The Holy Spirit Baptizes You in His Power and Love

“You will receive power,” Jesus explained in Acts 1:8, “when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses.”

Theologians have hotly debated the meaning of that straightforward statement for centuries! Still, let’s look at two pressing questions about Holy Spirit baptism in the space we have today.

1. How is baptism with the Spirit different from being filled with the Spirit?

Baptism with the Holy Spirit is about the power and testimony of Jesus (Acts 1:8). In this respect, it’s always an event, an elevated moment in time with a beginning, middle, and end. Demonstrating observable activity of God in a particular time and place, it falls into the category of “God’s manifest presence” on display.

Being filled with the Spirit is similar, yet a noticeably different experience, because it’s a continuous, sanctifying, invisible presence of the Holy Spirit rather than a single, definable event. This filling has a beginning (at the moment of becoming a Christian), but no end. It is the steady, active presence of God with us to the end of our days.

2. What are the characteristics of Holy Spirit baptism?

Other than supernatural empowerment and testimony of Jesus, the Bible doesn’t define one universally-prescribed experience for baptism in the Holy Spirit. However, here’s what happened when the Holy Spirit’s baptism took place in the book of Acts:

Acts 2:1–14

• Rushing wind (v. 2)
• Fire (that doesn’t burn) rests on people’s heads (v. 3)
• Speaking about Jesus in foreign tongues (v. 4)
• Gathering of a crowd (vv. 5–6)
• Similarities to drunkenness (undefined) (v. 13)
• Bold testimony about Jesus (v. 14)

Acts 4:31

• Earthquake-style shaking
• Bold testimony about Jesus

Acts 6:15, 7:55–56

• Physical appearance changed (v. 15)
• Heightened perception of the spiritual realm (v. 56)
• Bold testimony about Jesus (vv. 55–56)

Acts 8:14–25

• Bold testimony about Jesus (a rebuke and call to repentance) (vv. 20–23)
• No indication of anything else besides “they received the Holy Spirit’ (v. 17)
• Some kind of noticeable feature that Simon the Sorcerer wanted (vv. 18–19)

Acts 10:44–48

• Speaking about Jesus in foreign tongues (v. 46)
• Fervent praise to God (v. 46)
• Water baptism (vv. 47–48)

Acts 19:1–7

• Water baptism (v. 5)
• Speaking about Jesus in foreign tongues (v. 6)
• Prophesying (bold testimony about Jesus) (v. 6)

All right, there’s more to be said, but that’s all we have time for today!