“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.” Acts 1:8 (KJV)

What was the relationship of the old testament believers to the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit?

The Spirit came upon various men in Old Testament times that enabled them to do special feats of strength (Judges 11:29).

The Spirit of the Lord rested upon Men (Numbers 11:25).

Men were filled with the Spirit in a temporary fashion to perform certain God ordained tasks (Exodus 31:3).

In Old Testament times the Holy Spirit seemed to come upon and then withdraw from certain individuals as the need arose
(I Samuel 10:6, 10; 16:14). One of the signs of the Messiah would be one on whom the Holy Spirit would remain (John 1:33).

How is the ministry of the Holy Spirit seen in the life of the Lord Jesus, the head of the Church?

It is important to see how the Holy Spirit moved in the life of Christ, for Christ is a pattern of that which is to flow into the Church which is His Body (Ephesians 1:22, 23).

Christ Was: | The Church is to Be:

Born of the Spirit (Luke 1:35) / Filled with Spirit (John 3:34) / Baptized with Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17) / Led of the Spirit (Matthew 4:1) / Sealed by Spirit (John 6:27) / Empowered by Spirit (Luke 4:14) / Anointed by Spirit (Acts 10:38 | Born of Spirit (John 3:5) / Filled with Spirit (Ephesians 3:19) / Baptized with Spirit (Acts 1:5) / Led of Spirit (Romans 8:14) / Sealed by Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) / Empowered by Spirit (Acts 1:8) / Anointed by Spirit (I John 2:27

Is The “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” a scriptural term?

YES! It was used by John the Baptist (John 1:33), by Jesus (Acts 1:5) and by Peter (Acts 11:16).

What is the relationship of Christ to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Jesus was baptized in the Holy Spirit after His water baptism in the Jordan (Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:19-34). The Spirit came and remained on Him.

Part of Jesus’ ministry is to baptize with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33). To make this clear, Jesus did not personally baptize anyone with water (John 4:2).

Jesus prophesied that this would be a believer’s experience given on the basis of His exaltation and glorification (John 7:38-39).

Jesus received this provision for the Church from the Father when He ascended into heaven (Acts 2:33).

What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

It is the Promise of the Father (Acts 1:4-5; 2:33, 39).

It is the enduing with Power to do the commands of Christ (Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49).

It is a Definite experience of which we can know that we have or have not received (Acts 19:2).

It is an operation of the Spirit distinct from and subsequent to the conversion experience (Acts 8:12, 15-16).

It is something to be experienced as part of the Christian Foundation (Acts 2:38-39).

What is the initial evidence of receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

The only way to arrive at a conclusive answer to this question is by examining every case where individuals or groups of people received this experience in the New Testament.

On the day of Pentecost, the waiting disciples were all “filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4)

In Samaria, when Peter and John laid hands on those who were converted under Philip’s ministry, we are told that “Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given…” (Acts 8:18). Evidently, there was a visible sign that Simon saw, which is alluded to in Verse 21 when Peter informed Simon that he did not have “part nor lot in this matter (Lit. Speech or Utterance).

The Gentiles experienced an outpouring of the Spirit after Peter’s sermon at the house of Cornelius and everyone present knew it “for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God” (Acts 10:44-46).

The Disciples that Paul encountered in Ephesus “spake with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:1-6) when Paul laid hands on them.

In every case where we have people experiencing the Baptism of the Spirit, we find a common denominator. There was an immediate evidence of “speaking with tongues.”

Ernest Gentile puts it this way, “The Bible does not say that you MUST speak in tongues to have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but it does teach us by illustration that if you have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, you will be given the immediate evidence of speaking in tongues.”

Who may receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

All Believers in Christ of all ages are candidates for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mark 16:17). “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39).

For those who believe on Christ, the actual reception of the Spirit baptism is sometimes conditioned on the believer’s knowing that there is such an experience available to them and that it is for now (Acts 19:1-6).

How does one receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

We do not receive the gifts of God by the works of the flesh (Galatians 3:2). All the gifts of God are of grace and are to be received by faith (Romans 10:17). There are, however several things that will help us to release our faith in this area:

Fulfill the prerequisites of repentance and faith before asking for this experience.

Ask Jesus, the baptizer with the Holy Spirit, to give you this gift (Matthew 3:11; Luke 11:9-13).

Yield your “unruly member” as an instrument of righteousness, no doubting that God will give you something other than what you desire.

Exercise your faith by speaking in an unknown language unto the Lord.

Once you have received the gift of the Holy Ghost, use your tongue daily as it is a key to spiritual vitality (Jude 20; I Corinthians 14:15, 18).

What are some biblical reasons for speaking in other tongues?

It is one of the signs of the believer (Mark 16:17).

It is a way for our spirit to be built up in faith (I Corinthians 14:4).

It is a way to magnify the Lord (Acts 10:45).

It is part of our spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:18).

It is spoken of as a refreshing (Isaiah 28:11, 12; I Corinthians 14:21).

Conclusion: God wants every believer who is born of the Spirit to be baptized in the Spirit as well. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary in every Christian for the service that Christ demands and expects of us. Jesus and the Apostles all waited to enter into their ministry until this “endument with power” was experienced. Let us never see such a wonderful provision of God as an option, but let us seek and find (Matthew 7:7) and hunger and thirst (Matthew 5:6).