Transcript: Baptized With the Holy Spirit

Baptized With the Holy Spirit (video transcript)
By David Feddes

About 10 days ago, we had a gathering for the National Day of Prayer, and a number of us from different churches in Monee were going to lead in prayer, and some other people gathered to join in prayer. We also planned to sing some songs, so the keyboard from our church was brought to be used to accompany the singing. It was an awkward moment because just before we were getting ready to start, the keyboard was sitting there, and it had no power—no power cord was brought. Everything was there: the keys were there, that nice black box was there, and everything that goes into a keyboard. It just looked great. The only problem was it had no power, no power cord, and would produce no music.

Well, somebody rustled up and found a cord nearby and plugged it in, and all of a sudden, it was working. Sometimes I'm afraid that the church is a little too much like that keyboard. All the parts are still there—the building is there, the programs are there, sometimes even the vestments and the candles are there—just about everything but the power and the music of God. That is where we would all be, and always be, without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God's personal presence and power at work in his church, and without it, without his presence, without his power, we’re about as much good as that keyboard was without power. The church without the Holy Spirit really is not the church at all.

So, I want to think with you today about the Holy Spirit and about being baptized with the Holy Spirit. To do that, we're going to look at something that happens at the very beginning of Jesus' ministry, as described in the Gospel according to the apostle John. Here, the apostle John is writing about another John—John the Baptist—and it tells us what John the Baptist says about our Lord Jesus Christ.

From John 1, beginning at verse 29:

Sometimes, if you want to get everything in just a few words, you can find it in just a few verses of the Bible. Here, in the description of John the Baptist, you find in just a few statements who Jesus is and the main purposes of his coming into the world. Who is Jesus? “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” That is John the Baptist’s testimony: Jesus is the Son of God.

Why did Jesus come? Two main things. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” That is the first great purpose of Jesus' coming into the world as the Son of God and as a human among us. The second great purpose of his coming into the world is this: “This is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”

All too often, we separate those things or assume that one happens maybe without the other. If you look at most of the emphasis we have on Jesus, a lot of us emphasize that Jesus came to take away sin. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin; he came to rescue us from hell. That’s why Jesus came, and it’s certainly true that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. But that is not the only reason he came. He had to do that in order for his great purpose to be fulfilled—to baptize with the Holy Spirit. Our sins have to be taken away, the barriers between us and God have to be removed—but not just so that now we’ll be forgiven and get off the hook, but so that the Holy Spirit of the living God can dwell among us and live within us. Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

So, if your understanding of Christianity is that Jesus came and died to take away your sins, that is half of it, okay? You can’t and shouldn’t assume that that is all he came to do. He came to do more than that. At the same time, if you think that baptism with the Holy Spirit can easily be separated from the removal of sin—if you say, “I’m just going to cut to the chase, go to that exciting part, and ask God to fill me with his Holy Spirit and baptize me with this Holy Spirit,” while bypassing any repentance of sin and any cleansing by the blood of Christ—well, that’s just not how it works. Jesus is the Son of God who came as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world and to baptize with the Holy Spirit.

Now, in one sense, I'm going to do something that I hope doesn’t ruin the purposes of the Spirit among us, but I’m going to proceed in kind of a question-and-answer format through this message today about the Holy Spirit and baptism in the Holy Spirit. Not because everything is just sliced and diced and cut and dried when dealing with the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself said that the Spirit is like the wind—you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going—and there’s a wonderful mystery to the work of the Holy Spirit. But nonetheless, the Bible does answer some things, and we do want to be clear about what those answers are. Not just so that you can go back through and say, “Okay, I think I can get that as an item on the quiz, and I think I can probably answer that too,” but instead so that we will be more aware of the Holy Spirit himself and have a better understanding of who he is and how the Holy Spirit carries out Jesus’ purposes in us.

To begin with, how did Jesus himself speak and act with such power? You might say, “Well, that's easy—he was the Son of God.” True enough. But as the Son of God coming among us as a human, he lived as a human among us, and he did his mighty works, according to the Scriptures, by the power of the Holy Spirit upon him.

Already in the Old Testament, God had promised that there would come a new covenant and that in this new covenant two things would happen: that people’s sins would be forgiven and that he would send his Spirit to live in people’s hearts and write his law on the hearts of his people. It also promised that somebody in particular was going to bring that about. The prophet Isaiah said, “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” Then, in Isaiah 61, it says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to preach good news.”

As there is this promise of a new covenant, when the Holy Spirit will do amazing things among God's people—and all of God’s people, not just one or two here or there—Moses had been a prophet of God who spent intimate time with God. When a few other people prophesied once, they were scolded, and they told on those guys to Moses. Moses said, “I wish all God’s people were prophets!” The prophecy was that someday all God’s people—men and women, young and old—would, like a prophet, be able to have a closer intimacy with the presence of God and have God at work in their very lives in a sustained way, not just on rare occasions now and then.

All of this had been promised, and a Messiah was coming who would be the key to all this. So, when Jesus came and when John announced, “This is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit,” he was saying that Jesus is the key to this new covenant—this new way of God dealing with people. He said, “He whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.” God the Father gives the Spirit without measure to Christ, his Son, the Messiah.

That happened especially at Jesus' baptism. Jesus was obviously one with God in the Spirit all the time—throughout eternity and throughout his life. But in his human life, when Jesus was baptized, the Spirit came from heaven like a dove and came on him in power. That’s later explained in Acts 10 this way: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

We read that after the baptism of Jesus, it says the Spirit drove him out into the desert. At Jesus' baptism, the Spirit came down on him, and the voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him.” Then, the Spirit drove him out into the desert. Why? For a showdown with Satan. In the power of the Holy Spirit and by the Word of God, Jesus overcame all of Satan's temptations.

Then it says, “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned to Galilee” and began doing his mighty works, miracles, and powerful teaching. So, Jesus himself waited until this baptism of empowerment came upon him to begin his public ministry. He acted and spoke with such power by the Holy Spirit.

Well, who is the Holy Spirit? That, of course, is beyond all expression or words. But Jesus tells us about the Holy Spirit when he says, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete,” which is translated a number of different ways—“comforter,” “counselor,” “helper,” or “advocate”—somebody to be there with you, to help you, and to be with you forever—the Spirit of Truth.

When the Bible speaks about the Holy Spirit in relation to lying, it says that when you lie to the Holy Spirit, you lie to God. The Holy Spirit is God. The Bible says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” This reveals that Father, Son, and Spirit are one God—the Holy Trinity.

So, who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Holy Trinity. He is sent by the Father and by Jesus, the Son, from his throne. After Jesus conquered sin and death, he took his throne and sent the Spirit to live in believers and help us. Jesus says, “I'm sending you another Paraclete.” Jesus himself was a helper, a counselor—somebody who did what we needed. He says, “You're better off with me leaving you because when I go, I'm going to send him to you.” This Spirit of Truth is not just going to be with you—he's going to be in you.

Well, who baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit or with the Holy Spirit? You’ll see that I phrase it both “in” and “with.” In Greek, when it speaks of baptism “by the Holy Spirit,” “in the Holy Spirit,” or “with the Holy Spirit,” the Greek word is just en (ἐν). It's often translated as “in,” but it can also mean “with.” When you baptize with water, you’re also baptizing in water. When you baptize with the Holy Spirit, it’s a baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Who does that? Jesus does. John himself said, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain—this is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.” So, if you want to know who’s going to baptize in the Holy Spirit, it’s going to be this Jesus—the Lamb of God that I'm pointing to.

In Peter's Pentecost sermon, when the Spirit was poured out, he explained where this outpouring came from and from whom it came: “This Jesus, God raised up, and being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.”

Jesus was authorized by God the Father to pour out the Holy Spirit. Jesus did everything necessary to make that possible. Then, when he returned to his throne, his Father—who had already sent the Spirit on him at his own baptism—authorized Jesus to pour out the Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

So, we should never separate the Spirit from Jesus or from God the Father.

Where else does the Bible speak of Spirit baptism? There are basically seven texts that speak of being baptized in or with the Holy Spirit. The first one we’ve already quoted, where John the Baptist said that Jesus will baptize in or with the Holy Spirit. Then, there are six more mentioned. John said of Jesus, “He will baptize you with or in the Holy Spirit and fire.” This is stated in several different Gospels.

In the book of Acts, Jesus himself says, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized in or with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” This is repeated a little later in the book of Acts. Then, in 1 Corinthians 12:13, it says, “For in or with one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body.” Those are all the passages in the Bible that speak explicitly about being baptized in the Holy Spirit—seven in total.

Well, who has been baptized with the Holy Spirit? Just look at the context of that last verse we quoted, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13. It says, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. ^13For in one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”

So, who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit? Everybody who is truly a member of the body of Jesus Christ—the church. Everyone who has faith in Jesus and has been born again through him has been baptized in the Holy Spirit. That’s what this text is saying.

Some Christians argue that this verse refers to something different from the other verses about baptism in or with the Holy Spirit. They say it should be translated as “baptism by the Holy Spirit,” which would imply a different theology. But that’s based on a translation mistake, to be honest. The Revised Standard Version (RSV) translated it as, “By one Spirit, you were baptized,” and some took that as the foundation for a new theology. However, the original wording is simply “in the Holy Spirit,” just like the other verses. All seven texts speak of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.

So, if you wonder about the timing—who has received it—it’s very plain here: All who are in the true body of Christ have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

When did Jesus baptize the first disciples with the Holy Spirit? Well, on the day we’re remembering today—Pentecost. Jesus told his disciples, “You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” On Pentecost, we read the description: “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly, there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.” That’s the day they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus baptized those first disciples—the early church—on that day of Pentecost. That’s when the church was baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Next question: When does Spirit baptism happen for Christians today? In Peter’s sermon, what did he say? The apostles and the small group of 120 were baptized with the Holy Spirit on that day. But what did Peter say to the crowd of thousands? “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” If you receive forgiveness of sins through Jesus by faith, you will also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Right here, right now.

So, we’re baptized in the Spirit the moment we inwardly repent of our sins and receive forgiveness by faith in Jesus’ blood. Water baptism is the outward sign of forgiveness by Jesus' blood and Spirit baptism. Water, in fact, is often a sign of the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible. Spirit baptism happens when you enter the body of Christ—when you are saved.

Now, some Christians believe that Spirit baptism happens in two distinct stages: First, you get saved, and then you are baptized with the Holy Spirit as a separate experience, often at a later time. Isn’t that exactly what happened with the apostles? They were saved—they had been with Jesus, believed in him after his resurrection—and yet Jesus told them to wait for the gift of God to come upon them. It was a two-step process for those first disciples. That is true. They came to know Jesus and received forgiveness of sins before they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.

But the question is: Is that two-stage experience a pattern for us? Should this always happen in two stages? The short answer is no. Why not? Because this wasn’t just an individual occurrence. It was a shift in the history of the world and salvation history. The apostles lived at a unique time—when Jesus came, died, rose again, and ascended. They came to know him and believe in him as their Savior. Pentecost was the day of the shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. They received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the first day the Holy Spirit baptized the whole church.

After that, God’s people received Spirit baptism simultaneously with salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Wayne Grudem explains it this way: The disciples received a new empowering from the Holy Spirit because they lived during the transition between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Though it was a second experience for them, coming after their conversion, it isn’t meant to be a pattern for us. We’re not living at a time of transition in the work of the Holy Spirit. That was when the shift happened—from the old age to the new age, from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. We now live in the time of the New Covenant, so what came to them in two stages can come to us in fullness all at once.

A closely related question is: Do all Spirit-filled people speak in tongues? Do all Spirit-baptized people speak in tongues? On Pentecost, the disciples spoke in other languages. You also read of people speaking in tongues later in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit came upon them.

The short answer is no—not all Spirit-filled people speak in tongues. First, we need to understand what we mean by speaking in tongues. In one sense, all Christians should be Pentecostal because we are heirs of Pentecost, and the Holy Spirit is needed by all of us. However, there are groups of Christians called Pentecostal or Charismatic who place special emphasis on speaking in tongues.

What Pentecostal Christians mean by speaking in tongues isn’t the same as what happened on Pentecost. On Pentecost, believers were speaking in known languages to communicate with people from different parts of the world who spoke those languages. Many Pentecostal believers today refer to an ecstatic utterance—speaking in a language they don’t understand but which gives great joy or release to their spirit. It’s different from speaking in known languages so others can understand.

In 1 Corinthians 12, which talks about the body of Christ and being baptized in one Spirit, it’s clear that not everyone receives the same gifts. Speaking in tongues was highly prized in Corinth, but Paul is very clear: Not everyone has the same gift. “We are not all prophets. We are not all miracle workers. We are not all tongue-speakers.” He even says, “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you.” Paul isn’t against the gift of tongues—he values it. But he emphasizes that God gives different gifts to different people. Each member of the body of Christ has a unique role, and God’s design is for these gifts to work together, so we depend on one another.

This is a very important consideration—though it's not at the same level as biblical revelation. Many of history’s mightiest Spirit-filled Christians—people who were leaders of great reformations and revivals, and were used to win thousands to Christ—people of great virtue and power, didn’t speak in tongues. Again, that’s not a knock on speaking in tongues; it’s simply a statement that not everyone baptized with the Holy Spirit does so.

Next question: If baptism in the Holy Spirit is not a separate experience from conversion—since you're baptized in the Holy Spirit when you come to faith in Christ—does that mean there’s never a separate experience or something that happens later? Are there ever amazing new experiences of the Holy Spirit after conversion? The short answer is yes. There are indeed amazing, sometimes stunning and remarkable things the Holy Spirit does long after someone is converted.

This is one reason why some people have turned these experiences into a theology that says, “You haven’t really been baptized with the Holy Spirit unless this special thing that happened to me has also happened to you.” That’s incorrect—it creates a misunderstanding about when Spirit baptism occurs. But it is right to recognize those experiences as blessings from the Holy Spirit—significant moments of growth in one’s walk with God, in one’s knowledge of Jesus Christ, in boldness in testimony, and in assurance of the Lord.

A better Bible phrase to describe these experiences is “being filled with the Spirit” rather than “being baptized in the Holy Spirit.” As we've seen, the seven texts about baptism in the Holy Spirit refer to the beginning of the Christian life—becoming part of the body of Christ. However, there are still degrees to how much influence the Holy Spirit has in our lives.

In one sense, if you have the Holy Spirit at all, you have the whole Holy Spirit. He doesn't get divided into pieces. Yet the Spirit’s influence can grow, and how much of you he possesses can change over time. There are times when we grieve the Holy Spirit or quench his influence, especially in areas of our lives we don’t want him to control. The Bible warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit—he is not just a force or power but a person. My earlier comparison to a keyboard without power could be misleading. The Holy Spirit isn’t just something you “plug into.” He works within your personality, as a person who can be grieved.

You can grieve the Spirit by ignoring him or by being unaware that he dwells within you. You grieve him when you knowingly do things that are wrong and contrary to his leading. We can also quench the Spirit, sometimes by wanting to remain in control and avoid seeming too passionate or "out of the ordinary," even when the Spirit is leading us in a particular way. Another way to quench the Spirit is by downplaying or dismissing what the Spirit is doing in someone else’s life—perhaps out of envy or discomfort.

There are amazing new experiences of the Holy Spirit after conversion. Sometimes they are so defining that people look back on them as game-changers in their faith journey. But the Holy Spirit doesn’t always act the same way in every person’s life.

That brings us to our next question: Is the Spirit always spectacular? Does he always come with a sound of a mighty rushing wind and with flames of fire on people’s heads? No. Does he always come with everyone in a gathering speaking in tongues at the same time? No. Does he always show up in ways like those described in some revivals, where everyone is falling to the floor, weeping for their sins, crying out to God for salvation, and where huge portions of society are swept up in the work of God within a few short months? No, he does that sometimes, but not always.

Though we may pray for times of tremendous anointing and filling, both for ourselves and for revival in our churches and in society, we should not despise or overlook the quieter ways in which the Spirit works. For some people, the Spirit may come upon them with such power that they are radically changed in an instant in terms of obedience and power. For others, their growth may be more like a series of ups and downs. Yet, over time, when you look at their lives—the impact they’ve had, the Christlikeness they exhibit—you cannot say that the one who made the quantum leap is vastly superior to the one who grew gradually. And I shouldn't say who did it, because it is the Holy Spirit at work in both cases—whether it happens suddenly or gradually, in fits and starts.

There may be gradual and quiet workings of the Spirit, not just sudden and astonishing ones. And there are moments of instant empowerment too. For example, Stephen stood before his enemies, full of the Holy Spirit, and spoke with boldness and power. Others may grow through steady spiritual disciplines—daily prayer, Scripture reading, and regular time with God. Each day they grow a little in power, in knowledge of God, and in likeness to him. Even those with steady growth will sometimes face situations far beyond their experience or ability, where the Holy Spirit comes upon them in their time of need. In those moments, they receive words and boldness from God that they never had before or could have imagined.

The most spectacular movements of the Spirit often come when we need them the most, not just when we desire a dramatic experience. If you want a spectacular encounter with the Spirit, you might pray for it, but be prepared that it may come at a time of great trial. You may find that the Spirit answers your prayer when the rocks are flying at you, as they did at Stephen. Some of the most powerful moments of the Spirit happen when Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, had to speak boldly before a hostile crowd of thousands. So if you desire a spectacular experience, be ready for the situations that demand it, because God may place you in such a position—and when the need arises, he will supply what you need.

We also should not despise organization. To be honest, I don’t like bureaucracy. I don’t like meetings or organization. But we need order, structure, and ways of doing things. The Spirit works not only through spontaneity but also through what is organized, because the Spirit is a Spirit of order.

We might long for a special vision or encounter with the Spirit, but sometimes we need to immerse ourselves in the pages of Scripture. If you truly want to know God better and hear the Spirit’s voice, spend time in the Word he inspired. The Spirit may give special visions when they are most needed, but his steady way of guiding us is through Scripture. Even as we treasure moments when the Spirit comes upon us with power or reveals God’s love to us in profound ways, we need to be cautious. There is a danger in always looking back to a particular moment—thinking, “That’s the day I was filled with the Holy Spirit, so now I have everything I need.”

The danger lies in believing that these two key moments—salvation and Spirit baptism—are all there is to the Christian life. There can be many fillings of the Holy Spirit throughout our lives. For example, Peter was filled with the Spirit on Pentecost, but he was also filled again on multiple occasions recorded in Acts, when he needed special anointing for specific moments. We need to continually ask the Spirit to be an abiding presence and lifelong influence in our lives, rather than settling for a past experience and saying, “That’s it—I’ve been baptized and filled with the Spirit.”

If you’ve had a tremendous experience of the Spirit, that’s wonderful. But be open to receiving even more. The Spirit may give you future experiences that make your previous ones seem small by comparison, or he may continue to work in you slowly over time. Be ready for both his spectacular and quieter works.

Now, who are you in the Spirit? Sometimes our desire for a greater filling of the Spirit isn’t entirely noble. We may not be satisfied with who we are—and while there is something healthy in that, if it drives us to repent of sin and seek greater power for serving the Lord, it can also be unhealthy. Some of us don’t want to be ordinary. We want to be the hero of the story, not one of the extras. We all want to be like the great revival leaders, preachers, or missionaries we read about.

But the Holy Spirit activates the life of Christ within us as it is meant to be expressed through our unique personality. He doesn't make us into someone else. Yes, we are new creations in Christ, but the new you is still you—the person God designed you to be. The Spirit's goal isn’t to turn you into someone you were never meant to be or to have you do things God hasn’t called you to do.

For example, if you wish you could speak in tongues, that’s fine—if God gives you that gift. Or if you want to preach, that’s great—if God has called you to be a preacher. But maybe your calling is different. The Spirit’s anointing on your life will not transform you into someone you were never intended to be. Instead, the Holy Spirit equips and empowers you for your particular calling and task—not someone else’s.

Don’t spend your time wishing you were someone else. Instead, pray that God will make you the fullest and truest version of yourself in Christ—the person you were designed to be. Treasure what the Holy Spirit is doing in you. As Paul says, if you are an ear in the body of Christ, don’t waste your time wishing you were an eye. Instead, be the best ear you can be.

Next question: What does the Spirit do for us in the New Covenant age? This question could take a very, very long time to answer. I’ll try not to take too long, but I’ve outlined seven categories, each with two or three points. It could easily become a series of 25 sermons or more. I’ll try to move through it quicker than that, but I just want to highlight some of the key things the Bible teaches.

First of all, it’s incredible to realize that God himself comes to dwell in us through the Holy Spirit. What does the Spirit do? While this list won’t be exhaustive, here are some highlights.

The first thing the Spirit does is convict. This might be our least favorite part of the Spirit’s work. Jesus said, “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin, righteousness, and judgment.” The Spirit lets us see how much we need Christ.

What happened on Pentecost when Peter preached? Did the crowd erupt in holy laughter and shout, “Hallelujah, isn’t this fabulous?” No, the Bible says they were cut to the heart and asked, “What must we do?” The Holy Spirit convicted them deeply, cutting to their hearts. Peter’s message was, “This Jesus whom you killed, God raised to life.” That truth, anointed by the Holy Spirit, pierced their hearts.

One of the first things the Spirit does for you is show you that you are a sinner in need of salvation. If the Spirit has not convicted you of your sinfulness and your need for a savior, his work in your life hasn’t truly advanced.

The next thing the Spirit does is give life. He doesn’t only convict you that you are dead in sin; he also brings you to life. Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. You must be born again. What is born of the flesh is flesh, but what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” The Spirit brings new birth—a brand-new, eternal life. This is an abundant life.

The Nicene Creed even refers to the Spirit as “the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.” Everything alive in creation owes its existence to the Spirit, but the life he gives through faith in Jesus is eternal—it never dies.

Another thing the Spirit does is dwell in us. He lives within us. As the Bible says, “Don’t you know that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit?” When the Spirit lives in us, Romans 5 tells us, “The love of God is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” That phrase—“the love of God”—can mean two things. It could mean that when the Spirit fills us, we are filled with love for God. Or it could mean that we are flooded with the realization of how much God loves us. I think it means the latter—that the Spirit pours out the awareness of God’s love. But I wouldn’t want to separate the two, because the Spirit also enables us to love God deeply.

As the Spirit pours out God’s love, he also gives us assurance. Romans 8 is one of the greatest chapters about the Holy Spirit’s work. It says that by the Spirit we cry, “Abba, Father!” We relate to God as children to a father. And the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. If you can call God your Father and Jesus your Savior, that is not just your own spirit speaking—it’s the Holy Spirit stirring within you, giving you the faith to believe and the confidence to call God your Father.

The Spirit also helps us in prayer. Romans 8 continues, saying, “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with wordless groans.” When we are confused, frustrated, or heartbroken—so overwhelmed that we don’t even know how to pray—the Spirit prays for us. When all we can do is groan to God, that is the Holy Spirit interceding, expressing exactly what we need, even though we can’t articulate it ourselves.

The Spirit brings those prayers to the Lord Jesus, who is seated at the Father’s right hand. The Bible says that Jesus “always lives to make intercession for us.” Jesus takes those prayers from the Spirit, perfects them, and presents them to the Father, who knows exactly what we need and answers according to his will.

So, the Spirit’s indwelling gives us love, assurance, and help in prayer. These blessings can come in varying degrees—we might experience more or less of God’s love or have stronger or weaker assurance at different times. But whatever measure of assurance or love we experience, it is the Spirit’s work. We should continually ask the Spirit to increase our awareness of God’s love.

Just as the Spirit descended on Jesus at his baptism and the Father declared, “This is my Son, whom I love,” the same Spirit works in our hearts. He assures us that God says to us, “You are my son; you are my daughter, whom I love.” This is part of the Spirit’s work of indwelling and assurance.

The Spirit also reveals. Jesus said, “He will bring glory to me by taking what is mine and making it known to you.” Jesus told the disciples, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can bear now. But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” This promise applied first and foremost to the disciples. The Spirit would remind them of everything Jesus had taught them and would reveal things to come.

While this teaching ministry of the Spirit applies to us indirectly, its primary fulfillment was through the apostles, who were inspired to write the New Testament. The Spirit’s role is always to point us to Jesus. He doesn’t come just to give us warm feelings or personal experiences—his mission is to glorify Jesus. The great Pentecost sermon, though it speaks about the Spirit’s work, ultimately points to Jesus. That is the Spirit’s purpose.

The Holy Spirit inspired the New Testament as well as the Old. As the apostle Peter wrote, “No prophecy ever came by the prophet’s own interpretation, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” The same Spirit who inspired the Old Testament also guided the apostles as they wrote the New Testament.

The apostles, even though they walked with Jesus for three years, didn’t fully understand everything at the time. But after Jesus ascended, the Spirit reminded them of what Jesus had said and revealed even more. The Spirit’s role was to help them comprehend and communicate the message of the New Covenant.

In summary, the Spirit reveals by pointing us to Jesus, giving us the Scriptures, and enlightening our minds to understand God’s Word.

The Bible says nobody knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God, and so the only way to know God is to have the mind of Christ, to have the Holy Spirit come and live in you. The Spirit reveals Christ, opens up the Bible to us, and guides us on our personal path. You see that many times in the book of Acts, where the Spirit guides people in what they need to do and in specific decisions they must make to advance God’s cause and carry forth his ministry.

In your own life, the Holy Spirit will often act as the Spirit of wisdom, helping you make good decisions without necessarily giving a direct, “This is what you must do” kind of leading. But sometimes, he will give you that personal, unmistakable, “This is what you must do” prompting, leading you toward something specific. When that happens, you need to test it against Scripture, but don’t make light of these powerful promptings. They are part of the Spirit’s way of revealing God’s path for you.

The Spirit also transforms us. “We all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same likeness from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” As the Spirit reveals Jesus to us and we behold more of his glory, that same glory begins to fill our lives. The more we know Jesus, the more we allow the Holy Spirit to take control, the more the glory of God will shine through us.

A powerful picture of this transformation is what happened with Moses when he came down from the mountain. He had spent time in God’s presence, and his face was shining so brightly that people were almost afraid to look at him. Now, we may not glow with literal light like Moses, but the presence of God will still have a transforming effect on us that others can see.

Another way the Bible describes the Spirit’s work is through the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You can try to improve yourself with resolutions, but that will only get you so far. When the Holy Spirit is at work, it’s not just about you trying to be a better person—it’s about the Spirit living in you and growing fruit in your life. Each day, we should ask God to grow that fruit within us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

In a church culture that emphasizes family a lot, I find myself repeating this point. You can read countless books on child-rearing, marriage, or family life, and some of those books may offer good advice—some, not so much. But if the Holy Spirit is truly living in you, and God’s glory is shining through you, and your life and home are characterized by the fruit of the Spirit—by love, joy, peace, patience, and all the rest—you won’t need to rely heavily on books about how to raise children or be a better spouse. Not that practical advice isn’t helpful, but the Spirit’s fruit in your life will address many of those challenges.

Another key effect of the Spirit is power. Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses.” In the Old Testament, the Spirit would sometimes come upon people more as a temporary force than as a personal, ongoing indwelling presence. The Spirit came upon Saul, enabling him to do great things, even though Saul was a flawed and disobedient king. The Spirit also came upon Samson—a man who often lived far from the Lord—but when the Spirit empowered him, Samson accomplished mighty exploits.

In the New Testament, the Spirit’s ministry is much more personal, intimate, and enduring. But that doesn’t mean the Spirit has lost any of his power. He’s no less forceful than before. We see an example of this in the book of Acts when Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, confronted a false prophet and said, “You child of the devil!”—and the man was struck blind. That kind of direct judgment from the Spirit still occurred.

This kind of power isn’t something to take lightly or treat as trivial. There’s a real force to the Spirit’s work, and he empowers us in extraordinary ways for particular needs and occasions. This is why I believe the term “being filled with the Spirit” better captures these moments of special empowerment than “baptism of the Spirit.” These empowerments come when the Spirit fills us to meet specific needs or tasks.

The Spirit also equips us with spiritual gifts. Some of these gifts include preaching, teaching, discerning spirits, encouraging others, and showing mercy with kindness. There are many more gifts I don’t have time to cover today, but every gift needed for the body of Christ is given by the Holy Spirit, who distributes them as he wills.

It’s important to ask yourself: “What are my gifts? What has the Spirit given me to do, and am I using those gifts for God’s glory?” Sometimes, it’s hard for us to recognize our own gifts. Just as we often don’t see our faults clearly—though the people around us do—we also don’t always see our strengths. That’s why it can be helpful to ask others, “What do you think my gifts are?” They may recognize things in us that we don’t see in ourselves.

A final point I want to make is that the Spirit unifies. As 1 Corinthians 12 explains, “We are baptized in one Spirit, and we all drink of the one Spirit.” There’s no room for dividing Christians into categories like, “I’m a Spirit-filled Christian, and those other people over there are carnal Christians.” If someone is entirely carnal—completely dominated by the flesh—they are not a Christian at all. A person without the life and power of the Holy Spirit is not a Christian, period.

That said, among believers, we are all a mixed bag. Some people excel in certain areas but still have a lot of room to grow in others. There are Christians who are very effective and powerful in ministry but still need to grow in Christlike character. Then there are others who have grown tremendously in character but may not be as outwardly effective because they haven’t been given certain gifts—or maybe they have, and they just don’t realize it yet.

Each of us, instead of feeling superior because of a particular experience or gift, should focus on how the Spirit is working in us and what God has called us to do.

 

We are unified by one Spirit, and in the diversity within that unity, we seek to help each other grow to greater fullness. This is the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. It’s the blessing we often use to open a service: “The fellowship (koinonia) of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” This bond grows between people who love the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible also says, “Keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” This unity of the Spirit, joined with peace, is a beautiful gift the Spirit brings us in the New Covenant age.

Some of you have tasted certain aspects of the Spirit’s work in greater fullness, while others have only experienced them as a small trickle so far. As you continue studying the Scriptures and listening to other Spirit-baptized believers, keep seeking growth in the areas where you haven’t yet received as much. Ask the Lord to bind you together with others, to help you learn from each other, and to receive more from the Spirit’s fullness.

How can Spirit-baptized people gain greater fullness? One thing I hope will not result from this message is for anyone to say, “Well, since I’m a Christian, I’ve been baptized with the Holy Spirit, so I don’t need to concern myself with those Pentecostals anymore.” It would be a mistake to think that Spirit-filled believers don’t have anything to offer you. They might have something you don’t—something valuable, even if it’s not accurately labeled as “baptism in the Holy Spirit.”

As I’ve explained, I believe the baptism in the Holy Spirit refers to the gift of the Spirit given when we are saved. But there are many Spirit-filled believers who may have experienced more of the Spirit’s power than you have. So we ought not to assume we’ve already received everything we need. Becoming a Christian gives you what you need to begin the journey, but the rest of your life is a battle to be further freed from sin and a process of growing deeper in the Holy Spirit.

How can this growth happen? Some of the advice I’ll give here overlaps with what a good Pentecostal or second-blessing believer might say about seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Although I don’t use the same label, there’s a reason some of their teaching has had such a wonderful effect, even if some of it is mistaken. If you do the things I’m about to describe, there’s little doubt that something wonderful will happen.

First, marvel at the Holy Spirit. Honor him. Be in awe of the incredible privilege that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Desire that God be glorified in your life, and honor the Holy Spirit by recognizing what an astounding, amazing thing it is that the God of the universe has made his home in you. Rather than ignoring him, honor him.

Next, repent. You might say, “I already repented when I became a Christian.” Yes, but repentance is ongoing. We repented when we were born again, but we need to keep confessing all known sin throughout our lives. We must continually turn away from anything that grieves, quenches, or offends the Holy Spirit. Identify the obstacles to your fellowship with him, confess them, and turn away from them.

Surrender is also essential. Commit every part of yourself—your goals, your desires—to the reign of Jesus Christ. The Spirit is not going to fill you with greater fullness so that you can pursue your own selfish agenda. He’s not going to anoint you so that you can do your thing. You need to surrender every part of yourself, saying, “Lord, if you want to change my goals, that’s fine. I just want to be who you want me to be and do what you want me to do. I yield myself completely to you.”

Then, ask. Jesus said, “If you, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” You might wonder, “Why would I ask for the Holy Spirit if I already have him?” But Jesus was speaking to his disciples when he said this. Asking for the Holy Spirit isn’t just about receiving him for the first time—it’s about continually seeking more of his presence and power in your life. You pray for the Spirit to increase his work in you, to intensify his presence and power.

It’s a mistake to think, “Now that I’ve reached this level, or now that our church has achieved this much, we’re set.” If that’s our mindset, we’re in a sad state. There is so much more room for us to grow, and so much more that could be accomplished in our lives, in our congregation, and in the church at large. Imagine what God could do in our community and our world if we experienced a greater intensification of the Spirit’s presence and power! Imagine what could happen if we entered a season of revival.

We should be grateful for what the Spirit has already done, but to taste even a little of his work should lead us to pray for more. We ask for more of his blessing, more of his work, more of his presence, and more of his benefits. Let’s do that right now.

Prayer

Dear Lord, we honor you for the marvelous gift you have given us—the Holy Spirit, sent by our Lord Jesus Christ to abide in us. We pray that each day the glory of the Lord will be revealed to us more and more, and that it will shine through us. Help us to recognize the things that hinder our walk with you—the sins that still get in the way of our obedience—and we confess them to you now, Lord. Show us what they are, and give us open hearts to listen to those who love us and sometimes rebuke us. Help us to let go of anything that offends or grieves you.

Lord, we surrender our lives to you. Take us and use us as you will. We offer every part of who we are, along with our goals and plans. If you want to change them, that’s fine. We just want to be aligned with your will. Lord, having given us your Holy Spirit, having given us your Son and not withheld anything from us, we now ask for more. Help us to enter more fully into the blessings of what Christ has done for us. May we experience greater and greater fullness of the Holy Spirit.

We pray that the Spirit will strengthen us, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. Help us to grasp how wide, how long, how high, and how deep the love of Christ is—a love that surpasses knowledge. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts, and give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Let your Spirit shine more and more within us, and through us into the world.

Thank you, Lord, for what you have already done. We praise you for the mystery of your Spirit’s work. And where these words today can bring clarity and helpfulness, we ask that they would take root in our hearts. Where they were mistaken, take them away. And Lord, where your Spirit is going to move in ways far beyond what we’ve spoken of here today, we welcome that. We pray for the mystery and might of your rushing wind in our lives and in our church. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.