The Baptism of The Holy Spirit

As a baby Christian, I did not know about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I thought there was only one baptism, which is water baptism.

I did not understand the meaning of baptism of the Holy Spirit and the supernatural powers the Holy Spirit gives when a Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit.

It was 30th August 2004 when Rev Mike Connell laid his hands on me during a friday church service. I have received Salvation just two months earlier, but did not know who is the Holy Spirit.

When i went back to my seat and started to worship God, tears began to flow down my cheeks. It was wonderful, it was my first time experiencing such a wonderful feeling. I feel so loved, I feel the presence of God so real.

Curious as a cat, I went to ask my new friends in church what has happened during that service. They told me that when Rev Mike Connell laid his hands on me, the Holy Spirit entered my body.

I had received the Holy Spirit. That is why God is so real to me, I know it when the Holy Spirit is in the room. I can feel his presence manifesting.

My love for God exploded, knowing that He loves me so much. There is a fire in my heart which burns intensely for God since then. It would not be possible if I was not filled with the Holy Spirit.

You can have what I have, if you are willing to receive the Holy Spirit in your heart, which will lead you to life full of daily encounters with the Holy Spirit.

In the book of Acts, you can see that there is an experience following salvation. it is receiving the Holy Spirit, or the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The scriptures shows that although the Samaritans were saved, the apostles feel that they needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Philip's minstry in Samaria:

The blessed ministry of Philip was one led by the Holy Spirit. Many people in Samaria were saved and healed.
"many who were paralysed and lame were healed.
-Acts 8:7 (NKJV)

The Samaritans believed the preaching of Philip about the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus, and were baptized:

"But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
-Acts 8:12 (NKJV)

In the book of Mark, Jesus said:
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved.."
-Mark 16:16 (NKJV)

The Samaritans both believed and were baptized in water. But were they saved? According to Jesus, they were, yet none of them had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, the Holy Spirit will begin a new work in you in the New Birth, also known as being born again. This is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. The experience which follows your salvation is known as receiving the Holy Spirit, being filled with the Holy Spirit, or the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Peter the apostle said that we are born again by the word of God:
"having being born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever .."
-1 Peter 1:23 (NKJV)

Peter And John Sent To Samaria To Pray For The Baptism of The Holy Spirit

"Now when the apostles who were at jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.. prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."
-Acts 8:14-17 (NKJV)

The apostles in Jerusalem recognized that the Samaritans were saved, because they heard of the good reports concerning Philip's ministry, and what the Holy Spirit has done in Samaria. Thus they sent Peter and John to lay hands on the new Christians so that they could receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

There is no mention in the bible that anyone upon whom Peter and John laid hands on, failed to receive to Holy Spirit. The scriptures simply states, "Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."
Acts 8:17 (NKJV)

Peter and John were sent to Samaria for a purpose, which is to lay hands and to pray for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit. Why did they have to send Peter and John? Why couldn't Philip lay hands on them to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

We need to know that God has different plans and purposes for everyone. And to know what the Holy Spirit wants us to do. To be led by the Holy Spirit, we do not step out of the boundaries of what God wants us to do.

The Holy Spirit has given different gifts to Peter, John and Philip. Philip was a gifted evangelist. His purpose was to lead people to the saving knowledge of Jesus. On the other hand, Peter and John were called to minister the baptism of the spirit.

Manifestations Simon The Sorcerer Saw During The Baptism ofThe Holy Spirit

Simon the Sorcerer

"And when Simon saw that through the laying on the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
-Acts 8:18-19 (NKJV)

Some people think that Simon the sorcerer tried to buy the Holy Spirit. But he did not. What he tried to buy was the ability to lay hands on people to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Feeling insulted, Peter said:
"But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!"
Acts 8:20 (NKJV)

In Greek, the word "gift" is translated into 4 different translations. In this verse, the "gift" here means "an endowment". Therefore, Peter is implying that he and John were both gifted by the Holy Spirit to lay hands on the people for them to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

How did Simon know that the people received the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Is it because they spoke in tongues? There are many Christian who do not believe in speaking in tongues argue that this part of the scripture does not say anything about the Samaritans speaking in tongue.

There is also no evidence that the samaritans who receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit did not speak in tongues. In the earlier chapters of the book of Acts, the people who receive the Holy Spirit often spoke in tongues.

The Samaritans, after receiving the Holy Spirit, most likely spoke in tongues...
"Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given."
-Acts 8:18 (NKJV)

What did Simon see? A white dove from heaven landing on the shoulders of the Samaritans? Like when Jesus was baptized by John? Or that they could suddenly go around healing the sick and raising the dead? Or a floating cloud that entered their bodies?

Sounds silly right? Certainly the Holy Spirit cannot be seen with the physical eye, because the Holy Spirit is a Spirit. There must be some physical manifestations that Simon the sorcerer observed so that he knew the Samaritans have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit when Peter and John laid hands on them.

Simon did not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, so how could he see that others had received the Holy Spirit? Some people argue that Simon saw the Samaritans were full of joy.

"And there was great joy in that city."
-Acts 8:8 (NKJV)

There was already a great joy in the city of Samaria before Peter and John arrived. Meaning, before the Samaritans had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit by the laying on hands of the apostles, there was already a great joy in the city.

So what kind of signs did Simon see that convinced him that the Samaritans had received the Holy Spirit when Peter and John laid hands on the them?

All the evidences pointed that when they had received the Holy Spirit, they spoke in tongues. That was the sign that convinced Simon the sorcerer that the Samaritans had received the Holy Spirit.

You Do Not Need To Tarry For The Baptism of The Holy Spirit

The apostles Peter and John never taught the Samaritans to wait, or to tarrt for the Holy Spirit. God ha already given the Holy Spirit to us as a free gift. To teach others to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit only produces indecision and doubt.

For many years as the general supervisor of the Assemblies of God in Great Britain, Howard Carter founded the oldest Pentecostal Bible school on Earth.

He was also a leading teacher in the worldwide Full Gospel circles . He said that to teach others to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit is nothing but a combination of unbelief and works.

The Baptism of The Holy Spirit Has Already Been Given As A Free Gift From God

In the book of Acts chapter 8, the apostles Peter and John never prayed to God to give the Samaritans the Holy Spirit. They prayed that they would receive the Holy Spirit.

I used to pray, "Lord, save my family, save my friends." the apostles never prayed in that manner in the scriptures. I have learnt to pray according to the Word of God.

God the Father has already sent His only Son, Jesus two thousands years ago to die for us. He has already purchased our salvation with the blood of Jesus. But none of us can have eternal life until we receive that free gift of salvation in our hearts.

If you want to pray according to the word of God, you should pray that people will receive the gift of eternal life that God has already offered to them.

Similar with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you should not pray that God will fill the people with the Holy Spirit. But pray like Peter and John did, that they might receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

"Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."
-Acts 8:17 (NKJV)

Peter and John are good role models we should follow. They were two of the best disciples of Jesus! When you lay hands on people, pray that they will receive the Holy Spirit in faith.

As a born again Christian for 2 years, the Holy Spirit has led me to many truths in the bible. I spoke in tongues when I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, so did many of my friends who joined the Church after me.

I am totally convinced now that if anyone has genuinely received the Holy Spirit, he should speak out in faith. Let the heavenly language flow out from his tongue. I will not be satisfied with anything less. You shouldn't too :)

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