Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Part 1
In this lesson, we are going to talk about a very great blessing that began for the church in Acts chapter 2. This chapter talks about the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the early church. On this day, the disciples were filled and baptized in the Holy Spirit. And it was the fulfillment of the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Look at what he said in John 16:7, “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (NIV) The Comforter is the Holy Spirit. Then, when Christ ascended into heaven, he sent the Spirit with power, and even 2,000 years later the Spirit continues to move throughout the world.
Look at what happened in Acts 2, on this day of Pentecost. Acts 2:1-4, “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.” (NIV) All 120
people were filled with the Holy Spirit. What an experience! They heard a wind, and then it said they saw tongues of fire that came upon them all, and they were filled with the Spirit and began to speak in tongues.
They were all profoundly changed, as another promise of Christ says in Acts 1:8, “But when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will receive power and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV) On that day, they all received this power and began to reach people for Christ and to perform miracles in the name of the Lord everywhere.
It is interesting to know what happened when others received the Holy Spirit after Acts 2. Look at Acts 10 when the first Gentiles were saved and filled with the Spirit. And students of Bible history think that there were about 7 or 8 years between Acts 2 and 10. Acts 10:45-46, “The Jewish believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.” (NIV), It says that just as in Acts 2, they also spoke in tongues. And look at another case in Ephesians 19:6, Paul arrived in Ephesus on his third missionary journey and prayed that some would receive the Spirit, it says, “When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and prophesy.” (NIV) And this was about 24 or 25 years after Acts 2. So many years later, people still spoke in tongues when they received the Spirit.
How beautiful that now in 2026, people still speak in tongues when they receive the Holy Spirit. And this is something supernatural, when the Spirit gives us this ability, which is a blessing and a great help to the believer. It is as Christ said in John 7:37-38, “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within him.” (NIV) This living water is the Holy Spirit flowing in and through us. Some say that this only happened in the first century in the early church. But the Bible does not say this, and honestly, it is happening all over the world today when people hunger and thirst for more of God and for this special touch.
If you want to receive this blessing, you can. You just need to ask for it and receive it by faith. That is what God wants for your life. Look at what Acts 2:38-39 says. Peter ends his message by encouraging people to turn to Christ and receive this filling of the Spirit, saying, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,” Peter replied, “and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (NIV) So when we receive Christ, the Spirit enters our lives, and then when we ask for this baptism, the Spirit fills us, and it is like the rivers of living water that Christ mentioned in John 7, and the first evidence that we have received it is this ability to speak in tongues.
There are other signs as well: more power to evangelize, more victory over the flesh and sin, more love and peace and freedom, and you can see miracles such as healings. It is a great blessing for everyone that every Christian can receive if they want to. In the next message, we will talk about some keys to receiving it and some hindrances as well. Without a doubt, God loves you and has this great blessing for your life.