John the Baptizer said:  “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance… but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire…” Matthew 3:11 (KJV) 

The deceptive world of Charismata, Full-Gospel religion…

In Matthew 3, “he that cometh after” is the Messiah concerning the Holy Spirit and “baptism” means to be “immersed in” in this context and in the New Covenant, the one who believes Jesus is Messiah is subsequently “immersed in” the indwelling Holy Spirit by covenant promise (Ezekiel 36:27; Jeremiah 31:31-34) as He, the Holy Spirit, takes-up residence within the believer as the Seal and Guarantor of New Covenant with the Father (Ephesians 1:13-14) at which time the Holy Spirit begins a new work, a good work, in the redeemed through the conscience where “fruits of righteousness” (Galatians 5) are produced as Jesus said “You will know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:15-20). 

In the world of Religious Charismata, there is a false teaching that the Holy Spirit is given through a subsequent “baptism” following salvation by faith in Jesus as Messiah; this is a misunderstanding of Scripture as the Holy Spirit is given to all who believe; this, by covenant promise, as the Holy Spirit is the Seal and Guarantor of New Covenant relationship with the Father, forever (Ephesians 1:13-14).  

At the MOMENT you believed in Jesus as your Messiah who died to pay your sin-debt owed the Father, you received every ounce, every potential omnipotent degree of power and strength provided by the Holy Spirit that you will ever receive; the potential power and success of the Holy Spirit’s work in your life is wholly predicated upon how much of your personal will you’re willing to surrender to the Father’s will for your life and your willingness to step-out in faith and exercise the Spiritual Gifts granted you by the Father at the moment you believed; these Spiritual Gifts given to provide you the opportunity to serve the Father and His Kingdom while constrained by Time and physics on this Earth.  

There is no subsequent “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” following salvation relevant to the one who has truly believed in Jesus Christ as Messiah by faith; this, following the initiation of the New Covenant Church on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. The moment you believe Jesus is your Messiah, you are a born again child of the Living God and the Holy Spirit takes-up residence within you as your Counselor, Intercessor, Guarantor, Truth, Teacher, Friend, forever.

It is not necessary for you engage in the laying-on of hands type ceremony or a subsequent baptism in order to receive the Holy Spirit Who is promised you as the Seal-Guarantor of covenant the moment you believe in Jesus as Lord.  

Your salvation, your anointing by the Holy Spirit, is NOT contingent upon another man’s will or work, a Church, a congregation or religious tradition but your salvation is made complete in Jesus, His work at Golgotha, a work performed by Jesus for you that you believe and trust in by faith…your salvation is between you and the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and no one else…this is intimacy, this is peace, this is faith, exercised (Romans 5:1).