Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 7/15/2010

Question
WHY DOES THE ASSEMBLED OF GODS BELIVE THAT YOU HAVE TO SEEK TO GET THE HOLY SPRIT WHEN IT IS A GIFT. HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TO SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN RAISE IN THE BAPTIST BACKGROUND.

Answer
Cathy,

Thank you for your questions and the opportunity to help. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the empowering for service that takes place in the life of the Christian.

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the empowering for service that takes place in the life of the Christian. The most important thing is that you are a Christian. You see, a Christian is not a religious person or merely a member of a church; a Christian is one who has been forgiven of his or her sin and has an ongoing personal relationship with God. Not only this, a Christian is someone that Jesus Christ lives in, one that has been born again (John 3.3) and lives in the assurance that Jesus paid the price for them to be right with God and go to heaven.

Its as easy as A.B.C.
A. Acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness .
B. Believe that Jesus died for the forgiveness of your sins on the cross.
C. Confess Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

However, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Second encounter with God. The first encounter with God is called as 'conversion' or salvation. Just as the indwelling Spirit reproduces the life of Jesus, the outpoured, or baptizing Spirit reproduces the ministry of Jesus.
Luke 24:49; John 14:16; Acts 1:8; 2:4, 38-39; 10:44 -48, 19:6

To illustrate, if I had a glass of water and took a swallow, then the water would be inside me. If, on the other hand, I went down to the beach and stepped into the ocean, then I would be in the water. We receive, as it were, a drink of the Spirit when we are saved, but when we are baptized in the Spirit, it is as if that initial drink becomes an ocean that completely surrounds us.

Do not think that I am saying you have to speak in tongues to be saved. I am not. The work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the mercy of God bring salvation and the indwelling Spirit, and that does not involve speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues, from all indications in the New Testament, is the consequence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. There was an initial utterance in tongues, bearing witness that the tongue had been sanctified and empowered by God for His use. But speaking in tongues was not necessary for the salvation of those people.
 
You may be asking yourself, how do I receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? Realize that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit comes by faith just like salvation, healing or anything else received from God. God wants you to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Luke 11:13, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

Praying in tongues is an act of faith. You must step out in faith after you have asked to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and begin to speak. The Bible says in Acts 2:4 that when the disciples received an infilling of the Holy Spirit that they "...began to speak with tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." They stepped out in faith, following the leading of the Spirit, and started speaking in tongues. They (themselves) began to speak the words the Spirit was speaking in their hearts.

My friend, no one can tell you what to say or lead you in a language. You must step out in faith after you have asked to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and begin to speak. When you do, God has promised in His Word that you as His child will receive.

Begin by letting God know that you believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is Biblical, that it is for you, and that you are asking Him for this experience. As you do this, begin to praise God. Lift your voice in worship and adoration to the Father. As you do you the Spirit will place words, and phrases inside your own spirit. As you begin to sense these sounds, open your mouth and begin to verbalize outwardly what is happing inwardly. The Bible says that "...they began to speak in other tongues...". And as a disciples of the Lord, we too must open our mouths and receive the Holy Ghost baptism. Believe it, and receive it!

Here are two links that will also help...

http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1/TheBaptismoftheHolyGhost.dsp

http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1/WhattheBiblesSaysabouttheHolyGhostBapti...

Cathy, please let me know if this helps or if you have any further questions.

Elder Greg Madden