Baptism with the Holy Spirit

John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:11, as it is written,

“I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the One who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

And Acts 1:5 records what Jesus told His disciples, “John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

It was after the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus, now resurrected, appeared to instruct the disciples who had not yet gone out to service. They were about to have an experience like no other, baptism with the Holy Spirit. It is such an experience that you will know whether or not it has happened to you, because it is a definite and intensely personal experience that is very distinct and unmistakably real. 

When you are called by God into service for Him, it is the baptism with the Holy Spirit that imparts the power that enables you to perform at your fullest potential. Actually, the Bible speaks of baptism with the Holy Spirit in connection with service or with testimony. Even our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized with the Holy Spirit before He embarked on His own public ministry (see Matthew 3:16). Baptism with the Holy Spirit equips you for useful and efficient service and sincere testimony about Jesus.

Please understand that although every genuine believer receives the Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16), not every believer is baptized with the Holy Spirit. It is possible to be born again by the Holy Spirit and not be baptized with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:5 above), and it is also possible to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit at the very moment you believe. The account of Cornelius’ household in Acts 10:17-48, illustrates that at the very moment they believed Peter’s testimony of Jesus Christ, they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. This passage of Scripture reveals that receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is far different from being filled, with the Holy Spirit having complete possession of you.

It is not enough to have Spirit live inside you, you must allow yourself to be utterly controlled by the One who inhabits you (see Galatians 5:16-18).

Baptism with the Holy Spirit ©2013 Shelley Johnson 8-Apr-13