Frequently Asked Questions about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Question: Should I expect some supernatural manifestation like tongues of fire, the voice of God, ecstatic feelings or special manifestation when I receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Answer: It is not necessary to experience some special sensation when receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The miracle takes place through faith in God’s word. His word supplies the tangible manifestation that gives the assurance of the baptism of grace.

Question: Can I tell whether or not I have received the Holy Spirit by the way I feel?

Answer:

“I have frequently seen that the children of the Lord neglect prayer, especially secret prayer, altogether too much; that many do not exercise that faith which it is their privilege and duty to exercise, often waiting for that feeling which faith alone can bring. Feeling is not faith; the two are distinct. Faith is ours to exercise, but joyful feeling and the blessing are God’s to give. The grace of God comes to the soul through the channel of living faith, and that faith it is in our power to exercise” (CET 126).

“True faith lays hold of and claims the promised blessing before it is realized and felt. We must send up our petitions in faith within the second veil, and let our faith take hold of the promised blessing, and claim it as ours. We are then to believe that we receive the blessing, because our faith has hold of it, and according to the word it is ours. ‘What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’ Mark 11:24. Here is faith, naked faith, to believe that we receive the blessing, even before we realize it. When the promised blessing is realized and enjoyed, faith is swallowed up. But many suppose they have much faith when sharing largely of the Holy Spirit, and that they cannot have faith unless they feel the power of the Spirit. Such confound faith with the blessing that comes through faith” (CET 126.2).

“The very time to exercise faith is when we feel destitute of the Spirit. When thick clouds of darkness seem to hover over the mind, then is the time to let living faith pierce the darkness and scatter the clouds” (CET 126.3).

“True faith rests on the promises contained in the word of God, and those only who obey that word can claim its glorious promises. ‘If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.’ John 15:7. ‘Whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.’ 1 John 3:22″ (CET 126.4).

“We should be much in secret prayer. Christ is the vine, we are the branches. And if we would grow and flourish, we must continually draw sap and nourishment from the Living Vine; for separated from the Vine, we have no strength” (CET 127.1).

“I asked the angel why there was no more faith and power in Israel. He said: ‘Ye let go of the arm of the Lord too soon. Press your petitions to the throne, and hold on by strong faith. The promises are sure. Believe ye receive the things ye ask for, and ye shall have them.’ I was then pointed to Elijah. He was subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly. His faith endured the trial. Seven times he prayed before the Lord, and at last the cloud was seen” (CET 127.2).

“I saw that we had doubted the sure promises, and wounded the Saviour by our lack of faith. Said the angel, “Gird the armor about thee, and above all take the shield of faith; for that will guard the heart, the very life, from the fiery darts of the wicked.” If the enemy can lead the desponding to take their eyes off from Jesus, and look to themselves, and dwell upon their own unworthiness, instead of dwelling upon the worthiness of Jesus, His love, His merits, and His great mercy, he will get away their shield of faith, and gain his object; they will be exposed to his fiery temptations. The weak should therefore look to Jesus, and believe in Him; they then exercise faith” (CET 127.3).

Question: I’ve often wondered how it works to be baptized by the Holy Spirit and what is supposed to happen next. Does it mean I know everything to say and that I will act just like Jesus in every situation? Will I be able to sense a voice telling me where to go next and what to do? Will I read people’s minds like the Bible says Jesus did?

Answer: The Bible tells what will happen when we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit (see previous posts). The Holy Spirit will prompt our words to speak a word in season to the one who is weary if we ask Him and remain observant. The Holy Spirit will abide in us and manifest the character of Christ through us. The Holy Spirit will guide us by means of inspired words. Some who receive the Holy Spirit have the gift of discernment that enables assessment of genuine Christian experience.

Question: Does the Holy Spirit empower us so that we need to do absolutely nothing to gain the victory over sin?

Answer: Romans 8:12 says that we put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. The Spirit accomplishes what we cannot do in our own strength. The Spirit operates in us to do this work when we received the Spirit by adoption (Romans 8:15,16). Our part is to ask for the mind of Christ and believe we receive. Sometimes we struggle to ask and believe.

Question: Will I speak in tongues when I receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Answer: Speaking tongues in a known language for the purpose of sharing the Gospel, is a gift of the Spirit, not the means of receiving the Holy Spirit. Jesus received a baptism of the Holy Spirit and there is no record that He spoke in unknown tongues. The Apostle Paul says: “But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching” (I Cor. 14:6)?

Question: What about laying on hands to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Answer: Laying on hands to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit is biblical, however there are cautions. One should avoid thinking that there is power in the act itself or in the one who lays on hands. In times past there were those who fell into the trap of seeing some supernatural power in the act itself. There are Biblical accounts of those receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit without laying on of hands.

I have participated in the laying on of hands, however, I prefer to do so within a small group where all hands are placed on the one requesting it.

Question: I have believed in the Holy Spirit all my life. I believe I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at water baptism. Why should I pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit when I already have the Holy Spirit?

Answer: “From the day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service” (AA, 49).

“Whenever minor matters occupy the attention, the divine power which is necessary for the growth and prosperity of the church, and which would bring all other blessings in its train, is lacking, though offered in infinite plenitude” (AA, 50).

“Since this is the means by which we are to receive power, why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, and preach concerning it? The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who serve Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children.

For the daily baptism of the Spirit, every worker should offer his petition to God. Companies of Christian workers should gather to ask for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that they may know how to plan and execute wisely” (AA, 50).

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