Baptism of the Holy Spirit

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

INTRODUCTION: The Holy Spirit is the least understood person of the trinity. He is distinct, divine, and eternal. The Holy Spirit has a vital and personal function in working with mankind, by and through the Word of God, to bring about God’s will in the lives of men.

I.      In the Old Testament the people of God were led by the Spirit and filled with the Spirit, but

they were never baptized by the Spirit.

A.   The Holy Spirit baptism was reserved for His New Testament Church.

B.   John the Baptist prophesied of this event, Matthew 3:11.

II.    On the day of Pentecost, the church was baptized by the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:1-3.

A.   This baptism completely engulfed and immersed the church in the Holy Spirit as He
        filled the room where they were sitting.

B.   The baptism equipped and empowered His church to complete the mission that God
        had laid out for them, Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20.

III.   The baptism of the Holy Spirit brought the gift of the Holy Spirit, Himself, to dwell in the

midst of His church, Acts 1:4,5.

A.   The gift of the Holy Spirit was the promise of the Father.

B.   Subsequently, all New Testament Churches have the gift of the Holy Spirit, Himself,
        dwelling in their midst.

C.   All those who submit to Him in salvation, baptism, and church membership receive the
        promise in His church, Acts 2:38,39.

IV.   Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, His church received the unction of the Holy Spirit,

(unction means anointing).

A.   In the Old Testament, Prophets, Kings, and Priests were anointed for special service.

B.   The church that Jesus established is referred to as a royal priesthood, a kingdom of
        priests, I Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10.

C.   Jesus anointed His church and set her apart from the world for special service to Him.

D.   Through the unction (anointing) of the Holy Spirit, His church is enabled to possess a
        knowledge of all His truth, I John 2:20,27.

1.     Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth and said the world could not receive

Him, John 14:16,17.

2.     The Holy Spirit abides in the church as Administrator to illuminate the members in

truth.

V.      Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sent the Comforter to His church.

A.   Comforter comes from the Greek word Parakletos, which means one called alongside
        to help.

B.   While Jesus was on the earth He was of eminent help to His disciples. He constantly
        taught them, guided them, strengthened and comforted them.

C.   Jesus told His church that it was necessary for Him to leave so the Comforter (the Holy
        Spirit) could come, John 16:7.

1.     Jesus could be in only one place at one time.

2.     The Holy Spirit can be in all His true churches at the same time.

D.   The Holy Spirit was sent to take Jesus’ place as the Comforter and Administrator of His
        churches.

VI.   On the day of Pentecost there were three manifestations of the Holy Spirit; the baptism of
         the Holy Spirit, the filling of the Holy Spirit, and speaking in tongues (other languages).

A.    In understanding the Scriptures, it is important not to confuse these three manifesta-

tions of the Spirit.

B.    The baptism of the Holy Spirit was a one time event. It was never again repeated.

There was no need for the baptism to be repeated since it brought the gift of the Spirit, Himself, to abide in His churches forever.

C.    The filling of the Spirit, on the other hand, is an ongoing experience, Ephesians 5:18.

D.    Faithful ones are filled with the Holy Spirit when the proper condition is met, and the

need arises to accomplish a particular task for God, such as preaching, teaching, wit-

nessing, testifying, etc.

1.     Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and witnessed, Acts 4:8.

2.     Notice additional examples of being filled with the Holy Spirit, Acts 7:55, 13:9,52.

E.    Faithful ones of the Old Testament were also filled with the Holy Spirit when the proper

conditions were met, and the need arose.

1.     Zacharias, an Old Testament priest and father of John the Baptist, was filled with

the Spirit and prophesied, Luke 1:67,68.

2.     Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother, was filled with the Spirit and testified, Luke

1:41,42.

F.    The third manifestation of the Holy Spirit that came on the day of Pentecost was speak-

ing in tongues (languages).

1.     This was a gift from the Holy Spirit.

2.     This gift was given for a very important and specific purpose which will be dealt

with in the lesson on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

VII.      Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, God gave His church dunamis power. (Dunamis

means dynamic power and might.)

A.   The word dynamite was derived from this Greek word.

B.   That same dynamic power abides in the New Testament Churches today.

C.   The greatest power in the world today is seen as the Holy Spirit works in and through
        the New Testament Churches, changing the hearts, character, and lives of those yield-
        ing to Him, conforming them to the image of His Son, Ephesians 1:19; 3:16; 3:20,21.