The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

We've been talking about speaking in tongues, and how it did not die with the apostles, is biblical, was included in the Great Commission, and some of the benefits of praying in the Holy Spirit. We've even talked about speaking in tongues as evidence or proof of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

What is the baptism in the Holy Spirit???

The word baptize means to make fully wet, to saturate, or to immerse; so to be baptized in the Holy Spirit is to be fully immersed or saturated in the Holy Spirit. It was prophesied by the prophet Joel that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh.

In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"

It says He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, not He might, or if it's God's will, He will. It says, He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

That leads me to believe that it is God's will for us to be filled with the Holy Ghost, and that God wants us to be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven to sit on the right hand of God, He told the disciples, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

You shall receive power when the Holy Ghost is come upon you. What kind of power? Mark 16:17-18 says, " And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

So when you receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, God empowers you to witness, and work miracles in His name.

It has been taught that you are baptized in the Holy Spirit when you receive Jesus into your heart, but the bible doesn't teach that. In every instance that a new believer receives the Holy Spirit in the bible, it is accompanied by signs and wonders. If everyone were baptized in the Holy Spirit when they received Jesus Christ, then those who accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior would be speaking in tongues. That is not the case.

In Acts 8:29-39, Philip had been sent by the Holy Spirit to a eunuch riding in a chariot who was reading out of Isaiah. Philip overtook the chariot by the power of God and preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, whereas the eunuch asked what kept him from being baptized in the water nearby. Philip asked if he believed in his heart, and the eunuch replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." He confessed with his mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, thereby receiving salvation. He was then baptized in the water nearby. He did not speak in tongues. Nowhere in these verses does it mention the Holy Spirit. Why? Because He did not receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He received the baptism into the body of Christ.

Don't misunderstand, salvation is the greatest gift God has ever given. There is no way into heaven but by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. I'm not saying that those who haven't received the baptism in the Holy Spirit aren't saved, either. If you have believed in your heart that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, died on the cross for your sins, was raised from the dead on the third day, and ascended into heaven and is alive today, and have confessed with your mouth His Lordship over your life, you are saved.

What I am saying is that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is not the same as receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. In Acts 19:5, those who heard Paul preach the gospel of Christ were baptized in the name of Jesus. After they had received Jesus Christ, in Acts 19:6, "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."

They received the baptism in the Holy Ghost after they received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, after Paul laid his hands upon them.

In Acts 10:44-46, the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit for the first time. It tells them how they knew they had received the Holy Spirit, "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God."

Jesus wants you to receive power! In Acts 2, there was not a person in the place that was not filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance! Acts 2:4 says, "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost"

Jesus wants you to be filled! He wants you to receive power! He wants you to do what He commanded you to do! What did He command us to do??? Mark 16:15, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

How are we supposed to do that? Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

If you believe the bible, and want this power that God has promised, then ask God to fill you with His Spirit. He will!

Until next time, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." (Joel 2:28-29)