A Great Big Hug From God
1. Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, the last thing He said to the disciples was,
"Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you: but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." Luke 24:49
2. The book of Acts records it like this...
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which", He said, "you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Acts 1:4-5
note: Jesus did not say, "You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit." What He actually said, according to the Greek, was, "You shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit."
3. So the disciples were obedient and waited in Jerusalem until the Day of Pentecost. THEN...
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4
4. The "Promise of the Father," the Holy Spirit, had been poured out upon the believers. This outpouring came to be known as "The Baptism in the Holy Spirit" because that's what Jesus had called it.
note: The Greek word for baptise is "baptizo." It means "to whelm" or "to make fully wet with a fluid" (see Strong's # 907 and #911) It does not mean "to immerse," but "to whelm." One way to "whelm" someone with water would be to pour the water over his head until he was all wet. God poured out the Holy Spirit upon His Church on the day of Pentecost.
5. Speaking of the believer's experience on the Day of Pentecost, Peter said,
Therefore (Jesus) being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. Acts 2:33
6. But there is something else we should know. The Bible actually describes this baptism in the Holy Spirit as a hug from God!
7. Remember the household of Cornelius?
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word, And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Acts 10:44-46
The Greek word translated into English as "fell upon" is "epipipto" (pronounced e-pee-pip'-toe). This is the same word used in the story of the Prodigal Son!
And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. Luke 15:20
8. "Epipipto" means to seize with some force, and embrace with affection, or to rush upon. (see Strong's concordance # 1968)
Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him. Acts 20:37
9. So what happened at Cornelius' house? The Bible says the Holy Spirit fell upon them! No wonder they spoke in tongues and magnified God! They were being embraced and seized by the Holy Spirit rushing upon them. That's the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
10. Notice that nobody laid hands on anyone of the household of Cornelius, or taught them anything about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. God just poured out His Spirit upon them like a great big hug.
11. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit has purpose. Everything God does has purpose. His purpose is to reach the world with the gospel. For 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. Acts 1:8
God's purpose has never changed.
12. Here's a true story...
One day a lady came to me asking me to pray with her to receive something from God. This same lady was the one who always came up to me asking for a hug. She always said, "I need a hug." (I knew she was a single mom.) So I always gave her a hug. But this one day she wanted something from God. So I got an idea. I gave her a great big hug and prayed that GOD would tell her how much He loved her. A few days later she gave this report:
She was attending a Christian concert, when her son, being led by the Spirit of God, splashed water on her. (I found out she had not been baptized - till then.) Then the Holy Spirit came upon her like a great crush of love. She felt loved and she exploded into joy and found herself speaking in tongues. Afterwards she was an electrified witness in her community - going from house to house and telling everyone what God had done for her!
I am glad God allowed (caused), me to have that experience because up until then I had no idea that I could pray for someone and they would receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit - a great big Daddy hug from God!
13. Great power is poured out in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit is love. When you are embraced by that love you will have love, and power for ministry. I have been seized by that power, and that power (and love), now flows through me. This gives me the boldness (and the humility), to be a witness of the grace of God.
14. Salvation, baptism in water, and the baptism in the Holy Spirit were all meant to be a package deal. If any part of the package was missing, the apostles saw to it that the believer got the rest of the package as soon as possible.