The second Baptism is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
These two baptisms — the Baptism in Water and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit — are very closely linked.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38
The gift of the Holy Ghost or the baptism in the Holy Spirit comes after water baptism in this verse of scripture.
We also see when Jesus was baptized in water, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. Matthew 3:16
While the order of these two experiences is not a rigid rule, it is preferable. Water Baptism prepares the way for the Holy Spirit to come upon a person.
It is a lot easier for a person to receive the Holy Spirit if they have been baptized in water. Once a person has repented and has been baptized in water, they are like a house that has been swept clean.
To send them away without receiving the Holy Spirit leaves them open and a target to attack from satanic spirits. Although this person may receive the Holy Spirit at a later date, you may have an added problem with them later on, as they may need deliverance from evil spirits.
There is a special anointing to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit during a water baptism service and those being baptized should be taught to receive the Holy Spirit when they come up out of the water.
In the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, the first part of their journey took fifty days.
And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. Leviticus 23:15-16
This feast of Pentecost was kept fifty days after Passover; this feast was called the Feast of Firstfruits, or the Feast of Weeks. Pentecost is the New Testament name for this feast because Pentecost means fiftieth.
Jesus died on the cross during the Feast of Passover.
When Jesus rose from the dead, He continued on with the disciples for forty days.
To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Acts 1:3-5
Exactly ten days later when the Jews in Jerusalem were literally keeping the feast of weeks or Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on them in the upper room.
After these forty days, Jesus told the disciples to wait in the upper room for the promise of the Holy Spirit. The disciples waited in the upper room for ten days. That made up the fifty days from when Jesus died on the cross. Acts tells us that when the day of Pentecost was fully come, or when the fifty days from Passover were accomplished, the Holy Spirit fell on them and they were all baptized in the Holy Spirit.
It is not enough to be Baptized in Water — there is another foundation to be laid in the Christians life; that of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.. Acts 1:8
Jesus would not allow the disciples to go into the world and preach the Gospel until they received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4).
The pattern is clear: the disciples received the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues.
Jesus spoke about this in John, chapter seven
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.). John 7:38-39
When a person receives the Holy Spirit a river will flow out of them as a river of Living Water. This is seen when they speak in other tongues which is evidence that the Holy Spirit has filled the person.
This infilling of the Holy Spirit is not just a onetime event, it must become a way of life.
It is important to teach new Christians who have been baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit, that they must stay filled with the Spirit, The infilling of the Holy Spirit needs to become an ongoing experience We see that the disciples were filled again with the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 4:
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31
Spending time in prayer and in the presence of the Lord is an essential part of being continually filled with the Spirit.
When Paul the Apostle said I speak in tongues more than you all, he revealed how important this was to him. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 1 Corinthians 14:18
Why did the Apostle Paul speak in tongues so much? Why was this so important to him?
First, we need to understand the difference between speaking in tongues and the spiritual gift of Speaking in Tongues. When Paul stated that he spoke in tongues more than all of them, he was not talking about the spiritual gift of tongues as listed in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12, where nine gifts of the Spirit are listed.
He is talking about, what we call, devotional tongues, or praying in other tongues. We need to pray in the Spirit for the reasons that follow: For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4
When we speak in tongues, we speak to God, and what we speak or pray is in the perfect will of God for us. This is amazing because we are told that if we ask anything in accordance with the will of God, we will receive what we’ve asked for. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us; And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:14-15
When we are praying in other tongues we are praying in the perfect will of God. Many times we don’t know how to pray for a given situation — however, if we pray in tongues for that situation, we are praying the will of God and our prayer will be answered.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
It is as we pray in the Spirit in other tongues, we pray in the will of God and all things work together for our good.
When we pray in other tongues we edify ourselves — what does this mean?
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 1 Corinthians 14:4
The word edifieth is translated from the Greek word oikodomeo. This word literally means “to build a house” or to construct a building — to enlarge.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue builds a house. The question is; where is this house built? It is built inside of you. Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Hebrews 3:6 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
As you pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit is constructing something within you.
Your capacity is enlarged and your spirit is enlarged becoming charged with the life of God. When the Apostle Peter walked down the street, his spirit was so enlarged; emanating life and virtue, anyone who walked through that emanation of life and power was healed. His spirit was so large — so built up — it extended way beyond his physical body. Peters shadow was not a physical shadow, it was Peter’s aura. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
Acts 5:15
This internal enlargement occurs when one’s spirit is filled with the Holy Spirit. This building up happens when one is speaking in tongues.
Now for a recompense in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 2 Corinthians 6:13
We all have the capacity to be enlarged within, and as your spirit is enlarged the greater the flow of life flows from your spirit. Out of your innermost being will flow rivers of life. This enlarged capacity also enables you to experience the Lord at a much greater depth. That’s why Paul said, I speak in tongues more than you all.
Your spirit is the temple of the Holy Spirit and your capacity to contain God in you must be enlarged. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19
Praying in the Spirit enlarges your capacity to receive from God and to comprehend God at a greater level, especially comprehending the Love of God, because that is who God is, Love.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a foundation that must be laid in our lives if we are to reach the goal of the Promised Land.
It is another step in our journey into the Kingdom of God. ‘We need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit ‘ We need to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit ‘ one is an event, the other is a way of life ‘ Enlargement occurs as we pray in the Spirit