Empowered / Baptized by the Spirit

All who repent and believe the gospel receive God’s Holy Spirit (see Eph. 1:13).  This indwelling Spirit changes people’s characters in the process of sanctification, and is THE seal that a person is saved and belongs to God. 

However, the teaching of the baptism of the Holy Spirit shows that God offers greater fullness, power, and gifts of the Holy Spirit than what may have been experienced at conversion.

Old Testament Picture

  • Exodus 14:19-20; 1 Cor. 10:1-11 (esp. vv. 1-2) – “baptized…in the cloud”
    • In addition to water, there is baptism “in the cloud” (representing the Holy Spirit)
    • Note: They were led by the cloud before being immersed (cf. Ex. 13:21-22)

What it is

The concept of being, “baptized with/in the Holy Spirit” is found 7 times in the New Testament:

  1. Matthew 3:11 – Jesus baptizes people with the Holy Spirit
  2. Mark 1:8 – same as Matt. 3:11
  3. Luke 3:16 – same as Matt. 3:11
  4. John 1:33 – same as Matt. 3:11
  5. Acts 1:5 – Jesus told disciples they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit soon
  • Acts 1:8 – baptism of Holy Spirit gives power to witness to Jesus
  • Acts 2 – fulfilled at Pentecost
    • 2:2 – sound from heaven; filled the whole house
    • 2:3-4 – God filled with Holy Spirit, Spirit gave utterance, people spoke in tongues
    • 2:6-13 – tongues in known languages; glorified God
    • 2:14-36 – Peter had boldness and Scriptural understanding
    • 2:37 – the people were convicted
  1. Acts 11:16 – Peter identifies baptism of the Holy Spirit with the experience of the first Gentile converts
    • Acts 10:44-45, 47; 11:15 – the Holy Spirit “fell upon” them/ “had been poured out” / they “received the Holy Spirit”
    • Acts 10:46 – spoke in tongues; praised God
  2. 1 Cor. 12:13 – the body of Christ has been baptized by the Holy Spirit, and made to drink of that Spirit
    • Associated with 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7-11):
      1. Word of wisdom – ability to know how to handle situation
      2. Word of knowledge – ability to know facts
      3. Faith – special faith for a particular situation
      4. Gifts of healings – ability to heal
      5. Working miracles – ability to work miracles
      6. Prophecy – ability to speak God’s specific utterances and statements
      7. Discerning of spirits – ability to discern God’s Spirit from demonic spirits
      8. Different kinds of tongues – ability to speak an unlearned language
      9. Interpretation of tongues – ability to understand an unlearned language

N.T. Teaching and Examples

  • All Christians are called to be filled with God’s Spirit (Eph. 5:18), and eagerly desire Spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1).
  • This does not automatically happen at conversion (even though believers do receive God’s Spirit indwelling when they believe on Christ) –
    • Disciples received Holy Spirit when Jesus resurrected (John 20:22-23), then later had Holy Spirit fall on them (Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 2)
    • Acts 4:31 – believers were filled by the Spirit in a prayer meeting
    • Acts 6:3 – deacons had to be “filled with the Spirit,” this implies that not every Christian was filled with the Spirit, otherwise the qualification would be unneeded 
    • Acts 8:5-25 – they believed and were baptized; LATER the Holy Spirit fell on them
    • Acts 19:1-7 – the Holy Spirit fell on the believers when Paul laid hands
    • 1 Cor. 14:1,13 – believers are told to be eager for spiritual gifts and pray for them
    • Eph. 5:18 – believers are commanded to “be [continually] filled” with the Spirit
    • 2 Tim. 1:6 – Timothy received a spiritual gift through Paul’s hands
    • O.T. Picture: Ex. 13:21-22; 14:19-20; 1 Cor. 10:1-2 – Israel was led by the cloud of God’s presence BEFORE being “baptized” by it.
    • Picture from Nature: Gen. 1:6-7; 8:11; 2 Pet. 3:5-6 – As water is a type of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39), it serves 2 functions in the earth, though it is 1 substance: (1) indwells the world, (2) pours out from above.  These are the same functions of the Holy Spirit in believers today: (1) indwelling the moment someone is converted, (2) pouring over them as a separate work of power
    • Picture of Jesus: Matt. 1:20; Luke 3:21-22 – Jesus was born of the Spirit BEFORE the Spirit fell on Him and He was empowered from above.
  • Acts 2:39; 1 Cor. 13:8-13 – Until Christ returns, the promise and command of being filled with the Spirit remains in effect
  • How you are filled with God’s Spirit:
    • Acts 2:4 – it is a work of God (The Father – Luke 11:13; Acts 1:4; The Son – Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; Acts 2:33; The Holy Spirit – 1 Cor. 12:4,7-11, 13)–
      • God fills with the Spirit
      • The Spirit gives utterance
      • People obey the Spirit’s prompting
    • Acts 8:21 – Repent and empty yourself of your flesh 
    • Luke 11:13 (cf. Matt. 7:11); 1 Cor. 14:13 – Ask God to fill you with His Spirit
    • Acts 8:18; 9:17; 19:6; 2 Tim. 1:6 – frequently accompanied by laying on of hands
      • Hebrews 6:2 – laying hands is listed as 4th foundation of Christianity
    • Eph. 5:18; 2 Tim. 1:6 – If already received, must continue to be filled and fanned into flame
    • John 11:40; 2 Cor. 5:7;  Heb. 11:3; etc. – Walk in faith on the testimony of God’s words concerning the Holy Spirit filling, not your experience.  THEN, you’ll see.

Video: The Holy Spirit – Fruit & Gifts (53 min, 31 sec)

Video: The Holy Spirit – Fruit & Gifts (53 min, 31 sec)