I gave my life to Christ at nine years old. But it wasn’t until I was around 22 that I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years, I held several misconceptions that kept me from receiving this precious gift.
One of my biggest misconceptions was thinking that God had to give me the Holy Spirit. I spent much time joining prayer lines, waiting for something to happen. I didn’t understand that God had already given the Holy Spirit.
I just needed to receive Him as stated in Acts 2:38-39: “Repent and let every one of you is baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” I needed to receive the Holy Spirit the same way, just as I had received salvation —by faith.
I also thought that if there wasn’t a physical manifestation, like falling under the anointing, I didn’t receive the Holy Spirit. Most people I knew who had been baptised in the Holy Spirit had fallen when hands were laid on them, so I assumed this was the only way it could happen. This belief kept me from realising that the Holy Spirit’s work isn’t dependent on outward signs or dramatic experiences.
Another misconception was that the Holy Spirit would force me to speak in tongues. I knew speaking in tongues was evidence of being baptised with the Holy Spirit. I mistakenly thought the Holy Spirit would control my mouth. I believed He would move my lips and make words come out. I didn’t understand that the Holy Spirit gives the utterance. We choose to yield and speak as He enables us.
These misconceptions kept me from receiving the Holy Spirit for many, many years, even though I was born again. Finally, I did receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I didn’t fully understand what had happened to me. I didn’t take advantage of this precious gift. It’s like being given a birthday gift but never opening it. You miss out on the joy and benefits of the gift.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a powerful experience that every believer should have and fully embrace.
The Person of the Holy Spirit
To truly benefit from the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it is first essential to understand that it is a Person. Yes, I know it sounds simple, but this truth is crucial. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force or an “it.” He is a distinct personality in the Godhead, just like Jesus Christ and God the Father.
People often refer to the Holy Spirit as “it.” You wouldn’t refer to Jesus Christ as “it.” Why would you refer to the Holy Spirit that way? When the Holy Spirit isn’t real to someone, they may think of Him as an abstract power rather than a relatable Person. But when you recognise the Holy Spirit as a Person, He becomes real to you. You can relate to Him personally.
Jesus said in John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever” (NKJV). Here, Jesus promised someone like Himself—a divine Helper, the Holy Spirit. Though distinct, the Holy Spirit is just as loving, kind, and powerful as Jesus. Jesus went about doing good, healing, and delivering. The Holy Spirit will do the same works. This happens when we allow Him to operate in our lives.
The Presence of the Holy Spirit
In John 14:17, Jesus said, “… the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (NKJV). Jesus assures us that the Holy Spirit will dwell in every believer, meaning we are never alone without help.
I remember a story from a colleague of mine who was fostering two boys whose mother was a drug addict. The older boy, about 12, understood that their circumstances had changed. But the younger boy, only 5, couldn’t comprehend the change. Every night, he asked his new foster mom, “Are you leaving?” His fear stemmed from being neglected and abandoned by his birth mother, who often left him and his brother alone for days while she searched for drugs. He wasn’t yet able to trust that his new caregiver wouldn’t leave him.
Many believers are like that young boy, fearing God will leave or abandon them. But Jesus promises us that the Holy Spirit will live in us and never leave us. Even if we don’t feel His presence, He is still with us, as Jesus said He would be.
A child of God is never neglected, abandoned, or without help. John 14:16 reassures us: “I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever” (NKJV).
The Power of the Holy Spirit
The baptism of the Holy Spirit empowers every believer to be an effective witness of Jesus Christ. In Acts 1:8, Jesus said, “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” (NKJV).
A witness is someone who has seen or heard something firsthand. The Holy Spirit’s power in your life gives you a personal experience of God’s goodness and power. He regenerates us when we are born again, heals us, and leads us into God’s perfect will. The power of the Holy Spirit is not only for our benefit. It also benefits others. The Holy Spirit enables us to be witnesses of God’s supernatural power.
If you have a loved one who needs salvation, healing, or deliverance, the baptism of the Holy Spirit equips you to minister to them. Every believer needs to see God’s power manifested in their lives and the lives of those around them.
I often tell my friends that every child of God should experience raising at least one person from the dead, casting out a few demons, and laying hands on the sick to see them recover.
Why? When Jesus Christ returns and establishes the new heaven and earth, there will be no more sickness, death, or demons to cast out. Now is the time to experience and walk in God’s power.
How to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit
To receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you must first be born again. If you need to be born again or want the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you can pray the prayer below to receive both salvation and the Holy Spirit.
When you pray, believe that God has already given you these gifts—salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit—and that you are simply receiving what He has made available to you. Receive them by faith!
After praying, trust the Holy Spirit to give you the utterance by opening your mouth and beginning to speak in tongues. The words may not make sense to you, but the Bible says you are praying mysteries, and the Holy Spirit is praying through you. You don’t need to understand every word, but you can also ask God to make your understanding fruitful so that you may comprehend what you are praying about.
Prayer for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
If you need the baptism of the Holy Spirit, pray this prayer.
Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). I am calling on You now. I ask Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord over my life, according to Romans 10:9-10: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.” I confess that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. I am now reborn—I am a Christian, a child of Almighty God! I am saved!
Your Word also says, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13). Father, I ask You now to fill me with the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, rise up within me as I praise God. I fully expect to speak with other tongues as You give me the utterance, according to Acts 2:4. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
