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Romans 8:9 clearly shows us that whenever someone is born again, that person has the indwelling Holy Spirit. When a person is born again he or she is not, however, automatically baptized with the Holy Spirit. Being born of the Spirit and being baptized with the Spirit are two completely different and separate manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life. We can see these two separate functions clearly in the book of Acts. Read Acts 8:4-24. First we see in the passage of scripture that the Samaritans were born of the Holy Spirit when they received the Word of God. They were not baptized with the Holy Spirit until later when the apostle came and laid their hands on them. This account of the Samaritan revival shows very clearly the distinction between being born again and being baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Read Acts 9:1-19. Saul was born again on the road to Damascus when Jesus confronted him. This is evidenced by the fact that Saul called Him "Lord." Saul was not "filled with the Holy Spirit" until Ananias came, in obedience to God, and laid hands on him. Once again, we can see a clear distinction between the new birth and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Read about the conversation of Cornelius and his household in Acts 10. In verse 44 we see that the new birth and the baptism in the Holy Spirit occurred simultaneously. This does not mean that these two events were one and the same. Cornelius and his household did not have time to feel bad about their sins, and repent. No altar call was given. They believed while Peter was preaching, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He fell on the disciples on the day of Pentecost. These two works of the Holy Spirit are not one of the same. If they were, Ananias would not have had to risk his life by coming to pray for Saul to be filled with the Holy Spirit. If they were, the Samaritans would not have needed to have the Apostle come and lay hands o them after they were saved.

Regeneration by the Spirit of God and baptism with the Spirit of God are two separate and distinct works of the Holy Spirit. Each of them results in the Holy Spirit being manifested in the life of a believer, but those manifestations are not the same. In John's Gospel, Jesus made two clear and distinct statements about this different in the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God's people.

John 4:14 KJV "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." This is a reference to the indwelling of the Spirit that occurs when someone is born again..Water is often used in the Bible as a symbol of God's Spirit. The Spirit in a born again believer is a well of water that brings everlasting life to those who possess it. That well is always there to quench thirst and satisfy the needs of those who tap into it. Every born again believer has this well of God's Spirit within him.

John 7:38 "If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within." Notice what a great difference there is between someone who is saved and someone who has gone on to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit. In the former, the Spirit is like a well, which sustains the one who owns it, and makes sure that person is kept alive and healthy. The latter example uses rivers, which flow outward and give help and sustenance to others, without regard for meeting the personal needs of the one through whom the rivers flow.

When a person receives the baptism with the Holy Spirit, he or she is not receiving more of the Holy Spirit, you already have all of Him there is to have, the Holy Spirit is being released in a new and supernatural way. There is nothing a believer can do that can replace the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Trying to appear more spiritual cannot. Praying more cannot. Praying louder cannot. Being more active cannot. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is wholly supernatural, and as such, it is the primary release of the supernatural in the lives of believers.

Now this is important to know, if you wish to be content with less than the release of God's supernatural power in your life, you certainly can, and God will love you enough to take you to Heaven when it is time. But we don't have to settle for less just because some religious leader says it's not real. If you are going to come to the conclusion that something God gave the Church is no longer real or valid, you should have enough sense to ask God's word about it first. Remember Knowledge is Wisdom! Don't just accept the opinion of a person who has never experience it. Read the WORD!

The Supernatural power is the difference! The Spirit of God indwells all who have Jesus as their savior. Read Romans 8:9-16. This is not the same as the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Those who are born again have the Spirit like water in a well, those who are baptized in the Spirit have the Spirit like the water of a river. The difference is not one of kind (both are water) but a volume and power. The baptism in the Spirit gives to the believer a greater manifestation of the presence of God, and endues him with the supernatural power of God. Amen!

Last but not least receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit is not a complex process. In fact, it is not a process at all. It is exactly the same as receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, and getting born again. On the day of Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus celebrated Passover, the Holy Spirit was poured out. Just as Christ is available to us today as Savior, the Holy Spirit is available today for anyone who will simply ask and receive Him by faith. Luke 11:13 "If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him."