“Paul said, ‘John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.’”
Acts 19:4 (NLT)
When Paul met the believers in Ephesus, one of the first questions he asked was, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” That tells me Paul did not see Holy Spirit as optional, secondary, or something to leave on the shelf. These disciples were not arrogant, they were honest. They had believed in Jesus, but they had not been taught about the baptism of Holy Spirit.
Paul explained that John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, a public turning from sin and toward God through Jesus. But John himself pointed beyond water baptism and said Jesus would baptize in Holy Spirit. Jesus said the same thing in Acts 1, and then clarified that when Holy Spirit comes upon us, we receive power to witness.
I believe Holy Spirit in us is for our relationship with Jesus, and Holy Spirit upon us is for the power to witness. It’s for the benefit of others. In Acts 8, Acts 10, and Acts 19, we see Holy Spirit coming upon believers and then there is an overflow of the Spirit’s gifts. Tongues are not the end goal, but throughout Acts they are an initial sign of Holy Spirit’s power coming upon people for witness.
So today, the question still matters: Did you receive Holy Spirit when you believed? If you have not experienced the baptism of Holy Spirit, I pray you will be willing to study Acts and let the Spirit of Truth guide you. If you have, don’t abandon the gift. Engage your private prayer language. Yield to Him. Be a conduit of God’s grace flowing through you by Holy Spirit today; not just for yourself, but for others too.