Fresh Baptisms with the Holy Spirit, or the Refilling with the Holy Spirit

Being baptised with the Holy Spirit is not a one-time event. Like Peter in Acts, believers need fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit for each new challenge, day, and act of service.

Without this, our spiritual power can fade, but with it, we stay strong and effective for God’s work.

In the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, fourth verse, we read: "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak," etc. This was the fulfillment of Acts 1:5. "But in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”." One of those mentioned by name as being "filled with the Holy Spirit," (Acts 2:4), or "baptised with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1: 5), at this time was Peter. Turning over to the fourth chapter, the eighth verse, we read: "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them," etc. Here, Peter experienced a new filling with the Holy Spirit.

Again, in the thirty-first verse of this same chapter, we read: "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

"Peter is named as one of this company (verses 19 and 23), so we see that Peter here experienced a third filling with the Holy Spirit. It is evident that it is not sufficient that one be once "baptised with the Holy Spirit." As new emergencies of service arise, there must be new fillings with the Spirit. The failure to realise this has led to most sad and serious results in many a man's service. He has been baptised at some period in his life with the Holy Spirit, and strives to get through his whole future life in the power of this experience.

It is largely for this reason that we see so many men who once unquestionably worked in the Holy Spirit's power, who give little evidence of the possession of that power today.

For each new service that is to be conducted, for each new soul that is to be dealt with, for each new service for Christ that is to be performed, for each new day and each new emergency of Christian life and service, we should definitely seek a new filling with the Holy Spirit. I do not deny that there is an "anointing that lives" (1 John 2:27), nor the permanency of the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives; I simply assert with clear and abundant Scripture proof, to say nothing of proof from experience and observation, that this gift must not be "neglected" (1 Timothy 4:14), but rather start anew" or "fan into flame" (2 Timothy 1:6); and that repeated fillings with the Holy Spirit are necessary to continuance and increase of power.

Now arises the question, are these new Fillings with the Holy Spirit to be called "fresh baptisms with the Holy Spirit?" While, on the one hand, it must be admitted that in Acts 2:4, the expression " Filled with the Holy Ghost" is used to describe the experience promised in Acts 1:5, in the words, "you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”, " and that therefore the two expressions are to this extent synonymous; on the other hand, it should be noticed that the expression, 'Baptised with the Holy Spirit' is nowhere used in the Bible of any experience but the first, and that, furthermore, the word "baptised" of itself suggests an initial experience.

Therefore, we stand for the truth that those who speak of "fresh baptisms with the Holy Spirit" are aiming at, it would seem wisest to follow the uniform Bible usage and speak of the experiences that succeed the first, as being "Filled with the Holy Spirit," and not as being "baptised with the Holy Spirit."