Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 7/9/2007

Question
MY BACKGROUND IS SOUTHERN BAPTIST.  I HAVE BEEN SAVED AND BAPTIZED BY FULL IMMERSION WATER.  IS IT A SEPARATE MATTER OR ONE IN THE SAME TO RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT?  I HAVE READ ABOUT IT BUT DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO - HAVE I ALREADY BEEN BAPTIZED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OR IS THIS SOMETHING ELSE THAT I NEED PURSUE?  ACT 8:16 NIV SAYS...BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD NOT YET COME UPON ANY OF THEM; THEY HAD SIMPLY BEEN BAPTIZED INTO THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.  AND ACTS 1:5 NIV SAYS, FOR JOHN BAPTIZED WITH WATER, BUT IN A FEW DAYS YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.  PLEASE ADVISE.

Answer
Dear Leslie,

This is Elder Greg Madden, and I wanted to thank you for allowing me the privilege of answering your questions. And from my family to yours, I pray that you would have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Elder Greg
http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1



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Leslie,

Thank you for your questions. You are correct, when a Believer recieve Jesus as Lord and Savior they recieve the Holy Spirit, but not the fullness of the Spirit. Please allow me to exsplain.

What is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

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 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.

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.

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a definite experience, not identical with conversion. When the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is received, unknown tongues will follow. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is given to endue the believer with power from on high; to give and to equip him for a practical, efficient, spirit-filled, soul-winning ministry and service. Inasmuch as this is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, every believer has a right to expect His incoming to be after the same manner as recorded by the Word of God in Bible days.

Luke 24:49; John 14:16; Acts 1:8; 2:4, 38-39; 10:44 -48, 19:6

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." The step out in faith, following the leading of the Spirit, and started speaking in tongues.

Lesilie 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. Just begin to praise God with the sound of your voice ,and receive the utterance the Holy Spirit gives.

For more detailed info please chech out this info on our ministry web site...

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

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

Elder Greg Madden
http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1/