Not Water But The Spirit For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ Acts 1:5 NIVUK https://bible.com/bible/113/act.1.5.NIVUK I've been a part of the discussions around this verse. I was waiting for a bus once after preaching in a Pentecostal church in Pitesti, Romania, when an old lady walked over to me. "That was a fine sermon, brother." she told me. "Thank you, sister." I replied. "But tell me, have you ever prayed for the baptism of the Spirit? Have you ever prayed for the gift of tongues?" she asked me. "Yes. I prayed for the gift of the Romanian tongue. And I got it." I told her. Which was true. Every night when I was learning Romanian I would pray to speak Romanian better, because I could do my job much easier and better if I could speak the language. I don't want to disappoint my Pentecostal brethren, but essentially that is what we are seeing here. The disciples knew about John's baptism. It was to prepare people for the coming of the Kingdom of God by repenting of their sins. As Luke explained: He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Luke 3:3 NIVUK https://bible.com/bible/113/luk.3.3.NIVUK Sad to say, but not everyone appears to have treated this with the same level of seriousness. It appears to have been a bit of a fashion trend. Hence John's searing rebuke: John said to the crowds coming out to be baptised by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe has been laid to the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.’ Luke 3:7-9 NIVUK https://bible.com/bible/113/luk.3.7-9.NIVUK The water was not enough. They had to actually repent. Yet even he prophesied about the future baptism of the Holy Spirit: The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, ‘I baptise you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Luke 3:15-16 NIVUK https://bible.com/bible/113/luk.3.15-16.NIVUK It's this prophecy which came true at Pentecost, as well as the prophecy Peter highlights from the book of Joel: ‘And afterwards, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. Joel 2:28-29 NIVUK https://bible.com/bible/113/jol.2.28-29.NIVUK But what was the baptism of the Holy Spirit? It was the Holy Spirit taking over each of these terrified, hiding disciples and turning them into a fearless multi-lingual evangelism team that could stare down the Jewish leaders and speak so clearly and authoritatively that even they were amazed: When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 NIVUK https://bible.com/bible/113/act.4.13.NIVUK
It's not what many call 'baptism of the Holy Spirit' nowadays. Most of that is an ecstatic experience that has more to do with Greek first century paganism as it does the Bible. How do we know this? Is it not interesting that Paul only discusses ecstatic religious experiences with one church, and they are from Corinth in Greece? No, this was an empowering to evangelism and a boldness in declaration, as Jesus Himself said would happen: Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11 NIVUK https://bible.com/bible/113/mrk.13.11.NIVUK I don't think there is any doubt that we need this. Political correctness has blunted our edge. We are afraid to speak out, or sometimes even identify ourselves as Christians, because of potential consequences for our careers, our families or ourselves. But we can take some courage from these verses. The disciples were baptised like us. They were afraid like us. But they were not so afraid that they disobeyed Jesus. They stayed and waited when they could have left and fled. The Holy Spirit reached them even behind a locked door and changed their lives completely. As we meet behind closed doors, maybe we should pray for a fresh boldness and courage from the Holy Spirit, a fresh baptism of His power, to declare the wonders of God in an understandable way to the people around us. They need to hear it. They really do. May God grant that we have the courage to tell them. So we have seen three 'but's so far: Jesus was dead but is alive; the disciples should not stay but wait; they would not be baptised with water but instead the Spirit. Next, Jesus promises NOT KNOWLEDGE BUT POWER AND PURPOSE.
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