Grace to you from Yahweh, our Father. I give thanks to the Most High for allowing us the opportunity to divide His Word; and in so doing, to learn of Him.

This study will be addressed by giving answers to questions that are often asked with regards to Baptism. These questions are as follows:

1. Why do we need to be baptized with the Holy Spiritually?
2. How does one know that he or she is baptized of the Holy Spirit?
3. Is “speaking in Tongues” the evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
4. Is Water Baptism mandatory to enter into the Kingdom of the Most High? – Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach – The baptism of Christ Matt 3 (Dan 9:24; Ex 29:4-7) Jn 3:22; Matt 28:16
5. What must I do to be baptized of the Holy Spirit?

Now first, let’s take a closer look into the definition of Baptism.

• Being born again – John 3:5
• New life – 2 Corinthians 5:17
• Death and Burial
• Overwhelm
• Drenched
• Quickened – to make alive
• Regeneration
• The Spirit of Adoption
• Mortification of the flesh

All these terms are accurate expressions for the word Baptism

The word “Baptism” or “Baptize” is derived from the Greek word “baptisma” (Baptism); “baptizo” (Baptize).

Baptisma means baptism consisting of the process of immersion, submersion and emergence and is used of John’s baptism and of the overwhelming afflictions and judgments to which the Lord voluntarily submitted on the cross.

The word also means death and burial (Romans 6:313)

Let me add that all these definitions are the symbol of the spiritual baptism.

Baptism again, is not the improvement of the flesh but the destruction of it – not physically, but spiritually. It’s the renewing of the mind; it is the restoration of the Moral Image of Yahweh.

When you are baptized with the Holy Spirit you ought to be transforming and not remain stagnant or do the thing that you used to do in the world that are contrary to the word of the Most High.

Why do we need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit?

• Genesis 1:26-28
• Genesis 2:7
• Genesis 3:1-6

Before man transgressed, he was innocent; ignorant of good and evil.

That’s why in Chapter 19 of the book of Matthew verse 14, our Lord said:

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

In the beginning, man possessed that innocence as a child does; but as soon as he rebelled against is Master, he no longer possess that clear conscience.

We live in doubt and in fear everyday of our lives because we are spiritually separated from our source of strength, our Lord; therefore the Most High provides us with the gift of Grace, which in other words, is baptism of the Holy Spirit or Divine Influence upon the heart of the believer.

Baptism restores the moral image of Yahweh. Man has proven that it is impossible for him to redeem himself; therefore he needs a savior.

In part one I of this study I made mention of the seven dispensations. Methods that the Most High provided man with to redeem himself; and all these dispensations resulted in judgment.

1. Innocence – kicked out of the garden
2. Man under conscience (no institution of government of law) – ended in the flooding of the earth
3. Man in authority over the earth – Confusion of tongues (Babel) – Independence
4. Man under promise (calling Abram) – Bondage in Egypt
5. Man under law in the wilderness – persistent violation of the law
6. Man under grace (Divine Influence) – Judgment upon an apostate world
7. Man under the personal reign of our Lord (perfection)

5   And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

1   Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.

14   What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

15   Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

16   How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

Because we are dead in trespasses and sins; and we cannot redeem ourselves. We have proven ourselves to be wretched. Paul says it himself.

22   For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23   But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24   O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25   I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

There are countless reasons as to why we need to be spiritually baptized; reasons that could take a life time to explain; so with that said, lets move on to the next question.

How does one know that he or she is baptized of the Holy Spirit?

This is a mystery know only to the one that receives the baptism and to the Most High Himself.

If you are consistently striving to please your Lord in your daily life; not one day out of the week; not only when you attend service on Sunday, or whichever day you fellowship; but everyday.

As a born again believer your desires will change. The friends you associate with; the words you speak; the places you go.

The only way that seed is able to reproduce and bear fruit is by dying. It must be put under ground; and in the process of time it will come up from under the ground and bear fruit; so it is with the born again believer.

It is about you dying to your flesh and living for the Most High.

Baptism is not the improvement or purification of the flesh; it is the mortification of it thereof. Some of us seek the Most High only to satisfy our carnal desires.

It is sad to say that there are many in the so-called churches and the pulpits who have not yet been spiritually baptized. They are still using the members of their bodies to do the lust of their flesh and for worldly gain.

2 Corinthians 5:17

17   Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1   I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I likened the transformation of the believer to that of a caterpillar to a butterfly.

When a caterpillar changes, it changes completely; it doesn’t improve its state; it transforms;

Even its name changes after the transformation is complete: from a caterpillar to a butterfly.

It doesn’t change from a caterpillar to a flying caterpillar.

Name means character and reputation; it also means authority.

So, how does one know that he or she is baptized of the Holy Spirit?

Compare your character and attitude to that of the fruit of the Holy Spirit:

Galatians 5:19-26

19   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20   Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21   Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23   Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Do you love? Are you meek? Can you bear the trials and tribulations of this present world?

Is “speaking in Tongues” the evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

This is question that many will get defensive about and unleash their claws; a question that will cause you to loose friends that are not prepared to receive the truth.

Now, I do not intend to spend much time on this topic for we will have a separate study in the near future that will address most, or all of the questions with regards to “speaking in tongues”.

Without beating around the bush, let me boldly answer this question with great confidence:

No, “speaking in tongues” is not the evidence of spiritual baptism.

1   And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2   And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

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

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

5   And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6   Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7   And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

8   And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9   Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10   Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11   Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12   And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

First, let’s ask ourselves these questions “why were they assembled at Jerusalem praying?”; “Did they receive the spirit because they were praying?” No.

Now you might say “Brother Cyril, what do you mean “no”. The Scripture says that they were at Jerusalem in one accord (meaning they were praying)

Well, turn you bibles to the book.  Your answer my friends, will be found in the gospel according to Luke 24:44-49:

44   And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45   Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46   And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47   And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

48   And ye are witnesses of these things.

49   And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Take note of the following:

They were at Jerusalem because he promised them. He is Elohim: a God of covenant; He doesn’t break promises. He is a God that keepeth His promise. Read Luke 24:44-49. Verse 49 is your key verse (the promise of the Holy Spirit to be given at Jerusalem).

If you Kept track of the underlined verses you will observe that they spoke in known languages/tongues; languages that had already exist in this world.

They didn’t have to do anything to receive the Holy Spirit; and it was done that way by the Most High for our benefit; for our infirmities; not for us to reenact.

This is an event that many make effort to repeat; and fail to realize that it is impossible for man to reenact the works of the Most High under the influence of the flesh.

Don’t tell me I don’t have the Holy Spirit in me because I don’t speak in tongues;

Don’t tell me I cannot receive the Holy Spirit unless I speak in tongues. 

That’s a lie and it’s not of our Lord but comes from the father of lies! That’s man’s doctrine.

There is a lot to say concerning this topic of tongues and this portion of this study might not suffice to wash away your doubt;

I would like to suggest that you sign up for our monthly newsletters to be informed when the study or topic of your interest is posted on our website (www.dviministry.org);

There is absolutely nothing a man can do or give to receive the Holy Spirit; it’s a “Gift”

The only thing a man can do by himself; and for himself is to destroy himself. Without the Spirit of the Most High, we are nothing; all flesh is grass.

If you feel within yourself that you would like to be baptized with water don’t let anyone stop you; just keep in mind that it doesn’t bring you any closer to the Most High.

What makes Baptism effectual is the power of the Most High quickening you; making you alive; causing you to respond to the gospel.

21   For as the Father raiseth up the dead (remember we were dead in trespasses and sins) , and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

Water is a symbol of the Word and also a symbol of the Holy Spirit:

Psalms 51:2 (KJV) For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Psalms 119:9 (KJV) Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Whosoever drinketh of this water (from the well) shall thirst again:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Our Lord is not like the governors and leader of this world. He is not above His own law. He instituted water baptism for a purpose and only for a season.

Water baptism is just emblem of the new birth, not the reality.

Some of the saints in Corinth had a dispute about who baptized them and whose baptism (water baptism) was effectual. So Paul wrote them and admonished them (1 Corinthians 1:12-17).

People today actually brag and boast about the preacher or pastor that performed the ritual of baptism upon them or their children.

There are wealthy individuals who will there not have a pastor that is not well-known in their community to conduct the ritual of baptism for themselves or their children; they have their preference when it comes to this ritual. This is true; and it’s also sad. 

What must I do to be baptized of the Holy Spirit?

It is not up to man whether or not he wants to be baptized of the Holy Spirit.

I would like to briefly digress and expound on this word “Spirit”.

Throughout this study I’ve been using it so I find it necessary that we define it.

Spirit Hebrew – ruwach (roo-akh); Greek pneuma (pnyoo-mah)

It is clear that the wind is regarded in Scripture as a fitting emblem of the mighty penetrating power of the invisible God.

16   Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

44   No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

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.

4   Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5   Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6   That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7   Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8   The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

It is not our Choice to be born again; we were dead in trespasses and sin. How can a dead man hear? He got to be first made alive; then he will be able to receive.

Dead in trespasses and sins:

1   And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2   Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3   Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4   But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5   Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

You didn’t, and you couldn’t tell your parents to engage in the act of sexual intercourse for you to be born. It was not your choice.

You were born after a successful fertilization and later on in life after being delivered out of the womb you eventually attain the knowledge of conception and pregnancy.

I encourage you to continue in the way of true discipleship and I hope you join me in PART III of our study on Baptism.