The Mystery Of The Baptism In The Holy Spirit
Part 2
By Fred Handschumacher
A New And Living Way
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Heb 10:19-22)
Most students of the Bible believe Saint Paul is the author of the epistle to the Hebrews. He taught about a "new and living way". Jesus taught that the baptism in the Holy Spirit allows us to access the power to walk in that "new way". Remember that one of the Holy Spirit's names is "the Spirit of Christ" (Rom. 8:9 1 Peter 1:11). It not only empowers us to be witnesses to Christ, but it releases the Holy Spirit into a role that's never been possible before Pentecost. There are many benefits to having the Holy Spirit live inside us. A person indwelled by the Holy Spirit is in a totally different position than someone who isn't. This represents the major difference between believers under the Old and New Testaments. The differences between these two dispensations are not minor. Some denominations only view the indwelling Spirit symbolically or allegorically. This belief is the result of false teaching. Theologians that teach reformed theology tend to hold this belief. They don't respect the tremendous transformation that takes place when the Holy Spirit is released into a human life.
Saint Paul emphasized an important fact overlooked in these kinds of discussions. When the Holy Spirit indwells a believer, He brings a whole new system with him for relating with God. Paul calls this Divine system, "the things of the Spirit". It should be self-evident that "the things of the Spirit" are spiritual. In other words, they appear very unusual to our natural human way of thinking. Actually, the word "unusual" isn't the correct word. Saint Paul tells us that the "things of the Spirit" are foolishness to those who approach the kingdom of God with natural thinking. They cannot be understood by such a person. The baptism in the Holy Spirit and the spiritual "things" associated with it fall into this category.
"Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor 2:13-14)
If we consider Paul's words, we can understand why organized religion and those trapped in its teachings choose to oppose the baptism in the Holy Spirit--and spiritual things in general.
Intercessory Prayer--Our Powerful Partnership With The Holy Spirit
In his epistle to the Romans, Saint Paul reveals one of the benefits of the indwelling Spirit:
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Rom 8:26-27)
Several facts are revealed by this passage:
- The Holy Spirit helps our infirmities (weaknesses)
- We don't always know what we should pray for as we should
- The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered with normal speech
- The Holy Spirit makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God
Most of us pray by using our own native language and according to our own natural human understanding concerning the things going on in the world around us. Yet, when it comes to God's involvement with the affairs of the world, our limited understanding is not enough. Saint Paul suggests that because of this limitation, we don't always know what to pray for. How could we? The only way to know how to pray correctly in every situation is to have unlimited knowledge. No member of the human race has natural understanding that possesses unlimited knowledge--unless you think you know it all. Yet, no matter how much we want to believe this way (even with the resources of the Internet)--it isn't true. Yet, for the believer who has released the Holy Spirit into their lives, this limitation is removed.
Saint Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit (when we allow Him) will make intercession FOR US "with groanings that cannot be uttered". So what does that mean? To answer this question we need more insight into Paul's words. Sometimes we have to look into the Greek language from which our English Bible translations were taken. A Greek scholar by the name of P.C. Nelson gives us more information. Nelson comments that the English translation of Romans 8:26 that says "the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" is more accurately recorded in the Greek, which says, "the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered in articulate speech." This not only suggests that the Holy Spirit prays for us through simple groanings, but also in a special language used by the Spirit that is not the same as our normal articulate kind of speech. Furthermore, Nelson states that this completely agrees with Saint Paul's teaching to the Corinthians concerning the topic of speaking in tongues where he says:
"Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." (1 Cor 14:1-2)
If Nelson is right, then Paul is talking to the Corinthian believers about the same operation of the Holy Spirit in intercessory prayer that he taught in his epistle to the Romans. Because the Scriptures agree on these things--and because I've seen the different inflections of the Greek that do not always carry over to the various English translations--I believe Nelson is correct. Paul said to the Corinthians, "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him." First, Paul said that speaking in tongues is speaking to God. When we speak to God, we are praying. Paul then tells us that "no man" understands those who speak in tongues in this area of prayer. Paul didn't say that no man in the country would understand--he said no man. This means that if you're a member of the human race, regardless of your native language, you won't understand this kind of speech. When you put all these things together; "tongues" is a unique language the Holy Spirit uses to allow you to speak to God without anyone else having the ability to listen in. Our military uses this method to communicate with troops in foreign lands and with naval vessels at sea. It's called "encrypted" communication. It's meant to be secret and private for reasons of national security. God's reason for using this "spiritually encrypted" communication is for a similar purpose. Yet, remember that God invented it before science did. It's hard for religious people to understand, but God doesn't want some people who are allies of our enemy to know what his plans are--so he keeps the prayer information encrypted.
I once heard the story of a church member who was criticizing speaking in tongues as being unintelligible, useless nonsense. Another person walked up during his tirade and said, "That's what you get for trying to open someone else's mail". People who oppose speaking with tongues usually have no idea of the facts. Most just parrot the criticism of their denomination or church group, which is nothing more than a defense of a religious tradition, rather than the actual teachings of the Bible.
You say this idea is far fetched? It probably seems that way for those who approach the "things of the Spirit" with a natural mindset. Yet, the supernatural things of the Spirit are the way God accomplishes His purposes. You can either agree with Him, or walk away in disgust and miss out. I was faced with this decision 33 years ago. Lots of religious folks walk away because they consider themselves too rational to accept such nonsense. It appears as foolishness to us--but it's wisdom to God.
Romans 8:26-27 reveals an important truth. If we understand how the Holy Spirit operates, we can release Him in such a way that He will use us as a partner in intercession that has full access to the unlimited knowledge of God. It's allowing the Holy Spirit access to our mouths in intercession to pray perfectly according to the will of God about things we could not possibly know. That's what makes it so powerful. It is also, in my opinion, the reason our enemy is so determined to stop believers from discovering the knowledge of this power. Ever notice how much of organized religion is opposed to the message of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the topic of speaking in tongues? It's not as bad today as it was 30 years ago. If critics can't defeat this truth using an honest exegesis of Scripture, they resort to using demeaning terms and ridicule. Thirty years ago, it was a topic that got you thrown out of some churches. Today, I believe more people have the tools they need to do their own study and arrive at their own conclusions. If you can shut out all the noise and misinformation, the Word of God has some very interesting things to say.
Our discussion here about the role of the Holy Spirit in intercessory prayer brings us into another area of controversy.
The Baptism In The Holy Spirit And Speaking In Tongues
I never try to force God's Word to fit some cherished denominational tradition or belief. I study and report what God's Word teaches. I form my beliefs around what I discover regardless of what my church or denomination teaches. That's the way I approach this topic of tongues. In the previous section we learned that speaking in tongues is a method the Holy Spirit uses in our intercessory prayer life. The area of intercessory prayer is a diverse Biblical subject--and we only covered a small section in this study. Yet, tongues serve another important purpose. In the Bible, speaking in tongues is an indication or evidence that the baptism in the Holy Spirit (or the gift of the Holy Spirit) has been received. Why do I say this? Because nearly every time it's received, speaking in tongues accompany it.
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)
"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 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. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" (Acts 10:44-47)
"Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve." (Acts 19:4-7)
We know the Corinthian church received the Holy Spirit under Paul's ministry. We also know that Paul gave them instructions concerning the use of tongues in their public meetings because they were misusing the gift. You can read about it in 1 Cor. Chapters 12 through 14. From Paul's writings we know that the Corinthian congregation had the spiritual gift of tongues in operation. We also know that the apostle Paul himself was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17) because he later said to the Corinthian's that he spoke in tongues more than all of them (1 Cor. 14:18). We know that all of Christ's disciples (assembled with the 120) on the day of Pentecost spoke in tongues--because the Bible says they ALL did (Acts 2:4).
These are known examples from Scripture. Yet, it's impossible to make an airtight argument on this point. Can a case be made where the Holy Spirit is received without speaking in tongues? Yes, I believe a weak case can be made. But, the argument will be based on speculation rather than hard Scriptural facts. This study is based on honesty. I choose not to use worldly persuasive speech tactics in my presentation. I'm making the assumption that the reader needs information to make up his or her mind about this topic. I have nothing to lose if you choose to disagree with me. That's your choice. Yet, if you're someone who's desperately looking for a way to discredit or disprove speaking in tongues as evidence that accompanies the infilling with the Holy Spirit--you will find a way. There are lots of persuasive methods available. Why do I say that? Once again, I want to draw our attention back to the words of Saint Paul who said that the things of the Spirit are foolishness (offensive to our natural way of thinking). I've found that the things of the Spirit are also offensive to those who revere religious tradition more than the Word of God. Paul said that the "things of the Spirit" can't be understood through natural thinking. That makes this whole study an exercise in futility if my goal is to provide an airtight intellectual defense. If we could intellectually make people understand spiritual things that Paul said couldn't be understood through natural processes--Paul lied about it. I'm convinced that unless God's Holy Spirit is opening this subject up for you to understand, it doesn't really matter what is said in this study.
The Baptism In The Holy Spirit: A Second Work Of Grace
Many old time Pentecostals referred to the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a "Second Blessing" or a "Second Work of Grace". I've looked at this topic and find it confusing because of the way salvation is preached in the modern church. In the first century church after the day of Pentecost, the infilling of the Holy Spirit was ministered directly after belief in Christ (salvation). Early church leadership considered believing on Christ and receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit as two halves of a whole message. They were two truths that made up the whole of salvation. Today, we generally don't preach the gospel in this way. If we evangelize and convince people to commit their life to Jesus Christ--we baptize them, give them a Bible and direct them to attend church. In most places these believers are never told about how to receive the Holy Spirit--or any of the benefits. It isn't included in the message because modern theology falsely believes it doesn't apply anymore. It is commonly taught that you get everything when you trust Christ for salvation. They've stripped it from the New Testament Scriptures and tossed it into their trashcan of "unessential doctrines for Christian life". I don't know how God will work all this out, but I think there's going to be some horrible unintended consequences related to this kind of thinking. It's true not only for the leaders, but also for the believers who are spiritually cheated.
Do we see examples of these things from Scripture?
"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." (Acts 8:12-17)
In this passage we discover how Samaria believes Philip's evangelistic message and is water baptized. This means they believed the gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. You're not baptized until you believe in Christ otherwise, you're just getting an unbeliever wet. Under our modern day evangelistic message, the leaders would rejoice that Philip's gospel campaign was successful. We would probably send some leaders to Samaria to make sure that either a church was successfully started or to get them involved in an existing one. We'd consider that the efforts bore good fruit and move on to the next challenge.
Yet, that way of thinking doesn't agree with the Biblical pattern. It says that the apostles in Jerusalem sent Peter and John to pray for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost--for as yet he was fallen upon none of them--they were baptized only in the name of the Lord Jesus. After Peter and John arrived in Samaria they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Hmm...I was always told that you got everything when you believed on Jesus Christ.
This is a very revealing section of Scripture. It shows where modern evangelism misses the mark. Most Christians today are in the same spiritual condition that the believing Samarians were in before Peter and John visited them. These believers are told they got everything when they believed on Jesus Christ. They're told they already have all of the Holy Spirit that's available. Yet, God's Word shows us in Acts chapter 8 that this belief isn't accurate.
How did Peter and John know that the Holy Ghost had been received? It doesn't say in this passage--but they had to have a way to know. Could it be that they spoke with tongues like in the other Scriptural examples? If I was to give an answer based on the pattern found in other Scriptures I'd say yes. Yet, the silence concerning tongues at this event is all opponents need to convince them otherwise. The reader can decide.
The reason I believe the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a necessary "Second Work of Grace" is because it's left out of the common evangelistic message. Many evangelical Christians haven't received this necessary spiritual equipment that Jesus said was to empower them to be his witnesses. This could go a long way in explaining why the modern organized church is falling apart and losing its effectiveness.
We find another example in the salvation testimony of the apostle Paul while traveling on the road to Damascus.
"And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man." (Acts 9:3-7)
Notice something important in this passage: Paul (then known as Saul) responded with "trembling and astonishment" and addressed Jesus who was speaking to him, as Lord. Paul became a believer in Christ at this point. Theologians attribute this spiritual encounter to the "conversion of Saul", who immediately lost his eyesight and needed someone to guide him. This Damascus road event ocurred several years after the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit had already arrived. Saul was taken to Damascus where he continued without eating or drinking anything. He was devastated because his anti-Christian theology was destroyed in a matter of seconds. And worse, he had persecuted and contributed to the execution of many of God's people. Jesus equated these acts of persecution as something committed personally against Him. As a man whose whole life was dedicated to the service of God--Saul suddenly found himself in the position of having offended the God he served because of his religiously motivated deeds. No modern day Christian will ever understand how Saul, a devoted Pharisee (Phil. 3:4-6), felt at this point. As far as he was concerned, his whole purpose for living was gone.
God calls a disciple by the name of Ananias to visit and minister to Saul. For good reason, Ananias protests this mission because Saul was responsible for the arrest and persecution of many of Christ's followers.
"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 9:15-17)
During Ananias' time with Saul, we discover some extraordinary things. First, Ananias referred to Saul as "Brother Saul". This is an endearing term used between fellow believers in Christ. You don't call another man "brother" unless he's also a believer. In addition to receiving his eyesight, Ananias is sent to Saul by a direct command of Jesus to "be filled with the Holy Spirit". Notice that this "infilling with the Spirit" occurred through the laying on of Ananias' hands (covered later). Obviously, Saul didn't receive everything on the Damascus road when he first believed on Christ. The infilling, or the baptism in the Holy Spirit was ministered as a second work of grace on Saul's life. We don't know whether Saul spoke in tongues during Ananias' visit, but we do know that he eventually did so. In his epistle to the Corinthian church he said that he "spoke in tongues more than all of them" (1 Cor. 14:18).
Another example can be seen during an exchange between Saint Paul and certain disciples who previously followed John the Baptist. No other person knew more about Jesus than John. If these men followed him and received his baptism, it's reasonable to conclude that they knew and believed in Christ. John's whole ministry was built around being the "voice crying in the wilderness" concerning the arrival of Jesus Christ, God's Son. I find it interesting that Paul's question to them, "have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" indicates that he believed they already had faith in Christ. Yet, these disciples had not received everything that was available. Let's look at the entire account:
"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve." (Acts 19:1-7)
These Scriptures raise some interesting questions.
Don't We Receive The Holy Spirit When We Believe On Jesus?
Many of us fail to understand that the Holy Spirit has a dual role in the area of salvation. This failure is the result of coming into God's kingdom under a "partial gospel" message. There's a difference between the Holy Spirit coming into us for the purpose of "sealing us until the day of redemption", and the act of allowing Jesus to "baptize (immerse) us in the Holy Spirit". The first action spiritually seals us on the inside. It is activated by simple child-like faith in Christ. The second action allows Jesus to immerse us in the Holy Spirit for empowerment. These are two different spiritual acts. Paul teaches us about the first process:
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." (Eph 1:13-14)
Jesus tells us about the second process involving Holy Spirit baptism:
"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 1:8)
Some opponents attempt to argue that the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the way Jesus taught it, is only for the Jews. Yet, Peter on the day of Pentecost puts an end to this idea. Concerning the events where the Holy Spirit is poured out, Peter says:
"For the promise is to you and to your children (the Jews), and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call (Gentiles)." (Acts 2:39)
Again, there are several New Testament terms used to describe Holy Spirit baptism. One is "receiving the Holy Spirit". This term is not meant to imply that a believer doesn't have the Holy Spirit at all. As Paul taught, he's very much inside us through the act of believing in Christ. Paul said that the Holy Spirit seals us until the day of redemption. This "sealing" guarantees our salvation. We get this benefit by receiving Jesus Christ as our redeemer. Yet, the question we must ask ourselves is; "Does the Holy Spirit have us?" Have we personally yielded to the Holy Spirit in the way Jesus taught? Have we received the Holy Spirit the way the early apostles ministered it? We "believe in Christ", but have we released his Spirit into our lives? It's something completely different than when we initially receive Jesus to be saved. It's the "other half" of the original gospel message that is commonly left out.
You can look at it this way. Let's say a visitor walks into your office and sits down in the waiting area. Your secretary informs you and several minutes later, you walk out, and "receive" this person by shaking his hand and asking him to come in. In the same way the Holy Spirit is "in your office" through faith in Christ. He's there and waiting for you to "receive" him--and the rule of his spiritual government. "Receiving the Holy Spirit" is a separate act after believing on Christ.
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Col 2:8)
If modern evangelists followed the Biblical pattern (and some do) they would include these things in their gospel message. But, we've seen that this is not the case. You can get saved under a "partial gospel" message because God said that eternal life is a free gift through faith in Christ. However, you'll lack the power of the Spirit to properly live for Jesus. I consider this a spiritual disaster. It's also the reason so many oppose this subject. Imagine having to admit that the doctrine of salvation your denomination preached for hundreds of years wasn't quite right. I learned from watching the conflicts between Jesus and the Pharisees--and from personal experience that religious leaders never admit to mistakes of this magnitude. The result would be catastrophic. Their credibility as "God's representative" would be seriously damaged, the average church member's faith would be shaken and the religious system they've built could collapse. In the short term, it's far better to discredit the baptism in the Holy Spirit, rather than allowing your whole religious system to be threatened.
How To Receive The Baptism In The Holy Spirit
In the early church the Holy Spirit is primarily received in two ways:
- The Holy Spirit would "fall" upon a group as they hear the gospel of Christ
- The Holy Spirit would be imparted to individuals by the "laying on of hands"
We see an example of the Spirit "falling" (being poured out) on a group in Acts chapter 2 with the Jews on the day of Pentecost and in Acts chapter 10 with the Gentiles. Saint Paul reveals how the Galatian church "received the Holy Spirit during his comments about their sin of trusting in the works of the law. He suggests that they initially "received the Spirit" by the hearing of faith.
"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Gal 3:1-2)
We also see that the Holy Spirit is received (both individually and as a group) by a method called "the laying on of hands". This is a Scriptural way that certain spiritual blessings, such as physical healing and the baptism in the Holy Spirit, are transmitted to the recipient. It happens by physically "laying hands" on people--usually the shoulders or the head. We can see this practice in three examples. The first is when Peter and John went to Samaria and ministered the Holy Spirit to the new believers. The second is when Ananias ministered healing and the Holy Spirit to Saul as a new believer in Christ. The third example is where Paul ministers the Holy Spirit to some disciples of John the Baptist.
"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money..." (Acts 8:14-18)
"And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 9:17)
"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve." (Acts 19:6-7)
We also see the practice of "laying on of hands" taught by the Lord Jesus after his resurrection:
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:17-18)
Here is the problem. Unless you attend a church that already believes in the practice of "laying on of hands" and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit--you're pretty much on your own. Don't make the mistake of taking this study to your pastor, thinking that you're giving him new revelation. Chances are, he's heard these things before and decided not to implement them in his fellowship. There are a lot of reasons this message isn't taught by more pastors and teachers. Most of the reasons are "political" in nature. They don't want to draw the displeasure of their denomination down upon their ministry--and they don't want to upset their congregation with a message that contradicts traditional beliefs. Some "fundamentalist" church members are deeply offended and withdraw their membership when hearing anything about "tongues" or the baptism in the Holy Spirit". The ministry and reputation of the pastor or teacher is at stake. I'm not saying these things to be disrespectful. These are powerful political forces that can be found in all religious organizations. Most church members have no idea of the intense pressures that come against the pastor and his staff on a daily basis. When a congregation embraces this message, it's usually the result of direct intervention by the Holy Spirit Himself that brings about the change. Some people may get offended and leave the church, but God will bring in new ones to take their place.
The last reason is the most common. Some ministers don't believe the subject of the Baptism in the Spirit applies to the modern day Christian. They can produce many persuasive arguments to support their beliefs. Yet, my experience proves that these "arguments" hold no merit when compared with the Scriptures. The unintended consequences of striping this topic from the New Testament gospel is alarming. It forces us to ask hard questions like: What else has been removed from the foundation doctrines of salvation by some theologians without our knowledge?
If you're seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit you have several options. If you know of a fellowship in your locality that believes in it--you can visit to receive ministry. You might know a friend that attends one of these fellowships and can vouch for its beliefs. However, there are many "spirit-filled" churches that abuse the Scriptural principles concerning the gifts. There are churches (such as some Holiness and "Oneness" Pentecostals) that practice a form of legalism that undermines and redefines the Gospel of Grace. The only advice in this area is to sincerely pray and ask the Lord to lead you to the right place. Also, it may not be a traditional church building, but an individual believer in a "home church" setting. This was my experience. God wants you to walk in this truth--so he will answer this kind of prayer.
The other option is to go directly to the Lord Jesus in prayer and ask him to baptize you in the Holy Spirit. The Scripture teaches that Jesus is the one who baptizes in the Spirit--so you can never make a mistake by going directly to the source.
Important Note: Before receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, it is important that some prerequisites are met. Make sure you've dealt with all bitterness, hostility and opposition that's been placed in your life regarding the gift of speaking in tongues. This will be a major road block if not dealt with. Repentance must also occur in areas of all occult practices. Involvement with palm readers, ouija boards, witchcraft, sorcery, Satan worship, séances (communication with the dead), spirit-mediums, astro-projection, channeling or any other such practices involving "spiritism" will hinder or prevent a believer from receiving the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Heavy metal rock music associated with the occult and magic arts also fall in this category. A clean break with these practices is necessary for involvement in the Spirit-filled life. You can't be involved with Satan's kingdom and walk with God at the same time. Remember that the Holy Spirit is "Holy". If you desire to repent from these areas, just pray and confess each one to your Father in heaven, renounce your involvement in it, and ask Him to forgive you for it. It's just that simple.
You can pray to receive the Holy Spirit as in the example below:
"Lord Jesus, I understand from Your Word that You want me to have power to be Your witness in the earth. I also understand that it is You who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire. I know that the Holy Spirit is something that you want me to have and also something, like my salvation, that cannot be earned by good works or by being good enough. By faith, I am asking you, right now, to baptize me in Your Holy Spirit."
There is more to this subject that cannot be shared in an article or book. It has to occur in a face-to-face ministry environment. We pray that this study has been helpful. May our heavenly Father lead and guide you into all truth.
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