BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE CREATION

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Genesis 1:1-2 | New Living Translation

THE HOLY SPIRIT PERIODICALLY SHOWED UP IN THE OLD TESTAMENT TO EMPOWER A SPECIFIC PERSON FOR A SPECIFIC TASK

Saul turned and left Samuel. At that very moment God transformed him—made him a new person! And all the confirming signs took place the same day. When Saul and his party got to Gibeah, there were the prophets, right in front of them! Before he knew it, the Spirit of God came on Saul and he was prophesying right along with them. 1 Samuel 10:9-10 | The Message

JESUS OPERATED IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him. Acts 10:37-38 | The Message

Then Jesus, full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led in [by] the [Holy] Spirit…
Luke 4:1 | Amplified Bible

JESUS PROMISED TO SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO REPRESENT HIM IN THE LIVES OF HIS FOLLOWERS

“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you! John 14:15-17 | The Message

However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. John 16:7 Amplified Bible

WHEN DO YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS YOU OF YOUR SIN AND YOUR NEED FOR SALVATION

And when He [the Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment…
John 16:8 | New King James Version

IT’S THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT BRINGS YOUR SPIRIT-MAN, WHICH WAS DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN, BACK TO LIFE THE MOMENT YOU ACCEPT JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11 | New Living Translation

IT’S THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO NOW LIVES IN YOU FROM THE MOMENT YOU ACCEPT JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR

And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. Ephesians 1:13 | New Living Translation

Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. 1 John 3:24 | New Living Translation

WHAT IS BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT?

THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS ALREADY PROMISED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

“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, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” Joel 2:28-29 | New King James Version

BEFORE JESUS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, HE CHALLENGED HIS DISCIPLES TO WAIT FOR THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 1:4-5 | New Living Translation

THE PROMISE WAS FULFILLED ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST

You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him.
Acts 10:37-38 | The Message

Then Jesus, full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led in [by] the [Holy] Spirit…
Luke 4:1 | Amplified Bible

On the day Pentecost was being fulfilled, all the disciples were gathered in one place. Suddenly they heard the sound of a violent blast of wind rushing into the house from out of the heavenly realm. The roar of the wind was so overpowering it was all anyone could bear! Then all at once, a pillar of fire appeared before their eyes. It separated into tongues of fire that engulfed each one of them. They were all filled and equipped with the Holy Spirit and were inspired to speak in tongues—empowered by the Spirit to speak in languages they had never learned!
Acts 2:1-4 | The Passion Translation

SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS THE FIRST AND PRIMARY SIGN OF BEING BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:4 New King James Version

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 10:45-46 New King James Version

And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Acts 19:6 New King James Version

SPEAKING IN TONGUES

YOUR TONGUE IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE AND DEATH

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21 | New King James Version

It is quite significant to see that when you are Baptized in the Holy Spirit, and you surrender more of yourself to the Holy Spirit, that the one part of your life that is affected more than any other, is your tongue. By surrendering the power of your tongue to the Holy Spirit, James said that you “…could also control (yourself) in every other way.”

BY SPEAKING IN TONGUES, YOU STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH

But you, my delightfully loved friends, constantly and progressively build yourselves upon the foundation of your most holy faith by praying every moment in the Spirit. Jude 20 | The Passion Translation

BY SPEAKING IN TONGUES, YOU BUILD UP YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE

The one who speaks in tongues advances his own spiritual progress… 1 Corinthians 14:4 | The Passion Translation

BY SPEAKING IN TONGUES, YOU ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO INTERCEDE BEFORE THE FATHER ON YOUR BEHALF

And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words. God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny. Romans 8:26-27 | The Passion Translation

By speaking in tongues, you are praising and giving thanks to God And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words. God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny.
Romans 8:26-27 | The Passion Translation

BY SPEAKING IN TONGUES, YOU ENTER INTO GOD’S PLACE OF RESTORATION

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”… Isaiah 28:11-12 | New King James Version

HOW DO YOU RECEIVE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A FREE GIFT TO BE RECEIVED, IT’S NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR

Peter replied, “Repent and return to God, and each one of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus, the Anointed One, to have your sins removed. Then you may take hold of the gift of the Holy Spirit. For God’s promise of the Holy Spirit is for you and your families, for those yet to be born and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Acts 2:38-39 | The Passion Translation

YOU NEED TO HAVE A DESIRE TO BE BAPTISED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

If imperfect parents know how to lovingly take care of their children and give them what they need, how much more will the perfect heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit’s fullness when his children ask him.” Luke 11:13 | The Passion Translation

SEEK THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PRAYER

Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying… They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus. Acts 1:4, 12-14 New Living Translation

BE WILLING TO BYPASS YOUR INTELLECT WHEN YOU SPEAK IN TONGUES, SO YOUR MIND IS NOT INVOLVED

For if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit is engaged in prayer but I have no clear understanding of what is being said.
1 Corinthians 14:14 The Passion Translation

YOU WILL EXPERIENCE AN UNCTION FROM WITHIN

Believe in me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!” 39 Jesus was prophesying about the Holy Spirit that believers were being prepared to receive. But the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out upon them, because Jesus had not yet been unveiled in his full splendour.
John 7:38-39 | The Passion Translation

START SPEAKING IN TONGUES AS THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDES YOU

And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].
Acts 2:4 Amplified Bible