Five Things You Need To Know About The Baptism of the Holy Spirit


Five Things You Need To Know About The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

1. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience that follows salvation.

The Holy Spirit is involved in the New Birth!

John 20:22

And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

The event described in John 20 occurred on the very night of Jesus’ resurrection.

After this, the lives of the disciples changed.

  • Their minds were opened to the Scriptures (Luke 24:45).
  • They worshipped Jesus (Luke 24:52).
  • They had great joy (Luke 24:52).
  • They were continually praising God (Luke 24:52).
  • Even Thomas, the one who had doubted, said: "My Lord and My God" (John 20:28).
  • They experienced unity (Acts 1:14; 2:1).

Every Christian has a definite relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Believer is…

  • Convicted of his sins by the Spirit (John 16:7-9).
  • Drawn to the Lord by the Spirit (Revelation 22:17).
  • Sanctified (or set apart unto salvation) by the Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2).
  • Born of the Spirit (John 3:6, 8).
  • Baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
  • Witnessed to by the Spirit that (s)he is a child of God (Romans 8:16).
  • Indwelt by the Spirit (John 14:17; Romans 8:9).

Even though these disciples were born-again and had the type of relationship with the Holy Spirit described in the Scriptures above, Jesus still wanted them to experience an additional dimension in their relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:49 – Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

Acts 1:4-5 And being assembled together with them, He (Jesus) commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which, He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

This was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Pentecost was 50 days after the Passover, which is when Jesus was crucified). On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was not symbolized by a gentle breath as He had been on the night of the resurrection. At Pentecost, He was expressed as a rushing mighty wind.

Acts 2:1-4 – When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Baptism of the Spirit is also seen as an experience that followed salvation in Acts 8.

Acts 8:12, 14-17

But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. Who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 9, Jesus appeared to Saul, a man who was trying to destroy the church, in a spectacular way. Paul calls Jesus "Lord" and obeys him. Ananias was a disciple in Damascus who received direction from the Lord about ministering to Saul:

Acts 9:17 – And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

Different dimensions of the believer’s relationship with the Holy Spirit is presented in two different aspects of Jesus’ teaching:

1. With, In, and On – in John 14:17, Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit, saying, "…for He dwells with you and shall be in you." Then in Luke 24:49, he spoke of the disciples being "endued with power from on high."

2. Jesus also used the analogy of water to portray different dimensions of the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of the believer.

John 4:14

But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:37-39

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.    

2. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for believers of all generations.

Some have said that the Holy Spirit baptism was only for the first Christians – those who lived during the ministry of the first 12 apostles, but what does the Bible say?

Acts 2:38-39

Then Peter said to them, repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.

"The promise" refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus used this same terminology in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4.

Some have tried to use Paul’s comments in 1 Corinthians 13 to insinuate that tongues (which is directly connected to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit) has passed away. But a careful, contextual reading of the passage makes it clear that this is not what Paul was saying.

1 Corinthians 13:8-12

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.For now we see in a mirror, dimly, then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

Some people take the phrase, "tongues will cease" out of context and try to prove that the gifts of the Spirit are not for believers today. To come to this conclusion, you would also have to say that knowledge has vanished away. Thus, you would need to say that you’ve arrived at such a point of spiritual maturity that you now know everything fully, just as you have been fully known by God.

No, we’ve not arrived at that place yet. The partial things (tongues, prophecy, and knowledge) are still necessary. It’s not until we arrive in heaven that we’ll be interacting with God "face to face." Then we will know just as we are known.

3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is given for a distinct purpose.

Acts 1:8

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and you shall be witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

The Holy Spirit coming within you was for your benefit. The Holy Spirit coming upon you is for the benefit of others. We receive comfort and assurance personally from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. But we are divinely enabled to be powerful witnesses through the Holy Spirit coming upon us.

4. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is followed by the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues.

Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 10:44-48

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit as we have? As he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Acts 19:1-6

And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John’s baptism." Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Acts 8:17-20

Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, Saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money."

Keep in mind — Simon had been a sorcerer. He was prideful and loved amazing and impressing people.

When Simon saw the healings, miracles, and deliverances performed by Philip, he was amazed. But when he saw the imparting of the Holy Spirit, he wanted to buy that power! Apparently there was some type of outward manifestation that was very fascinating to him.

Acts 9:17 – the story of Saul (Paul) receiving the Holy Spirit – the Scripture does not here say he spoke in tongues, but we know he did, because he later said: "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you" (I Cor. 14:18).

Speaking in tongues is the common denominator. Tongues is the initial physical evidence of the infilling of the Spirit. Other elements were also present…

  • Declaring the wonders of God (Acts 2:11)
  • Joy (Acts 13:52)
  • Praising God (Acts 10:46)
  • Prophesying (Acts 19:6)

5. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is described in various ways and through various terms in the Scripture.

Sometimes various words and phrases are used to describe the same thing.

For example, depending on what part of the country you are in, someone might ask you if you want a soft drink. Another might ask if you wanted a soda. Yet another might ask if you wanted a pop. They’re all asking the same thing, but they’re using different words.

Likewise, one person might ask you if you want to play basketball. Another might ask if you want to shoot some hoop. A third person might ask if you want to play a little roundball.

What are some of the different phrases used in conjunction with this experience involving the Holy Spirit?

A. "Receiving the Holy Spirit" is used to describe this experience.

This phrase is used eleven times in the New Testament.

It is used by Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38) in assuring his audience that they could receive the same wonderful experience the 120 had just received.

Acts 8 – Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15).

Paul asked the Ephesians, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? (Acts 19:2)

All of these scriptures emphasize the fact that this glorious experience is A GIFT that is simply to be received!

Luke 11:11-13

"If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will you heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

B. "Falling on them" ("being poured out upon," or "coming upon") is used to describe this experience.

Peter explained in Acts 3:33, "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear."

Samaria – "For as yet He had fallen upon none of them" (Acts 8:16).

Cornelius’ household – While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word" (Acts 10:44).

Ephesus – "And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them…"

These types of references occur ten times in all.

All of these Scriptures indicate that the gift of the Holy Spirit is a gift from HEAVEN. He is not an earthly personage, but is the Divine Holy Spirit.

C. The word "baptism" is used to describe this experience.

The figure of baptism is used six times in the New Testament in reference to this experience with the Holy Spirit.

Baptism involves submersion, a complete immersion in something.

Water baptism involves:

  • Yieldedness
  • Cooperation
  • Relaxation
  • Surrender

When a person is baptized in water, he goes in one way (dry) and comes out another way (wet).

When a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit, the change is spiritual, but it is just as real!

D. "Filled" is yet another term used to describe this experience.

  • Acts 2:4 – And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…
  • Acts 4:8 – Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…
  • Acts 6:3 – The men chosen to serve in helps ministry were men "full of the Holy Spirit."
  • Acts 7:55 – Stephen was "full of the Spirit" as he faced martyrdom.

The phrase "filled" represents not merely an experience of having received the Spirit, but a condition and a state of becoming filled and remaining filled with his Divine Power.

Being "filled with the Spirit" was not meant to be a one-time experience, but an on-going state. Note Paul’s experience in Antioch Pisidia:

Acts 13:50-52

But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

    (Wms) …and the disciples continued to be full of joy and the Holy Spirit.

    (Gdspd) But the disciples continued to be full of joy.

    (Wey) …and as for the disciples, they were more and more filled with the joy…

    Ephesians 5:18 – And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.

    (Wey) …drink deeply of the Spirit…

    (Wms) …but ever be filled with the Spirit

Summary of Main Points

1. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience that follows salvation.

2. The Baptism of the Spirit is for believers of all generations.

3. The Baptism of the Spirit is given for a distinct purpose.

4. The Baptism of the Spirit is followed by the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues.

5. The Baptism of the Spirit is described in various ways and through the use of various terms.

(All Scripture quotations in this message are from the New King James Version of the Bible.)