He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost – Acts 19:2.

Every Christian needs the baptism of the Holy Spirit, regardless of denomination, in order to live according to the Word of God; it’s going to take the enabling of the Holy Spirit because we can’t do it in our own strength.

Every Christian receives the Holy Spirit of sonship and has Him in a measure when converted, but that is not what the Apostle Paul referred to. He was asking about the Spirit baptism that John had preached. This has nothing to do with the new birth by the Spirit. It is the endowment of power for service. It’s nothing one can work for, it’s a gift for those who will submit themselves completely to the Lord (If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him – Luke 11:13). The reason why some Christians have not received the baptism in the Holy Spirit is because they still want to interact with the world actions.

As a Christian, we can’t serve God and the world; whoever we yield ourselves to, obey, that’s who servant we will be. The God we serve is holy and He has instructed His people to be holy (And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine- Leviticus 20:26) This wasn’t just for the children of Israel or the Old Testment believers, it’s also for today’s Christians. Without holiness one will not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Holiness means one has separated themselves from the actions of the world and has dedicated themselves to God. Only God can see the heart and thoughts, so He’s aware who will submit themselves to Him and who will not. God does not want Sunday Christians, He wants His people to be completely devoted to Him. When He sees those willing to obey His instructions, He will give the baptism of the Holy Spirit. God will not indwell an unholy temple, our body is the temple of God and it must be holy, this includes every part.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit makes us aware of what is acceptable to God and what is not, although it may not be mentioned in the Bible. Without the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Christians think nothing is wrong with what they are doing. You need more than salvation; you need the Holy Spirit’s baptism to leave the world’s actions and devote yourself to God.

This is why the Apostle Paul asked the disciples in Ephesus had they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit because He knew they needed more than repentance of salvation and water baptism. It’s the indwelling of the Holy Spirit enabling Christians to live a godly lifestyle. Without the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they will continue to fail in their Christian walk when tempted by Satan.

Repentance of sin means one understands they are a sinner and they need a Savior. It also means you’re saying I’m giving my life to Jesus and the Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me through life both naturally and spiritually. I will submit myself to the Words of God. The majority of professing Christians quote the repentance prayer and continue to live in their old lifestyle, doing what makes them feel good, what they like.

Before Jesus performed a miracle, He was first baptized in the Holy Spirit (And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like dove descending upon Him – Mark 1:10). After Jesus was baptized in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. In Jesus’ earthly walk, in human form, He needed the Holy Spirit to fight Satan, to perform miracles. If He needed it, so do we.

John the Baptist, Jesus’s cousin stated, Jesus would be the One to baptize them in the Holy Ghost (I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost [Spirit] – Mark 1:8). Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God indwelling your human spirit to enable you to live as the son or daughter of God.

If you have not received the Holy Spirit and you have committed yourself to live according to God’s Word, you will receive the Holy Spirit when you ask for it (If ye then, being evil: know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him – Luke 11:13? You need empowerment, and that comes only by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.