The subject of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is very controversial in the religious world. We have many so-called churches today that are referred to as "charismatic churches". They teach that saved people can get the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and in fact, many teach it is necessary to complete your salvation. These teachings are totally contrary to what the Bible teaches.
    The Holy Spirit is probably the least understood person of the trinity. He is distinct, divine, and eternal. He has a vital and personal function in working with mankind, by and through the Word of God, to bring about God’s will in the lives of men, women, and children.

    In the Old Testament the people of God were led by the Spirit and filled with the Spirit, but they were never baptized by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit baptism was reserved for the church that Jesus established during His personal ministry. John the Baptist prophesied of this event in Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" Thus, we see that Holy Spirit baptism is a New Testament event.

    Acts 2:1-4 "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." It is important to notice, the church was baptized not particular individuals but the whole church. You will never find in the Bible where an individual was baptized with the Holy Spirit. The church in Jerusalem was baptized and the first Gentile church of Cornelius and his house received the same gifts as the church at Jerusalem when God opened the door for Gentiles in His church.
    When the church was baptized, the Holy Spirit completely engulfed and immersed the church in His power. He became the comforter to the church that Jesus had promised would come during His personal ministry. The baptism equipped and empowered His church to complete the mission God had laid out for them, Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." and Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
    The baptism of the Holy Spirit brought the gift of the Holy Spirit, Himself, to dwell in the midst of His church. Act 1:4-5 "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." The gift of the Holy Spirit was the promise of the Father. Subsequently, all New Testament churches have the gift of the Holy Spirit, Himself, dwelling in their midst. Even though all saved people have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, only those in a New Testament Church have the power of the Holy Spirit as the comforter working collectively with them as the guide of the church.

The Church Received The Unction Of The Holy Spirit

    Unction means anointing. In the Old Testament, Prophets, Priest, and Kings were anointed for special service. In the New Testament the church is referred to as a royal priesthood, a kingdom of priests 1 Peter 2:5, 9 5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" also in Revelation 1:6 "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" Because God has set His church apart as kings and priests we are given special knowledge to do our job.
    1 John 2:20-21 "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth." The reason we understand the scriptures better in the church is because the Holy Spirit teaches us. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth and said the world could not receive Him, John 14:16-17 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." As one of the Lord’s churches we are fortunate to have the greatest teacher of the Bible, He leads us into all truth. Verse twenty-six of this same chapter says "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

    The word comforter comes from the Greek word "Parakletos", which means one called alongside to help. While Jesus was on the earth He was present to help His disciples. He constantly taught them, guided them, strengthened and comforted them. When it was time for Him to die and go back to heaven He told them that He would send the Holy Spirit to them to do the same thing He had done for them while He was present. John 16:7-11 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." Jesus in His physical body could only be in one place at one time. The Holy Spirit could be in all His true churches at the same time.
     Thus far we have learned that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit doesn’t happen to individuals but happened one time to the church on the day of Pentecost. Because the church received the Holy Spirit it made it possible for all churches today that have the lineage back to the first church that received it, to have the indwelling of the Spirit today. It becomes very evident why it is so important to be in a scriptural Baptist Church.
   The so called churches that say individuals can, and need to get the baptism today, are wrong. The scriptures say that their doctrine is wrong and they are deceiving people. It is important for us to be able to show them the error of their way.

                                                                         Three Manifestations Of The Holy Spirit

    On the day of Pentecost there were three manifestations of the Holy Spirit: the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the filling of the Holy Spirit, and speaking in tongues (other languages). In understanding the scriptures it is important not to confuse these three manifestations of the Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was a one time event. It was never again repeated. There was no need for the baptism to be repeated since it brought the gift of the Spirit Himself, to abide in His churches forever.
    The filling of the Spirit, on the other hand, is an ongoing experience. Ephesians 5:18-20 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" Faithful ones are filled with the Holy Spirit when the proper condition is met, and the need arises to accomplish a particular task for God, such as preaching ,teaching, witnessing, testifying, etc.
   Faithful ones of the Old Testament were also filled with the Holy Spirit when the proper conditions were met, and the need arose. Zacharias, an Old Testament priest and father of John the Baptist, was filled with the Spirit and prophesied. Luke 1:67-68 "And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people," Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother, was filled with the Spirit and testified, Luke 1:41-42 "And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."
   The third manifestation of the Holy Spirit that came on the day Pentecost was speaking in tongues (other languages). This was a gift from the Holy Spirit. This gift was given for a very important and specific purpose which will be dealt with in the lesson on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The main thing to realize is that the gift of speaking in tongues was different from the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Many of these churches, that are claiming you can get the Baptism of the Holy Spirit today equate speaking in tongues as the same thing as the baptism.
   When we realize three things took place on Pentecost in regard to the Holy Spirit we get a better understanding about the Holy Spirit’s work.

    What is so special about being a church that can show its existence back to Jesus? Many in the religious world says it doesn’t make any difference if you can show an unbroken history back to the church Jesus built during His ministry. When we see that Jesus gave His church special power by Baptizing her with the Holy Spirit, we then see why being in a church with the right history is so important. Matthew 3:11 says, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" John realized what a special event would take place when the church would be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

    Jesus told His church that they would get special power when the baptism took place. Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." The word for power comes from the Greek word "dunamas". Dunamis means dynamic power and might. It is the same word that we get the English word dynamite from. It is an explosive kind of power. God has given His church a power that cannot be matched by man. This power is only available in His church. If any of His children choose to not be part of the church they make a decision to be without His dynamite power. The greatest power in the world today is seen as the Holy Spirit works in and through the New Testament Baptist churches, changing the hearts, character, and lives of those yielding to Him, conforming them to the image of His Son. Ephesians 1:19 "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power," Wow! what an opportunity. Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

    Many in the religious world fail to please God because of their doctrinal error. They misunderstand the doctrines because they fail to see the importance of the church. They do not understand that you cannot be a church of the Lord without the authority that has successively been passed by the Holy Spirit down through the ages. Today, only true Baptist churches have the ability to prove an unbroken historical chain and practice of the doctrines first delivered by our Lord Jesus Christ. For more information on this subject be sure to read the article, "Gifts of the Holy Spirit".