How is the the baptism with the Holy Spirit and filling with the Holy Spirit demostrated?

Question:

What are the cases when the “baptism with the Holy Spirit” is demonstrated and when is the “filling with the Holy Spirit” manifested?

The first manifestations of the baptism with the Holy Spirit

It is very easy to follow the manifestation of the baptism with the Holy Spirit if we look at the event when the Holy Spirit descended in the days of Pentecost, when people were baptized with the Holy Spirit for the first time, an event that is described in the Holy Scripture so:

When the day of Pentecost had come, they (the disciples) were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs–we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” (Acts 2:1–11)(NASB)

The manifestation of the baptism with the Holy Spirit of the disciples that were together in one place and that are described in this passage, are the following:

• A noise like a violent rushing wind that came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting

• Tongues as of fire were seen distributed among them and they rested on each one of them

• The disciples began to speak with other tongues, which they hadn’t learnt before, but which were known by the people that were witnesses of that event, these were human tongues spoken in those times

• All disciples were speaking the mighty deeds of God, as a result of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. I think that this was the main manifestation.

Other manifestation of the baptism with the Holy Spirit

As soon as people came and asked for explanations regarding what had happened to the disciples in the day of Pentecost, Apostle Peter answered to those who were preaching about the Lord Jesus a message that pierced to the heart.

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” (Acts 2:37–40)(NASB)

Even if it is not used the expression “the baptism with the Holy Spirit”, it is clear that people asked what they should do to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and Apostle Peter told them to repent and be baptized, that is a manifestation of receiving the message of Peter, who presented that Jesus Christ is the Christ, the Son of God and only by faith in Him they can be saved. People received the words of Apostle Peter, repented and were baptized, that means that they were baptized with the Holy Spirit as well, they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. At the same time, Apostle Peter presented them all the conditions they had to know to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and saved.

Let us see how the Word of God describes the manifestation of the baptism with the Holy Spirit to those who received the preaching of Apostle Peter:

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:41–47)(NASB)

After the sermon of Apostle Peter we see that those who were baptized with the Holy Spirit didn’t experience the noise of the violent rushing wind, the tongues of fire and speaking with other tongues, but it is evident that a great change took place in their lives, that was demonstrated in the following way:

• They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, that means they were showing passion and discipline in studying the Holy Scripture, wanting to know well God’s will for their lives. Because the Holy Scripture was not published then, as we have it nowadays, these people baptized with the Holy Spirit were continuing in the temple day by day, where they were devoting themselves to the apostle’s teaching.

• They were continually devoting themselves to fellowship and an example shows us they were sharing the possessions with all, even if they were not forced to do this, but because they felt with one another. All people saw the difference, because those who were baptized with the Holy Spirit were taking care of other children of God, and that was a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, to take care of the needs of your brothers and sisters.

• They were continually devoting themselves to the breaking of bread, that was a special event set by Lord Jesus for Christians to remind the covenant they have entered with Him. At the breaking of bread, Lord Jesus ask us to examine ourselves how we respect the conditions of the new covenant we have entered with Him and first Christians, those who were baptized with the Holy Spirit, were examining themselves frequently and detailed concerning the new covenant they had entered, by faith in the Lord Jesus

• They were continually devoting to prayer, this showed a total dependence on God and a desire of intimacy with Him.

• Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe of God and, very evident, their greatest priority were that the holy things and the living with God.

The manifestation of filling with the Holy Spirit

The baptism with the Holy Spirit happens only once in life, when a man believes with all his heart in the Lord Jesus, when he repents and enters the covenant with Him. Filling with the Holy Spirit refers to some certain life situations in a Christian life, when he needs more courage, strength, wisdom, etc. But this doesn’t mean that a Christian lives without the guidance of the Holy Spirit when he doesn’t face these situations. An example is described in the Book of Acts, chapters 3 and 4. After apostles Peter and John healed the crippled man at the gate of the Temple and after many people believed in Lord Jesus, apostles were brought before the Council to account of what had happened. They preached with an unusual boldness. In the end, they were threatened not to preach the Name of God anymore to not be persecuted.

But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, ’WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? ’THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’ ”For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. ”And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:19–31)(NASB)

Here were filled with the Holy Spirit people who had already the Holy Spirit, who had been baptized with the Holy Spirit before, and the authorities tried to intimidate them not to tell the Gospel. They were filled with the Holy Spirit to speak the word of God with boldness. Through this is demonstrated the filling with the Holy Spirit. The one who is full with the Holy Spirit preaches the Name of Jesus with boldness and is not intimidated by the enemies of the Gospel.

Have you been baptized with the Holy Spirit? If not, you can not be filled with the Holy Spirit. You have to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to enter the covenant with Him, to be born again and so you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit who will come to live in you. Then, be always filled with the Holy Spirit and speak the Word of the Gospel with boldness.

Translated by Felicia Djugostran