BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT

Acts 1:4-5

Okay! Let’s review!

We have been studying the Holy Spirit.

We have talked about the indwelling of the Spirit.

We have talked about walking by the Spirit and not the flesh.

We have talked about a mindset on the Spirit and not the flesh.

Remember, do all that you can do to think about God.

Now, before we go further into the gifts of the Spirit and what they are, we need to have a look at another phrase used in scripture about the HS. Its a phrase that has divided churches and denominations.

The phrase is baptism of the Spirit.

It hurts by heart that a phrase that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ used would cause such division and angry in Christians today.

Can we agree on this though? Its not the words of Jesus that divides us, but our interpretation of the Jesus’ word?

So, can we just set aside, what we have been taught by people for a bit and just look at scripture today?

Can we ask the Spirit of Truth to illuminate His Word in our minds and hearts?

And can we remember our commitment to each other?

I’ll do my best to just present what we see in God’s Word and you will come and talk to me about any questions you might have?

Let’s pray.

The Spirit of Truth will guide us to all truth.

Give us ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to understand.

Pray that Jesus’ prayer for us would be true. That we would be one, like the Father and the Son.

We can only be unified in the HS.

So, may we like Ephesians 4:3. Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

So, baptism of the Spirit. Where does the phrase come from?

Acts 1:4–5 ESV

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

John the Baptist also prophesied that Jesus would do this.

Matthew 3:11 ESV

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Its also important to recognize where the Acts passage happens in the timeline of the disciples.

Jesus is telling them, before He ascends into heaven, to wait in Jerusalem and wait for the promised Spirit. And that they would be baptized in the Spirit.

John chapter 20 has already happened. That is where Jesus first appeared to His disciples after being resurrected from the dead. And He tells them to receive the HS and He breaths on them, or according to the Greek, breathes into them. Just like the freshly formed Adam in the garden. Jesus breathed life into His disciples, spiritual life.

So, if its after John 20, where we believe that is the first point of the indwelling of the Spirit. Here we have Jesus saying, that there is something else coming, called baptism of the Spirit.

Its also important to see that often is scripture, the terms baptism of the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit are used interchangeably. The largest example, and we will look at this more in-depth in a minute, but Jesus says you will be baptized in the Spirit, but when it happens, it says they were filled with the Spirit. So, I believe that it will be clear that they can mean the same thing.

Our main three points are going to be this, what we believe about baptism in water is also true for baptism of the Spirit. Let’s look these three points and then we will break them down even more.

1. Baptism is not a requirement for salvation.

2. Baptism is obedience and submission.

3. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward change.

So, I believe that we will see in scripture, that the same things are true with baptism of the Spirit.

1. Baptism is not a requirement for salvation.

Baptism in water happens after someone puts their faith and belief in Jesus Christ. Sometimes, like the Ethiopian it happens immediately after the moment of salvation. Sometimes days later.

Or like the thief on the cross, it never happens.

We believe that because of these examples, baptism should happen but is not a requirement for salvation.

Like baptism in water, baptism of the Spirit can happen immediately, days later, years later, or never. But it is not a requirement for salvation.

I believe we see examples of these in scripture.

There is one example of salvation and baptism happening at the same time.

Peter has a vision and travels to meet Cornelius, a gentile, and shares the Gospel of Jesus with him and his family.

Acts 10:44–48 ESV

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

We can see that as they were listening to the gospel, the HS fell on all who hear the word. And they immediately began to manifest gifts of the Spirit. If fact, they are baptized in the Spirit before they are baptized in water!

So, here we can clearly see that baptism of the Spirit can happen at the moment of salvation.

There are also examples, of it happening at later times.

The first example is the disciples themselves. They were indwelt with the HS in John 20 (which we talked about a few weeks ago) and in Acts 2:1-4, they were filled with the Spirit and started speaking in tongues and many other gifts were evident.

Acts 2:1–4 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

This happened 10 days after Jesus promised the baptism of the Spirit and ascended into heaven.

The second example is Paul’s conversion in Acts 9:17-20

Acts 9:17–20 ESV

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

We see that when Saul had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he met Jesus and was brought to His knees. He met Jesus! Three days later, Ananias came and laid hands on Him to give him back his sight and to fill him with the HS. In the following days, he went and preached in the synagogue.

There are two other examples of the baptism happening at a later date.

Acts 8:12-17 The Samaritans. We read this passage last week. Peter and John traveled to them, so that they would be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:1-6 Paul met some believers in Ephesus and they were filled with the HS and began speaking in tongues.

The point is this, it can happen in the moment, before baptism, days or longer after salvation. It can never happen. It can happen when the Spirit and the person are ready for it to happen.

It can happen through laying on of hands or the Spirit falling or filling a room.

There is no exact way to manufacture it and its completely up to the Lord and the HS.

But that’s why I believe the Lord has challenged us with the question, do you even desire them? Why would we not desire them?!

2. Baptism is obedience and submission.

The word baptism in scripture means to be submerged. It the same word used to describe a ship sunk into the water.

And when we are baptized in water, we already have been made one with Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Baptism does not allow you to have more of Him. But it is a act of obedience, submission and surrender to the will of God that you would be baptized.

And baptism of the Spirit means the same thing.

You already have the HS indwelling inside of you. You do not receive more of the Spirit. Its not like there is another level of Christianity.

You have the Spirit, and through obedience, submission and surrender to the Spirit, you allow the Spirit to produce gifts through you.

So, just like we have been talking about, we must choose daily to walk by the Spirit and not the flesh. We must set our minds on things of the Spirit and not the flesh. We must choose daily to walk by the Spirit and He will produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life.

And then you will be a vessel of opportunity for the Spirit to use gifts in you.

Ephesians 4:1–8 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

See, if we walk in a manner worthy of our calling, a sanctified life, He will produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, and by His grace, to each one of us, He gives a measure or endowment of the gifts to us.

How can you know what the Spirit wants to give you as a gift if you don’t walk with Him daily and know His voice?

Its a daily practice. Its a daily surrender. Its a mindset on the Spirit, so that when He says go or do or say, you are looking for that, surrendered to that, and jump at the opportunity to obey.

Like I said, our God is a gentleman, and He will never force you to act into these gifts. But He is inviting you to allow Him to use you for the betterment of those around you.

Candace had the best example of this. A cup full of water being dunked into pool of water. You are immersed in the water and its overflowing onto everyone around you.

You are filled with the HS and when you allow Him to use a gift in you, you overflow and affect those around you.

Which leads us to our final point.

3. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward change.

Romans 6:1–4 ESV

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Baptism shows the world that you have died to self and sin. You are no longer living but it is Christ who lives in you. You have been raised to walk a new life. A resurrected life. A redeemed life.

Others should be able to see that. Baptism should be the first time that people can see that that is true in your life. But the rest of your life should also be reflection of that baptism moment.

The world should be able to see that you have died to self and have new life.

Baptism of the Spirit is the same way.

There should be a moment that you first allow the Spirit to use a gift through you. It should be the first time of a lifetime of the world being able to see the Holy Spirit produce gifts through you.

With baptism of the Spirit, these gifts are manifestations of the power and person of the Holy Spirit.

They should overflow in you and pour out onto others around you.

Remember what the purpose in the gifts are. For the edification of the body of Christ.

The fruit of the Spirit is for you. The gifts of the Spirit are for the church.

The church should be encouraged, challenged, prayed for, served by, healed by those walking in the gifts of the Spirit!

That is the will and design of the church set forth by the Word of God!

We are one body! And Jesus prayed that we would be one like the Father and the Son are one. That is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:3 ESV

eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Church, I believe this is what He desires His church to look like.

I also believe that the lack of teaching and the lack of the church walking in the gifts of the Spirit is what has caused such a division in the church today.

Denominational lines have been drawn down the beliefs about the Holy Spirit. The very thing that is supposed to unify us...

Church, I threw a lot at you this week. Go home, re-watch the message, I’ll send you my notes if you want. Ask me to go for coffee to discuss, I’ll buy. Let’s continue the conversation and let us seek the truth in the Word of God.

I believe this can unify us better than anything else.