Baptism of the Holy Spirit

by Billy Joe Daugherty

 

The term “baptism of the Holy Spirit” comes from the prophecies made by John the Baptist and Jesus concerning this experience. John said to those he baptized in the Jordan River, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT and fire” (Matthew 3:11).

Jesus spoke to the apostles just before He ascended back into heaven and ”He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT not many days from now’” (Acts 1:4-5).

Holy Spirit Regenerates and Renews Life

At the point of conversion, the Holy Spirit gives birth to a new creation in the believer (John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17). “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).

The basic work of the Holy Spirit in salvation is to impart a new life to a person thus making him a child of God (1 John 5:12, John 1:12). Through the operation of the Holy Spirit, you become a part of God’s family – the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). It is a fact, “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13).

All of us as believers know the Holy Spirit in the sense that, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16).

However, God has more for you. In addition to blessing you, He wants to use you to bless others.

Outpouring of the Holy Spirit 

The Holy Spirit has been active in the earth since creation (Genesis 1:2). He moved upon shepherds, kings, and prophets enabling them to accomplish various tasks. The prophet Joel spoke of a time when God’s Spirit would be poured out upon all flesh.

And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. Joel 2:28-29

Men and women, young and old, would be a part of this great outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost After the Resurrection

After the resurrection Jesus told His disciples, “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” (Luke 24:49).

The baptism of the Holy Spirit was called the promise of the Father in this passage. Jesus said it would be an enduement with power from on high. These followers would be endowed with God’s power to be witnesses of Jesus. According to His instruction, some 120 followers of Jesus, including the disciples, met together to wait for the promise of the Father.

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 with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

Power to Witness

An important reason for the baptism of the Holy Spirit is power for witnessing of the living Christ. It could be termed “enablement” or “ability” from God.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8

And those 120 went into the streets witnessing of Jesus. The Jews who were gathered in Jerusalem from all over the world, because of the feast of Pentecost, heard the wonderful works of God in their own languages (Acts 2:11). Finally Peter stood up and preached about Joel’s prophecy and the resurrection of Christ.

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about THREE THOUSAND SOULS were added to them” (Acts 2:41). The results were amazing as they witnessed in the power of the Holy Ghost. Soon another 5,000 believed the Word and were added to the church (Acts 4:4).

Rivers of Living Water

Jesus described the Holy Spirit as rivers of living water that would flow out of the believer’s innermost being.

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. John 7:37-39

The Holy Spirit produces rivers of life, love, joy, peace, and power to flow out of your spirit to meet the needs of others.
Jesus said those who believe upon Him SHOULD RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The Comforter and Teacher

Jesus taught His disciples concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit in their lives. One of the names He used in speaking of the Holy Spirit was Comforter. The Greek word is Paraclete, meaning “one called alongside to help.”  He also said the Holy Spirit would teach and guide the believers.

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17

The three-fold nature of the Trinity is revealed by this scripture. Although Jesus and the Father and the Holy Spirit are one, Jesus prayed to the Father and the Father gave the Holy Spirit through Jesus.

An unbeliever cannot receive the Holy Spirit, for Jesus said the world cannot receive Him. The Holy Spirit had been with the disciples, but Jesus said He would be in them (John 14:17).

The Holy Spirit, at the time of need, brings to your remembrance the words of Jesus. He also teaches you how to apply God’s Word in your life. “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me” (John 15:26).

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to testify of Jesus to the believer. He reveals the wealth and riches in Christ. He glorifies our exalted Lord and Savior. He opens your eyes to what is promised to you in Christ. ”However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-14

The truth is in God’s Word. The Holy Spirit guides you into an understanding of the truth as revealed in the Scriptures. What He hears from God, He speaks to you. He will always glorify Jesus and be consistent with the Word of God.

Be Filled With the Spirit

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but BE FILLED WITH THE
SPIRIT. Ephesians 5:17-18
God’s will is for every believer to be filled with His Spirit. His desire is that you be continually overflowing with His Spirit. Remember, Jesus COMMANDED the disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they had been endued with power (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4). He also said those who believe on Him SHOULD receive the Holy Spirit (John 7:39).

Ask and You Shall Receive

Knowing that it is God’s will for you to be filled with the Holy Spirit gives you confidence in asking Him to baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we
ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.I John 5:14-15

Jesus said your heavenly Father would give the Holy Spirit to those who would ask Him. You ask the Father to give you the Holy Spirit and have confidence you shall receive (Luke 11:9-13).

A New Tongue

One of the signs Jesus said would follow those who believe was “they will speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17).
Isaiah prophesied about this. “For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, to whom He said, ‘This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest,’ and, ‘This is the refreshing’; yet they would not hear” (Isaiah 28:11-12). It would be a rest and a refreshing to the believer.

The 120 believers (Jews) all spoke with other tongues on the day of Pentecost when they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). The Gentiles in the house of Cornelius spoke with tongues when the Holy Spirit came on them (Acts 10: 44-48).

Likewise, the people at Ephesus spoke in tongues when the Holy Spirit came on them (Acts 19:6).

Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit when Ananias laid hands on him. He later told the Christians at Corinth. “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all” ( I Corinthians 14:18). He said praying in the Spirit edifies or builds up the believer (1 Corinthians 14:4). In his message to the Corinthians, he concluded his instructions on tongues with these words: “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and DO NOT FORBID TO SPEAK WITH TONGUES. Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:39-40).

Gifts of the Spirit

There are supernatural gifts of the Spirit given to believers to minister to one another. These are separate from man’s natural abilities, talents, and education. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

There is a variety of gifts that the Spirit gives to believers to build up the Body of Christ. Each person may at different times minister with any number of the gifts as the Spirit wills.

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them; if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:5-8

Of course, every believer does not operate in all the gifts all the time. The gifts of the Spirit are manifested to meet needs as they arise. Several gifts might come forth at one time to minister to an individual or to a body of believers. It is the Spirit who ministers as He wills. At the same time, the believer must allow himself to be used of the Spirit and yield as the Spirit directs. (1 Corinthians 14:32).

This word may be of great help. The Scripture plainly teaches the difference between the public ministry gift of tongues and personal prayer in the Spirit. While all may not have the ministry of tongues in the church for the whole body of believers (1 Corinthians 12:28-30), all may speak with tongues in personal prayer for edification (1 Corinthians 14:4-5). Remember, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).