Baptized in the “Holy Spirit and Fire”

“Holy Spirit and fire” Matt 3:11b

In John 15:26 He said the Spirit would “testify of Me”.  This “counselor” of “truth” would “convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment” in the heart of every man John 16:8.  The “signs” would accompany these believers (Mark 16:17) “witnessed” to the world (Acts 15:8) by the power of God, given only “to those who obey Him” (Acts 5:32) shown by the sign of “tongues and prophesy”.

You are “saved” by being baptized into Jesus name for the “forgiveness of sins” in which you have a right standing before God for Salvation.  For anyone who does not have the Spirit of Jesus Christ in himself, “they are not His” Rom 8:9b.

The first time being “filled” with the Spirit, being “baptized in the Holy Spirit” and receiving the “gift” of the Holy Spirit all meant the same thing.  I will show this below… 

The “water” baptism of Jesus, and the “laying on of hands” baptism of the Holy Spirit have always been two separate experiences and/or events taken place in the book of Acts.  They were not baptized for both at the same time.

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”  That was Paul’s question to the believers in the Lord that he ran across.  They believed in the “Lord” and were taught the things of the Lord accurately (Acts 18:25) though they were only taught of John’s baptism.  Paul being astonished by their general answer of ‘no’ asked them then what were you baptized into?  For Paul knew that believing in the Lord and being baptized into His name meant receiving the “promise” (Acts 1:4) of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38 “you shall receive”) by power and signs Acts 19:2.

When Did Jesus “promise” the Holy Spirit?

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise…” Eph 1:13.

“On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.  When Paul placed his hands on them the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied” Acts 19:1-7.  To Paul “tongues and prophecy” meant that the Gentiles (Acts 11:18) were also “Baptized in the Holy Spirit”  as they (Acts 1:5) the Jewish believers, were (Acts 11:15-16).

Sometimes they were baptized into the name of Jesus then in the following days had hands laid on them to receive the Holy Spirit Acts 8:16-17…

But at other times the Holy Spirit came on those who believed first, then they were baptized in water Acts 10:47-48. 

Peter reported the event of the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit to the Jewish believers saying, “Then I remembered what the Lord had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?” Acts 11:16.

Paul also asked the question to the Galatians Church, “Did you receive the Spirit (in opposition to the “flesh”) observing the Law, or by believing what you heard?” Gal 3:2b.  Repeating again the same thing in vs. 5 but giving a little more clarity, “Does God give you His Spirit and work of miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?”

Why they showed an outside manifestation of “tongues” in the Spirit…

This “gift” Paul was speaking about was at Pentecost when they were “filled” with the Holy Spirit having tongues as of fire above their heads before they started speaking with different tongues proclaiming the great works of God in other languages Acts 2:1-5.  Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem and called it a promised “gift” Acts 1:4-5, 8. 

This account was told to the disciples, by Jesus, before He ascended, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the “gift” of My Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” Acts 1:4-5, 8a.  Where did Jesus promise this “gift” in John chapter 14 and 15.  Jesus said he needed to leave this earth for God to send His “Helper” to us.

This “gift” of the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” was said by John the baptist Luke 3:16b.  The “and fire” was referring to the purging that was to come later, “His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn and he will BURN up the chaff with unquenchable FIRE” Luke 3:17.  For this is the response of what was said earlier, “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the FIRE” vs. 9.  He later said something similar, “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” Luke 12:49.

The same “spirit” that we are baptized with, the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, is the same Spirit that gives life to our mortal bodies.  

So then, we can conclude when those chosen by God have His Holy Spirit, by the Power of God with works of miracles ready to be seen among His people Mark 16:17 (the Church), those who please Him (Acts 5:32 again).

The “Holy Spirit and Power” was to show whom God “Anointed” (the premiss of Acts 10:38).  For the Jews knew that “God does not hear sinners” (John 9:31) and were challenged because of Jesus miracles.  For Acts 5:32 says the Holy Spirit is also a witness against them shown by, “His power toward us who believe” Eph 1:19.

The disciples received “power” from the Holy Spirit to perform miracles and wonders, even rising one from the dead.  Which was spoken by Jesus in Mark 16:17-18, “And these signs will follow those who believe; In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick; and they will recover.”

Although there is “one baptism” (into Jesus name) Eph 4:5b, and one Spirit (by which we are born with) there are “different kids of gifts” by the same Spirit to be used for the “common good” (the Church-the body of Christ) by those who believe 1 Cor 12:4-7.  “Do all speak in tongues?” 1 Cor 12:30 the answer to that is an obvious “no” in the Church among them.

Tongues and prophesy are outward manifestations of the Spirit as a “sign” to the unbelievers that God is truly among you, to fulfill was was written “I will speak to this people but even they will not listen to Me” (having ears to hear they do not hear) 1 Cor 14:21.  To baptize with the “Holy Spirit” was to be done by the laying on of hands (and praying to God) like the Apostles did who were appointed by the elders Acts 8:14, 19; or if the Holy Spirit came on you upon hearing the Word of God (as the wind).

If the manifestations were clearly seen to have fallen on you Acts 10:47 (a change of life with “power”) then you only needed to be baptized with water into Jesus Name (knowing that you have been outwardly been baptized into the Spirit by God).

As the unbelieving Jews who heard the disciples speak with strange tongues said, “What does this (sign) mean?” looking to understand this sign from God (while still others mocked).  For it says the Jews always looked for a “sign” 1 Cor 1:22a and finally IT came among them 

This “sign” was a fulfillment of the prophesy recorded by Joel in which Peter spoke about…

“No, 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, 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. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know” Acts 2:14-22.

Baptism is said to mean to be “saved” as through; those into Moses (the cloud and the Red Sea), or water (Noah’s boat), or “washed” (not of dirt but of sin) by the blood of Jesus.  John’s baptism was one of “repentance”, Jesus baptism was said to be ‘washing away of our sins’ but the Holy Spirits baptism was that of Power from above which is to be our helper and where our life flows from John 3:8.  A person only was “baptized” once by the Spirit but may be “filled” many times.  We can not control when someone is to be born of the Spirit but it comes directly by God as the wind, “whenever it pleases” John 3.

How do you know if you are truly “baptized in the Holy Spirit”?  The Holy Spirit will make an obvious physical manifestation in your life (Acts 19:2 inwardly and outwardly) that will be evident to all (the choosing of Stephen, a man filled with “wisdom” and the Holy Spirit by doing miracles) and not by persuasive words only (but Spirit’s “power”) 1 Cor 2:3-5..

“6Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you (Saul), and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man…9So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. 10When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them” 1 Samuel 10:1-10.

Tags: Holy Spirit