“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” Acts 2:17

A reporter of the The New York Times once asked Dr. George Wood, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God (USA) about the issue of speaking in tongues. He replied “There’s nothing unusual about what Pentecostals are doing today. If you look at the first-century church, all the writers of the New Testament spoke in tongues, and the Early Church spoke in tongues. So Pentecostalism, at its roots, is basically a restorationist movement. We believe that we can cut through 20 centuries of church tradition and get back to the original Church. It doesn’t mean that we do everything like the original Church, but we’re trying to have the same doctrine and experience of the Early Church.”

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a special experience following Salvation that empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times. In the article last week I had mentioned that this is an additional bonus for believers to be effective witness for God. It was so important to Jesus that He asked His disciples to go and “tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued (clothed) with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

Every born again believer need to eagerly seek the Lord for this outpouring from above. The disciples had to wait in the upper room for 10 days before being baptized in the Spirit. Remember, this Baptism is promised to every believer - both then and now. Some may get this immediately and other have to continue seeking the Lord. God’s desire and promise is to baptize each believer with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 11:13 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!

Acts 2:39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the LORD our God will call.

What does this baptism do in your life?

1. You receive Power to witness

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

2. You speak the Word of God boldly

Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

3. You build your most holy faith

Jude 20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.

 This experience allows a believer to be more than just a witness for God. It actually allows you “to be totally dependent” on God. 

- Dependent on Him for every aspect of your everyday life.

- Dependent on Him to understand the Word

- Dependent on Him to pray with power

- Dependent on Him to be able to witness

- Dependent on Him to live a holy life in this wicked world.

Let us earnestly seek the Lord for the Baptism in His Precious Holy Spirit!