There were times when people received Holy Spirit inside and upon them at the same time, e.g. Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-46). Also there were times when people received Holy Spirit inside them but only later Holy Spirit came upon them. Holy Spirit came upon them as a result of them thanking God for Jesus or when someone who was completed in Holy Spirit laid hands on them to receive Holy Spirit. The Disciples received Holy Spirit inside them before Pentecost (John 20:22) but later when Pentecost came, they received Holy Spirit upon them, completing them (Acts 1:8; 2:2-4). And those at Pentecost, who hadn’t received Holy Spirit inside them, received Holy Spirit both inside and upon them, that’s why the Greek word, Plēthō in Acts 2:4 literally means “completed, fulfilled” (not filled). This completion, inside and out, is known as the baptism of Holy Spirit.
Another example is Acts 8:12-17 “when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized (baptized in water). Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen UPON none of them (Holy Spirit was already inside them because no-one can call Jesus Christ Lord except by Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3) but He was not upon them). They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit”.
A few months later devastation happened, my step dad died at the age of 47. We lost our house, dogs and were basically on the street. Obviously questions arose like, “Lord, why did you take him? What is my mother going to do? What are my brothers and I going to do?” I discovered years later that it was Satan who killed him and not God (John 10:10). My step dad wasn’t guiltless, he had smoked a lot in his life and carried a lot of stress upon himself. But why didn’t God help him? I am sure He did, I don’t know those details, I don’t know if he was warned time and time again, I don’t know if he prayed for healing or just to accept the sickness, I don’t know if he wanted to leave the earth. All I know is that based on the scripture God doesn’t want Christians in Heaven now but wants them on earth to do His will. There is nothing for them to do in Heaven. Jesus praying to the Father said, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world” (John 17:15). God wouldn’t go against His Son’s word by taking them out prematurely. He has established the natural time period for human life 120 years (Gen. 6:3) and 70-80 years (Ps. 90:10) for Israelites under Moses who wondered 40 years in the wilderness. So why settle for anything less.
After a week of mourning, I was surprised I had peace that surpassed all understanding. I couldn’t explain why I had this peace, this situation should have caused fear and panic in my very bones. Even though I didn’t know what would happen to my family, or how we would survive, I had this peace. It was as if Holy Spirit was literally carrying me from within and I was like an observer. My life as I knew it was broken apart and in many pieces. And it would take me forever to think where each piece would go, what to do next and if I made the wrong move it would’ve been more devastating. But somehow I picked up the right piece at the right time without logical thought but more of knowing it is right – it was Holy Spirit who helped me.
IV. BAPTIZED IN WATER
Now one year after accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord, I became increasingly pressed from within by Holy Spirit and the scripture to be water baptized. Initially I was hesitant because I believed that I had already been baptized as a baby. But the more I tried to disprove it from scripture the more convinced I became that I needed to be. I could have taken the cowardly route and defaulted to, “my priest says I don’t have to therefore I won’t.” Then the word of God would be like a buffet, picking and choosing what I want. It was salvation that inspired water baptism and not baptism that inspired salvation (Acts 8:26-39). And just like the early church, the Apostles and especially like my Lord Jesus, I needed to make the choice to be baptized (Matt. 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22). Something that every new priest needed to do, every believer is a priest (1 Peter 2:5; Lev. 8:6). An infant is not a priest. Seeing that I had already repented, accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord, the only logical next step was to be water baptized. It signified the burial of my old ways, and the raising up out of the water was Christ’s life living through me. A physical action done to let the physical and spiritual world know that I am not ashamed of the good news that Christ reconciled me back to God and He has ordained me as a priest.
Therefore I encourage you all to “repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39).
THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD AND HIS PROMISES
“I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:1-4). To show us clearly who He is so that we can take confidence in the fact that He is the only way to the Father. His blood and body paid the price for me (Matt. 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:6). I am reconciled to God because the Blood of Jesus Christ has washed away my sins and the Body of Jesus Christ is what gives me life, sustains me before Him. And for this reason Holy Spirit entered me and remains in me forever; helping and empowering me to live in Christ’s authority. Is there any better news than this!
Purely to elaborate on the impact of this: I automatically please God and my sins are washed away (Rom. 5:17; 8:38-39; 10:9; John 6:28-29; Heb. 4:14-16; 8:12; 10:11-12; 11:6). I am considered by God as righteous (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 8:12). He calls me His child, and Holy Spirit who now dwells within me reminds me of this, where I call upon God as my Heavenly Father (John 14:16, 26; Eph. 1:13; 4:30; 1 Cor. 3:17; 1 John 2:27; 4:4; Gal. 4:5-7; Rom. 8:13-15; Matt. 6:5-9; John 1:12). Holy Spirit helps me love (Rom. 5:5), teaches and comforts me in all that Jesus has given me (John 16:14-15). He has enabled me to ask my Heavenly Father anything and He answers me, maybe not the way I want but He answers (John 11:22; Matt. 7:7). Therefore I am no longer a victim of situations but am more than a conqueror (2 Cor. 1:20; Phil. 4:19; Matt. 6:33; John 15:7; Rom. 8:35-37; 1 John 3:21-23; Ps. 91); including over sickness (Mark 16:18; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24; John 10:10).
I live with this deep inner peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7) so that I can be an effective ambassador for the Kingdom of God, which I belong to (Phil. 3:20; Phil. 4:7; Luke 17:20-21; Rom. 12:4-9; John 15:1-10). And when I die one day or go in the rapture, I will instantly go to Heaven (2 Cor. 5:1-8; Phil. 1:23; Matt. 25:45-46; John 3:15-18,36; 5:24; 6:28-29, 35-40, 47-48; 10:28-30; 17:20-24; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-12; 1 Peter 1:3-5, 8-9; Acts 7:56-59). All because of Christ in me. “For indeed all the promises of God in Him - Yes, and in Him - Amen, unto the glory of God through us” (2 Cor. 1:20). “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph. 3:20). “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).
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