Becoming Believers, Chapter 16 - Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Chapter 16: Baptism of the Holy Spirit | Tabitha Bigbee
Becoming Believers
A book for Christians by T.S. Bigbee
Chapter 16 - Baptism of the Holy Spirit
This can be a touchy subject, but you’ve come this far, so I invite you to put down your shield of faith and hear my story in case it’s similar to yours. I was raised to believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking tongues was emotionally driven, chaotic, and misused in the church. It was never taught against, but it was never taught on either. It was something people in those weird churches did. My understanding of the baptism of the Spirit and the gifts that come with it was so limited that I didn’t even know the phrase “baptism of the Holy Spirit”! Keep in mind that I was born and raised in church and even went to a Christian college, so I’m probably not alone. I was baptized in the Spirit years before I ever spoke in tongues or accessed any of the other gifts, but the baptism of the Holy Spirit did immediately impact my life. I’ll get back to my story in a bit.
I am not writing a book to prove the existence and essentialness of the Holy Spirit, but rather encouraging others to fully believe what is written in the Bible. I will not be detailing every single scripture that references the Holy Spirit, but I do encourage you to do your own study on the Holy Spirit; just search “Holy Spirit verses” and you’ll get lists on lists of just scripture about the Holy Spirit. It’s quite fun and interesting!
We’ve established that God is a Spirit and that we are spirits. We know the Holy Spirit of God was given as a gift to believers after Jesus returned to heaven. The Holy Spirit is the believer’s essential connection to God while we’re on this side of heaven. When someone says that it’s not for today or it’s too weird but is still struggling in areas where Jesus has already bought victory, then I’m going to suggest that it might be worth looking into as a missing piece.
Jesus was baptized in water by John and baptized with the dove representing the Holy Spirit and so can we. (Matthew 3:13–17, Mark 1:9–11, Luke 3:21–22, John 1:29–34) There is a difference between the sealing by The Spirit of a born again spirit at salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. If the baptism of the Holy Spirit happened at salvation then Pentecost would not have happened (Acts 2:1-4), Paul would not have asked the disciples of Ephesus if they had been baptized in the spirit and when they said they had not he proceeded to lay hands on them to fill them (Acts 19:1-7). Half of the book of Acts would not exist if the baptism, or filling, of the Holy Spirit was not an integral thing. Yes, we receive a perfectly remade spirit upon salvation that is sealed by His Spirit, but the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a crucial next step or Jesus would not have told them to wait for it in Jerusalem before going out to minister (Acts 1:4-5). Let’s also consider that if it was not so powerful and important it wouldn’t be met with such a fight of opposition. Because who benefits from the church not believing and receiving the tremendous power of the Holy Spirit?
Praying in tongues has been and continues to be the greatest accelerator of God’s Word changing my heart and mind. Tongues is what I call a “beige” topic in many churches. Meaning it’s very neutral; not taught against, but certainly not encouraged. Usually never mentioned. There is a general shooing away of the subject because it’s too controversial, and we have the spirit in us so why do we need to speak in tongues and look like crazy people? By making it a non-issue it has been made inert, put on a shelf never to be disturbed, and Christians are taught to carry on, casually brushing it off.
It’s not a big, fancy, complicated thing. There’s not always a “feeling” and sometimes there’s no physical evidence right away, although many times there is. Why am I even talking about all of this? Because if we’re going to cultivate relationship and awareness of our Unity with our Good Father then we need all the tools He’s given us, and if we’re going to minister to the world we need to utilize the same power Jesus had that he promised to all believers (John 14:12, Mark 16:15-18).
Pastor Teresa and Pastor Michele Dunn both prayed in tongues regularly at the Bible study where I came to know and understand my identity as a new creation in Christ Jesus. I watched them live the Word and had never known people who so effortlessly loved God and people. Pastor Michele asked me, “Have you been baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit?” and Pastor Teresa burst out, “Yes! Obviously!” and I knew in my inside knower that she was correct, but I wasn’t sure how or when I had been baptized with the Holy Spirit! So I just asked the Holy Spirit, “Am I baptized with the Spirit? When did that happen?” And He answered me, because He promises to always answer.
I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at a Ballet Magnificat performance during an altar call. I remember asking forgiveness for how I was living, rededicating my life to God, and asking Him to fill me and be with me; the moment was powerful in a way I can’t describe. I didn’t have the physical evidence of praying in tongues at that moment, but I suddenly had a rock of belief inside of me that had not been there before. After that when I read the Word it made more sense to me, my determination to be obedient to God became firm, and my discernment of circumstances and situations was sharpened.
Back to Christian Faith Campus with Pastor Michele. I knew now from my own study of the Word who the Holy Spirit is and the essential role He plays in our lives, but still had reservations about tongues from how I was raised, so I did my own study through the New Testament. I saw that the gift of tongues is for my benefit! It is a gift that edifies my faith and was in fact not a human manipulation. One Sunday Pastor Michele came to me during prayer time and said, “Do you want to pray in tongues?” and I said, “Yes.” She replied, “I’m going to pray in tongues and then you try to copy me.” I tried to copy her but I couldn’t! Something else was coming out of my mouth! I couldn’t copy her no matter how hard I tried because my own words kept coming out! She encouraged me to keep practicing, so I started practicing every day out in the woods while walking our dog, Thora, because she never looked at me weird. Soon it became less awkward, and then very natural until now it has become unconscious. I’ll be praying in tongues about something under my breath not even realizing it. Many times when I’m falling asleep or waking up I’m praying in tongues in my mind! Sometimes when I’m studying the Word I start praying in tongues over what I’m reading because I know the Spirit is etching it deep into my soul for me.
Romans 8:26-27 ESV “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Ephesians 6:18 ESV “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
Jude 1:20-21 ESV “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”
What an amazing gift! When my human understanding fails I pray about it in tongues. When my words of praise start to feel stale I praise Him in tongues! When I have big feelings I pray them to my Father in tongues. When I have a decision to make and I’m totally unsure I don’t look anywhere other than the Lord and I pray about it in tongues to circumvent my own mind. When I need to pray for people I pray scripture over them and then tongues because the Holy Spirit prays perfectly for them through me!
Praying in tongues is a powerful tool for communicating with the Lord clearly without any “self” getting in the way. When a believer prays in tongues, brain scans show that the language centers of the mind are by-passed. The Holy Spirit rewires and brings healing and inspiration to our physical brain and our thinking minds through His Spirit in us! I imagine the Holy Spirit supernaturally reprogramming our minds, healing all the hurt and damaged places with His love. We allow the Holy Spirit access to the physical mind without unbelief getting in the way.
1 Corinthians 14:2-5 ESV “For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their building up and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.”
I know you’re saying, “Well, then we should be prophesying if we’re going to pray in tongues!” And you would be correct, so let’s bring that to our churches, too! Let’s bring all the gifts offered by the Holy Spirit and never squelch Him again! (1 Thessalonians 5:19) Let’s prophesy life over ourselves and our families and our churches and our cities until His life pouring through us is an undeniable fact! Let’s pray in the spirit to encourage and edify ourselves and wash away unbelief! Let’s let healing pour from our hands and let’s forbid evil with the authority of His Name!
The practice of knowing His voice flows very naturally into the gift of prophecy. Suddenly, you’re conversing with God and you’re hearing, seeing, and sensing things that are bigger than you, because we are the physical body of Jesus walking around down here to do His business! This book is not about the prophetic, which is sad because that needs to be talked about, so I encourage you to know more about this important aspect of hearing from God. Prophesy encourages and builds up believers! It confirms callings and dreams of ministries that are desperately needed in this world! (1 Corinthians 14, 1 Timothy 1:18-19)
God cannot make anyone do anything. If you don’t want to be baptized in the spirit you won’t be. If you don’t believe that you can speak in tongues or manifest any other gift of the spirit, you won’t. This is like everything else: by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). If you want to be baptized in the Holy Spirit all you have to do is ask God for it. Lord, fill me, anoint me with your spirit, and I want to see evidence of it in my life! And then know that it’s done. Regardless of how you feel, it’s done! Then keep pursuing the gifts. I was filled with the Spirit, but I didn’t even think about speaking in tongues until 6 years later, and then it took about a year before the unbelief about tongues was washed away enough for me to actually do it.
I dare you to take this on and press into it. Nothing will change you into a true believer faster than receiving this amazing, powerful gift! I have been a Christian with and without the power of the Holy Spirit, and with is better.
There is so much to the Holy Spirit. We all have access to the gifts that His Holy Spirit brings to us, just as Jesus had. Let’s live in pursuit of what’s possible with the Spirit pouring through us from the heavenly realm into this earthly realm as we chip away more and more unbelief! Let’s never stop walking the more excellent way with the higher gifts of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:31 ESV “But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.”
Scripture in this section:
Matthew 3:13–17
Mark 1:9–11
Luke 3:21–22
John 1:29–34
Acts 2:1-4
Acts 19:1-7
Acts 1:4-5
John 14:12
Mark 16:15-18
Romans 8:26-27
Ephesians 6:18
Jude 1:20-21
1 Corinthians 14:2-5
1 Thessalonians 5:19
1 Corinthians 14
1 Timothy 1:18-19
1 Corinthians 12:31
Thanks for holding on through this ride! If you would like more about the prophetic might I recommend The Prophetic Warrior by Emma Stark? IT’S WORTH IT.
If you have more questions about the baptism and gifts of the spirit and would like to explore them for yourself - reach out. Let’s talk. Let’s maybe even get a little coaching thrown in there! YOU WILL NOT BE SAD YOU DID.
Happily,
Tabitha
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Love it! What an amazing chapter, indeed. Familiar hat yes. However, I wouldn't say old because through this baptism of the Holy Spirit I am constantly getting new revelation as I read the word, pray, and just live in constant communion with the Godhead. Can't wait to start the Bible Study Group: Becoming Believer's. Thank you so much and God bless you and B.T. 🔥✝️🔥