Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit for You?

Jesus was so dependent on the Holy Spirit throughout his earthly ministry. Before his ascension, he told his disciples about this “gift” from His Father – the Promised Holy Spirit. “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

Again in Acts 1:4,5 he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

As instructed, his disciples gathered together in the upper room waiting for this gift from above. Acts 2:4 records that a 120 followers of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 

We can’t read the Book of Acts and ignore the subject of speaking in tongues. The word tongues means languages. We notice repeatedly that whenever people were filled in the Holy Spirit, they began speaking in an unknown tongue. Basically, the Holy Spirit’s powerful presence enabled Jesus’ followers to speak to God in languages they had never learned.

Acts 10 records Peter’s ministry to a group of non-Christians in Cornelius’s home. These people received Jesus as their personal Saviour and then spoke in tongues when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 10:45,46).

Then we read about the Apostle Paul’s visit to Ephesus. There he met 12 followers of John the Baptist who accepted Jesus as their Lord. Subsequently, “When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:6).

In Acts 9 Saul of Tarsus had an encounter with the risen Lord that completely changed him and he was filled in the Holy Spirit. Speaking of this experience, he declares in I Cor. 14:18 “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.”

Speaking in tongues was the “normal experience” of the New Testament believer. God takes the most unruly part of our body – the tongue – and brings it under the control of the Holy Spirit. At this experience, God causes us to speak a language that we haven’t learnt nor can we understand it. 

1 Cor. 14:14,15 “If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. … I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind” 

Paul pointed out, “Anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God” (1 Cor. 14:2). You see, speaking in tongues is primarily (though not exclusively) for addressing God from the human spirit. It’s a Direct Prayer Language between you and God. The devil doesn’t understand it but in the Spirit you are speaking mysteries (1 Cor. 14:2).

This experience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for ALL New Testament believers – including “YOU.” You will receive “Power” when the Holy Ghost comes upon you and you will be His witnesses in your home, your neighbourhood, your office, your state and beyond.

All you have to do is to ask in faith and the gift is yours. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)

So go ahead and ask. And you shall receive.