“And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” ~Acts 1:4-5, KJV
The promise of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is given to every one who has received salvation. As I travel throughout the United States and abroad, I often meet precious believers who negate this opportunity for the manifestation of the Spirit through Holy Ghost baptism. Writing it off as a thing of yesterday, they choose to live lives of less power than is available to them. This grieves the heart of God because just as He promised long life to those who honor their parents, He promised a deluge of His Spirit upon us all.
Jesus commanded His disciples to receive this very promise after His resurrection in Acts 1:4-5. You can see in this passage that the very reception of the promise is a command, not an option. “You will receive the Holy Spirit.” It is a sure thing that applies to every believer. But what does the promise entail?
“I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit.” ~ Acts 2:17-18
John the Baptist testified, “I knew Him not; but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon who thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost (John 1:33).” Jesus, the Son of God, both received and relayed the same Father-given promise when He said, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you (John 16:7).”
The promise of baptism came from the Father, but the Son was sent to perform the baptism. John the Baptist said in Luke 3:16, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.”
The Apostle Peter conveyed on the day of Pentecost the arrival of this baptism when he said, “Having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear (Acts 2:33).” He specified in Galatians 3:14 that Jesus was the Conduit for the baptism to flow: “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
We know that the Word of God teaches us that His promises cannot fail, for “all promises in Him are yea and amen unto the glory of God by us (2 Corinthians 1:20).” We know that the promises of God are given unto us – “exceeding great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4).” Therefore we know this promise of the Father that we will receive the baptism of the Spirit is a yes, an amen, and to the glory of God.
