Baptism of the Holy Spirit

There are two major criteria for receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

First, God must be your Father. This means you must be born again, or have the “within experience.”

John 14:16–17 NKJV

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

another, allos (al-loss) Strong’s 243: One besides, another of the same kind. The word shows similarities but diversities of operation or ministres. Jesus’ use of allos for sending another Comforter equals “one besides Me and in addition to Me but one just like Me. He will do in My absence what I would do if I were physically present with you.” The Spirit’s coming assures continuity with what Jesus did and taught.

John 14:26 NKJV

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is predominantly Christ-oriented, a part which is to teach and reminder the disciples of what Jesus taught in person. The Spirit, then, is never self-serving. One way He teaches us is through gifts of teachings.

Luke 11:9–13 NKJV

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Secondly, you have to ask Him believing that if you ask it shall be given.

Jesus encourages prayer by reminding us of the nature of the One to whom we are praying. He argues from the lesser to the greater. If faulty human parents will meet the real needs of their children, instead of deceiving them with harmful gifts, how much more can we expect our heavenly Father to bless us with the best gift, the Holy Spirit, as well as lesser gifts. Our primary needs are spiritual, and a proper relationship with God through the Holy Spirit is the ground of assurance that He will provide both spiritual and material needs.

The Promised Holy Spirit and reason for receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:5–8 NKJV

for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Expectations after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:4 NKJV

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 10:44–46 NKJV

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. Then Peter answered,

When the disciples received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit by faith

1 Corinthians 14:2–4 NKJV

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 Corinthians 14:18 NKJV

I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;

Isaiah 28:11–12 NKJV

For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, To whom He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”; Yet they would not hear.

Mark 16:17 NKJV

And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

It is important that to you that by faith you must believe after you have prayed.

You have to release the utterance God gives you

Acts 2:4 - And they...began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Who began to speak? They — the people. The Holy Spirit didn’t speak; the people spoke. He gave the articulation, or made clear what was spoken, but the people did the speaking.

You should pray in tongues daily

Jude 20 NKJV

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

A vital part of one’s spiritual growth is praying in the Holy Spirit.