Our Glorious Inheritance: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Word of Life Study Series

Welcome to Word of Life Study Series- Our glorious inheritance! So if the Holy Spirit is received through the new birth as stated in John 20:22. Why would Jesus tell the apostles who were presently born again at the time of Acts 1:3, to wait in the city of Jerusalem for the “gift my Father promised.” I thought they had already received the Holy Spirit in John 20:22? Is this another Holy Spirit? Obviously, there is only one Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 4:4. Jesus was talking about another experience with the same Holy Spirit. Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is today as it was then, essential, necessary and vital to the success of fulfilling the Great Commission. Jesus commanded them not to begin this quest until they received this additional power from the Holy Spirit.

1. The Spirit Upon

There has been a lot of confusion in the body of Christ over this issue of a second distinct experience that a Christian is commanded to receive after the new birth. If this experience was automatically incorporated in the New Birth, then Jesus would not have needed to make it a command. One may say, “Well do I have to go to the upper room in Jerusalem to receive this power of the Spirit?” Fortunately for us the answer is no! The rest of the book of Acts records other people receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit outside of Jerusalem.

2. The Initial Sign

So how does one know whether or not they have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? We’ll examine the famous event that ushered in the Church Age- The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4. We don’t speak in tongues to be filled with the Spirit, we get filled with the Spirit first and as a result we are enabled to speak with other tongues, with the Spirit giving us the utterance. The initial sign of one receiving the “Spirit Upon,” is the ability is speak in other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives the individual utterance.

3. Receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

There is definitely a Biblical pattern that was followed in the Book of Acts. Even though the 120 believers waited in the upper room for the day of Pentecost to come, before they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, we do not have to wait for the Holy Spirit today. Jesus had gone to the Father as He had promised and has poured out the Holy Spirit. Now it is only up to the individual to receive.

4. The Holy Spirit and Intercession

One of the most vital aspects of the Holy Spirit’s ministry in our lives is to aid us in our prayer lives. Along with being our teacher, He guides us in our prayers to the Father. Thank God we are not limited to our finite minds, the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead is all knowing and can set things in motion that will protect and provide for us. All the believer has to do is yield themselves to the Spirit’s promptings.

5. Gifts vs Manifestations

If the Spirit of God through Paul, said He did not want the Church at Corinth to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts, it goes without saying that He does not want the Church of today to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts either. Unfortunately, some Christians know nothing at all about them- not even that such gifts exist. They think these gifts have been done away with. Paul may have addressed this subject with the Church at Corinth, but the message is for the Church Universal, and for the entire Church Age. As the Body of Christ, we are to eagerly desire that the gifts of the Spirit be made manifest among us and then leave it up to the Holy Spirit to use those whom He wills.

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