BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Bible tells us that we are all born of the Holy Spirit at the moment of our salvation and that we are “sealed” with the Holy Spirit the minute we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. In other words a person receives the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. However the person is not necessarily baptized with the Spirit at the same time, although it can. In many cases, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a distinct and separate experience following the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that occurs at salvation. When we confessed our sins and believed we received the Holy Spirit. He has come into every believer’s heart and will abide forever. But even after the Spirit has been received there may be a mastership of self in our lives through failure to yield to the Spirit. The receiving of the Spirit is God’s answer to repentance and faith and the fullness or baptism of the Spirit is God’s answer to surrender and faith. When we surrender our lives fully, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. The believer does not surrender his life in order to have the Spirit enter but because He has entered.
Distinguish between the PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit and the FULLNESS of the Holy Spirit. As one writer said, “Salvation is God's gift to the sinner and the Holy Spirit is God's gift to the believer.” Usually there is a considerable interval between conversion and the entire surrender to God. The trouble is not a Spirit un-entered, but a Spirit un-yielded to, and thus shorn of the opportunity to manifest the fullness He desires. After salvation, the fullness of the Holy Spirit now depends on our obedience to His commandments (John 14:21)
It is a free-will offering to present your body a living sacrifice. Practice the presence of God and you shall soon experience the fullness and power. The baptism and fullness of the Holy Spirit will not be the same experience for every believer but never doubt the presence of the Spirit because you don’t feel His presence. At conversion the Spirit enters but at surrender the Spirit, already entered, takes full possession.
A born again person in Christ Jesus must move into the deeper experience of being filled or baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Joel 2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
1Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
In the Bible, John Baptized with water but Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:5 that there is only one baptism. Paul spoke of the Holy Spirit baptism, since most of the believers we already baptized with water, by John. So being baptized with the Holy Spirit is not the same as water baptism.
1Corinthians 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
Jesus instructed His disciples to baptize the people in the actual NAME OF the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This means that the disciples baptized the people in the ONE NAME, that is, the name JESUS. But in what name did John the Baptist baptize the people?
Certainly we know that John the Baptist did not baptize the people in the name of “JESUS”. This means it could be possible that John the Baptist baptized the people in his own name. However it could also be possible that he baptized them in the name of God (YHWH) because he baptized Jesus also
Acts 19:2 And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." 4 And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
But what is the mystical meaning of the water baptism? One day while I still was studying and wondering and about the water baptism I had a vision. I saw John the Baptist scoop the water of the Jordan and pour it over those who confessed their sins then I saw John scooping up that same water and pour that upon Jesus then immediately I saw the vision of the spear piercing the side of Jesus on the Cross. However I knew the people was immersed. At that very moment I realized that the Holy Spirit had just revealed to me the meaning of the water baptism and the reason why Jesus also had to be baptized with that water and He took that water to the Cross.
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness--his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth--that you also may believe.
Romans 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
1Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism do also now save us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is when a believer in Jesus Christ receives extraordinary power for Christ- exalting ministry. This would include boldness to proclaim the gospel, signs and wonders, healing of the sick and casting out/off the evil/unclean spirits.
Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."
In the verses below, the disciples were already born again and converted and had the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, but they had still to wait for the baptism with the Holy Spirit:
John 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Luke 24:49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." 50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
Acts 1:4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a noise came from heaven. It sounded like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw something that looked like flames of fire. The flames were separated and stood over each person there. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them the power to do this.
Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.