BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

INTRODUCTION

What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? What is it for? When does it happen, at salvation, after salvation, at confirmation? Is there a sign to let one know when this has happened and if so, what is it?

What it is not ...

** It is not a requirement for salvation. The Philippian jailer asked Paul, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul answerd, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 16:30-31. See also Romans 10:9-10)
** It is not a doctrinal flag around which we camp to proclaim our separation from the rest of the church.
** It is not a badge of God's acceptance of you. Jesus' blood purchases your acceptance to God.

What it is ...

** It is a part of the Christian's standard and necessary equipment.
** It is a tool to help us do God's will and become like Christ.
** It is a gift from God to you.

Ephesians 6:18 - "Praying always with prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and suplication for all saints".

How can you know the needs of your brothers and sisters? How can you know who needs prayer the most? You can't always know. But God always knows, and He guides our intercession.

Romans 8:26-17 - "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God".

He, the Spirit of God, makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. God does this through us when we pray in the Spririt. That is part of what is occurring when you pray in tongues. You are making intercession for the saints. You are also building yourself up in God.

I Corthinthians 14:4 -- "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself ..."

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. In Luke 11:1-4, Jesus taught them to:

1. Give reverence to God the Father as the Holy One in Heaven

2. Pray for His will be be done on the earth

3. Bring our needs to Him in prayer

4. Pray for strength against sin (lead us not into temptation)

5. and protection from evil (not here, but in Matthew 6:13, literally "the evil one", i.e. Satan)

6. In vs. 5-8, He taught them to be importunate in prayer. Vine's -- a very striking word to describe persistence. Literally, shamelessness. Examples of this kind of prayer are the Syrophoenician woman in Matthew 15:22-28 and blind Bartimeus in Luke 18:35-43.

7. In vs. 9-13, He taught them to ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, knock and keep on knocking until God gives you the Holy Spirit

In Ephesians 5:18, Paul gave a command that indisputably applies to Christians in all ages. "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit". The Greek tense indicates a continuing action. "Be continously filled with the Spirit". This presupposes that the people Paul wrote to had been initially filled with the Spirit at some earlier time, for one cannot be continuously filled until he is initially filled.

So what is this infilling of the Holy Spirit? How do you know if you have received it? Is it for us today?

The Bottom Line

So that you are not left wondering, let me just tell you what I believe the Scripture teaches regarding the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

It is an experience distinct from and subsequent to salvation. It is NOT a requirement for salvation. Indeed, a person must be saved before they can receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It IS one of God's gifts to you.

Hopefully you will see that conclusions here are based upon the clear Word of God and have rightly divided the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).