C101: Lesson 7; Baptism with the Holy Spirit

Baptism with the Holy Spirit

Key Verse: “I indeed baptize you with water unto 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.” Matthew 3:11

Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to help the disciple understand the promise and purpose of the baptism with the Holy Spirit and to experience its blessing.

Introduction

There is a need for God’s power in the church today. Men, methods, and machinery are no substitute for God’s power. The power of God comes from the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. After commissioning His disciples to go into all the world to preach the Gospel and make disciples, He commanded them to wait until they had received power from on high. This power came through the baptism with the Holy Spirit. No denomination or movement has a corner market claim on the baptism with the Holy Spirit. It is the privilege and inheritance of all true believers in Jesus Christ. Because our enemy, the devil, does not want the church to receive the power to overcome his work in the earth, he has worked hard to distort this experience and to sow confusion and division among Christians over it. Many Christians and denominations have an opinion about the baptism with the Holy Spirit, but what does the Word of God say?

The term “baptism with the Holy Spirit” is a SCRIPTURAL New Testament term.

John 1:33 (NKJV) “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’”

Acts 1:4-5 (NKJV) “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’”

Acts 11:16 (NKJV) “Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”

The Holy Spirit DWELLS within and SEALS every born again believer.

John 14:16-18 (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. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

Romans 8:9 (NKJV) “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

Ephesians 1:13–14 (NKJV) “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is not the same as being BORN of the Spirit.

John 3:5–6 (NKJV) “Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’”

Being “born again” is the Holy Spirit’s work of regeneration (new birth) WITHIN while the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a clothing of power UPON the believer for witness.

In the new birth, those who believe receive the right (literally “authority”) to become children of God.[1]In the baptism with the Holy Spirit, those who believe receive the power to be His witnesses.[2]

The “new birth” testifies to the reality of Jesus’ resurrection[3]while the baptism with the Holy Spirit testifies to the reality of Jesus’ ascension to the right hand of the Father.[4]

Acts 8:12-17 (NKJV) “But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 19:1–6 (NKJV) “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ 3 And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ 4 Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.’ 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”

The baptism with the Holy Spirit is different from baptism in WATER.

Matthew 3:11 (NKJV) “I indeed baptize you with water unto 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.”

Acts 8:14–17 (NKJV) “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

John the Baptist declared two Messianic roles that Jesus would fulfill. First, Jesus is the LAMB OF GOD, and second, He is the BAPTIZER WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

John 1:29 (NKJV) “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”

Matthew 3:11 (NKJV) “I indeed baptize you with water unto 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.”

Historically the church has faithfully emphasized Jesus’ role as the Lamb of God but neglected His role as the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus FORETOLD the future outpouring of the Holy Spirit after His resurrection, ascension, and glorification at the right hand of the Father in heaven.[5]

John 7:37–39 (NKJV) “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

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.”

After His resurrection, it was necessary for Jesus to ascend to the right hand of God the Father so that the Holy Spirit could COME or be POURED OUT.

John 16:7 (NKJV) “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

Acts 2:33 (NKJV) “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.”

While on earth, Jesus’ physical body was the Temple of the Holy Spirit.[6]After His physical resurrection, ascension, and glorification, the church, consisting of every member, has become the body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit on earth.[7]

The baptism with the Spirit is a fulfillment of what was spoken by the PROPHET JOEL.

Acts 2:14–18 (NKJV) “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, ‘Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.”‘”(See Joel 2:28-29)

The baptism with the Holy Spirit is also called being FILLED with the 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 9:17 (NKJV) “And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

There is one initial filling of the Holy Spirit which can be followed by unlimited additional fillings.[8]

Jesus, the Believer, and the Holy Spirit

Upon being born again through faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the Cross, every Christian has the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of them.[9]Yet the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit must be distinguished from the baptism with the Holy Spirit. It is helpful to study the life of Jesus to understand this distinction. The life of Jesus parallels our experience in God. Jesus emptied Himself of all divine privilege, took on the form of man, and lived a life as our example.[10]Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit in the Incarnation.[11]So the believer is born again by the Holy Spirit.[12]Although Jesus was God’s Son, He did no works of power (miracles, signs, wonders) until after His water baptism at age thirty by John the Baptist. It was at His baptism that the Holy Spirit came upon Him.[13]After this, Jesus went forth filled with the Holy Spirit.[14]The baptism with the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life enabled Him to do the works of God.[15]So it is with the believer. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus commanded His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit had come upon them.[16]Does every Christian have the Holy Spirit inside them? Yes. But it is one thing to possess the Holy Spirit but quite another thing for the Holy Spirit to possess us. Is every believer baptized by the Holy Spirit? Yes, into the body of Christ.[17]However, in this lesson we are speaking of the baptism by Jesus Christ “with” the Holy Spirit.[18]It could be said that the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that comes in salvation reproduces the life of Jesus in the disciples while the baptism with the Holy Spirit reproduces the ministry of Jesus in the life of the disciple. The following is a summary comparison of the Holy Spirit’s role in the life of Jesus and that of the disciple:

Jesus Christ was: The Believer is to be:

JESUS CHRIST

Born of the Spirit (Luke 1:35)

Filled with the Spirit (John 3:34; Luke 4:1)

Baptized with the Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17)

Led of the Spirit (Matthew 4:1)

Sealed by the Spirit (John 6:27)

Empowered by the Spirit (Luke 4:14)

Anointed by the Spirit (Acts 10:38)

THE BELIEVER

Born again of the Spirit (John 3:5)

Filled with the Spirit (Acts 4:31; Ephesians 5:18)

Baptized with the Spirit (Acts 1:5)

Led of the Spirit (Romans 8:14)

Sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)

Empowered by the Spirit (Acts 1:8)

Anointed by the Spirit (1 John 2:27)

Before anyone can receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit, they must be saved by REPENTING of their sin and BELIEVING in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:38-39 (NKJV) “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’”

John 7:39 (NKJV) “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

It is not required that a person be BAPTIZED IN WATER before receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:44-48 (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, ‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.”

The baptism with the Holy Spirit is likened to RIVERS OF LIVING WATERS.

John 7:37-39 (NKJV) “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

John 4:13–14 (NKJV) “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.’”

Isaiah 12:3 (NKJV) “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

The Holy Spirit’s presence in the believer at salvation is like a fountain-fed “well” that springs forth as “rivers of living water” in the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus called the baptism with the Holy Spirit the PROMISE OF THE FATHER.

Luke 24:49 (NKJV) “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Acts 1:4 (NKJV) “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me;’”

Paul uses the term “promise of the Spirit” in Galatians 3:14. The “promise of the Spirit” comes to those who through faith are recipients of the blessing of Abraham.[19]

The promise of the Holy Spirit is not offered based on money, merit, or race but as a GIFT.

Acts 2:38 (NKJV) “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

Acts 8:18–20 (NKJV) “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ 20 But Peter said to him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!’”

Acts 10:45 (NKJV) “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.”

Believers receive and operate in the power of the Holy Spirit through FAITH.

Galatians 3:5 (NKJV) “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”

Galatians 3:13-14 (NKJV) “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

God grants the power of the Spirit based on His grace through faith. Just as salvation is granted through faith in Jesus as Savior, so the Holy Spirit is given through faith in Jesus as Baptizer with the Holy Spirit.

The power of the Holy Spirit is also referred to as the ANOINTING.

Luke 4:17–19 (NKJV) “And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 ‘The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.’”

The power of the Spirit is a manifestation of the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Matthew 12:28 (NKJV) “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit empowers believers to do the WORKS that Jesus did and even GREATER WORKS.

John 14:12 (NKJV) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

The Mantle of Jesus for Ministry

Elijah was one of the great prophets of God. Elijah wore a mantle that represented his anointing as a prophet.[20]God instructed Elijah to raise up Elisha in his place.[21]Before Elijah was taken up to heaven, Elisha asked Elijah for the double portion.[22]In other words, he wanted to inherit the anointing from Elijah.[23]When Elijah was received up into heaven, his mantle fell to the earth. Elisha picked it up and went on to finish the work that God had anointed Elijah to do. The “spirit of Elijah” now rested upon Elisha.[24]Elisha operated under the authority and power of God that was given to Elijah. Just like Elijah, Jesus was given authority and the mantle (anointing) of the Holy Spirit by which He performed His signs, wonders, and miracles.[25]Before ascending to heaven, Jesus authorized His disciples to continue His work but commanded them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Spirit before launching out. Once Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, the Holy Spirit was sent upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost as “Jesus’ mantle” to enable them to finish the work that Jesus began. Every believer needs the “mantle of Jesus”, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, to do the work of Jesus Christ.

The evidence of the baptism with the Holy Spirit is POWER FROM ON HIGH.

Luke 24:49 (NKJV) “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NKJV) “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

The Greek word translated as “power” is dumamis which means “force” or “power”, specifically miraculous power. The English words “dynamite” and “dynamo” are derived from this word. The plural dunameisis often translated as “miracles” in the New Testament.[26]God’s power (dunamis) and the Holy Spirit are presented as one and the same.[27]

The purpose of the baptism with the Holy Spirit is to be effective WITNESSES for Christ.

Acts 1:8 (NKJV) “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.”

The purpose of this baptism is for power to be witnesses unto Jesus--witnesses of His resurrection and ascension.[28] After receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit, the disciples bore witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ with great power (dunamis).[29]On the Day of Pentecost there were no miracles but there was the sign of tongues and boldness to preach the Gospel.[30]It was said that Stephen was full of grace and power (dunamis) who did great wonders and signs among the people.[31]

MANIFESTATIONS (Mistakenly called “gifts”) of the Holy Spirit normally accompany the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Although “power from on high” is the evidence of the baptism with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit can manifest His power through the believer’s life through any one of the nine manifestations of the Spirit[32]. The most common manifestations that accompany the baptism with the Holy Spirit in the New Testament are tongues and prophecy.[33]

Acts 2:3-4 (NKJV) “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 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.”

Acts 19:6 (NKJV) “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”

In two other accounts of individuals receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts, there is no specific mention of tongues or prophecy. One instance is found in Acts 8:17 with the Samaritan believers. The other is found in Acts 9:17-18 with Saul’s (Paul’s) conversion. Even then it seems unmistakably clear that some manifestation accompanied the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Samaritans (Acts 8:18). In Paul’s case, we do know that Paul practiced speaking in tongues at some point after conversion, most likely upon receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 14:18).

Why Tongues?

God requires faith. It is impossible to please God without faith.[34]Therefore God has chosen to place “stumbling blocks” (“offenses”) before the proud mind and unbelieving heart of man that only faith can overcome. Stumbling blocks offend the heart and mind to reveal unbelief in the heart. John the Baptist represented Jesus Christ as both the Lamb of God and as the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit. The Cross of Christ is often a stumbling block before the self-righteous to accepting Jesus as the Lamb of God to take away their sin.[35]In the same way, speaking in tongues is a stumbling block before the unbelieving to accepting Jesus as the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit. To receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit, one must overcome their offense toward speaking with tongues.[36]Speaking in “tongues” refers to speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in a language unknown to the person speaking.[37]A person baptized with the Holy Spirit who speaks in tongues does not speak to men but to God. His spirit, by the Holy Spirit within him, prays. In the spirit he speaks mysteries.[38]Thus, speaking in tongues is a cooperation between the Spirit of God and the spirit of man.[39] From the believer’s standpoint, speaking in other tongues involves both the believer’s spirit and will.[40]The Holy Spirit inspires in the spirit of the believer utterance according to the will of God. In response, the believer willingly yields his tongue to speak by faith what is given: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”[41] “Tongues”, in addition to prophecy, are normal evidences that accompany the baptism with the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, Peter made it clear that “tongues” was a form of prophecy that fulfills Joel’s prophecy of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.[42]The outpouring of the Holy Spirit (or the baptism with the Holy Spirit) enables believers to operate under the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit. The Scripture tells us that there is only one thing man cannot tame—the tongue.[43]Whoever is able to control his tongue is said to be able to control his entire body and direct the course of his life.[44]In the baptism with the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit effectively “bridles” the believer’s tongue when He takes up residence in His “temple”. Man is made up of spirit, soul, and body.[45] Natural human language flows out of the mind of man. Tongues, on the other hand, does not flow out of the mind but out of the spirit of man: “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.”[46]God is Spirit and not flesh.[47] It is also a source of spiritual praise and worship unto God.[48]Does God incapacitate the human mind through “tongues”? No. The mind and reasoning is still intact and operational. Rather, through tongues the Spirit bypasses our mind so that we can communicate with Him through our inner spirit man, the hidden person of the heart.[49]He cannot be understood by the human mind devoid of the Spirit.[50]In essence, tongues is a spiritual language, a heavenly language, flowing from a believer’s spirit unto God through the unction of the Holy Spirit. It is the purest form of communication with God—undefiled by gossip, slander, human reasoning, cursing, anger, etc… It is the closest men can come this side of heaven to the original communication with God that Adam and Eve enjoyed and lost in the Garden of Eden. Tongues is a liberation of the believer’s communication through their spirit man with God, our Father, who Himself is Spirit and seeks to be worshiped in spirit and truth.[51]It is important to distinguish between the devotional use of tongues that can be utilized privately at any time[52]and the manifestation of tongues in the church that operates for the benefit of all according to the will of the Holy Spirit.[53]

The gift of the Holy Spirit was not reserved just for those who lived in the days of the apostles but is available to everyone who is CALLED by the LORD in salvation.

Acts 2:38-39 (NKJV) “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’”

The baptism with the Holy Spirit is sometimes administered through the LAYING ON OF HANDS by another Spirit-filled believer.

Acts 8:14–17 (NKJV) “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 19:6 (NKJV) “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”

It is important to keep ASKING, SEEKING, and KNOCKING until you receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 11:9–10 (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. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Jesus reassures those who ask, seek, and knock that the heavenly Father will give them the HOLY SPIRIT .

Luke 11:11-13 (NKJV) “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!”

The heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask of Him and NOT a false or counterfeit spirit.

How to Receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit

Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Confess and repent of any known sin.

Thank your heavenly Father for His promised gift of the Holy Spirit.

Trust that your heavenly Father will give you the Holy Spirit and not a counterfeit.

Repent of any false doctrines or words against the Holy Spirit and His work.

Accept Jesus in His role as the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit.

Ask Jesus to baptize you with the Holy Spirit now (the laying on of hands by another Spirit-filled believer is common and appropriate here).

Without doubting, receive by faith from Jesus the baptism with the Holy Spirit.[54]

Expect the Holy Spirit to come upon you in power.[55]

Expect the Holy Spirit to flow forth like a river from your innermost being.[56]

Expect to speak in other tongues and/or prophecy. Remember, the Spirit inspires the utterance within your spirit, but you must open your mouth and speak by faith!

Now that you have received the baptism with the Holy Spirit

Utilize the benefit of devotional tongues to:

Edify yourself (1 Corinthians 14:4)

Pray with the spirit (1 Corinthians 14:14, 15)

Sing with the spirit (1 Corinthians 14:15)

Speak privately to yourself and to God (1 Corinthians 14:27-28)

Bless the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:16)

Give thanks (1 Corinthians 14:17)

Pray the will of God (Romans 8:26)

Speak mysteries in the spirit (1 Corinthians 14:2)

Experience spiritual refreshing (Isaiah 28:11-12)

Build up your most holy faith (Jude 20)

Keep the tongue under subjection to the Holy Spirit (James 3:8)

Yield yourself as a vessel to the Holy Spirit for Jesus’ sake.

Believe that the Holy Spirit has empowered you to be an anointed witness for Jesus

Desire to be used in any of the nine spiritual manifestations of God’s power as the Spirit wills in order to help and bless others (1 Corinthians 12:7-10)

[1] John 1:12 [2] Acts 1:8 [3] Romans 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17 [4] Acts 2:33 [5] Luke 11:13; 24:49; John 7:39; 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7 [6] John 2:21 [7] 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Re 3:1 Peter 1:5 [8] Acts 4:31; 13:9; Ephesians 5:18 [9] Romans 8:9 [10] Philippians 1:5-11 [11] Luke 1:35 [12] John 3:1-8 [13] Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22 [14] Luke 4:11 [15] Acts 10:38 [16] Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8 [17] 1 Corinthians 12:13 [18] Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16 [19] Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians 3:14 [20] 1 Kings 19:13, 19; 2 Kings 2:8 [21] 1 Kings 19:16 [22] 2 Kings 2:9 [23] Deuteronomy 21:17 [24] 2 Kings 2:13-15 [25] Acts 10:38 [26] Matthew 7:22; 11:20, 21, 23; 13:54, 58; 14:2; Mark 6:2, 5, 14; 9:39; Luke 10:13; 19:37; Acts 2:22; 8:13; 19:11; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 29; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Galatians 3:5; He 2:4) In Luke 1:35 [27] Exodus 8:19; 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:10; Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:20) [28] Acts 2:33; 4:33 [29] Acts 4:33 [30] 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 [31] Acts 6:8 [32] 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 [33] Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4, 11; 10:46; 19:6 [34] Hebrews 11:6 [35] 1 Corinthians 1:23 [36] 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 [37] 1 Corinthians 13:1 [38] 1 Corinthians 14:2 [39] 1 Corinthians 6:17, 20; 14:2 [40] Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 [41] Acts 2:4; Romans 8:26-27 [42] Acts 2:17-18 [43] James 3:8 [44] James 3:2 [45] 1 Thessalonians 5:23 [46] 1 Corinthians 14:2 [47] John 4:24 [48] Acts 2:11; 1 Corinthians 14:15 [49] Romans 7:22; Ephesians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Peter 3:4 [50] 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 [51] John 4:24 [52] 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4, 18-19, 27-28 [53] 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 28-30 [54] James 1:6-8 [55] Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4 [56] John 7:38