Title: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Theme: To show the importance of being baptized with the Holy Spirit
Text: Acts 19:1-7
¶ And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. ¶ And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (Revelation 19:1-6 AV)
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
Last we discussed that fact that if we were going to get in tuned with God then we must get in tuned with his Spirit. God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. This is so important when it comes to the time of praise and worship that we give to God.
This week I got to see a beautiful sight of young people gathered around the altars. When you think the country is going to pot God gives you a new vision of what he is doing. Raising up people to preach and People who see the importance of the Spirit. This is what Paul was trying to tell these at Ephesus.
The coming of the Holy Spirit had been heard about for many years now. Almost thirty years before we hear it mentioned by last Old Testament prophet and the first New Testament preacher John the Baptist. Turn with me to Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11 AV)
Soon Jesus Himself began to preach and talk about the Holy Spirit. It is said that Jesus taught four specific things about the Holy Spirit.
1. The Spirit as the giver
He recognized the Spirit as God’s gift, the key to all God has for us (Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13)
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:9-13 AV)
2. The Spirit as the speaker
He promised that the Spirit would be with His disciples to help them in ministry and to anoint them even in the midst of persecution. ( Matthew 10:16-20; Mark 13:9-11; Luke 12:11,12; 21:12-15)
But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father (Holy Ghost Luke 12:11,12) which speaketh in you. (Matthew 10:19-20 AV)
3. The Spirit as the water baptizer
He commanded them to baptize believers in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19)
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19 AV)
And finally after many promises of a comforter to the disciples, and many prophesies of his death and the promise of one that would take his place he:
4. The Spirit as power
Commanded them to wait in Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on high.
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49 AV)
We see this again in Acts 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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8 AV)
Next we remember the day of Pentecost. 120 believers dwelt in the upper room waiting and tarrying for the Holy Spirit. For 10 days since Jesus was ascended they tarried. Praying and communing together waiting on the Holy Ghost and just as Jesus promised he came
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Finally we see other mentions of this Baptism with the Holy Spirit. Peters preaching in Acts 2:37-42, the multitude in Acts 4:31-32 Saul in Acts 9:17, Gentile believers 10:44-48
There were probably many instances that were not recorded in Acts for sake of space and time. Acts never claimed to be an exhaustive book but an general history of the church. But we know there were more because we see the other fruit of the baptism of the Holy Spirit such as the boldness and the fellowship.
This leads us up to the instance that we read in chapter 19. We see the filling of the Holy Spirit upon the Ephesian believers. Let us look at the passages and maybe see what we can learn about this filling with the spirit.
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?
the idea is when they believed have they received the Holy Ghost. The literal translation from the Greek is "having believed, did you receive?"
Notice that Paul regarded them as disciples. They were believers. One must be a believer to receive the Holy Spirit. Not only a believer in Christ but in the Holy Spirits baptism
And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
They knew that Jesus had come but they did not know of the Holy Spirit.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
John’s baptism was for repentance. This was for salvation. We know that the Holy Spirit comes into ones life. He makes a distinction between this initial salvation and the receiving of the Spirit. John did what was right there is no conflict. But John himself as we noted knew there was something more to come when Jesus came.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11 AV)
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
The first step was a recognition of their salvation.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Laying on of hands shows a connection between the believer and those who believe. It is an assurance but also provides power. Many times we know Jesus laid hands on those he healed.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
1. Paul regarded them as Christians as we can see from Paul’s question
2. Paul’s questions seems to be the same Holy Ghost of the Day of Pentecost. Not the initial dwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer (ROM 8:9)
3. Paul thought that receiving the Holy Spirit was important almost as a priority in the life of Christina.
4. Laying on of hands is shown here not of the power of Paul but of the agreeing together for this need and "Asking of the Lord".
5. The evidence is shown by the "speaking in tongues". How else would he know?
So again we close with this question:
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?
We see two aspects of this:
1) Have we received the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives since we became a Christian. The reproving, comforter, advocate (interceder), teacher, guide, helper, source of power, helper in worship.
