What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit?

There was a woman who crossed the line into a relationship with Jesus and became a Christian. She was at a church that didn’t believe you show any kind of emotion or excitement. However, during the message she was so filled with joy she yelled “Hallelujah.” An usher came over to her and tapped her on the shoulder and said, “mam, you can’t say that here.” She responded, “but I’m so excited I got Jesus.” He said, “well you didn’t get it here.”

*What in the world is the role of the Holy Spirit? What in the world does “baptism of the Holy Spirit mean? When you experience the Holy Spirit does that mean you won’t sin any more? Does that mean you have arrived?

Is there more to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit than what previous generations of Pentecostals have portrayed? Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit all about speaking in a prayer language? Is it possible to be filled (baptized) in the Holy Spirit today? What if I’m not quite sure about all of this? Will God be mad at me? What if I’m skeptical and not sure after reading this?

Every one of us have come from different backgrounds and experiences. Some messages seem to resonate in your hearts more than others. If you are skeptical and not sure after this message, that is ok. Keeping seeking God and desiring to put Him first in your life!!

Most of us reading this blog will fall into one of the following categories. 

1. Those who are longing to be filled (Acts 2:1-4)

You have a relationship with Jesus Christ but something inside of you says You can go deeper and walk in greater freedom. In Acts 2:1-4 the disciples were waiting, praying for the Holy Spirit. They were longing to be filled with the Holy Spirit even though they didn’t know what that meant. They were filled…all of them. If that is you, so will you.

2. Those who were receptive (Bible say’s they received) When the Holy Spirit came in power they were open and receptive to what God was doing. 

3. Those who were hostile—They are only drunk. There were those in Acts 2 who were making fun of the disciples and didn't understand what was going on so they just dismissed it.

4. Uninformed—I kind of believe in God. I was baptized as a baby and even was confirmed. I go to church but am not sure much about the Baptism Holy Spirit. I would like to learn more. 

5. Unlikely—Those who say I’m not very religious…it’s probably not for me.

Let's look throughout the Bible and see that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for everyone and that it's #1 purpose is to bring power into your life. 

Let's take a look at someone's first experience/encounter with the Holy Spirit.

Every person who puts their faith & trust in Jesus Christ has the Holy Spirit living in them. Every person who crosses that line into a relationship with Him literally has the Spirit of God RESIDING in them. THE BIBLE SAYS says that when you put your trust in God, He puts His Spirit inside of you like a deposit…guarantee.

Ephesians 1:13-15— And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own^[a] by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. ¹⁴ The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

*We see the Disciples receive the Holy Spirit.

John 20:21-23— ²¹ Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” ²² Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit

We see that when you put your faith & trust in Jesus Christ you have the 100% assurance that the Holy Spirit is living inside of you. (That is why in the New Testament we are called the Temple of God. He no longer lives in brick & mortar but now resides in the hearts of those who trust Him. (To learn more about Salvation, listen to the podcast from May 6^th)

Even though the Disciples have the Holy Spirit inside of them JESUS ASKS THEM TO DO SOMETHING INTERESTING.

Luke 22:49—And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.

Jesus tells them to wait in Jerusalem and not leave until they have received the POWER (DUNAMIS) of the Holy Spirit. “The Purpose is Power.”

Like a pilot light in a boiler/hot water tank—every one of us has that pilot light when we confess our need for God and begin a relationship with Him. Yet there is a time when the heat gets turned up. Some are pilot light Christians and others are (DUNAMIS, DYNAMITE) Christians. Firing on all 4 cylinders…filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. That is why we use the term “Baptism of the Holy Spirit.” The Greek Word for Baptism is BAPTISMO which means to submerge, drench, sink in water. “The Purpose is Power.”

So we see that Jesus is commanded them to be filled/baptized completely with the Holy Spirit. Then we see Paul give us another imperative. be filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Ephesians 5:18—Do not be drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is a present tense VERB which indicates an ongoing filling, over and over again. The GREEK WORD methyskō (MA-THOOS-KO) actually means to get drunk, become intoxicated. If we were filled with the Holy Spirit at crossing the line, he wouldn’t have to commanded us to be filled with the Spirit! It is being completed INTOXICATED with His spirit. THAT PILOT LIGHT HAS TURNED INTO A BRIGHT FLAME BURNING ON THE INSIDE OF OUR LIVES. 
“The Purpose is Power.”

Acts 2:1-4—On the day of Pentecost^[a] all the believers were meeting together in one place. ² Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. ³ Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. ⁴ And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,^[b] as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

The Disciples obeyed Jesus and waiting and prayed for 40 days asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit. They didn’t know what that meant until all of a sudden it happened. Why did Jesus say He would send the Holy Spirit. To give them the DUNAMIS/DYNAMITE power!! If you follow the Disciples from that moment forward they are never the same again. They went from being scared cats hiding behind closed doors to bold, tenacious followers of Christ going everywhere telling people about Him. To the point where out of the remaining 11 of them, 10 died for their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. 

So now let's look at the 2nd encounter with the Holy Spirit. We will also see here how the Holy Spirit is for everyone!!

Acts 10:24-46— ²⁴ They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” ²⁷ So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.

²⁸ Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. ²⁹ So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”

The Gentiles Hear the Good News

³⁴ Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. ³⁵ In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. ³⁶ This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. ³⁸ And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power The Purpose is Power.”

⁴⁴ Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. ⁴⁵ The Jewish believers^[e] who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too.⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in other tongues^[f] and praising God.

Then Peter asked, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”

We see here in this passage of Scripture that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for everyone. Not just for certain or special people. God’s gift is for all who are hungry for Him.

SO, at a practical level how does the baptism of the Holy Spirit change us, or affect us? The Purpose is Power.”

#1—Brings power into our prayer life

*When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit our prayer life goes to a whole new dimension and effectiveness.

Romans 8:26-27—And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. ²⁷ And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers^[a] in harmony with God’s own will.

As we receive our prayer language, we are able to pray through the Holy Spirit a prayer in perfect harmony with the WILL OF GOD!!

1 Corinthians 14:2—For if you have the ability to speak in tongues,^[a] you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit,^[b] but it will all be mysterious.

We see that tongues is speaking to God (which is prayer)…a form of prayer. Speaking in tongues transcends language limitation. It bypasses our normal system of thought and speaks directly to God. The Purpose is Power

#2—Brings power & strength into our lives (Supplement B12)

1 Corinthians 14:4— A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.

Your prayer language will build your spirit up as you follow God's call and direction in  your life. When you pray in your prayer language it is like taking a spiritual B12. You are encouraged and built up to remain faithful and to follow Him completely. The Purpose is Power

#3—Brings power into our relationships

Acts 1:8—You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere, in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

The purpose of the Baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT is POWER. Receiving a supernatural prayer language is a part of it but it is not the focus. The transforming power that fills our life to impact the world around us is!!

No matter where you are today, God say’s anyone who asks will receive. I pray that you will open up your hearts to experiencing the power and infilling of the Holy Spirit. I pray that you will receive this wonderful gift of a new prayer language. I pray that all of us will understand that it the purpose is power.

If you feel like your relationship with God needs to go from a pilot light to a full flame then this blog was for you. If you feel like you need power in your prayer life than this blog was for you. If you feel like you need power & strength this blog is for you. If you need power in relationships this blog is for you.