Overcoming Bad Habits and Addictions — Part 12
When you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you receive power to do what you could not do before and to be what you could not be before. The difference was clearly seen in the lives of the apostles of Jesus in the Bible before and after they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Peter, who had cowered in fear when Jesus was on trial and even denied knowing Jesus, suddenly became a fearless man of boldness after receiving the Holy Spirit baptism. He began to openly proclaim the truth of Jesus to the same people who were responsible for condemning Jesus to death just a few days earlier!
“While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees.*** These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. ***They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.
The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,
‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”—Acts 4:1-13 (NLT)
After receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Philip preached the gospel in Samaria with miraculous power that was so great that it eclipsed the power of sorcery there.
“A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great.*** Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as ‘the Great One—the Power of God.’ ***They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.
But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.”—Acts 8:9-13 (NLT)
Stephen also received great power after being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
“Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.”—Acts 6:8 (NLT)
Paul the Apostle received power to face suffering and death and to complete his purpose in life. Many disciples of Jesus received power to do things that they had not been able to do before they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
“After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.”—Acts 4:31 (NLT)
Even Jesus received the Holy Spirit baptism! He was baptized in the Holy Spirit at the same time that He was baptized in water by John the Baptist. It was necessary even for Jesus Himself to receive great power from the Holy Spirit to fulfill his purpose in life as a model for us.
“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth*** with the Holy Spirit and with great power;**** and He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.”—Acts 10:38 (AMP)*
If it was necessary for Jesus to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit in order to complete His purpose in life, how much more do you need it to overcome bad habits and fulfill your purpose?
It Is Promised to You!
From the time of John the Baptist, the baptism of the Holy Spirit has been promised to all believers. All we have to do now is believe and receive it!
John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.*** ***I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”—Mark 1:7-8 (NLT)
Peter made it clear that this promise was not just for a select few and a limited time. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all believers at all times and in all places!
“Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’
“Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.*** This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.’***”—Acts 2:37-39 (NLT)
Everything that was given to the disciples of the early church in the Bible is available to us and to our children today!
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”—Deuteronomy 29:29 (NKJV)
It Is a Separate Experience
After Jesus rose from the dead, He commissioned His disciples and imparted the Holy Spirit to them.
“Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives]. ‘And when He said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”—John 20:21-22 (AMP)
But that experience was not sufficient to give the disciples the power they would need to be His witnesses in the Earth. Because of this, Jesus commanded his disciples not to go anywhere until they had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, giving them the power they would need to fulfill their life purposes.
“One time when Jesus was eating with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, ‘Wait here until you receive what the Father promised to send. Remember, I told you about it before. John baptized people with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”—Acts 1:4-5 (ERV)
“But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.”—Acts 1:8 (AMPC)
After waiting ten days, the disciples received the power that Jesus had promised them with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”—Acts 2:1-4 (NLT)
Sometimes, believers receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the time of their salvation, like the household of Cornelius in Acts 10:44-47 and Acts 11:15-16, but many times, believers experience this separately like the believers in Ephesus that Paul encountered:
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road to Ephesus. When he arrived, he found some believers there. He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”
“No,” they answered. “We haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
Paul said, “John baptized people, calling them to turn away from their sins. He told them to believe in the one who was coming after him. Jesus is that one.”*** ***After hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul placed his hands on them. Then the Holy Spirit came on them. They spoke in languages they had not known before. They also prophesied.—Acts 19:1-6 (NIRV)
How You Can Experience the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is something that you receive from God by faith, just like salvation. It often helps to have leaders who are filled with the Holy Spirit lay their hands on you. This is how Paul the Apostle received the Holy Spirit baptism:
*“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. ****Placing his hands on Saul, ****he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again ****and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ ***Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized”—Acts 9:17-18 (NIV)
Later, Paul was able to lay his hands on others and impart to them the gifts that he had received from God in the same way:
“That is why I want you to remember the gift God gave you.*** God gave you that gift when I laid my hands on you.**** Now I want you to use that gift and let it grow more and more, like a small flame grows into a fire. The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. ****His Spirit is a source of power ***and love and self-control.—2 Timothy 1:6-7 (ERV)
Laying hands on people in order to impart the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a fundamental principle of the doctrine of Christ (Hebrews 6:2). This was the accepted practice of the first apostles, and it is still the preferred practice today among Spirit-filled believers.
“When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”—Acts 8:14-17 (NIV)
“Simon saw that the Spirit was given to people when the apostles laid their hands on them.”—Acts 8:18 (ERV)
To receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it is best to request that respected, Spirit-filled leaders lay their hands on you and impart the Holy Spirit to you, but you can also receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit by faith, without anyone touching you. This is what happened to Cornelius’ household in Acts 10:44-47. The main thing that you need to do to receive this precious gift from God is to earnestly desire it, ask for it, and seek it with your whole heart. You will not be disappointed!
*“But earnestly desire the best gifts.”—1 Corinthians 12:31 (NKJV) *
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.*** For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ***If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”—Luke 11:9-13 (NKJV)
