Contributor:
Chad Roberts
My aim in writing this is to get out of the ditch and place ourselves in the double yellow lines of New Testament teaching. I want to be careful, skillful and balanced in my reading and interpreting the Bible. If there is a topic that calls for careful thought and skillful interpretation, it is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit taught in Acts 1 and Acts 2.
A Promise from the Father
In Acts 1:4-5, Luke records, “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’”
When talking about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, it can become difficult and complex because different denominations have contrasting views on what it means. As believers, we must be careful that we do not suppose that we understand Biblical concepts based on what we have seen or grown up around.
For example, someone may think they understand prayer or preaching or even the Holy Spirit because of what they have seen in their Church. But the question is this, is what you saw Biblical praying, Biblical preaching or the Biblical concept of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
A Time of Preparation
It saddens me that certain denominations have hijacked the Biblical meaning of being filled with the Holy Spirit. My aim is to look to Scripture and explain the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in a Biblically balanced way.
If Jesus says that there is a baptism of the Holy Spirit and that it is the “Promise of the Father,” then we should seek to not only understand such a gift but to experience it.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells His people to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit has come upon them and given them the “Power” to become His witnesses. If He commanded His followers to not preach without the power of the Holy Spirit, then what makes me think I can preach without His power? If they were to wait in Jerusalem until God’s power came upon them, should we not wait and tarry until God’s power comes upon us?
Filled with Fire
What a contrast between the Peter who came out of the Upper Room preaching the Gospel and seeing 3,000 saved in one day, from the Peter who denied Jesus three times! It was the Baptism of the Holy Spirit that made the difference in Acts 2!
Jesus spent three years with His followers preparing them for ministry. At the end of the day, they were a failure until the Holy Spirit came upon them. After Christ was crucified and raised from the dead, He finds His followers cowarding in a locked room in Jerusalem (John 20:19).
It is fascinating to me that Jesus did not sharply rebuke them. Instead, He spoke peace to them and reinforced that He is going to use them. When we come to Acts 1, He calls the coming of the Holy Spirit the, “Promise” from the Father. He instructs them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes upon them.
Do you often feel like a failure? Are you someone that cannot seem to get their life together? What you need is the empowering of the Holy Spirit. You need the Spirit of God to take hold of you, fill you and consume you with fire.
As noted earlier, think about the 11 apostles who were hiding in a locked room. Jesus did not call them a failure. He knew what His plans were for them, and God knows His plans for you! Jeremiah 29:11 says that you are not a failure! These 11 men who were failures would be set aflame by the Holy Spirit and would turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
When you become consumed by the fire of the Holy Spirit, it changes your life. You gain a white-hot zeal for God’s glory. You carry a new, unique burden for the lost. You develop a deeper prayer life, a greater humility, and a more intense hunger and thirst for God and His righteousness. Can you see why the Lord wants us to be filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit? It is the Promise of the Father and it is for every believer!
They Were All Filled with the Holy Spirit
There are 3 shades of meaning to this beautiful word, “Filled.” It is a wonderful and beautifully word found throughout the entire New Testament. When we begin to understand the rich and deep meanings of this important word, it changes our perspective and has a greater impact on the way we live.
#1. It carries the meaning of wind billowing the sails of a ship.
You can picture a massive ship being carried along the seas with gusts of wind. This would speak of how the Holy Spirit carries us along in life, not leaving us lost or un-navigated. He will lead us and guide us. Waves of doubt and unbelief may try to toss us about, but the Word of God is the rudder to the ship! As we are filled with His Spirit, and our lives are guided and directed by the Holy Spirit, then we can navigate life and go where God wants us.
#2. It carries the idea of Permeating.
I love this illustration. It speaks of dying of a garment, for example, the color purple. You can picture the purple dye permeating throughout the entire garment. This speaks of how the Holy Spirit should permeate our lives…every part of us. There isn’t an area of our life that should not be touched by His presence.
#3. It carries the idea of being Controlled.
It is the exact meaning in Colossians 1:9, “Be filled with the knowledge of His will.” Be controlled by the knowledge of God’s will. Be controlled by the Holy Spirit and His influence on our lives. It speaks of being controlled by His direction, His counsel, His wisdom, and His commands. As we are baptized by the Holy Spirit, our mind, will, and emotions are dominated by His power and presence.
Satan’s Frustration
How frustrating it must have been for Satan. It seemed God’s Kingdom was in complete failure. The Son of God was crucified, Jesus’ hand-picked Disciples were cowarding in a locked room. Peter, who Jesus said would have the “Keys to the Kingdom” denied Christ three times and Judas, the Treasurer of Christ’s ministry not only betrayed the Lord but has now committed suicide. Could it look any bleaker for the Kingdom of Light?
Now, 50 days after Christ’s death comes the infilling and empowering of the Holy Spirit upon God’s people, as well as the birthing of the New Testament Church. This was a complete mystery to Satan. He never saw the Church coming! Colossians 1:26 tells us, “The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.” What is the mystery? It is that Christ is now in us, the “Hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
A New Day
In the Old Covenant, people like the Prophet Samuel, King David, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel would experience the Holy Spirit coming upon them. It was rare and only happened to a select few. But in the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit indwells us. He resides within us and help us.
This means that when we face any temptation, any discouragement, or difficult decisions, we now have the immediate help and enablement of the Holy Spirit within us! Is that not the most amazing thing that could happen to us?
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