Frequently Asked Questions about

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

A. In all four gospel accounts of Jesus' water baptism, the promise is given that Jesus Himself will baptize with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist said, "...He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire..." [MATT 3:11b; MARK 1:7,8; LUKE 3:17; JOHN 1:29-34] That promise was repeated by Jesus Himself just before He ascended into Heaven: "...Wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit." [ACTS 1:4b,5 NIV]

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. After He [Jesus] said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight." [ACTS 1:8,9 NIV]

Jesus said, "'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within Him.' By this He meant the Spirit, Whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not been glorified." [JOHN 7:37b-39 NIV]                 

The disciples and followers of Jesus went to an upper room and prayed, waiting for the promise. [ACTS 2:4] While they waited, praying and praising God, "Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

God-fearing Jews from many nations heard this sound and "a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speak in his own language." [VERSE 10-18]

The people began to ask questions, wondering what this was all about. Peter then stood and began to speak under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.'" [VERSES 10-18]

And that was just the beginning.......

Q. But I heard that was just for the Day of Pentecost, to get the Church off to a good start, and it isn't needed now. Isn't that correct?

A. That's the exciting part. As Peter was preaching on that first Pentecost, he explained, "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are afar off ~ for all whom the Lord our God will call."  [ACTS 2:38,39] So you see, it's for every believer, down through the ages and including you and me!

The Word lists many who received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit after the Day of Pentecost. Read on:

Peter and John were arrested after healing a lame man in the Name of Jesus. [ACTS 3] Following their release, they joined other believers and "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly." [ACTS 4:31]                 Back to top

That was a second time for them [a "refilling" if you will]. D. L. Moody said he needed to be filled often, because he leaked.

As the Church grew, the apostles chose helpers [deacons perhaps] - seven men who were full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6). One of them was "Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit...a man full of God's grace and power, who did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people." [ACTS 6: 3,5,8

Saul, a Pharisee who witnessed Stephen's murder, continued to take Christians as prisoners thinking he was doing God's will. But the resurrected Jesus Himself appeared to Saul and brought him to his knees. Three days later, a believer named Ananias laid hands on him to receive his sight and also the Holy Spirit. Later, his name was changed to Paul, and he became the most prolific writer of the New Testament. [ACTS 9]

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Cornelius was the first Gentile to be converted. [ACTS 10] Not only he, but members of his family and many friends came to his house to hear Peter. As Peter was speaking, bringing them the message of salvation, Jesus sovereinly baptized them all in the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. [ACTS 10:44] 

Q. What about tongues? What does that word even mean?

A. The Bible tells us that God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. Surely, the tender gift of tongues confounds many. 

Jesus said, "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Of if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" [LUKE 11:11-13] Only good and perfect gifts come from above.

The Apostle Paul said that he not only spoke in tongues more than the believers at the Church at Corinth [i cor 14:18],  but he also sang in the Spirit. He made the determined decision to pray both in the tongues and the intellect and to sing both in the Spirit [in tongues] and the intellect. [I COR 14:15]

There is a difference in the prayer language you receive when you are initially baptized in the Holy Spirit and the ministry gift of tongues [I COR 12:18] in the congregation. Like other gifts of the Spirit [I COR 12-14] the tongues given in an assembly comes boldly, and the Holy Spirit will also give someone an interpretation. You then can obey the nudge of the Holy Spirit...or not.  Back to top

Q. Does everyone that is baptized in the Holy Spirit speak in tongues? Do you have to? Why should I?

A. We believe that everyone who receives the Baptism in the Holy Spirit has the ability to speak in tongues. But God always gives us a choice: to accept His gifts...or not. We do know, however, that with obedience comes blessings. What an awesome thing, to be able to actually hear the Holy Spirit praying with your voice!

There are many reasons for praying in the Spirit or speaking in tongues:

It's part of spiritual warfare: EPH 6:18                                     It builds your faith:JUDE20     You don't know how to pray in God's perfect will: ROMANS 8:26                                           It adds boldness to your witness: ACTS 4:31                     It edifies (enlightens) you: I COR.14:4                                              It's one of the "signs" that follows believers. MARK 16:17

Q. Does the pastor speak in tongues?

A. Yes. Pastor Dan Received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit sovereignly and alone. The experience accompanied intense personal prayer, which flowed into an unknown language. His testimony is that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit takes the believer from a "nominal" walk with the lord to an intensely intimate relationship. 

The Word says you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart. [DUET 4:29; LUKE 11:15; ACTS 17:27]. We sing, "I'm desperate for You." [Lyrics of a worship song] The Baptism in the Holy Spirit draw you into that kind of intimacy with Jesus. Back to top

Q. If I wanted to receive this gift, what would I do?

A. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is received by faith just as you received salvation. Jesus is the Baptizer, so go to Him in prayer, asking, "Jesus, thank You for being my Savior. Now I ask You to baptize me in Your Holy Spirit." If you have spoken against the Holy Spirit or if you've been taught against it, you may need to ask Jesus to forgive you. If you have unforgiveness against anyone, you will need to get that under the Blood (forgive everyone of everything). Also if you have dabbled in the occult or any kind of witchcrafts, that will also hinder your receiving. Repent of any of that. 

Then, take a deep breath and [by faith] breathe in [receive] the Holy Spirit (ACTS 2:4) You can then pray in the new supernatural language Jesus will give you. Thank Him and praise Him in this new language. 

You might want to ask someone who is baptized in the Holy Spirit to agree in prayer and lay hands on you.

The first manifestation that you can expect after receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is usually your prayer language (tongues). 

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NOTE: Since the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is for everyone, it is your faith that opens the door. If you refuse to pray in tongues, you are denying the Gift that Jesus has given you. Everyone who receives the Baptism in the Holy Spirit has the ability to pray in tongues. But the enemy will do everything in his power to talk you out of it. His favorite lies are: "You're just making that up; it's not real." Or, "That isn't really God, it doesn't sound like anyone else's." Or, "You can't pray in tongues, you're not good enough, etc. etc. etc."

But remember, HE'S A LIAR and the FATHER of LIES.  

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