The Holy Spirit – Part 4
1 Corinthians 12:1 NKJV (1) Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
The word “gifts was added by the translators. This verse actually says,
1 Corinthians 12:1 BBE But about the things of the spirit, my brothers, it is not right for you to be without teaching.
How To Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
(OR How To Minister the Baptism of the Holy Spirit)
Acts 1:4-8 NKJV And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; (5) for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (6) Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (7) And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. (8) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 2:1-4 NKJV When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. (3) Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
We want to talk about how to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.
This will also help us as believers to learn how to effectively ministry the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
As believers we need to know how to effectively minister the New Birth, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, healing, and any other assignment that we may have.
There are seven things that we need to establish in order to receive or minister the Baptism of the Holy Spirit:
- Understand this ministry of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience to being Born Again.
Acts 8:5-8 NKJV Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. (6) And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. (7) For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. (8) And there was great joy in that city.
Acts 8:14-17 NKJV Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, (15) who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. (16) For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (17) Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- We must understand that God has already given the Holy Spirit and now we simply RECEIVE God’s free gift.
Acts 19:1-6 NKJV And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples (2) he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” (3) And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” (4) Then Paul said, “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.” (5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (6) And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
- The only requirement to being able to receive is to be Born Again.
Acts 2:37-38 NKJV Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (38) Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
We believe that people that are saved can go to heaven. If they are good enough to go to heaven, then they are good enough to have a little bit of heaven in them here on the earth.
If you could do everything you ought to do and be everything you to be without the Holy Ghost, what would you need Him for? If you can do everything for yourself, why do you need the Holy Spirit?
Baby Christians, carnal Christians, and all Christians can and should be filled with the Holy Spirit. They can receive power that will help them. (Acts 1:8)
- You do not need to fear receiving anything other than the Holy Spirit.
Luke 11:11-13 NKJV If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? (12) Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? (13) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Notice Jesus’ reference to the serpent and scorpion. Remember He had just said in Luke 10:19 that we have authority over serpents and scorpions.
When you ask to receive the Holy Spirit that is exactly what you will get – the Holy Spirit.
- Here is what you can expect to happen when you receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit begins to move in you:
- First, understand that you receive by faith. You have received whether you feel anything or not.
- The Holy Spirit will move upon your spirit to give you supernatural words that YOU have to speak out in cooperation with Him.
- The Holy Spirit gives the utterance but man does the speaking.
- YOU yield to the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:4 NKJV And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 10:44-46 NKJV While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. (45) And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
Acts 19:6 NKJV And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
1 Corinthians 14:2 NKJV (2) For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
1 Corinthians 14:4 NKJV (4) He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 NKJV (14) For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. (15) What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
1 Corinthians 14:18 NKJV (18) I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
- When you pray and receive the Holy Spirit, open your mouth and be ready to use your own mouth and vocal chords.
The Holy Spirit will give you the utterance but you must yield and give voice to that utterance.
- Anytime you ever speak with other tongues, it will definitely be you doing the talking.
- The Holy Ghost gives you the utterance supernaturally.
- He does not take over you or force you to speak.
- The Holy Ghost does not speak in tongues – YOU DO!
- You must cooperate and yield to Him.
- Speaking in tongues is entirely you and it is entirely the Holy Spirit.
Try not to speak in your natural language but give voice and speak out whatever utterance is given by the Holy Spirit no matter what it may sound like to you.
Speak the utterance that you hear by faith and the more that you speak it forth, the more fluent it will become.
John 7:37-39 NKJV On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. (38) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (39) But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Tongues is the initial evidence that you have been filled with the Holy Spirit and that evidence is mostly for you.
- Stay focused and do not get distracted.
If you are praying with someone help them to not get distracted.
Be an encouragement to them by praying in other tongues. This will encourage them to jump on the water.