Baptism in The Holy Spirit - How to Receive I. Evidence that they speak in other tongues. A. Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 1. We see that every place in the book of Acts when someone was filled with the Holy Spirit, the bible tells us that they spoke in other tongues or it shows evidence of them speaking in tongues. 2. When the Spirit was first sent, we see that all the believers that were in the upper room began to speak with other tongues. It was not just the apostles but there were 120 people present both men and women. Even Jesus' mother and brothers received. Act 1:13 15. II. The Holy Spirit has already been given we do not have to wait A. On the day of Pentecost the spirit was sent. And he does not have to be sent again. He is here waiting for us to receive Him. 1. John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever 2. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit who will stay with us forever. 3. In Acts 2 they waited for Jesus to ask the Father and for the appointed time (the day of Pentecost). 4. No where else in the book of Acts do we see them waiting. 5. Act 8:14 17 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. a. When the apostles heard they sent Peter and John to pray that they might receive. 1) They prayed that the people would receive not that God would send. 2) God did not need to send the Holy Spirit again. He was already there. b. In verse 17 they laid hands on them and they received. 1) They did not wait they received at the very time hands was laid on them. B. The promise of the Holy Spirit is still for us today 1. I was brought up in a church that did not believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is for us today. a. When I was studying at the university I saw that the baptism in the Holy Spirit was for us today and that every one who was baptized should speak in tongues b. I started to tell people that the baptism was for us and every one that was
baptized with the Holy Spirit would speak in tongues. My friends would ask do I spoke in tongues? I would tell them No, but when I figure out how to receive I will speak in tongues c. I studied the bible and told them it is in the bible and it is for us today. Some would argue I would tell them, You show me one scripture that says that speaking in tongues is not for us today and I will show you three scriptures for every one that you show me! that says that it is. Then I will show you that the scripture that you used did not really say that speaking in tongues was not for us today. I never lost an argument. Every time they would go away and say well we will have to study it more. d. Experience is not something we should base our faith on. e. Your experience or any one else's is not a measure for the will of God. f. The will of God should change our faith and our faith should change our experience. 2. Acts 2:38 39 Then Peter said to them, "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. 39 "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." a. The promise of the Holy Spirit is for you b. Your children c. All that are afar off. 1) The baptism of the Holy Spirit was for their generation. 2) The following generation. 3) All generations that are far away. That is us! We are a far off. III. The promise of the Holy Spirit is for all that are saved. A. The gift of the Holy Spirit is for all that Repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus. B. This is all that are saved. 1. Mark 16:15 16 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 2. Real belief is leaving sin and turning to Jesus. a. Belief is not just acknowledging it is true. b. Faith has action c. Baptism is an outward expression of the action of our faith. 1) Death to sin the old man 2) A new life in Christ d. That is what repent means to turn around. 1) Turn from sin 2) Turn to Christ.
C. John 14:16 17 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever 17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 1. The world cannot receive the Holy Spirit. a. The world is talking about people that are not born again. b. They do not know the spirit. 2. When we are born again the Spirit comes and lives inside of us. 3. We are born of the Spirit. 4. John 3:5 8 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." 5. So we can receive the Spirit since He lives in us already. IV.Expect to receive the Spirit when hands are laid on you. A. Three of the five times when people received the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts it was by laying on of hands 1. Act 8:17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 2. Act 9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 3. Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. B. The other two incidents there was no one that could lay hands on them. 1. Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. a. There was no one that was filled with the Holy Spirit yet. b. So how could lay hands on them? 2. Acts 10:44 46 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter a. They did not believe that the Gentiles could receive the Holy Spirit b. So they could not lay hands on them in faith. V. You must speak.
A. Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 1. They spoke. 2. The Holy Spirit is not going to speak you must speak 3. The Holy Spirit will give you the words 4. But they had to speak them out. B. When we receive the Holy Spirit, God will give us the words 1. We might hear the words on the inside. 2. Or we may feel that our lips or tongue is twitching but you must open your mouth and speak. C. My example of being filled with the Holy Spirit. 1. I was prayed for and the power fell on me but did not speak 2. A year later I was prayed for and received but did not feel anything. 3. After receiving and speaking in tongues people started to fall over when I would pray for them. VI.Ask God and know He will give you something good. A. Luke 11:11 13 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? B. If you ask God for the Holy Spirit you will not receive something bad 1. stone something useless 2. Serpent devil or demon 3. Scorpion demonic power C. We will receive the Holy Spirit. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS When you received the Holy Spirit what happened? What changes did you see in your life after you received the Holy Spirit? Have you ever prayed for someone to receive the Holy Spirit? BE A DOER OF THE WORD Let's seek to help others to receive what God has given us. SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSE: Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.