Baptism of the Holy Spirit

[AmandaT]

So I've been wondering about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I guess mostly on the issue of receiving it.

I've prayed for the baptism of the Holy Spirit on multiple occasions, but don't think I've received it. A friend let me borrow a book on the topic and it said that you'd know if you'd receive it, so I guess that means I didn't? Obviously the words of that book aren't infallible, but I feel like you would know if you had received the baptism. Maybe that's not true.

I guess the issue with it is also in that the devil is going to try to convince you from the get go that nothing happened. I've heard from many people after they were baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues that they got thoughts of doubt. Thoughts that they weren't really speaking in tongues or that God wouldn't really baptize someone in the Holy Spirit.

I don't really know much about the baptism of the Holy Spirit other than what I read a little while ago in Acts, to be completely honest. I go to a charismatic church, so the topic comes up a lot, but they never really discuss it. They seem to assume that you've received it if you go there. It was kind of the same way with a small group I went to for a while. A friend from college goes to the church I mentioned and her older brother does as well. He started leading a small group at his house, which I started going to. I felt pressured by him sometimes to prophesy. He believes very strongly that the spiritual gifts are for everyone (I believe the same thing), and so when he'd try to get me to prophesy I'd kind of get disappointed that I wouldn't have anything to share. I mean, I'm not going to say I had a vision of something if I didn't and I'm not going to say I got a word of knowledge if I didn't. What does that accomplish?

So now I find myself disappointed that I haven't received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and by the fact that I don't have any of the spiritual gifts that I pray for. I guess I'm probably just impatient, but it doesn't make the disappointment lessen.

Do any of you know much about the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

[LauraA]

When I received the Holy Ghost, it happened just like it did in the Bible on the day of Pentecost. (Read the book of Acts) I was worshipping God and my praises turned into another language. Being filled with the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues is found in the book of Acts, the birth of the New Testament church. I pray every day in the Spirit. (in tongues) The Spirit makes intercession on my behalf, prays things that I don't even realize I need to pray about, or how to pray for.

This is not the same as the Spiritual gift as found in the books in 1 Corinthians. The gifts in 1 Cor. are for the edification of the church. Different people are given different gifts. (As listed in the Word of God.) No person should be pressured or forced to display a gift that GOD did not give them. That is not Scriptural. I've heard of this happening a lot, especially in a certain area of the country.

Keep seeking Him. You will be filled. If you've spoken in tongues, you've been filled. Don't doubt that. Read the Word and see it confirmed.

Praying for you.
Laura

[AmandaT]

Yeah, it was rather awkward to have someone try to get me to prophesy. The guy leading the group is an awesome guy, and I think he had the best of intentions, but it was still awkward. The pressure he put on and the way he is was good for me in some ways because it challenged me. When I got saved, I went to a very conservative Methodist church. I wasn't really exposed to the charismatic atmosphere, or whatever you want to call it, until the last couple of years. I learned a lot from him about the importance of stepping out in faith. I think he probably just didn't realize that I felt pressured.

Thanks for your reply, Laura. I'll be praying about it. And I'll have to read through Acts again.

[LauraA]

Yeah, I'm sure he meant well. He sounds like a nice man.

[ktyme06]

just be patient for it. like I was pretty much the last one out of my friends at the time to get it. you will be baptised at the right point for you...just remember that. most of my friends actually got it at our camp that we go to for our church...I was at youth group one week and received it.

[LauraA]

^^^Exactly. Seek Him, but don't put pressure on yourself. While you wait, keep up your prayer and Bible reading and just enjoy the sweet presence of our loving God. I'll keep you in prayer. Your day will come. :)

Hugs

[Labby]

My senior pastor has written a book on the Holy Spirit. I'll explain how you can access it on-line. It's 100% free for you to download and distribute, as long as you don't try to sell it.

1. Go to www.christcenter.net
2. On the left side of the page, click Books and Articles by Pastor JW Jepson
3. Click What You Should Know About the Holy Spirit

[themadclipper]

Yeah, it was rather awkward to have someone try to get me to prophesy. The guy leading the group is an awesome guy, and I think he had the best of intentions, but it was still awkward. The pressure he put on and the way he is was good for me in some ways because it challenged me. When I got saved, I went to a very conservative Methodist church. I wasn't really exposed to the charismatic atmosphere, or whatever you want to call it, until the last couple of years. I learned a lot from him about the importance of stepping out in faith. I think he probably just didn't realize that I felt pressured.

Thanks for your reply, Laura. I'll be praying about it. And I'll have to read through Acts again.
I hope I don't anger anyone here, but I have never, EVER met a conservative Methodist. Feel free to strike this comment, but the Methodist Church I have encountered did not impress me. (I'm biting my tongue, because they were incredibly liberal.) If anyone has any questions, please pm me, as my thoughts are my own, and do not represent Jeremy Camp or any associated ministries.)

[AmandaT]

I haven't looked at this thread in a little bit. Thanks for the replies/advice, everyone. Labby, I'll read the book today.

[Meadow]

Laura was w/ me when I received the Holy Ghost. It is a wonderful deepening experience in Christ. My daughter is eleven and she just recently received the Holy Ghost and was baptized.
I went before the Lord totally broken repenting of sin that I might not even be aware of. I found myself encapsulated in His presence. I just stood at the altar w/ Laura and others praying with me as i wept and just praised God, crying out, "Halleuhia and I love You, Jesus" and those words began to change into another language. You are not in control of these words, it is the Holy Ghost speaking through you. It is an amazing feeling when the Holy Ghost speaks through you! The way your throat feels and the way it is used is hard to describe. You know when you vomit you can't control when it happens it just comes up and out. Not trying to take a beautiful gift God has given us and compare it w/ vomit. It is not a bad feeling or anything like vomitting except for how it happens, it just happens when it is time the Holy Ghost is in control. Don't stress over it, if you want it and verbally cry out to God your love for Him it will happen.
The day i received the Holy Ghost I have to admitt I walked into the church worrying that it wasn't going to happen. Laura was so sure she was like, "Leigh you are going to receive the Holy Ghost today." Pastor Wilbur also that morning said somebody is going to get the Holy Ghost here today before it happened. Laura and I will forever be connected as sisters! I thank God for this precious wise woman that God placed in my life through Jeremy's ministry.
Breathe Him ~Leigh
Psalm 86:12

*I also find praying scripture repetatively helps. You get in a deeper focus and take your thoughts off yourself and then you find that loving place where God is in you.

[LauraA]

It was the most beautiful filling I'd ever witnessed. Leigh was so totally, fully submitted to Jesus, the words just poured out of her. Everyone at church was talking about how it was the most awesome filling they'd ever seen! Just submit to Him, praise Him, worship Him. He will do the rest.

[JesusRocxks]

Hey Amanda, Long time no see!!

I was just curious after reading through this, do you think that the only evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit is by speaking tounges or do you just desire to have that gift?

Roxy <><

[Kelly]

Yall should get Billy Grahams book "The Holy Spirit". I'm reading it right now and it answers pretty much any question you could possibly have on the Holy Spirit! It's being offered for free this month, so there's only a few days left, but even if you don't get it in time I strongly recommend you buy it! I love it!

[AmandaT]

Hey Amanda, Long time no see!!

I was just curious after reading through this, do you think that the only evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit is by speaking tounges or do you just desire to have that gift?

Roxy <><

I do think that speaking in tongues is evidence of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

I do desire the gift of speaking in tongues, but that isn't my main desire in trying to find out more about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It's just one part of it that I'm curious about.

[Kelly]

Hey Amanda, you should get the book I mentioned above...it talks about all those things! :) I'm loving it! Can't wait to finish!

[Kelly]

Ok so I finally got to the chapter in my book that focuses on baptism of the Holy Spirit, and he says that when you give your life to Christ, you are "regenerated", or reborn, and are automatically baptized in the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a separate thing, and that is something that should happen again and again. You're only baptized in the Spirit once, but you can and should be filled with the Spirit many times throughout your walk with Christ. The chapters I'll read tomorrow talk more about the filling and after that there are several chapters on gifts of the Spirit, and the last chapters focus on the fruits of the Spirit, so I'll be sure to share what the book has to say about each as I read :)

[Labby]

After reading that little snippet, I can tell you this: Brother Graham is not a Pentecostal. :P

Kelly, you should check out the book I posted links to on page one.

[LauraA]

Labby is right. Check out that link.

One thing we have to remember is that anything that man says is opinion, his or her view on the Bible. We have to take God at His Word. We have to build precept upon precept, as the Bible says. In other words, don't take one Scripture and think that is the final word on that subject. All the Scriptures pertaining to each subject need to be searched out, then put together to form the final conclusion. With that in mind, read all the Scriptures about being filled with the Spirit. Being born again. What is the overall picture?

[JesusRocxks]

Hey Lab-ster, I checked out that link and it was a good read, thanks!!

I have never spoke in 'tounges' but I have felt the Holy Spirit speak to me personally. I just don't think that tounges is my gift 'if it is, not yet!'..I think that the Spirit has many ways of speaking to US personally. I don't discourage prayer to obtain that gift in any way, but I do suggest if that gift is not granted, don't think its God saying you aren't saved! That may be a big suggestion on my part, but I have studied scripture enough to feel comfortable suggesting it. I think that as someone mentioned being baptised in the spirit and filled with spirit are separate issues entirely and to each one us, we serve a purpose whether the hands, feet... or whatever. We are all one in the body of Christ. =) And, scripture does say we all have individual gifts.