Part 2-2: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (2)

Bible Reading:

Luke 12:49 — “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!”

Acts 1:8 — “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 2:3 — “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.”

John 7:37-39 — “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Acts 2:38 — “Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [a]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'”

Acts 5:32 — “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Isaiah 57:15 — “For thus says the High and Lofty One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

John 3:34 — "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure."

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit Brings Thorough Revival

In Luke 12:49, the Lord Jesus Himself said: “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49) This fire was truly cast down at Pentecost. When the disciples gathered on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended like flames of fire. Thus, the fire of revival began to burn from Jerusalem, spreading throughout all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. However, the challenge lies with man. After nearly two thousand years of history, the church has fallen from the heavenly realm back to the earthly. Due to the corruption of sin and the influence of the world, the church has changed in nature. Furthermore, human methods and organizational structures have replaced the position of the Holy Spirit, resulting in a desolate condition—an outward form without the actual power of the Spirit. Yet today, God is still calling a group of people to be vessels of the Holy Spirit to revive His church.

Last night, we spoke of a crucial aspect of revival: the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Lord revives His church through the work of the Spirit. But the scope of the Spirit’s work is vast—He uses various means to bring revival to His church. For example, John 5:25 says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” (John 5:25) When God’s Word comes, revival happens—this is the work of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the Spirit convicts people of sin, righteousness, and judgment, leading them to self-examination and renewal. Others are revived by the love of the Lord stirring their hearts. So in His work of revival, God uses many methods. But one essential and often neglected aspect—one that leads the church into the most fundamental and thorough revival—is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. When a person is baptized in the Spirit, their entire being is immersed—spirit, soul, and even body are revived. Not only is sin driven out, but even sickness may be healed. This is total revival—spirit, soul, and body—ushering the believer into a deep and transformative renewal, and setting them on the path of revival.

This path of revival must be walked in the law of the Spirit. In doing so, our hearts burn with passion, we are empowered, we love the Lord, and our lives grow. Our gatherings become orderly, not chaotic, and we bear a glorious and full testimony of Christ. We will speak more about the law of the Spirit tomorrow night. Tonight, we continue to focus on the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Believers Still Need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit After Pentecost

Today, some people believe that since the disciples received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the Gentiles in Cornelius’s household also received it, then both Jewish and Gentile churches were baptized in the Spirit at their inception. They argue that this baptism represents the body of Christ, and since we are saved into that body, there is no need for a separate baptism in the Spirit. However, this interpretation is completely inaccurate. If that were the case, then why—many years after Pentecost—does Acts chapter 8 record that the people in Samaria believed in Jesus and were baptized in water, yet Peter and John still had to come and lay hands on them so they could receive the Holy Spirit in a tangible way? (Acts 8:14–17)

Furthermore, Acts chapter 19 tells us that when Paul was in Ephesus—more than twenty years after Pentecost—he asked the disciples, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2). This meant: Has the Holy Spirit come upon you? Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit? They replied, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” Paul realized they had believed incorrectly, so he preached the gospel to them again. They then believed in Jesus and were baptized. But even after baptism, the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon them. So Paul laid hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they were baptized in the Spirit (Acts 19:5–6). This shows that being born again and saved is one matter, and receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is another. Clearly, those who are born again after Pentecost still need to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Last night, we also spoke about the tremendous blessings that come with receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit—it brings great benefit to individuals and to the church. Therefore, it is only natural that we hope each of you will receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

How to Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

So how can we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit? It is entirely the same as receiving salvation and being born again. It does not depend on studying methods—it simply requires a willing and simple acceptance. However, because there are many hindrances on our part, it’s helpful to highlight a few points that can assist us in receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

1. Desire

   To receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, a person must have a deep desire from the heart. The Lord Jesus clearly said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). This refers to believers receiving the Holy Spirit. So before one can drink—that is, receive the Holy Spirit—there must first be thirst, which means desire. As long as you are someone who earnestly desires the baptism of the Spirit, the Lord will surely grant it to you in His time. A young sister once testified that she had longed for the baptism of the Holy Spirit for two years. When she came to Baguio, the Lord indeed gave it to her. She was filled with joy and peace, and confidently testified that she would now be able to overcome many pressures and difficulties. Praise the Lord! Brothers and sisters, if you and I have hearts that truly desire, the Lord will surely let us experience it. Isaiah 44:3 says, “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty.” This also shows that if we thirst, the Lord takes responsibility to pour out His Spirit upon us. May the Lord stir up within us a heart that longs for Him.

2. Simple Faith

   The Lord Jesus first said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). If you’re not thirsty, how can you drink? If a cup of water is placed before me and I’m not thirsty, I’ll simply ignore it. Likewise, when the Holy Spirit comes to offer Himself to you, if you don’t want Him, you won’t receive Him. So first comes thirst—desire—and then comes drinking. How do we drink? Jesus continues, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). So drinking means believing. With simple faith, we can receive. As soon as you and I believe, the Spirit is given to us. The expression of faith is praise; when we praise, the Holy Spirit fills us. It’s that simple—no need to study further.

   When we preach the gospel, we often encounter people who say, “Let me study it first.” We respond, “You don’t need to study.” They might say, “I’ve only heard it once, I need to hear it for another year or two.” But in reality, even after years of studying, they still don’t understand and continue to study. After years of research, they still haven’t received salvation. Believing in Jesus isn’t about research—it’s about faith. Likewise, receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit isn’t about study. Believe, and you will receive. Believe, and you will be filled with the Holy Spirit. It’s that simple. When Jesus ascended to heaven, He poured out the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33). All we need is simple faith to receive. Galatians 3:14 says, “That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith”.

   There was a sister who longed for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. During a Spirit-filled gathering, she praised the Lord in faith. When she cried out “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord,” the Holy Spirit was poured out abundantly upon her. She received the baptism of the Spirit and began to speak in tongues.

3. Repentance, Confession, and Emptying Oneself

   When Peter stood up to testify on the day of Pentecost, those who heard the message were deeply convicted. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). This shows that once a person repents and confesses their sins, they are to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The “gift of the Holy Spirit” here refers to the Spirit being poured out. New believers, in particular, often receive the Holy Spirit easily after repentance.

   Over the years, when we’ve preached the gospel and baptized new believers, we’ve helped them receive the baptism of the Spirit. As they repented and prayed, they were quickly filled with the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, older believers—those saved for seven, eight, or even ten-plus years—often find it harder to be filled. That’s because after believing in Jesus, many let the world and sin creep back in. Unless they repent, confess, empty themselves, and fully turn to God, the Holy Spirit will not come in. Moreover, many seasoned Christians are blocked by inaccurate teachings, doctrines, and traditions, which prevent the Spirit from filling them. Therefore, we must empty ourselves of old mindsets, doctrines, teachings, and traditions, and turn wholeheartedly to the Lord. When we do, we are quickly filled with the Holy Spirit.

   One brother had attended a certain church for over ten years. He longed to be filled with the Holy Spirit and sought it everywhere, but never received it. Then he heard my testimony: that one must lay aside old ideas, past traditions, even teachings they thought were most correct, and fully empty themselves before the Lord. He began to pray in that way, and indeed, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. It was truly miraculous—not something learned, but simply believing and repenting according to the Lord’s word, and receiving the promised Spirit.

   Another sister had been spiritually cold and distant from the Lord for many years. But she encountered the Lord in a gathering. She confessed her sins and repented, asking the Lord to forgive her shortcomings. It was the Lord's Table, during worship and praise—as she repented and emptied herself from the heart, she was powerfully filled with the Holy Spirit while praying and began to speak in tongues. Her prayer was orderly, pleasant to hear, edifying, and deeply moving to everyone present.

4. Consecration

   When we are willing to fully consecrate ourselves to the Lord, it becomes much easier to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament typology, the fire from heaven would often fall upon the altar of burnt offering. The altar represents the cross, and the initial experience is consecration. When you offer yourself to the Lord—holding nothing back—and pray with an open heart before Him, the Holy Spirit fills you. There are countless examples of this.

5. Humility

   Isaiah 57:15 says, “For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit’”. The Lord desires to dwell with the humble, so those who are humble are truly blessed. Both the apostles James and Peter also said, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). Where there is humility, there the Holy Spirit can be poured out. Yet how foolish we often are—not only lacking humility, but being proud and self-exalting, always thinking we are right, the best, and spiritually superior to others. Such pride and arrogance often become major obstacles to receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Only when we humbly bow before the Lord does His throne become present; and once His throne is established, rivers of living water—life from the Holy Spirit—begin to flow.

   Over the years, we’ve often witnessed powerful movements of the Holy Spirit in our gatherings. There would be prayer, singing, testimonies, fellowship, and messages. The hungry would come and leave satisfied. But sometimes, even in the midst of these gatherings, the Spirit seemed to stop moving. Though there were prayers, testimonies, and messages, there was no flow of living water. A few of us who were serving would kneel before the Lord and seek His light. We discovered that it was often due to our own pride—thinking we were capable, knowledgeable, or sufficient. Once we repented, confessed, asked for forgiveness, bowed down, and humbled ourselves, the flow of the Spirit returned in the next gathering. The Holy Spirit’s stream only flows downward—it cannot climb upward. Water flows into valleys, not mountaintops. Humility is truly a vital key to being filled with the Holy Spirit.

   Another essential factor in receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is obedience. When Peter testified before the council, Scripture says, “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him” (Acts 5:32). Here, the Holy Spirit is described as “given to those who obey.” This means the Spirit is granted to the obedient. Where there is obedience, there is the fullness of the Spirit. Even the smallest resistance between us and the Lord—any unwillingness to obey—will cause the Spirit’s outpouring to stop immediately, because He gives to those who obey. Therefore, before the Lord, we must walk in daily obedience, so that the Holy Spirit may continually fill us.

6. Pray in One Accord

   To be baptized in the Holy Spirit, it is often easier to receive during gatherings than individually. However, it must be through prayer in one accord. Acts chapter 2 records that on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled the gathered disciples. This was the result of what was described in the previous chapter, where 120 disciples and women prayed together with one heart and mind for ten days (Acts 1:14). Later, when the disciples faced persecution, they again prayed earnestly, and once more, they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31). Conversely, where there is conflict and lack of unity, the Holy Spirit withdraws. Therefore, the church must maintain a Spirit-filled life through prayer in one accord.

7. Laying on of Hands

   The book of Acts records several instances where the disciples received the baptism of the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands. Peter and John helped the believers in Samaria receive the Holy Spirit by laying hands on them. (Acts 8:17) Paul himself was filled with the Holy Spirit through Ananias’ laying on of hands. (Acts 9:17) Likewise, the disciples in Ephesus received the baptism of the Holy Spirit through Paul’s hands. (Acts 19:6) Therefore, the laying on of hands can help us receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Of course, this must be done under divine guidance. For example, during a recent gathering in Baguio, a sister testified that although we had not instructed her to do so, she laid hands on other sisters, and they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord!

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit Is for Every Believer

The baptism of the Holy Spirit brings abundant blessings to the church and is a simple and practical experience for individuals. So who is this baptism meant for? It is intended for everyone. Just as the redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ through His crucifixion was for all humanity, likewise, His ascension and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit were also meant for all people to receive. On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood and testified to the crowd, saying: “It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh…” (Acts 2:17) This means that anyone with flesh and blood can receive the Holy Spirit. He also declared that the Holy Spirit will pour out upon God's menservants and maidservants. (Acts 2:18)

At the end of his message, Peter emphasized: “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39) This shows that the Holy Spirit is not only poured out on the Jews but also on those afar off whom God calls — the Gentiles. Therefore, the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all Christians.

Three Responses to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Although the baptism of the Holy Spirit is meant for all Christians, many people are unwilling to humbly and simply receive it. As a result, there are different responses to the Spirit’s outpouring. From the experience of Pentecost, we can observe three distinct reactions:

1. Amazed and Perplexed

   The first response is amazed and perplexed. Acts 2:12 says: “So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘Whatever could this mean?’” (Acts 2:12) When the Holy Spirit fills the church, those who haven’t received it may react with surprise, wondering, “What is going on?” They may doubt this or that, and some may even be frightened by the unusual manifestations—crying, laughing, trembling, shouting—and avoid future gatherings. Others may gossip or speak words of irreverence. Since such amazement and doubt occurred at Pentecost, it’s understandable that early experiences of Spirit baptism may include extraordinary expressions. But this is a normal part of the process.

   Therefore, we should allow those newly baptized in the Spirit to express themselves freely, without imposing restrictions. As they mature, their expressions will become more orderly and composed. This is evident in the apostles’ experiences. In Acts 4, the disciples were filled again with the Holy Spirit; later, Stephen (Acts 6), Philip, and Peter continued to be filled. By then, observers no longer responded with amazement or doubt, because the manifestations had become more mature and orderly.

2. Mockery

The second response is mockery. Acts 2:13 records: “Others mocking said, ‘They are full of new wine.’” (Acts 2:13) This is a more negative reaction. It shows contempt for God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit. The mockers compared the disciples’ Spirit-filled behavior to drunkenness, implying that their expressions were unusual. Just as someone drunk with wine might speak nonsense, sing or collapse, Spirit baptism may also appear chaotic at first. But may we be people who fear the Lord, refraining from doubt, mockery, slander, judgment, or criticism. Jesus warned: “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:32) Let those who have ears to hear, listen.

3. Receiving

The third response is receiving—which is the only proper response to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, despite some reacting with doubt or mockery, many received the message Peter preached and were baptized in the Spirit. Acts 2:41 says: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” (Acts 2:41) May we all be among those who receive, so that the fire of Pentecostal revival may burn brightly among us!

Not a Charismatic Movement, But Receiving a Fullness of Blessing

Finally, we would like to offer a word of reminder. After receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit by God’s grace, we must never become proud or arrogant, thinking ourselves superior to others. Instead, we should respond with reverent fear, humility, and a firm stance in gratitude for God's mercy.

We believe in all the blessings promised throughout both the Old and New Testaments, and we stand together with all of God’s children as witnesses to His fullness. We should not deliberately try to appear different from others. Though we are baptized, we are not Baptists; though we pursue holiness, we are not part of the Holiness Church; though we are justified by faith, we are not Lutherans; though we have elders overseeing the church, we are not Presbyterians. Likewise, the Bible says we should receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit—so we have received it. But we are not a Charismatic or Pentecostal denomination. Our attitude is simply this: whatever blessings the Bible promises, we are willing to receive them all.

We are part of God’s church, desiring to embrace every blessing promised in Scripture. May the Lord be gracious to us, and may the baptism of the Holy Spirit—so often neglected by God’s people—be restored in these days, bringing forth even greater revival!

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