
failing to win people to Jesus to leading many and preaching all over the world.
Look at Peter, he denied Jesus 3x and then filled with the Spirit he preaches
to thousands. What a difference the baptism of the Holy Spirit makes!
Other views
1.
We no longer need this experience. Some terribly
misquote 1Cor13:10 “until the perfect has come” as a reference to the cannon of
scripture. The Perfect is Jesus. It is perfect love that drives out fear. Saying
it is the Bible has absolutely no grounds. Paul had no idea he was writing the
scripture. This is the farthest thought from the context. These will also say
that the early church needed it then to be able to speak other languages but
those on the day of Pentecost were at least bi-lingual for they communicated their
understanding and they would not be coming to the temple not knowing Hebrew.
2.
The dispensation of the gifts is over. The idea
of dispensation is very young. It basically says that God worked in unique ways
in unique sets of time and no longer works that way. It is excuse theology that
says because we don’t see miracles they must not be real.
3.
Some say that when we are born again we are
baptized with the Holy Spirit and that is all there is. The trouble with that
is that in Acts we see them be filled and filled again. Also the command to “be
being filled with the Holy Spirit.” Act 19 stands in opposition. They were
disciples baptized in water but had not yet been baptized with the Holy Spirit.
When they were, the whole region heard the gospel.
Driving it home
Think of the questions we started with, can you answer them?
If not what further information is needed?
1.
What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
2.
Who is the baptism of the Holy Spirit for?
3.
How can I receive the baptism of the Holy
Spirit?
thank you for this
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