Here at our church, we are committed to bringing the message of hope and salvation to a needy and troubled world. We believe that this message can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Question 2

How to be filled with the spirit

We are promised by the Lord that after we become a Christian He will give us power to live the Christian life and stand firm. The Lord does this by filling us with His Spirit.

When people became Christians in Bible days, they were usually prayed for so that they might be filled with the Holy Spirit. This was usually after they had been baptised with water. For instance in Acts 8, when the new Christians from Samaria had been baptised, Peter and John laid hands on them and prayed that they would receive the Holy Spirit. Similarly in Ephesus, Paul baptised some new disciples and laid his hands on them so that the Holy Spirit might fill them.

Is it always necessary for somebody to lay hands on us? No! The disciples on the day of Pentecost received the Holy Spirit direct from God (Acts 2:1-4) The first non-Jews to become Christians had a filling of the Holy Spirit without laying on of hands and even before they were baptised in water. This was Cornelius and his household. (Acts 10) However, the usual order of events would be as explained by Peter to those who witnessed what happened to the first Christians on the Day of Pentecost. "Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

In summary, this gift is received always after we are saved, and usually after we are baptised with water and often through laying on of hands.

Why should I seek to be baptised with the Spirit?

1.  Jesus Himself was baptised of the Spirit and in being filled ourselves we follow Christ's footsteps. (Luke 3:22, 4:1,14 and 18)
2.  The disciples were told by Jesus to wait at Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on high - He was referring to the baptism of the Spirit.
3.  The Holy Spirit will bring new boldness and new power as witnesses. (Acts 2)
4.  This is the age of the Spirit and we are not fulfilled unless our lives are blessed by Him.
5.  The Holy Spirit helps us to pray (Romans 8:26)
6.  He makes the Bible come alive. (Ephesians 1:17-18)

What do I need to do to receive the Spirit?

1.  Have a real desire for the baptism of the Spirit. ( 1 Corinthians 14:1)
2.  Ask God for this blessing. Jesus said that God is longing to give the Spirit to those who ask. Luke 11:13
3.   You need to believe that God will fill you.
4.  Be willing to persevere in prayer.
Ask to be prayed for to receive the baptism of the Spirit. However, you do not need to wait to ask for God to fill you - you can pray in the privacy of your own home though you may prefer to contact mature Spirit-filled believers for help.

What is the evidence of being baptised in the Spirit?

Do not be satisfied with anything less than the Biblical experience. Can we be sure that we really have been baptized with the Spirit? The Bible makes it clear that we can. In Acts 8:18 we discover that Simon could tell that the Samaritans had received the Spirit . He saw something happen. In Acts 10:46 Peter knew that Cornelius had been baptized with the Spirit. He knew because he heard them speak with tongues in the same way has they had on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:4. It was and still is the first visible sign that a person has been filled with the Spirit.

When we speak with tongues we speak in a language from God that we have not learned. It is a way of praying and praising God with our spirit instead of with our minds as we would in our native tongue. (1 Corinthians 14:14) The other signs will follow such as boldness, anointed praying and the Bible being a new book for us.

God wants all Christians to be filled with His Spirit. Ask Him to fill you! If you would like more information or prayer then either Email us or visit our church. Christianity is more than a religion. It is about having a real relationship with God. Nobody is complete as a person until he/she comes to know God.

Check out question 1: How can I become a Christian?