If there has ever been a day when it is of the utmost importance for believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit, it is today. Thankfully, God is raising up people like you that will make it possible for believers, be it children, youth, or adults, to be filled to overflowing with this promised gift from the Father. (Joel 2:28-29; Luke 11:13; Acts 1:4; Acts 2:39).
I mentioned in the last blog post that I have found that there are those who struggle in knowing how to lead a person or group to receive this gift. So, with that in mind, I began a three part series that gives a simple overview on how to teach about this baptism. The three parts being shared are The Teaching, The Preparation, and The Receiving.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Part 2 – The Preparation
After establishing a solid Word foundation, it is important to prepare the way for the receiving. In other words, we must make known what the Bible says will happen when the gift is received. I call this getting their “expectater” (I know that this isn’t an actual word, but I can’t find a better word) ready. Here’s an example. When a ball drops from your hand, you can expect or know what will happen. It will ALWAYS fall down. When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, we can KNOW what to expect.
I shared in the last blog that Jesus said that our Father is anxiously waiting to give His Spirit to every believer who asks. (Luke 11:13) But, what’s next? What can we expect to happen when we are filled with the Holy Spirit? The answer is found in Acts 2:4.
And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being]
with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages),
as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].
Acts 2:4 (Amplified Bible)
Here is the “expectater” information:
- The Father gave the gift. “They were all filled …” (We ask and the Father responds is a GUARANTEE for our “expectater”,)
- The Father gave the gift and verified its arrival. “… all filled … and (all) began to speak” (Illustration – USPS certified mail form is the evidence of delivered mail.)
- The Father gave the gift and verified its arrival by an action on the part of the receiver. “they … began to speak” (An action on the part of the recipient is required. THEY spoke. The Holy Spirit didn’t force them to speak. Illustration – no water will come out of the shower nozzle UNTIL we take action.)
- The Father gave the gift and verified its arrival by an action on the part of the receiver that was supernatural. “… as the Spirit was giving them the ability in other tongues” (also refereed to as unknown tongues – 1 Corinthians 14:2 and also the tongues of men and angels – 1 Corinthians 13:1)
- The Father gave the gift and verified its arrival by an action on the part of the receiver that was supernatural and undeniable. “... to speak out [clearly and appropriately]” (All question marks are removed!)
