The Holy Spirit - Part 2 - Baptism In The Spirit
[original text in italics]
The Father anointed [marked, smeared, chosen, consecrated, set apart] Jesus, who received the promise of the Holy Spirit. This crowned Jesus into his kingdom, glory, and dominion. Now, Jesus the Christ [Anointed One] anoints and pours out the Holy Spirit on all his followers through the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
MATTHEW 3:11 “I [John the Baptist] baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire [symbolic of purification by the Holy Spirit].”
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There is a difference between receiving the Holy Spirit when we are born again and receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Regarding the born again experience, when Jesus first appeared to the disciples following his resurrection, he gave them the Holy Spirit. Likewise, when we are born again (see the We Are Born Again section), we also receive the Holy Spirit:
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JOHN 20: 21-22 [just after the resurrections] So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
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2 CORINTHIANS 1:21-22 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed [marked, smeared, chosen, consecrated, set apart] us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
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Although the disciples received the Holy Spirit, Jesus revealed to them the baptism [abundant, overflow, immersion] of the Holy Spirit:
LUKE 24:45-49 …[Jesus] said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power [miraculous ability, strength] from on high.”
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ACTS 1:1-5 …Jesus after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles… commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit...”
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The purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to magnify our ability to be a witness and reign on the earth:
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ACTS 1:8 But you will receive power [miraculous ability, strength] when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
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MATTHEW 28:19-20 Therefore, go and make disciples [followers of Christ] of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you...
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This baptism in the Holy Spirit began in Jerusalem during the Feast of Pentecost [Feast of Harvest].
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ACTS 2:1-5 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided [distributed] tongues as of fire [Ref MATTHEW 3:11 above] appeared to them and rested [settled] on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered…
Peter addressed the crowd and explained the gift of the Holy Spirit:
JOEL 2:28 [the Lord said] "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
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ACTS 2:16-17 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [declare God's message],
ACTS 2:22-24 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know - this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
ACTS 2:32-38 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ [Anointed One], this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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Therefore, Jesus was anointed, received the Holy Spirit, and was crowned into his kingdom (see Jesus' Anointing section). Now we can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which marks us with Jesus’ anointing, crowns us into kingship on the earth, and empowers us to reign. Next, we will see more specifics on how to receive the baptism and what the baptism enables us to do.
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