Baptism in the Holy Spirit
An Experience Subsequent to Salvation
The word subsequent means: occurring or coming later or after (often followed by to): subsequent events. 2. Following in order of succession; succeeding: a subsequent section in a book.
There is an experience that is subsequent to salvation that is called, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, that many churches don’t teach new believers about. Many churches teach that once you are saved and have become a believer, you have all of the Holy Spirit that there is, or all that is possible. To better understand the Ministry of the Holy Spirit and the need to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:12-13, 12) But when they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13) Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
There is a work of the Holy Spirit involved in the new birth (salvation), but that work is not called receiving the Holy Spirit (Baptism in the Holy Spirit). It is called being born again (receiving salvation, the new birth, or receiving eternal life). The experience that follows salvation is called, receiving the Holy Spirit, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, or being filled with the Holy Spirit.
When we are born again by the Word of God, Peter says we are born, “not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” (1 Peter 1:23)
Then, in Acts 8: 14-17 it states: 14) Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15) Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Notice again that in verse 14 it says, “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God…” This shows that the Samaritans were saved and the apostles also believed they were saved, because after they heard the wonderful things God had done through Philip’s ministry, they sent Peter and John to lay hands on them (the new believers) that they might receive the Holy Ghost.
There is no record in these scriptures that any of the people upon which Peter and John laid their hands, did not receive the Holy Ghost. The Bible states, “Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:17).
Further, Acts 1:5 states, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
When Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans, they did not pray that God would give them the Holy Spirit, they prayed that the Samaritans would receive the Holy Spirit. If we receive the same Holy Spirit the many people in the New Testament received, then one of the signs of that is that we will speak with other tongues.
Speaking in tongues is an integral and important part of receiving the Holy Spirit or being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Paul said, “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all” (I Corinthians 14:18).
Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church and strongly encouraged the believers to speak in tongues in their own private prayer time and he gives several reasons for this:
I Corinthians 14:2,4,13, 2) For he that speaketh in an unknown tongues speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 4) He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edified himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 13) Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
While all tongues aren’t prayer, however, tongues spoken by a believer in his/her own private prayer life, this tongue is given to him to use in worship to God: “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edified himself…”The word “edifieth” means to build oneself up or to “charge” or to “build” up, like the charging of a battery. A more correct translation would be, “He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies, charges, or builds himself up like a battery.”
Speaking in tongues is a wonderful and supernatural means of spiritual edification and is not for just a few of God’s children: it is for every one of them and is given for spiritual edification. You don’t have to speak in tongues, you get to speak in tongues!
If you wish additional information about the gift of receiving the Holy Spirit or to pray with someone to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you can contact Wellspring Church at the following:
Wellspring Church
775-870-6327 - (phone)
Wellspringchurchwv@cfaith.com (email)
http://wellspringchurchwv.org (website)