I. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Does everyone receive the Holy Spirit, when they experience water baptism?
Acts 8 (v. 14) Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, (v. 15) who....prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. (v. 16) For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (v. 17) Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit .......... (Image #1)
Here these Samarian Christians were baptized by water in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Peter and John arrived, they laid hands on them to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. ....We need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, that we may realize what is our obligation, and have power from on high to carry out our purposes to serve God and him only. But how little is said concerning the Holy Spirit, although it is a divine influence whereby we are to reach the souls of men....We should....pray that we may be baptized with the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit will not come upon the man whose mind is a highway for sensuality.[1] We should really examine our hearts, because not everyone who is baptized in water, will receive the Holy Spirit.
John 15 (v. 15) No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
When Jesus was speaking of true friendship, He was referring to the highest possible form of spiritual experience, which comes through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.[2]
Strong words from the Savior:
John 3 (v. 5) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Image #2
And then in the book of Romans:
Rom 8 (v. 9) But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Consider the message of John the Baptist.
Matt 3 (v. 11) I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier that I ....He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
What is the baptism of fire? Consider with me the symbolism of fire in the book of Exodus. The fire of the burning bush (Exod 3:1-4). The fiery Shekinah glory (Exod 24:17). The pillar of fire by night (Exod 40:38). From these verses, it’s clear that the fire represented the warmth of God’s personal presence. The Holy Spirit is the personal presence of Christ.[3]
Image #3
Jesus promises another helper:
John 14 (v. 16) And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. (v. 17) even the Spirit of truth....for He dwells with you and will be in you. (v. 18) I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Speaking of the Spirit to come, shortly before His departure from this earth, Jesus told His followers, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you”....The word baptism means “immersion.” So the baptism of fire is immersion in the presence of Christ.[3]
Another example of the two baptisms occurring at different times.
Acts 19 (v. 1) And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul....came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples (v. 2) he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."
(verse 3) And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." (v. 6) And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Image #4
Are we able to sense the presence of God, when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit?
Acts 2 (v. 1) Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (v. 2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house....(v. 4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues,...
There have been times when the blessing of God has been bestowed in answer to prayer, so that when others have come into the room, no sooner did they step over the threshold than they exclaimed, "The Lord is here!" Not a word had been uttered, but the blessed influence of God's holy presence was sensibly felt. The joy that comes from Jesus Christ was there; and in this sense the Lord had been in the room just as verily as He walked through the streets of Jerusalem,...[4]
Acts 4 (v. 31) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
This is how you will be able to stand for Christ in the last days; you will notice and become aware of the presence of God's Holy Spirit, comforting you through persecution.
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here....Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere.... Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for....To be overcome by Your presence, Lord....
video Ref. [5]
For more information about this topic, contact any of these free deliverance ministries:
A.I.C. Ministries, http://www.abidinginchristministries.com/
Jay Bartlett Missions, http://jaybartlett.org/events.php
Deliverance Ministry, http://pullingdownstrongholds.com/
Setting the Captives Free, http://frankmarzullo.com/
Real Deliverance Ministries, http://www.realdeliverance.com/index.shtml
Freedom Encounters, http://www.freedomencounters.com/
References:
1. E.G. White, The Signs of the Times, (1 Aug 1892), par.4
2. Dan Augsburger, (2009). The Branch and the Vine (sermons by Frank B. Phillips), p.59, Booklet.
3. Mark Finley. (2002). Satisfied: How God can meet your deepest needs, p.31. Pacific Press.
4. E.G. White, My Life Today, p.51, par.5
5. Francesca Battistelli (Lyrics) "Holy Spirit" Online video. YouTube, 29 Apr 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zARVp3420I
Image #1: Market Faith Ministries, (n.d.). Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Retrieved from http://www.marketfaith.org/four-questions-about-being-filled-with-the-holy-spirit-part-1/
Image #2: Youth World, (n.d.). Christ is living in me by His Spirit. Retrieved from http://ubdavid.org/youth-world/countryheaven/country-heaven12.html
Image #3: Short Little Rebel, (2016). Baptism of Fire. Retrieved from https://shortlittlerebel.com/2016/09/19/baptism-of-the-holy-spirit-what-is-that/
Image #4: Glory Gate Ministries, (2013). The day of Pentecost. Retrieved from http://glorygateministriesinternational.org/history/History%201.htm
Print 