Have you been baptised in the Holy Spirit??

It seems like every sermon I've listened to lately, describes the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I know that I am filled with the Holy spirit, but I know from the testimonies that I've heard that I have not been baptised by the Holy Spirit.

A few years ago I began to pray earnestly for the baptism, but the more I talked to other Christians I began to think that perhaps I was asking for something that I didn't necessary need.

After listening to Duncan Cambel's testimony a few days ago, I was determined that I do need the baptism!! I have never met anyone personally who has claimed to be baptised and have not talked to anyone who has suggested that it is a good thing to have.

I've listened to Ten Shekels and a Shirt about 20 times and I always wonder if I am asking for something to spend on my own consumption. But I know when I get alone before God, my heart's desire is to glorify HIM!! I can't tell you one single desire or goal that I have, other than that JESUS be glorifed and that HIS kingdom be advanced!!!

Can anyone else relate to my frustrations!?!?!? I would also love to hear any personal testimonies.

In HIM,

Tina

Dear Tina,

I am at work right now so I can't give you my testimony of being baptised with the Holy Spirt in 1976. I shared in on this forum before, but couldn't find it, it was months ago. However I will give it to you as soon as I can.

Keep seeking.

I was baptized in the Holy Spirit when I was about 18 years old. I didn't quite know what it was, but I simply knew from my limited knowledge of the Scriptures that there was more to the Christian life than I was experiencing. So one night when I was really hungry for God, I simply lay on my bed and sought God really hard. I told him that I'd go anywhere He wanted me to go, and do whatever He wanted me to do.

Then all of a sudden I became aware of God's presence like I never had before since the first time I heard the gospel. Then God filled me with His Spirit, and since then I have been filled with a constant urge to preach the word of God. I didn't know at the time that I was "baptized in the Spirit," as I hadn't yet heard the term. But later in Bible college when I was learning various theological terms and such, and realized that is what I had experienced some time before.

Just keep in mind, being 'baptised in the Holy Spirit' is something to empower you to be a witness for Christ.

I have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, but I don’t think it is in the way you seem to be referring to. When I became a Christian, I was filled with the Spirit of God. Romans 8:9-10 says, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. 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.”

Also, the Holy Spirit is a seal to all believers:
2 Corinthians 1:22, “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”
Ephesians 1:13, “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,”
Ephesians 4:30, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

The Baptism of the Spirit is not a second step for a believer, but is a present reality for all Christians. The problem is that many do not heed the Spirit’s word and in essence grieve Him.

Mark 1:7-9 says, “And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 says, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.”

These verses speak of the Spirit given to us at conversion, not a second blessing.

Hope this helps.

These verses speak of the Spirit given to us at conversion, not a second blessing.

Every Christian is automatically Baptized in the Spirit at his/her conversion?? Brother, how can the church sleep on if this were true?

One of the problems we have is that there probably isn't even a consensus on what the term "Baptism in the Spirit" actually means!

Hey, sister, I was just thinking that! ;-)

Maybe I'm just a little simplistic- but I say:
1- don't bother arguing about it with people, hang out with God and see what he thinks
2- read your Bible and take the time to see what the overall description the Bible gives
3- ask God in faith to give you whatever He wants you to have-
4- then simply leave it in his hands that way you don't have to worry about whether or not it's your flesh

Thanks to all of you who responded!! In reading some of your testimonies, I think the thing that I struggle with, is that I can't say, "on such and such a day, I was baptised in the spirit."
I can remember very specific moments with the Lord that have changed me forever and I know that I am not the person I was a few years ago.

I like timmyspitz's simplistic advice and I know that most of my stuggle lies in trusting the Lord. I also think that HE has put this burning in my heart. And I know that He will give me what I need, when I need it.

Every Christian is automatically Baptized in the Spirit at his/her conversion?? Brother, how can the church sleep on if this were true?

By church are you referring to all professing believers or all truly regenerate believers? Big difference and it would explain why there are so many "asleep".

By church are you referring to all professing believers or all truly regenerate believers?

I am talking about all true professing, regenerate believers.

I heard Zac Poonen say how he was baptized in the Holy Spirit, then ten years later he received the gift of speaking in tongues. He said he was baptized in the Spirit a number of years after after his conversion.

Question I have is: Can saints be baptized in the Holy Spirit and not even know it???

I am talking about all true professing, regenerate believers.

1 Corinthians 12:13 says, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

Notice that Paul does not say that some Christians are baptized in the Spirit, but all are baptized in the Spirit.

Is there any scriture that tells us to seek a second baptism of the Spirit?

The closest I can think of is Ephesians 5:18, "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit"

But this verse does not tell us to seek a 'second blessing' but tells us not to be drunk and show the fruits of drunkeness, but to be filled with the Spirit and show the fruits of the Spirit!

Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control"

RepentCanada, I don't think so. Because in Scripture (Book of Acts) there was some kind of physical sign of knowing this. There was something that made their meeting distinct.

Because in some cases in the book of Acts the church was praying and that's it. Other's preaching and then it happened. Not every time when someone got saved is there a reference to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Now, here are a few Scriptures on the difference between Salvation and Baptism of HS.

Acts 11:17 (NASB)
17 "Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also [b]after[/b] believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"

Acts 2:4 (NASB)**Keep in mind, this is [b]AFTER[/b] Peter's "positive confession" (Belief in Jesus as the Son of God)**
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Acts 8:9-24 (NASB)[url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%208:9-24;&version=49;]link[/url]
Key Scriptures in this:
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.
13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
**(These Scriptures show that they BELIEVED in Jesus as their Lord)**

14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,
15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
**(So, AFTER their Belief in the Lord, they hadn't had the Spirit fall upon them. Showing 2 different events; or then you must support a belief of a need of 'confirmation' or laying on of the hands for regeneration. Regeneration happens at belief. Bap. in Holy Spirit happens upon earnest prayer. *Look at the ask, knock, seek examples; they are referring to the HS*)**

Acts 10:47-48 (NASB)
47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?"
48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

Acts 19:2 (NASB) *(Context nails the coffin on the matter; Vs. 1-10)*
2 He said to them, [b]"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you [u]believed?"[/b][/u] And they said to him, [u]"No,[/u] we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."
*(Believed, in what? Answer= The Lord Jesus Christ. You can't refute (maybe try) that he[Paul] is referring to something AFTER conversion.

Jesus said, "Wait for it." This is after they preached the Kingdom of God for a maximum of 3 1/2 years. Don't try to say they were unregenerate. That word 'regenerate' isn't really used in Scripture that much, so don't make a distorted doctrine out of it.

Christ referred to His second coming as 'Regeneration.' So, be careful using that term. Cause, technically, we are ALL UNREGENERED because Jesus hasn't come back yet.

lovegrace,

how do you differentiate betweem true tongues and false tongues?

if we have so many who are baptized in the Holy Spirit, we do we have such a decrepit church here in North America??