(1 Corinthians 12:13) “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
(John 7:37-39) “…Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who is believing in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who were believing in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
(Acts 2:38-39) ““Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
Introduction
The disciples had spent three and a half years with the Lord Jesus. They had walked with Him and had been taught by Him. They had been sent of short term missionary journeys. They had seen the sick healed and the demon possessed delivered through the name of Jesus. They had received the best Bible school training ever, having been taught by the teacher of all teachers, the very Son of God Himself.
After His resurrection He had breathed on them individually to receive the Holy Spirit to live in them and given them the Great Commission which they were undoubtedly ready and eager to carry out (John 20:21-23) (Matthew 28:18-20). However, He told them to wait in Jerusalem until they had received the promise of the Father to give them the Holy Spirit outpoured from on High to empower them to witness and to work for Him (Luke 24:49).
As we will see the new birth and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit are two separate and distinct works of the one and the same Holy Spirit. After Pentecost when the Spirit was poured out one could be born again and baptised with the power of the Holy Spirit simultaneously.
The 120 on the Day of Pentecost Baptised with the Holy Spirit had been born again previously by the Holy Spirit and were already saved. You cannot be saved without the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). The new birth was happening before Pentecost even in the Old Testament as well as during the Lord Jesus’ ministry on earth. Let’s now look very briefly at what the scriptures actually teach. The New birth is not the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
1. Before Pentecost people were born again in Old Testament times.
All of the prophets and the faithful servants of God from Abel onwards were regenerated by the Holy Spirit as were all the godly kings of Israel which were not that many. Yes they were saved by faith, but in the light of the New Testament a faith produced by the blessed Holy Spirit who came to live in them as a gift from God which has always been God’s way of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).
One example, how did Abel know to bring the first of his flock to offer up a sacrifice? It was through the inner revelation of the Spirit. He approached the LORD by faith and that with a substitutionary blood sacrifice for his sin, depending on the grace and mercy of God and his offering was accepted by God. As for Cain he offered up the fruit of the earth produced by his own works and God did not accept his offering as the ground had been cursed (Genesis 4:3-5) (Hebrews 11:4).
Also we are specifically told that the Spirit of the Messiah, the blessed Holy Spirit lived in all of the true prophets (1 Peter 1:10-12). Another example was when King David was repenting of his sin of adultery and murder pleading with God not to take His Holy Spirit from him (Psalm 51:11). In Old Testament times the Spirit also anointed individual faithful men and women with His power.
Rabbi the apostle Paul speaking of a true Israelite in God’s sight, said a true Jew was one who had been regenerated and indwelt by the Spirit of God. He writes; “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. (Romans 2:28-29). In the Old Testament the circumcision of the heart was the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Faith in both Testaments was the same faith produced by the inward working of the Holy Spirit and without which no one could please God (Hebrews Chapter 11).
2. Before Pentecost people were born again during the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus
Now another example is when the Messiah our Lord Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about the new birth from above which Nicodemus had not experienced. He told Nicodemus that he should have known about this as a teacher of Israel (John 3:3, 10). Even during the ministry of Jesus people were saved when they trusted in the Messiah and believed in Him and in His spoken words to them (Luke 7:47-50) (Luke 19:8-10). The man born blind whom Jesus healed was born again when he exercised saving faith in the Lord Jesus (John 9:38).
When the Lord Jesus spoke His word the Spirit imparted spiritual life to those who received His word. The Lord Jesus affirmed this when He said; “The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). The instrument the Holy Spirit uses in his spiritually regenerating work is the Word of God (Luke 8:11) (Ephesians 5:26) (1 Peter 1:23) (Titus 3:4-7).
The Lord Jesus also said “`Truly, truly (with all of the earnestness I possess), I say to you He who is hearing My word, (present continuous tense) and is believing (present continuous tense) Him who sent Me, has (possesses) eternal life, and to judgment he does not come, but has passed out of the death (spiritual death) to the life (the life of God Himself being eternal) (John 5:24-literal translation). The Lord Jesus actually encouraged those listening to Him to ask for the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). This was before the day of Pentecost!
3. The New Birth is foundational to receiving eternal life
Unless one is spiritually reborn from above by the blessed Holy Spirit they will never enter into or perceive the things of the kingdom of God (John 3:3). The natural spiritually undegenerated person cannot understand the things related to God’s kingdom apart from the revelation of them by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-16). It is like trying to explain to a person born blind what it is like to see.
Now in considering the new birth in the Bible it is also referred to as “the fountain of living water” (Jeremiah 17:13b), and as God spoke through Isaiah the prophet; Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1a), Drinking the water of eternal life is drinking in the Spirit of God the source and the one who sustains the eternal life that also resides in the Lord Jesus (John 10:10). See also (Psalm 36:9).
The clearest example we have of the generation work of the Holy Spirit is seen in the encounter the Messiah our Lord Jesus had with the woman at the well. When reading about this encounter in the gospel of John it is absolutely clear that the Lord Jesus was offering her the indwelling fountain of the Holy Spirit as a source of eternal life. He was in fact offering her the new birth. To have the new birth one needs to have the living fountain or well of the eternal life of the Holy Spirit Himself living on the inside no them. Eternal life was being offered to her by the Lord Jesus (John 4:10, 13-14).
In fact the apostle John also speaks about this work of the Spirit that was active in the ministry of the Lord Jesus. John writes; “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who were believing (present continuous tense) in His name, who were born, not of blood (human lineage) not by the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).
To be born again is to have the Holy Spirit living on the inside imparting eternal life and producing the spiritual fruit of a changed life. It is that work of God that imparts His nature into our spirit, fusing His Spirit with our spirit, making us alive to God, producing in us the fruit of the Spirit and leading and empowering us to walk in all the will of God for our lives and in step with the blessed Holy Spirit Himself (2 Peter 1:4) (1 Corinthians 6:17) (Galatians 5:22-225) (Romans 8:14) (2 Corinthians 5:17).
It is one thing to be spiritually reborn from above by the Holy Spirit and something more to be baptised with the Holy Spirit. Let’s now look at our two texts. As we will see the new birth imparts eternal life as a well of spiritual water, whereas the Baptism with the Holy Spirit imparts spiritual power that wells us from within to overflow in testimony, while at the same time comes down in power from above to enable the one born again to witness and to work for the Messiah our Lord Jesus. Let’s now look at our texts…
4. Experiencing the difference
(1 Corinthians 12:13) “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
When we were spiritually reborn the indwelling Holy Spirit baptised us into the Body of Messiah. We were immersed or submerged into the flow of God’s Spirit and made one in spirit with our triune God and with our born again brothers and sisters in Messiah. We drank the living water that we have been speaking about bringing about unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace with our brothers and sisters in Messiah. We all drank of the same Spirit of God. This is what happens when we are born again from above by the Spirit. Whether Jew or gentile we became one new man in Messiah (Ephesians 2: 11-22).
We will all hold in common; “There is one body and one Spirit-just as we were called-one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). We will also hold in common the absolute authority of the Spirit-Breathed Word of God, the Bible in its entirety (Psalm 119:160) (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The Spirit of God Himself is the Spirit of truth and not error and will lead us into all truth and never lead a believer into what is false and not in line with the Bible (John 15: 26; 16:13-15) (1 John 2:20, 27). Unity of the Spirit is based on the truth of God’s infallible word and not on any ecumenical unity created by man. Now let’s look at our other texts as in it we see both the new birth and the baptism with the Holy Spirit and how to receive it.
(John 7:37-39) “…Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who is believing in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who were believing in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
Here we are told directly by the Lord Jesus that if anyone is spiritually thirsty for God that they can come to Him to have that thirst fully satisfied forever, the same as the woman at the well experienced. In the text the word “believes” should be rendered as “believing” in the present continuous tense. Anyone during the ministry of the Lord Jesus could experience the new birth. The text is clear.
However also notice that the Lord Jesus also speaks about the future work of the Spirit that could not happen until He had been glorified and ascended to heaven after His death and resurrection. We need to ask ourselves the question in what sense was the Spirit given and in what sense was He not given? There was a definite difference in the way He worked, the one and the same Spirit imparting spiritual life into the soul and overflowing out of the soul. The valve releasing the overflow of the Spirit would be through the tongue.
The New Birth is the impartation of eternal life as a well of spiritual water. The Baptism withe Holy Spirit is the impartation of spiritual power resulting in the overflow of the Spirit in the one in whom the Spirit Himself dwells. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is the supernatural power from above to witness and to work for the Lord Jesus as we see when the Spirit was poured out upon the 120 born again believers empowering them to witness (Acts 4-5, 8).
When we are born again we are enlisted into the ranks of God’s army. When we are baptised with or in the Holy Spirit we receive the spiritual weapons with which to fight the battle. The gifts of the Spirit will operate freely among those who have been baptised with the Holy Spirit. It also needs to be said that the gifts or manifestations of the Spirit’s power will differ and given according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 27-31).
5. What then is the Baptism with the Holy Spirit?
a) Understanding the terminology
We have touched on this already and at first we need to clear up some confusion regarding terminology. In Luke 3:16 John the Baptist called it being “baptised withe Holy Spirit and with fire.” Then in Luke 24:49 the Lord Jesus, when speaking about the baptism with the Holy Spirit to come upon His followers after His ascension called it “the promise of the Father” and “being clothed with power from on high.” Then in Acts 2:4 when the promise of the Father was given on the Day of Pentecost we read where the 120 “were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Then in verse 33, referring to the same event, the apostle Peter said concerning the 120 who had been empowered by the Spirit as having received from the Father “the promise of the Holy Spirit.”
In the case of the gentiles in the Household of Cornelius in Chapter 10 we read where “the Holy Spirit fell on them” and that they had “received the Holy Spirit.” They received the spiritual package deal as it were in that they were instantly born again and baptised with the Holy Spirit simultaneously because the Spirit had already been given and poured out at Pentecost and made available to all who believe in every age even down to the present day (Acts 2:33, 39).
It is the privilege of every blood washed, blood redeemed child of God, not only to be born again by the Spirit but also to be baptised with the Holy Spirit. One is the impartation of spiritual life; the other is the impartation of Spiritual power.
Then in Acts 11:15-18 we read about peter’s account of what had occurred with the Gentiles that had been gathered in the household of Cornelius. Peter said to the apostles and other brothers; “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus the Messiah, who was I that I could stand in God’s way? When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying “So then God has even granted the Gentiles repentance and life.” In Ephesians 1:13 we also read “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
So when we look at these different terms “Endued with power from on high, filled with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit fell on them, the promise of the Father, received the Holy Spirit, the gift of the Holy Spirit and sealed with the Holy Spirit, all refer to the one and the same experience of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
b) A spiritual empowerment from above
So then, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit being poured out to empower a believer to witness and to work for the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:8). The 120 born again believers waiting in Jerusalem could do nothing until they were spiritually empowered and equipped to witness and work for the Lord Jesus, which was the promised Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
c) One baptism, many fillings
It also needs to be said to be said that the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is the initial experience or infilling with the Holy Spirit. After this there will be many fillings as each new avenue of ministry and service presents itself. For every new activity for the Lord Jesus, for every one we need to speak with or for any situation where we need to have God’s power and wisdom we must make sure we are filled with the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 5:18 we are commanded to be continuously being filled with the Holy Spirit or controlled by the Holy Spirit moment by moment as we walk in step with His will and purposes. In the Greek text it is a command to be obeyed.
In the Book of Acts after Pentecost we read where Peter was filled with the Spirit again (Acts 4:8). Then we also read where the believers corporately were once again filled with the Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly (Acts 4:31). It is interesting to note that in most cases where we see the baptism or infilling of the Holy Spirit that they were in a group collectively.
6. Not all who are born again are at the same time baptised with the Holy Spirit
The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a definite spiritual experience which one knows they have received. However, for many believers that have received the Holy Spirit as an indwelling presence, they have never been baptised by the Holy Spirit and find a lack of spiritual power in their witnessing and Christian service. However, it is their privilege and spiritual birthright in the Messiah our Lord Jesus to have this experience.
a) In the case of the Samaritans
After the persecution of the believing community at Jerusalem by Saul, before he was saved, broke out the believers were scattered but preached the Word wherever they went. In the case of Philip he went down to a city in Samaria and preached the gospel of the kingdom and when the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city. Joy is a fruit of the indwelling Spirit. No doubt these people were born again and saved (Acts 7:4-8). They were also baptised (Vs.12).
The emphasis by Philip was on the preaching of the Word not on the miracles, signs and wonders as we see exemplified throughout the entire book of Acts. Signs, miracles and wonders have their place but are no substitute for the sound and solid exposition of the Word of God. Signs follow the preaching of God’s Word and not a substitute for it (Mark 16:20).
Now we also read that when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had received the Word of God (a term used for being born again by the incorruptible seed of God’s Word) they sent to them Peter and John to pray for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit because as yet He had not come upon any of them. They had simply been baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Peter and John laid their hands on them they received the Holy Spirit in power (Acts 8:14-17).
b) In the case of the disciples at Ephesus
When the Apostle Paul arrived at Ephesus he found some disciples and immediately saw that something was missing in their spiritual experience. Paul sensed they were believers and asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit after they had believed? They answered that they had not heard whether the Holy Spirit had been given as foretold by John the Baptist. They were disciples of John who would have taught them about the promise of the Holy Spirit being the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Paul clarifying the message of John baptised them in the name of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke in other languages and prophesied. There were about twelve of them (Acts 19:1-7). Once again we see the Holy Spirit falling on a group collectively. Having said this, an individual believer can be filled with the Holy Spirit as we see in the case of the Apostle Paul (Acts 9:17-19). In all of these cases there was some time between the new birth and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
In three accounts of the baptism with the Holy Spirit those baptised with Him spoke in other languages the mighty works of God which were understood by their hearers after they had received His power coming down upon them. In the case of the 120 they were already born again but still needed to be baptised with the Holy Spirit for witnessing and service.
In the case of the household of Cornelius the Centurion they also spoke in other languages and were praising God. In the case of the twelve disciples of John the Baptist when they were baptised with the Holy Spirit they also spoke in other languages by the Holy Spirit and prophesied.
However, in the case of the believers at Samaria when they were baptised with the Holy Spirit there was something remarkable happening but they did not speak in other languages. Also in the case of Paul when he was baptised or filled with the Spirit he did not speak in another language. Much later we know that he did have this ability which would have been necessary as an apostle travelling through areas where they spoke different languages (1 Corinthians 14:18).
In every case where we see the Spirit outpoured on Pentecost and afterwards when people were refilled with the Holy Spirit, there was supernatural power from above to boldly witness to the Lord Jesus, to preach the gospel of the kingdom, and spiritual empowerment for Christian service and ministry.
7. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a definite spiritual empowerment
It needs to be said that when one is baptised with the Holy Spirit that they will not be launched into some undefinable somewhat mystical euphoric emotional uncontrolled experience as such. They will be a change in the emotions for sure accompanied by a sense of spiritual freedom to express their faith in a way that they couldn’t do so before. The spiritual river of the living water of the Holy Spirit within the one baptised with the Holy Spirit will flow out towards others, at first in testimony, followed by spiritual power in their ongoing ministry and Christian service, and in the way they relate to others.
This spiritual empowerment by the Holy Spirit will result in testimony to the saving and sanctifying power of the grace of God as we see in all of the cases in the book of Acts when born again believers were baptised or filled with the Holy Spirit. When one is baptised with the Holy Spirit and with fire there will also be a deeper work of the Spirit in their sanctification (being increasingly set apart to God for his service) (Acts 2:3; 15:9).
In every case in the book of Acts where we see believers baptised or filled with the Holy Spirit corporately as a group, or as an individual, the outlet for the rivers of living water flowing out from them was their tongue. Primarily when one is baptised or filled with the Holy Spirit they will have the supernatural ability to testify and to boldly proclaim the Word of God with power (Acts 2:1-12) (Acts 4:8, 31) (Acts 13:9).
In the case of the 120 in the upper room on the day of Pentecost they only experienced the release of God’s power in testimony and service for the Lord Jesus after they had all been baptised with the Holy Spirit corporately. They had all been born again but not baptised with the Holy Spirit.
8. The Purpose of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit
The whole purpose of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit then is to glorify the Lord Jesus and to witness and to work for Him with supernatural power. The Lord Jesus also said that when the Holy Spirit would be poured out that He would glorify the Lord Jesus, not Himself, not His gifts, nor you and me as believers (John 16:12-15). The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a definite experience that one knows whether they have received or not. There is nothing vague or indefinite about this empowering and sanctifying work of the blessed Holy Spirit clearly exemplified in the book of Acts.
When one is baptised with the Holy Spirit He will release His gifts through that believer in a powerful way. However it will be according to His will, not theirs. We do not choose the avenue of service we would like; neither do we choose the gifts we want to have. He is sovereign in this whole matter (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).
The Baptism with the Holy Spirit launches us into the unseen spiritual realm where we will become much more aware that we are in a continual spiritual wrestling match against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:10-12).
God has given us spiritual weapons in the armour of God (Ephesians 6:13-17), through praying in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:18) (Jude 1:20-21), by confessing what the Bible says the blood of Jesus has power to do in us and for us, in reading and studying the Word of God, and in manifesting the gifts of the Spirit to edify our brothers and sisters in Messiah when we meet together in our local assembly for mutual edification, that is, for the strengthening of the body of Messiah (1 Corinthians 14:26). These are the spiritual weapons and armour all of us need to engage Satan and his henchmen in the unseen spiritual realm.
Rabbi the Apostle Paul writes; “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (in our lives and in the lives of others). We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to the Messiah, our Lord Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).
9. How can we receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit?
(Acts 2:38-39) ““Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
In this text we see the conditions for receiving the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. There are certain steps spiritually speaking that we need to take for being baptised or filled with the Holy Spirit. In the Book of Acts, we see that there can be a gap of time between a believer being born again by the Holy Spirit and sometime later baptised or filled with the Holy Spirit as we have seen the case with the Samaritans, the disciples at Ephesus and in the case of the Apostle Paul who was filled with the Holy Spirit after his conversion on the Damascus Road.
Multitudes of believers today in the wider Body of Messiah have been born again and have the Spirit living on the inside of them but who know deep down that they lack spiritual power in testimony and Christian service. They may be engaged in ministry and service and even walking in God’s will for their life, however, if they are honest they will confess that there is a something lacking in their work for the LORD. They have had no such empowerment.
In many cases they have been taught that there is no such experience today that we see in the book of Acts. Added to this they have also been taught that the spiritual gifts ceased after the first century, a view that cannot be supported by the Word of God or by Church history for that matter.
How then can one be baptised or filled with or receive the Holy Spirit to empower them for testimony and service for the Lord Jesus if they have had no such experience? There are steps that can be taken to receive this spiritual empowerment.
“Repent” This is the first step to receiving the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. In repentance we turn from a Messiah hating, Messiah rejecting way of life to a Messiah loving, Messiah accepting way of life. This is the work of the Holy Spirit to produce the desire for repentance but He will not do the repenting for us (Romans 2:4). This we must do for ourselves. This is the first step. Repentance must always come first before seasons of spiritual refreshing come from the presence of the LORD (Acts 3:19-20).
“Be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins” Water baptism is by immersion and the word in the Greek for “to baptise” is “to immerse or to submerge.” Baptism spiritually implies a death, a burial and a resurrection. One dies to the sinful way of living and rises into God’s way of righteous living as a new spiritual creation in and through the Messiah our Lord Jesus (Romans 6:1-7) (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Now while it is not specifically mentioned there must be faith in the Messiah for salvation. Baptism is the outward acknowledgement of that inward change of the new birth. In the New Testament people were always baptised with water after they had believed. The New Testament does not recognise unbaptised believers. Baptism was the normal practice for everyone who became believers in the Messiah for salvation.
Now we read where those who believed were baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus. In first-century Judaism, there were various forms of water baptism, primarily known as Tevilah, which involved immersion in naturally sourced water, called a Mikveh. This practice was used for ritual purification and was common among different Jewish sects, including the Essenes and during the Second Temple period.
Hence water baptism into the name of Jesus specifically identified those being baptised with the Messiah our Lord Jesus. However, after Mathew had written his gospel at the end of it he recorded the final commission of the Lord Jesus before His ascension where He commanded His disciples to baptise in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
Through repentance and faith exemplified by the outward act of baptism God granted those being baptised forgiveness of sin. Of course forgiveness of sin was bestowed by God upon repentance and faith in the Messiah our Lord Jesus, and baptism was the outward sign of the inward spiritual work of regeneration by the Holy Spirit. This is the second step. And then we read the third step…
“…and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” In the Greek text the word, “receive” means “to reach out and to take hold of that which has been poured out.” At Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out and from that day onwards and made available in the fullness of His power to all who repent, exercise saving faith in the Lord Jesus and are baptised in water without exception (Acts 2:33). As we have seen the term “receive the Holy Spirit” in this context applies to the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
As an example, the new birth can be likened to one drinking from a river of rapidly flowing fresh water. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit can be likened to the one that has been drinking being plunged into the fresh flowing water and being carried along by its rapidly flowing current.
Just as we received salvation by faith so we receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit by the same faith. If you are reading this and you have been born again when you received the Lord Jesus into your life as saviour and Lord, and baptised upon the confession of your faith in Him, then you can pray to receive the Holy Spirit in the fullness of His power to spiritually empower and equip you for the work God has called you to.
At first when you pray there may be no immediate change, however, you will find a new spiritual power in your words and service that you had not previously experienced. You reach out in faith believing that you have received what you have asked for (Mark 11: 24). Added to this, the spiritual warfare in the unseen spiritual realm will become a greater reality.
10. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is for every believer
The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is for every believer in every age of the Body of Messiah as Peter declared on the day of Pentecost.
“For the promise is for you (the Jewish hearers) and your children (their offspring) and for all who are far off, (Gentiles) as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself” (Every believer in every age of the faithful Church). The same spiritual empowerment the 120 received on the day of Pentecost is for every born again child of the Living God without exception!
It is not just for ministers, fulltime workers or missionaries in the field but for every believer in every walk of life. For example, a believing mother in the home with her children can also receive this spiritual empowerment from the Holy Spirit to witness to and to work with and to bring up those children to become faithful servants of the Lord Jesus. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit will enable her to relate to her children in a deeper way and to spiritually nurture them.
11. The ‘Big’ Question?
The big question that is always raised about the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is; “will one baptised with the Holy Spirit speak in a tongue or a language given to them by the Holy Spirit as we see occurring in the book of Acts?” We need to look at this in light of what the New Testament tells us. Some will speak in a language they do not understand which they can use privately to spiritually edify them personally. However, if spoken publically, it will be recognised by the hearers as coming from God.
On the Day of Pentecost the 120 speaking in languages that most of them could not understand themselves were understood by those listening as they heard in their own languages the 120 “declaring the wonders of God” (Acts 2:4-11). In the case of the Samaritans there was an outward manifestation of spiritual power, which is not specifically mentioned, but was recognised as from God by Peter and John. Simon the sorcerer saw this manifestation of God’s power and what he saw made him want the same kind of power he saw working through these apostles. However, his motives were wrong and were exposed (Acts 7:14-24).
Then in the case of the disciples at Ephesus, after Paul had laid hands on them to receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit we are told that they spoke in other languages and prophesied. How did Paul know that they were prophesying? He obviously understood what they were saying or at least discerned through the Holy Spirit that they were speaking by the blessed Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7).
The New Testament reveals that the gift or manifestation of a language given by the Holy Spirit if spoken publically must be understood. It is a sign to unbelievers who are hearing in their own language the mighty word of God, or the message of the gospel, even though the speaker themselves may not understand what they are saying. It may also be a prophetic word (1 Corinthians 14:22-25).
Paul does allow for it as a language when expressed privately can be spiritually edifying for that believer even though they themselves may not understand it (1 Corinthians 14:4), however, when it is given publicly it must be understood otherwise it will create confusion and more so when everyone in the meeting are all praying out loud in tongues together.
See the Biblical article on this website titled “The Gift of Tongues” which is a verse by verse explanation of 1 Corinthians 14:1-33
Some teach that the gift of tongues in the book of Acts is different than the gift of tongues mentioned in 1 Corinthians. However, this is speculation, as what happened in the book of Acts is related to what was happening at Corinth. Compare (Acts 2:5-11) with (1 Corinthians 14:20-25).
Not everyone baptised with the Holy Spirit will speak in a tongue or language, however, there will be a gift imparted and spiritual power released for testimony and service, and the manifestation or gifting from the Holy Spirit will be according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:11). Rabbi the Apostle Paul did not forbid speaking in a tongue either privately or publically but also emphasised that not every believer will have this gift (1 Corinthians 12:29; 14:39).
Epilogue:
# 1. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is not the new birth, however, even though they are separate and distinct works of the one and the same Holy Spirit they should be simultaneous (Acts 2:38-39), however, scripture and the testimony of multitudes down through the history of the Body of Messiah, the faithful Church, is that there was some time between their new birth and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
# 2. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a spiritual experience that one knows whether have received or not. There is nothing obscure or indefinite in this spiritual empowerment by the blessed Holy Spirit.
# 3. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit will see released in the life of the one receiving this endowment of spiritual power a spiritual gift or manifestation of His power according to His will, and the gifts will vary. Not everyone baptised with the Holy Spirit will have the same gift (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 11) (Romans 12:6-8) (Ephesians 4:11-13).
# 4. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is for every believer in every age of the Body of Messiah, the faithful Church, with no exceptions. It is the birthright and privilege of every born again blood redeemed child of God to be endued with power from on high in order to witness and to work for the Messiah our Lord Jesus (Acts 1:8).
#5. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is received by faith as are all the spiritual blessings and promises of God revealed in His Word. When one is baptised with the Holy Spirit they may well have an emotional release, however, if this is not the case, one thing is certain they will have spiritual power from on high and in time will find a new spiritual power in their witnessing and service for the Messiah our Lord Jesus, discover the gift He has imparted to them, so that they can fulfil the will of God for their lives and edify and strengthen and build up their fellow believers spiritually in their most holy faith.
In this whole matter we always need to keep in mind what rabbi the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy; “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). He also wrote; “What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the assembly” (1 Corinthians 14:26) Selah.
