The Spirit's Baptism

So, in an ongoing conversation, I was asked if it was necessary for a believer to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. As I understand the questioner, it was not that he was opposed to it; he did not know if he had ever experienced it…which is really another question. Briefly let me say first of all, in Acts 1:4-5 as Jesus was preparing to leave the disciples, we read, “While he was still with them, he said: Don't leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” I think it is clear the promise of the Father is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Now, was he speaking to those original disciples or are we included in this promise? Their need to wait for the promise was tied directly to their commission in verse 8. This is the same commission we have been given, so do we not need this same promise and power to reach a lost world today? Absolutely…at least if we want to succeed…which may explain many failures the Church has experienced over the years! So, let me be clear: do you need the baptism of the Holy Spirit to believe in Christ? No. Is the baptism necessary to carry out the Great Commission? Yes! Unfortunately, there are many believers who have been to college and seminary but not yet baptized with the Holy Spirit who are in positions of leadership and they are hindering the work of the Church! Please hear me correctly, I am not saying college and/or seminary are not necessary, quite the contrary, but there is another requirement that we rarely consider. Acts 6:3 tells us the Apostles chose leaders who were respected, wise, and filled with the Holy Spirit. In the Church today, we require the first two but ignore the third…fearing someone might think we are charismatic or Pentecostal if we even mention it. Still, the real question this person raised is, “How do I know if I’ve been baptized with the Holy Spirit?” Sounds like a good question to tackle tomorrow…