Some Christians accuse those who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit of labeling those who are not Spirit-filled, as “inferior”. Maybe you have bank account. If someone you trust told you that they had put $10,000 in your account, would you think they were calling you “inferior” for having a deposit, or would you run down and check your account? God places an auto-deposit of the Holy Spirit in the life of every Christian when they ask Jesus into their heart, or become “born again”. When the Holy Spirit is deposited in the spirit of a new Christian, they have access to the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is up to each believer to make use of the fruits of the Spirit that were deposited when they were “born again”. It is also up to each believer to desire the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or to “wait for the gift” the Father promised so we will be given power to be His witnesses. Although the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not the same, they are both necessary for those who want to become like Jesus Christ.
Note: Jesus said you would know Christians by their “fruit”, not by their “gifts”.
All the qualifications for leaders in Titus and Timothy are fruit qualifications.
16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:16-20)The Fruit of the Holy Spirit:
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22-24)
The DNA of Christ
The life of Christ was the first cell of the new church. The entire spiritual DNA for the church was in Christ. That is why he said:
19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (John 20:19-23)
It was at this point that the disciples were born again. We were called to continue Jesus’ example. Jesus gave his 12 disciples power and authority and sent them out to do the work of the kingdom of God.
1When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2)
The 12 disciples responded:
6So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere. (Luke 9:6)
Later 72 were sent to do the same:
1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. (Luke 10:1-4)
8"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'(Luke 10:8-9)
The 72 returned with a similar report:
17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
18He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
22"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
23Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.24For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." (Luke 10:17-24)The Holy Spirit is deposited in our hearts when we believe, a mark of God’s ownership, guaranteeing our inheritance at the redemption:
21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 5:5)
13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
The fruit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not the same:
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is a special deposit from the Heavenly Father when we are “born again”, but it is not the same as the “gift” of the Holy Spirit that Jesus encouraged his followers to wait for. In the minds of the disciples, the preaching, healing, etc., is what Jesus was sending them to do! Thus when he said to “wait for the power” they knew exactly what they still needed:
1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.(Acts 1:1-9)Buzz words for the baptism of the Holy Spirit in this passage:
• “Gift”
• “The promise of the Father”
• “Dipping (baptism) of the Holy Spirit”
Purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit: power
Purpose of the power: to be witnesses
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Four outpourings of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts
Many are surprised that there are actually four places where the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs in the Book of Acts. In three of them there is a time difference between when they are born again, and when they are baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Supernatural Gifts Necessary Until Jesus Returns
Cessationists use 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 to justify their theology that the supernatural has passed away. However, this passage is referring to life in heaven in our supernatural bodies when the following will occur:
• “Perfection comes”
• Spiritual metamorphosis from imperfect to perfect
• “Face to face” revelation
• “Knowing fully”
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)I. The first outpouring of the Holy Spirit occurred one week after Jesus ascended to heaven:
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
13Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine.14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17" 'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him:
" 'I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,
27because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
" 'I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,
27because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
29"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
35until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet." '
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
35until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet." '
36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:1-47)
Buzz words for the baptism of the Holy Spirit in this passage:
• “filled with the Holy Spirit”
• “pour out”
They appeared drunk. What did that look like? Not like most church services!
• Laughing
• Loud
• Stumbling
• Hilarity, excess
“All of them” were filled with the Holy Spirit, and
“all of them” spoke in tongues:
4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4)
When Peter drew his theology from Joel, he included a part that has not taken place yet:
31 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. (Joel 2:31)
The sun turned to darkness is foretold in Revelation:
12I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. (Revelation 6:12-14)
Joel’s prophecy includes what took place on the day of Penticost recorded in Acts 2, and continues to be relevant all the way to Revelation 6 which has not taken place yet.
The supernatural power of the Holy Spirit is evident today:
• in places where the baptism of the Holy Spirit is taught, or
• among people who are seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit
People can ask others to pray for them to help them receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or they can pray privately asking God to baptize them in the Holy Spirit.
At Penticost, Peter told the crowd in Jerusalem the “promise” of the “gift” of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all those who repent:
33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:33, 38-39)
Also note that you could “see and hear” the results (v. 33).
Power followed the baptism of the Holy Spirit:
43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. (Acts 2:43)
II. The second place the Baptism of the Holy Spirit recorded in the Book of Acts:
4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8So there was great joy in that city.
9Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." 11They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
20Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."
24Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."(Acts 8:4-24)Buzz words for the baptism of the Holy spirit in this passage:
• “received the Holy Spirit”
• “come upon them”
When hands were placed on them “they received the Holy Spirit” (v. 17). This was different from the deposit they received when they were born again earlier.
You could see it:
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given . . . (v. 18).
Simon was willing to pay money for whatever he saw. Is there anything in your church that Simon would pay money for? It was made perfectly clear that this gift was free and not for sale through the ministry.
III. The third place people were baptized in the Holy Spirit found in the Book of Acts:
44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues[a] and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. (Acts 10:44-48)Buzz words for the baptism of the Holy Spirit:
• “poured out”
• “gift of the Holy Spirit”
• “received the Holy Spirit”
The sign that convinced the Peter and his associates that the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit was that “they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God” (v. 46).
Water baptism is different from the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
IV. The Fourth place people were baptized in the Holy Spirit recorded in the Book of Acts:
1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.
4Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all. (Acts 19:1-7)"John's baptism," they replied.
Buzz word for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in this passage:
• “came on”
The question "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" (v. 2), illustrates that there was a difference in Paul’s mind between believing in Jesus, and in receiving the Holy Spirit. The notion that the Book of Acts was a transitional time when things were done differently is advanced by some to justify their cessation theology, but it is not supported by Bible.
The sign of the Holy Spirit baptism was they “spoke in tongues and prophesied”
6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:6)
