Lesson 3: The Infilling/Baptism of the Holy Spirit
THE INFILLING/BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
When you receive Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, spiritual death is taken from you, and you become a new creature in Christ.
Without the Holy Spirit, your new birth wouldn’t be possible.
After you become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17) God’s desire and plan is that you receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
1. THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER
John 16:7 “I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is advantageous/good for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go away, I will send Him to you.”
Before Jesus was crucified.
Tells His disciples for the first time about the Holy Spirit.
Promise – He (the Holy Spirit) WILL be given to you.
Q – Why did Jesus say that it was advantageous for the disciples if He went away and sent the Holy Spirit to them?
Jesus was one man – i.e. He could only be in one place at one time.
The Holy Spirit (unlike Jesus) – able to dwell within all believers simultaneously because he is a Spirit.
In addition, the Holy Spirit is:
A) Omniscient - all knowing (1 Corinthians 2:10 & 11).
B) Omnipotent - all powerful (2 Timothy 1:7, Romans 1:20, Romans 15:18 & 19).
C) Omni present - can be everywhere at the same time (Psalm 139:7 & 10).
John 14:16 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another comforter that He may remain with you forever.”
Jesus promises the disciples that God the Father will give them the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit given because Jesus asks i.e. His prayer of petition to the Father.
When?
After He departs.
“Another” comforter = one of the same kind.
Luke 24:49 “I will send forth upon you what my Father has promised; but remain in the city (Jerusalem) until you are clothed with power from on high.”
After Jesus was crucified.
Before his ascension to heaven.
Jesus’ last words to His disciples before He departs (vs 51).
Illustration – parents giving final instructions to their children before they leave the house.
Jesus gives them he is final instructions i.e. significant/important instructions.
2. TWO SEPARATE EXPERIENCES – INDWELLING & INFILLING
The Bible clearly reveals that salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit are two separate experiences:
Salvation = indwelling by the Holy Spirit.
(KEY – within us).
The baptism with the Holy Spirit = infilling of the Holy Spirit.
· (KEY – upon us).
1. SALVATION:
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not die but have eternal life.”
Whoever = ALL i.e. the whole world.
Jesus = God’s gift to the world.
2. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 14:17 “The Spirit of Truth the Holy Spirit, who the world cannot receive because it does not know Him.”
The world cannot receive the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
They must first be born-again.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit = God’s gift to Believers.
There is a dual working of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament:
1. The Holy Spirit within = being born again.
2. The Holy Spirit Upon = the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Every born-again believer has the Holy Spirit in a measure within them through the new birth.
This is not the same as the baptism of the Holy Spirit that Jesus talked about in Luke 24:29, when the Holy Spirit comes upon a believer.
3. BE ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH
Luke 24:49 "I will send forth upon you what my Father has promised; but remain in the city (Jerusalem) until you are clothed with power from on high."
Q - What had the Father promised to give to them?
Q - Or more accurately who had the Father promised to give to them?
The Holy Spirit:
The third person of the Trinity/godhead.
Not an “it”.
He is a person.
Q - Why did the disciples have to wait for the Holy Spirit?
Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”
There was a reason Jesus commanded the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the day of Pentecost.
They needed to be clothed with power from on high.
They needed to be baptised with the Holy Spirit.
They needed to receive power .
“Power” - Greek “dunamis” - dynamic miracle working power.
this is the word from which we get the English word "dynamite."
Q - Why did they need to receive this power?
To be in empowered to be witnesses.
Matthew 28:19 The disciples were instructed by Jesus to “go“ - to be witnesses.
Luke 24: 29 But not to “go” without first receiving the power to “go.”
KEY - The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus prior to Him beginning His earthly ministry.
He was baptised in the Holy Spirit- John 1:32.
God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power before He began His ministry = Acts 10:38.
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me."
1. Salvation = is for you.
2. Baptism in the Holy Spirit = is for others i.e. witnessing, ministry, etc.
4. WHO BAPTISES US WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?
Mark 1:8 John the Baptist speaking “..I indeed have baptized you with water but He (Jesus) will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”
It is part of Jesus present day ministry to baptize believers with the Holy Spirit
5. HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE RECIEVED THIS GIFT?
Acts 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost had come they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all of the house where they were sitting. And there appeared on them cloven and tongues like as a fire, and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
· KEY – 1st filled with the Holy Spirit.
· THEN began to speak with other tongues.
· The disciples were born-again believers (John 20:22) before being filled with the Holy Spirit, and then speaking with other tongues.
Q - Was the gift of the Holy Spirit given only to the disciples?
After this experience Peter again preaching to the people in the city of Jerusalem.
Acts 2:38b – 39 “ You shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. So the promise is to you and for you, and to your children and to all that are a far off..”
It is clear that the gift of the Holy Spirit was not given only to the disciples.
Q - If we receive the same baptism in the Holy Spirit that they received in the New Testament then can we expect to receive the same initial sign that they had – the Bible evidence – speaking in tongues?
YES!!
The events in the book of Acts cover a number of years.
A) Phillip’s ministry in Samaria:
8 years after the day of Pentecost
Phillip carrying the gospel to the people of Samaria:
Acts 8:5 – 8; 12 “Then Phillip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to them. And people with one accord gave heed to the things which Phillips said, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. The unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them; and many taken with palsies and that which were lame, were healed and there was great joy in that city…but when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women.”
Many people in Samaria believed and were born-again and water baptised by Phillip.
When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard of the wonderful things God had done through Phillip’s ministry and Samaria.
As a result they sent Peter & John to lay hands on the new believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
The Apostles at Jerusalem knew that these new believers needed to be baptised in the Holy Spirit.
This biblical incident helps us to see that there is an experience subsequent to salvation called receiving the Holy Spirit.
B) Peter’s ministry in Cornelius's house:
10 years after the day of Pentecost.
Peter goes to Cornelius’ house to carry the gospel.
Cornelius is a Gentile i.e. not Jewish.
Up until that time the Church consisted of Jewish believers.
Neither Cornelius or his household were saved.
They didn't know about Jesus.
Acts 10:44 – 45 “While Peter was speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message. And the believers from among the circumcised (i.e. the Jews) who came with Peter were astonished, because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.”
· Q - What was the evidence that the Holy Spirit had fallen upon Cornelius and all his household?
Acts 10:46 “For they heard them speak with unknown tongues, and magnifying God.”
· Peter preached the gospel to Cornelius and his household.
· These people simply chose to believe and were born again as Peter preached to them.
· Then they receive the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues before he finished preaching his message!
· Q - What convinced Peter's company that these Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit?
· NB It was the fact that Cornelius and his household began speaking with other tongues!!
· Speaking in other tongues is evidence or proof that they had received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
· Jewish believers were astonished that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles!!
KEY - Speaking in other tongues is evidence or proof of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
C) Paul’s ministry in Ephesus:
20 years after the day of Pentecost.
Paul journeyed to Ephesus.
He met some believers and introduced them to the person of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:1 – 3, 6 “Paul came down to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he asked them, did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? (i.e. were born again) And they said to him, no, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. And asked, into what baptism then where you baptised? They said, into John’s baptism….On hearing this they were baptised again, this time in the name of the Lord Jesus. And as Paul laid his hands upon them, and the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with other tongues, and prophesied.”
These believers at Ephesus had never heard about the Holy Spirit.
When Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them.
They ALL (12 people) spoke with other tongues.
Every one of them – without waiting, without praising.
KEY – The baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experience that occurs after salvation
6. 8 BENEFITS OF SPEAKING/PRAYING IN TONGUES
Key – another term for “speaking/praying in tongues” = praying in the spirit.
We pray from our spirit as prompted by the Holy Spirit who lives with in us.
Tongues is the initial sign that you have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:4 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The Word of God teaches that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we speak with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives us utterance.
Speaking with other tongues = supernatural evidence we have of the infilling of the Holy Spirit .
It is a sign that you are a Believer
Mark 16:15 – 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak with new tongues.
Speaking in tongues is not just a gift given to some believers…
But to all believers i.e. to “those who believe” = being /saved/born again/being a Christian.
It is a good gift
1 Corinthians 14:18 Paul thanks God for the ability to speak in tongues.
Any gift that God gives us is good including the supernatural ability to speak in tongues.
It is the key to receiving revelation knowledge from God
1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all
Apostle Paul – wrote much about the subject of speaking in other tongues.
He obviously practised what he preached.
Paul received much revelation knowledge from God.
One key to his receiving so much revelation knowledge was his sensitivity to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
This sensitivity to the Holy Spirit obviously impacted by the amount of time he spent speaking in other tongues.
Much tongues is the key to receiving much revelation.
Includes revelation of what to do in a situation when you don't know what to do.
(OWN TESTIMONY –Dad Skilbeck - in the hospital)
You are speaking to God not to man.
1 Corinthians 14:2 "For one who speaks in an unknown tongues it is not to man but to God."
When you speak in tongues you are speaking from you spirit.
Remain conscious that you are talking to God.
God has given us the means to enjoy divine, supernatural communication with Him.
1 Corinthians 14:14 “For if I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.”
KEY = my spirit prays.
AMP - my spirit by the Holy Spirit within me, prays.
You are speaking "secret" things - the perfect will of God.
1 Corinthians 14:2 “For one who speaks in an unknown tongues speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding”
“Secret truths” = mysteries - to us.. Not God!
Many times your natural mind doesn't know how to pray or what to pray in some circumstances.
Praying in tongues enables us to:
Pray the perfect will of God your life.
Bypass our mind which has limited knowledge.
Access the wisdom of God, His perfect will.
Praying in tongues is the supernatural tool God has given us to tap into the mind of the Holy Spirit.
When we pray in tongues, we activate our spirit to understand as the Holy Spirit enlightens us.
7. You can worship God from your heart.
1 Corinthians 14:15b “I will sing with my spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding.”
A. I will sing by the Holy Spirit that is within me i.e. sing in tongues.
B. I will sing with my mind and understanding also.
1 Corinthians 14:16 says that we can bless and render thanks with our spirit.
We can give thanks from our heart that transcends our vocabulary.
Paul says praying in tongues provides the most perfect way to pray and to give thanks.
“You give thanks well” (vs 17).
You can give thanks to God in English, but there are times when words are simply not enough.
This is when you can begin to give thanks from your spirit - by praying/singing in tongues.
Your spirit man is built-up/edified.
Jude 20 "Build yourself up on your most holy faith praying in the spirit."
“The human spirit can be charged much like a car battery by praying in tongues.”
Edify = GK to "charge up".
Illustration: charging up a battery - camera/car when it gets "flat".
Praying in tongues is one way to exercise your spirit.
It is a spiritual exercise that strengthens your inner man.
Illustration: Physical body built up by using/lifting weights.
Praying in tongues will help build up your spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:4 "He who speaks in an unknown tongues edifies himself.”
This form of speaking in tongues for personal benefit – devotional.
It is possible to speak in tongues quietly wherever we are, even in the midst of ungodly situations.
Illustration – people cursing or using vulgar talk around us on-the-job or out in public.
It won't disturb anyone.
We can speak in tongues when we are on a train, bus, or airplane when we are driving the car.
Own testimony - working in an environment where carnal music has been played.
Talking in tongues is a way of keeping free from contamination.
7. HOW TO RECIEVE THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
I. Know that the Holy Spirit has already been given to us .
See - Acts 19:2; John 7:37.
II. Know that the Holy Spirit is a good gift.
Matthew 7:11 “Your Father who is in heaven gives good and advantageous things to those who ask Him.”
Luke 11:9 – 13 "If you then, .. 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?”
III. Know that you will not receive the wrong spirit.
Luke 11:13 God promises to give the Holy Spirit to those that ask Him.
· You do not need to be afraid.
IV. Be born-again.
· The only preparation you need to make to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to be born-again.
· Once you are born again you are ready to receive.
· The Holy Spirit is the gift - We simply receive Him.
V. Received the Holy Spirit by faith.
Mark 11:24 "For this reason I am telling you whatever you ask for in prayer, believing that it is given to you and you will get it.”
· Simply believe what God has said in His Word.
· Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
VI. Laying on of hands.
· You can receive by the laying on of hands see Acts 8:17.
· Or by simply receiving yourself see Acts 10:44 – 45.
Own testimony – Andrew - at home, Donita – in a meeting without the laying on of hands.
VII. You do the talking.
Acts 2:4 “as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance.”
· We receive the Holy Spirit first.
· Then we speak in tongues.
PRAY FOR PEOPLE TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IF APPLICABLE (prayer below).