The Baptism of the Holy Spirit - Part 1

Well if you would take your Bible and turn to Acts chapter 2. Tonight we will be in verses 1 to 13 but we will not cover all of these verses. Acts chapter 2 verses 1 to 13. Now starting in chapter 2 we find ourselves at a great turning point in the book of Acts. I have already said more than once that Acts chapter 1 really serves as a bridge between Luke's gospel account and Luke's Acts account. And we saw that chapter 1 was and is all about preparation. It was and is all about completion and all of this was and is for the unfinished work of the Great Commission. Verses 1 to 11 were all about the promise of power for unfinished work.

The disciples, the apostles, those early disciples, all of those believers had received this promise. So this was all about waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit for this unfinished work. But we saw that this waiting was busy with activity. And then verses 12 to 16 were all about the replacement of Judas for the unfinished work. There was an incompleteness in that there was a position open. One of the apostles was Judas. We know who he was and what he did. So there was a position open and it was the Lord's will. I believe that that replacement be made. And this was all about getting them ready for this unfinished work.

Well here in Acts chapter 2 we finally move off that bridge. We got that or I got that from Warren Wiersby. We move off the bridge of chapter 1 and those early believers waiting into the giving of the promise Holy Spirit, the birth of the church, which is a great turning point in the kingdom of God and the work of the kingdom here on earth. Now listen in contrast between chapter 1 and chapter 2. And notice the great turning point that we see here. In chapter 1 we see Jesus ascending. Remember he ascended back to be with his father. And then in chapter 2 we see him, thus Jesus descending in the person and the work of the spirit.

In chapter 1 we see those early believers waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. And in chapter 2 we see the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the promise being fulfilled. In chapter 1 we see the apostles and early believers being equipped in their waiting. I said numerous times there was a lot going on in their waiting. It wasn't an idle waiting. And in chapter 2 we see the apostles and the early believers being empowered by the spirit. And in chapter 1 we see that those early believers were held back. Think about that. They were held back from the work of the Great Commission. Jesus said don't go anywhere. Stay in Jerusalem. Wait.

Well in chapter 2 we will see that they are sent out for the work of the Great Commission. And then later on in our study we will see that the spirit really did send them out in a greater way because of persecution. That great persecution that broke out against them. But simply this contrast can be explained in one way. In chapter 1 we see promises made and in chapter 2 we see promises fulfilled. But I want us to notice how Luke connects the events in chapter 2 to the events of John the Baptist and certain things that John prophesied. Remember I have said numerous times that Luke gives us a two part account. He gives us his gospel account.

That's the part 1. And then he gives us this book called Acts or the Acts of the Apostles or the Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles. And that is considered a part 2. But if we read all four gospel accounts we see the preaching of John the Baptist. But only Luke connects John's prophecy of a baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire to what we see in Acts 2. Listen to Luke 3.16. And John answered them all saying, "I baptized you with water, but he who is miter than eyes coming, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Now let me read that again with a little explanation.

John is speaking here. John the Baptist. He says, "I baptized you with water, but he," that's Jesus. Remember John was the forerunner of Jesus. "He who is miter than I am is coming, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie, he," that's Jesus, "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Now what is the point? Why do I bring this up? On a basic level what we see and what we see that took place here in Acts 2 was promised by John the Baptist. But on a deeper level Luke was bringing John's baptism of Jesus in the Jordan and the Holy Spirit's baptism of those early believers alongside one another. And the point is this.

In Jesus' physical baptism in the Jordan, that was an essential one-time act for all that would follow Jesus' earthly ministry. His baptism in the Jordan was necessary, it was needed, and it was a must. And in this spiritual baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire, which was prophesied by John and seen here in Acts 2, this was an essential one-time act for all that would follow in the ministry of the apostles and those early believers in the New Testament church. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire was necessary, it was needed, it was a must. So that leads me to the title of what we're going to look at in verses 1 to 13.

I call these verses the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Now notice something. I didn't get my title from TVN or the Charismatics or the Pentecostals. I just took it from John. John's account of this prophecy. So chapter 2 verses 1 to 13 are all about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And we will see tonight and next week how that can lead to a lot of confusion, but I will clear that up. Now let's read all of our verses even though we're not going to cover them all tonight. Starting at verse 1. But when the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as a fire appeared to them and rested on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem, Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound, the multitude came together and they were bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

And how is it that we hear each of us in his own native language?" Corinthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontius, and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene and visitors from Rome noticed both Jews and Priscillites. That would be Priscillites to Judaism, Christians and Arabians. We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God. And all were amazed and perplexed saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others mocking said they are filled with new wine. Basically they were accusing them of being drunk.

Now out of these verses, we're going to make three observations. I want us to look at the evidence or the manifestation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then second, the effects of this outpouring. And then the beginning of this explanation. We see this at the end in these last two verses and really we will mention more of this explanation in the other verses. But tonight we're really only going to cover verses one to four. So number one, I want us to look at the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Now I use this phrase baptism of the Holy Spirit because of what we see in John's prophecy. I got that from Luke 3.16. But we actually do not see that language in verses one to four. You notice that? We don't see that same language. Let's go back and read verses one to four. "On the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place, and suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

And divided tongues as a fire appeared to them and rested on each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance." Now notice that we see the falling and the filling of the Holy Spirit. Obviously the Spirit came down from heaven, and verse two says the Spirit filled the place where they had gathered, and verse four says these believers were filled with the Spirit. Now remember we saw who they were. We had the apostles, we had the siblings or the brothers and sisters of Jesus. We even had the women. So this would have been all the believers.

So we can say that here we have the evidence of the promised Holy Spirit. He descended from heaven to and in the apostles and all of those early believers. He filled their meeting place and he filled their hearts, minds, and lives. They were baptized with the Spirit as John prophesied. And here we have evidence of this manifestation of what John said would happen. Now this is how we will approach these verses. I want us to see four important things here, and some of this can be lengthy, but it's necessary, it's helpful, it will explain a lot of things to you tonight and even next week as we elaborate further on these things.

But first I want us to see the day of the baptism of the Spirit. Now it is easy to see that these things took place on the day of Pentecost, but we need to see the great significance of this day and why it is important that these events took place on this day. Now if you do some study on your own, you can see where Warren Wearsby describes these things well and John MacArthur describes these things well. Really this is a little bit of both of them put together. But let me show you what we have here.

The word Pentecost actually means fifth because the Old Testament feasts, they were held 50-day because this Old Testament feast, the Feast of Pentecost was held 50 days after the Feast of First Fruits. We see that in Leviticus 23, 15 to 22. Now many of us do know that the Jewish calendar was marked by particular feasts, but we may not know, but what we may not know is that those Jewish feasts outline the work of the promised Messiah who was and is Jesus. Let me give you an example. Passover pictures the death of Jesus as the Lamb of God, the true Passover Lamb of God.

John tells us this in John 1.29 and Paul tells us this in 1 Corinthians 5.7. Now the Feast of First Fruits pictures the resurrection from the dead. Paul tells us this in 1 Corinthians 15.20-23. And 50 days after First Fruits is the Feast of Pentecost. Which is a picture of the birth and the formation of the church. And for the Jews, Pentecost was a celebration of giving the law. But for Christians in the church, Pentecost became and was and is a celebration of the giving of the Holy Spirit.

The Jewish Feast of First Fruits took place on the day after the Sabbath takes place on the Feast of the First Fruits took place on the day after the Sabbath after Passover. And that means it was always on the first day of the week. And we have to remember that the Jewish Sabbath was Saturday on the seventh day. And Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the first day of the week, that Sunday. So he became the first fruits of them that were asleep or dead. And we see that in 1 Corinthians 15.20. And if Pentecost was 50 days later, then Pentecost also took place on the first day of the week.

And the New Testament church assembled for worship, and the church still does to this day on the first day of the week. Because on that day, our Lord rose from the dead. And it was also on that day that the Holy Spirit was given as promised. And on the Feast of First Fruits, the Jewish priests would wave a sheath of grain before the Lord. But on Pentecost, the priest presented two loaves of bread before the Lord. Now why is that the case? Because at Pentecost, the promised Holy Spirit was given. The Spirit baptized those apostles and those early believers, and he united them into one body.

And get this, the Jewish believers experienced this baptism at Pentecost, and we see this in Acts 2. But the Gentiles believers experienced this baptism later on in the home of Cornelius, and we see this in Acts 10, 1-48. And New Testament scholars tell us that this is why we see the two loaves of bread at Pentecost. Now what's my point here? And why is this more than just a biblical lesson, some kind of a quick Old Testament example, and what this means to these people who receive the Spirit on Pentecost?

The Old Testament, and especially those Old Testament feasts and festivals, were full of pictures, types, and shadows of Christ, and the giving and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Church. Well, what does that mean to us? To me, two things we must see. First, God kept and keeps His promises. He promised these things from the beginning. We see that God's eternal plan for the redemption of man was spoken of, even back in Genesis 3, just after the fall of man. Genesis 3.15, God promised a Savior who would provide redemption for men and men.

And God certainly fulfilled His promise and plan, and we see those things unfolding here in Acts 2. So Acts 2 is the fulfillment of many promises. Acts 2 is the fulfillment of many types, shadows, and promises, and they are seen all throughout those Jewish feasts. But then second, on a personal level, we are all beneficiaries of God's promise and plan. We are a part of a continuation of what we see in Acts 2. I can summarize what I have just said by saying this. God promised these things as early as Genesis 3.15, and He fulfilled His promise and plan, and we are experiencing His promises and these plans being fulfilled.

And in Acts 2, we see the birth of the Church, and the Church being sent out to begin the work of the Great Commission, and we are continuing that work. So number one, we see the day of the baptism of the Spirit. But then second, the place of the baptism of the Spirit. Now in all our translations, we see in verse 1 that they, 12 apostles, those early believers, they were listed in chapter 1, verses 13 and 14, but they were all together in one place. And if we read on in verse 2, we will see that Luke says that the Spirit filled the house. So it appears that these believers were still in this common place of meeting, this common meeting place.

This very well could have been the upper room where the disciples had celebrated Passover with Jesus. Now this upper room very well could have been the place where they had celebrated the Passover with Jesus, and this upper room very well could have been the place where they gathered all along, that we've seen in chapter 1 and chapter 2. But the point is this, in chapter 1, verse 13, we see these believers gathered in a particular place while they were waiting. And remember that in their waiting, they were busy practicing obedience to Christ's commands. They were busy in their fellowshiping with one another. They were busy in prayer.

They were busy in the study of the Old Testament Scriptures. They were busy recognizing God's chosen leaders for them. They were busy in instruction from God's Word from their leaders. And here in chapter 2, we see that they were still in this place of waiting, this common place of gathering together. Now for me, there's a lesson here. Having a particular place for believers to gather to do what believers in the church should be and do is biblical. It's biblical. If we move on into Acts 2, we see that the church at Jerusalem met at the temple, and we've seen that they met house to house. So having a place to meet is biblical.

Now I'm not a world traveler, but I've been in different places in the world, and I've seen one thing that's common. Churches meet. They have a common place to meet. I remember when I went to India with a friend of mine in 2014. We went to the state of Bihar. If you look at India, it's kind of a triangle. And Bihar is to the north. It borders Nepal. And it's the poorest state in the country. And I'll never forget when I came out of Bihar and came into civilization, and I was talking to Christy. She said, "I've done some research.

Bihar is the poorest state in the country." I said, "I know I've been there." But we went to churches in all these villages in Bihar. Now when I say churches, I mean like thatched hut churches. The fancy thatched hut churches would have a tin roof, but most of them just had thatched roofs as well. But when you went from village to village, they had one particular place where the church met. I think about when we went to Edinburgh, Scotland. Anchor and truth partner there. His name's Allie McLachlan. There in Edinburgh, they have a church facility where they meet.

And as they are planning other churches in Scotland, they have places where the churches meet. We used to meet at Nola Baptist Church in the country. That met our needs in that day. Today, we have a rented facility. We're thankful to meet here. Christ Life Church meets here. But I pray in the future, in God's time, we will be able to have our own facility. So it's nothing wrong with us saying we have a place where we meet. And even owning that. But then third, the actual baptism of the spirit, the actual baptism of the spirit. Now, I like what one commentator said here. He says there is nothing sensory about the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit cannot be seen or touched. Think about that. God cannot be seen or touched. And he goes on to say, and I'm quoting him here, "Yet God in his providence often accompanies his spirits working by visible and audible sign, particularly at certain crises in redemptive history." And that is what we see here. By his good grace and providential plan, God used three visible signs in this baptism of the Holy Spirit. Specifically, we see wind, fire, and I'm calling this inspired speech. Let's go back to the verses. I want to read verses 1-4 again.

"When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place, and suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind. And it filled the entire house where they were sitting, and divided tongues as a fire appeared to them and rested on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues or languages as the Spirit gave them utterance." As the Spirit gave them utterance. Now, this is what we have here. Notice that God used the wind.

Now, both in the Hebrew language and in the Greek language in which the original New Testament was written, the word for wind meant wind or spirit, depending on the context in which it was used. Ezekiel had prophesied of the wind as the breath of God blowing over the dry bones in the valley of his vision, filling them with new life. We know those passages. Ezekiel 37, 9-14. And here Luke uses that, and here Luke tells us that a sensory sign of the Holy Spirit's coming upon those early believers was a sound like a mighty rushing wind.

And when you study and ask why this mighty rushing wind, you can get many different opinions here, but the point needs to be seen here is this. This sound like a mighty rushing wind. This came from heaven. It filled the house and it filled all of the house. So the house and all those in the house were filled with God's Spirit. But then notice God used fire. Now, fire was a well-known tool of God to the Jews. All the Jews knew that God revealed himself to Moses through what? A burning bush. We see that in Exodus 3. Also, it was a pillar of fire that guided the Israelites by night when they were in the wilderness. We see that in Exodus 13, 21.

And they knew of the presence of God as a consuming fire on Mount Sinai in Exodus 24. And that the fire of God hovered over the wilderness tabernacle in Exodus 40, verse 38. And there are other examples of God manifesting himself in fire. But why these tongues of fire? You can get differing opinions here as well. But the point that needs to be seen here is this. This divided tongues as a fire which rested on each of them. This came from heaven and it rested on each of them. And this was a part of the filling of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, minds, and lives. So the house and all those within the house were filled with the Spirit.

And then notice God used what I call inspired speech. Now in Old Testament times, inspired prophetic speech was seen often. And it was always associated with the Spirit of God coming upon a particular person for a special purpose. Now I'm going to mention one. But one specific instance is seen in 1 Samuel 10, 6 to 12. Here we have the account where Saul, who would be King Saul, he was not a prophet, was moved upon by God and he prophesied along with the prophets in such a way, in such an open way, in such an obvious way, that those listening were amazed and they were wondering who he was and if he was listed among the prophets.

Now before I continue, we need to see what this was not. These tongues were not some kind of ecstatic utterances that Paul dealt with in 1 Corinthians 12 to 14, those chapters. This was not some type of non-intelligible language that had to be interpreted or explained. So this leads us to see what this really was. These tongues are other languages that they were speaking, were other literal languages. And we know that because later on, we see those who were hearing immediately recognize that these were known languages, but not known languages to those who were speaking them. I'm getting ahead of myself, but listen to verses 7 to 8.

And they were amazed and astonished. Who's they? The audience. The audience. They were amazed and astonished saying, "Are not all of these who were speaking Galileans?" In other words, that's not their language. And how is it that we hear each his own native language coming out of them? I'm adding that on the end of the verse. But why these known tongues that were unknown tongues spoken by the ones who spoke? The point that needs to be seen here is this. This was a supernatural act of God enabling them to speak an unknown language that was known by those hearing.

So the house and all those within the house, this was a part of the filling of the Spirit. Now, before we move into the meaning of the baptism, we need to see what this baptism or this manifestation of the Holy Spirit was. You see, all those who were hearing were Jews from many different places. Look back at verses 7 to 11. I'm going to read them. Notice they were Jews. And they were amazed and astonished saying, "Are not all of these who were speaking Galileans?" And how is it that we hear each of us in his own native language?

Corinthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontius, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and other parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene and visitors from Rome. Both Jews and proselytes, proselytes would have been proselytes to Judaism. Both Jews and proselytes, Christians and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God. This tells us that they were Jews from all over the world, the Roman world, who had ascended to Jerusalem, why? For Passover, one of the most important dates on the Jewish calendar. So this was a Jewish audience. And this was a Jewish context in its totality.

So they, as Jews, knew that in Old Testament times that the wind spoke of and represented the presence and the work of God. They knew that fire was used often in Old Testament times to speak of and to represent the presence of God. They knew that in Old Testament times, God spoke often powerfully and supernaturally through men. So God providentially manifesting this promise, baptism of the Holy Spirit through wind, fire, and tongues. This was God using means that these Jews and proselytes to Judaism would have understood as from God. Yes, these things were in our otherworldly, I know.

But these were means and manifestations that they would have recognized from their knowledge of the Old Testament scripture and their history as from God. Now right here, there's a lesson that we have to get. God does not do random things. God does not say random things. Many times when we see something as random, if we know the context in the background, we will understand why God said what he said and why God did what he did. I'll give you an example. God did not tell Timothy or God through Paul to take a little wine for his stomach, just to take a little wine for his stomach. He really had a physical issue.

God through Paul did not deal with Timothy as being timid because he wasn't timid. He was there for a purpose. He was timid. And this is pretty convicting. God through Paul didn't deal with Timothy about being neglectful with his gift just randomly. Timothy somehow had a habit of being neglectful or careless. What I'm trying to show you is those little things that we see are there for a purpose. But I'll give you another example. The story of Nicodemus in John chapter 3. When Jesus was trying to explain to him about the new birth, he says you should have known these things. Why? Because they were taught in the Old Testament.

And what is one of the examples he used? The wind. You see, because Nicodemus knowing the Old Testament would have understood these things, none of these things were random. We also see this in the parables that Jesus taught. Those stories that he taught, those examples that he taught, those were everyday examples that the audience would have known and understood, even though we may struggle to understand those things because we are disconnected from that culture. But fourth, the meaning of the baptism of the Spirit. Now to understand what this is, we need to understand what it's not. Verse 4 says that they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

But we need to see that this is not being baptized with the Spirit. Now here's where some of my choice of language can be confusing, but follow me. Paul thoroughly defines the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a work of Christ by which he places the believer into the body of Christ. We see this in Romans 6, 4 to 6, 1 Corinthians 12, 13, and Galatians 3, 27. Let me repeat that. Paul thoroughly defines the baptism of the Spirit as a work of Christ when he places a believer into the body when they're born again. Now we need to see why this filling of the, what this filling of the Spirit is that we see here in Acts 2.

Unlike the baptism of the Spirit, which happens one time and only one time, the filling of the Spirit is an experience that should be continuous. I've taught you this thoroughly. We see this in Ephesians 5, 18, that the believer is to be filled and continue to be filled with the Spirit all throughout life. And look at the examples we see just in the book of Acts. Peter was filled initially here on the day of Pentecost, but he was filled again in Acts 4, 8. And some of these believers who were filled in Acts 2 were filled again in Acts 4, 31. Another example, Stephen. In Acts 6, 5, Stephen is described as a man full of the Spirit.

In Acts 17, 55, we see that Stephen was filled again. Now what is the point? Here in Acts 2, we have this initial filling of the Spirit. Jesus spoke of this filling in John 14, 16 to 17 where he said, "And I will ask the Father and he will give you another help or to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him for he dwells with you and will be in you." And this is not to be confused with being baptized by the Spirit because that takes place at one's conversion to Christ.

Paul says in Galatians 3, 27, "For as many of you who were baptized into Christ have been put on Christ." So notice what we have. These believers in Acts 2 were already born again. They are receiving the filling of the Spirit. So notice what we have here in verses 1 to 4. Evidence of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit or the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that's what John says this would be. On the day of Pentecost, as those early believers were together in one place, the Holy Spirit came down and filled the house and filled these believers.

And the Spirit's presence and filling was demonstrated and made known to them and made known to others by manifesting himself as a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire, and supernatural tongues of other men. Now there are some lessons here that I want to touch on. I've said this all throughout the message. These things were foretold. Every single one of these things were foretold. These were not random events. These things have been prophesied and promised. But also these things were supernatural. The outpouring of the Spirit like this was supernatural. And God intended it to be as a witness to all of those Jews there at Pentecost.

And these things had meaning. Every single one of them had meaning. But we need to see the purpose. The purpose was not for the wow. Obviously these things are pretty wow. Isn't that right? I said these things were a thriller. But the purpose was for the empowerment of the Great Commission. The purpose was a proving and a demonstration of the outpouring of the Spirit. But all for the purpose of filling them and empowering them for the work. But there are two lessons for us here today. First the abuses of these things. I mean people abuse these things. And it's all for this wow. They just want something emotional and seemingly supernatural.

And many take advantage of these things to take advantage of others. But second the most misunderstood thing about this outpouring or baptism of the Holy Spirit as John calls it was the purpose. The purpose of this outpouring, the purpose of this filling was for the power to do. This was for the power to do what God had called them to do. Now at this point I want to pause. Next week we're going to revisit verses 1 to 4 because there are a few other things that I want us to see here. Then we will finish by examining verses 5 to 12. But I want to close by explaining and asking two things.

We saw that at our conversion to Christ we are literally baptized into Christ and into the body. Now this is a spiritual baptism. When we are converted to Christ we are spiritually baptized into Christ and into the body of Christ. When I came to faith in Christ I was baptized spiritually into Christ. I knew that I had received a new life in Christ. I knew although I would have struggled with the language to articulate it I knew that I was in Christ and Christ was in me. And evidence that that took place was I knew that I was into this body, this local body, the local church. I knew they were my brothers and sisters.

I was attracted to them and they were attracted to me. And my question for you is this. Have you been spiritually baptized into Christ and into the body of Christ? If you've not, you've not been converted. Now I understand that truly born again people can come to understand these things later as they are explained. But have you been baptized into Christ? And evidence of being baptized into Christ is that you saw and understood that you were baptized into a local body. They were your family, you were united with them and you wanted to be with them. That's why there's no such thing as someone who is a Christian and they never come to church.

That just doesn't exist. Obviously Christians can have times where they're providentially hindered or in sin for not attending church. But we saw that in the Christian life we are to be filled with the Spirit and we are to continuously be being filled with the Spirit. Now I know this is not literal, it's figurative, but we leak. We leak and we're sinful and we sin. We are sinful and we sin and we leak. And what I mean is we have to be filled with the Spirit. We have to be continuously being filled with the Spirit. And my question for you is this, are you living the Spirit-filled, Spirit-controlled life?

If not, then you are living a sin-filled, in a sin-controlled life. You cannot be neutral. You cannot be neutral. And we will see next week that this teaching here really relates to a lot of other teaching in Scripture. I've touched on some of it that we need to see. So tonight we're looking at the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I got that from John. Now I said that could be confusing because this is really a filling of the Spirit, an outpouring of the Spirit. But I just chose to use John's language, the baptism of the Spirit. So let me pray and then we'll look at some prayer needs.