Written by Pastor Dave Collins

Shortly before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His followers, “John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now...but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:5, 8)

Fifty days later, having remained together in Jerusalem, Jesus’ disciples were waiting and praying when suddenly the Holy Spirit descended upon them, and the Church was born. Power from on high filled their bodies, “tongues of fire” appeared on their heads, and they began to speak in tongues. The streets of Jerusalem were filled with Jewish pilgrims from many nations who had come to celebrate Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks). They were amazed when they heard the disciples speaking in their various native tongues. “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?” (Acts 2:7-8) Peter preached that day, and three thousand people were saved.

These followers of Jesus who had just been filled with the Holy Spirit were the very same disciples who, only a short time before, had all fled when Jesus had been arrested, and had cowered behind locked doors in fear for their safety. How was it that these same disciples were now boldly proclaiming the Good News of the Risen Christ with a power and anointing they had only witnessed in Jesus but hadn’t experienced themselves? The answer is this: when we come to our end, God is only beginning! The baptism of the Holy Spirit, sometimes referred to as “infilling,” is God’s supernatural empowering of His people for the purpose of living lives of holiness and obedience as well as for carrying the message of His love and redemption to our world through testimony, service, and “signs and wonders,” all predicated by God’s grace.

When Jesus came into the world on His mission of redemption, He was wholly God AND wholly human with one exception: He laid aside all of His power, rights, and abilities as God and functioned only as a human. (Philippians 2:6-7) How then did Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, and perform miracles? He did all of those things through the power of the Holy Spirit who had come upon Him at His baptism in the Jordan River. Jesus made this astounding statement, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do...” (John 14:12)

Let’s not be complacent, secure in our salvation, “ticket” in hand, just waiting to go to heaven. The world is waiting for the authentic love, hope, and power of God that can only be ministered through the infilling of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. How do you receive this? Ask in faith! (Luke 11:13)

Weekly Reflection Questions

1. Describe your “walk” with the Lord Jesus prior to, and after you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. How did it change?
2. Think of a person you know who walks in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. What about them stands out the most to you?