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- Today's teaching will be part three in series I've chosen to title; "There's Something Missing in My Life." Once again, I’ll begin with a question.

- Have you ever, at one time or another, experienced a disappointment that has left you feeling empty and even dry in your Christian experience?

- The Apostle Paul is going to rise from our text and be an encouragement to those who find themselves disappointed in the hope they once had.

- We’ve made four observations in the first four verses as to the source of that emptiness, and in so doing we’ve identified what could be missing.

1. Peace with God (Verse 1)

-v1 Paul says that since we have been justified through faith by God, we now have peace with God, by virtue of the finished work of Jesus Christ.

2. Access to God (Verse 2a)

-v2a Paul goes on to write that through Jesus Christ, we have gained access by faith into this grace, which is now the basis upon which we stand.

3. Confidence in God (Verse 2b)

-v2b Paul explains how it is that we can rejoice in the hope, or maybe better said, have confidence in the hope that we'll receive the glory of God.

4. Character of God (Verses 3-4)

-v3 Paul says not only can we rejoice in hope, we can also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know what it will produce namely, perseverance.

-v4 He goes on to describe how we are able to rejoice in sufferings because perseverance produces character, and character produces hope.

5. Spirit from God (Verse 5)

(5) And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

-v5 Paul takes it a step further and says that this hope doesn't disappoint us because God poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

- Now, I am keenly aware that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a touchy topic in some circles, but I would be grossly remiss to not teach about it.

- Perhaps you'll indulge me for the remainder of our time together in God's Word and give the Holy Spirit permission to clear up any confusion.

- First, I will be using the “baptism,” with or of the Holy Spirit, “filled” with the Holy Spirit, and receiving the “gift” of the Holy Spirit” interchangeably.

- Second, it's vital to understand that the Holy Spirit is a person. He is God the Holy Spirit, and thus He is to be seen and understood in that way.

“The Holy Spirit is a person not a force. If I view the Holy Spirit as a force, I’ll see it as how much of the Holy Spirit I have. If I view the Holy Spirit as a Person, I’ll see it as how much of the Holy Spirit has me.” Pastor Damian Kyle – Calvary Chapel Modesto

- Third, I'll tackle this much debated topic by answering, from scripture, the most commonly asked questions about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Question #1: What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

- It’s when the Holy Spirit is poured out upon you, to empower you.

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

POWER - dunamis (doo'-nam-is); from NT:1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself): (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

• Jerusalem: (the community) Kaneohe and the Windward side

• Judea: (the Island) Oahu, Jails, Detention Centers, Senior Care Homes, Schools, Etc.

• Samaria: (the islands)

• Uttermost Parts of the Earth: World missions.

Question #2: Don’t I receive the Holy Spirit when I receive Christ?

- Yes and no. It is possible for someone to be baptized with the Holy Spirit at their conversion however we find in the scriptures that there are three separate experiences.

1 “Para” = Along side, as a helper. It’s the word we use for Paramedic, Paralegal, or a Parachute.

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-

COUNSELOR - parakletos (par-ak'-lay-tos); an intercessor, consoler: KJV - advocate, comforter. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

2 “En” = In or indwelling.

John 14:17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

3 “Epi” = Upon or overflowing.

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

- The pitcher of water is alongside, (para) the glass.

- The pitcher of water is being poured in, (en) the glass.

- The pitcher of water is being poured upon, (epi) the glass to overflowing.

The Biblical examples of the Holy Spirit being poured out upon a believer subsequent to the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer at conversion are many, not the least of which is the one found Acts 8:12-17.

Acts 8:12-17 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Question #3: I thought there was only one baptism?

Actually, the Bible describes three baptisms:

1. Baptized into the body of Christ

2. Baptized with water

3. Baptized with the Holy Spirit

1. The Body of Christ:

1 Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

2. Water

3 the Holy Spirit:

Acts 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Matthew 3:11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

- What about the "one baptism" mentioned in Ephesians 4:4-6?

- Ephesians 4:4-6 4 There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

- This speaks of the one baptism into the body of Christ. Also, Hebrews tells us to leave this elementary teaching and go on to maturity.

Hebrews 6:1-3 1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Question #4: How do I get baptized in the Holy Spirit?

Luke 11:9-13 9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Question #5: Is speaking in tongues the only evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit?

- No, it can be a sign, because it’s one of the gifts however, gifts are received in an event, while fruits are grown in a process.

Galatians 5:22-24 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love. It will be that which is manifested when a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit.”

Pastor Chuck Smith – Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa

- Once I’ve been baptized with the Holy Spirit, I need to continually, daily, be filled with the Holy Spirit.

- We should perhaps ask, “are you baptized in the Holy Spirit?” instead of asking, “have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit?”

John 7:37-39 37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.