What is the difference between receiving the Holy Spirit and being Baptized in the Holy Spirit?
As stated before in this reading, the Holy Spirit is poured out to the individual believer who is convicted of their sin, repents, dies to himself and gives his life to Jesus so that the Holy Spirit will now dwell within the believer and they can live a life that is led by the Holy Spirit. John 16:7-15 “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
Also John 14:25-26 says, “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
What is the purpose of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is different in that it is not just only for the individual but also for the edification of the church. In the Baptism, the Holy Spirit endows believers with specific gifts that are to be used to in testifying about Jesus and used in the ministry of sharing the Gospel to the world. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 says, “12-1 Brothers and sisters, I want you to know about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 2 You know that at one time you were unbelievers. You were somehow drawn away to worship statues of gods that couldn’t even speak. 3 So I want you to know that no one who is speaking with the help of God’s Spirit says, “May Jesus be cursed.” And without the help of the Holy Spirit no one can say, “Jesus is Lord.” 4 There are different kinds of gifts. But they are all given to believers by the same Spirit. 5 There are different ways to serve. But they all come from the same Lord. 6 There are different ways the Spirit works. But the same God is working in all these ways and in all people. 7 The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all. 8 To some people the Spirit gives a message of wisdom. To others the same Spirit gives a message of knowledge. 9 To others the same Spirit gives faith. To others that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. 10 To others he gives the power to do miracles. To others he gives the ability to prophesy. To others he gives the ability to tell the spirits apart. To others he gives the ability to speak in different kinds of languages they had not known before. And to still others he gives the ability to explain what was said in those languages. 11 All the gifts are produced by one and the same Spirit. He gives gifts to each person, just as he decides.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5 says, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.”
How can I be baptized in the Holy Spirit and what is the sign that I have been baptized in the Holy Spirit?
There are 2 ways. You can pray and ask God to baptize you in the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:9-13) or someone who has already been baptized in the Holy Spirit can lay their hands on you and pray over you to receive the baptism. (Acts8:17) Although there are many gifts associated with receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the primary evidence seen throughout the New Testament of the believer being Baptized with the Holy Spirit is the manifestation of speaking in tongues (See: Acts 8:17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 2:4, 1 Corinthians 1-5)