What is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

 

There have been many debates on the "baptism of the Holy Spirit." Many Christian denominations simply believe that this experience does not exist and that any infilling of the Holy Spirit we can have takes place upon salvation. While there is partial truth in that we do receive the Spirit of God at salvation, the Bible is clear that there is an empowering of the Spirit of God which we refer to as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the book of Acts chapter one and two, we are introduced to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In Chapter one of Acts, Jesus, after proving His resurrection from the dead, with many convincing proofs and appearing to them over a period of thirty days, began to speak about things concerning the Kingdom of God. We must recognize that Jesus had already died for the forgiveness of sins and resurrected from the dead, so those whom He was speaking to were saved, according to the requirements found in Romans 10:9. Yet, they were not baptized in the Holy Spirit. Here we find evidence that it is a completely separate experience.

In Acts 19, Paul was in Ephesus and found some disciples. Here again, we must stop and recognize that he found those that were already saved and had given their life to Christ, not unbelievers. Paul asked them the question, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" Their response to Paul was, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." Unfortunately, many believers in the church today find themselves in the same position as the disciples that Paul found at Ephesus. They have not heard anything about this baptism of the Holy Spirit. The teaching that many believers have received is that we get everything at salvation. While we do receive God's full grace, mercy, and assurance of salvation upon confession of Jesus as Lord, the baptism or empowerment of the Holy Spirit is clearly a separate experience.

Many people ask why so much emphasis is put on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. A dear friend of mine in the Lord said, "If I receive forgiveness and eternal life upon confession of Jesus as Lord, isn't that enough?" We can answer that question by giving the illustration of a starving man going to a buffet. Sure, one trip through the line would keep him from dying of starvation, but if he could go back and get more, rest assured that he would get all that he could. We, in a similar manner, were "dying" in our sin without Christ. Upon our confession of Him as Lord and our surrender of our lives to Him, we now live, but there is more. And in the same way that you couldn't talk a starving man out of going back to the buffet line when he knows there is more available, you can't talk me out of getting more of what God has made available to me according to His Word. Salvation is not the end experience, but it is merely the beginning. Our confession of Jesus as Lord is much like saying wedding vows. How crazy would it be for two newlyweds, after the wedding, to get into two different cars and go two different directions only to see each other every now and again like on Sunday or maybe Wednesday (if they felt like it). Salvation is the beginning of a wonderful relationship between you and your God.

I do not think that it is coincidence that we are called the bride of Christ. I remember when Jodi and I got married; she got me a wonderful gift afterward. She bought me a beautiful acoustic guitar, and she still gets me gifts. Ephesians 4:8 says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men." Acts 2:38 says for us to repent and be baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, and we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:45 talks about the gift of the Holy Spirit being poured out on "the gentiles" (which means us). So we, being the bride of Christ, are eligible to receive the gifts that He has made available to us.

Many denominations discredit the baptism in the Holy Spirit because they have been taught that it does not exist or they are afraid of the unknown aspects of God. So back to our original question, why do we need the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth." The word "power" in this scripture comes from the Greek word "dunamis," which is where we get our words "dynamite" and "dynamic." Dunamis means miracle working power, or in other words, the ability to do what you in yourself could not do. The Bible says that He wants us to have this power to be witnesses. What is a good witness? It is much more than just being able to preach or speak. It is moving in the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit, and most importantly it is living a victorious life free from sin.

In the Gospels, we see a fearful Peter deny Christ three times, and one of those times was to a servant girl (a person who was held in very little esteem during that time). But later in Acts 2, Peter stands up and preaches an awesome message (which included receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit), and three thousand people were saved. What brought about such a change in Peter's life that he would go from being scared to telling a servant girl that he knew Christ to boldly proclaiming the Gospel? He began to do what he in himself could not do, because it was no longer by might nor by his power but by the Spirit of God. He had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and this empowered him to boldly be a witness for Christ.

The Bible warns us in 2 Timothy 3:5 that in the last days there will be those who are holding onto a form of godliness, although they have denied its power. The Bible goes on to say that we should avoid such men as these. May we never be found guilty of denying the power of God in our lives and the lives of others. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He healed yesterday, and He still heals today. He saved souls yesterday, and He still saves souls today. He moved prophetically through men yesterday, and He still moves prophetically through men today. Romans 3:4 states "….let God be found true, though every man be found a liar…." God's Word is ultimate truth. It is absolute truth. Let your answers concerning the things of God, or life for that matter, be founded wholly upon the Word of God.

 

How do I receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit is much like salvation. You simply ask for it. Luke 11:13 says, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" Once again, many people have tried to make this complicated when it takes mere childlike understanding. Receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is as simple as asking God for it in sincerity, just as we ask for salvation.

Once you have asked God to baptize you in the Holy Spirit, your experience could be one of many. You could feel the presence of God tangibly, begin to speak in an unknown language, or you could not experience either of these and still have received the gift.

For my sixteenth birthday my parents bought me a car. I did not get to drive it immediately but I had it. I did, however, get to drive it later. I had friends, on the other hand, that when they got their car they drove it immediately. In the same manner, the experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit may vary. Many people dismiss and believe that they did not receive the Holy Spirit simply because they did not "drive" it immediately or have a physical manifestation. One thing I do remember about getting my car was that I wanted to learn everything about it and take full advantage of every luxury. I believe our experiences with God are to be the same. After asking for the infilling of the Holy Spirit, we are to, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:1, "Desire earnestly spiritual gifts." I couldn't imagine having a car with a great sound system and never listening to it. In the same way, I can't imagine having the Holy Spirit and not doing as Paul says and participating in all that God has given.

For many, this is simply an issue of faith. We all need to do as 2 Corinthians 10:15 says and "grow" in our faith. Romans 12:6 tells us to exercise the different gifts that we have been given, each of us according to our faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Many of us have heard that the gifts of the Spirit, including speaking in tongues, are not of God. So, that is the faith that most have, because that is what they have heard. Faith comes from hearing. But God exhorts us that our hearing should come from the Word of God. Then our faith will be built up to move into the giftings of the Spirit of God.