The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit

There are many who believe that one receives the Holy Spirit at conversion and, therefore, there is no need for one to seek a separate experience. However, receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a distinct experience from regeneration/conversion.

Now, it possible for a person to be filled with the Holy Spirit at conversion, but this is an exception. I say that because in every instance in the New Testament, except one (), where someone was filled with the Spirit, the experience came subsequent to (after) their conversion.

Anyone who has purchased a house knows that the day you sign your purchase agreement is different from the day you close (able to take occupancy). You can purchase a home and still have to wait to move it. The same is true concerning the Spirit. He may have purchased the soul, but it still may take some time (weeks, months or years) before He’s given the keys to move in!

How Do We Receive This Baptism?

It should not alarm us when we hear that there are things we must do to “prepare” to receive the baptism of the Spirit, especially when we realize that there’s preparation involved to receive water baptism ().

What “things” must we do to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

REPENT

REPENT

To receive the Holy Spirit requires repentance. In other words, you must be willing to change, abandon and desire to put things right! You must be committed to changing (your behavior, mind, heart).

To receive the Holy Spirit you must be willing to change, put things right, and do God’s work! In other words, you must be willing to repent.

OBEY

In this case, baptism represents an act of obedience.(). The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey ().

FAITH

To receive the Holy Spirit requires faith or a belief that this promise is for you (). You have to fully believe the promise is for you and that you will receive it when you ask!

WAIT

There are those who say, “The disciples had to wait (tarry) because the Spirit had not yet been given. But, now that the Spirit has been given there is no need for us to wait.” While is true that the Spirit has already been given, it’s also true that you cannot baptize yourself. Neither can any man baptize you. Everyone who is baptized in the Holy Ghost must be baptized by God. The fact is, you must wait on God to do it.

Even though the promise of the Spirit has already been given. There’s still a waiting that takes place. We’re not waiting so much on the promise as we are on the experience of receiving the promise. This is a reminder not to be satisfied with anything other than the experience. Make no mistake about it. Being filled with the Spirit is a definite experience! Don’t be satisfied until you have received the experience.

How Will I Know That I Am Filled?

Some people merely take it for granted that they are filled with the Spirit. They look for the proof of their baptism in their daily life (love, joy, peace). But, we must not confuse the Fruit of the Spirit with the Baptism of the Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is proof that one is walking in the Spirit, and not that one has been baptized in the Spirit.

The Fruit of the Spirit and the Baptism of the Spirit is two different operations of God. The Fruit of the Spirit is proof that one is walking in the Spirit. It is not proof that one has been baptized in the Spirit. One can be baptized in the Spirit and not walk in the Spirit (bear fruit).

No one’s life ever had to be examine to determine whether they had been baptized in the Spirit. You will know instantly if someone has been baptized in the Spirit. God will give a sign (proof) that someone is filled with the Holy Spirit instantaneously (on the spot).

The sign He gives most often is the evidence of speaking with other tongues.

What about ?

These words are spoken in the context of spiritual gifts, not the evidence of spiritual baptism. We cannot take words that were meant to teach us something about spiritual gifts and use them to teach us something about the evidence of being filled with the Spirit!