In the times of the early holiness pentecostals and even before that the Methodists – a major emphasis in receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit was to be set free from sin. They saw this experience as a crucifying and sin destroying event that set the believer completely free from the control of the flesh. I was at work one day and a thought came to me, “if your motive in receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to die, then you will surely receive it.” What a radical thought! Think for a moment: the baptism of the Holy Spirit is both an encounter with life, eternal life, and an encounter with death. “Self” is laid in the grave, the flesh and it’s filthiness is crucified, and sin with its strangle-hold on our lives is destroyed.

We don’t hear too much of this emphasis today. Now while I know there are many reasons to be baptized in the Spirit like: intimacy with God, power to preach the gospel, and gifts of the Spirit, this motive to die is perhaps most in alignment with the Holy Spirit’s first order of business – to bring an end to all that is of the sinful nature, and implant a new life within that we are to live by. Christ wants to live His life through us, but if “self” still lives within, and is controlling our behavior, then the work of the Spirit is resisted and inhibited. Self again being our sinful behaviors and mindsets, and self being our independent nature that insists on acting out its own will and refuses to be governed by the King. I guarantee that if you seek the Holy Spirit to live a holy life, then the fire of God will fall upon you without a doubt, because the absolute first thing Christ wants to do is kill you. Death comes before resurrection. This is perhaps my best advice to those seeking this experience. Seek Him to die-to-self, and you will come face-to-face with the radical transforming power and glory of God. The cross comes before pentecost.

This is perhaps why so many people have had difficulty with receiving this baptism: they don’t want to die. They still want their sin. They’re not willing to let the “self-life” be destroyed so that Christ would have complete ownership and control of their lives. If you really want this experience then you must be willing to let go of your world as you now know it, and let the Spirit of God release the life-shattering blow of death to that old man. You must submit yourself to the Lordship of Christ. In doing so you give up all authority to rule your own life and instead humbly lay all that you are at the feet of Jesus, willing to go anywhere and do anything He asks of you. You become His possession, His temple, His property, and His servant. Your body is no longer a slave to sin, but instead is yielded to the Spirit of God to be used as an instrument of righteousness, doing those things which please the Lord. In simple terms what I am describing is total surrender. It’s an emptying of all that is self, and allowing Christ to reign supreme within you. Empty yourself, and room will be created for the Holy Spirit to fill you to overflowing! Ask Him in faith and surrender and you will receive the Holy Spirit. If He doesn’t manifest immediately do not despair, but begin seeking Him diligently, asking, seeking, and knocking. Do not give up until you receive this precious infilling of the Holy Ghost.