Spiritual Warfare (SW-07)
The Baptism IN the Spirit
Acts 8:12-17
If you had to ask me what the most underutilized resources was in the Church in the West both collectively as the Body of Christ and individually believers, I would say ‘power’, the supernatural, miraculous power of God that is available to each one of us. This available power that is taught consistently throughout Scripture, is demonstrated effectively in other cultures, is observed occasionally in the church in the West, is very often the missing ingredient in the life of the Christian.
In Acts 1:8 we read these profound words, "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
We are busy with a series on Spiritual Warfare. This morning I want to talk with you about this event that the Bible writers call ‘The Baptism in the Spirit.’ The Holy Spirit was given in order to release power of God into the life of the believer.
power for ministry (1 Cor. 12)
power for witnessing (Acts 1:8)
power for prayer (Romans 8:26-27)
power for understanding the truth (john 14:26) and
power for overcome sin (Gal. 5:7).
Acts 9:17-19 "So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; and he took food and was strengthened."
Jesus said in Luke 11:13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"
We have got to understand the Biblical difference between Baptism BY the Spirit and Baptism IN the Spirit.
1. The Two Main Baptisms in the Bible
The Baptism BY the Spirit Into Christ
This is the act whereby the Holy Spirit baptizes a person into the Body of Christ and this occurs at salvation. The purpose of this baptism is to cleanse from sin and position ‘In Christ.’
1 Corinthians 12:13
Romans 6:3
The Baptism INTO the Spirit by Christ
This is the act whereby the Christ baptizes a person into the Holy Spirit and while this may sometimes occur at the same time as salvation, it is a separate experience. The purpose of this baptism is to enable Christlikeness and empower ministry.
Luke 3:16
Acts 1:4-5
2. A Separate Experience
I have heard some people say that Baptism in the Spirit occurs at salvation. While I think it may sometimes happen at the same time as salvation, the fact that there are numerous instances in Scripture where it occurs at a different time to salvation leads me to believe that it is a separate experience to salvation.
Acts 8:12-17
Let me tell you what is happening at this point in our passage. The church is entirely Jewish. The Gospel was preached only to the Jews. As a matter of fact, if a Gentile wanted to be saved he had to first become Jewish - circumcised, ceremonial law, the whole deal.
In Acts 8 Philip is preaching the Word of God - and the Samaritans hear it - and they the power of God is manifest through Phillip and they are saved. Now the church headquarters back in Jerusalem hear about his - and immediately they send Peter and John to check it out. Now remember, these are the arch enemies of the Jews - the Samaritans. The Samaritans were the most despised of the Gentiles. The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. As a matter of fact, when they wanted to really insult Jesus they called Him a Samaritan (John 8:48) The Jews despised Samaritans - did not trust them - they were Gentiles heretics from Babylon that mixed a bit of Jewish faith into their Babylonian practices and set themselves up in opposition to the Jews. (After the return from the Captivity, the Jews in Jerusalem refused to allow them to help rebuild the temple, and hence sprang up an open enmity between them. They erected a rival temple on Mount Gerizim, which was, however, destroyed by a Jewish king (B.C. 130). They then built another at Shechem.
Well these Samaritans hear the gospel and are saved. Was it a genuine gospel?
Phillip preaching
The good news
About the kingdom of God
And the name of Jesus Christ
They were baptized
Signs and great miracles took place
This equals genuine conversion/salvation experience.
Acts 8:14.
Acts 8:15-16 - describes the experience of many believers what have grown up with a fear or of misunderstanding of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
3. How to Receive the Baptism in Spirit
First, lets remind ourselves that if you are a Christian, you already have the Holy Spirit resident within you (Romans 8:9).
The Baptism in the Spirit is received as an act of faith and normally occurs through the laying on of hands. This pattern can be seen in the Scriptures in Acts 8:17-18, 9:17 and 19:6. The key is not, however, the laying on of hands (lest we fall into the error of Simon Magus - Acts 8:17-18) but faith.
While there is no ‘formula’ laid out in Scripture describing the process of Baptism in the Spirit, I think the following is wise and biblical:-
i. Cleanse Your Heart Through Repentance
From Sin - you need to cleanse your heart in preparation for a new anointing, a fresh filling - the Promise of the Father. Confess any known or unknown sin to God and desire, by His grace, to walk away from it (Isaiah 59:2)
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
From Emotional Ties - you need to make sure that there are no lingering negative emotions that tie you to past situations (like bitterness, unforgiveness, unresolved anger, etc.) God says the He will reveal His power to those whose hearts are wholly His (2 Chron. 16:9).
2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars."
From False Religions - you need to make sure that if you have ever been involved (even so called ‘innocently’) in things of the Occult (like astrology, fortune telling, transcendental meditation, etc.) that these things have all been confessed as sin and renounced as satanic in Jesus’ name (2 Corinthians 6:14).
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
ii. Refresh Your Heart through Obedience
Have a Willing Heart - let God know that you strongly desire the Baptism in the Spirit in accordance with His Word and the Promise of the Father (Luke 24:49). The Bible commands us to ‘eagerly’ desire the gifts that come with the Baptism in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:1).
1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Have an Open Heart - God will manifest Himself to you in whatever way He chooses - but you must be open. You need to surrender the right to be in control of what happens when the power of God is manifest in and through you (Acts 2:3-4). Do not allow fear or negative past experiences to rob you of this joy. Remember, satan will use anything he can to keep you from experiencing the fullness of the Baptism in the Spirit - do not let him use your natural mind as the block to steal any of the richness of what God has for you.
Have a Thirsty Heart - Jesus said that any who was thirsty, who recognized their need for more than they had, could come to Him and ask, and He would give them living water. He was speaking about the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39). The greater your thirst after God, the greater will be His revelation to you - for God responds to us in accordance with our faith and our request.
iii. Revive Your Hearth Through Action
Ask in Faith - Jesus taught that the Father wants to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:13).
Receive in Full Measure - as you are Baptized in the Spirit - there is no shortage or leniency with God - rather there is abundance. The Bible says that we are all made to drink of one Spirit - the word for drink carries the connotation of ‘saturate’ - so open your arms, your heart and your mind wide - and receive in faith as God saturates you (Mark 11:24, 1 Corinthians 12:13).
Respond with Obedience - you now need to express your willingness and obedience by responding in faith to what God is doing. This is a deliberate and active response on your part. God often manifests Himself at this time through tongues or other unusual expressions of His power. The key is ‘active yieldedness’, ‘deliberate co-operation’, aggressive obedience’. Do not ‘put anything on’, but be willing to co-operate with, be immersed in, be overwhelmed by the Spirit of God (Acts 2:4). Do not be afraid to ‘stir up the gift that is within you’ (2 Timothy 1:6).
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