Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Love Walk Church Amelia Island

Foundations Class

Lesson 3- Baptism in the Holy Spirit

 

      The baptism of the Holy Spirit is one of the most misunderstood subjects of the Bible.  The whole Christian world is divided on the subject and for that reason every thinking Christian should search the scriptures and have an open mind to every statement in the Bible which throws any light upon the subject.  There is a third experience following salvation and water baptism freely available as God’s first to His children.  It is called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit We invite your unbiased attention to the following facts in Scripture:

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.” Acts 2:38-39

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Joel 2:28

The Holy Spirit: Who is He?

1.     The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Godhead of the Trinity Matthew 28:19 The Holy Spirit is on the Earth to help us live victoriously.  God the Father is in Heaven and the Lord Jesus is at the Father’s right hand.  It is only the Holy Spirit who is here on Earth to help us.  He is our helper, but he will not help somebody who doesn’t want to be helped.  Therefore, we must ask Him for help EVERYDAY!

2.     The Holy Spirit is God’s agent on the Earth continuing the ministry of Jesus.  We need to operate through Him in order to get things done. 

3.     The Holy Spirit is a person with personality traits, He can be grieved, lied to, and insulted.  He has a voice and a mind. 

4.     The Holy Spirit knows the past, the present, and the future. 

a.     He is omniscient (Omni- All Scient- Knowing, Knowledge)

b.     He is omnipotent. (Omni- All Potent- Powerful)

c.     He is omnipresent. (Omni- All Present- Everywhere, Here)

What does the Holy Spirit do?

1.     The Holy Spirit is our comforter.  We don’t have to live in despair, discouragement, or depression.  Every day, 24 hours a day, we have the Spirit of God as our indwelling friend and comforter.  John 14:26

2.     The Holy Spirit is our prayer partner.  Romans 8:26-27

3.     The Holy Spirit is our teacher and He leads us into all truth.  He will five us revelation and understanding of God’s word.  John 14:17

4.     The Holy Spirit warns and protects us from danger and harm.  This includes accidents, calamity, deceptive people, and other dangers.  His protection covers not only our lives, but our family and children as well.  Matthew 2:12, Matthew 2:22, Hebrews 11:7

5.     The Holy Spirit gives us instruction.  We are soldiers in God’s end-time army, so we can expect orders from the Holy Spirit for the work of God’s service.  Acts 13:2

6.     The Holy Spirit leads us and guides us and reminds us of the words of Jesus.  Romans 8:14 Acts16:6-7 John 14:26 John 15:26

7.     The Holy Spirit will never leave the born-again child of God, but you can walk away from Him.  John 14:16 Hebrews 6:4-8

General facts about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

1.     There is a baptism in the Holy Spirit Matthew 3:11, Matthew 20:22-23, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:31-34, Acts 1:4-8, Acts 2:1-39, Acts 8:14-20, Acts 9:17, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 11:14-18, Acts 15:7-11, Acts 19:1-7, Galatians 3:14, Hebrews 6:2

2.     Jesus was the first to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 20:22-23, Luke 3:21-22, Luke 4:16-21, John 1:31-34, John 3:34, Acts 10:38

3.     This baptism was in fulfillment of prophecy.  Isaiah 11:2, Isaiah 42:1-7, Isaiah 61:1-2, Matthew 11;2-6, Matthew 12:18, Luke 4:16-21

4.     Men were not baptized in the spirit until Pentecost and until Jesus was glorified.  John 7:37-39, John 14:16-17, John 16:13-15, Acts 1:4-8, Acts 2:1-21, Acts 33-39

5.     Although men were not baptized in the Spirit until Pentecost, they did receive the Holy Spirit in their lives in various ways and in permanent form in all ages up to that time.  They were “filled” with the Holy Spirit and had the Spirit “in” and “upon” them.  They were anointed with the Spirit and endued with power in various degrees and yet never were baptized in the Spirit until Pentecost.  Luke 1:15-17, Luke 1:41-56, Acts 1:12-2:4

What the Baptism in the Spirit is not:

Spirit-baptism is not; a filling or measure of the Spirit, the reception of the gifts or fruit of the Spirit, or the experience of salvation, sanctification, or justification.  None of these experiences should be taken as the baptism in the Holy Spirit, or as proof of baptism. 

The reason for this is that saints of God in all Old Testament ages before the day of Pentecost had all these experiences, while the baptism in the Spirit was not given to men until the day of Pentecost.  If the Spirit baptism was not given to men before Pentecost, and the did have all the above-mentioned blessings before Pentecost, then there is all the difference in the world between baptism in the Spirit and all these other blessings.  Such blessings will naturally be in the lives of those baptized in the Spirit, but they do not constitute such baptism, nor should the be taken as evidence of baptism.  The baptism in the Spirit is the Spirit without measure, and these other blessings are simply different measures of the Spirit and are only a part of the fullness of God.  Acts 2:33 John 3:34, Matthew 20:20-23, Luke 4:18-21, Acts 10:38

what the Baptism in the Spirit is

           The Spirit-baptism is the immersion or burial of the believer in the Spirit at which time he/she receives the Spirit in his life in all fullness and without measure and is endued with power from on high to do the words of Christ.  It is the same full anointing of the Spirit that Christ received.  It is the Spirit coming; in, upon, filling, overwhelming, infusing, anointing, and enduring with full power; and not with just a measure as in the Old Testament days.  Luke 24:49, John 7:37-39, John 14:12-17, Acts1:4-8, Acts 3:6, Acts 5:12-16, Acts 19:11, Mark 16:16-20, Hebrews 2:3-4, Isaiah 11:1-2, Isaiah 42:1-7, Isaiah 61:1, Matthew 11:4-6, Matthew 12:18, Matthew 20:22-23, Luke 4:16-21, John 3:34, John 14:12, Acts 10:38

You Shall Receive Power

           It is not God’s plan or intent that only the five-fold ministries listed in Ephesians 4:11- apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors, and evangelists- heal the sick, deliver the oppressed, work the works of Christ, and set the captives free.  God has appointed all Christians to carry out these works. 

Jesus promised, “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 ends of the Earth.” Acts 1:8

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. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues.” Mark 16:15-17

For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.  1 Corinthians 4:20

Now unto Him who can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.  Ephesians 3:20

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do he will also do; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father.” John 14:12

“He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38

           God did not design us to be born again and then spend the rest of our lives sitting in church warming the pews! Too many Christians come to church to watch the preacher perform miracles, as if only the five-fold ministries have supernatural gifts.  God wants every born again Christian to be supernaturally equipped and anointed to destroy the works of the devil- every born-again factory worker, stay at home mom, executive, and student.

           When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit and receive the Bible experience of speaking in tongues, then our life in the supernatural begins. When we:

        Begin to heal the sick.

       Begin to cast out devils.

       Begin to preach the gospel in the power of God.

       Begin to witness for Christ.

       Begin to flow in a new dimension of praise and worship.

       Receive revelation knowledge of God’s word.

       Experience righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

       Begin to destroy the works of the devil in the power of the Spirit.

       Begin to set the captives free.

       Resist satan and overcome the flesh. 

       Begin to move in all the gifts of the Spirit. (as He wills)

How to Receive The Baptism in the Holy Spirit:

1.     Our Lord Jesus Christ is the baptizer in the Holy Spirit.  We can come to Jesus with simple childlike faith and ask him to baptize us in the Holy Spirit. 

2.     Following salvation, God’s gift to the sinner, which involves being born again of the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to His children and involves being baptized in the Spirit. 

3.     We must have an open mind to the things of God.  He won’t give you something bad or harmful. 

4.     When we receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, we will receive the Bible evidence of speaking in tongues. 

5.     We must remove any barriers to receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit, such as: lack of knowledge or wrong doctrine, pride, fear, and our natural mind which can become a blockage. 

“I indeed (John the Baptist) baptize you with water unto repentance, but he whom is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.” Matthew 3:11

For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:5

“If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will ye fish for a stone?” Luke 11:11 Matthew 7:10

How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:13 Matthew 7:11