Example of Baptism of the Holy Spirit:

In Mark 1:8, John the Baptist said, "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

In Acts 1:5, Jesus said, "John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Accordingly, on the Day of Pentecost the promise of John and Jesus was fulfilled when believing disciples in Jerusalem "were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance" (Acts 2:4).

Years after the Day of Pentecost in Caesurae there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on believing Gentiles "The gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles speaking in tongues and exalting God" (Acts 10:45-46). Peter declared, "I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 11:16).

Thus the promised baptism with the Holy Spirit was again fulfilled and continues to be fulfilled to this day.  Peter had earlier declared "the gift of the Holy Spirit promised for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself" (Acts 2:38-39). So to the present day baptism with the Holy Spirit is a continuing promise.

   Purpose of baptism with the Holy Spirit

Following Jesus' words about the soon to occur baptism of John with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5), He added, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth" (1:8). Baptism with the Holy Spirit would result from the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples for power, and particularly for witness of Jesus Christ and the gospel.

According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus first said, "You are witnesses of these things" (24:48), and then added, "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high" (24:49). The key word in both Acts and Luke is

power

; and specifically power for ministry.

Later in Acts, Peter says of Jesus that "God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power and...He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil" (10:38). The basic purpose of baptism or anointing with the Holy Spirit is ministry.

 Receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit

A person must first be a believer in Jesus Christ. Peter's words on the Day of Pentecost about the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit are preceded by his injunction, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Only those who belong to Christ can be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

A person must recognize and affirm that the promise is a continuing promise. "The promise is for you..." (Acts 2:39). You are not dealing with what may be God's will; you are claiming the unfailing promise of God.

A person must pray earnestly. On one occasion Jesus declared, "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock and it will be opened to you." What will be given to you? Jesus added, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" (Luke 11:9, 13). Our Heavenly Father will give us the gift of the Holy Spirit! The disciples "were continually devoting themselves to prayer" (Acts 1:14) prior to their baptism in the Holy Spirit. Pray: I want this gift of the Holy Spirit.

The laying on of hands is a possible channel for receiving the gift. In several other passages in Acts, hands were laid on prospective recipients: the Samaritans (8:17-19); Saul of Tarsus (9:17); the Ephesians (19:6). Request ministry from others.

Remember that the gift of the Holy Spirit is a tool to minister to others.  It is not to be used to separate you from others or to show that you are superior to others. The Body of Christ, the church, is made up of different people with different gifts.  One gift is not superior over another, and not everyone has the same gift.  If all were mouths who would hear? Look up 1 Corinthians 12.  Look at it in reference to 1 Corinthians 12:4. Know there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Jesus went out to the poor, the crippled, and those who were "looked down on". To become Christ like we should also go to everyone who needs the Lord in their life, not just the ones that "we" want to.

 Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Paul writes about the gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12.

12:1"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware"

12:7"to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good"

12:8-10"For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues"

Lists of gifts ("functional" gifts by God's grace) in Romans 12:5-8.

Romans 12:5-8  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy,  let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

List of gifts ("equipping" gifts from the ascended Christ) in Ephesians 4:11-12.

Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

The list in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 is designated as spiritual gifts (through the Holy Spirit). They are specifically "the manifestation of the Holy Spirit" (12:12). The gifts of the Spirit are uniquely the operation of the Holy Spirit.

Fruit of the Spirit

Paul writes about fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

These are set by Paul against "the deeds of the flesh" (5:19), beginning with "immorality, impurity, sensuality...." Inwardly, a struggle goes on "the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another" (15-17). There is victory, however: "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (5:2 5).
For more on the struggle between flesh and spirit go to: Conflict between flesh and spirit.

 Difference between the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit

There is no overlap between gifts and fruit. The gifts can bring about the fruits, but they can also exist separately.

The spiritual gifts are ministry gifts "for the common good," hence to serve others; whereas the spiritual fruit refers to the believer's own growth in Christian character.

The gifts of the Spirit may operate at any time ("distributing to each one individually just as He wills" (1 Cor. 12:11); fruit takes time to grow and develop.

We need both the operation of the gifts and the maturation of the fruit for a balanced Christian life.

 Purpose of the gifts

Spiritual gifts are given for the building the body of Christ and strengthening believers: they are "power tools." The manifestation of the Spirit, brings healings, miracles, and discernment of various spirits for the benefit of others. When the spiritual gifts operate, the Holy Spirit is present.

Another purpose of the gifts is to bring about involvement of all believers. "To each one is given...." Not to a few such as pastors and teachers, but everyone receives a particular manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

The gifts also serve to show non-believers the power and existance of God. It is to show witness of God in a person.

Finally, the spiritual gifts, being totally different from natural capacities, serve to honor God. God, not man, receives all the praise and glory.

 Following the will of the Holy Spirit

In Acts 16: Paul and Timothy leave the cities of Derbe and Lystra and travel throughout Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia, Bithynia and Troas. Here, in these cities, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach.

Acts 16:6-10 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonis, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

This passage illustrates that we are to go where the Holy Spirit has prepared the way.

Many times we go where we want to go, and it is not the will of God. In Acts 16: we find that Paul and Timothy were trying to preach in Asia, where the Spirit was not leading them. Only when they stopped and asked the Holy Spirit for directions, did they find people willing to be ministered to (who were seeking the knoweldge and will of God).

If we are meant to provide ministry, and help to others in a certain area or place, the Holy Spirit will open the doors to make it possible. Remember that all things are possible through the Lord- including His work!

 Gift still exist today

Some day the gifts will cease, as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 " Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways. For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Notice that Paul writes "when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside." Paul is referring to the gifts of the spirit that provide prophecy and knowledge. When Christ returns, "when what is perfect comes", there will know longer be a need for God to use these gifts to communicate His will, "the partial will be set aside". Paul is clearly talking about a future event, "but then we will see face to face." The ceasing of the gifts of prophecy and tongues had not occur prier to Paul's writings in Corinthians.

So, when Christ returns, "when what is perfect comes", we will see Christ "face to face" and the gifts of the Holy Spirit "will be set aside."

   When will Christ return?

Revelations reveals that the All-powerful Lord is coming soon!

1:8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God the One who is, and who was, and who is coming the All-Powerful!

22:20 The one who testifies to these things says: Yes, I am coming soon! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

So unless we all see the Lord's face (1 Corinthians 13:10) the gifts must still exist.

To stress two main points:

1. There are many diverse people in the Body of God all given separate distinctive gifts of the Holy Spirit.

2. These gifts are to be used to bring Glory to God, to lead others to Christ and to strengthen believers in Him.