"Its Real!"
I woke up at four �o clock in the morning, as I was excited to spend time with my precious Lord as He taught me from His Word through His Spirit. The Lord took me to where His early disciples received something spectacular and supernatural that changed their whole life style.
Being from the Hindu background I had no preconceived notions of His Word. His Word was all I had, and that was all that I needed. The passage the Lord took me to was found in the book of Acts. I started with chapter one and when I reached the middle of chapter 2, I told the Lord, �Lord, I need this�, though I looked at this experience as something beyond me; as I had never witnessed anyone receive it. After this as I was scanning through the pages of the Mark�s gospel, I came across a verse, which caught my attention. Jesus said to His disciples, �Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours�(Mark11: 24).
The very same day, I was invited by my friend to attend a prayer meeting, which was held at his house. It was a Friday evening and I managed to go for this prayer meeting. They started with some songs, which I knew nothing of. After they sang the songs, a young boy stood up and started preaching. I was amazed at the authority with which he spoke. He spoke on salvation, water baptism and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. On hearing the �baptism in the Holy Spirit� my heart leaped with joy, for the Lord had just led me to read about it that morning, and I had asked the Lord for it. The Holy Spirit brought the Scripture to my mind, �For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence�(Act1: 5)
When he came an end to preaching, he asked a question, �Who all want to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?�. I didn�t wait another second, I raised my hand. The boy said, �Jesus is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, look to Him and praise Him, and He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit�. They entered into a time of praise and worship. Not knowing any of the songs they sang, I just opened my mouth and praised Him the way I knew to. I was filled with adoration for my Master. The boy kept saying, �Your heart is bubbling, don�t give up�.
While all this happened the thought that went through my mind was, �I don�t think I�m worthy to receive this experience.� Now the Holy Spirit brought another Scripture to my memory, �Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours�. Then I kept telling myself, �I believe I have received Him! I believe I have received Him!�. Just then an unusual power went through my body and I fell under the power of it. A lady behind me got hold of me and made me stand on my feet. The very moment I stood on my feet there gushed out of my belly a river, and my lips started stammering, and I started speaking in a language I had never learned. As I underwent this marvelous experience, my heart was crying, �Oh it�s real! It�s real!�. Later, as I read the Word of God, I found a scripture that described exactly what I experienced: �Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said rivers of living water will flow from within him�(John 7:38)
Coming back to the title of the message, �Is God�s supernatural baptism for today?�. Yes, I cry with every atom of my being, it is for today!
What Is The Promise Of The Father?
The bible tells us that Jesus after His resurrection spent forty days with His disciples teaching them on the Kingdom of God. Probably on the fortieth day, Jesus commands His disciples �Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence.� (Act 1:4,5)
What was the promise of the Father? Jesus Himself tells us in the above Scripture that it is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Baptism in Greek means, �to be immersed�. So translating the words literally, we see that Jesus was speaking about being immersed in the Holy Spirit. What happens when we immerse a cup into water? The cup gets filled and it over flows. In like wise manner, to be immersed in the Holy Spirit is same as being filled and overflowing with the Holy Spirit.
Now Jesus tells the disciples that they had heard Him speak about this before. When did Jesus speak to His disciples about this infilling of the Holy Spirit? We find this in John 14:16, 17: �And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter to be with you forever- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He is with you and shall be in you�
�I Will Send Him From The Father�
Jesus tells them in John14: 26, �But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in my name��. And He says in John 15:26, �When the Comforter comes, Whom I will send from the Father��
Combining the two verses we understand Jesus would receive the Holy Spirit from the Father and send it to the disciples.
Now some people say that this was fulfilled in John 20:22, where it says: �And with that He breathed on them and said, �Receive ye the Holy Spirit��. Now this incident happened on resurrection morn. I personally believe the Scriptures in John 14 and John 15 was not fulfilled in John 20:22, for the following reasons:
(1) Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit from the Father. As you know, to send something to a person the sender must be absent from the recipient. In John 20:22, Jesus did not send the Holy Spirit, but breathed over them.
(2) Jesus said in John 16:7, �Unless I go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him unto you�. Jesus makes it clear that the Holy Spirit wouldn�t come unless Jesus ascended to heaven in Person.
And so to say, Jesus speaking to the disciples in Act 1:4,5 was reminding them of the promise He made them in John 14, 15 and 16.
Jesus also tells them, �I will send to you what My Father promised; but stay in the city until you have been endued with power from on high�(Luke 24:49)
On The Day Of Pentecost
After saying these things to the disciples, Jesus ascends to heaven before their very eyes (Act1: 11). After this the disciples in obedience to Jesus� command goes to Jerusalem and waits there for this promise of the Holy Spirit. They wait for 10 days and on the 10th day that is, �the Day of Pentecost they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the house where they were sitting. They saw that seemed to tongues of fire that separated and came to rest upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.�(Act2:1-4).
Jesus had ascended to heaven and received the promise of the Holy Spirit and poured it on the waiting disciples. Peter talking about what happened says, �God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.�(Acts 2: 32,33)
Dorea or Charisma?
Now Peter instructs the crowd, �Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord shall call.�(Acts 2: 38,39)
Notice both Jesus and Peter calls the Holy Spirit a gift. Some people say both of them were referring to the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12. However, they do not mean the gifts of the Spirit here, since the Greek word used for the �gift� in the gift of the Holy Spirit and the �gifts� in the gifts of the Spirit are different and are never interchanged. The Greek word for the former one is dorea and for the latter is charisma. By calling the Holy Spirit a gift, Jesus and Peter meant He couldn�t be earned. He was purely a gift from the Father to Jesus� disciples.
What About After The Day Of Pentecost?
In Samaria
The waiting disciples received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. After this we find the next place where this experience is mentioned is in Acts 8: 12-18. Here the people in Samaria believed Philip as he preached the good news and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Act8: 12). Now the apostles in Jerusalem hear that Samaria had accepted the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. (Act 8: 14) When Peter and John came to Samaria, they pray for these believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit (verse 15). The bible says that till now the Holy Spirit hadn�t come upon any of them (verse 16). When Peter and John placed their hands on them, they received the Holy Spirit (verse 17).
In Case Of Saul
Saul is introduced in the bible as the one who �began to destroy the Church�(Act 8:3). On his way to Damascus, Saul has life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Saul believes that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God. He became blind as a result of his encounter and he was instructed by the Lord to fast for three days. In Damascus, there was a disciple of Jesus named Ananias. The Lord leads Ananias to Saul with specific instructions, and tells him to place his hands on Saul that he might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Notice here, Saul had already believed in Jesus, but only when Ananias came and laid his hands did Saul receive the Holy Spirit.
In Cornellius� House
Cornellius sent for Peter to come and preach the message of salvation to him and his household. While Cornellius and his household listened to the gospel and believed, the Holy Spirit came upon Cornellius and his entire household. I need to emphasize here that the only criterion to receive the Holy Spirit is to be washed in the blood of Jesus. Cornellius and his household surely put their trust in Jesus to save them and their sins were forgiven, and that�s how they could be eligible to receive the Holy Spirit. I need to testify here that I received the Holy Spirit baptism one year before I was baptized in water and after I believed in the Lord Jesus. Again I say, the only criterion to receive the Holy Spirit is to be born new through the blood of Jesus. It is again wrong to use this passage to say that one receives the Holy Spirit at the time they believe in Jesus, for receiving the Holy Spirit is an entirely different experience other than salvation. In Acts10: 43, Peter says, ��everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name�. On believing this message they were saved, and their sins forgiven. Now they were eligible to receive the Spirit, and that they did. �While Peter was speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.�(Acts 10:44,45)
At Ephesus
Paul here meets with a group of disciples, which he first mistakes for Jesus� disciples. But seeing the lack of power in their lives he asks them, �Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?�(Acts 19:2). He asks this question because Jesus said in Acts1: 8 �Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you��. So in response to Paul�s question they say, �No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit�. Paul immediately asks them with what baptism they were baptized in, for if they were baptized in the Christian water baptism, they would surely have heard the name �Holy Spirit�, as the Christian water baptism is to be ministered in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit just as Jesus commanded. To this they reply and say, �John�s baptism�. Now Paul realizes these were just John�s disciples and not Jesus� disciples, so Paul preaches the gospel to them and tells them to believe in the One coming after John, in Jesus. On hearing this, they believed and were baptized in water. Then when Paul placed his hands on them, all of them received the Holy Spirit.
If you would notice in all the above places where this experience is mentioned, we find that the Holy Spirit baptism is a totally different experience other than salvation or the born-again experience.
Born Of The Spirit
What does it mean to be born of the Spirit? We find Jesus first used this term while He was speaking to Nicodemus. Nicodemus, a religious leader comes to see Jesus by night. He marveled at the miracles done by Jesus� hand, and tells Jesus, �Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.�(John3: 2). Jesus takes this opportunity to talk to him about the greatest miracle of all miracles: the miracle of salvation. Jesus in response says, �Except a man be born again, he cannot see God�(John 3: 3). Nicodemus not understanding what Jesus meant asks Him, �How can a man be born when he is old?�. Jesus explains to him that He meant being born again of the Spirit. I wish to explain here what role the Holy Spirit plays in the born-again experience.
The bible lays plain how a man could be saved: he must confess with his mouth �Jesus is Lord�, and believe in his heart God raised Him from the dead through the blood of eternal covenant. If he does these, the bible says he would be saved. Now what actually happens when a person believes in the gospel? The very moment a person believes in the gospel, the Holy Spirit will take the blood of eternal covenant that brought back Jesus from the dead (Hebrew13: 20), bring the same resurrection life to that person�s spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Agent that uses the blood of Jesus for the bible says �Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to�the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus��(1 Peter 1:1-2)
So the Holy Spirit brings life to the dead spirit making it alive in Jesus. In Romans 8:9,10 it says; �Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness�. At the time of re-birth, one receives the Holy Spirit as life, and the person is said to have the Spirit of Christ.
On resurrection morning, the disciples see the Lord, and He breathes on them and says, �Receive ye the Holy Spirit� (John 20:22). Here the disciples were made alive in their spirits. The Holy Spirit used the blood of Jesus to bring the resurrection life to their spirits; they became the work of the Spirit and born of the Spirit. However, the disciples received the Holy Spirit as a Person to dwell in them forever, only on the Day of Pentecost. This experience is what we are talking about, even the Spirit baptism.
The Result Of Spirit Baptism
Jesus tells His disciples why He was sending His Holy Spirit: to be their Paraclete. Paraclete has its root from the Greek word Parakletos, which means Comforter, Advocate, Helper or Intercessor. So Jesus was saying that the Holy Spirit would be their Comforter; that He would plead their cause on their behalf, as their Advocate; that He would help them in their time of need; and even intercede for them. Thus in short we can say that the result of the Spirit baptism would be spiritual abundance and prosperity, nothing lacking.
The most important result of the Spirit baptism is however, power for service. Jesus told His disciples just before He ascended to heaven, �But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth� (Acts1: 8)
Peter who was a coward and who was quick to speak, and who had folly in his speech, after being baptized in the Spirit became a very different person. My personal testimony: I was a coward, and I would get all worked up when facing a crowd; my whole body would tremble in fear. But after I received the Holy Spirit baptism, my life was changed upside down. I, who couldn�t speak properly in front of a crowd, was able to pierce people�s heart with God�s message. I had the fire of God on my tongue, and I had authority from heaven. Without God�s Spirit burning within, we are not going to accomplish much for the Lord in this final hour. Jesus didn�t want His early disciples to continue His work here on earth, until they were endued with power from on high, and so should it be in this final hour of the Gentile Dispensation. Again I say, God hasn�t ordained any one to preach His message without His holy baptism.
How did the disciples become witnesses? Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised the disciples to send the Holy Spirit once He reached there. When the disciples received the Holy Spirit, they became living witnesses to the fact that Jesus was alive and that He had entered the Holy of holies.
In salvation we become living witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus, while on receiving the Holy Spirit baptism we become living witnesses to the ascension of Jesus to heaven.
�He Gave Gifts To Men�
Through the Gift of the Holy Spirit, we have access to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12. The Holy Spirit baptism is the door to the Spiritual Gifts.
�When He ascended on high, He led captives in His train and gave gifts to men� (Ephesians 4: 8)
When Jesus ascended to heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in the waiting disciples, and from the Holy Spirit comes the Gifts of the Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 12, we read about nine such gifts, which are to profit withal. The Gifts of the Spirit are a must so that this lost world can have the reality of Jesus.
The Gifts of the Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit must manifest through believers in this final hour. I encourage people to not only walk in love, but also to earnestly desire spiritual gifts. Many Churches today have lost the balance. I know so many Churches that give importance to the Fruit of the Spirit, but neglect the Gifts completely. Some in their desperation to support their denominations belief go onto to say the Age of Miracles is over, and the Gifts ceased to operate in the First Century. However, there is no passage that supports this idea. In fact, the person who says God does not perform miracles anymore cannot be saved. For salvation is the greatest miracle of all miracles. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrew 13:8). The same Jesus Who poured out His gifts through men in the first century does so today. Many Christians are doing the very thing Paul instructed the Christians at Corinth not to, �Now about spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant�(1 Corinthians 12:1).
The Evidence Of The Spirit Baptism
Before coming to the evidence of the Spirit baptism, I need to tell you two facts of this baptism using the Word of God alone as the manual.
(1) The baptism in the Spirit was a single event, and a sudden event; just as water baptism is a single and sudden event.
(2) The person receiving the Holy Spirit clearly knew whether he or she received the Holy Spirit. And even the people assembled with them knew clearly if the person received the Spirit or not. In other words, the evidence was unique and outstanding.
With these two points in mind, I wish to present before you the biblical evidence of the Spirit baptism. There are five places where this experience is mentioned; out of which in 3 places the evidence is mentioned, and in two places the evidence is not mentioned. First, let me take you to the places where the evidence is mentioned.
In Acts 2:1-4, the following things happened:
(1) Sound of rushing mighty wind filled the entire house where they were sitting.
(2) Cloven tongues of fire sat upon each of them.
(3) When they were filled with the Holy Spirit, all of 120 assembled spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. They were declaring the wonderful works of God in the new tongue.
In Act 10:44-48, the following things happened:
(1) They heard all of them speak with other tongues and magnify God.
In Act 19:6, the following things happened:
(1) They all spoke in other tongues.
(2) And they prophesied.
Now if we look into these three passages we find one common sign or evidence: speaking in other tongues. From my study of the Word of God, I have found that this is the only way to know if a person has received the Holy Ghost or not. This is what the apostles looked for everywhere in Bible-times. For the bible says in Acts 10:45-46, �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�.
Speaking in other tongues is the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit baptism. The apostles looked for this evidence, the believers looked for this evidence and the Church in this last age must look for this evidence. When I tell this to Baptists and Brethren believers, they push me off as a Pentecostal or Charismatic, and they label me as belonging to the �tongue-movement�. But I�m not going to back off, if they reject the truth. I will still speak the truth, because I�m doing it in obedience to the Master. I can�t please everybody, but I can please God. And when I please God, I will please the right kind of people.
Other evidences can follow, but I say again the biblical initial evidence for the Spirit baptism is speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
Also notice ALL who received the Holy Spirit baptism spoke in other tongues, not just a few:
(1) On the Day of Pentecost, there were about 120 believers gathered in the Upper Room, and the bible says they were ALL filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Some Christians in order to disregard this evidence say only the apostle�s spoke in other tongues. However, this is not even logically reasonable, for this happening put the whole city on their toes. I don�t think a group of 12 men could speak in tongues and cause a whole city to gather. ALL the 120 disciples received the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance.
(2) In Cornellius household, we again read that ALL of them received the gift of the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues, and glorified God.
(3) In Ephesus, ALL the 12 men received the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues and prophesied.
This is may bring a question Paul asked, to your mind: �Do all speak in tongues?�. The answer to this question is an obvious �No�. Now before I explain this, I want to tell you the signs Jesus said would follow believers. He said, And these signs shall follow them that believe, In My name they shall cast our demons; they shall speak in new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.�(Mark 16:17,18)
I want to draw your attention to the last part of the verse. It says, �They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover�. Jesus said believers would pray for the sick and they would recover. Does this mean all believers have the Gifts of healings? No. The Gifts of healings are something special, than the healing received through the prayer of faith of the believer. Now, the bible says again that every man has been given a measure of faith, and this faith is a gift (dorea) from God. Does this mean all men have the Gift of faith? No. In likewise manner, all do not have the Gift of diverse tongues, but all believers will speak in other tongues one time. The �speaking in tongues� Paul means here is Gift of diverse tongues, not the new tongue that Jesus said believers would receive when they were baptized in the Holy Ghost. I know many Christians who have received the Holy Spirit baptism spoke in other tongues at that particular moment but have had none of nine gifts operating in their lives.
Now coming to the places where the evidence is not mentioned. Firstly in Samaria, we read that people believed in the Lord and were baptized in water. Among them was a sorcerer, he also believed and was baptized. Later when Peter and John came down, they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. Here we see that Simon saw that through laying on of hands the Holy Ghost was given. Obviously, there was a physical evidence. It wasn�t miracles and healings that he saw because he had witnessed this before (verse 13). He said, �Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost�(Acts8: 19). Simon thought he could get the power that whomsoever he laid hands on might receive the Holy Ghost, by giving money. But the gifts of God cannot be purchased. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God. No one can work to receive Him. He is totally and completely given by grace. And so no doubt Simon saw the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The next passage is where Paul after meeting with the Savior, received the Holy Ghost when Ananias laid his hands on him. Even here the evidence is not mentioned, but we know that Paul also spoke in tongues because he says in 1 Corinthians14: 18, I thank my God; I speak with tongues more than ye all.
The only reason, I give emphasis on the evidence is to avoid people from blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. I have heard so many Christians attribute speaking in tongues to the devil. The bible says this is an eternal sin.
Jesus said, �Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.� (Matthew 12: 31-32)
I heard one preacher say, �Jesus was speaking of rejecting the conviction of the Holy Spirit here�. Is that so? Let me ask you a question: Is there forgiveness outside Jesus? Jesus said, all manner of sin and blasphemy would be forgiven. Forgiveness for any sin is found only in the shed blood of Jesus. Jesus goes onto say that to speak a word against Him could be forgiven, if the person repented. But He makes in crystal clear, the blasphemy against the Spirit would not be forgiven unto men in this world or the world to come. What does it meant o blasphemy against the Spirit? Let me take the context in which Jesus spoke this. Jesus was casting out demons by the Spirit, and He was healing the sick and afflicted. The Pharisees come and attribute the work or manifestations of the Spirit to the devil. And so if any man tells you, �Speaking in tongues is of the devil�. Have nothing to do with him. Don�t even associate with such a person, nor fellowship with him. I have personally met with people from the Brethren faith who came to me and told me �The book of Acts is history, the speaking in tongues ceased with the Early Church. It was given to complete the Bible. The speaking in tongues practiced today is of the devil, not of God.� If the book of Acts is history, then God is history. God is dead, if what this man said is true. But my God is alive forever more, and He has not changed.
One of the new converts after reading a book that spoke against �speaking in tongues� using the Scriptures came telling me, �You are deceived I want to save you from this deception.� People are being deceived, and deceiving others without their own knowledge.
�Tongues Shall Cease��
The passage mostly used by such people is found in 1 Corinthians 13:8, where it says �whether there be tongues they shall cease��
Any bible-believer knows that to isolate a verse and make a doctrine out of it is absolutely wrong. The verse must be studied under the light of the whole Word. What was Paul speaking of in this Chapter? He was speaking of love or charity. He tells how worthless the Christian life is without the Fruit of love.
�Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.�
Notice what Paul says, �But when that which is perfect is come��. Paul here is speaking about a place perfect in love, and that is heaven. Here on earth love is not made perfect, if it were we wouldn�t be seeing so much wars and destructions around. Paul is in turn saying that in heaven the spiritual gifts are not required, or will cease. No one earth, not even Christians can claim they know everything. Even those who have the gift of knowledge and the gift of prophecy know only in part. Paul is saying here, once the perfect is come, then that which is in part will be done away.
The spiritual gifts are to operate till Jesus comes the second time. For Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:7, �Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gifts as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus to be revealed�. Has Jesus come the second time? Not that I know of! If He hasn�t come the second time, then the spiritual gifts haven�t ceased to operate either.
How Do I Receive The Spirit Baptism?
Now that I have given you a study on what the Spirit baptism is, and the evidence of it, let me persuade you to seek God for this supernatural baptism.
The first step you need to meet is Salvation. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and if have put your faith in His blood to make you pure and holy, then you are eligible to receive His Spirit.
Jesus said in Luke 11: 11-13, �Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?�
Have you sought God for His Holy Spirit? Jesus tells it�s the Father�s will that you have His Holy Spirit, but then Jesus tells them to seek the Father for it. So first, have the desire for God�s Spirit baptism. Know clear within you, that it is for today and that it is for you.
The bible being the manual, let me show you what the disciples did before they received the Holy Spirit baptism:
And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.� (Luke24: 51-53)
They were praising and blessing God! This the way you can yield your tongue to the Holy Spirit, so that He can speak through you in a language you have never learned. Remember how I received the Holy Spirit, I was praising Him and filled with adoration for Him. He filled me and He�ll fill you as well, if you seek Him earnestly.
Do not worry about the evidence, for it is Spirit Who gives you the utterance. If you are baptized in water, will you be worried about getting wet? In likewise manner, you don�t have to worry about speaking in another tongue, for when you are baptized in the Spirit, you will speak in a language you haven�t learnt before.
If you have received the Holy Spirit baptism before, please mail me and share with me your experience. I would be delighted to hear and share with others how God filled you with His Spirit. If you have any doubt on this topic, mail me using the Prayer Request column and I will respond to your mail as soon as I can.