Foundation for Living With Jesus

Baptism with the Holy Spirit

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is also known as Being filled with the Holy Spirit and The Promise of the Father. The latter name is rarely used but has great significance in experiencing this God-given experience. This experience cannot be properly labeled as a doctrine of the church because it is what Jesus expected His disciples to experience. Jesus made it very clear to His disciples that He had to return to His Father so that the Holy Spirit would come and when He came He would guide you into all truth (John 16: 7&13 ). He also explained that it would be a new life-giving experience ( John 7: 38-39 ). The last words that Jesus said to His disciples before He returned to the Father are found in Acts 1:5 which says: “For John baptised with water, but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now”. He then said in Acts 1: 8   “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. The Greek word that is translated to ‘Power’ is ‘Dunamis’  which is more correctly translated to “ Strength and Ability” and I have experienced this Strength and Ability over my lifetime. The Bible is very clear that Jesus wants all believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit and it is also important the Biblical evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit be evident in our lives and I believe that there a four distinct evidence of being filled. The first evidence is speaking in tongues which I like to call my Heavenly Language, Acts 2:4  says that all the people who gathered were filled with the Holy Spirit and all spoke in tongues. It is so important to understand the purpose of speaking in tongues, it makes our Christian experience strong (Acts 1:8 & 1 Corinthians 14: 4 ). Next, it is part of our prayer life Romans 8:26 NLT says “And the Holy Spirit helps us our distress, for we don’t even know what we should pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words” (Also 1 Corinthians 14:2). We need to understand that we cannot use our Heavenly Language too much for Apostle Paul records in 1 Corinthians 14:18 that it was a vital part of his life. Also, the choice of using our Heavenly Language is ours for God cannot make us use it (1 Corinthians 14:15). Secondly, our conversation will always be about what Jesus means to me and what He is doing in my life. It is something you do not have to think about because He is so real to us all the time. Acts 1:8 says that Spirit-filled people will be witnesses of Jesus – Jesus is alive in you and it is so easy to talk about what He is doing in your life. Thirdly the Holy Spirit guides you into all truth (John 16:13 ) as I look back over my life I am amazed at what the Holy Spirit has taught me in all facets of my life. Fourthly being filled with the Holy Spirit leads you to live the right way. Galatians 5:22-23 NLT says: “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control, here is no conflict with the Law”. To live an exciting fruitful life with Jesus we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit without this experience it is like trying to fight with one hand tied behind your back. Finally, how do I receive being filled with the Holy Spirit? Luke 11:13 says: “If you bring 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!” Ask, believe, receive, and speak with your Heavenly language.