And You Shall Receive Power
baptism into the body + baptism in water + baptism of other tongues
Baptism into the body…
For most of my life, I had a rather misconstrued idea of what being baptized in the Holy Spirit meant. But first, let me clarify because I do not want to lose you.
“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12.13
It is my belief our initial “baptism into the body of Christ takes place at salvation.”1 Those are the words of author, professor, and my friend, Dr. Garnet E. Pike. The understanding is that those who believe in the name of the Lord are baptized into the Spirit of God. This is our rebirth—our second birth into God’s family. At the age of six years old, I gave my heart to the Lord and received this salvation—my baptism into the body of Christ.
What about you? In your faith background, this doctrinal explanation may have been communicated clearly. For me, growing up in a Pentecostal church culture, this either was not the case, or I simply did not understand. Certainly, the latter is possible.
The emphasis on baptism, in my experience, was primarily focused on water baptism and receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit (the gift of tongues). At a young age, I was baptized in water—a public declaration of my decision to follow Christ.
Not to be overlooked is a third baptism. It is a gift of grace and available to every believer in Christ.
This third baptism is not a requirement for the believer but is intended to help us navigate life here on earth. It is the “But you shall receive power…” that enables us to live the Christian life in power and authority as God’s sons and daughters.
“But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.” Acts 1.8
Holy Spirit Slumber Party
When I was in the third grade, I was invited to a sleepover with a small group of girlfriends. This weekend slumber party took place at the home of my best friend’s grandmother and a great aunt, who lived together. I remember the details like it happened yesterday though this story took place over fifty years ago.
This was a big deal in my friend’s family—sort of a spiritual right-of-passage among the women (and my friend alone had five sisters). We looked forward to the slumber party for days, which would include the usual girlhood activities—playing games, talking about boys, and baking cookies. The main purpose of this gathering, though, might surprise you.
As the evening progressed, the Great Aunt instructed the sisters to spread a large quilt on the floor of the living room. We were sent to gather up pillows from the beds. Then, she said, “Girls, we are going to pray, and I want to ask if there is anyone here who has not received the Holy Spirit.”
Now, my father was a Pentecostal pastor, and I was born into this. I knew she was referring to the gift of tongues and thought nothing strange about it. That night, lying on a quilt on the floor in that living room, I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit—my heavenly language.
If only I could remember more details from my childhood, I could write an entire book about it. There are, however, two events so vivid in my mind that they could have happened yesterday. The first is the Sunday morning I walked the short distance from the front row of the church to the altar and received my salvation. The second is that night I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.2
The Holy Spirit is a gentleman, you know, and this was a holy moment in my life. Even at such a young age, we knew this was serious and sacred. Yes, we were somewhat imitating what we had seen and heard in our church, but we also felt the intimate closeness of the Holy Spirit as we welcomed Him into our lives more fully.
The power of that moment and the working of the Spirit of God is still present in my life, today.
Friend, if you would like to know more about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, if you are skeptical about this speaking in a heavenly language, or if all of this is brand new to you—I recommend the book Receiving the Promise of the Father: How to Be Baptized in the Holy Spirit by Dr. Garnet E. Pike.3 It is a small book packed full of Biblical truth and practical teaching on the Holy Spirit—this grace gift that is available to every believer.
These words are my creation minus the mechanics of artificial intelligence (AI). You are welcome here!
Pike, Garnet E. Receiving the Promise of the Father: How to be Baptized in the Holy Spirit (Franklin Springs, GA: Lifesprings Resources, 1999).
I may be taking a risk sharing this personal story of my third baptism. It may make some readers hesitant to keep reading While I Ponder with Karlene. Can I just tell you how much I love God’s worldwide Church? I have dear friends who attend churches that believe differently on some issues than I do, but—and you may have heard me say this before—these are my sisters and brothers in the Lord! We can love and appreciate each other even if we view some aspects of Scripture differently. Amen?
The author of this book was the dean of the graduate school when I was a student, though I had known him for many years prior. His writing on this topic reflects his in-person teaching style—humble, gentle, and full of the Spirit of God.