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“BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT”

1.  A DIVINE ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

1CORINTHIANS 12:13 “ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

v    

 The main emphasis here is not ’a doctrine’ but rather “unity of the body of Christ”

v   We do receive individual and personal blessings through this experience, but God’s supreme purpose is bigger than that---“the unity of the body of Christ” DERECK PRINCE COMMENTS. A minor tragedy has occurred in the translating and should read “For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body….. And we were all given to drink of one Spirit”.

v   Something happened in our experience at a certain given moment in the past-‘we were baptized into….

v   Where the phrase ‘baptized into’ is used, the person baptized was already ‘in’ what he was baptized ‘into’. [e.g.] Matthew 3:11 – “into repentance” The baptism by John was the outward evidence that he acknowledged that they had already repented. Check back to verses 7and 8. Acts 2:38—“into the remission of sins”. The baptism was the outward evidence that he acknowledged that they had already repented. The acknowledging of the condition in which they already was. Galatians 3:24-27—“into Christ”. Notice they were already in Christ, and then they were baptized into Christ as acknowledgment that they were in Christ.

v   The baptism in the Spirit acknowledged and made public and effectual our membership in the body, WHICH WE ALREADY HAD.

v   The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a supernatural seal given to each individual member by which Jesus Christ acknowledges that person as a member in His body; a supernatural seal that He alone can confer. This is His privilege!

2. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS REGARDING THIS EXPERIENCE.

v   BAPTISM

Baptism is immersion- a supernatural coming down of the Spirit of God from above over the believer, enveloping him in heaven’s atmosphere and immersing him/her in the Shekinah Glory of God’s presence. [E.g.] acts 2:2, acts 8:14-17 acts 10:44-45. And Acts 2:38.

v   Drinking

Jesus in referring to the gift of the Holy Spirit for the one who believers, likens the receiving to the act of drinking. See John 7:37--39. and  1 Corinthians 12:13 “…..All…..given to drink of the one Spirit.” The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a supernatural infilling and a supernatural overflow.

3. SOME WARNING HERE.

v   The Holy Spirit is not a dictator; He does not walk over you or make you do things. Derek Prince comments ‘If a spirit comes into your life that makes you do things, it is not the Holy Spirit.’ Rather, the Holy Spirit comforts, guides, and directs, controls, only in cooperation with and submission of our will.

v   In The baptism the Holy Spirit is not a substitute for any other supernatural provision of God.

v   The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Spiritual, supernatural, experience. It ushers in a new realm- often a realm of the spiritual conflict. [e.g.] Life of Jesus in Mark 1:9--13 it is not a picnic, as some may think.

v   The Baptism in the Holy Spirit must be united with the Word of God. The sword of the Holy Spirit—is the word of God. See Ephesians 6:17 the spirit needs the Word, and the Word needs the Spirit.

THE DIVINE PURPOSES OF THE EXPERIENCE.

N.B.: - How much is accomplished depends on the believer.

v   The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is the gateway into the supernatural. We are to live and walk thereafter in the supernatural. The supernatural should become perfectly natural. See Hebrews 6; 4-6 “ …partakers of the Holy Spirit …. Have tasted the powers of the world to come.”

v   For to Witness

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is intended to endure us with supernatural power from above, to be ‘Witnesses’ unto a person, Jesus Christ.

FOR PRAYER

The Holy Spirit wants us to become an instrument, so that He can pray through us. [E.g.] the Tibetan priest when they say their prayers turn a prayer wheel and the wheel is doing the praying. When you are baptized in the Holy Spirit you become a kind of prayer wheel—the Holy Spirit turns you around, and uses you to pray through. See Romans 8:26—27 and Ephesians 6:18.

v               For Teaching

v               The Holy Spirit is the great teacher of the Word of God—and the great reveller of Jesus Christ. See: John 16:13 let us not be so ‘fanatical’ not to realize that He uses human instruments. See Ephesians 4; 11-12-16.

v               To exalt Christ

The Holy Spirit ‘exalts’ or glorifies Jesus see John 16; 13-14

For Guidance

We are ushered into the councils of heaven when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit and we listen to His voice. See John 16:13

For Health

According to 2 Corinthians 4: 10-11, the life of Jesus is to be made manifest in our mortal body. How is this possible? See Romans 8:10—11

For unity

God’s purpose in baptizing believers in the Holy Spirit is to unite them. See 1 Corinthians 12:13. Man can make a union, but it is only the Holy Spirit that can make unity.

EVEDENCE OF THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

It can be safely said that whenever a believer is baptized into the Holy Spirit, he will speak in one or more different tongues unknown to him. [Divers tongues].

Sometimes people hear their native language; let us consider the record given in the book of acts. Acts 2: 6 notice the bible says they heard their own native language. It does not say they spoken their own native language. So we see by this the supernatural was on their hearing as well as tongues.

v   THE UPPER ROOM

Acts 2:4 NAS “and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance [ability to speak out].” Samaria acts 8:14-17 NAS “now when Peter and John who came down and prayed for them……. Began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit” Here the Bible does not say they spoke with tongues, nor does it say they did not speak with tongues. But what happened, Simon recognized it as to as to what it was and wanted to buy the power to do the same thing. In keeping with the rest of the Acts record, we believe it to be the supernatural utterance as is the rest.

PAUL ACTS 9:17 nas “And Ananias…. Said…. The lord Jesus… has sent me so that you may…. Be filled with the Holy Spirit….” 

1 Corinthians 14; 18 NAS “I thank God; I speak in tongues more than you all.” This was Paul’s testimony. And you noticed God used him to write 2 thirds of the New Testament.

Cornelius and his Household

Acts 10:44—47 NAS “…. The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening….. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God…”

EPHESUS

ACTS 19:6 NAS “And when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues, and prophesying.”

WHAT GOD BEGAN IN THE FIRST CENTURY CHURCH, HE IS STILL CONTINUES TO DO TO-DAY IN THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY CHURCH. THIS IS WRITTEN WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO DR. DEREK PRINCE AND [REV] R. BRANDT AND [REV] BRIAN P. RICHARDS. FOR THOUGHTS GLEANED FROM THEIR MINISTRY.