How to be Baptized in the Holy Spirit (Part 3)

If you knew who it is who speaks to you (John 4:10)

Before we can receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, there are two things we need to know about Jesus. First, we need to know Him as the messiah. “The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He.’” (John 4:25-26) Jesus declares to the woman that He is the Messiah. To know Jesus as Messiah is to know Him as our savior. We cannot receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit until we receive Jesus, His forgiveness of sins, and His reconciliation back to the Father. There is no receiving the Holy Spirit with out first receiving Jesus. The promise of the Father was that, “I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind.” (Joel 2:28) Yet this out pouring is limited to those who chose to believe in Him and to receive Him and His salvation. “But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive.” (John 7:39) This is consistent with the message Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) Notice that repentance and forgiveness precedes the receiving of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Secondly, we need to know Jesus as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. Contrasting himself and Jesus, John said, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16) John makes it clear that Jesus is the one who is the baptizer in the Holy Spirit. Many people today are seeking entrance into the things of the spirit. Some have turned with renewed interest in to angels, spiritual beings, and inner “spirit guides”. Some people seek experiences, hoping that they will “initiate” then into the realm of the spirit. Others believe that the things of the Holy Spirit can be confirmed through a long chain of supposed apostolic authority. However, none of these ways can provide us with an immersion (baptism) into God’s Holy Spirit. If we want to receive the Holy Spirit, then we need to go to the source; we need to go to Jesus, who alone can baptize in the Holy Spirit. There are no short cuts, there is no plan “B”, there is only Jesus. If we want to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, then we need to go to Jesus.

More to come… David Robison