In this lesson, we want to talk about the dual working of the Holy Spirit in every Christian's life. As we have already shared in previous lessons, the first work the Holy Spirit wants to perform in every person's life is the work of regeneration or what we refer to as the new birth.

Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:3 – “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus thought Jesus was speaking of a natural rebirth. Jesus quickly corrected Nicodemus thinking in verses 5 and 6 – Jesus answered , Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of Spirit is Spirit."

Jesus is simply saying, the only way a person can become right with God is to experience a spiritual rebirth. Jesus called that spiritual rebirth “a born-again experience.”

Notice Jesus said this born-again experience is a work of the Holy Spirit.

In Romans chapter 10:9-10, we read: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Here in these verses, Paul gives us the process of being born again or receiving the New Birth. Notice that process – first, confessing with your mouth and believing in YOUR HEART (or your Spirit)….it is with your heart (or your Spirit) that you believe unto righteousness….

When a person believes that Jesus Christ is the son of God, believes that God has raised Jesus from the dead – and confesses with his mouth what he believes in his heart (or the Spirit) – the Bible says you will experience salvation or the new birth.

Titus 3:5 says - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Notice, salvation, regeneration; the new birth is a work of the Holy Spirit. When a person believes in Jesus as Lord and Saviour and confesses Jesus as Lord, the Holy Spirit does an immediate work in that person's Spirit. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says – that person becomes a new creation….the Holy Spirit does the work of regeneration or of recreating the human Spirit.

Once the person's human spirit has been recreated, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in that person's Spirit. As believers, we become the temple, the home, the house of the Holy Spirit. What an awesome reality.

So the next question becomes, does God have any other spiritual experiences with the Holy Spirit that He wants you to experience?

In our previous lessons, we laboured to identify a second work of the Holy Spirit that is to equip or empower every Christian to become a more effective witness for God. That experience Jesus referred to as The Promise of My Father – Jesus also referred to that experience as the enduement of power or Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

It is easy for us to turn to human experience for our source of knowledge. We are grateful for human experience, but human experience may or may not be scriptural. I don't know about you, but I desire to have experiences with God that are scriptural. If we can find scriptures in the Bible that promise us what God wants to impart to us, then we can have faith to receive.

In the book of Acts, there are five examples of people receiving this experience we call the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Number 1 – Acts 2:1-4

And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Remember, these 120 individuals, including the disciples, were in the upper room 50 days before, when Jesus appeared to them after his resurrection and ascension into Heaven and breathed on them to receive the Holy Spirit. These 120 individuals were already born again – now they are receiving what Jesus called The Promise of the Father – enduement of power – the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Number 2 – Acts 8

Act 8:5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

Act 8:6  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

Act 8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women.

Act 8:14  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Act 8:15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

Act 8:16  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Act 8:17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

In these verses, the Samaritans received the Gospel that Philip preached. They were water baptised. Then Peter and John travelled to this city and prayed for all of these new converts to be baptised with the Holy Spirit.

Number 3 – Acts 9:1-16 – we have the story of Saul of Tarsus or Paul being converted and then later receiving the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Number 4 – Acts 10:44-47

Act 10:44  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Act 10:45  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Act 10:46  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

Act 10:47  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptised, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

In this passage, the gentiles receive salvation and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Number 5 – Acts 19:1-7

Act 19:1  And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

Act 19:2  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Act 19:3  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptised? And they said, Unto John's Baptism.

Act 19:4  Then said Paul, John verily baptised with the Baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Act 19:5  When they heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.

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

Act 19:7  And all the men were about twelve.

Once again, we see gentiles receiving the Gospel – becoming believers and then receiving the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

We have looked at five examples in the Book of Acts of individuals receiving salvation and the subsequent experience Jesus called the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. You might be thinking, does this experience still exist for believer's today?

Acts 2:38-39

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

The salvation is for every person. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is also for every person. God desires every person to receive the free gift to eternal life and to receive the supernatural empowerment that we called the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Is God still calling men and women to receive salvation? Yes. Is God still calling believers to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit? Yes. This experience is not for a select few; it is for every believer who desires to receive everything God has provided for them through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.