The mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit is promised to all flesh. The Holy Spirit is the “other” comforter, Who has taken the place of Jesus. The coming of the Holy Spirit upon a believer in baptismal measure empowers the believer to be a ‘firing’, effective witness for Christ.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was upon and within a few individuals for some special tasks that the Lord gave them to do. Even at that these few individuals did not enjoy His full continuous abiding. However, God predicted through His prophets, that a new day would come. They looked forward to the glorious gospel days in which we live. And that day began at ‘Pentecost’! We now live in that day!
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the ‘enduement’ with ‘power from on high’ upon the believer. It is different from the new birth or salvation. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is for power, illumination, feeling of joy, liberty and victory in prayer, self-denial, or zeal. This experience is also called “Fullness of the Spirit” which, in the scriptures is expressed as “Receiving the Holy Spirit”, “Being anointed with the Spirit”, “Being filled with the Spirit”, “Being baptized in the Spirit” and “The release of the Sprit”.
Today, we can receive the Holy Spirit in baptismal measure if we
- Are thirsty for Him. You must desire the blessing.
- Have faith to receive Him
- Ask God to fill us
- Begin to praise God
Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? Why not pray until you receive?