Baptism of the Holy Spirit

    We believe in the promise of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit according to John the Baptist in Matthew 3:11, “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire”, and Jesus in Acts 1:5, “Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” In Acts 2:4 Luke writes that the promise was first received on the Day of Pentecost, “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

    The terms “baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire,” “filled with the Holy Spirit,” and the “gift of the Holy Ghost” have the same meaning and are used interchangeably in the Bible.

    It is scriptural to expect all who receive the gift, filling, or baptism of the Holy Spirit to receive the same physical, initial sign, or evidence, of speaking with other tongues.

    The speaking with other tongues, as recorded in Acts 2:4, 10:46, and 19:6, and the gift of tongues, as explained in 1 Corinthians, chapters 12 and 14, are the same in essence, but different in use and purpose.

    It is important to note that those who are filled with the Spirit will bear the fruit of the Spirit as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23.

    Through the prophet Joel the Lord said, “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh” (Joel 2:28).

    Peter, in explaining this phenomenal experience, said “ Having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he [Jesus] hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear” (Acts 2:33).

    Further, “the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39).