Somehow, baptism with the Holy Spirit is similar to baptism in water by immersion. As a person’s body is saturated during baptism in water by immersion, in the baptism in the Holy Spirit, a person’s interior is saturated with the powerful presence of the Creator.

The pastor, the one being baptised and the water are the three necessary and indispensable components of baptism in water. In baptism with the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus replaces the pastor and the Spirit of God replaces the water; only the person remains the same.

Baptism with the Holy Spirit is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ in the lives of those who make themselves His servants (Matthew 3.11; Luke 3.16).

When baptism in water is valid, it is similar to baptism in the Holy Spirit. Obviously, the results are different, but the spiritual and emotional sensations felt during both baptisms are equally inexplicable. That is because they involve a lifting of the heavy load of one’s past, giving free access to the presence of the Most High.

Baptism is just a burial. When in water, it represents the spiritual burial of Adam’s nature; when in the Holy Spirit, it means total immersion in the will of God, that is, the person buries his personal plans in
order to carry out God’s plans.

Also known as a seal (Ephesians 1.13), baptism in the Holy Spirit does not aim to sanctify Christians, but to make them real tools in the hands of the Spirit of God in the realisation of His Work, as it is written:

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD. Luke 4.18,19; Isaiah 61.1

God is spirit and, in order to do great and wonderful things in this world, He needs a physical body. Whenever a servant allows, the Holy Spirit takes him over and displays His glory through him. Therefore, the anointing of the Holy Spirit is, above all, aimed at benefiting others.

It is important to note that, once a person is sealed with the Holy Spirit, he loses interest in his personal goals and, somehow or other, he engages in the Work of God either on the altar or in the court. Regardless of where he chooses to serve, he is never lazy or unsure, not knowing what to do with his life. Instead, he follows the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as it is written:

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3.8

A few reasons that can impede a person from receiving the Holy Spirit

1. Anxiety to speak in tongues.
2. Concern for the salvation of family members or other people.
3. Requests for material blessings mentioned at the time of praising.
4. Lack of sincere repentance.
5. Grudges against someone.
6. Personal vanity. There are people who wish to receive the Holy Spirit just because others have received Him.
7. Fear of receiving an evil spirit instead of the Holy Spirit.
8. Self doubts about one’s merits or readiness to receive the Holy Spirit.
9. The person has not yet been completely free spiritually.
10. Hidden sins or a guilty conscience.