Why You Need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Why You Need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
There are two manifestations of the Holy Spirit that set the stage for the Holy Spirit to become intimately involved in the life of a believer. The first is seen when a person becomes born-again. I Corinthians 12:3 says that no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. He gives the necessary revelation to a non-believer that causes him to give his life to Jesus. The second manifestation is called “the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.” This occurs when a believer invites the Holy Spirit to become an overflowing force in his life. While natural examples pale when trying to describe spiritual happenings, one such example can be helpful. Consider the difference between a water glass and a glass filled with water. A water glass is a container for water. It has the potential to bring refreshment when filled with water. But until the water is in the glass the water glass is limited in its capacity to bring refreshment to the person who has it.
All believers need the Holy Spirit to become born-again. But the person who receives the Baptism of the Holy Spirit releases a larger measure of Holy Spirit’s power. When that occurs, the Holy Spirit provides an overflow in the life of the believer. That overflow enables the believer to receive multiplied and accelerated levels of growth – in faith, in expressing that faith to others, and in maturing spiritually. One minister of the gospel refers to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as the “muscle of God”.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is received the same way as anything in the Kingdom of God – by going after it by faith. Luke 11:9-13(NLT) says,
9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
When you are baptized in the Holy Spirit one evidence of that experience is receiving a “prayer language”. It is a way for your spirit to communicate with the Spirit of God. It is needed because there are things within God’s Spirit and your spirit for which there are no words in our native language. As you pray this prayer to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, prepare to yield to the utterances that are within you. Now say this prayer out loud…
“Dear Heavenly Father, I am a believer. I am Your child and Jesus is my Lord. I believe in my heart that Your Word is Truth. I give You my body, my mind, and my spirit. Your Word says if I ask I will receive, so I’m asking You to fill me to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit. I have asked and Your Word says I’ve received and I thank You! Now Holy Spirit, I thank You for giving me utterance that is my prayer language. Thank You that I can now pray divine mysteries and the perfect will of God as I yield to Your promptings.”
Once you have prayed that prayer, begin to thank and praise God for filling you. As you do, certain syllables/ words will rise up from within you. Stop speaking English (or your native tongue) and by faith step out boldly and speak with your new heavenly language. (You must be willing to speak – the Lord won’t force you to do it.) You may experience just an utterance of one syllable that you repeat or you may experience a floodgate of words being released from within. Whatever the experience, by faith, receive it as from the Lord. If you begin to think “Oh, this is just me making up words/sound” immediately cast those thoughts down. Your only thoughts should be, “I asked according to the Word and I believe I receive.”
Use your prayer language every day. I Corinthians 14:2 AMPC says, “2 For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].”
