Revolutionary Leaders

What Is The Baptism In The Holy Spirit?

John the Baptist told the crowd, “I baptize you in water, but he (Jesus) will baptize you in the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8)

Jesus promised this very thing before and after his resurrection.
“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5).

Baptize in the Greek means to be immersed or covered over. It’s also referred to as being filled with Spirit.

Being baptized in the Holy Spirit is not the same thing as salvation. They are two separate things. Salvation is “being born again”, forgiven and brought into a right relationship with God. Spirit baptism is about greater spiritual intimacy in that relationship with God and greater power to fulfill his commands to live holy and reach the world with the message of Christ.

A. Immersed In Intimacy
Have you ever longed for a deeper and closer relationship with God? Maybe you’ve prayed and hungered for more of Him. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a doorway into greater intimacy with God. God wants to saturate you with a deep sense of being loved, cherished and equipped to grow in an ongoing relationship with Him. With that comes a deeper understanding of His Word, deeper moments in prayer, and a passion to be with other believers.

Acts 2:42
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

They hungered for more of God and were immersed in intimacy. Baptism in the Holy Spirit immerses us into an ongoing and growing relationship with God.

B. Immersed In Power

God wants to give you the power to fulfill the great commission. As Jesus was about to ascend into heaven he commissioned his followers to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15).

He also told them in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses.”

Power in the Greek (dynamis) means “great power”. It is where we get our word “dynamite”.

Peter, the one who denied Christ 3 times publicly, after being baptized in the Holy Spirit, stood up, raised his voice and addressed the crowd (Acts 2:14). He was immersed in the power of God to witness. He was a pansy turned preacher and over 3,000 responded to his witness and gave their hearts to Christ.

So what is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? It is an immersion or filling of greater intimacy with God…and a filling or immersion of power to be His witness and rescue the lost.