Big Healing Book - How to Be Baptized with the Holy Spirit

How to Be Baptized with the Holy Spirit

Quick Version

Once you are born again, you qualify to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. This is a separate experience from being saved from your sins. Ask Jesus to baptize you with the Holy Spirit. You will have a new power working in you to do the works of Jesus. You will also have the ability to speak and pray in “tongues” – languages that you have never learned and that you don’t understand. You can also expect the Holy Spirit to use you in the “gifts of the Spirit” to bless others.

Detailed Version

By the time you finish reading this topic, you will recognize the fallacy of the following traditions of men, all of which are propagated by many local churches today:

“You already received all there is of the Holy Spirit when you were born again.”

“The Holy Spirit baptism is for some, but not all, believers.”

“You have to tarry at the altar until God fills you with the Holy Spirit.”

“God won’t give you the Holy Spirit until you are holy in your conduct.”

“You should only speak in tongues when the Holy Spirit expressly moves you to do so.”

“Tongues should only be used for evangelism in unknown languages, not all the time.”

“Tongues are not for today.”

“There is no Bible evidence for having a prayer language that you use outside of church.”

“You will become weird because you’ll suddenly start speaking in tongues while shopping.”

You won’t believe any of this nonsense once you see that the Bible has to say about this wonderful gift. If you are a born-again believer, Jesus wants to baptize you with the Holy Spirit! This gift is available on the same grace basis as forgiveness from sin.

Having the Spirit in You vs. Being Baptized with the Spirit

When you are born again, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside you:

Romans 8:9:
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Romans 8:15-16:
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The Spirit itself [Himself] beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

In John 20:22, Jesus breathed on His disciples and said “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” Yet they were not baptized with the Holy Ghost until Acts 2!

Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is an experience after salvation in the New Testament.

Thomas met the requirements for salvation (Romans 10:9) when he believed that Jesus rose form the dead and confessed Him as Lord (John 20:28). But he was not baptized with the Holy Spirit until Acts 2:1-4.

The men in Samaria were saved and baptized in water before they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:12-17:
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.
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Now then 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.

The passage above is so clear, it is hard for me to imagine how anyone can think that “receiving the Holy Ghost” takes place automatically when you’re born again.

In Acts 9, Paul was already called “Brother” (meaning that he was already saved) before he received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:17:
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Certain men at Ephesus were clearly saved because they were baptized in water before they “received the Holy Spirit,” and only then did they prophesy and speak in tongues.

Acts 19:5-6:
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Once again, it is indisputable that their receiving of the Holy Spirit was subsequent to their salvation.

An isolated case occurred at Cornelius’s house in Acts 10, where it appears that the Gentiles gathered there were saved and Spirit-filled at the same time or at least nearly at the same time.

Acts 10:44-47:
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

You’ll notice in the last three cases that those who received the Holy Spirit spoke in tongues. Paul’s case was more subtle but we see that he wrote this later:

1 Corinthians 10:18:
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

Jesus’ statement that the Father would give the Holy Spirit to them that ask (Luke 11:13) is another proof that the Spirit baptism is subsequent to salvation. If it were automatic upon salvation, no one would ever have to ask for it!

Some people protest that they “have” the Spirit because they’re saved, based on Romans 8:9 above, but having the Holy Spirit in that sense and being baptized with the Holy Spirit are two separate things. Someone could protest that he “has” water in every cell of his body, so he has no need to be baptized in water, but being “baptized” in water is different from “having” water.

(For an in-depth discussion of Romans 8:9, see What Romans 8:9 Really Means.)

Who Can Be Baptized with the Spirit?

Simple answer: Any believer! Jesus said that the Father would give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. Peter preached that the gift of the Holy Spirit was for you, your children, those who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call (that’s you, if you’re saved). The Gentiles at Cornelius’s house did not have to become mega-holy in conduct first; they received the Holy Spirit right away! (They were completely holy as far as their legal standing with God once they were saved.) This disproves the doctrine taught in some churches that you must act holy before you can receive the Holy Spirit. No New Testament preacher ever said that you must qualify somehow (other than being born again) to be baptized with the Spirit. If you believe this error, you will probably never feel like you are “holy enough” and you’ll never be baptized with the Spirit! The Spirit baptism is a gift, like salvation, that is freely offered. You may encounter a tongue-talking nitwit out there who doesn’t bear much Christian fruit. That person received the Holy Spirit not because he deserved to, but because he asked. That is just as well; if everything were on a merit basis, no one would receive the Holy Spirit and we’d all end up in the eternal lake of fire.

It is true that you must be holy before you can receive the Holy Spirit, but not for the reason that most people think. Most people think about holiness in conduct, but you only have to be holy in standing with God – and that happened the instant that you were born again and were recreated in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24). If you’re saved, you’re holy enough to receive the Holy Spirit!

The verse below shows us that we receive the Spirit by faith, not by works.

Galatians 3:2:
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Acts 2:38-39:
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

The fact that as many as the Lord our God shall call may receive the Spirit is proof that this is still for today. The usual “explain-away” verse that traditional people use is 1 Corinthians 13:10, where Paul says, “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” The objector assumes that “the perfect” means the completion of the New Testament. Turn on the news tonight and you will discover that the perfect has not yet come. Besides, when the perfect comes, we will fully know, just as we are known, and that statement obviously does not apply to anyone today. I don’t know everything fully and neither does anyone else. Do you know why the tribe of Dan is not in the 144,000 in the book of Revelation? No, and neither do I. Therefore, we do not know fully, and therefore, the perfect has not come – it was not the completion of the New Testament.

1 Corinthians 13:12:
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Also, Jesus told His disciples that they would be His witnesses “to the uttermost part of the earth” in the same verse (Acts 1:8) in which He told them that they would receive power after the Holy Spirit came upon them. Did these disciples preach in Tierra Del Fuego? In Nunavut? In Yakutsk? In Tasmania? In Cape Agulhas? No. So it remained to future generations to fulfill Jesus’ command to go everywhere and take His good news to the “uttermost part of the earth.” Thus, the Holy Spirit was still needed after all the original apostles died, and He is still needed today!

It is important to realize that an unsaved person does NOT qualify to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, so don’t ask for that unless you are already saved, as it won’t work! Jesus said that the world cannot receive the Holy Spirit in John 14:17 cited above. He also told a parable about not putting new wine in old containers:

Luke 5:37-38:
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

The new wine of the Holy Spirit only belongs in new containers!

Why You Need to be Baptized with the Spirit

Jesus Himself, who became totally human while remaining totally divine, only did miracles after the Holy Spirit came upon Him. If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to do these miracles, how much more do we?

By the way, the accounts in the so-called “lost books of the Bible” such as Jesus changing the color of a woman’s dress while a child are a bunch of bunk. The real Bible says that Jesus did not do any miracles until He turned water into wine at Cana (as stated in John 2:11). If you own any of those “lost books” that are inconsistent with the real books of the Bible, I suggest you make them truly consistent with their description and lose them.

We can see several benefits of being baptized with the Spirit in Scripture:

The primary one is power for evangelism. God has always commissioned His preachers to perform signs and wonders to confirm His word. He considers this so important that Jesus told His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). We are supposed to preach in the power of the Spirit, not with mere logical arguments of men. Anyone can argue, but not everyone can demonstrate the power of God! In our day, contrary to Jesus’ instructions, most ministers go out with no Holy Spirit power to back them up. That’s why they don’t get better results. Seeing miracles in front of your face is a more compelling reason to listen to the gospel than being asked if you’ve heard of the four spiritual laws.

The baptism with the Holy Spirit is a door into operating in the manifestations of the Spirit found in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 through 14. It is the will of God for all believers, including you, to be used by the Holy Spirit in these ways. 1 Corinthians 12:7: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” 1 Corinthians 12:11: “But all these [nine manifestations of the Spirit] worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” You can’t quote these verses correctly and leave yourself out!

Along with this comes boldness. Peter denied the Lord three times before Jesus was crucified, but you can read in Acts how he boldly confronted the Jewish leaders who sent Jesus to His death. Peter was a different man after he got baptized with the Holy Spirit!

Another benefit is the ability to pray by the Spirit in languages you don’t know (“tongues”). This is so vital, I don’t know how any Christian gets by without this! (Many don’t seem to get by very well.) When you have no idea how to pray based on your own understanding, you can still pray perfect prayers about situations. This does not replace knowing the Word and praying in your native language, as 1 Corinthians 14:15 should make obvious. God wants you to pray both ways!

When you really understand how God has set up this earth, the benefit of praying in tongues becomes even more obvious. God gave the earth to man (Psalm 115:16). He didn’t take it back even after Adam’s sin that gave Satan get a foothold here. Because God delegated the running of the earth to man, He needs man’s permission to move here. That’s why prayer is important – it authorizes God to move on the earth when MAN gives Him permission. If the best you can pray is what you can figure out with your head, that is all you can authorize God to do. But if you pray in other tongues by the Holy Spirit, you can authorize God to do things on the earth that are BEYOND your understanding – and they are allowed because a MAN authorized the action!

A Command, Not an Option

God wants all believers to walk full of the Spirit. If you do not earnestly desire to have the Holy Spirit manifest Himself through you, you are out of the will of God in that area. God commands you to desire spiritual gifts and to walk in love. “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1).

Preachers should not enter the ministry until they are baptized with the Spirit. That was Jesus’ standard. I am aware that many ministers do some good works without being baptized with the Spirit, but I am quoting the Bible standard, not experience. They could be even more effective filled with the Spirit with the gifts of the Spirit operating through them. Jesus considered the baptism with the Holy Spirit to be essential to ministry. So should we!

Tarrying for the Holy Spirit?

An old, but unbiblical, practice is to “tarry at the altar” asking God to give you the Holy Spirit. No one ever tarried for the Holy Spirit after the day of Pentecost. The time before the initial outpouring on the day of Pentecost is the one time in the New Testament when believers had to wait to receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them to tarry at Jerusalem. If you believe that this command is for today, you will have to go to Jerusalem to do your tarrying. Hop on a plane for Tel Aviv, catch a bus to Jerusalem and hope that Israel’s rocket-launching Arab neighbors aren’t in a foul mood that day.

Jesus said in Luke 11:13 that your Father would give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. God gives good things to His children who ask. He does not tell them to wait for some mysterious reason. He won’t hand you a stone or a scorpion. He won’t let you get some evil spirit when you ask for the Holy Spirit! God knew that some people would try to incite fear by teaching that if you try to receive the Holy Spirit today, you’ll end up with an evil spirit, so He put these verses in there to put us at ease.

Here is the main point for you to get: The Holy Spirit has already been given! John 7:39 (cited above) says that (at that time) the Spirit “was not yet given” because Jesus was not yet glorified. Now Jesus has been glorified, so the Spirit has been given! Jesus promised that He would send Him (John 14:16, John 14:17, John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:7). As far as God is concerned, He has already sent the Holy Spirit! Note that in Acts 19:1-6 above, Paul asked the Ephesians if they had received the Holy Ghost. He didn’t ask if God had given them the Holy Ghost. God had already given Him. It was up to them to receive Him.

The Holy Spirit Is a Person, Not a Force

Remember, the Holy Spirit is not “power” or “tongues” or a “force.” He is the third member of the Trinity! You are not simply receiving power or tongues. You are being filled with a member of the Godhead himself! He is a person. The preachers in Acts did not talk about receiving “it” – they talked about receiving the Holy Ghost.

By the way, there is no difference between the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost is the King James English version of His name and the Holy Spirit is a more modern translation. The King James Version could have improved on Romans 8:16 by saying that the Spirit HIMSELF, not ITSELF, bears witness with our spirits. (Today’s translations get this right; there is no indication from the Greek that “itself” should be used instead of “Himself.”) Perhaps this unfortunate translation decision in the KJV has led some people to think of the Holy Spirit as “It” instead of “Him.”

Baptism vs. Filling

You only need to be baptized with the Spirit once, just as you only need to be born again once. However, the fact that you were once baptized in the Spirit is no guarantee that you will always lead a Spirit-filled life. You are responsible to stay filled with the Spirit. The men in the Bible were never baptized in the Spirit more than once, but they were “filled with the Spirit” on subsequent occasions, and so it should be for us.

Acts 4:7-8:
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel...

Acts 4:31:
And when they [the company of believers] had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness.

Acts 6:3-5:
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost...

Acts 7:55:
But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.

Ephesians 5:18:
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.

You Shall Speak in Other Tongues

The Holy Spirit does not speak in tongues. Believers do. The devil tries to talk people out of speaking in tongues by saying, “That’s just you.” Yes, it is you, in fact. You have to do the speaking. The Holy Spirit will give you the words when you willingly yield your tongue to Him, but He will not do the speaking for you. He will never “make” you do anything. If you wait for Him to just take you over and “make” you speak in tongues, you’ll wait for that in vain for the rest of your life. Paul said that he would pray and sing with the spirit (1 Corinthians 14:15) as well as with his understanding. He made that choice. It was his decision. He didn’t say that the Holy Spirit told him when to do it.

Probably the worst thing you can do is get analytical and try to “make up tongue words” in your head. Jesus said that the rivers of living water (speaking of the Spirit) would come out of your belly (i.e., your spirit), not out of your head!

On rare occasions God uses believers to witness to foreigners in other tongues, unknown to the speaker but known to the listener, as happened in Acts 2. We know a man who preached the plan of salvation to a tribe in Africa in its own language even though he did not know any words in their language! I know people who on one occasion spoke perfect Spanish and Farsi who had never learned Spanish or Farsi but were understood by those who spoke those languages. A certain Native American man I know used to say that tongues weren’t real, until someone next to him suddenly prayed in his tribal language that only a few hundred people on earth still speak. I actually spoke in that same tribal language (which I’ve never learned) on two occasions at this writing. However, such things are the exception to the rule. Acts 2 was the only place where it happened in Scripture. There is no record that any unbelievers understood the languages spoken by other men who were baptized with the Spirit at a later time. Therefore, it is an error to say that tongues are solely for evangelistic purposes. Praying in tongues is up to you, as it was up to Paul. You can do it whenever you want if you are baptized with the Spirit. At times the Holy Spirit will lead you to do it, but He’ll never force you to do anything.

Some churches teach that you can only speak in tongues when the Holy Spirit gives you an utterance in a service, but that is utterly awful teaching. It is TRUE that you should not give a public utterance to other people to be interpreted unless the Holy Spirit HAS specifically moved you to do that. However, when God, not other people, is your audience, you are free to make the same choice Paul did to sing and pray in tongues whenever YOU want to do it. It’s even OK in a service when you’re not giving an utterance for the people to hear; you can still talk to God and worship God in other tongues.

The Right Way to Drink

God wants you to live full of the Spirit, not full of booze (Ephesians 5:18). If you want to stay drunk on booze, you have to keep drinking. If you want to live full of the Spirit, you have to keep drinking, too! The drinking you do is the kind found in John 7:37-39 above. “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).

This is the key to overcoming sin. You don’t do it by trying harder not to sin, beating yourself up and condemning yourself for sinning, inventing silly little punishments for yourself, and so on. You overcome sin by walking in the Spirit! Galatians 5:16: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Concentrate on walking in the Spirit and sin will lose its appeal. Galatians 5:25: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Please understand that I am not saying that you should spend all day rolling on the floor, laughing like a hyena. That kind of “drunkenness” can happen occasionally, but it is not the main way to stay continually “drunk” or “filled” with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18’s context clarifies this in the verses that follow (Ephesians 5:19-21): “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” True Spirit-filled living is holy, praise-filled, thanksgiving-filled living! Keep drinking of the Spirit!

Some drunk people just don’t have a care in the world. When you are “drunk” with the Holy Spirit, you won’t carry cares around either (1 Peter 5:7). You can just laugh off whatever life throws at you, casting all your cares on God. However, when you “drink” of the Holy Spirit, you won’t get a hangover and feel horrible the next day!

What Will You Feel When You Receive the Holy Spirit?

We don’t know if anyone in Scripture who received the Holy Spirit “felt” anything. In Acts 2 they probably did, because they weren’t standing up when they were speaking in tongues. In other places, there is no indication that anyone felt anything. Scripture does say that they began to speak with other tongues. We know that Paul spoke in tongues after he was baptized with the Spirit. That is clear from 1 Corinthians 14:18: “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:” The disciples in Acts 2 spoke in tongues after they were filled with the Spirit. The men at Ephesus spoke with tongues when they were filled with the Spirit. The folks at Cornelius’s house spoke with tongues when they received the Spirit. We can assume, although it is not explicitly stated, that the believers in Samaria spoke in tongues, since Simon saw that people were receiving the Holy Spirit. There must have been some outward sign to see, then, as well as hear.

I remember when some believers laid hands on me to receive the Holy Spirit. I was hoping that the power of God would just shower me, and I would be caught up in the glory and have a vision or some other great spiritual experience. You know what happened? Nothing! I didn’t feel a thing. I simply believed that I received the Holy Spirit. I may have stammered a few words in tongues; I forget. On my way home in the car, I began praying in other tongues, since I knew I could now that I was filled with the Spirit. Although I didn’t feel much different, soon I developed a great zeal to lay hands on the sick and have God use me in the gifts of healings. This was not the case before I was baptized in the Spirit. I am not saying that this is exactly what will happen to you. God calls each of us to “major” in different areas. I am experiencing the long-term blessings of being baptized in the Spirit even though I did not see angels or fall on the floor at the time. It was strictly a faith transaction. I believed that I would receive, and I did. Believe that you receive, and don’t be thrown off by feelings or lack thereof.

A Prayer Language

Tongues have another purpose than giving messages to be interpreted in church. In fact, the use of tongues as a prayer language will be far more common than giving public utterances, as in Paul’s life:

1 Corinthians 14:18-19:
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Here Paul makes it clear that he spoke in tongues a lot – but not in the church. Thus, most of his use of tongues was outside the church. This must have been when he was choosing to “pray with the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:15)

You may find that you tend to speak the same unknown language when you allow the Holy Spirit to give you words to pray, but don’t box God in. You may find yourself praying in what seems to be a different language from time to time. In the verse above, Paul said that he spoke with tongues, not that he spoke with a tongue.

Also, beware of trying to “translate” your tongues because certain words might be similar to English words or words in another language. Tongues are to be interpreted, not translated, unless it is a rare case where someone who hears you actually speaks that language, which can happen.

Tongues Are for Every Believer

Some people believe in error that God only predestines certain people to be able to speak in tongues. That idea is refuted plainly by Acts 2:39 (it’s for as many as the Lord calls), even more plainly by Mark 16:17 (tongues are a sign that follows them who believe) and yet more plainly by the verse below:

1 Corinthians 14:5:
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

The fact that prophecy is superior to uninterpreted tongues in a service does not negate God’s will that we ALL speak with tongues, which also proves that His will is for us ALL to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, which is necessary if you want to speak with tongues.

The Holy Spirit Will Not Force You to Do Anything

We have encountered a scare tactic that the devil has used to try to keep people from being baptized with the Holy Spirit. He suggests that if you get Spirit-baptized, you could be at work, at church, anywhere, and suddenly lose control and start speaking in tongues. That is simply not true. The Holy Spirit will never MAKE you speak in tongues against your will. As Paul made clear, it is a matter of YOUR will. YOU decide when to do it. (This is proved by 1 Corinthians 14:15.) Even in the case where the Holy Spirit wants you to give a message in tongues in a church service – and that is something you would ONLY do if He explicitly leads you to do it – He will not force you to do it; He’ll just let you know that He wants you to do it and it will still be up to you to respond.

Jesus Is Still the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit

All four gospel writers quote John the Baptist as saying that Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. (Matthew and Luke added, “and fire.”) Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Therefore, Jesus MUST still baptize with the Holy Spirit today.

Are You Ready?

Study the Scriptures concerning the Holy Spirit until you are personally convinced that God will baptize you with the Holy Spirit if you ask Him to. Once you see what God has said on the matter, receiving the Holy Spirit is easy! You can either do it right now, or you can wait until one or more Spirit-filled believers are around, which might make it easier for you. Having others lay hands on someone to receive the Holy Spirit was the primary method used in the book of Acts. Agree with the other people that you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit when they lay hands on you.

You can do it right now if you want; you don’t have to wait another minute. You can tell God that you believe that the Holy Spirit has been given and that you believe that His promise is for you. Then ask Him to baptize you with the Holy Spirit, believing that He will do what He promised. Then get ready for a bolder, power-filled life!

Be prepared to speak in other tongues. Don’t try to make up tongue words in your head. Let them rise out of your spirit. It is helpful if you make a point of not speaking in your native language at that time. The Spirit will give you utterance; yield your tongue to Him. Relax and let it flow out of you! (One of the biggest hindrances is getting “uptight” about it.) There’s no big rush; take your time. Don’t let the devil or tradition deter you – if you receive the Holy Spirit, you can speak in tongues. Your flesh may fight it at first, but remember the Scriptures in Acts that say that believers who were baptized with the Spirit spoke with other tongues. You are receiving the same Spirit they did, so you can do what they did! Jesus said of those who would believe in Him, “They shall speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17).

Selected Scripture Passages About the Holy Spirit

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Read for yourself what God says about the baptism with the Holy Spirit:

Matthew 3:11:
[John the Baptist speaking] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mark 1:7-8:

[Referring to John the Baptist] And preached, saying, there cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Luke 3:16:
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

John 1:33-34:
[John the Baptist speaking] And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

(By the way, very few things are contained in all four gospels, but being baptized with the Holy Spirit is mentioned in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as shown in the 4 passages above.)

Luke 11:9-13:
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
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?

Luke 24:49:
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.

Mark 16:17:
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

John 7:37-39:
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 14:16-17:
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.

John 14:26:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26:
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:

John 16:7:
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Acts 1:5-8:
[Jesus speaking] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 2:1-39 (excerpted):

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
...
And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
...

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
...
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus for [literally because] of the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Acts 8:5-20:
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.
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
And there was great joy in that city.
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
To whom they all have heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
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.
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Now then 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.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Acts 10:44-48:
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Acts 11:15-17:

[Peter relating his experience with Cornelius] And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost,
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

Acts 19:1-6:

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed [literally having believed]? And they said unto him, We have not so much heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

1 Corinthians 14:4-5:
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1 Corinthians 14:15:
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

1 Corinthians 14:18:
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

Galatians 3:2:
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

(Notes to those ministering along these lines: Galatians 3:14 is sometimes used as an additional “proof text” of receiving the Spirit through faith, but that is out of context. The passage refers to the promise of [made by] the Spirit to Abraham. Those opposed to Pentecostal teaching rightly point out that this is a misapplication of the verse. Also, Ephesians 5:18’s command to be filled with the Spirit is talking about a continuous process, not the initial baptism with the Spirit, though it’s hard to see how you could live continuously full of the Spirit if you won’t let Jesus baptize you with the Spirit. However, the fact that someone might use such verses incorrectly in no way invalidates the Scriptural proof that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is an experience subsequent to salvation, as demonstrated by the many passages above.)