Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

READ Acts 1:1 - 2:38.

After Jesus had risen from the dead he showed himself alive to the Apostles for a period of forty days, giving them infallible proofs and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom. Whilst being assembled with them he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem.

Why did Jesus command them to wait? Acts 1:4

..but wait for .......    ........................ of the ................... , ................, ..........   .......... , ...........

............ ................. ........ ...........

What did Jesus imply this promise was in verse 1:5 ? .. but ye shall be ................... with the

.....................  ...................... not many ................... hence.

In referring to Christ, what did John the baptist say that Jesus would do? Mark 1:8

I indeed have baptized you with water: but he ..............  .......................... you with .........

.................... .........................

Please note that the word "Ghost" when used in the scriptures can also be translated " Spirit".

The Holy Ghost is the same as The Holy Spirit.

What were they also promised they would recieve when the Holy Ghost is come upon them?

Acts 1:8 But ye shall .........................   ......................... after that  ......  .................. .............

is come upon you.

And what would they do? Acts 1:8 and ye shall be .......................... unto me in .....................,

and in all ....................... and ...................., and unto the uttermost ............. of the ................

READ ACTS Chapter 2

Obedience is one of the Keys into the Kingdom of God. The apostles waited in Jerusalem as Jesus commanded them. On the day of  Pentecost* they were gathered together in one accord, suddenly they heard a sound from heaven of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all of the house where they were sitting. As this rushing mighty wind filled all of the house it is easy to see that the occupants of the house were totally immered, overwhelmed by this move of the Holy Spirit. Following the sound from heaven, they saw cloven tongues like as of fire settling upon each one of them.

This was the fulfillment of an old testament phrophecy given by the phropet Joel.

Lets examine what happened:

Acts 2:4 They were all .................... .......... the ...............  ..................., and began to ...............

with ...............  ........................., as the ..................  gave them ......................

It is important to note here that when they began to speak with other tongues it was not the Holy Spirit talking, but the Holy Spirit giving them the words to say.

In this mighty move of the Holy Spirit there were many nationalities present who heard their own languages being spoken by Galilaeans, speaking the wonderful works of God. They were confounded, amazed and marvelled saying ' how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? '

Others mocking said ' These men are full of new wine '. In fact this was the new wine and they were drunk but not from alcohol but drunk in the Holy Spirit.

How did Peter explain the events? Acts 2:16

But this is that which was ..................... by the ........................   .....................

Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How did Peter describe the recieving of the Holy Spirit?  Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one  of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall  receive ..........   ..........  of the Holy Ghost.

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the promise from the Father the gift administered by Jesus.

Does the Holy Spirit automatically fall upon everyone who has been baptised into Jesus?

As this baptism is administered by Jesus we see accounts in scripture where Jesus does it himself, where nobody touches the people ( Acts 10 ), and also where he administers it through his body on the earth through the laying on of hands by Christians with that ministry. ( Acts 8:15-19, Acts 19:6)

Those in scripture who laid on hands for the recieving of the Holy Spirit, were i) the apostles and ii) Ananias, a certain disciple from Damascus.

Simon a newly baptized man tried to buy this ability with money, he was well rebuked by Peter!!

From scripture we can see that these men, the apostles and Ananias, were moved by God to lay hands on people for the administration of the Holy Spirit. It is interesting to note that Ananias was given the title ' a certain disciple ' . There we find the qualification for the laying on of hands  for this administration. It has to be done by a disciple of Jesus. That is, any disciplined Christian who is given the unction from God to lay hands on a fellow believer for the Holy Spirit.

Does everybody pray in tongues once they have recieved the Holy Spirit?

To answer this question we have to ask another two questions.

1. When we have been baptized in the Holy Spirit do we automatically have the ability to pray in tongues?

2. If we have not yet prayed in tongues, though have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, is the baptism valid?

To question one I would answer. In scripture there in no account of anybody reciving the gift of the Holy Spirit who did not pray in tongues! In fact the evidence of somebody praying in tongues was deemed sufficient proof that they had been baptized in the Holy Spirit.

As the scriptures do not point blank say " every believer baptized in the Holy Spirit will speak in tongues ", we cannot form absolute doctrine in this regard. I believe the reason for this is that God will not force you to do something that you don't want to. In every account of the baptism in the Spirit in scripture we see the believers praying in tongues. Thus we have very strong reason to suggest that this ability to pray in tongues is almost automatic.

In all my experience of praying for people to pray in tongues every one of them, almost without exception has been released into this gift of the Holy Spirit, praying in tongues.

So what causes the blockages some people experience with this gift?

1. Faith.            ' God will do it for other people but not for me'.

Well, you get what you believe! The antidote for this is strong teaching from the word. e.g. Mark 16:17   And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

The teacher, helper, disciple, midwife who is helping the new believer to receive this gift should convince them from scripture. Using your faith you should assuade them of what will happen. Give them your faith to help convince them. Testimonies are helpful.

What is it for, what does it do?

Acts 10:45 (KJV)   And they of the circumcision which believed were  astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was  poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:46 (KJV)   For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.  Then answered Peter, 47)  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be  baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48)  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the  Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Acts 11:15 (KJV)   And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on  us at the beginning. 16)   Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said,  John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17)  Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did  unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could  withstand God?

Acts 19:1 (KJV)   And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth,  Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding  certain disciples, 2) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye  believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there  be any Holy Ghost. 3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And  they said, Unto John's baptism. 4) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of  repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which  should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5)  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the  Lord Jesus. 6)  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost  came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.