The Mystery of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost
Spiritual Building-Stone No. 165
I Corinthians 12:13, “For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body.”
What is the Baptism with the Holy Ghost? It is the Spirit Baptizing you into the body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13). It is the new birth. It is the Spirit of God coming in and filling you after you have repented, (having heard His Word) and been baptized in water as an answer of a good conscience toward God (Acts 2:37-41). [1]
And now you are His. Oh, because He is, we have the right to all that He has purchased for us. Every promise in the Bible is yours. It belongs to you, when this Token is upon you and God has sealed you. Now we want to check ourselves just for a moment. When God has give you the true baptism of the Holy Spirit, then the Life of Jesus Christ is within you. Now, that's true, and every theologian will have to admit that. It's the new Birth (John 3:1-8). You are borned anew, of the Holy Ghost. And because that God has did this, and you know you're no good in yourself, and you accept what God has did, then He seals you into His Kingdom, by the Holy Spirit. And everything that Jesus purchased and promised you, in the Bible, is yours. It's your property because it's paid for. Amen. Life is mine; He paid for It. Life is yours; He paid for It (I Cor. 3:21-23). Healing is mine; He paid for it. Healing is yours; He paid for it. Freedom is mine; He paid for it. Heaven is mine; He paid for it. He has paid the price. Everything He purchased belongs to the man that holds the Token. Amen. "Pass My Token," upon the street car, "on that Day of the Judgment, and I'll pass over you." (Exodus 12:13). Amen. Holding It in! Holding your confession in the Word, that Jesus Christ has died for you. And when He does it, He displays Himself through you. Amen. Yes. When you recognize the Token, the Life that it took for the Blood to speak! [2]
Now I want to make myself very clear on what the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is according to the Word. It is not according to me, and it is not according to you. It has to be according to "Thus saith the Lord," or we are falsely led. Amen.
To begin with you will notice that in my meetings when I have finished preaching an evangelistic service, or some teaching message, I cast the net and invite a response from the people. I ask them to come forward and receive the Holy Spirit. My Pentecostal friends, upon hearing me say this believe that I am inviting people to come forward to be baptized with the Holy Ghost because they are already born again. So when I invite those who are Spirit-filled to come and deal with those who have answered the invitation to receive the Spirit, these dear ones surge forward and deal with the people in such manner as to encourage them to yield to God and believe to speak in tongues. This has caused a great deal of confusion and I want to tell you exactly what I mean. I mean for the sinner to come forward and be born again, which is to be baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Ghost which is exactly what took place at Pentecost when the church was launched. In other words, to be born of the Spirit is to be truly baptized with the Holy Ghost. It is one and the same. [3]
Then how do we get into this Body? First Corinthians 12, "By one Spirit we're all baptized into this Body, by one Holy Spirit baptism." That, if you want to put that down, it's First Corinthians 12:13. "And by one Spirit we are all baptized." And the Spirit is the Life of Christ. Is that right? The Life of Christ! And the life of any seed... Which, He was the Word Seed, brings the Seed to Life (Acts 10:44-48). You get it? If that Life is laying in the Seed, and this baptism of the Holy Spirit comes upon It, it's bound to bring that Seed Life. [4]
Now, what is the transformation? How do we get it? What does the transformation? (Rom. 12:1-2). God does it by the Spirit of His Word (II Cor. 3:6; John 6:63). He transforms. He plants His Seed, throws His Spirit on It, and It brings forth the product. His Holy Spirit transforms the Seed Word in to be vindicated of its kind.
What kind of a seed you are, that shows just what's in you. You can't hide it. Whatever you are inside, it shows outside. You just can't keep from it. You can't make that tree anything but what it is. See, it's going to be that way. The Holy Spirit transforms the seeds that's on the inside of it. No matter what kind of a seed it is, It'll transform it. If it's evil, it'll bring forth evil. If it's a hypocrite, it'll bring forth a hypocrite. If it's a genuine Word of God, it'll bring forth a genuine son or daughter of God.
How many in here that doesn't have the Seed of God, the baptism of the Holy Ghost? Would you just raise your hand, say, "Remember me, Brother Branham, that I will receive that Holy Spirit." Now you take the Word in your heart, and believe It. You can look at you. Go up and look at the mirror, and you can see where you are. See, you can know. [5]
I was talking to a person not long ago. He was trying to discuss with me and saying, "Aren't you ashamed to say that God created the heavens and earth in three days--or in six days?"
I said, "That's what the Bible said."
Said, "Well, we've got evidence and can prove that the world is millions of years old."
I said, "That didn't have anything to do with it. In Genesis 1:1, it said, 'In the beginning God created heavens and earth' period. See? That's all. Now, the world without form and void." And I said, "I believe every seed was laying right there from some other civilization or something, and as soon as the water lifted off and the light struck it, up come the trees and everything."
The same thing with the human being; it's a type. When all the mist is moved away, and the revealed Truth to that real seed laying there still germitized, and the Light of the Gospel can strike it by true a-vindication of the Word, it'll live; it's got Life in it.... Outside of that it can't live. It hasn't got no Life in it. [6]
Watch the woman at the well (John 4:1-30). What was it? That Light struck that seed that had been laying there that was spoke by God. Yes, sir. The seed was on the earth. When God moved the water away and the sun hit it, it come up. That's right. See? That's all it needed was sun. It needed light. Yes, sir.
And then when the Holy Spirit in Him moved away her past life and showed it to her, that Light struck it; she said, "Sir, I perceive You're a prophet."
That's the same thing today, same thing today. Hits just exactly. Yup, yes, sir. She knew it because the Light struck it.
Them fishermen, woodsmen, farmers, tax-collectors, harlots, they seen in Him what the simple Scriptures said He would do, and the Pharisees couldn't see because of their tradition. Amen. They couldn't see because their traditions; but the prostitute, the farmers, and all them, they saw it. All that was predestinated, when the doubts rolled away, the seed went to growing. That's right. [7]
Now, if you want the baptism of the Holy Ghost, It’s yours. It’s yours if you are willing to just open up.
Now you have a conception of what you should do. You have kind of an idea, “Well, now, if I’ll stand up here, this.” No, no. You can set down. Don’t make any difference where you’re at. But where you will open yourself up, and then the Holy Spirit will strike.
Then, well, sometimes It begins to anoint you, and you won’t just lead on through with It. You get little scared. You’re afraid. You pull back. Just surrender yourself, surrender yourself to the Holy Spirit.
Don’t be afraid of fanaticism. If it is the devil acting, don’t you think we’ll know it? Yes, sir. He won’t come around. Don’t you worry of that. No. He won’t bother.
You just surrender yourself to the Holy Spirit. When you feel that glorious… Like this little minister said he did that night, standing up, where Something warm come over him. If he’d just knowed how to surrender himself right then. That’s all. Just say, “Lord Jesus, I believe You. I accept You.” Then something will start taking place. See? Mean it from your heart, then it takes place. Oh! [8]
Here's the mystery: A "mystery" is Scripture--is "a previously hidden truth, now Divinely revealed, but which is a supernatural element still remains despite the revelation." Here is one of the great mysteries:
The mystery of the baptism of the Holy Ghost without sensation, but the Person of Christ performing in you the same works that He did. [9]
You're seeking God's blessings. You're seeking His Word. You're seeking the Holy Ghost. You're seeking the favors of God. And if you are, and you can, really, with all your heart, surrender it. Now, don't look for any emotion. Look for a Truth (John 8:31-32), a Truth that's from your heart, by faith. "Lord, I'm willing to do anything that Your Word commands me to do. I surrender myself, with all that's in me." [10]
Now, if a man is sorry for his sins... I just want to take it easy, so it'll soak real deep. If a man is sorry for his sins and repents, being sorry for his sins, and accepts Jesus Christ as his Saviour from his sins, and is baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, God's under obligation at that very minute to give the man the baptism of the Holy Ghost. If He isn't, He can't... He didn't keep His Word. Is that right? Now, why all the tarrying meetings then? Why all the evidences and things we got to have? [11]
Beautiful. God took Christ, at Calvary, tore Him apart, Soul and Body. He sent the Body up to His right hand and sent the Holy Spirit back, the Covenant with the people. And you believe by faith, like Abraham did, and he was given the seal of circumcision for a confirmation of his faith (Rom. 4:9-12). And you believe and accept Jesus as your Saviour, then God gives you the baptism of the Holy Ghost as a confirmation of your faith.
You say you believe, and haven't received the Holy Spirit, something wrong with your faith. God circumcises the heart the minute the believer really comes in full surrender. Amen. Say, That, folks, surely must've done something; I felt that even come back. Get it. When the believer... Here it is now. When the believer firmly believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, God's under obligation to give him the Holy Ghost: confirmation of his faith. Say, "What's the matter, Brother Branham?" Just your faith; that's all. If you'd surely believe, God's there to give It to you.
"While Peter spake these Words, the Holy Ghost fell on them that heard the Word." Is that right? Acts 10:49. All right, notice, the Holy Ghost and Fire came from heaven (Matt. 3:7-12), burnt out all the dross, circumcised the heart, cut off all the surplus, and become a new creature (Gal. 6:14-16). [12]
And there's where God spoke from the heaven, and John the Baptist saw the Spirit of God coming like a dove, falling upon a Man Who'd been born in a manger (John 1:29-34). See, what the world call great, God calls foolish. And what the world calls foolish, God calls great. That's right. So don't mind to be called foolish.
'Cause remember. You can't have the mind of Christ and the mind of the world at the same time (Phil. 2:5-8). You can't be in your way and God's way at the same time. You have to get out of your own way to let God have His way. That's the only way you're ever going to do anything. You got to get away from your own thoughts, your own reasons. Don't try to reason; just believe.
What if Mary tried to reason about the new birth, or, not the new birth, but the virgin birth (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38). Pardon me. What if she tried to say, "Now, wait a minute. Now, look. I don't know no man. There's never been anyone like that. How would I ever have a child? Oh, you can't tell me that." She never waited for anything. She just took God at His Word and started thanking God for the baby. Before she felt any life, before she felt anything, before one sign was given to her, she just took the Angel's Word and went rejoicing and praising God, telling everybody she was going to have a baby, knowing no man. [13]
Said, "Be it unto me according to Thy Word." That brought the Life. There you are. Well, did you know Satan said, "They'll all laugh at you."
That little rosy cheeked girl didn't pay any attention to that. Right up in Judaea she went and, "You know, I'm going to have a baby"; before she felt anything, because the Word had already been set there. That was all. She didn't have to go through the prayer line the second time. No... Yes, sir; she believed it. She didn't have any sign of life; she never had no sign of pregnancy at all; she never felt nothing; everything had been just like it was, but she went telling everybody, "I'm going to have a baby." Why? God said so. What's that? The Royal seed of Abraham.
Oh, could everybody say that today? Oh, if people could really from your heart, all of us could say that: "Be it unto me according to Thy Word, Lord." Really mean it. One or two or somewhere out in there It's going to pick up some predestinated that really means that, and, brother, you're going to see sparks flying right then (That's right.), when you really got that there to meet that what's coming, when that irrigation begins to fall on that Word. Yes, sir. [14]
God give us some more Marys around Phoenix here, that can take God at His Word and start rejoicing before anything happens. That's what you need. That's all. For she was overshadowed by the Holy Ghost. And when the Holy Ghost truly overshadows a person, they take God at His Word. That settles it, what the Holy Ghost said. [13]
The stages of the Eternal purpose He had in His secret has now been revealed. Notice, there is still three stages to perfection. Just like He redeems the world; same way He redeems His Church. He redeems the people in three stages. Now look. First is justification, like Luther preached; second, sanctification, like Wesley preached; third, baptism of the Holy Ghost. That's right. Then comes the Rapture!
Now, the world, how did He redeem the world? The first, what He did, when it sinned, He washed it off in water baptism. That's right. Then He dropped His blood upon it, from the cross, and sanctified it and called it His Own. And then what does He do? As He tore all the world out of you, and renovated the whole thing by the fiery baptism of the Holy Ghost, He also will renovate the world. And it'll be burnt over with Fire, and cleanse every germ, for millions of miles high, every thing will be cleaned off. And then there is a New Heaven and a New Earth, just like you are a new creature in Christ Jesus when the Holy Spirit takes a hold of you. See, there you are, the whole thing is just as plain as it can be. Everything is in three.
The natural birth is in three. What's the first thing happens to the woman having a baby? What breaks first? Water. What breaks next? Blood. What's the next process? Life. Water, blood, spirit. [15]
I Corinthians 12:3, “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaketh by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and... no man can say... Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”
You don't know nothing about it until you've received the Holy Ghost. You say, "I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour." Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? (Acts 19:1-7). If you don't, you can't even call Him the Lord, because He's not Lord, He's a historical Being that you by faith have accepted. But when He's come into you by the Holy Ghost, He is your Lord. No man can call Jesus Lord, only by the Holy Ghost; until you are borned of the Spirit of God, and the Holy Ghost is in you... Then if you are, you are borned into this Kingdom, and you're part of the church. You're the called-out ones then. [16]
Notice, we find today that people... There's many people just can't believe It, even Spirit-filled people. I'm going to give you one that'll choke you. The baptism of the Holy Ghost don't mean you're going in, not at all, not on that, don't have anything to do with your soul. That's the baptism, see. Here's the inside soul, in here, that has to come from God. But then on the outside you have five senses, and five contact your earthly home. The inside, you have a spirit, and in there you have five outlets: your conscience, and love, and so forth, five outlets to that spirit. Remember, in that spirit you can be baptized with the genuine Spirit of God and still be lost. It's the soul that lives, that was ordained of God.
Didn't Jesus say, "Many will come to me in that day, and say, 'Lord, haven't I cast out devils, done great and mighty works, prophesied, the great gifts of God?'" He said, "Depart from me, you that work iniquity, I never even knew you (Matt. 7:21-27). Many will come in that day."
Didn't Caiaphas prophesy? (John 18:12-14). He was a devil. We find out there... And them priests, them great man, was supposed to be great leaders in them days, with humility and everything else, but failed to see the Word of God Itself made manifest before them. [17]
So did Balaam (Numbers 23:5-30; 24:1-25). That has nothing...
"I got the baptism, the Holy Spirit." That still has nothing to do with it. That's just only a temporal gift for you.
The real gift is your soul down in there, see, that was born of God, and that controls the whole thing to the Word of God and the will of God. And there you grow up, see, then you're a son and daughter of God. You're a child of God.
"Well, my, I'm Pentecostal. I belong." That, if you don't line with that Word, there is something wrong. See? Then, you see, your real father ain't God. See? Because, that real start in your soul, before there even was a spirit, it was your soul. That soul didn't come from God, then it wasn't a germ of God, to begin. You're deceived. You're in a patch of weeds and bearing the world's record of the weeds coming forth. Acting like the world, loving the world, is because the love of God is not in you.
And now there'll be false anointed-ones in the last days, not false Jesus. They wouldn't stand for that. But, "false," anointed (Matt. 24:24). They are anointed, yes, sir, but they're anti-Christ. They're anointed with the Spirit, to do the signs and wonders that Christ did, but won't line up with His Word. [18]
God promised the Holy Spirit to every believer. He wants to give it to you, more than you want to receive it.
Now, don't tell Him how you want to get it; tell Him you want it. No matter how it comes, you want it. You want something to anchor your heart and soul away, till all doubts and fears will pass away and joy bells of heaven will ring through your soul. God will take care of the rest of it, you just ask Him to give you the baptism of the Holy Spirit. [19]
Maybe one in the upperroom (back there at Pentecost, Luke 24:48-53) said, "Why, I believe we've waited long enough. Let's just accept it by faith." That was good Baptist doctrine, but it didn't work with them brothers. So then, the first thing you know, it had to become a reality, and they waited on their ministry for the Word to be vindicated. And when you come to seek the Holy Spirit, you do the same.
Yes, you can accept it by faith; you have to accept Christ by faith; that's exactly right. And you accept the Holy Spirit by faith, but then let the Holy Spirit come and give the circumcision as a witness that He's accepted your faith. You see.
See, Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness, but God give him the sign of circumcision as a confirmation He'd accepted his faith. So that's the same thing we must do. We must wait on the Holy Spirit till It's done something, not necessarily 'cause we spoke in tongues, not because we have danced, or we got emotional, we shouted: until we were changed, until something actually happened. I don't care what form it comes in, just so it happened; that's the main thing. [6]
Brother Branham was asked this question: At the instant of receiving the Holy Ghost, or the baptism of the Holy Ghost, is there a difference? Does a person speak with tongues? If not always, what manifestation is known?
Well, could you imagine a mother giving birth to a baby and not knowing it? She'd have to be unconscious not to know it. Neither can you receive the Holy Ghost without knowing it. There's something takes place in you. See? There's something that changes you. Your whole system, your whole spiritual system is made new again, and you become a new creature in Christ, as the Bible puts it, a new creation in Christ (II Cor. 5:17). You know it.
Now, you say, "Brother Branham, then you don't believe that a man should speak with tongues to receive the Holy Ghost." Not to prove he's got the Holy Ghost.
I would that every member of my church spoke with tongues. I would like for them to do that, and I believe if you ask God, God will grant it to you. But let me tell you; I know plenty people that speak in tongues and hasn't got the Holy Ghost. And there's not a minister that's true with himself and with his congregation but what will tell his congregation the same. The devil can impersonate that.
Paul said, "Though I speak with tongue of men and angels, though I give my body to be burned as a sacrifice, though I understand all the mysteries of the Word, though I give all my goods to the poor, and all these things, and have not charity, I still am nothing. I have faith that I can move mountains and so forth; I'm still nothing." (I Cor. 13:1-13). Then he said, "That which is in part will be done away with when that which is perfect is come," or when that which is perfect is made known. [20]
So, if God healed you tonight, you may get sick again before you die. You may be sick again in a year from now, or two years from now. may be sick in a week from now, or a day from now, I don't know. But there's one thing sure: you're going to leave this world some of these days, 'cause this is just patched up.
But if that soul ever comes in contact with the Holy Spirit and is born again, you have Eternal Life. No matter what happens here, you never perish. Jesus said, "He that heareth My Words, believeth on Him that sent Me, hath (that's present tense) Everlasting Life, shall not come into condemnation; but hath (past tense) passed from death unto Life." That'd make us all Methodists and start shouting, wouldn't it? That's right. To think that, that God has did that. Now, that's not my Word; that's His: Saint John 5:24. [21]
Now, the Holy Spirit is here on earth, looking out those individuals that God has ordained to Life in this age. And as soon as It finds it, It does just like It did on Jesus Christ, the great super Son of God Who redeemed us all. It comes down and takes Its place of abode into the human life, now, notice, brought the quickening power (Rom. 8:11). Now, that quickening power that come upon Jesus quickened Him to manifest every promise of the Word of that day. So does the Holy Spirit that come upon us in this day, if it's not a mockery holy spirit, you're not the Devil mocking the Holy Spirit, but is the real, true Holy Spirit. It'll manifest the promise of this hour.
When It fell upon Luther, It manifested that promise of that hour. When It fell upon Wesley, It manifested the promise of that hour. When It falls in this day, It manifests the promise of this hour. When It fell upon Moses, It manifested the promise of that hour. Fell upon Noah, It manifest the promise of that hour. When It fell upon Jesus, It manifest the promise of that hour. [22]
The Prophet’s prayer: May they not only be baptized with water, which is only an outward sign that something inside has happened. The Bible said, "There is one Faith, one Lord, one baptism," and that baptism is spiritual baptism (Eph. 4:4-6). The body being washed, it's just only an illustration, or to give a sign that something inside has happened (Acts 22:14-16). But it's that soul that's got to be baptized with the Holy Ghost, that's the Eternal coming into that human nature and changing it around, to make it a believer. I pray that they'll receive the Holy Spirit. I command them to You now, as trophies of the Message, and of the grace of Christ. In His Name, I pray. Amen. [23]
References:
[1] “Smyrnaean Church Age”, CAB-pg. 154 / [2] “The Token” (63-1128), par. 153
[3] Church-Age-Book pg. 144 / [4] “The Rapture”, par. 93
[5] “God’s Power To Transform”, par. 212-213 / [6] “The Fourth Seal”, Seal’s-Book pg. 289-292
[7] “The Third Seal”, Seal’s-Book pg. 260-261
[8] “God Hiding Himself In Simplicity” (63-0412E), par. 361-365
[9] “Is This The Time?”, pg. 30-31 / [10] “Invisible Union”, pg. 56
[11] “Everlasting Life and How To Receive It”, par. 82
[12] “Israel and the Church, Part 3”, par. 40-42 / [13] “Witnesses” (54-0303), par. E-27 – E-28
[14] “The Spoken Word Is The Original Seed”, pg. 28-30 / [15] “Who Is This Melchisedec”, par. 113-116
[16] “Five Definite Identifications of the True Church”, par. 164-165
[17] “Modern Events Made Clear by Prophecy”, par. 100-102
[18] “Things That Are To Be”, par. 111-114 / [19] “God Perfecting His Church”, par. E-94 – E-95
[20] “Questions & Answers”, Q-No. 289, COD pg. 1017 / [21] “Redemption by Power”, par. 9-10
[22] “The Easter Seal”, par. 86-87 / [23] “The Voice of the Sign”, par. 192