The Baptism in the Holy Spirit


Acts 19

19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied.

Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues[b] and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.

Some things are necessary if we want to fully rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. I grew up thinking I was in top of my game. I was invited to preach in different churches at a very young age. I knew I was destined to be a preacher of the Word. During this time, I had no idea about the Holy Spirit except that He is part of the trinity. I grew up in a church where we didn’t believe that the Spirit can still move.

So we I encountered someone asking me the same question: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”, all I can say is NO, what is that? I know about water baptism but the baptism of the Holy Spirit???

So right then and there I asked that person to pray for me. I wanted to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and as he was praying I knew God was doing something supernaturally. I didn’t receive the gift of tongues that moment (it happened after a month while I was reading the Bible in my room), but my ministry took on a whole new level. It was no longer on my ability but the Holy Spirit’s ability to transform and touch hearts.

I literally became an effective witness and not just a witness. Our classmates got saved, I started to move in signs and wonders and see how God would heal people. It was also during this time, that my relatives got saved because I prayed for healing and God touched them.

In short, God moved. I was just a willing vessel. Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit? What are you waiting for???