Introduction

The church exist as a result of the Holy Spirit, it was He who gave birth to the body of Christ on the day of Pentecost when He was poured out upon the disciples.  Without the Spirit of God in the church, it would be nothing more than a social club or a service organization.  But when the Spirit of God is given His proper place, the body of Christ becomes a dynamic force of change in a sick and dying world. 

A.     The Work of Direction

1.     While on earth, Jesus directed the ministry of the Apostles.

a)       After the Ascension

1)           Jesus continued to direct the church, only now through the Holy Spirit.

2)           Through the Holy Spirit, He continues to guide His people.

2.     The Lord’s Plan was to Evangelize the World (Matt.28:18-20).

a)       The First Place was Jerusalem & then to Reach the World (Lk.24:47; Acts 1:8).

1)           The Power Available Would be the Power of the Holy Spirit (Lk.24:49; Acts 1:8).

(a)         Jesus Commanded the Disciples to Wait  (Acts 1:4-5).

(b)        The empowering by the Holy Spirit is what Jesus entitled the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

(1)        Jesus also referred to this as the promise of the Father which He already told them about (Lk 24:49 cf. Joel 2:28). 

(2)        Such Scriptures as Jn 7:37-39,14:15-17 reveal the fact the Holy Spirit would take over where Jesus left off.  John merely baptized people in water but there was coming a time when people would be immersed (baptized) with the Holy Spirit. 

2)           Six Lessons to be Learned from these Verses.

(a)         We need to learn how to wait upon God’s timing.  He told the disciples to wait even though it was a good thing they were commissioned to do—They Obeyed His Command. 

(b)        We need the power of God to do the work of God.

(c)         The power is available to every believer through the Holy Spirit.

(d)        God want’s to empower weak & limited individuals to accomplish His work.

(e)         Nobody is excluded from His work due to his or her own weakness; God wants to empower every believer to do His will.

B.      The Real Baptism of Fire – Luke 3:16

In the Church today there exist two major views concerning the doctrine of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.  There are many that teach salvation and the baptism with the Holy Spirit are one in the same thing.  There are many on the other hand that teach these are separate experiences in the Christian's life. I believe they are two separate experiences.  In order to prove this one needs to go directly to the Scriptures and discover the truth contained in them. 

We will look at this doctrine in five areas which include: 

(1)   There is a Baptism with the Holy Spirit;

(2)   Jesus is the Baptizer;

(3)   The purpose;

(4)   The four prepositions used in conjunction with the believer and the Holy Spirit;

(5)   The distinction between salvation and the baptism with the Holy Spirit

1.     There is a Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

a)       Read Matthew 3:11

(1)         Who is speaking here?  John the Baptist

(2)         What does he say about himself?  He baptizes with water unto repentance

(3)         What does he say about Christ?  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit & fire

(4)         This same statement occurs in Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33-34.

b)      Read Acts 1:4-8

(1)         According to Acts 1:4-8, what were the disciples to wait for in Jerusalem specifically mentioned in verse 4?  The Promise of the Father—baptism of the Holy Spirit

c)       Read Acts 10:44-48

(1)         What happened here?  The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the Word (v.44), the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the gentiles’ (v.45).

(2)         In Acts 11:14-18, Peter is telling the story of what happened in Acts 10 and what does he call it in 11:16?   The Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

2.     Jesus is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit.

a)       Note the Importance of Jesus Being the Baptizer!

(1)         It is important to see that Jesus is the one who baptizes people with the Holy Spirit in order to prove it is a distinct experience apart from salvation. 

(2)         Each person of the Trinity has their role in the work of salvation and it is imperative that one sees the difference. 

(3)         The Father sent the Son, and the Son died on the cross and the Holy Spirit sealed the person.  Who does John 1:33-34, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16 and Matthew 3:11 say will be the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit?  Jesus

b)      In Acts 2 the disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit. 

(1)         In verses 32,33, who is the one pouring out the Holy Spirit?  Jesus

(2)         According to Luke 24:49, who will send forth the promise of the Holy Spirit?  Jesus

3.     The Purpose of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

a)       What the Scriptures Indicate the Purpose of the Holy Spirit Is. 

(1)         Many try to teach it is for the purpose of receiving gifts (especially tongues) but this is not Scriptural. 

(2)         The clearest and most concise verse in the Bible concerning the purpose of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is found in Acts 1:8--What does it say its purpose is?

(3)         The clear teaching of Scripture is that it is to “receive power to be a witness for Christ”. 

b)      Read Luke 24:44-49

(1)         What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit coming mentioned especially in verse 49?   Power

(2)         What is it associated with in verse 48?  (Just as in Acts 1:8).  To be witnesses

c)       Read Acts 2:16-21

(1)         What does Peter say in Acts 2:16-21 would be the result of those having the Spirit poured out upon?

(2)         The baptism with the Holy Spirit is not an experience, which brings a person to completion, but is the point of entry into the supernatural realm.  When the Scriptures (Acts 1:8) speak of receiving power to be a witness it refers to being the type of witness illustrated in the entire book of Acts.  This would include love being the most important manifestation but also the power of God (gifts, miracles, salvation, casting out demons) being manifested in your life.

4.     The Four Prepositions used in conjunction with the Holy Spirit and the Believer.

a)       These are within, upon, and filling – Read John 16:7-11

(1)         What is the Holy Spirit trying to show people who have not accepted Christ?

(2)         In John 14:16,17, what two prepositions are used here?  (para “with”) & (en “in”)

(3)         Before one is saved is the Holy Spirit with the person convicting them of their need for Christ?

(a)         The disciples went from para to en in John 20, when Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

(b)        The same thing characterizes our own experience prior to conversion.

b)      The next relationship centers around the preposition “en”.

(1)         According to Romans 8:9, where does the Spirit dwell?  “en” in you

(2)         The moment you accepted Jesus as the Lord of your life, the Holy Spirit came into you and began to indwell you, you went from para to en.

(3)         Not every believer, however, has the baptism with the Holy Spirit.  

c)       The next relationship relates to the word upon – “epi”.  

(1)         This is the same as the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

(2)         Where does the Holy Spirit come in Acts 1:8 in relation to the person?  Upon you

(3)         What about in Luke 24:49?  ”upon you”

(4)         Acts 19:1-7? (esp. v. 6) “ upon them”

(a)         This epi empowers the believer for service—Ex. of “jack hammer” & “cup of water”

(b)        The same power that raised Jesus from the dead & seated Him in heaven is present in you by God’s Spirit to:

q   cause you to overflow with hope (Romans 15:13)

q   help you bear up under and escape temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13)

q   equip you to be a servant (Ephesians 3:7)

q   give you inner strength (Ephesians 3:16)

q   allow God to do more than you can ask or imagine in and through your life (Eph.3:20)

q   equip you to resist Satan (Ephesians 6:11)

q   provide endurance and patience (Colossians 1:11)

q   help you work hard for Him (Colossians 1:29)

q   shield you (1 Peter 1:5)

q   provide everything you need for life & godliness (2 Peter 1:3)

d)      The next relationship is the filling of the Holy Spirit.

(1)         This is an experience the believer needs on a daily basis. 

(2)         What does Eph. 5:18 exhort us to be?   “to be filled with the Spirit”

(3)         This literally means keep being filled with the Holy Spirit.  “filled with the Spirit” 

(4)         What happened to the Apostles in Acts 4:31 and 4:8?  “filled with the Spirit”

C.     The Distinction Between the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and Salvation

Many teach that the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and salvation are one and the same experience based on a couple of verses.  When these verses are examined in light of others they do not stand on their own. 

It is one thing to be born of the Spirit; it is yet another to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.   

1.     The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is separate & distinct from regeneration.

a)       The First Verse Pointed to is Eph. 4:5 which States there is Only One Baptism. 

(1)         Salvation is not synonymous with the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. 

(2)         What type of baptism is mentioned in Matt. 28:18-20?  Water

(3)         What type of baptism is mentioned in Matt? 3:11?  Water

(4)         Does not this mention at least two different types of baptisms found in the Scriptures?  Yes

(5)         If you read Eph. 4:1-5 in context, one can see Paul is emphasizing the unity of the Body of Christ in that section, and that there is only one baptism into the Body of Christ.  Or, in other words, there is only one salvation, not many.

a)       The Main Verse used to Try to Prove the Terms are Synonymous is I Cor. 12:13. 

(1)         This verse is speaking of the salvation experience and not the empowering of Acts 1:8. 

(2)         The problem is that people see baptism and spirit and try to say this is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

(3)         But whom does Matthew 3:11 say will baptize with the Holy Spirit?  Jesus

(4)         Who does I Cor. 12:13 say is doing the baptizing?  The Holy Spirit

2.     How this worked out in the Apostles lives and during the early church. 

a)       The Work in the Early Church.

(1)         What did Jesus say about the Holy Spirit and the Apostles in John 14:16-17?

(2)         But when did the Apostles receive the Spirit, or by using the prepositions, when did the Apostles have the Holy Spirit come in them? 

(3)         Turn to John 20:21-23--What did Jesus give them when He breathed on them?

(4)         But now one must notice what He told them to do in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4?

(5)         And what did Jesus call this event in Acts 1:5?  Baptized with the Holy Spirit

b)      Read Acts 8:5-17. 

(1)         What were the two responses of the people according to Acts 8:6,12?  Heard & were baptized

(2)         So, were these believers or unbelievers?  Believers

(3)         But what did the Apostles pray for these people, according to Acts 8:14-17?

(4)         Notice that verse 16 did not say these people had not yet had the Holy Spirit in them but He had not yet fallen upon them. 

(5)         The Church only baptizes (or should) believers and these believers needed the Holy Spirit to “come upon them” or in other words to experience the baptism with the Holy Spirit for power.

c)       Another place in the Word where this sequence is found is in Acts 19:1-7. 

(1)         What did Paul do to these people in verse 5?  Water baptized

(2)         So were they believers or unbelievers?  Believers

(3)         Then what did he do in verse 6?  Laid hands on them & the Holy Spirit came upon them.

(4)         Notice the preposition in verse 6, of where the Holy Spirit came-which is “upon”. 

(5)         The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is “clearly an experience after salvation for the believer to have the Holy Spirit come upon him to receive power to be a witness”.  

(6)         But in some cases (as in Acts 10:44-48) it can occur at the same time as salvation. 

(7)         But in any case, the result is to be His Witnesses, then on a daily basis according to Eph. 5:18, one needs to be continually filled with the Spirit.

D.     The Power Beyond Ourselves.

1.     God Gives Us this Power for a Purpose.

a)       The Result of the Baptism of the Spirit is to be A Witness for Jesus Christ

1)           Receiving the Power to be a Witness for Jesus Christ. 

(a)         The word “witness” comes from the Greek word martus, which means “martyr.”  Jesus seams to be saying, “You shall receive power to live for Me and, if necessary, even to die for Me.”

(1)        A witness is someone who tells others what he has seen and heard (Acts 4:20).

(2)        But our witness is not only to be in our words, but also in our conduct (Phil.1:27; Col.1:9-12).

2.     Rekindling the Fire of the Holy Spirit.

We need to rekindle the fire of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and let it blaze out through our lives to touch the world around us!

a)       Turning Our Nation Around—Right Side Up

1)           Revive Your Fire Within Me Lord

(a)         When God Speaks of Turning a Nation Around:

(1)        He doesn’t Direct His Comments to Unbelievers, they are dead in sin (Eph.2:1-3).

(2)        Were the ones that need revival, His people (2 Chron.7:14 cf. Ps.84:11).

(b)        Our responsibility is to attend to our walk with God.

(1)        Emptying Me of Myself & letting Christ shine through (John 3:30)

(2)        Seeking daily to be what He has called us to be from the beginning.

(3)        As we make obedience & faithfulness our focus, God promises to send healing both to our lives and our land.

b)      Three Guidelines to Help Reignite the Fire of God in Us.

1)           Revive the Fire in Your Own Heart.

(a)         This will happen when you anchor your daily life in the disciplines of:

(1)        Worship, Bible Study, Prayer, Faithful Service & by Welcoming God’s direction in the everyday routine of your life

2)           Open Your Life to Others So God’s Fire Within You can Touch others as well.

(a)         Having fellowship with other believers (Acts 2:42)—ill. of hot coals close togther.

(b)        Reach out & disciple those around you & unbelievers as well.

3)           Maintain the Fire Within Your Life When You Commitment is Challenged (Matt.13:18-23)

(a)         Christians will suffer persecution (2 Tim.3:12).

(b)        Trials & temptation will afflict us (Acts 4:22).

c)       Unbelief is a Great Obstacle to God’s Work

1)           Jesus Could Not Display His Full Power Because of Unbelief (Matt.13:58)

(a)         Unbelief starts by saying, “I don’t think God can work powerfully in my life.”

(b)        It is like “putting your hand over you cup and saying to the waitress who comes by to fill up your soda, “No thank you.”

(c)         Unbelief is placing your hand over your life and saying to God, “No thank you.”

(d)        This promise is to you (Acts 2:39) 

d)      Different Experiences, Same Event

(1)         The Book of Acts records a variety of experiences, methods, and ways by which people received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

·                  Acts 2—a noise from heaven that sounded like a mighty, rushing wind filled the entire house.  Cloven tongues as of fire sat upon each of the disciples and they all began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them the ability.

·                  Acts 8—the gift of the Holy Spirit was imparted by the laying on of hands by Paul and John.

·                  Acts 9—the Holy Spirit was imparted to Paul by Ananias, “a nobody”, a common believer from Damascus.

·                  Acts 10—Peter’s message was interrupted when the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles, who began to speak in tongues.

·                  Acts 19—Paul laid hands on the people in Ephesus, and they spoke in tongues & prophesied.

(2)         Note that no two experiences were the same—God is not bound by a particular method or by a particular way of doing things. 

3.     The Reception of the Holy Spirit – Acts 2:1-4

a)       The First Coming of the Holy Spirit—Day of Pentecost

1)           The Believer Receives a New Nature

(a)         When the Holy Spirit comes into a person's life, He regenerates a person from being dead in sins and trespasses (Eph 2:1-3) to that of having a new nature or as Titus 3:5 calls it the regeneration.  This new nature is made after the image and likeness of Jesus Christ (Col 3:10). 

2)           The Believer Receives a New Power

(a)         When the Holy Spirit fills a person, He supplies him with the power to be a witness for Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8).  This power also helps in the battle against sin and produces godly character (Gal 5:16-26).

(b)        The believer has a threefold relationship to the Holy Spirit.

3)           The Believer Receives a New Relationship

(a)         When the Holy Spirit enters a person's life they come into a unity with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  This new relationship is described as a Father-Son relationship where the Spirit causes us to cry out Abba (daddy)-Father (Rom 8:15-16).