A Pentecostal Perspective of Spirit Baptism

Specify the Apologetic Topic.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, is the means through which believers receive power for pentecostal living

Acts 1:8 CSB

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Tell the Topic’s Significance.

Just as the Spirit came on Jesus at His Baptism in Luke 3:21-22, and anointed Him (Acts 10:38), believers

Explain the Biblical and Rational Position.

Jesus Told His Believers that they would receive power from the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)

Acts Preview of Acts (1:6–11)

By this Spirit-baptism they will receive the supernatural ability to work miracles and preach effectively

There is a separate act of Spirit Baptism from salvation.

Ephesians 1:13 CSB

In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.

The evidence of salvation is the witness of the Spirit within (Rom. 8:9), and the Spirit enters your life when you believe (Acts 10:43–48; Eph. 1:13–14).

Warren W. Wiersbe

Believers are sealed when they believe the word of truth.

Acts 8- the Gospel spreads to Samaria. In Samaria they believed and recieved the Gospel, thus they had salvation through Jesus.

Acts 8:12–13 CSB

But when they believed Philip, as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptized, he followed Philip everywhere and was amazed as he observed the signs and great miracles that were being performed.

Salvation had come to the Samaritans. Yet the baptism of the Holy Spirit has yet to fallen and Luke goes on to say Acts 8:14-17

Acts 8:14–17 CSB

When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. After they went down there, they prayed for them so that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit because he had not yet come down on any of them. (They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit is the Source for the supernatural in our lives.

Jesus was anointed by the Spirit, and promised the same to His followers

Acts 1:8 CSB

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Being born of the Spirit we now have access to a supernatural source that allows us to follow in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit is the DNA of God at work in His Children, and the Baptism is the activation into the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Just as God sent His son, and the Son only did what the Father told Him (John 5:17), Believers have the Spirit of God and therefore have the very presence of God active in their lives to do the will of the Father.

Practically Apply for the Hearer.

Believers also have the mandate from God to evangelize and live Holy from God.

God in His grace makes sure that mandate He gives can be accomplished by Baptizing Believers in fire in order to completely fulfill all He has called them to do.

Power for evangelism (Acts 1:8)

Power for holy living (Gal 5:16)

Unity through the Spirit in the Church

Gifts given through the Spirit (1 Cor 12:4-11)

Anointing to grow in knowledge and truth (1 John 2:20)

Summarize and Transition to a Related Invitation

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Holy Spirit, Filling Of

“To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with one who is already there, in our hearts. Take up a sponge and while it is in your hand squeeze it. In that condition, plunge it in water and submerge it, keeping it in there. It is now in the water and the water is in it. As you hold it in the water, you open your hand, and as you do so the water fills all the pores which you release in this way. It is now filled with the water. When we receive Christ we are born anew and put into that sphere where the Holy Spirit is operating and the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us!! (Romans 8:9)” (Roy Hession, Be Filled Now [Fort Washington, Penn.: Christian Lit., 1968], p. 12).664