Empowered to Serve

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

There is a difference between the Holy Spirit inside you and the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon you, and confusing the two has caused many believers to either be puffed up about something they do not fully understand or miss out on something God specifically designed for them.

When you accept Jesus and are born again, you receive the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. Romans 8:9 says that if any man has not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. So, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit happens immediately at salvation. That is not the baptism; that is the new birth.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is something additional. Jesus told the disciples, who were already believers and had the Holy Spirit within them, to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. He said you will receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon you. That word power is dunamis—supernatural, miracle-working, explosive, Holy Ghost ability. And the purpose was specific: they were empowered to be witnesses, to minister to others, and to carry the Gospel with signs following.

Speaking in tongues is one of the benefits of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It allows you to pray precisely, build yourself up in the spirit, and intercede beyond what your natural mind can figure out or express. But the primary purpose of the baptism is not about you; it is about empowering you to reach those around you. To choose to skip the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to say you do not care about being equipped to help others.

Practical Application

If you have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, ask for it today. Jesus said He would give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. If you have received it, make sure you are using what you have been given. Pray in the Spirit daily, expect to operate in the gifts of the Spirit regularly, and be a witness wherever you go.

2 Corinthians 8:1; Luke 24:49