DIFFERENCE IN BEING FILLED AND BEING BAPTIZED WITH THE SPIRIT
In modern Christianity, there are few terms that are used to donate that a person does not have the Holy Spirit in them. People would ask, “Have you received the Holy Spirit?” or “Are you filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues?” If the answer is no, then you would be deemed as one who does not have the Spirit of God. This type of concept does not correspond with Romans 8:11, Romans 8:15.
What many people do not know is this. There are three levels of endowments and three great categories of Grace of the Holy Spirit upon humans.
On the Day of Pentecost, three (3) things happened to the 120 disciples in the Upper Room. They were “baptized with the Holy Spirit”; “Baptized by Fire” and they were also “Filled with the Holy Spirit”.
These two first empowerment of Grace (baptism with the Spirit and baptism by Fire) are mentioned in Luke 3:16, “the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire”
BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT is an inner power and endowment of the Presence of God and the spiritual Gifts of the Holy Spirit. This is the Holy Spirit of Redemption that comes “INSIDE” you at Conversion (Rom 8:9).
When the Holy Spirit of Redemption goes INSIDE of you at Conversion - it is called “Infilling of the Spirit”
This is the promise to believers who will be immersed in the Holy Spirit as a seal of having eternal life.
It’s also to make us part of the body of Christ and heirs of God.
1Co 12:13, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit”.
The same Baptism of the Holy Spirit was spoken about in Acts 1:5, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence”.
This is a crucial prophecy about the Baptism of the Spirit that would happen soon, yet, when we look in Acts Ch. 1 and 4, there is no reference to the Disciples being baptized with the Holy Spirit; instead, reference was only made to the Saints being “filled” with the Spirit, why?
Because the baptism with the Spirit was a personal thing, but it was the filling with the Holy Ghost that made the difference in the expression of the glory of God in the area of signs and wonders and preaching of the Gospel.
Hence, the baptism of the Holy Spirit now becomes the Indwelling Spirit or Indwelling Glory.
BAPTISM BY FIRE is the fire of the Holy Spirit in which we are immerged for ministry. It is the power of God that inflames our life as we execute the plan of God. This fire is what that protects us as a hedge of fire, and protects us from evil powers, venom, sorcery etc. However, though this fire burns day and night, the Lord many times tap into this fire and causes an explosion in the spirit realm. This is where we enter “Being filled with the Holy Spirit”.
BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT is on a different dimension from the two above. This power is NOT internal, but external. It’s where the Spirit comes “UPON” you to empower you for a specific task. Luke 1:67, Acts 2:4, Acts 4:8, Acts 4:31, Act 9:17.
This is the “Holy Spirit of Empowerment”; He Comes upon the Believer to give power for ministry-Acts 1:8, “But ye shall RECEIVE POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come UPON you. “
When the Holy Spirit of Empowerment comes UPON you, it is called “Filling of the Holy Spirit or Filled with the Holy Spirit”. Infilling and being Filled with the Holy Spirit are two different levels of spiritual impartation.
We must know that Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for converted souls; Baptism of Fire is for appointed Christians; but being Filled with the Holy Spirit is for those whom the Lord has chosen to execute a task.
In every scripture where the Spirit came upon a person it was for the execution of a specific task; Numbers 24:2, 1 Samuel 10:10, 1 Samuel 11:6, 2 Chronicles 15:1, Numbers 11:25, Judges 3:10, Judges 14:19, 1 Samuel 10:10, 1 Samuel 19:20.
This power can fall on anybody, including the unsaved as in the case of Zerubbabel. Haggai 1:14, “So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah”.
You cannot be infilled and remain there; you must also be filled with the Spirit. Being saved is not enough, we must work with God and bear fruits.
Romans 6:22, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life”. Romans 7:4, “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God”.
Fruits of righteousness will give us a place in Heaven, but if we do not bear the fruits of ministry then we will have no reward in Heaven.
Mat 7:19, "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire".
To Note: The Holy Spirit has been on the Earth since creation, and was with the Prophets of old, and was with the disciples. Jesus did say, "he IS with you and shall be IN you"
Before Pentecost, the disciples already had the Holy Spirit in them. This is confirmed in John 20:22, “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”
So, did they receive the Holy Spirit on that day or on the day of Pentecost?
They received the Holy Spirit on the day but it was for peace; but the Spirit of power was given to then on Pentecost.
