A. Jesus Himself made a distinction between the baptism of John,
baptism in water, and the Holy Spirit baptism.
Matthew 3:11 (Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33) "I indeed baptize you with water unto
repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose
shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost, and with fire:"
Acts 1:5 "For John truly baptized with water; but ye
shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
Acts 11:16 "Then remembered I the word of the Lord,
how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be
baptized with the Holy Ghost."
B. The apostles believed and were saved before Pentecost; yet
Jesus told them to wait till they had received the promise of the Father.
There was to be, therefore, an experience beyond their salvation
experience.
Luke 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my
Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye
be endued with power from on high."
Acts 1:5 "For John truly baptized with water; but ye
shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the
Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me
both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth."
Acts 2:4 "And they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave
them utterance."
C. The book of Acts records instances in which believers received a
second baptism.
Acts 8:12-17 "But when they believed Philip preaching
the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus
Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself
believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip,
and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria
had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might
receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of
them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then
laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy
Ghost."
Acts 19:2-5 "He said unto them, Have ye received the
Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not
so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto
them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's
baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of
repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on
him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When
they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus."
D. Many New Testament scriptures speak of the seal of the Spirit to be
given to those who had already repented and believed.
Ephesians 1:13, 14 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye
heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom
also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit
of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his
glory."
E. Jesus spoke of those asking to receive the Holy Spirit who already
knew God as their Father.
Luke 11:13 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
F. Even in New Testament references to Old Testament typology water
baptism and the baptism in the Holy Spirit are clearly spoken of as two
distinct experiences.
I Corinthians 10:1, 2 "...our fathers were under the cloud, and
all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in
the cloud and in the sea."
II. Why does the Bible describe this experience as an
"infilling" or an "outpouring" of God's Spirit?
A. The Greek word used for both water baptism and the baptism in the
Holy Spirit is baptizo – meaning "to cause to be dipped or
immersed."
B. Water is a type of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 44:3 "For I will pour water upon him that is
thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit
upon thy seed..."
John 7:38, 39 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture
hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him
should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that
Jesus was not yet glorified.)"
Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come....
And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take
the water of life freely."
C. Therefore, when speaking of the Holy Spirit baptism, scripture often
speaks of it as an "infilling" or "outpouring."
Joel 2:28, 29 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that
I will pour out my spirit ... upon the servants and upon the
handmaids in those will I pour out my spirit."
Isaiah 32:15 "Until the spirit be poured upon us from on
high..."
Acts 2:17, 18 "And it shall come to pass in the last
days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh ...
will pour out in those days of my Spirit..."
Acts 10:45 "... on the Gentiles also was poured out
the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Ephesians 5:18 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is
excess; but be filled with the Spirit."
D. We are told to drink in the Spirit, to "be not drunk
with wine, but be filled with the Spirit."
Acts 2:13-15, 17, 33 (The same word for "shed forth" in
v. 33 is translated "poured out" in v. 17.)
John 7:37-39
I Corinthians 12:13
III. What is the purpose of the infilling of the Spirit?
A. It gives the believer power and
boldness to be a witness.
Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the
Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both
in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth."
Acts 4:31 "And when they had prayed, the place was
shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled
with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with
boldness."
B. It is necessary to enter into a walk with God whereby His Spirit
does not just dwell with us, but can abide in us.
John 14:17 "Even the Spirit of truth ... he dwelleth
with you, and shall be in you."
C. It provides for greater conviction of sin (John 16:8-11) and is a
great help in the prayer life of the believer (Romans 8:26).
D. The Spirit-filled Christian can have an abiding comfort, even in the
midst of affliction and severe trial.
John 14:26
John 16:13
E. In time of decision, he will have the guidance of the Spirit.
John 14:26; 16:13
Acts 11:12
Acts 16:6, 7
F. With the Holy Spirit as his Teacher, the believer will have a purer
and clearer revelation in the things of God.
John 14:26; 15:26
I Corinthians 2:10, 13
Ephesians 1:16, 17
Ephesians 3:5
G. He will have a greater measure of joy, love, hope, etc.
I Samuel 10:6, 9
Ezekiel 37:9, 14
Romans 5:5; 17:17; 15:13
Galatians 5:22
I Thessalonians 1:6
IV. How is the baptism in the Holy Spirit received?
A. It can be ministered through the laying on of hands.
Acts 8:17 "Then laid they their hands on them, and they
received the Holy Ghost."
Acts 9:17, 18 "And Ananias went his way, and entered into
the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the
Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest,
hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled
with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it
had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was
baptized."
Acts 19:6 "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them,
the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and
prophesied."
II Timothy 1:6 "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that
thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of
my hands."
B. It can happen while listening to an anointed message.
Acts 10:44, 45, 47 "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy
Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. ... the gift of the
Holy Ghost.... Can any man forbid water, that these should not be
baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"
Acts 11:15 "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell
on them, as on us at the beginning."
C. It is received by faith, for no gift of God is ever earned.
Luke 11:13 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
John 14:16, 17 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give
you another Comforter ...even the Spirit of truth ... for he
dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
Acts 2:38 "... Repent, and be baptized ... and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Acts 5:32 "... the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given
to them that obey him."
Acts 8:20 "But Peter said unto him, Thy
money perish
with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may
be purchased with money."
Acts 10:44, 45 "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy
Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the
circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with
Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift
of the Holy Ghost."
Acts 11:17 "Forasmuch then as God gave them the like
gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ;
what was I, that I could withstand God?"
II Corinthians 5:5 "... God, who also hath given unto us
the earnest of the Spirit."
Galatians 3:2, 13, 14 "... Received ye the Spirit by the
works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ...[we] receive
the promise of the Spirit through faith."
I John 3:24 "... the Spirit which he hath given
us."
I John 4:13 "Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he
in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit."
D. No "tarrying" or waiting is necessary for us to receive
the Spirit, because He has already been sent.
Acts 8:12-17; 2:38; 19:2-6
E. To a degree, it requires an act of the will. Scripture uses action
verbs: We are told to drink in the Spirit, to "be not drunk
with wine, but be filled with the Spirit." And Jesus said the Father
would give the Spirit to them that ask him (Luke 11:13).
Acts 2:13-15, 17, 33 "Others mocking said, These men are full of
new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his
voice, and said unto them,... these are not drunken, as ye suppose,
seeing it is but the third hour of the day.... And it shall come to
pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon
all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your
young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:...
and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he
hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."
(Note:
The same word for "shed forth" in v. 33 is translated
"poured out" in v. 17.)
John 7:37-39 "In the last day, that great day of the
feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him
come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture
hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But
this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should
receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus
was not yet glorified.)"
I Corinthians 12:13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into
one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or
free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
V. Pentecost was not to be the only experience of a baptism in the Holy
Spirit. The promise is to us as well. Many received the Spirit long after
the first outpouring.
Acts 11:15, 17 "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell
on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the
Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall
be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the
like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ;
what was I, that I could withstand God?"
Acts 15:8 "And God, which knoweth the
hearts, bare them
witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us."
A. Paul exhorted the Ephesian church, already a very
"spiritual" body of believers, to be continually filled (Greek:
"be being filled ...") with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18-21
B. Jesus spoke of believers thirsting (John 7:37-39). Drinking once
will never quench an eternal thirst.
C. How can we be continually filled with the Spirit? By singing,
giving thanks, and submitting to the will of God. (See Ephesians 5:18-21.)
Copyright
© 1976, 1977, 1997 by Diane S. Dew
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