The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, 

and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” 

(Acts 2:2)

Whether you are a Christian or not, does modern Christianity in America seem to you to be a genuine, effective and powerful movement that is truly changing the world in a spiritually redeeming way?

When I examine my own experiences in modern Christianity over the last twenty five years, I see churches that are caught up in the 'cult of  personality.' People follow the personality that they like best. It's like a big popularity contest much of the time. And the Christian sub-culture of method, music, and style dominates much of the movement. Post modernism has also crept into Christianity, complete with modern psychology, activity centered ministry programs, and "community" or common interest "fellowship" groups. And a lot of this activity is much more culture-centered than Christ-centered.

But does modern Christianity overall in any way resemble the original Church that Jesus began, some 2,000 years ago?

Much of what I have witnessed in "church" over the last twenty five years has been powerless, man-centered, and ineffective.

I see a lot today of what I call "good deed-ism." Church people are doing some truly good things to help others, including feeding those who are hungry, giving clothing and other items to those in need, volunteering to help at ministry fund raising events, running half marathons for a good cause, serving dinner at a rescue mission, and adopting orphaned or special needs children. These are all very wonderful things by themselves.

But many of the people doing wonderful deeds, while meeting the immediate needs of others, are not ministering to every human being's ultimate need of salvation that is through Jesus Christ alone.

It does little good to give a homeless man $5, or a burger and fries, or even your coat, and then drive away without addressing his greatest spiritual need.

So how was the early church in Jesus' day different?

They operated under the power of the Holy Spirit.

What did Jesus command the first Christians to do?

“And being assembled together with them, He 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 baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1 :4-8)

Jesus didn't tell His followers; 'Go immediately out and become an organization of nice people, just doing nice things for others.'

There are a lot of non-Christian people out there who are pretty nice people, doing a lot of nice things for others.

He first commanded them to wait, until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. And once they were baptized with His Spirit, they would receive His power to be His witnesses. First there at home, and the surrounding regions. Then to the very end of the earth.

This is where there is a big disconnect today in Christianity. There are a lot of very nice people out there, trying to do some really nice things to help others. But there is no power of the Holy Spirit in their good works. There are wonderful intentions, but no power.

Many people have never been taught about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, much less ever received it.

This was also a problem at times in the early church.

“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 (in water) 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 19:1-6) 

Not everyone "speaks in tongues" nor is it the main focus of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The primary purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to be empowered to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. And then to do whatever He commands us to do through His power—not through our own. And why would that be?  Because we have no power of our own to do or be what God requires. No wisdom. No strength. No goodness. Our hope of glory is Christ in us.  Without Him we are nothing. Jesus said, "Without Me you can do nothing." (See John 15:4-5)

This is why He commanded His first disciples to wait there in Jerusalem—until they received power once the Holy Spirit came upon them. Only then would they be empowered to be His witnesses.

Have you ever been baptized in the Holy Spirit?

So how do you receive it?

Ask.

Jesus said:

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13)

I recall several years ago at a men's retreat in the mountains, a friend of ours was asking us what the baptism of the Holy Spirit was all about. We shared with him from the bible what it is and what it's for. He said, "I want that baptism!"  What's amazing about this, is this man was always very shy at the home fellowship we attended. He never spoke up. Never prayed aloud. He was always very quiet. But after we laid hands on him and prayed for him as he asked God for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he soon started doing street witnessing, preaching the Gospel of Jesus to people he met downtown. At the home fellowship he began to boldly share scriptures with confidence, many of which he said he had never heard or read before. Soon after that he was leading teams of people downtown to teach them how to share the Gospel with people. His wife said he had gone through a dramatic change, ever since he prayed to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  We were all amazed. God is so good!

Would you like to have that kind of Holy Spirit power in your own life?

This is where making a difference for God has to start. 

You have to acknowledge that without Jesus empowering you through the baptism of His Spirit, you can do nothing good. You can't bear any good fruit to God. You can't effectively preach the Gospel of Christ to anyone. Cant rightly teach a bible study. Can't be an effective worship leader. Cant be an effective pastor. Nothing.

Are you living in victory today?  Or are you constantly failing to live according to God's Word? If you are not experiencing victory over the trials and temptations that constantly plague you, have you wondered why you have no power in your life? It's because you are trying to do everything in your own strength. The problem is you have no power. This is why Jesus said He will send another helper, the Comforter; who is the Holy Spirit. We need His power to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. Please understand: this has nothing to do with salvation. That is a gift from God by grace through faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ; through His death, burial and resurrection.

So if you are living a life of failure, defeat, and you are stuck in a revolving door of sin, repent, and cry out to God and confess your sin. Your weakness. Your powerlessness in your own strength. 

And then start by asking Jesus Christ to baptize you in the Holy Spirit. 

Sometimes historically, this occurred when other Christians who already had been baptized in the Spirit were laying hands on a person, praying for him, and they then receive the baptism. But not always. 

Again, the best place to start is talk to the Lord Jesus and ask Him to baptize you in His Holy Spirit. And keep asking daily for His power to walk in spirit and in truth. This is not a one time thing.

I try to ask God every day for His wisdom and power to overcome sin and weakness. To walk in purity. To be a good husband. To do my job in a way that brings glory to God. To be an effective witness for Jesus Christ and share the Gospel with people. To be a good father to my children. To be a good friend to my friends. To love those who do not love me back. To pray for those who curse me and spitefully use me.

Trust in God to teach you and lead you.  As you do, things will begin to happen in your life that will surprise you. When they do, give God all the glory.

Most of all, as you are being empowered by the Holy Spirit, in His love, keep sharing the Gospel and pointing people to the risen Savior; Jesus Christ. He is our only hope.

Amen.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.