Before returning to His Father in heaven, Jesus had a final command for the disciples: “I am going to send you what my Father has promised.; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Lk 24:49). In short, the disciples were not to be released into ministry until they’d received what their Lord described as being “baptized with [or in] the Holy Spirit” (Ac 1:5). Jesus had appeared to them during the forty days after His resurrection, during which time He spoke specifically about the “kingdom of God” (see Ac 1:3). During His own preaching, Jesus usually referred not simply to the gospel but to the gospel of the kingdom, namely having the will of God taking place on earth as it is in heaven (see Mt 6:10).
While often only taught that Jesus came for the forgiveness of sins, the reason for His incarnation was far broader: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 Jn 3:8). In rebuking Pharisees who accused Him of driving out demons by the power of Satan, Jesus replied, “If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Mt 12:28). Exercising authority over the demonic was a unique sign of God’s power not described in the OT. To continue His ministry of not only preaching with power to convict and bring repentance unto salvation, the same anointing upon Jesus’ ministry would be needed to heal the sick and set free the captives under demonic influence (Lk 4:18; Ac 10:38).
So it is Jesus told disciples, “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Ac 1:5,8). The purpose of baptism in the Holy Spirit was receiving power to live righteously as witnesses to Christ so the lost might be won by their example and taught to obey His commands (Mt 28:19,20). Acts also illustrates that the power to drive out evil spirits and heal the sick were two essential signs in proclaiming God’s kingdom. Divine power not only enabled the disciples to witness “with great boldness” (Ac 4:29), but supernatural signs, wonders and miracles (2:43; 5:12-16; 6:8; 8:6-8; 14:3; 19:11-12) served to confirm their teaching (Ac 4:30).
Philippians 3:10 outlines the provisions for those baptized with the Holy Spirit: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.” Three aspects of witnessing to Christ are described in this verse. The first is to know Christ. The Greek ginosko translated as “to know” means knowing intimately. An important role of the Spirit is revealing Christ to us. “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes…he will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you” (Jn 16:13,14). Paul later complements these words of Jesus by writing the church in Ephesus, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Eph 1:17).
The second provision is to know the power of His resurrection, having the Holy Spirit reveal Christ in us through the same power that raised Him from the dead. For without divine power, we are unable to put self to death and crucify those misdeeds of the sinful nature inherited from Adam (see Ro 8:13). The character of Christ consisting of humility, obedience, servanthood, and love as expressed through mercy and grace will not formed in us and consistently expressed toward others by personal effort alone: “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Php 2:13). Without baptism in the Holy Spirit, many believers remain in an endless cycle of sin-confess-sin-confess-sin.
The third provision is to know the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings as the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus through us to touch the lives of others and to destroy the devil’s works. Experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit working through us to bring glory to God is guaranteed to result in suffering. As Paul writes to the church in Philippi, “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him” (Php 1:29). Not only does the world respond in a negative way to God’s manifested power. Satan reacts vigorously as his kingdom of darkness is invaded by the saving, healing and liberating power of God. At times, even lukewarm Christians react negatively if not with frank rejection if not persecution.
So Philippians 3:10 tells that the Spirit comes in power with the baptism to reveal Jesus to us, in us and through us for the glory of God. With submission to the lordship of Christ, we become a lovely aroma to the saved but a stench to those who are perishing (2 Cor 2:15,16). The latter see their views and priorities rejected and it leads to persecution. So it is that Jesus warns everyone in advance to expect the world to hate all those who would follow Him as true disciples (Jn 15:19). Yet we have a precious promise of Jesus: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven” (Mt 5:11,12).
Many believers desire to live in freedom but continue struggling with old habits, hurts and hang-ups. Why is this? It’s because they have not received the empowering of the Spirit that enables one to live victoriously for the glory of God. This is not meant to suggest that trials and tribulations are removed. To the contrary, it is common for the frequency and intensity of trials and tribulation to increase as described above for those baptized in the Holy Spirit. But it is one thing to suffer for foolishness and quite the opposite to suffer for the sake of Christ, even when the purpose for suffering is hidden from our eyes at times. Saving faith is hardly the “easy to be saved without cost‟ distortion of the gospel promoted in many churches during recent decades.
The apostle Paul suffered greatly for the gospel and encouraged disciples “to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.’” (Ac 14:22). The empowering that is received by being filled with the Holy Spirit is not simply for “tongues” or for manifestation of supernatural spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:8-10). Boldness to preach the message of the gospel without fear or compromise and having the courage and strength to endure persecution and rejection, even at times by old friends and family members (see Mt 10:34-36), are critically important provisions of baptism with the Spirit. And above all as described above, nothing compares to deepened intimacy with Jesus as a result of the baptism.
A lesson Israel was to have learned in their wilderness wandering was “that we may know ourselves” (Deut 8:2). God allows not only struggles but defeat at times so we might recognize our natural weakness. If we cling to a natural way rather than a Spirit-led way of life, it may result in coming to utter despair. It is at this point that many find their hearts prepared for baptism with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Baptizer and He knows well who has a yielded heart and is ready to accept self being crucified with Him by faith (see Ro 6:6). Indeed it is challenging for most of us to have our self-confidence sufficiently shattered to surrender control of our lives.
So it is that under circumstances of brokenness, baptism in the Holy Spirit is commonly experienced. Paul recognized all things as loss for the sake of gaining Christ. In coming to that place, he was rejecting carnality that was not only uncleanness but also satisfaction of natural desires. Carnality can never become subject to the Holy Spirit because it keeps one in bondage not only to self but also to the world. God will move to destroy carnality through the power of His Spirit if we’ll submit sufficiently to the lordship of Christ. Then and only then can we expect to receive the inheritance which is ours, that of joy unspeakable and full of glory.
