Romans 1:11

For I greatly desire to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to establish you;

2 Timothy 1:6

For which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of my hands.

In this lesson we will look at the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit (baptism in the Holy Spirit), and receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit, receiving through the impartation of laying on of hands.

In order for one to be used to the fullest by God we must have the baptism in the Holy Spirit and we must be filled with the Holy Spirit each day. Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, in which is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit (DBY). Filled in the Greek is pleroo (play-ro-o) present passive imperative--- carries the meaning in the Greek of "repeatedly being filled".

Once we have been baptized in the Holy Spirit we need to be filled each day. Let us look at the book of Acts to start with. Here we find five records of people receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We will look at four.

First:

The disciples in the upper room:

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

In this instance no person laid hands on these disciples. They were so hungry for more of God that they gave theirselves to prayer in one accord. Then God touched them with His supernatural power. You also can go after God in this way and He will touch you.

Second:

Those that were converted in Samaria:

Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they [their] hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, "Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost". 20 But Peter said unto him, "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money."

Here we see in this passage that the Holy Spirit was imparted by the laying on of hands. Peter and John apostles flowing in the anointing were faithful to use the anointing that they had. In doing so it caused growth in the church. We need to be bold, for God has placed an anointing in each one who has received Jesus, baptized in the Holy Spirit, and filled each day. For it is today's anointing that has the power. We can not live in yesterday's anointing or we will become yesterday's man or woman then some one new will be raised up in our place to flow in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Do you need some one to lay hands on you to impart this gift of God? Could it be you need to be a good steward of the gift of God and lay hands on some one to impart the Holy Spirit?

1 Peter 4:10-11

10 according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; 11 if any man speaketh, [speaking] as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, [ministering] as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Third:

The apostle Paul who was called Saul at the time, had hands laid on him by Ananias so let us look at what happened:

Acts 9:17 And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. (ASV)

Ananias a disciple of Christ and a good steward of the manifold grace of God; gifting of God in the prophetic arena. He was given a vision. Now he questioned God about this vision and what God asked him to do. He had reasons to. Let us look at this passage and see what happened:

Acts 9:10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, "Behold, I [am here], Lord."

Ananias answered the Lord right away. If we are His sheep we will know His voice and we need to answer Him when He calls.

11 And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth; 12 and has seen [in a vision] a man by name Ananias coming in and putting his hands on him, so that he should see.

Saul a new believer in Jesus had a vision of Ananias laying hands on him so he could see. Not only was that to happen, Saul was to be baptized in the Holy Spirit by impartation through a believer laying on hands.

13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.

There was some apprehension on the part of Ananias, but he chose to obey the Lord. In his obedience great thing happened. Just as true if we are obedient to the Lord in what He wants us to do great things will happen.

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Fourth:

Acts 19:1-6

1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples: 2 and he said unto them, "Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed?" And they [said] unto him, "Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was [given]." 3 And he said, "Into what then were ye baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus." 5 And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Here in this passage we see Paul imparting by the laying on of hands the baptism of the Holy Spirit for the people spoke in tongues, also one of one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit was given, prophecy 1 Cor. 12:10.

Fifth:

Here is the scripture for the fifth:

Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

Out of the five passages we find in three a believer ministering through impartation to those receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. In the two others, we see the apostles doing the impartation.

Discussion Questions

• Do I need to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?
• Do I need to be filled again (refilled) after having received this baptism?
• Do I need someone to lay lands on me to baptize/refill me, or can I get this directly from God on my own?

The next lesson is on the gifts of the spirit that are imparted through the laying on of hands.