Baptism in the Holy Spirit How to Receive Part 3 of 5

©Lightwritingmatters 2015

Theme  ^“Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” – John 3:5

Catching Up on the discussion:

If you haven’t checked them out yet, before you read this article please review Part One of this series: https://lightwritingmatters.blogspot.com/2019/04/water-baptism-why-how-part-1.html

And, Part Two of this series: https://lightwritingmatters.blogspot.com/2019/04/holy-spirit-baptism-why-and-how-part-2.html

How to receive the Holy Spirit Part 3

How does one receive the Holy Spirit? – 2 ways to receive the Holy Spirit = #1 below [Matt 28:19] and by the laying on of hands of a Spirit filled believer

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 In article 1, we established this reality: Christians should be baptized. At baptism, when one is baptized it is in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also expressly stated the Christian is to be born of water and spirit. While there are disparate opinions on the ‘born of water’ statement, the fact is, Jesus himself was baptized by his cousin, John, in the Jordan river and was fully immersed. He rose out of the water and immediately received the Holy Spirit via the symbol of a dove descending on him and his FATHER in Heaven spoke in recognition of HIS son. So, water is a given -- whether or not it is directly what Jesus meant to Nicodemus in the words above.

In article 2 we discussed the Holy Spirit baptism. Again, there is a plethora of information on being baptized, filled, anointed, etc., with the Holy Spirit but the fact remains in the words of Jesus above we must be ‘born of the Spirit’ too. This happens primarily just as it did with Jesus, at the time of baptism. We likely will not see a dove descend upon us or literally hear approval by GOD but nonetheless we are baptized in the Spirit.

Continuing the discussion now: Part 3 explores the two ways that are mentioned in the Bible of being ‘filled’ with the Holy Spirit.

Let’s consider the following:

 Jesus gives the great Christian commission at Matthew 28:19

1.      Matt 28: 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

Before Jesus gave the great commission, he granted receipt of the Holy Spirit upon some. [See #2 below] However, remember, he also instructed his disciples to remain in Jerusalem [after his ascension to Heaven] for Pentecost because it is then the Holy Spirit would be sent to them and from then on become the close personal representation to each believing Christian of Jesus Christ and the things he taught while he walked the earth.

2.     John 20:21-22 ^“21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

The following scriptures are references that are crucial for the Christian to firm up their faith and understanding of the role of their Christian faith.

3.     Rom 8:9-12 “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of^[e] his Spirit who lives in you.”

4.    1 Cor 3:16 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”

5.     1 Cor 12:13 “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

6.    Eph 1:13-14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

7.     Eph 5:18b-19a “Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.”

Laying of hands 

What is the laying on of hands? Please look up the scriptures below and read the context. There are unique circumstances for which some received the Holy Spirit. Those in #1 below, were new believers who’d only been baptized in the name of Jesus. The apostles placed their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 

In #2 below, it was Paul, who’d met Jesus while traveling to Damascus and he was instructed by Jesus to go to a certain place and see a certain man who would then pray over him and he’d be filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Is it something that might happen in today’s world? Yes, possibly. If someone was called but did not get baptized properly, or at all, thus they may be prayed over by a believer and be filled with the Holy Spirit. There are very remote areas of the world to which the Gospel has been preached, seeds planted in the commission of that work, fruitage brought forth from those seeds not in the traditional way but could lead to the need for the laying on of hands.

1.      Acts 8:17 “Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

2.     Acts 9:17 “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

In conclusion:

 There is an abundance of information that a person who becomes a believer, however the circumstances of his calling, needs at some point to be baptized. If Jesus, who was perfect, felt it correct to be water baptized, then of course, those who follow Jesus must emulate HIS example. There may be circumstances when a person is called, believes and knows he will never perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16] At the first opportunity they should be baptized so that they may receive a clean conscience and Holy Spirit.  †

©Lightwritingmatters 2015

 Bibles Designations

KJV – King James Version

NIV – New International Version

NWT – New World Translation

ASV -- American Standard Version

 DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author of every post published. It is assumed that research by the reader will lead the reader to their own conclusions. It is not the writer’s intent to make a judgment of anyone but to allow GOD’s Word to do what it does. “For the word of GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from GOD’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:12 [NIV]

©Lightwritingmatters 2015