Walking with God--The Holy Spirit's Empowerment

Jesus had an experience with the Holy Spirit we need to investigate.  His baptism by water and the Holy Spirit appear to be simultaneous (Luke 3:21,22).  “Then being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil”(Luke 4:1,2).  Afterwards, He returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee (Luke 4:14).  Was there any event more notable than this in Jesus’ life?  I suspect not, inasmuch as this provided the equipping to face all He must the rest of His life and doubtless perfected understandings of Who He was.  Here, it simply needs to be pointed out this was an event.  Others experienced a similar event.

For the Disciples and others in the “Upper Room” awaiting the “Gift of the Father” which came on the annual celebration of Pentecost, the equipping, anointing and empowering of the Holy Spirit was an event (Acts 2:1-4).  

For Saul, the fiercest persecutor of the early “followers of the Way”, having been struck blind after an encounter with the risen Lord, at the hands of Ananias received his sight and was filled with the Holy Spirit—at once.  This was an event (Acts 9:17,18).

For Cornelius, and those gathered  into his household to receive the Apostle Peter, distinguished for being the first gentile converts to “followers of the Way”, was both “converted” and “fallen upon by the Holy Spirit” (acts 10:44) at the same time.  This was an event.

For some disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus, they learned of the need for the Holy Spirit another way.  Paul was visiting them and put a question to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2) They replied, “No, in fact they had not.”  Moreover they said, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2b).  With additional instruction by Paul they were baptized then he “laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:6).  This was an event.

The first four events were foundational, either charting a “new” course, or, in Paul’s case, equipping him to chart a new course.  The fifth event is for the benefit of all those today who wish to be followers of Jesus and receive the equipping to do so.

Jesus clearly spoke of these events as being “baptized with the Holy Spirit” and that it would happen shortly after His ascension (His case excepted).  He put it this way, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

The “baptism of the Holy Spirit” supplies power for the overcoming Christian life and overcoming all the works of the enemy of mankind.  Is it not ironic that much of institutional Christianity sets itself against this event as though it were of the devil?  When, in reality, this is the greatest power the individual and the church possesses to dislodge the devil from his various strongholds.

With what baptism have you been baptized?  If you are trusting in Christ as your personal Savior, you have a measure of the Spirit.  But do you have the Power of the Holy Spirit?  If not, ask God to give it to you and don’t be afraid to “speak or pray in tongues” that’s part of the package.