Spiritual Gifts #4 ~ The Baptism “In” the Holy Spirit

Spiritual Gifts #4
The Baptism “In” the Holy Spirit

By Pastor Gary Wayne

Text: Matthew 3:11, 1Corinthians 12:12-13 , Acts 1:4-9, John 20:19-22
What was the one event that was the transition from the Old Covenant to the New?
When did the new dispensation start that we have today? Jesus’ Death! (It is finished)
Following His resurrection, Jesus spent the next 40 days teaching before ascending to heaven. Then His followers had 10 days of prayer. (Acts 1)
After ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of God, Fifty days after His resurrection, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit as promised (John 14:16–17) to baptize His followers “in” the Holy Spirit and empower them for ministry.

The Bible doesn’t give us very much of that teaching and time, just a few snapshot encounters. (40 days) John 20:19-22

When God breathed into Adam and Eve what happened? They came alive.
I see this event in Jn.20 as the transition from the terms of the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.
When we are born again, our spirit man comes alive to God, and His breath, His ruwach (roo'-akh) comes into us. That’s the Holy Spirit.
When we are born again, we receive the Holy Spirit to live and dwell in us.

This wasn't the giving of "the promise of the Father”, or the baptism “in” the Holy Spirit. That didn't happen until Acts 2.
Again, Note that this account where Jesus said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” took place about 50 days before Pentecost.
Pentecost wasn't for salvation or to have the Holy Spirit live in us, it was to empower us to live and minister with power to be witnesses.

In Acts 2, we have the account of the “Baptism “in” the Holy Spirit.”
Often this happening in incorrectly referred to as the Baptism “of” the Holy Spirit, which is different.
Today I want to look at three different baptisms talked about in Scripture.
Let’s look at the last words Jesus said in Acts 1.

Acts 1:4-9 In ver.5, there are two different baptisms. We will look at a third one shortly.

1. The Baptism “of” the Holy Spirit – The Baptism the Holy Spirit does.
1Cor.12:12-13 This is clearly speaking about when we are saved, we become a part of the “body of Christ.” Ver.13 uses the wording “by the Spirit we are all baptized” into on the body.”
This is the baptism “of” the Holy Spirit – the action of the Holy Spirit – He baptizes us into Christ at salvation. So the baptism “of” the Holy Spirit is into salvation.

2. The Baptism “of” Jesus – The Baptism Jesus does. Mat.3:11
John the Baptist wasn’t speaking to the 12 disciples.
They weren’t called until the next chapter.

This was not just for the 120 in the upper room.
John was saying Jesus the Messiah will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
When Messiah comes, this is what He does.
Mrk.1:8, Luk3:16, Jn.1:33, Acts 1:5

So the baptism Jesus does is “baptizing us “in” or “with” the Holy Spirit.
This is partly why Jesus said it was important for Him to go away, so He could send the Holy Spirit. (Joh.16:7)

3. The Baptism “of” the believer. – The Baptism we do.
Mat.28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,…”
What does water baptism represent? Death, burial, resurrection.
This is the baptism the followers of Jesus do to new converts. (Not just clergy.)

Many confuse the first two baptisms as being the same, but as I study them, it is clear to me they are TOTALLY different.
The baptism “of” the Holy Spirit is into salvation.
Jesus baptizes us “in” / with the Holy Spirit.

19 years after Jesus baptized the believers in the upper room “in” the Holy Spirit we have this account with Paul.
Acts 19:1-6 Why did the apostle that wrote ¾ of the NT ask this question? Didn’t Paul understand correct theology?
This happening is another reference point to the Baptism “in” the Holy Spirit being a separate event from when we are saved.

Gary’s reasoning. I can be a Christian and have the Holy Spirit, when I receive the “Baptism “in” the Holy Spirit,” I receive the fullness of, or a release of the Holy Spirit in a greater measure.

It has been my experience that the people who receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit the easiest, are young people, or people ignorant of how it all works.
They just simply believe and receive.
Adults who are trying to “figure God out” seem to be more resistant, afraid of “doing it wrong. Or not doing it right.
My desire / need to understand often hinder me from what God has.

“Child like” faith is SOOOOOO important.
However you see it working – baptized at salvation, or baptized after, JUST SEEK HIM! God I want more of You!