What does it mean to be baptized in the Holy Spirit?
It is not water baptism, though water baptism is important, too.
Instead of the preacher baptizing a person into water, Jesus will baptize a person into the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit comes INTO a person upon salvation, but the Holy Spirit comes UPON a person with this subsequent baptism.
To 'baptize' means to immerse or dunk or submerge, so the Spirit has come within you to abide, but He needs to come upon you for service.
When the Spirit comes upon a person, He brings power.
The Christian needs Holy Spirit power to live and also to preach and minister to others.
This power includes speaking in tongues, and the other gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12).
Look at these Bible truths concerning the baptism with the Holy Spirit and power:
Luke 3:21-22 says ".... it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased"."
Luke 4:1 says "Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness." In the wilderness Jesus was tempted and ".... then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee...." (Luke 4:14). It was at this time that the ministry and miracles of Jesus began (Luke 3:23). Acts 10:38 says "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."
In Luke 3:16, John the Baptist says to all ".... I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire". Jesus will baptize YOU in the Holy Spirit!
Jesus Wants You Filled With the Same Power.
Acts 1:4-5 says "And being assembled together with them, He (Jesus) 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 baptize with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now"." Jesus also says in Luke 24:49, "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". And the saints were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:1-4).
Jesus says in Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem (ie. the city), and in all Judea (ie. the state) and Samaria (ie. the country), and to the end of the earth." To be an effective witness, which is the primary work of the Christian (Mark 16:15), you need the power!
In John 14:12 Jesus says, "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". Jesus did NO works until He was baptized in the Holy Spirit! If He needed the power of the Holy Spirit, so do we.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is for ALL who desire it. Jesus said one of the signs that would follow those who believe is they will speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17). Would you like to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and receive power to be an effective witness and do the works of Jesus? There are two requirements:
1) You must be born again, and
2) You must ask and believe to receive.
Ask Jesus to baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fill you with His power NOW! If you would like us to pray with you to be filled with the Spirit, or want us to lay hands on you, please call the church office at 281-870-1010. If you have questions, go to the "Ask the Pastors" section.
Acts 8:14 - 17
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 10: 44-46
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: 1-6 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 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." And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." 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." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Acts 9:17
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."
John 7:37 - 39
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.
Eph 5:17 - 18
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
1 Cor 14:39 - 40
Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.
1 Cor 14:15 - 17
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
Rom 8:26 - 27
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Isa 28:11 - 12
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.
