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Holy Spirit baptism is the most significant evidence that we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
Jesus uses the words “born again” to describe this evidence in his conversation with Nicodemus.
John 3:1-8
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
God's Family
The Bible teaches us that God is in a family which consists primarily of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. There are three persons in the Godhead, but there is only one God. The fact that there are three persons in one God is known as the Trinity. Churches that teach about the Trinity are sometimes called “Trinitarian Churches”. Churches that do not teach this fact but instead teach that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are not part of God are referred to as “Unitarian Churches”.
In the history of Christianity, the subject of the Trinity has caused enormous divisions and controversy amongst believers. There are many Unitarian groups who believe that there is only one Person in the Godhead, God the Father. They believe that Christ is the anointed servant of God, a human being with certain divine qualities. They believe that the Holy Spirit is “a kind of energy or force” that demonstrates the presence of God.
We do not want to re-open this controversy. The Trinity is an article of faith supported by the portrayal of the Godhead in scripture, and our own personal relationship with God through Christ Jesus, and God’s Holy Spirit.
We personally believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As the Scripture says: “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” (2Corinthians 13:8)
We have been incorporated into this wondrous family through Jesus Christ, by faith in His sinless life, the blood that He shed on the cross, and the outpouring of His Holy Spirit upon us. Accordingly, we know the Trinity to be sacrosanct truth. It is impossible for any other contrary teaching or wind of doctrine to sway us away from this important truth when we have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
In other words, we have made up our mind that, from the evidence of the Bible, and our own personal relationship with God, God can be understood as God, the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit.
However, there is only one God and He is indivisible but He operates in our life and in the world at large through Himself, His Son and His Holy Spirit, in unity.
THE PRESENCE AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
The Holy Spirit is present at the time of creation - (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:29-30) He is God’s creative Spirit, the executive Spirit of God. Through Him, God commissions and brings into being things which did not previously exist. The whole of creation was created out of nothing by “God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” (Romans 4:17; Hebrews 11:1-4)
Part of His commissioning role relates to “anointing”, which means “to set someone or something apart for God’s sacred use”. The Old Testament is full of instances when God’s Holy Spirit anoints kings and prophets, He anoints the priests. Often, this role is dramatised through the use of the “anointing oil”. (1Samuel 16:3)
The Holy Spirit is essentially “the Prophet” in the Old Testament, and in this sense, He teaches the truth of God and He reveals to the believer the true condition of their own heart. (Jeremiah 7:12-14, 25; Jeremiah 26:4-6; Jeremiah 29:19; Jeremiah 32:33)
THE PRESENCE AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The role of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is not different. For believers to become a new creation, they have to be born again. (John 3:1-7; 2Corinthians 5:17; 1Peter 1:3-5) Water baptism is an essential part of this process, and the Holy Spirit hovers over the face of the waters to bring into birth new men and women enrolled in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Genesis 1:1-4)
To be born again is to come into God’s new covenant. The Old Covenant was made with the people of Israel through Moses. (Exodus 20). In the Book of Jeremiah God promises to inaugurate a new covenant with the house of Israel. However, this new covenant will not be limited to those who are Israelites by birth. God will expand the nation of Israel to include all those who believe in Him through Jesus Christ. (Jeremiah 31:31; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:14-18; Luke 22:19-20; Luke 24:44-49; Acts 2:1-4, 38-39; Acts 17:24-31; Ephesians 1:7-12; Ephesians 2:11-22; 1Peter 2:9-10). The Holy Spirit plays an important role in this process of new birth. He recreates us.
He is also the commissioner and the anointer. (Matthew3:13-17; Acts 13:1-3)
THE NATURE OF HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM
Essentially, Holy Spirit baptism relates to the event that happens in our life as we pray and believe in the name of Jesus, following our conversion. We will know we are baptised in the Holy Spirit when we are conscious of the God’s presence and closeness to us, when we are conscious that God is now dwelling within our body. God’s Holy Spirit takes up residence in our body. (John 14:15-17, 20-23; 2Corinthians 6:19)
This event can be described in many ways: the dove descends upon Jesus (Mark 1:9-11); tongues as of fire descended upon believers in the upper room (Acts 2:1-4). It may be accompanied by a sound from heaven, the rushing of wind, a sense of being filled up, hair may stand on end, tingling sensation, visions, voices, speaking in tongues, falling into trance, involuntary quaking of limbs or the whole body, spasms of emotions ranging from laughter to tears.
However, there is always a union with Christ Jesus, an apprehension of the nearness of God and His awesome Presence, indescribable peace and joy, a great hope, a great faith, a dynamic energy that is supernatural and very empowering. This experience can recur from time to time, especially, at times of intense worship, praise and praying. You can be re-filled by the power of the Holy Ghost! (Acts 4:34) |
You may wish to check the following scriptures:
Genesis 1:26; 18:1-2;
Isaiah11:2;
Isaiah 30:1;
Isaiah 32:15;
Isaiah 34:16;
Isaiah 40:13;
Isaiah 44:3;
Isaiah 48:16;
Isaiah 59:19-21;
Isaiah 61:1;
Isaiah 63:10-14;
Psalm 2:1-6;
Psalm 16:10;
Psalm 110:1-4;
Proverbs 8:22-36;
Matthew 28:18-19;
John 1:1-5;
John 10:30;
John 14:11, 23, 28;
John 15:23, 26;
John 16:5-15, 28-33;
John 17:1-5, 9-11, 20-21;
Acts 1:2, 5, 8, 16;
Acts 5:3, 32;
Acts 6:10;
Acts 7:51;
Acts 8:29, 39;
Acts 10:19;
Acts 13:2-4;
Acts 15:28;
Acts 16:6-7;
Acts 18:5;
1John 5:7.
PRAYING FOR HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM
Holy Spirit baptism comes through:
(1) Laying on of hands by the Apostles; the preaching of the Living Word -
Acts 8:5-8, 14-17;
Acts 9:10-12, 15-18;
Acts 10:44-48;
Acts 19:1-7
(2) A person desiring this baptism and praying for it to happen -
Matthew 6:8;
Matthew 7:7-11;
Matthew 18:18-19;
Matthew 21:22;
Mark 11:24;
Luke 11:13;
John 14:13-14;
John 15:7, 16;
John 16:23-24
EXERCISING THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1Corinthians 14:1-6, 12-40
Tongues - This is the initial gift of the Holy Spirit.
Although many people believe that speaking in tongues is the primary evidence of Holy Spirit baptism, a diligent search of scripture reveals that speaking in tongues is an initial evidence of Holy Spirit baptism in the New Testament. (Acts 2:4;
Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6).
Any of the other gifts listed in 1Corinthians 12 can also serve as initial evidence of Holy Spirit baptism.
If you wish to know more, please click here.
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