Baptism in The Holy Spirit
What Makes you a new creature when you are born again?
The work of the Holy Spirit creates in you, a new spirit.
You are born again. The Zoë life of God comes to dwell in you and you are a new creature.
This is the redemptive work of the Holy Spirit in you.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experience subsequent to salvation.
“Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 8:14-17
The Samaritans were saved by hearing the teaching of Phillip. Peter and John were sent to help them go a step further. They laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
Christ’s purpose in sending the Holy spirit was so that He, a divine personality might live in us.
Is the Baptism in the Holy spirit necessary?
NO, but the constant indwelling of the Power of God in your life manifested by the baptism of the Holy Spirit is necessary for you to live a complete life as a Christian!
There is no reason for a believer to feel alone, hurt, forlorn, or empty. You can be filled with the Holy Spirit who serves as your Comforter, counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener and standby.
The only requirement to being filled with the Holy spirit is to be born again.
God’s will for you as a believer is to 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, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, “
Ephesians 5: 17-19
The Holy Spirit performs constant abiding functions in us:
He:
- Regenerates us: John 3:3-8 (Jesus talking with Nicodemus.)
- Indwells in us: Romans 8:11, 1Cor. 3:16
- Serves as our comforter: John 16:7,
- Serves as our Helper- Guide: Gal 5:16 “it helps us to walk in God’s will and not according
To the flesh.
- Serves as our teacher: 1Cor. 2 : 12-13., John 14:26
How do you receive the Baptism?
You have to be born again, and you need to be willing to receive. God can fill you with the Holy Spirit anywhere, in you car, your home, your shower.
You can also be prayed for by someone God has led to perform this function and with the laying on of hands receive it.
It is God’s will for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Other Scripture References:
“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God…” Acts 10:44-46
“ "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.
Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, `John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”
Acts 11:15-17
“And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?'' And they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.'' And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?'' So they said, "Into John's baptism.'' Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.''
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”
Acts 19:1-6
Speaking In Tongues
“ And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” Acts 19:6
These believers heard the word and Paul laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirits
How did everyone know they received the Holy Spirit?
They spoke with other tongues!
When you are filled, whether it is alone, hearing the word, praying, or having hands laid on you,
You should expect to speak in other tongues.
Speaking with tongues is always the first manifestation.
You may not feel a thing, you may not feel different, fuller, wiser or more complete.
The way you will know, is you speak with other tongues.
Speaking with tongues is a step of faith. You open your mouth and the Spirit in you does the rest!
Many believers are robbed of the fullness of God’s will for them, because they do not understand speaking in tongues.
You have to do the speaking. ( This is the first thing that will cross your mind - I made that up!)
You open your mouth and speak as the Holy Spirit gives you the utterance.
It may sound like gibberish, or a partially recognizable language.
Don’t fight it!
Many spirit filled believers will tell you that they didn’t speak in tongues right away.
It was because they couldn’t let go. Once they took that giant step of faith and opened their mouth it just flows out of them.
That is what you have to do.
Praying in tongues is not the same as The Ministry of tongues and interpretations.
“ Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1Cor. 12:27-31
These verses refer to the ministry of tongues and the interpretation. That is as the Spirit wills and He will give you the message and the interpretation, or someone else will be given the interpretation. This is to edify or build the church.
“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
1 Cor. 14:1-4
When we speak privately, we speak mysteries, that only our spirit and God understand.
Praying in tongues is for your edification and is done privately or at that time in the service when all are worshiping God in tongues.
Reasons to speak in tongues.
- It is the initial sign and it build your faith.
God promises us we will speak in tongues as a sign we have been filled. When you open your
mouth and speak, it is a step in faith and it will build your faith in other areas.
“For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered;”
Acts 10:46
- It is for your personal edification.
“ He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.”
1 Cor. 14:4
Speaking in tongues helps a person grow spiritually, builds them up.
You speak in tongues to build your spirit. To tune your spirit to the things of God and make
you more receptive to the spirit, so that you can hear God when he speaks to you.
It Keeps you spirit controlled and not flesh controlled.
- Keeps our prayers in line with God’s Word:
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for
as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He
makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
Many times you may feel the need to pray in the spirit but you don’t know what for, But you
pray until you feel release. You may just start praising God, singing either in the spirit or with
your understanding, or you may just feel peace. As you grow in the Lord, you should ask Him
to help you pray with the understanding of what you are saying in the spirit. He will answer
and guide you to know what you are praying.
“Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue,
my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.” 1Cor. 14:13-14
- Keeps you free from yielding to the flesh.
You can pray in tongues anytime, anywhere you are under attack or in a situation that is not
spiritual.
“But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to
God.” 1Cor. 14:28
- It is a way of praying without ceasing and giving thanks.
When we pray in tongues it is a way of giving thanks well, but do it privately, because there is
not one to interpret and the unbeliever will not understand what you are giving thanks for.
“ Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed
say "Amen'' at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?”
1Cor. 14:16
- It brings the tongue under subjection.
The tongue is untamable, unless we pray in the spirit regularly and use it to glorify God and not
say unscriptural worldly things. We are to bring the tongue under control and the way we do
this is to pray in the spirit.
“ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire
kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members
that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed
by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it
we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of
God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not
to be so.” James 3:5-10
“You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found
nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” Psalms 17:3
“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34
Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Keep your tongue under control, and
your body will follow. Speak life not death, faith not unbelief.