Baptism Of The Holy Spirit VS Infilling Of The Holy Spirit

Study The Word
Acts 1:5
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Acts 19:6
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.

There’s a critical distinction many Christians miss, leading to much confusion: the difference between the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. When you rightly divide the Word of truth, this becomes crystal clear!   Jesus, in Matthew 28:19, commissioned His disciples to “baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” This was not primarily referring to water baptism! Jesus’ specialty was to baptize in the Holy Spirit — to put them into Christ, to get people born again! “For by one Spirit are we all baptized… into one body, which is the body of Jesus Christ.” So, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is actually the new birth, being put into Christ through being born again! It’s being dipped into the Holy Spirit, made one with the Holy Spirit.  Now, the infilling of the Holy Spirit is another experience altogether!  Baptizo means to dip into.  Pleroo, the Greek word for “filled,” means to put something inside until it’s full. These are two different things! On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, not baptized with it, because they were already baptized into Christ through the new birth! When Paul laid hands on the Ephesian disciples who had already believed (baptized into Christ), the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. They were filled!  The baptism of the Holy Spirit is being born again; the infilling of the Holy Spirit is being filled with the Spirit, receiving His power and gifts. Understand this distinction so you can walk in the fullness of both truths!

Pray The Word
Father, I thank You for the truth of Your Word that rightly divides the baptism of the Holy Spirit from the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for my new birth, by which I am baptized into Christ.

Speak The Word
I am born again and baptized into Christ! I declare that I am open to being continually filled with the Holy Spirit, receiving His power and manifesting His gifts, for it is a real experience for me today!