Some believers would like to argue that the experience of Holy Ghost baptism is not for everyone. When I read the Scriptures, I find it spelled out in black and white for all to read in
Acts 2:39 that this is indeed untrue. Holy Ghost baptism is a promise to saved people of every age. The promise is unto us, to our children, to all who are afar off from God, and to even as many as the Lord our God calls.
Zechariah, an Old Covenant prophet, said, “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field (Zechariah 10:1).” This outpouring of rain denotes the Holy Spirit. It is available to everyone as implied in “every one grass in the field.”
Similarly, Isaiah prophesied that God would pour water upon him who is thirsty and floods upon dry ground: His Spirit upon our seed and His blessing upon our children. “And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses (Isaiah 44:3-4).” God has promised to pour out floods of the Holy Spirit upon all who are thirsty and upon the dry ground. He vows that Spirit will fall upon our seed and our children. Joel confirmed the prophecy by declaring, “Upon all flesh I will pour out My Spirit (Joel 2:28).”
But we don’t just have words of a future baptism; we see the culmination of these promises and prophetic declarations in Acts 5:32 when the Holy Spirit was given by God to those who obeyed Him!
Everyone today has this same promise: they too can receive this baptism of the Holy Spirit!Even Mary, the mother of Jesus, received the same baptism (Acts 1:14). It is recorded that Jesus’ family, disciples, apostles, the seventy and one hundred and twenty of His closest followers received the baptism that same day. Let that stand as an example to us that everyone can receive this baptismal promise!
