The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

I was a Christian twenty years before I knew there was a Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Bible clearly speaks about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, but no one had pointed it out to me and I hadn’t noticed.

The Holy Spirit is God, part of the trinity of God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is everywhere:
“In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.” Psalm 95:4
“If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” Psalm 139:8
“I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said…none will escape. Though they dig down to the depths below, from there my hand will take them. Though they climb up to the heavens above, from there I will bring them down. Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, there I will hunt them down and seize them. Though they hide from my eyes at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them.” Amos 9:1-3

 

However, when a person trusts in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord, the Holy Spirit comes to reside in that person in a special way:
“…He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
“Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Corinthians 5:5
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14
The Holy Spirit dwelling within us shows that we are “God’s possession” – a child of God. We can now talk to Him and He will talk to us. He will care for us and take us to heaven when we die.

 

We can now possess His qualities:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” Galatians 4:22-23
There are many more blessings that come with being His child. We will have eternity to discover them.

 

Everyone who believes in Jesus has the indwelling Holy Spirit, as the Apostle Peter said, “the gift of the Holy Spirit”:
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

 

The Holy Spirit is a good gift that God is happy to give those who ask:
“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!” Luke 11:13
This passage implies more than each person receiving the Holy Spirit when they believe in Jesus. They have already received that gift. Now He wants them to ask for something more.

 

BAPTISM

Baptism was a symbol of unity in belief even in the Old Testament:
“They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” 1 Corinthians 10:2

 

John the Baptist baptized in order to prepare the people for the appearing of Jesus:
“The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”—“a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Mark 1:1-4

 

Those who accepted this baptism were prepared to accept Jesus:
“(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)” Luke 7:29-30

 

After Jesus came He put baptism along with belief as an important step in salvation:
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16
Although baptism is important, it is not necessary for salvation:
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” Romans 10:9-11

 

Baptism is a symbol that we died when Jesus did – our sins died with Him, He died to pay the penalty for our sins:
“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:3-4
“having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12

 

If we believe in Jesus, we have become a “new creation”:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.” 1 Corinthians 5:17
Baptism shows others that we believe in Jesus and live a new life in Him.

 

Through the book of Acts, baptism was given to those who believed:
“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Acts 2:41
“But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12
“Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.” Acts 8:13
“As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:36-38
“Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,” Acts 9:18
“When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.” Acts 16:15
“At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.” Acts 16:39
“Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.” Acts 18:8
“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’” Acts 22:16
“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” 1 Corinthians 12:13
“for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:27

 

WHEN WAS THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE?

The Holy Spirit came upon people in Old Testament times, especially prophets, but it does not mean they received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit the same way believers do after the Church began.
An example is Saul, the first king of Israel:
“As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” 1 Samuel 10:9-11
Saul did not go on to serve God and was even given an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:15-16 23 18:10 19:9).

 

Other examples are Moses, the seventy he appointed and others (Numbers 11:16-29), Othniel (Judges 3:10), Gideon (Judges 6:34), Jephthah (Judges 11:29) and Samson (Judges 14:6, 19 15:14 16:20-21, 28).

 

The Spirit of God even came on the false prophet Balaam because God wanted him to prophecy truth:
“When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him.” Numbers 24:3

 

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit was mentioned by John the Baptist before Jesus came to public ministry:
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:11-12
“I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:8
“John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16-17
Jesus will do the baptizing in the Holy Spirit.

 

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit was mentioned by Jesus just before the disciples received this gift:
“For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:5

 

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is mentioned by the apostles after Jesus had ascended into heaven:
“When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:15-17

 

We can see from Jesus’ words that the Holy Spirit indwelling believers would come after He has been glorified (taken back to heaven). Many believed in Jesus when He was on earth, but they had not received the gift of the Holy Spirit:
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7:37-39
“Rivers of living water will flow from within them will come from within them” who believe.

 

Jesus told His disciples that the “Spirit of truth” would come after He returned to heaven:
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be (some early manuscripts say “and is”) in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” John 14:16-20
When the Holy Spirit comes, the disciples (we) will realize that Jesus is in the Father, they (we) are in Him and He is in them (us).

 

When the “Advocate” or “Spirit of truth” comes He will testify about Jesus:
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26-27
The disciples will testify about Jesus because the Holy Spirit is in them letting them know the truth.

 

Unless Jesus had gone away, the Holy Spirit would not have come:
“…it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” John 16:7-15
Jesus is saying what He said before – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One, even though They are Three, and They will communicate truth to the disciples (and we who believe).

 

The Apostle Peter’s statement shows that the baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ” is not the same as “the gift of the Holy Spirit”:
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

 

The new believers in Samaria had “been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” but had not received the Holy Spirit:
“When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:14-17
They received the Holy Spirit when “Peter and John placed their hands on them”.

 

In the continuing passage, Simon (and probably everyone else) noticed that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit was given by “the laying on of the apostles’ hands”:
“When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!” Acts 8:18-20

 

Sometimes people are baptized in water after having “received the Holy Spirit”:
“Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.” Acts 10:47-48

 

The situation in which Peter found himself made him remember what John the Baptist had said:
“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” Acts 11:15-17

 

We have been given the same authority as the apostles. Only some are given the gift of apostleship, but we all have authority to pray for others to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit:
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6

 

The Apostle Paul also calls the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of Jesus Christ” – helping to show the relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit:
“…Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” Philippians 1:18-19
God the Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit are three but one.

 

Jesus healed and delivered all who came to Him because God the Father anointed Him with the Holy Spirit:
“You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” Acts 10:37-38
The Father is with us also. We have authority because God has given us that authority. Jesus prayed that God would be in us as it is in Him.

 

Jesus prayed that we would “be brought to complete unity” – have the same anointing with the Holy Spirit:
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” John 17:20-23

 

It was a surprise to Peter that God would give the “gift of the Holy Spirit” to Gentiles. Because of the prejudice the Jews had against Gentiles at that time, Peter had to be shown three times that it was even permissible for him to eat with Gentiles (Acts 10:9-20). He was not praying specifically or expecting the “gift of the Holy Spirit” to be given at that time:
“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 Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. (It appears the initial evidence of being baptized in the Spirit is speaking in tongues as shown throughout the book of Acts.)
Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ…” Acts 10:44-48
Peter told the apostles of his experience and quoted Jesus (Acts 1:5) to help verify that this had been foretold:
“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s.” Acts 11:15-17
Just like the gift of salvation, God wants everyone to receive the gift of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

 

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF BEING BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT?

One major advantage is more power to be effective witnesses for Jesus. Jesus said:
“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49
“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.” Acts 1:8
Peter denied being Jesus’ disciple and even knowing Him (Matthew 26 Mark 14 Luke 22 John 18) three times before receiving “power from on high” (the Baptism in the Holy Spirit). After he had received this power 3,000 people came to the Lord after one sermon (Acts 2:1-40). He also went on to be a channel through which miracles happened and showed great boldness when faced with persecution.
From his writings we know the power the Apostle Paul had and he said:
“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.” 1 Corinthians 14:18

 

There is a significant increase in the supernatural power for miracles, signs and wonders.
When the Church began, those who had received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit performed miracles:
“…And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.” Acts 8:13
If a person receives the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, God works miracles through that person:
“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul,” Acts 19:11

 

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit gives more power to receive the spiritual gifts mentioned in Romans 12:6-8:
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8

 

These gifts are also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11:
“To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” 1 Corinthians 12:8-11
The gift of “speaking in different kinds of tongues” is not the same as speaking in tongues although they are closely related. “Speaking in different kinds of tongues” is for the common good when a word from God is given. It is a prelude to prophecy (although prophecy can be given without someone speaking in tongues) where someone gives the word in a different language and someone else (or that same person) gives the interpretation in English. The Apostle Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 14 which will be examined later.

 

Speaking in tongues on the other hand is for a person’s own edification as expressed in this verse:
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
One of our pastors in Nova Scotia said that he would not have been able to quit smoking if he had not received the added power of being baptized in the Holy Spirit

 

A major advantage of speaking in tongues, speaking to God in a noncognitive language, is personal growth, and consequently whatever flows from that leads to more power for ministry.

 

It is Jesus working within us:
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” Ephesians 3:20-21

 

“The baptism in the Holy Spirit is significant additional power for life and ministry given by God subsequent to salvation. The Baptism is characterized by a deep sense of the immediacy of God’s presence. By virtue of this, a deep sense of mystery and emotion is often experienced. It is also characterized by speaking in tongues.
Speaking in tongues establishes a noncognitive and nonrational communication with God. It is not antirational. It is an immediate contact with God that does not include human words, nor can it be expressed in human words. This experience results in added faith in God, increased power and gifts for ministry, increased emotion and passion, and an enhanced awareness of the experiential dimension of God’s presence in the life of the Pentecostal believer. The baptism in the Holy Spirit does not and cannot take the place of the other necessary spiritual experiences that God has provided for His believers.” Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Initial Evidence, And a New Model by Gordon L. Anderson

 

Knowledge of the Word, prayer and fasting, fellowship with other believers, water baptism and other disciplines are also necessary for power to minister, and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit must be balanced with these.

 

1 CORINTHIANS 14

1 Corinthians 14 gives the most extensive explanation of speaking in tongues which is sign of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The GIFT of speaking in tongues as opposed to speaking in tongues for personal edification is explained in 1 Corinthian 14.

 

A person speaking in tongues speaks to God uttering “mysteries in the Spirit”:
Verse 2: “For anyone who speaks in a tongue (or in another language) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.”

 

Paul would like everyone who knows Jesus to speak in tongues. However, they edify only themselves (unless someone can interpret what is being said), while someone who prophecies edifies other believers:
Verse 4-5: “Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.”
An example of prophecy:
Friends invited a young man to meet a young woman because they thought they might be interested in one another. He went to church with her, but no one knew he had not made a decision to follow Jesus. A man gave a message in prophecy something to the affect that you didn’t need to be “good” before you accepted Jesus. That was the message the young man needed to hear, and he accepted Jesus as his Lord (He married the young woman).
An example of tongues and interpretation:
A very troubled man came into church whom I knew well. I began to pray for him silently. Suddenly someone spoke in tongues. The pastor interpreted the message in tongues. The man began to cry – the message had been especially for him.

 

Speaking in tongues seems have been a source of unhealthy pride for the Corinthians. Paul tells them “you will just be speaking into the air” if no one knows what they are saying:
Verses 6-12: “Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.”
He commends them for desiring gift of Spirit – just try to receive gifts that build each other up.

 

Pray that you can interpret what you pray in tongues in order to encourage others. When you speak in tongues your spirit prays but your mind in unfruitful – therefore pray both with your spirit and your understanding:
Verses 13-19: “…Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
“For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.”
Paul brings down their pride at the same time as he validates speaking in tongues when he says “I speak in tongues more than all of you”. We easily believe Paul spoke in tongues more than they all did because of the fruit of his life.

 

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit or the infilling of the Holy Spirit and the gift of speaking in tongues both involve the Spirit using our voice to speak through us. Both are a blessing. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is for personal edification which causes that person to be a blessing. The gift of speaking tongues is a blessing to the Church.

 

There can be false speaking in tongues so it is wise to judge the character of anyone speaking in tongues, especially if their message is interpreted for the Church:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” 1 John 4:1-3

 

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

I received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit before understanding what it meant.

 

When Jim and I moved to Nova Scotia, we attended a Baptist church three miles away on Sunday mornings. We enjoyed it, but we were used to attending three services a week (Sunday morning and evening and Wednesday evening) at a Christian Missionary Alliance church in Montreal. We wanted more than one service a week and organized a Bible study with other members of the Baptist church.

 

During the summer in this rural community the church closed for a month. We decided to attend the next closest church for that month, so we started going to a Pentecostal church six miles away. When the pastor and deacon of the Pentecostal church visited us, Jim told them that we intended to return to the Baptist church when it reopened. The pastor just said, “We’ll see,” Our friend in Montreal wrote that he thought we would end up in the Pentecostal church. Much was happening in the Pentecostal church. Demons were cast out of people and Jim was baptised in the Holy Spirit.

 

We did not go back to the Baptist church. We were disappointed that some of the members felt we had deserted them. We really liked them, and I, especially, missed the Bible study. That would not have had to stop, but no one (except me) seemed to want to continue.

 

Jim suggested I be baptized in the Holy Spirit. I said, “Why?” I didn’t see any advantage. Later, when applying to be a Sunday school teacher in responding to the question, “Do you believe that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit?” I answered. “I never thought about it.” I was still allowed to be a Sunday school teacher for children.

 

There were Charismatic services in a nearby town being held by a Catholic priest and Baptist woman. We attended them even though our pastor wasn’t too sure they were completely above board. They usually ended with an invitation to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. After a few services I felt that I would be baptized in the Holy Spirit and planned to respond to the next invitation. That night there was no invitation, but when it was given the following night I went up and received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

 

Sometimes people have trouble receiving this gift. I don’t know of anything I did to receive this gift except that at one time shortly before, I felt I should be obeying my husband more than I was, and I decided to do this, even in attitude. We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit by faith just as we receive salvation by faith. It is nothing to brag about as if we had earned it.

 

When I don’t know how to pray about a situation or am too upset or know there is so much more to pray about than I know, I pray in tongues. Jesus knows what is needed, and in my prayers “he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God”. Jesus is praying through me – I know the best prayer is being prayed because “the Spirit himself intercedes for us”.

 

Sometimes, after I have prayed in the Spirit, I know how to pray with understanding:
“…I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding…” 1 Corinthians 14:15

 

SUMMARY

The following passage clearly compares the Baptism in the Holy Spirit to other important baptisms:
“…Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” Acts 19:1-6
The “disciples” had received “a baptism of repentance” and, after Paul’s explanation received a baptism “in the name of the Lord Jesus”. After “Paul placed his hands on them”, they received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and “spoke in tongues and prophesied”.

 

The gift of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is for every believer and was given when Jesus returned to heaven after coming to earth. It gives more power to witness for Jesus. The frequent use of speaking in an unknown tongue to God should lead to other gifts that edify the church. With this gift the believer edifies himself and consequently has more power to serve and glorify God.