THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

   I.  The term is NOT found in the Old Testament.

  II.  The first New Testament usage is when John the Baptist promised
that Jesus would come and baptize individuals with the Holy Spirit
(Matt. 3:11).

 III.  Just before His ascension, Jesus promised the apostles that they
would be baptized in the HS in just a few days (Acts 1:5).

  IV.  Just ten days later the twelve apostles were baptized in the
Spirit and the evidence was that they began speaking in languages which
men understood (Acts 2:1-8).

    V.  The next mention of the term is in connection with Cornelius and
those in his household.  They received exactly what the apostles
received in Acts 2.  The details of the coming of the Spirit on
Cornelius and his household are found in Acts 10.  When the Spirit came
they knew that the Spirit had been given to the Gentiles '...FOR THEY
HEARD THEM SPEAK WITH TONGUES AND MAGNIFY GOD..." (Acts 10:44,45).  Note
that the evidence was again speaking with tongues.  In the next chapter
Peter said that God gave the Gentiles "the same gift" (the Greek says
the identical gift---Acts 11:15,16).  So God baptized both the Jews
(Acts 2) and the Gentiles (Acts 10) in the Holy Spirit and both times
the evidence was speaking in tongues which men could understand for in
both of these examples where the term is used the audience could
understand that they were magnifying God (See Acts 2:11 & Acts 10:46).

   VI.  Many today have confused the understanding and have sought to
convince that speaking in tongues is evidence of H.S. baptism and that 
one can be baptized in the H.S. without ever speaking in tongues that men  
understand. This is one of the main differences between what men claim 
today as the baptism of the Holy Spirit and what is described in Bible.  
Keep this in mind as you study the Bible.  The only way to know truth is 
to find it in the Bible---not to seek truth from what men are saying and 
then try to make that fit the Bible.

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    The "gift of the Holy Spirit" was promised in Acts chapter two to the 
individuals who would repent and be baptized, how then did they receive 
this which the apostles received?   --consider this:

    The Holy Spirit was given to the apostles, and the Holy Spirit was 
given to those who obeyed.  However, there were some differences.

    The apostles received the Holy Spirit by being baptized in the Holy
Spirit (Acts 1:4,5).  When used literally the word "baptized" means to
immerse, to submerge" in whatever element is in view (for example
baptized in water, baptized in fire, etc).  The word is also used
figuratively and indicates to be overwhelmed.  (You may can see this
usage, as when one is baptized in water he is overwhelmed by it).  Thus
on the day of Pentecost the H.S. can upon the apostles and overwhelmed
them so that they HAD TO SPEAK in tongues.  In I Corinthians we read of
some who could speak in tongues but THEY, not the Holy Spirit,
determined whether they would speak.  In the second passage they were
not overwhelmed.  (See I Cor. 14:27-34 to see that the individuals in
this passage were in control of whether or not they spoke in tongues).
This is one major difference between the two descriptions of individuals
who had received the Holy Spirit.  The Bible never describes those who
received the H.S. in I Cor. 14 as having been baptized by the Spirit.

     The question then comes, "If they were not baptized by the Holy
Spirit, then how did they receive Him?"  The answer is found in Acts
8:13-19.  The apostles could were God's channel though which those who
were Christians received the "gift of the Holy Spirit."  Look at these
verses carefully.  Verse 14 says the apostles were sent to Samaria in
order that the Samaritans might receive the Spirit.  The apostles came
down and laid hands on these believers and "they received the Spirit."
Verse 18 says that Simon saw that it was through "the laying on of the
apostles hands" that the Spirit was given.

     This is one of the main difference between what the apostles
received, and what those individuals received when the apostles laid
hands on them.  When the hands of an apostle were laid on individuals
the reception of the Spirit was manifested in various ways.  Read I
Corinthians 12:1-11 carefully.  The same Spirit was given to all, but
the manifestation of Him differed between individuals.  Some received
the Spirit and this was manifested in Divine wisdom, another received
Divine knowledge, another ability to perform miracles, another to heal,
another to speak in tongues, another to interpret these tongues, etc.
These gifts of the Spirit was that which was promised to those who
obeyed in Acts 2.

     As to their continuation into the present day---well that's another
question.  However consider this.  If these gifts came from the laying
on of the apostles hands and there are no apostles today.....