I would like to talk today about the differences in receiving the Holy Spirit, being filled with the Spirit and being baptized in the Holy Spirit. This is a concept that many people are either confused about or do not understand the differences between each category. Others believe that once you turn and accept Christ as your Lord and savior that you not only receive the Holy Spirit, but you also get filled and baptized at the same time. The Word of God distinguishes the difference between these three subjects. The reason we need to cover the differences is that it is important for us to realize that the Gifts of the Spirit are given only to the ones that are baptized.

From these gifts there are a couple that can be given without a person being baptized in the Holy Spirit because of the Seven Spirits of the Lord, the other essence of the Spirit.

If you remember they are: the Spirit of the Lord, Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Fear and Might. Now, of these seven essences, two of them are also gifts which are Wisdom and Knowledge. These two can also manifest without someone being baptized because the Spirit of the Lord and Fear can Counsel you into Understanding and by this you receive Wisdom and Understanding. Through the Word of God, you are guided to by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, you also can have the Spirit of Might that gives us power behind what we say and do.

Now you may say you’ve seen others being healed every now and then without someone having the gift of healing, and this is possible through faith, but it is different than the actual gift of healing of the Holy Spirit, which we will cover a little later in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. That category also includes some of the other gifts but not all that can be bestowed upon a believer.

Receiving

Let’s speak about receiving the Holy Spirit as a child of God.

• John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
• John 20:22 – And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost
• 2 Corinthians 1:22 – Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
• 2 Corinthians 5:5 – Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest (means Sealed here) of the Spirit.
• Ephesians 1:13-14 – In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

As a child of God, you have been sealed with the Spirit of God. In John 3:16 it says that those that believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. This everlasting life is what we have, because we received the Holy Spirit, and it was sealed on us. Sealing is an indication of receiving. In John 20:22 it speaks about Jesus Christ breathe on them and said, “receive the Holy Ghost.” Breathing is an indication of life that is given, through the receiving of the Holy Ghost. In Ephesians 1 it is written that after we have heard the word of truth, which is the gospel of salvation, and once you have believed, you are sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit.

To put this simply: the receiving of the Holy Spirit is something that all children of God, that believe and have accepted Him as their Lord and personal Savior, get. This is the first experience we have with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is what we are sealed with, and at the end of times when Christ comes for His children, this is what raises us up to we have eternal life with Christ. I would like to clarify also that Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:13, talks about that this Spirit is what baptized us into the body of Christ and some read this and assume that if we get baptized in the body, we were baptized in the spirit, but this is not true. The baptism that Paul spoke about in 1 Corinthians is what we receive as we become part of the family because we have received the Holy Spirit.

Being Filled

• John 4:10 – Jesus answered and said unto her, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, ‘Give me to drink’; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”
• John 7:37-39 – In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
• Ephesians 5:18 – And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
• Acts 2:4a – And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost… (this verse speaks about being filled and baptism).
• Acts 4:29-31 – And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
• Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Being filled in the Spirit is something that all children of God should strive for and live in. I would like to say that you can be filled in the Spirit of God, and still not be baptized in the Holy Spirit. To be filled in the Spirit you must be actively looking for it and drink of it daily. In John 4:10, this is what he speaks about here, to have this filling in you.  Just as in John 7:37-39 it speaks about if any man thirst, meaning you must desire, to come to Him and drink and the flow of living water will come out. This living water is a power, a joy that comes from the Spirit that comes over you. Being filled in the Spirit does not just happen once, many believe once you were filled you are always filled and don’t need multiple fillings but that is not correct.

We see in Acts two, the apostles were baptized in the Holy Spirit and they were also filled in the Holy Spirit. Later in Acts 4:29-31, we read again that when they prayed all together they were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke boldly the word of God. Being filled means that you are able to take part of the power of the Holy Spirit that was given to you.

Think about it this way: if you fill a water bottle to the top it’s filled. Throughout the day, you take sips to keep yourself hydrated, the water level drops a little. Then something happens and you must run to get somewhere but once you get there you realize you’re really thirsty, so now you drink, but not sips like before, and from three-quarters filled your bottle empties down to one-quarter filled. Before you realize it, even before the day is out, you must REFILL your water bottle again. This is the same thing with the Holy Spirit. You pray, and stay in the word of God, and worship and praise God to get filled so that through the day when you’re in the will of God you use this filling to have the power, the courage, and the strength to keep doing the work of God.

If you do not stay filled in the Spirit of the Lord, you will leave an opening for the Devil to enter and bring you down and this can lead you astray from God. In Ephesians 5:18 there is a command given, speaking about to not be filled with wine or be drunk but be filled with the Spirit. This means that this filling is to have also the Fruits of the Spirit in you and for them to be visible. Galatians 5 lists the fruit of the spirit as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, and more. These will be visible in your life once you’re filled with the Spirit. Being filled is you surrendering to the Spirit, to allow the Spirit to truly guide and control what you do. One of the best ways to explain being filled with the Spirit is that you have God through the Spirit, and baptism in the spirit is when God has you.

Baptism

• Mark 16:17 –   And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
• Luke 24:49 – 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.
• Acts 1:5 – For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
• Acts 1:8 – 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 2:4,6 – And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 6. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
• Acts 10:44-46 (Cornelius vs23-48) – While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
• 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 – In the law it is written, “With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me,” saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 
• Acts 19:6 – And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied.

Being Spirit-filled is different than being filled in the Spirit.  Being Spirit-filled refers to someone that tries to live in the Spirit’s fruits and what the Spirit desires. One way to say it is that being Spirit-filled is as if you have the Holy Spirit and being filled in the Spirit is that the Holy Spirit has you. Because of this, someone may be Spirit-filled many times, because they are always searching for what the Spirit wants and to live in the Fruits.

Being filled in the Spirit is usually, but not always, someone that is allowing himself or herself to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. This leads often to working with the gifts of Holy Spirit and being empowered to do so. That is why being in the Spirit is usually reserved for describing someone that has also been baptized in the Holy Spirit. The gift of receiving and baptism is for everyone and we find out that receiving the Holy Spirit, in Acts 2:37-39, is for everyone.

Acts 1:8: “you receive power and be witnesses (speaks about baptism) to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the end of the world.” Jesus has called us all, just as it says to go make disciples, teaching all that He has taught, in Matthew 28:18-20. In Acts 1:5, Jesus even speaks about being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Even today, scholars do not argue about if there is such a thing as baptism of the Holy Spirit. Instead, they differ on if the baptism in the gifts is still given in our time or if it was only then.

The first outward sign of being baptized in the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues but this is where there is a large controversy. It is what helps us do God’s will to the fullest capacity, to be true witnesses for Christ. In Acts 19:1-6, Paul is speaking to the people of Ephesus, that had accepted Christ and were baptized by John. Now, he speaks to them knowing that they had received the Holy Spirit but not baptism, and in the end Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them (Baptism) and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. In Acts 2:4-6, they were filled (Baptism) and spoke in tongues. In Acts 19:6, yet again, they were baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. The phrase “fell upon them,” is used as another way of saying being baptized in the Holy Spirit.

There is a verse that many use which says that speaking in tongues is only as a witness that the Jews will know that the Messiah has come and it’s only necessary to be spoken in front of them. The verse used is Isaiah 28:11- it is written there that speaking in tongues was used for the Jewish nation as proof that the Messiah has come. Paul also uses this verse in 1 Corinthians 14:21-22; he uses it there not to only show that is what was fulfilled, but to show that the sign speaking in tongues is a sign of baptism, visible for all the unbelievers to see the supernatural power of God, for sinners to see a sign an outward sign, which we still need today. In Acts 9, it is written that when Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit (baptism), many said that he didn’t speak in tongues, but Paul himself says he speaks more tongues then all (1 Corinthians 14:18). Here the purpose, or primary reason, was to show that Paul (Saul) had empowerment in his apostolic ministry (mission).

In addition, Acts 10 records the filling of the Spirit of Cornelius, a gentile, in his home. It says that while Peter yet was still talking, the Holy Ghost fell upon them (Baptism), the Gentiles not the Jews present. But how do we know for sure they were baptized? In verse 46, it says they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. And Peter was astonished. This shows that among the gentiles there was speaking of tongues without non-converted Jews around – while some may say well that the apostles were there, there was no reason for witnessing to them anymore for they were baptized already and believed. Did you notice that throughout the verses used, the only time you read of people prophesying was once they spoke in tongues? The reason being is because baptism is a prerequisite to prophecy, or to having the gift of healing, or for any of the other Gifts given that we have not spoken about yet.

Conclusion

Another reason some say that you do not have to speak in tongues to be baptized is because Paul states that not all will speak in tongues, others will prophesy. Paul is actually stating here that not all will speak in tongues because receiving the Holy Spirit is different than baptism. This is one reason, the other is that he also writes about speaking in tongues for the use of interpretation, meaning that there is some prophecy in different tongues that needs to be interpreted. I have experienced this multiple times – the prophet was blind and he would prophecy in tongues while another would interpret. Each time, the prophecy would be right on with what was happening and what needed to be changed in the congregation, or towards someone’s hidden things.

Many have seen false prophecies, healers, or made-up/faked tongues, and because of this they believe that these things are fake and no longer exist among believers today. Does it mean that because you hear and read many false doctrines, encounter false Christians, false singers, or false prayers that you should stop listening to good doctrines, or being a good Christian, does this mean you should stop praying? No, in fact this should make you want to grow closer with God and experience Him to the fullest extent, to be the light that He has called us to be.

Another reason many doubt in the baptism is because it is tough to get to the level of fellowship with Christ to receive the Baptism. Many Christians today do not spend much time in prayer or in the Word of God to study, to speak with God. But they expect to grow with Christ. A relationship with Christ is just like any other relationship. You speak, God listens, then God speaks and you listen.

A true fellowship requires sacrifice, time, understanding, even pain and suffering on your part and for Christ, (when you sin or don’t live how you should, this is pain and suffering for Christ and for true fellowship  on our part sometimes requires sacrifice, and suffering of persecution for Christ for his will). A relationship is 50 percent from you and 50 percent from God. You can’t expect to do only ten percent and expect God to give 50 percent. God does His part you do your part and this leads to a fifty/fifty split, equaling one hundred percent.  

The Bible speaks about a parable in Matthew 25 that’s about talents, the currency of that time. This parable about the talents shows that if you are responsible for the little that God gives you, being a good and faithful servant, God will give you more. Same thing with Baptism and the Gifts: if you except to grow with God, you must be responsible with what He gives you first, including building your fellowship with Christ. From there you will grow and God can give you more. Many will never ask for they do not believe in baptism, and they will go through their life never receiving it.

You need to understand that to be able to have the gifts of prophecy, healing, miracles, or any of the rest of the Gifts, which are a big responsibility, we need to grow in responsibility, in the Word of God, prayer, holiness, humbleness, humility, and the Fear of the Lord among others. Once you are Baptized, just as I wrote at the end of the Being Filled in the Spirit section, being filled is that you have God through The Spirit and Baptism is that God has you through the Spirit, you have surrendered all to Him.