How people received from the beginning

Today we will read about the early Christians and their experiences of the Holy Spirit. We will take a look at people in the New Testament, to see how they were filled with a new vitality and power, through the Holy Spirit. When you are studying how these believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and power, you must constantly remind yourself that Jesus Christ will do the same for you.

Examples from the New Testament

1. The disciples on the Day of Pentecost.

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5)

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4)

2. Those who heard the gospel in Cornelius’ house.

“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?” (Acts 11:15-17)

3. The church in Corinth.

For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Cor.12:13)

The church in Corinth was known for all the gifts of the Spirit functioning among them, especially the place which speaking in tongues had in their meetings. (See 1 Cor.1:7; 14:1-25,39)

4. The new converts in Samaria.

When they arrived they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:15-17)

5. The newly baptised disciples in Ephesus.

When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:6)

Through these different examples we can see that baptism in the Holy Spirit is described as:

the gift the Father had promised

to be filled with the Spirit

to speak with other tongues

the Holy Spirit being poured out

the Holy Spirit coming upon them

they received the Holy Spirit

God gave them the Spirit

they drank of Him

they spoke in tongues and functioned in spiritual gifts

Exercise:

Go through the above list of expressions used to describe what happened when people are baptised in the Holy Spirit. Try to explain these expressions to be able to explain what the baptism in the Holy Spirit is all about.

Jesus Christ is the same today. What he did for the first Christians he will also do for you! He gives you a gift: the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is poured out and comes upon you, you receive and drink so that you are filled and overflow with praise, and you speak in tongues and with other words from God.

Exercise:

Continue to memorise the previous Scripture verses and add this new one:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)