LESSON 7
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
BUILD YOUR LIFE ON THE FOUNDATION
OF THE PURE WORD OF GOD.
THE BIBLE IS GOD'S WORD.
INTRODUCTION
In this lesson not all texts are typed out.
I recommend you to look up in your Bible every text that is indicated and to
"read it carefully" with a heart open to God. Take care to use a proper translated
Bible, avoiding sectarian or modern versions. (Some recommended translations
are: KJV, NIV, NASB and TAB)
Hebrews 6:2 speaks about a doctrine of baptisms, i.e. plural. So as well as being
baptised in water, a child of God should be baptised by the Holy Spirit.
Water baptism is carried out by man in the name of the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit. (Matt 28:19). But Jesus Christ is the one who baptises with the
HOLY SPIRIT."I (John) baptise you with water for repentance. But after me will
come one (Jesus) who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry.
HE WILL BAPTISE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT and with fire.
" (MATTHEW 3:11) See also: Mark 1:8, Acts 2:33, John 1:33,34.
THIS OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A LONG-PROPHESIED
PROMISE FOR THE LATTER DAYS.
Many signs indicate that we are living in the latter days.
This is the time about which God spoke through his servants the prophets:
" And afterwards I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters
will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those
days." (Joel 2:28,29).
In the old order the Holy Spirit filled only some people, e.g.judges, prophets and
kings. See Judges 6:34, 1Samuel 16:13, Micha 3:8.
In the new order the Holy Spirit is poured out on all people. This outpouring of
God's Spirit in the latter days was prophesied by the prophets of the Old Testament.
See Acts 2:17, Joel 2:28,29, Isaiah 44:3.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON
The Holy Spirit is a person (the third Person of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit). A person is not just a power! The Holy Spirit is therefore referred to in
the Bible as "He" and not as "it".
" But when HE, the Spirit of truth comes, HE will guide you into all truth. HE will
not speak on his own; HE will speak only what HE hears, and HE will tell you what
is yet to come. HE will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making
it known to you." John 16:13,14.
A NUMBER OF CHARACTERISTICS OF A PERSON
1. A person can speak John 16:13, Acts 13:2
2. A person knows 1 Corinthians 2:2-11
3. A person has a will 1 Corinthians 12:11
4. A person understands Romans 8:2
5. A person feels Ephesians 4:30
WHAT DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT DO?
1. He convicts of sin John 16:8
2. He gives us the new birth John 3:1-6
3. He baptises/fills us Acts 1:5
4. He gives us power/skill
(power=dunamis=skill) Acts 1:8
5. He leads us Romans 8:14
6. He prays for us Romans 8:26
7. He declares the future to us John 16:13
8. He gives fruit Galatians 5:22
9. He gives gifts 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
10.He glorifies Jesus Christ John 16:14
WHO NEEDS THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
Everybody needs the baptism of the Holy Spirit ! Jesus Christ the Son of God,
concieved by the Holy Spirit, only began his ministry AFTER he was baptised
by the Holy Spirit. (John preached " how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with
the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all
who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him." Acts 10:38.
See also 1John 2:6; John 20:21; Luke 1:35, 3:21,22, 4:14,18.
The disciples were not allowed to do anything, so they had to wait before
beginning their task, UNTIL THEY HAD RECEIVED POWER through the baptism
of the Holy Spirit.
" But you will receive power WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES ON YOU; and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria,
AND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH." Acts 1:1-9
And what about us? Can we carry out our task without the baptism of the Holy
Spirit? " Do not get drunk on wine which leads to debauchery.
INSTEAD BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT." Ephesians 5:18.
The requirements are the same for us as they were for the first disciples. God
and His word never change and His Spirit is not limited to a particular time.
We too needs God's enabling in order to witness.
( A servant is not above his master.)
HOW CAN WE RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?
You must:
1. prepare your heart - Repentance Acts 2:38
2. have faith Galatians 3:2,14
3. expect to receive, and you must have a deep inner
desire for Him and for the right reasons James 4:3, John 7:37-39
4. ask Luke 11:13
5. commit yourself to God's will (obedience), commitment
means not a passive mind but a cooperating mind. Acts 5:32
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES
If you attentively read the passages quoted you will discover that scriptural
evidence of having received the baptism of the Holy Spirit is " speaking in
tongues ". We must not turn this back to front. Somebody who (as yet) does
not speak in tongues can of course have been baptised by the Holy Spirit.
Unfortunately it also happens that Satan, who is a liar from the beginning and an
imitator, can also use tongues. We must not use this as a reason to be afraid
and to studiously avoid tongues.
Let this serve as a warning to be alert and to test the spirits to see whether they
are of God. See 1 John 4:1-2.
The fact that a particular person speaks in tongues is not in itself evidence that
he or she is baptised by the Holy Spirit. The fruits of repentance and of the Spirit
will always be a better indicator than merely speaking in tongues.
The Spirit never goes outside the Word, the Bible.
Examples:
1. The day of Pentecost Acts 2:1-4
2. The Samaritans (what did Simon "see"?) Acts 8:18
3. The apostle Paul Acts 9:17-19, 1 Corinthians 12:13,14
4. The heathens Acts 10:44-48
5. The Corinthians Acts 18:8 1 Cor 12:13,14
6. The Ephesians Acts 19:1-7
SPEAKING IN TONGUES
Speaking in tongues is perhaps the most unusal of the spiritual gifts.
Whereas normal praying is the normal way of expressing our thoughts and
speech, speaking in tongues is praying in our spirits in a language which the
Holy Spirit gives us. In this way we can be liberated from the limitations of our
(human) thinking and speaking to pray with God with a depth and content which
is otherwise impossible. See 1 Cor 14:4,15; 14:1,2.
Take note - you are the one who speaks. It is your mouth and your tongue.
But it is the Holy Spirit who inspires. In other words you can begin speaking in
tongues whenever you want to. You can even decide for yourself to stop doing so.
So there is no compulsion. Only an invitation.
Speaking in tongues has three clear objectives:
1. You edify yourself by doing so. 1 Cor 14:3
2. It can edify the church (if used according to scripture) 1 Cor 14:5
3. It is a sign to and for the unbeliever 1 Cor 14:22
Paul encourages us to speak in tongues and not to accept our limitations.
Of course we can also strive for the other gifts which the Spirit of God wants to
give us. 1 Cor 14:5,39; 12:11
It is "at home" in a normal Christian life !
WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
When we are born again something very special happens in our life.
In the first place God writes His laws in our hearts. He does not nees a hammer
and chisel for that ! The Bible says that He takes away our hearts of stone and
gives us a heart of flesh. Then He writes His laws in our innermost, new heart.
Ezekiel 36:24-27. Jeremiah 31:33.
Because God knows that this is not all that is necessary for us to be able to keep
His law, He also gives us His Spirit to enable us to live as He prompts us. Isn't that
wonderful! Our heart, renewed by God, tells us how we should live, and the Spirit
enables us to accomplish it! Romans 8:1-4.
When we do not walk in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit uses God's law, which is written
in our hearts, to convict us of our sin. The moment we confess our sin and accept
forgiveness, we can carry on in the power of the Holy Spirit to walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-18; 1 John 1:9
GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Every child of God who is baptised in the Holy Spirit can receive direct guidance.
The Holy Spirit can speak to us in a totally direct way. This can happen in various
ways ( dreams, visions, etc) but it usually happens through a still, small voice
inside us. Every child of God can receive a revelation from the Holy Spirit.
When this happens we should be very careful to "test" every "revelation" by
comparing it with "God's word". Whenever a "word" is given to the church fellowship,
the others should test it against God's word.
Romans 8:14; Acts 13:2, 2:17; 1 Cor. 12:7; 1 Thess. 5:19; Rev 22:18; Heb 13:17.
IMPORTANT
The Holy Spirit is given in the first place to stand by the children of God, and to
give discernment and insight,
" TO BE ABLE TO STAND AS WITNESSES OF THE
DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST AND
THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS THROUGH HIM"
" You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has comes on you;
and YOU SHALL BE MY WITNESSES" Acts 1:8
The other gifts may never therefore cause us to be distracted from this main
objective, but they should always be used for the help and support of the
children of God to win this world for Christ and to make them into true disciples
of God.
CONCLUSION
Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a part of our foundation. It is a supernatural "covering
with power" from heaven TO EQUIP US. It is confirmed by (among other signs)
speaking in tongues.
This baptism opens the door to a life in which both the gifts and the fruits of the
Spirit are to be found.
Questions:
1. How was Jesus prepared for His work on earth? Acts 10:38
2. Which promise did Jesus give His disciples just before He went back to His
Father in heaven? Acts :5,8.
3. Who is the promised gift of the Holy Spirit for? Acts 2:39.
Compare with Acts 1:8 and Matt 28: 19,20
4. Do you receive the Holy Spirit automatically when you first believe?
Acts 8:14-17; 19:1-7; Lk 11:13
5. Would Paul have liked all Christians to speak in tongues? 1 Cor 14:5
To: Cours 2 lesson 8