BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT PRAYER POINTS
Bible reading: Acts 2:1-5
“1 And when the day of Pentecost has fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.” Acts 2:1-5
Baptism in the Holy Spirit is the most essential needs of every Christian. There are seven passages in the New Testament where the word “baptize” is used concerning the Holy Spirit. Four of these are the words of John the Baptist recorded in the Gospels [Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33].
The use of the phrase “to baptize into” the Holy Spirit is the same as used to describe Christian baptism in water. In both cases, baptism is an outward confirmation of an inward spiritual experience. However, many thoughts that when one converted [born again} such person have to baptise with the Holy Spirit, and he does not need any further experience to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The answer is no capital NO. Baptise into the Holy Spirit is another experience for every Christian.
There are examples in the New Testament revealed to us that people who were true believers but not baptise with the Holy Spirit. For instance, the apostles had repented of their sins and believed Jesus was the Messiah. They had witnessed personally and accepted as true the facts of His death, burial, a resurrection, but were not baptise into the Holy Spirit until the Day of Pentecost. Jesus told His followers:
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49
“For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:5
The Holy Spirit came down from Heaven and completely immersed [baptized] believers assembled in the upper room of a house in Jerusalem. The promised experience of being baptized in the Holy Ghost came on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:4
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Take noted that, the apostles were already believers, but it was on the day of Pentecost that they were filled with [baptized in] the Holy Spirit.
Secondly, the people of Samaria heard the Gospel preached. They believed and were baptized in water, but they had not received the Holy Spirit, and that’s why the apostles sent Peter and John to pray for them in order to be baptised in the Holy Spirit.
“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they have come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost.” Acts 8:14-17
These believers received salvation through the ministry of Philip while they received the Holy Spirit through the ministry of Peter and John.
Thirdly, another example is recorded in Acts 19:1-6. It describes how Paul went to the city of Ephesus and met people described as “disciples.” The first question Paul asked was, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” They answered Paul NO!
“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism… And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.”
All the above are Biblical examples that prove to us that one can be a believer and not be baptise into the Holy Spirit. Even if a person receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the same time he is converted, it is still a separate experience from salvation. Therefore, receiving the Holy Spirit was a separate experience from receiving salvation, and every Christian must pray for the baptising of the Holy Spirit.
What can you do to be baptised in the Holy Spirit?
- Born again experience is the first step and not negotiable. John 3:16, Matthew 11:28
- Repent and confess all your sins – Acts 2:38, Luke 13:3-5
- Prepare and tarrying for His coming. The Christians on the day of Pentecost were waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit, so also you should be eager for His coming in Prayers.
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49
Remember, the baptised in the Holy Spirit is the promise of God given by the prophet Joel: “And it shall come to pass afterwards, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; And also, upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” Joel 2:28-29.
And it has fulfilled started from the day of Pentecost. Therefore, this is your own time to be baptised by the Holy Spirit. Male and female, young and old were included in this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. When you are baptised into the Holy Spirit, you will prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions. God’s Spirit was to empower both servants [men] and handmaidens [women].
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:38-39
Baptism in the Holy Spirit Prayer Points:
- Father, I come to you today, have mercy unto me and accept me, in the name of Jesus.
- Anything in my life that will hinder me from receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Father, let it be destroyed now by the fire of God in the name of Jesus.
- Every sinful desire in my heart, be consumed by the fire of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus.
- Father, baptize me with your Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus.
- Father, release the fire of the Holy Spirit upon me, in the name of Jesus.
- Father, empower me with the fire of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus.
- Father give me a new heart that will be obeying you, in the name of Jesus.
- My Father and my Lord, let the fire of the Holy Spirit destroy the works of flesh manifesting in my life, in the name of Jesus.
- Father, release Your Holy Spirit upon me so that I can effectively evangelize the gospel in the name of Jesus.
- Today O Lord, baptize me in the Holy Ghost in the name of Jesus.
- My Father and my Lord, let the Holy Spirit empower me to live triumphant life on earth in the name of Jesus.
- Today, I receive the fresh fire of the Holy Spirit; and I will never be the same again in the name of Jesus.
- Father, let the fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit be released upon me today in the name of Jesus.
- Holy Ghost fire destroys any lust of the eyes manifesting in my life in the name of Jesus.
- By the mighty name of Jesus, I possess the Holy Ghost fire.
- Father, baptise me with the Holy Spirit today, in the name of Jesus.
- Father make me an embodiment of your testimony through the help of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus.
- Father let the fire of the Holy Spirit purify my life in the name of Jesus.
- I receive the fire of the Holy Ghost for holy living in the name of Jesus.
- Father let the fire of the Holy Spirit destroy the pride of life manifesting in my life in the name of Jesus.
- The fire of the Holy Ghost that will destroy any form of unfaithfulness in my life be released upon me today in the name of Jesus.
- Today, I received the anointing to function as a child of the Kingdom of God, in the name of Jesus.
- Today, I received the anointing to heal the sick in the name of Jesus.
- Today, I received the anointing to destroy the work of the devil in the name of Jesus.
- Today, I received the anointing to bind and loose in the name of Jesus.
- Today, I received the anointing for breakthrough and triumph over the forces of wickedness in the name of Jesus.
- Today, I received the anointing for signs and wonders in the name of Jesus.
- Today, I received the anointing to pull down the stronghold of the enemies in the name of Jesus.
- Today, I received the power of the Holy Ghost to silence every force of darkness, in the name of Jesus.
- Father let the mighty wind of the Holy Spirit encamp me around in the name of Jesus.
