The Holy Spirit is the most needed ingredient for a successful Christian life and often the most overlooked. The Bible states and history indicates that without a move of the Holy Spirit, there is little cause for rejuvenation of the human spirit. Outpourings of the Holy Spirit have been so life altering that they have been documented throughout history and on a worldwide scale. Jesus Christ did not officially enter His ministry until He received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which occurred, incidentally, during His water baptism. This occurrence has led many believers to think that once a person is water baptized they are automatically filled with the Holy Spirit. The Bible clearly shows this is not the case (Acts 19:2). In fact, Acts 19 may be the most powerful case against the current body of believers walking in the 21st century that should give each individual a mighty, shaking wakeup call that asks, “Are you baptized in the Holy Spirit?”
Acts 19 begins with Paul passing through various regions and upon entering Ephesus, he found a body of disciples. This clearly indicates that these were believers in Jesus who were fellowshipping in communion and studying Jesus’ teachings. Paul then asked them if they were Spirit filled. He said, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
This has become a major obstacle for many Christians who deny the power of the Holy Spirit and have cut off God’s power supply, therefore short-circuiting their lives. Some believe that if you say the sinner’s prayer, ask Jesus Christ in your heart, and choose to read your Bible every day, pray, or go to church, you automatically receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is not Scriptural and it is not what happened in the early church. The Bible as we have it today was not even in existence during the time of Bible history. There were the Jewish books that were documents of the prophesies those filled with the Holy Spirit left as written records and sign markers that pointed to the coming of Jesus Christ. The early church, those immediately following Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, were living what would later prove to be much of the basis for the Bible. But the early church did not have the Bible as we have it today. There was no "scriptural" doctrine for receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the early church. Instead, the Bible gives us a picture of how the Holy Spirit was received.
When Paul asked the believers at Ephesus if they had been baptized with the Holy Spirit they were dumbfounded. These were believers in Jesus (Yeshua), but they had never even heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
They responded to Paul in Acts 19:2, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
Logically, this could mean one of two things. If the modern thought that believers receive the Holy Spirit once they profess faith in Christ is accurate, then it would indicate that the believers in Ephesus may not have heard of the Holy Spirit, but had already been baptized since they were believers. The other option is that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a real experience that is separate from the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus. On the other hand, maybe there is a third possibility. Some modern day Christians believe that there is no separate experience or indwelling of the Holy Spirit and that those who are water baptized instantly receive the Holy Spirit. This is what occurred with Jesus, so like many things; a doctrine has been made out of it. Interestingly, Jesus once spit on dirt, mixed it up and made mud, then placed it over a blind man’s eyes. Jesus then told him to wash and when he did, the blind man’s sight was restored. It is funny how no one is making a doctrine of the “spit healing therapy.” No, many believers just pick and choose what they want to believe and bypass the two most important ingredients: Being led by the Holy Spirit and seeking God through prayer. So, do believers receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit during salvation or through water baptism?
In Acts 19:3, Paul then asked the believers at Ephesus, “Into what then were you baptized?” This is a very deep question and the answer is as well. Does this indicate there are several baptisms? Is there more than one? John the Baptist stated that he baptized with water but that one was coming (Jesus) who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Does this indicate that there is much more to water baptism and that not only is there a Holy Spirit baptism but also a fire baptism?
Matthew 3:11, “I [John the Baptist] indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand and he will thoroughly clean out the threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Paul asked the believers, “Into what then have you been baptized?” The believers at Ephesus replied, “Into John’s baptism?”
Let us stop here and look at Matthew 3:11. John the Baptist stated that he baptized with water unto repentance. There is no question about that. He also made it clear that he was not using water baptism to “get believers filled with the Holy Spirit.” In fact, John the Baptist made it clear that it was Jesus who would baptize people in the Holy Spirit and fire; not John.
Paul then said to the believers in Acts 19: 4, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
The Apostle Paul did not tell these believers they had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit when they first put their faith in Jesus, or by seeking God daily. He did not tell them they received the Holy Spirit when they were water baptized. In verse Acts 19:5, we have solid, Biblical proof that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience from repentance and salvation.
Acts 19:5 states, “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.”
This is one of the most powerful verses regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Not only did these believers in Jesus receive an experience that was subsequent to salvation and their faith in Jesus Christ, they received an experience that was subsequent to water baptism. The modern day charismatic/Pentecostal movement follows the example of the Apostle Paul in laying on of hands by those who have been baptized with the Holy Spirit to pray for others to receive the baptism. Verse five states that these believers instantly spoke in tongues (glossolalia) and prophesied.
There are many ways that the enemies, as well as human manipulation, have corrupted these experiences. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, laying on of hands, speaking in tongues, and prophesy have been used by evil, twisted men to manipulate and control the mind’s of well meaning, sincere Christians. However, that does not mean that man’s perversion of these experiences negate the reality of God’s purpose in using them. It also does not mean that the baptism of the Holy Spirit ceased when the apostles died.
Can a person be a Christian without receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Absolutely, there is no question that there are Christians that believe in Jesus but may have never heard of the Holy Spirit. Are people baptized in the Holy Spirit upon salvation? According to the Apostle Paul and what he says in Acts 19, no. People may be saved without receiving an indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Does water baptism mean you are baptized in the Holy Spirit? No. Acts 19 clearly shows that water baptism is for repentance and though John baptized believers with water, he did not baptize people in the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist himself stated that it is Jesus Christ who baptizes people in the Holy Spirit.
Does baptism in the Holy Spirit come with an outward manifestation that something has transpired? In Acts 19, yes it does. This writer has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and from personal account and witness can state that in every case she has encountered, there was always an external indication of the baptism. There was an external manifestation when Jesus Christ received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and every Biblical account showed that the experience was life changing, was often accompanied by signs, wonders, and the operation of gifts, and resulted in a renewed passion and fervor for Jesus Christ and greater commitment to His calling and leadership.
Acts 19 shows that there is a separate experience known as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and because someone is a Christian or believer in Yeshua, has repented for his or her sins, or has been water baptized does not mean they are also baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Click the video player to the left for an in-depth teaching by Derek Prince on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
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