Step 3 | Be Filled
Read: Acts 1:4–8, and then 2:1–4, 2:14, and 2:41
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses.”
Jesus believed that being filled (baptized) with the Holy Spirit was so important He commanded His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they were filled. On the day they were filled, they not only spoke in tongues, but 3,000 people were impact- ed by their preaching and joined their new church. Being filled with the Spirit empowers us to minister to people (1 Corinthians 12:7–11).
There are several New Testament passages that suggest people should pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit immediately after they are baptized in water. First, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit immediately after He was baptized, while He was praying. He was probably praying to be filled with the Spirit (Luke 3:21–22; 4:1).
Second, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter said to the multitude, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
And third, the apostle Paul baptized some disciples in water and then immediately laid his hands on them to be filled with the Spirit. They were all filled, and immediately began speaking in tongues and prophesying (Acts 19:5–6).
Tongues is a spiritual language the Holy Spirit helps a per- son speak once they're filled with the Spirit. Jesus taught that speaking in tongues is a sign that would accompany those who believe (Mark 16:17).
Though tongues is a language the person speaking does not understand, the apostles Paul and Jude said we edify and build ourselves up spiritually when we pray in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:5; Jude 20). Praying in tongues also allows the Holy Spirit to pray perfect prayers through us according to the will of God (Romans 8:26–27).
Since Jesus and the New Testament teach all believers to be strengthened and empowered by being filled with the Holy Spirit and praying in spiritual language (tongues), we should encourage everyone to ask God to fill them with the Spirit immediately after being baptized in water. It could even happen before baptism as in Acts 10:44–48.
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses.”
Jesus believed that being filled (baptized) with the Holy Spirit was so important He commanded His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they were filled. On the day they were filled, they not only spoke in tongues, but 3,000 people were impact- ed by their preaching and joined their new church. Being filled with the Spirit empowers us to minister to people (1 Corinthians 12:7–11).
There are several New Testament passages that suggest people should pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit immediately after they are baptized in water. First, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit immediately after He was baptized, while He was praying. He was probably praying to be filled with the Spirit (Luke 3:21–22; 4:1).
Second, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter said to the multitude, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
And third, the apostle Paul baptized some disciples in water and then immediately laid his hands on them to be filled with the Spirit. They were all filled, and immediately began speaking in tongues and prophesying (Acts 19:5–6).
Tongues is a spiritual language the Holy Spirit helps a per- son speak once they're filled with the Spirit. Jesus taught that speaking in tongues is a sign that would accompany those who believe (Mark 16:17).
Though tongues is a language the person speaking does not understand, the apostles Paul and Jude said we edify and build ourselves up spiritually when we pray in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:5; Jude 20). Praying in tongues also allows the Holy Spirit to pray perfect prayers through us according to the will of God (Romans 8:26–27).
Since Jesus and the New Testament teach all believers to be strengthened and empowered by being filled with the Holy Spirit and praying in spiritual language (tongues), we should encourage everyone to ask God to fill them with the Spirit immediately after being baptized in water. It could even happen before baptism as in Acts 10:44–48.