BAPTIZED IN THE SPIRIT
1. The idea that believers are the temple or dwelling place of God, both corporately and as individuals is a
theme that comes up repeatedly in Paul’s epistles. I Cor 3:16; 6:19; II Cor 6:16; Eph 2:21,22; I Tim
3:15; Heb 3:6; etc.
a. II Cor 6:16–God’s plan along was and is to indwell His sons and daughters by His Spirit. God
wants to dwell in us (relationship) and He wants to walk in us (work in and through us).
b. Paul wanted believers to live with the awareness that God dwells in us. I Cor 6:19–Are you not
conscious that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit that is in you (Williams)?
2. We need to become “God-inside minded” or cognizant of the fact that God is in us. It needs to be
more than a cliché. It must become our view of reality, a view which affects the way we live.
a. We aren’t talking about some type of eastern mysticism where you contemplate and connect with
your inner divinity. Human beings are not divine. Only God is Divine. He is the Creator, we are
the created. We do not believe that God is in everything. That’s pantheism, not Christianity.
b. However, when we bow our knee to Jesus as Savior and Lord, God comes to indwell us. God, by
His Spirit, is in you to empower and change you so you can be all that He intends.
3. Rom 8:11–The power that raised up the Lord Jesus, the power in us, is the Holy Spirit. Therefore, in
this part of our series, we’re talking about the Holy Spirit as we consider the greatness of that power.
a. The New Testament speaks of two distinct experiences with the Holy Spirit, being born of the
Spirit and being baptized in the Spirit. This can be difficult to talk about because, over the past
2,000 years since Jesus was here, many varying opinions have developed about these issues.
b. Some say we’re born again through the Holy Spirit and the waters of baptism. Some immerse
adults in water. Others sprinkle babies. Some say you don’t have the Holy Ghost if you don’t
speak in tongues. Others say you aren’t saved if you don’t speak in tongues.
c. We need to sort this out before we can fully consider the greatness of the power in us. We began
to do so in the last lesson and want to continue in this lesson.
theme that comes up repeatedly in Paul’s epistles. I Cor 3:16; 6:19; II Cor 6:16; Eph 2:21,22; I Tim
3:15; Heb 3:6; etc.
a. II Cor 6:16–God’s plan along was and is to indwell His sons and daughters by His Spirit. God
wants to dwell in us (relationship) and He wants to walk in us (work in and through us).
b. Paul wanted believers to live with the awareness that God dwells in us. I Cor 6:19–Are you not
conscious that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit that is in you (Williams)?
2. We need to become “God-inside minded” or cognizant of the fact that God is in us. It needs to be
more than a cliché. It must become our view of reality, a view which affects the way we live.
a. We aren’t talking about some type of eastern mysticism where you contemplate and connect with
your inner divinity. Human beings are not divine. Only God is Divine. He is the Creator, we are
the created. We do not believe that God is in everything. That’s pantheism, not Christianity.
b. However, when we bow our knee to Jesus as Savior and Lord, God comes to indwell us. God, by
His Spirit, is in you to empower and change you so you can be all that He intends.
3. Rom 8:11–The power that raised up the Lord Jesus, the power in us, is the Holy Spirit. Therefore, in
this part of our series, we’re talking about the Holy Spirit as we consider the greatness of that power.
a. The New Testament speaks of two distinct experiences with the Holy Spirit, being born of the
Spirit and being baptized in the Spirit. This can be difficult to talk about because, over the past
2,000 years since Jesus was here, many varying opinions have developed about these issues.
b. Some say we’re born again through the Holy Spirit and the waters of baptism. Some immerse
adults in water. Others sprinkle babies. Some say you don’t have the Holy Ghost if you don’t
speak in tongues. Others say you aren’t saved if you don’t speak in tongues.
c. We need to sort this out before we can fully consider the greatness of the power in us. We began
to do so in the last lesson and want to continue in this lesson.
1. Jesus’ words were intended to assure them that their separation would be temporary and one day they’d
be reunited. He also wanted to assure them that He wasn’t going to leave them helpless. John 14:16-18
a. v18–The word comfortless (orphanos in the Greek) means bereaved. Note the word orphan in it.
It’s translated fatherless, desolate (abandoned, alone), bereft (deprived of something cherished).
b. v16–Jesus said He’d ask the Father to give them another Comforter (another of the same kind).
Comforter in the Greek is parakletos, from two words meaning to call to the side of.
1. Note these translations of the word: Another Helper (Moffatt); Advocate (ABUV); another to
befriend you (Knox); someone else to stand by you (Phillips).
2. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper,
Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby) that He may remain with you forever. (Amp)
c. v17–Jesus told His disciples that the Comforter (the Spirit of truth, the Holy Ghost, v26) has been
with you, but He will be in you.
2. To appreciate what Jesus was promising His followers (including us) we need some understanding of
the Godhead. Godhead is a term used in the New Testament to refer to God’s nature or essence. Acts
17:29; Rom 1:20; Col 2:9
a. God is One God who simultaneously manifest as three PersonsFather, Son, and Holy Spirit.
These three Persons are distinct, but not separate. They co-inhere or share one Divine nature.
1. You can’t have one without the others. Where the Father is, so is the Son and the Holy Spirit.
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2
Jesus is the visible incarnation of everything the Father is. The Holy Spirit is the invisible
presence of everything Jesus is. This mystery of the Godhead is beyond our comprehension.
We can only accept and rejoice in the wonder of Almighty God.
2. These three Persons work in cooperation with one another. The Father planned redemption.
The Son purchased it through the Cross. The Holy Spirit performs it (makes it a reality in our
life) when we believe the Word of God about what the Father has provided through the Son.
b. John 14:16, 26–Jesus said the Father will give and send the Holy Spirit. How can the Infinite,
Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omnipresent (present everywhere at once), Omniscient (all-
knowing) God give or send the Infinite, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient God?
1. Words fall short when we talk about all of this because we’re talking about the Infinite God
interacting with finite beings. We can’t explain it. We simply accept it and rejoice.
2. The point is, Jesus said to His men that the nature of their relationship with Him was going to
change and it would be good or advantageous for them for several reasons. John 16:7
A. The Holy Spirit would be in and through them what Jesus was while He was with them.
B. Through the Cross Jesus would purchase redemption. And He knew that Holy Spirit
would then carry it out in the lives and experience of those who believe.
3. Jesus was arrested that night and crucified the next day. He rose from the dead three days
later and spent forty more days with His disciples before returning to Heaven. Acts 1:3
3. Remember, Christianity is more than a moral code or a system of beliefs (although it includes both).
Christianity involves supernatural transformation by the power of God that restores men and women to
our created purpose. God made human beings to become His actual sons and daughters by partaking of
His life and Spirit through faith in Christ.
a. The Bible uses the word picture of new birth to describe this organic, living relationship between
God and man through Christ. Jesus said that men must be born again or born of the water of the
Word (not the natural waters of baptism) and the Spirit of God. John 3:3-5
b. When we believe the gospel, the Holy Spirit regenerates or gives life to our human spirit and we
are born again or born from above as it says in the Greek. It’s supernatural.
1. The new birth is an inward transformation of the immaterial part of man accomplished by the
Spirit of God through the Word of God. John 3:5; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; I Pet 1:23
2. I John 3:10–The new birth transforms men and women from children of the devil to children
of God, from sinners to sons, from unrighteous to righteous, from dead to alive.
A. Children in the Greek is teknon. This word stresses the fact of birth; it’s a spiritual birth,
not natural. Through Adam’s fall men were made sinners by nature, by lineal descent, by
the fact of their birth (Rom 5:19; Eph 2:3). Through the new birth we’re born of God.
B. John 1:12,13–But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority[power, privilege, right] to become the children (teknon) of God, that is, to those who
believe inadhere to, trust in and rely onHis name; Who owe their birth neither to
bloods, nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse], nor to the will of man [that
of a natural father], but to God. They are born of God! (Amp)
3. Rom 8:15-17–Paul used this same Greek word (teknon) when he wrote about sons of God.
The Spirit of adoption is the Holy Spirit. He has made us literal children of God through new
birth, so much so that we can now rightfully call God our Father (Abba). We’re born of Him.
4. Luke 24:44-48–Back to Jesus’ disciples. They received the Holy Spirit and were born of God on
resurrection day. Fifty days later they were baptized in the Spirit. It was two separate experiences.
a. On resurrection day, Jesus appeared to His disciples and reminded them that everything written
about Him by Moses and the prophets had to be fulfilled. Then Jesus opened their understanding
of the Scriptures, showing them that He had indeed fulfilled all of them.
1. He told them: It was prophesied that I would die and rise again on the third day, and you are
witnesses of these events. Now, go in my Name (my authority) and take this message of
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3
repentance and remission of sins to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. Those who turn to
Me (repent) will have their sins remitted (wiped away)
A. John 20:19-22–The disciples believed the words Jesus shared with them. Then He
breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. The disciples were cleansed of sin
and their nature changed from sinner to son by the power of the Holy Spirit.
B. Gen 2:7–Just as God breathed on Adam in the first creation and he became a living soul,
Jesus initiated the new creation when He breathed on them and they were born again.
2. On resurrection day we see the recreation (restoration and transformation) of men who were
transformed from sinners into sons by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ. II Cor 5:17
b. Jesus remained with His followers for forty more days. Just before He returned to Heaven He
instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, before they
went out to proclaim their message. Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8
c. He told them: You will be baptized with the Holy Ghost, endued with power from on high. Ten
days later they were filled with baptized in the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues. Acts 2:1-4
5. The Book of Acts is a record of what happened after Jesus went back to Heaven and His followers
went out and began to proclaim His resurrection. As we read this record we see two experiences with
the Holy Ghost: being born of the Spirit and being baptized in the Spirit. Consider some examples.
a. Acts 8–After Stephen was martyred, great persecution broke out in Jerusalem and all the
Christians (except for the apostles) scattered to the regions of Judea and Samaria.
1. v5-8–Philip (Acts 7:5) went to Samaria and preached Christ to the people and they gave heed
or listened to his message. v12–After they believed what Philip preached and were born of
the Spirit they were baptized. Believing preceded water baptism. Water baptism is a symbol
of the inward change that occurs when we believe the Word of God (I Pet 3:21).
2. v14-17–When the apostles in Jerusalem heard what happened in Samaria they sent Peter and
John to pray for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. They’ve been born of the Word
and the Spirit and water baptized, but the Holy Spirit hadn’t fallen upon any of them yet.
Peter and John laid hands on them and they received or were baptized in the Holy Ghost.
3. v18,19–Although the text doesn’t specifically say they spoke in tongues, the local sorcerer
was so impressed with what he saw when hands were laid on these people, he offered the
apostles money to empower him to do what they did.
b. Acts 9–Jesus appeared to Saul as he was traveling to Damascus to arrest Christians. Saul asked
two questions of the Lord: who are you and what do you want me to do. The Lord said: I am
Jesus and told Paul to go to Damascus. Paul believed Him and did as instructed. v1-8
1. v10-18–The Lord directed Ananias (a follower of Jesus living in Damascus) to find Paul and
pray for him. Ananias greeted Saul as a brother (v17) because he’d been born of the Spirit.
2. Then Ananias prayed for Saul to receive his sight and be filled with or baptized in the Holy
Ghost. Lastly, he was water baptized. The text doesn’t say that Paul spoke in tongues then,
but he later wrote that he did speak in other tongues. I Cor 14:18
c. Acts 10–A Gentile named Cornelius (a devout Jewish proselyte or new convert) saw an angel in a
vision who directed him to send men to the city of Joppa to find a man named Peter and bring
him home. The angel said: He has words you need to hear (v6; 22; 32); Acts 11:14–“a message
by means of which you and all your household [as well] will be saved [from eternal death].” (Amp)
1. When Peter arrived, Cornelius was so excited that he fell down at Peter’s feet and worshipped
him. We have to presume from this that whatever Peter told him, Cornelius would believe it.
He gathered his household together and told Peter, We want to “listen to all that you have
been instructed by the Lord to say” (Acts 10:33, Amp)
2. v34-43–Peter preached Jesus to them, telling them that Jesus was anointed by God and did
miracles for all to see. Then He was crucified but God raised Him from the dead. And we
witnessed all of it.
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4
A. v43–Notice Peter specifically said that: Whosoever believes in Him will receive
remission of sins. New birth or being born from above comes through believing the
Word of God about what Jesus did through His death and resurrection. These people
believed what they heard and were born of the Spirit.
B. v44–While Peter was speaking the Holy Ghost fell on them and they spoke with tongues
and magnified God. Then they were water baptized (v48).
d. Acts 19–On his third missionary journey Paul came in contact with some disciples in Ephesus.
They were disciples of John who probably became such through the ministry of Apollos. v1
1. Acts 18:24-28–Apollos (a Jew from Alexandria) came to Ephesus and preached. He knew
only John’s baptism. He met Aquila and Priscilla who told him about Jesus and he believed.
2. Paul knew Apollos was a believer and asked these disciples: Have you received the Holy
Spirit since you believed? Paul learned they knew John’s baptism. v2-4
. 3. v5-7–Paul preached Jesus to them. They believed, were born of the Spirit and water baptized.
Paul laid hands on them, they were baptized in the Holy Ghost, and they spoke in tongues.
be reunited. He also wanted to assure them that He wasn’t going to leave them helpless. John 14:16-18
a. v18–The word comfortless (orphanos in the Greek) means bereaved. Note the word orphan in it.
It’s translated fatherless, desolate (abandoned, alone), bereft (deprived of something cherished).
b. v16–Jesus said He’d ask the Father to give them another Comforter (another of the same kind).
Comforter in the Greek is parakletos, from two words meaning to call to the side of.
1. Note these translations of the word: Another Helper (Moffatt); Advocate (ABUV); another to
befriend you (Knox); someone else to stand by you (Phillips).
2. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper,
Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby) that He may remain with you forever. (Amp)
c. v17–Jesus told His disciples that the Comforter (the Spirit of truth, the Holy Ghost, v26) has been
with you, but He will be in you.
2. To appreciate what Jesus was promising His followers (including us) we need some understanding of
the Godhead. Godhead is a term used in the New Testament to refer to God’s nature or essence. Acts
17:29; Rom 1:20; Col 2:9
a. God is One God who simultaneously manifest as three PersonsFather, Son, and Holy Spirit.
These three Persons are distinct, but not separate. They co-inhere or share one Divine nature.
1. You can’t have one without the others. Where the Father is, so is the Son and the Holy Spirit.
TCC–982
2
Jesus is the visible incarnation of everything the Father is. The Holy Spirit is the invisible
presence of everything Jesus is. This mystery of the Godhead is beyond our comprehension.
We can only accept and rejoice in the wonder of Almighty God.
2. These three Persons work in cooperation with one another. The Father planned redemption.
The Son purchased it through the Cross. The Holy Spirit performs it (makes it a reality in our
life) when we believe the Word of God about what the Father has provided through the Son.
b. John 14:16, 26–Jesus said the Father will give and send the Holy Spirit. How can the Infinite,
Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omnipresent (present everywhere at once), Omniscient (all-
knowing) God give or send the Infinite, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient God?
1. Words fall short when we talk about all of this because we’re talking about the Infinite God
interacting with finite beings. We can’t explain it. We simply accept it and rejoice.
2. The point is, Jesus said to His men that the nature of their relationship with Him was going to
change and it would be good or advantageous for them for several reasons. John 16:7
A. The Holy Spirit would be in and through them what Jesus was while He was with them.
B. Through the Cross Jesus would purchase redemption. And He knew that Holy Spirit
would then carry it out in the lives and experience of those who believe.
3. Jesus was arrested that night and crucified the next day. He rose from the dead three days
later and spent forty more days with His disciples before returning to Heaven. Acts 1:3
3. Remember, Christianity is more than a moral code or a system of beliefs (although it includes both).
Christianity involves supernatural transformation by the power of God that restores men and women to
our created purpose. God made human beings to become His actual sons and daughters by partaking of
His life and Spirit through faith in Christ.
a. The Bible uses the word picture of new birth to describe this organic, living relationship between
God and man through Christ. Jesus said that men must be born again or born of the water of the
Word (not the natural waters of baptism) and the Spirit of God. John 3:3-5
b. When we believe the gospel, the Holy Spirit regenerates or gives life to our human spirit and we
are born again or born from above as it says in the Greek. It’s supernatural.
1. The new birth is an inward transformation of the immaterial part of man accomplished by the
Spirit of God through the Word of God. John 3:5; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; I Pet 1:23
2. I John 3:10–The new birth transforms men and women from children of the devil to children
of God, from sinners to sons, from unrighteous to righteous, from dead to alive.
A. Children in the Greek is teknon. This word stresses the fact of birth; it’s a spiritual birth,
not natural. Through Adam’s fall men were made sinners by nature, by lineal descent, by
the fact of their birth (Rom 5:19; Eph 2:3). Through the new birth we’re born of God.
B. John 1:12,13–But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority[power, privilege, right] to become the children (teknon) of God, that is, to those who
believe inadhere to, trust in and rely onHis name; Who owe their birth neither to
bloods, nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse], nor to the will of man [that
of a natural father], but to God. They are born of God! (Amp)
3. Rom 8:15-17–Paul used this same Greek word (teknon) when he wrote about sons of God.
The Spirit of adoption is the Holy Spirit. He has made us literal children of God through new
birth, so much so that we can now rightfully call God our Father (Abba). We’re born of Him.
4. Luke 24:44-48–Back to Jesus’ disciples. They received the Holy Spirit and were born of God on
resurrection day. Fifty days later they were baptized in the Spirit. It was two separate experiences.
a. On resurrection day, Jesus appeared to His disciples and reminded them that everything written
about Him by Moses and the prophets had to be fulfilled. Then Jesus opened their understanding
of the Scriptures, showing them that He had indeed fulfilled all of them.
1. He told them: It was prophesied that I would die and rise again on the third day, and you are
witnesses of these events. Now, go in my Name (my authority) and take this message of
TCC–982
3
repentance and remission of sins to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. Those who turn to
Me (repent) will have their sins remitted (wiped away)
A. John 20:19-22–The disciples believed the words Jesus shared with them. Then He
breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. The disciples were cleansed of sin
and their nature changed from sinner to son by the power of the Holy Spirit.
B. Gen 2:7–Just as God breathed on Adam in the first creation and he became a living soul,
Jesus initiated the new creation when He breathed on them and they were born again.
2. On resurrection day we see the recreation (restoration and transformation) of men who were
transformed from sinners into sons by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ. II Cor 5:17
b. Jesus remained with His followers for forty more days. Just before He returned to Heaven He
instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, before they
went out to proclaim their message. Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8
c. He told them: You will be baptized with the Holy Ghost, endued with power from on high. Ten
days later they were filled with baptized in the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues. Acts 2:1-4
5. The Book of Acts is a record of what happened after Jesus went back to Heaven and His followers
went out and began to proclaim His resurrection. As we read this record we see two experiences with
the Holy Ghost: being born of the Spirit and being baptized in the Spirit. Consider some examples.
a. Acts 8–After Stephen was martyred, great persecution broke out in Jerusalem and all the
Christians (except for the apostles) scattered to the regions of Judea and Samaria.
1. v5-8–Philip (Acts 7:5) went to Samaria and preached Christ to the people and they gave heed
or listened to his message. v12–After they believed what Philip preached and were born of
the Spirit they were baptized. Believing preceded water baptism. Water baptism is a symbol
of the inward change that occurs when we believe the Word of God (I Pet 3:21).
2. v14-17–When the apostles in Jerusalem heard what happened in Samaria they sent Peter and
John to pray for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. They’ve been born of the Word
and the Spirit and water baptized, but the Holy Spirit hadn’t fallen upon any of them yet.
Peter and John laid hands on them and they received or were baptized in the Holy Ghost.
3. v18,19–Although the text doesn’t specifically say they spoke in tongues, the local sorcerer
was so impressed with what he saw when hands were laid on these people, he offered the
apostles money to empower him to do what they did.
b. Acts 9–Jesus appeared to Saul as he was traveling to Damascus to arrest Christians. Saul asked
two questions of the Lord: who are you and what do you want me to do. The Lord said: I am
Jesus and told Paul to go to Damascus. Paul believed Him and did as instructed. v1-8
1. v10-18–The Lord directed Ananias (a follower of Jesus living in Damascus) to find Paul and
pray for him. Ananias greeted Saul as a brother (v17) because he’d been born of the Spirit.
2. Then Ananias prayed for Saul to receive his sight and be filled with or baptized in the Holy
Ghost. Lastly, he was water baptized. The text doesn’t say that Paul spoke in tongues then,
but he later wrote that he did speak in other tongues. I Cor 14:18
c. Acts 10–A Gentile named Cornelius (a devout Jewish proselyte or new convert) saw an angel in a
vision who directed him to send men to the city of Joppa to find a man named Peter and bring
him home. The angel said: He has words you need to hear (v6; 22; 32); Acts 11:14–“a message
by means of which you and all your household [as well] will be saved [from eternal death].” (Amp)
1. When Peter arrived, Cornelius was so excited that he fell down at Peter’s feet and worshipped
him. We have to presume from this that whatever Peter told him, Cornelius would believe it.
He gathered his household together and told Peter, We want to “listen to all that you have
been instructed by the Lord to say” (Acts 10:33, Amp)
2. v34-43–Peter preached Jesus to them, telling them that Jesus was anointed by God and did
miracles for all to see. Then He was crucified but God raised Him from the dead. And we
witnessed all of it.
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4
A. v43–Notice Peter specifically said that: Whosoever believes in Him will receive
remission of sins. New birth or being born from above comes through believing the
Word of God about what Jesus did through His death and resurrection. These people
believed what they heard and were born of the Spirit.
B. v44–While Peter was speaking the Holy Ghost fell on them and they spoke with tongues
and magnified God. Then they were water baptized (v48).
d. Acts 19–On his third missionary journey Paul came in contact with some disciples in Ephesus.
They were disciples of John who probably became such through the ministry of Apollos. v1
1. Acts 18:24-28–Apollos (a Jew from Alexandria) came to Ephesus and preached. He knew
only John’s baptism. He met Aquila and Priscilla who told him about Jesus and he believed.
2. Paul knew Apollos was a believer and asked these disciples: Have you received the Holy
Spirit since you believed? Paul learned they knew John’s baptism. v2-4
. 3. v5-7–Paul preached Jesus to them. They believed, were born of the Spirit and water baptized.
Paul laid hands on them, they were baptized in the Holy Ghost, and they spoke in tongues.
1. It’s clear from Acts that there are two distinct encounters with the Holy Spirit, being born of the
Spirit and being baptized in the Spirit, and speaking in tongues is the initial sign of being baptized.
a. If you are born again you have the Holy Spirit because you are born of Him. But there is another
encounter with Him. Some refer to it as a greater yielding on our part.
b. All of this is difficult to discuss because we are talking about an Infinite God interacting with and
indwelling finite beings and there are so many varying opinions on these subjects today.
c. The first Christians knew none of the arguments we have about water baptism, baptism in the Holy
Spirit, or speaking in other tongues. The events described in Acts were happening to them and
around them. All the epistles were written in the context of two experiences with the Holy Spirit.
2. Although various supernatural manifestations accompanied men and women when they were baptized
in the Spirit, the one common denominator was speaking in other tongues. It’s the one that convinced
Peter that the Gentiles had received what the apostles got on the day of Pentecost.
3. The third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, has come to regenerate us and indwell us.
a. Note some of the imagery used to describe our interaction with Him–endued (clothed with power),
baptized (or immersed), filled (to as much as can be held).
b. The Holy Spirit wants to saturate every part of our being with His Life to empower and transform
us. No wonder Paul prayed that we would know the exceeding greatness of His power in us.
c. Lot’s more next week!!
Spirit and being baptized in the Spirit, and speaking in tongues is the initial sign of being baptized.
a. If you are born again you have the Holy Spirit because you are born of Him. But there is another
encounter with Him. Some refer to it as a greater yielding on our part.
b. All of this is difficult to discuss because we are talking about an Infinite God interacting with and
indwelling finite beings and there are so many varying opinions on these subjects today.
c. The first Christians knew none of the arguments we have about water baptism, baptism in the Holy
Spirit, or speaking in other tongues. The events described in Acts were happening to them and
around them. All the epistles were written in the context of two experiences with the Holy Spirit.
2. Although various supernatural manifestations accompanied men and women when they were baptized
in the Spirit, the one common denominator was speaking in other tongues. It’s the one that convinced
Peter that the Gentiles had received what the apostles got on the day of Pentecost.
3. The third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, has come to regenerate us and indwell us.
a. Note some of the imagery used to describe our interaction with Him–endued (clothed with power),
baptized (or immersed), filled (to as much as can be held).
b. The Holy Spirit wants to saturate every part of our being with His Life to empower and transform
us. No wonder Paul prayed that we would know the exceeding greatness of His power in us.
c. Lot’s more next week!!