This subject is worthy of close attention as the nature of baptism with the Holy Spirit is widely misunderstood, especially by those in ministry who attended a non-Pentecostal seminary or Bible college. Their confusion began with false teaching that Pentecost as described in the 2nd chapter of Acts was a once-for-all-time event in the sense that each believer in Jesus automatically receives all God has for us at the time of regeneration. Many indoctrinated with such teaching would also contend that miraculous signs and wonders including supernatural spiritual gifts (see 1 Cor 12:7-11) ended with a so-called apostolic age in the first century A.D. upon death of the original apostles.
Their refusal to believe what takes place in Pentecostal assemblies can only be attributed to the demonic influence of deceiving spirits of which Scripture warns on a great many occasions. For example, Paul writes to Timothy, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times, some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Tim 4:1). Jesus Himself warns about false prophets and teachers fourteen times in the gospels. When asked by disciples about signs of His return and the end of the church age, Jesus’ initial reply was, “Watch out that no one deceives you” (Mt 24:4). It is such deception that concerns false teaching about baptism with the Holy Spirit.
At times, non-Pentecostals have their spiritual eyes opened to the reality that God continues to work today through Spirit-filled believers by setting free those under demonic influence through expelling demons and by divinely healing the sick as well as performing miraculous deeds. But there tends to be an assumption that the baptism comes by faith without any regard for heart conditions for receiving baptism in the Spirit. It’s not a reality that one only needs to have hands laid upon them by one who already received the baptism as some believe in ignorance. I’ve seen the latter result in many falsely believing they have been baptized, but there have been no manifestations of any kind to confirm a true baptism has occurred.
Hearts must be prepared by obedient yielding to receive the initial filling with the Spirit called baptism with the Holy Spirit (Ac 5: 32). There is need for utter submission to the lordship of Christ and in praying for people who seek the baptism, I’ve found unprepared hearts to be a frequent obstacle. There can be failure to repent of known sin, the holding of resentment or unforgiveness toward another person, failure to renounce self-righteousness, or unwillingness to surrender complete control of one’s life to the Spirit. The Holy Spirit never intends to merely indwell believers as a resident. He intends to act as President and expects full cooperation in molding a person into the likeness of Jesus as discussed in Lesson Four.
Here it is many find the rub unpleasant. We’d like to think it’s unnecessary to let the Spirit touch our hip (self-sufficiency) and leave us with a limp like Jacob (Gen 32:21-31). So we find ourselves wrestling with God as did Jacob over the matter of crucifixion of self and giving up the desire to retain control over our lives. Elisha is a type of what it means to surrender control in seeking the baptism. In response to the call of Elijah to ministry, he slaughtered his oxen and used his plow as the firewood to cook a meal for his friends, thereby burning bridges behind him before setting out to follow Elijah lest any coming trials should become a cause for turning back from discipleship (1 Ki 19:19-21).
Elisha’s heart burned for the anointing of God upon Elijah and eventually he received what he yearned for as others would say that the “spirit of Elijah” rested upon Elisha. Clearly this referred to the Holy Spirit which enabled both Elijah and Elisha to have prophetic ministries which included operating with miraculous powers. Today others should be able to sense the Presence of Jesus resting upon those who are genuinely filled with the Spirit. As mentioned in Lesson Four, this is what Paul referred to by saying that one becomes a “fragrance of life” to those being saved and the “smell of death” to those who are perishing (2 Cor 2:15,16). For where the Spirit is, there is truly abundant life.
Baptism with the Holy Spirit is always described as experiential (a subjective as well as objective experience) by those who have operated in the miraculous with gifts of healing and other supernatural gifts. And how interesting that Christ has chosen to use speaking in other tongues as evidence of baptism since the tongue is that organ which no man can tame (Jas 3:8). When even the tongue comes under control of the Spirit, no one could possibly forget the exact time and place when the baptism took place. The baptism was an experience not only personally but observable to others in each instance described in Scripture (Ac 2:4; 8:18; 10:44-46; 19:6) and an experience no person would ever forget. Yet many claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit today but are unable to describe any kind of past experience whatsoever.
Every believer filled with the Spirit reflects His transforming work that produces what Paul describes as the “fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal 5:22,23). Where sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is not evident, serious question exists as to whether a person is Spirit-filled. Besides development of a new lifestyle characterized by righteous living, another matter is to be evident in those baptized in the Spirit, namely spiritual gifts being manifested. After listing supernatural spiritual gifts working through those baptized with the Holy Spirit (see Lesson 5), Paul says, “All of these are the work of the one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he [the Holy Spirit] determines” (1 Cor 12:11).
We must become sensitive to things that keep us occupied and eat away at intimacy with Jesus, preventing us from hearing the gentle inward whispers of the Holy Spirit. We are to gladly offer all that we are and all that we have as did Elisha if we expect to be baptized by Jesus with His Spirit and remain filled. And Jesus instructs us to persevere in seeking the baptism: “Ask [keep asking] and it will be given to you; seek [keep seeking] and you will find; knock [keep knocking] and the door will be opened to you….. If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (see Lk 11:9-13).
The best God has for us only comes when a soul ceases from dependence on self and develops sincere willingness to wait upon Jesus: “Speak, for your servant is listening.” When this takes place, God will reveal His plans along with power for such plans to be completed for His glory. If we believe that it’s only by Christ that we receive eternal life, why are we surprised that He expects us to live for Him instead of craving natural things. Sacrifices were placed on altars under the old covenant and sacrifice is expected today. “Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship” (Ro 12:1).
Baptism in the Spirit will readily take place if our uttermost desire is to to be devoted to Christ. This means living as dead to oneself and alive in Christ. Only then does His will become our will in everyday matters. As did Moses, our father in faith, we must willingly sacrifice whatever our Isaacs might be. What can it profit us to hold anything back from Christ when He desires to give us more than we can possibly imagine by anointing us with His power. It is a glorious thing when Jesus is given our deepest affection. Until this is true, our use to God will be restrained. Even Jesus had to reach a place of not making bread for Himself before He reached the place of making bread to feed thousands.
