Many believers seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a token and guarantee of salvation. They hear about the experience that others had when they received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and they desire it for themselves also. They also desire the ability to speak in tongues, as those do that have received the Holy Spirit baptism. What many do not understand is that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is promised to ALL who wish to follow Jesus, not just as a once off experience but the Indwelling of the Spirit with subsequent manifestations of the Holy Spirit in and through them.
We read the words of Peter on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:38,39 Peter said to them, “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. 39“For the promise is for you and your children and for ALL, who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
The people did not understand what was happening when the Holy Spirit was given and Peter explained it to them. Acts 2:15-21“For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
17‘AND
IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
‘THAT I WILL
POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
AND
YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
AND
YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
AND
YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
18EVEN
ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
I WILL
IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT
And
they shall prophesy.
19‘AND I WILL
GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE
AND
SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,
BLOOD, AND
FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
20‘THE
SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
AND
THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
BEFORE
THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.
21‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
When Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission prior to ascending to heaven He told them about the signs that would follow, the manifestations of the Holy Spirit that those would experience who obey the gospel. We read in Mark 16:15-18. “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. 17“These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Those who believe and obey the gospel of Jesus will experience Him every day, if they stay with Him and keep following and obeying Him. The signs that Jesus spoke about will follow them. They will speak in new tongues, lay their hands on the sick and they will recover, cast our demons, prophesy, see visions and dream dreams. The Holy Spirit baptism should not be a once off occurrence where the believer speaks in tongues and then walks away. We can only experience Jesus and bear fruit for His kingdom if we stay with Him, walk with Him, every day.
Do not just seek for an experience. Seek Jesus. Obey and follow Him and you will experience Him every day.
May Jesus bless you.
finalcall07 