© 98 Colin Melbourne
With Bible Evidence
Do you have the Bible proof that you’re baptised in the Holy Spirit? Without the vital experience of Holy Ghost Baptism you will not be able to fulfil the ministry Christ has for you.
In His final statement before being taken into Heaven Jesus promised His disciples;
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high… ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me… unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Holy Bible Lk. 24:49 and Acts 1:8 KJV
God had previously promised, through the Prophet Joel, a future time when;
I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy… also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
Joel 2:28-29 KJV
Prophecy fulfilled
Jesus instituted the New Covenant in His Blood, and fulfilled His promise to His followers on the day of Pentecost.
On the day of Pentecost, all of the believers were gathered together;
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:4 KJV
The timid disciples were transformed into fearless proclaimers of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Immediately, the Holy Spirit through Peter confirmed in v. 16 that this was the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy.
But this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel:
Then he quotes Joel 2:28-32; proclaims the Gospel of Christ, and confirms that Jesus having;
…received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Acts 2:33 KJV
So convincing, and anointed, was this message that 3,000 Jews received Christ as Saviour and were baptised in water that day.
For all believers
This is the Bible pattern for receiving the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised to all believers.
Are you a believer?
Have you been genuinely born again?
If so, since being born again have you been filled with God’s Spirit?
Have you received the Holy Spirit according to the Bible pattern?
Satan has caused great mischief through false teachers warning Christians away from this God given baptism of power, stunting their effectiveness as witnesses of Jesus Christ.
The Evidence that counts
Human opinion is worthless; mine is, yours is. The only opinion that counts is God’s. If God says a thing once in His word that is sufficient. It is so.
In a Court of Law, two reliable witnesses, presenting clear evidence, are sufficient for any judge to pass verdict. On this vital matter of proof of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, God gives us three. More than any human court needs.
God presents us with the Bible evidence of believers receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is the only evidence necessary for true believers. Here are God’s Three Witnesses:
God’s Evidence I: Pentecost
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:4 KJV
The original Bible pattern has believers speaking in tongues. Peter confirms; But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel Acts 2:16. God wants you to have this, and nothing less than this. He wants you to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit according to His original Pentecostal pattern.
God’s Evidence II: Even Gentiles Get It!
In Acts 10 we find Peter sent to the home of a Gentile, Cornelius. As Peter proclaimed Christ, the…
Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. Acts 10:44 KJV
The Jewish believers accompanying Peter were astonished that God poured out His Spirit on Gentiles too. What convinced these prejudiced Jews that the Holy Spirit had come?
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Acts 10:46 KJV
This evidence can not be contradicted.
It is the Bible evidence.
These two reliable witnesses are sufficient to satisfy the world.
God goes one better.
God’s Evidence III: Ephesian Believers
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Acts 19:6 KJV
These Ephesian believers in Christ received the identical Bible evidence as the first group on the day of Pentecost.
What about you?
Three times, God shows us the initial evidence of Baptism in the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues.
When you are Baptised in the Holy Spirit, you too will speak in tongues.
Until you have the Bible proof, you are not baptised.
Enter into the Promise of God.
It is your Blood-bought inheritance.
You will do more in one year when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, than in a hundred years apart from Him.
What are tongues for?
1 Co. 14:2 KJV tells us clearly;
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
God goes on to say in verse four, He that speaketh in a unknown tongue edifieth himself.
Distinct from Salvation
Scripturally, there’s a difference between being born of God, (born of the Spirit), and being filled with the Spirit.
We receive eternal life, God’s Spirit in ours, when we’re born again. God re-creates our spirit, we become God’s child, the new creation of 2 Co. 5:17. We are saved. This is the sealing of the Spirit, which all genuine believers have, but they still need to be filled with God’s Spirit. You can read more about the difference between being born of God, and filled with His Spirit here.
The New Birth sealing experience is for sinners; everyone who is still unsaved.
Jesus stated emphatically that the world (sinners) cannot receive the Comforter (or Counsellor), the Holy Spirit.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Jn. 14:16-17 KJV
Clearly, here Jesus was speaking of being baptised in the Holy Spirit, not being born again.
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.
Jn. 15:26 KJV
New Testament believers understood that receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experience that comes after salvation.
Acts 8 in the KJV shows most clearly that ‘receiving the Holy Spirit’, being ‘filled with’, or ‘baptised with the Holy Spirit’ come subsequent to being born of God. Verses 5-6,12;
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. … But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
They heard the Gospel, believed, and were saved, born of God. So they were baptised in water. Next look what happens after that, verses 14-17;
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:5, 12,14-17 KJV
Clearly, the Samaritans were saved before Peter and John came.
Peter defines salvation, in 1 Pe. 1:23, as coming through faith in God’s incorruptible Living Word : Jesus Christ.
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Verse 12 of Acts 8 states the Samaritans had believed and been baptised (in water). Verse 14 shows they’d received the word of God.
Notice also; Peter and John did not preach the Gospel to them, there was no need, they were already saved through Philip’s preaching of Christ. The apostles instead prayed that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Then they,
…laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
The apostles didn’t ask God to give the Samaritans the Holy Spirit, they knew God had already sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Instead, they prayed, …that they might receive the Holy Ghost.
Will you receive now?
It’s up to people to receive what God offers; Eternal Life is a Gift, healing is a gift. The Holy Spirit is a Gift.
He is there with you now, receive God’s Gift.
First, and most importantly, make sure you are genuinely Born Again.
Once you are born of God, you need to be filled with His Spirit.
You will not be an effective witness for Christ without being Baptised in the Holy Spirit.
Jesus needed Him, you do too.
It’s easy to receive the Baptism.
God wants you to have His Gift.
After you have been born again, here’s how to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit:
Jesus illustrated the simplicity of the experience in Jn. 7:37-39
If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
Jesus used water as a ‘type’ of the Holy Spirit. Just open your mouth and drink!
It’s entirely a matter of faith.
Understand, God has already given the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
He’s here in the world now.
There’s no need to beg God to give you the Holy Spirit.
Simply receive Him by faith.
Anyone who is saved is ready to receive.
There’s no need to wait, Jesus has sent Him.
Anybody who is Blood bought and Blood washed is clean and ready.
A believer can receive with or without the laying on of hands. Both are Scriptural.
Expect the Holy Spirit to give you supernatural utterance, but you must do the speaking.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:4 KJV
Be assured, if you are truly born of God, when you come to Christ to be Baptised you will not receive a false spirit. You will get the real Holy Spirit!
Jesus promised, If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Lk. 11:13 KJV
Open your mouth wide, and ask God to help you receive the Holy Spirit. Relax and speak fearlessly every sound that He gives you to speak.
The Holy Spirit will not force you. He gives the utterance, but you do the speaking.
The supernatural part is what is said, not who is talking.
Speak out until a free clear language comes and you have an inner assurance that you’ve received; Power from on high.
The following excellent resources were used in the preparation of this article.
The Bible Way To Receive The Holy Spirit by K. E. Hagin and Ever Increasing Faith by Smith Wigglesworth
© 98 Colin Melbourne
