1) Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God who is currently dwelling on earth.  He is the ‘Spirit of Jesus’, and the Spirit of the Father who enters the heart of any new believer at the time of conversion.  It is the Spirit of God who produces the new birth.

Ephesians 1:13-14 …………………………………………………

2) Why is the Holy Spirit important?

Jesus Christ himself said that “It is for your good that I am going away.  Unless I go away, the counselor will not come to you; but if I go I will send Him to you”.  (John 16:7)  The relationship with the Holy Spirit is the key element in a healthy and victorious life for a Christian.

John 14:15-18 …………………………………………………

John 14:23 …………………………………………………

3) Baptisms

The word ‘baptism’ means ‘submerging’.  There are three types of baptisms in the Christian faith.

• Baptism into the Body of Christ:

This happens at, the moment of belief.  When we are born again–that is to say born spiritually– we are immersed into the Body of Christ and become a part of His spiritual body.

Romans 6:4-6 …………………………………………………

     2) Baptism in water:

This happens after conversion. We are submerged into water to show that we died with Christ and rose with Him. It means our old self, our old nature, died with Christ and we are a new creation in Him.  It is symbolism, and by getting baptized in water we declare our faith in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:19 …………………………………………………

      3) Baptism in the Holy Spirit:

This should happen as soon as possible after accepting Christ in our hearts (even before  water baptism).  In this baptism, which is obtained through prayer, the person is submerged in the Holy Spirit and overflows with the Spirit of God.

Acts 1:5,8 …………………………………………………

4) How do we get baptized with the Holy Spirit?

• The first thing is that we must be utterly thirsty for the Holy Spirit.

John 7:37-39 …………………………………………………

• We must believe that the Father is more eager to give us the Holy Spirit than we are to receive Him.

Luke 11:11-13 …………………………………………………

• We must repent from our sins and place Jesus Christ at the throne of our hearts as the King and Lord of our lives.

Acts 2:38 …………………………………………………                                

Acts 5:32 …………………………………………………

       4) We must earnestly present this request to God in prayer.

Luke 11:9-10 …………………………………………………

       5) We must believe and receive this baptism by faith.

James 1:6-8 …………………………………………………

6) We must allow the Holy Spirit to pray through us in His language, which is             unknown to us.                                                    

Acts 2:4 …………………………………………………

Personal application:

Today and in the days to come pray earnestly to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes it helps when people who have the baptism of the Holy Spirit and are living a Spirit filled life lay hands on you and pray to receive this baptism.  (a teacher or the leader of a cell group)

Do not give up praying for the baptism of the Holy Spirit until you get it.  The life of a Christian is not only difficult without the power of the Holy Spirit, it is impossible.