You assert that receiving the Holy Spirit is automatic when a person is saved. However, in Acts 8:12-16 that the Samarians believed Philip's preaching and they were baptized even Simon the sorcerer. But the Holy Ghost hadn't fallen on any of them, but you said that it was automatic. Secondly, you said that the New Testament does not teach that one prays to receive the Holy Ghost, but in Acts 8, the disciples came and prayed for them that they might have receive Him. My question to you is that if a Jehovah witness or a Mormon preach the Gospel to an unbeliever and he or she believes, do they automatic receive the Holy Spirit seeing that both denominations are laden with doctrinal error?
I read your sermon on Holy Spirit and I very appreciate it , my question is can a believer address the Holy Spirit directly, saying Wel-Come Holy Spirit be in our midst?
John 20:22 says, "And when he had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, 'Receive ye the Holy Spirit." In Acts 1:5 says, "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence." What is the difference between these two receptions of the Holy Spirit, for the same group of believers?
In Acts 1:5 Jesus told His disciples they would be permanently indwelled in being "baptized" with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2 God began the present dispensation we call the Church Age in which believers are permanently indwelled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus told the disciples of the permanent indwelling of the Comforter in John 14:16-17. Acts 2 records the fulfillment of Jesus' promise.
The difference is that His early disciples lived in two dispensations. First in the OT dispensation and then later after God instituted the local church in the Church Age dispensation. Believers in this age are the Body or Bride of Christ. OT saints have a different position with Christ in the kingdom of heaven and a closer relationship than does the saved Jews.
In the New Testament we do find the word "anoint" used.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 says, "Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."
The phrase "anointed us"; means to consecrated us to his service; anointing having been, in ancient times, a ceremony of consecration. The verse is saying that God has consecrated, sealed, and given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to believers in this dispensation (current age we are living in).
In the Old Testament we see an example in Exodus 28:3 "And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office." In other words Aaron was consecrated or set apart for the work of the Lord. This was a public ceremony in which Aaron was appointed to his priestly duties. It was God who actually appointed him. (Exodus 27:21) The equivalent in our society is an installation service for those who will serve in a church or an ordination of a pastor.
In oriental custom, oil would be rubbed on a person to "anoint" them or appoint them to a particular service. In Luke 4:18 the word anoint is used and is the Greek word chrio which means " to smear or rub with oil, i.e. (by implication) to consecrate to an office or religious service."
Other places the English word "anoint" is translated from the Greek word aleipho which refers to medicinal anointing of oil.
Baptists fully believe the Bible and that as the Lord teaches, God indwells each believer with the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke of this in John 14:17 "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
He spoke of it again just before He returned to heaven telling His disciples to wait until they received the indwelling or baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:4-5 "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
Acts 2:1f records the event when at the beginning of this age, the Church Age, believers were first indwelled or baptized with the Holy Spirit. I have an article at https://bible-truth.org/bapt-hs.htm which explains what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is and also the filling of the Holy Spirit which is different.
We do not anoint anyone with oil because it is God Himself who consecrates or anoints us with the Holy Spirit. It was always used in Scripture as symbolic of the consecration of God. Oil symbolically is used in Scripture as a picture of the Holy Spirit. Thus it was simply an outward ceremony which symbolically represented what God had done in that the person being anointed had received the power of the Holy Spirit.
Today we have the Word of God which tells us and assures us that we are consecrated by God Himself and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit ... and there is no need for some man to put oil on someone else to effect the consecration of God. No man or church imparts the Holy Spirit, that so it is wrong for a man to do such a ritual. It is solely the work of God. Further, it was not a practice in the early church...but was practiced in the Old Testament before believers were permanently indwelled by God's Spirit in this the Church Age. All believers already have the anointing of the Holy Spirit. What a Christian is to do is to allow the Holy Spirit to guide them as Ephesians 5:18 says, being filled with the Holy Spirit or letting Him direct us.
Only David in the Old Testament was permanently indwelled by the Holy Spirit. (1 Samuel 16:13) Old Testament believers were not permanently indwelled, but the Holy Spirit came upon them temporarily for some service God appointed the to. For example Numbers 24:2 says, "Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him."
Judges 15:19 "But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day."
1 Samuel 10:10 "And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.'
1 Samuel 11:6 "And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly."
1 Samuel 18:10 "And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand."
1 Samuel 19:23 'And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah."
1 Chronicles 12:18 'Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.'
2 Chronicles 24:20 "And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you."
Haggai 1:14 "And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God."
So, we fully believe in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as the Word of God teaches. We do not rub oil on people because the early church, which began at Pentecost, did not practice this. The only anointing done in the early church, as the New Testament teaches, was medicinal anointing (meaning using oil as medicine) which was accompanied with prayer for the sick. (James 5:14-15). There is no example in the New Testament of anyone anointing someone with oil and imparting to them the Holy Spirit. So the modern practice done in some churches is not biblical.
Note the following Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 6:19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?'
If a person is not indwelled by the Holy Spirit Romans 8:9 teaches that person is not a child of God, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
So...we Baptist carefully follow God's word and accept only it as the sole authority for our faith and practice. We do not accept the false teaches of many churches who misinterpret and teach false practices.
The Holy Spirit, in Matthew 3:16, descended on the Lord Jesus. In this manner it was the public acknowledgement of Jesus, (John 1:33) and a sign of his being the promised Messiah. There was no change wrought in the moral character of Jesus when He was anointed, but only that he was publicly set apart to his work, and solemnly approved by God in the office to which he was appointed. This also never established a ceremony or ritual for the future Christians.
There is no other mention of this happening like this to anyone else. It was unique in that it showed that Jesus was the Messiah come from God. By the way...there is no ascending dove on people who are "anointed" with oil in the churches that practice this ritual today. What they do has no biblical example.
Take care.... 1 Timothy 2:15....
Anointing was also a medical practice for health reasons. There are two Hebrew and Greek words that are translated into English "anoint." One is " Kwo cuwk "sook" (Hebrew) and refers to putting oil on a person's body for health reasons. In Greek the word is aleijw aleipho al-i'-fo and refers to medicinal use or anointing with oil.
Anointing was also used to honor someone as in John 11:2 when Mary anointed the Lord with oil and washed His feet. It was used also in "dressing up" or preparing for some social occasion. (See Ruth 3:3, 2 Samuel 14:2, Isaiah 61:3)
Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1-2, which "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19) In other words Isaiah was saying the Lord had consecrated Him or appointed him to preach the God and the Holy Spirit was directing him. Jesus using the passage applies it to Himself, as having the Holy Spirit indwelling Him and appointing Him to preach the Gospel also.
Based on the example we have in Bible we plainly see the anointing did not actually give anything spiritually from God. Rather, it was an outward ceremony by which others recognized or were shown that the person was appointed by God to a task or position. With that appointing God empowered them to carry out His will. Anointing was not a practice done by Christians in the churches, except for medical purposes such as James 5:14.
One must understand that in the Old Testament, except for David, no one was indwelled permanently by the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Samuel 16:13). The Holy Spirit "came upon" certain one's chosen by God to perform some special service for the Lord. (See Judges 3:10, 6:34, 11:29, 14:19, 15:14, etc) After the task was accomplished the Holy Spirit no longer was "upon" them. (See 2 Samuel 16:14 the Spirit of God departed from Saul)
In our time, which is the Church Age, believers when they are saved are permanently indwelled by the Holy Spirit. The indwelling or Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs when a person is saved is permanent and gives the Christian the new nature of Christ, enabling them to live for the Lord. However, although a Christian is indwelled by the Holy Spirit, they can "quench the Spirit" thus not allowing Him to direct our lives and direct us. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:19) God tells us in Ephesians 5:18, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." This means we must let the Holy Spirit guide us and we must allow Him to use us. However, we can ignore His leading in our lives. Thus, a Christian is permanently indwelled by the Holy Spirit, and thus God the Holy Spirit is always with us and we always have the new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). However, we are to be "filled with the Spirit" meaning let Him control our lives and we do this by living for and obeying the Lord. The Holy Spirit therefore will accomplish God's will in our lives as we live for the Lord.
I have said all this to explain to you there in no special anointing of the Holy Spirit that the Pentecostals and Charismatics talk about. They are confused and mixing what God did in the Old Testament times with Israel and what He has given us in this the Church Age. Christians today are special to the Lord and are the Bride of the Christ. We have different relationship with Christ Jesus than did Israel, which was a nation of people. We do not ceremonially anoint with oil to show the Holy Spirit is indwelling us, because when we are saved we submit to water baptism which shows that we are Christians and identified with the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. Being a believer and a child of God we are automatically indwelled by the Holy Spirit and He never leaves us.
I have an article at https://bible-truth.org/bapt-hs.htm , titled "A Biblical look at the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Filling of the Holy Spirit." This article will show you what the Bible has to say about this important matter.
Now to answer your question. There is no "double portion" of the Holy Spirit. You either have salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or a person is lost and does not. Colossians 2:9-10 explains this to us. "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: " (Colossians 2:9-10). Our prayers should be that seek God's strengthening in living a godly life, fleeing from sin, and by it letting the Holy Spirit direct our lives and carry out God's will in our life.
I hope this helps you understand what the Bible actually teaches about this. It is sad there are many who are teaching things the Bible does not teach. If you have comments or further questions please write.
The Bible is full of the recorded works of the Holy Spirit in carrying out the plan of God for the world. He worked in the creation of the universe and of the earth (Gen. 1:2; Psa. 104:30; Job 26:13; 33:4; Isa. 40:12-14). He worked in the lives of both the Old and New Testament saints enabling them to carry out acts God wanted them to do.
The Bible teaches the work of the Holy Spirit is multifaceted. The following list of the functions of the Holy Spirit is not exhaustive, but briefly identifies his major work in the world:
As these passages show, the Holy Spirit is directly involved in every aspect of a believer's life. These are the ministries that only the Holy Spirit, as God, can perform.
The Holy Spirit's presence in the lives of men are different in the Old and the New Testament. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament selectively came upon men for specific service (Gen. 41:38; Num. 27:28; Jude. 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 1 Sam. 10:9-10; 16:13; Dan. 4:8; 5:11-14; 6:3). The presence of the Holy Spirit in a person's life was temporary in Old Testament times and His presence was limited to the time it took to accomplish His work.
In the New Testament, during this present dispensation of the Church Age, the Holy Spirit permanently indwells all believers when they by faith receive Jesus Christ as their Savior, and the absence of the Holy Spirit is evidence of being unsaved (1 Cor. 6:19; Rom. 5:5; 8:9).
Jesus promised in John 14:16-17,26-27 to sent the "Comforter."
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:26-27)
Jesus in John 16:13-16 explained to His disciples that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit came, meaning the permanent indwelling of believers would come. In Acts 2: records that on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples as Jesus had told them He would in Acts 1:5, "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." (Acts 1:5)
Jesus went on in John 16 to explain the work of the Holy Spirit saying He would guide them to all truth.
Therefore the Holy Spirit, is God, the third member of the Trinity, is a gift to believers in this dispensation of the "Church Age." The Holy Spirit's work is to give believers gifts or talents to enable him to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 14:17 says the Holy Spirit will indwell and be in the every believer.
The Holy Spirit also "fills" the believer. The "indwelling or baptism" of the Holy Spirit and the "filling" of the Holy Spirit are different functions. The filling of the Holy Spirit is mentioned in Ephesians 5:18.
The filling of the Holy Spirit is defined as a believer allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and direct his life. (Acts 6:7; Rom. 1:5; Eph. 5:18). It is not something that is prayed for, but is the result of living a godly life being lead by the Holy Spirit. The filling of the Holy Spirit is automatic when a Christian is letting the Holy Spirit control his life. The above verse uses being drunk with wine as an example of how a person is filled with the Spirit. Wine when drank takes over the control of the mind. If a believer lives a godly life patterning his life after God's word he will be faithfully being obedient to God. Thus because he is seeking God's will for his life and following the Word of God the Spirit is able to work and produce fruit in the believer's life. So if a Christian lives a life committed to the Lord he is filled with the Holy Spirit...that meaning the Holy Spirit will be directing him.
Ephesians 4:30 warns us about living our lives in the flesh and not letting God guide and influence our actions. "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30) If a believer is worldly and does not live by God's word then He hinders God from directing and blessing him. To "grieve" means make one sorrow or disappointed in us. God wants to bless us and direct us to living the best possible life. That is God's will for us, but the Christian must allow the Lord to do so by obeying Him.
The answer to your question is that you welcome the Holy Spirit into your life by being faithful to the Lord, by obeying God's word and serving Him. The Holy Spirit is always present in the life of a believer and never leaves. But as I said before, although He is there, a worldly believer can ignore hinder the Spirit influence and blessing by not allowing Him to lead. The Holy Spirit is always present when God's people meet in truth and in true worship. You do not have to ask Him to be there.
This is somewhat lengthy but should answer your questions. I have an article at https://bible-truth.org/bapt-hs.htm which explains biblically the difference between the "indwelling" and the "filling" of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit did "come upon" many people in the Old Testament but not permanently. For example, "And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded" (2 Chronicles 15:1) However, the Spirit just stayed with the Old Testament saints as long as they were doing the task the Lord had called them to.
In the New Testament the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is called the "baptism of the Holy Spirit." fulfilled at Pentecost and at Cornelius's house (Acts. 2:1-13; (11:13-17).
The baptism at Pentecost was for the Jews, and the one at Cornelius's house was for the Gentiles. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower the church for world evangelism (Acts 1:8).
Christians are never told to seek the baptism of the Spirit. After Pentecost there is no record of Christians waiting for this baptism. The Apostles taught that every true Christian has the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9; 1 John 2:20,27).
Throughout the Epistles it is taken for granted that the believers have the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:1-27; 15:13; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:11,19; 12:3-11; 2 Cor. 3:18; 13:14; Eph. 2:18,22; Eph. 3:16; 4:3,4; 5:18; 6:18; Philippians 1:19; 2:1; Col. 1:8; 1 Thess. 1:5; 5:19; 2 Tim. 1:14; 1 Peter 1:2,22; 1 John 3:24).
Every reference to the reception of the Holy Spirit after the book of Acts is in the past or fulfilled tense (Rom. 5:5; 1 Cor. 2:12; 3:16; 6:19; 12:13; 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Gal. 3:2; 4:6; Eph. 1:12-14; 2:22; 4:30; 1 Thess. 4:8; 2 Th. 2:13; 2 Tim. 1:14; Titus 3:5,6; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John. 2:20; 3:24; 4:2).
In the Tribulation the Holy Spirit does not appear to indwell believers, but it will be as it was in the Old Testament. The indwelling or baptism of the Holy Spirit seems to be unique to the bride and body of Jesus Christ, who are Christians saved in this dispensation. This dispensation of the Church Age will end with the Rapture.
I have found in the past that it was difficult to understand certain actions in the New Testament and especially in the Book of Acts. I often would get hung up in trying to understand what was done and why. I always look for a pattern which established a consistent action. As you have seen in the giving (John 7;39) of the Holy Spirit there was variation. It helped me, though when I realized that the Book of Acts covers a transitional period in God's working. The Gospel first went to Jews only, then to Cornelius a Gentile proselyte to Judaism, then to the Samaritans and eventually through Paul to the Gentiles. However, there was not a sharp ceasing of preaching to one group and then the to others. There was a period in which the Gospel was being preached to Jews and Gentiles at the same time. Paul said he preached to the Jew first and then the Greek (Gentile). (Rom. 1:16, 2:9-10) During this early period which began at Pentecost the Apostles were preaching that Jesus whom they had crucified was the Messiah.
Israel was being offered their promised Messiah and kingdom. However, though some believed, most of Israel rejected Jesus as the Christ and the kingdom was postponed. Clearly, Jesus had to have gone to the cross and died for the sins of the world. That means He had to be rejected initially by Israel. After Christ returned to heaven (Acts 1) on the Day of Pentecost God instituted a something completely new to Israel which was the institution of the local church, the indwelling of believers in a new dispensation. Honestly, I do not fully understand all that was God's reason, but one clear reason was to get Himself a bride, and a special group of saints who He would use in the coming Kingdom (the Millennium). But it seems that if Israel has repented of their sins and accepted Jesus as their Messiah, the Tribulation period would have begun followed by the Second Coming and the Millennial Kingdom promised to Israel.
It appears that God's plan was that Israel (Jews) who believed in Jesus Christ would become part of His bride and thus a part of this new dispensation. Paul explained this in Romans 11, that God had not set Israel aside. Paul said we should not be ignorant of the "this mystery." In this verse he also mentions that Israel would be blind until the "fullness of the Gentiles be come in." It seems to me he is referring to a transitional period of time which his readers needed to understand. Basically he was saying Israel is not set aside permanently, but will eventual be saved. Paul was addressing Jews in Rome. Most assume the Epistle is to the Gentile Romans, but clearly the first section of the Book deals with Israel.
Romans 16:25 also mentions the mystery that was being revealed. Paul refers to this mystery of the church in Ephesians 5:32 also. The institution of the local church was unknown in the Old Testament dispensation. In other words the Gospel of Jesus Christ nor the church was not known in the Old Testament, but was now being revealed to the world and to the Gentiles. Psalm 22, and Isaiah 53 addressed the suffering of the Messiah, but clearly Israel did not understand what this meant. It was a mystery to them and still is to the blinded Jews.
So, in understanding what was happening in the Book of Acts we must consider that the Gospel was going to the Jews first in a way that addressed their culture and understanding. There were two dispensations which were overlapping. The Old Testament dispensation was ceasing, or being postponed and the New Testament dispensation was beginning. The Jews needed a sign or to see something to establish it as coming from God. "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom." (1 Corinthians 1:22) In regard to the laying of on hands it is mentioned in the Gospels, Acts and in Hebrews which all address the Jews. It is only mentioned in the Epistles in regard to ordaining Timothy (1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Tim. 2:16). In Hebrews 6:2, written to the Jews, the laying on of hands is regarded as a basis teaching to be understood but in maturing not to be emphasised. So the laying of of hands was a practice associated with the Jews. It was an outward practice which showed or conferred approval or appointment by an individual or a group of something important to the group. In other words the Jews sought for signs..and the laying on of hands was a sign. It was a visible sign from the Apostles whom they knew served the Lord, of their approval of the one on which their hands were laid. It did not impart anything, but outwardly showed what God was spiritually had done inwardly. Baptism is like this also being an outward sign of a person's acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Savior and identifying themselves with Him. In Acts 11, Peter is explaining to the Jews in Jerusalem what had happened with Cornelius and his household. Verse 14 says he preached Jesus Christ to them and the same identical thing happened to them as it did on the Day of Pentecost.
Note that verse 16 says, "Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?" (Acts 11:16-17)
here was no laying of off hands. In Acts 8:17 when Peter and John, who were in Jerusalem, heard of believers in Samaria they went to them. These Samaritans had believed and been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, but had not received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. These were Samaritans, who were hated by the Jews, but they had believed and been saved. The Jews needed to see that these Samaritans were indeed saved the same as they were and had the approval of the Apostles. As a sign to the Jews in Jerusalem it seems clear that Peter and John were sent to them to authenticate their salvation and that indeed Samaritans had been saved as as proof when the Apostles laid hands on them they received the Holy Spirit. Thus it was a sign to the Jews in Jerusalem of Samaritans being saved, but this was a special circumstance and did not set the norm for receiving the Holy Spirit. The norm is that when a person believes and is saved they are indwelled and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 8:9)
As to when the transitional period ended, note Paul's statement, "And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles." (Acts 18:6) The Jews fought against Paul's teaching visously and finally as the verse says, Paul realized they would not accept Jesus as the Messiah so he turned to the Gentiles, whom God had called him to preach the Gospel. I think this shows a marked turning point in this transitional period. Jews still heard the Gospel and some were saved, but the offer of the Kingdom was now postponed by God because of their unbelief and rejection.
I am a little reluctant to use Acts 2:39 because so many misinterpret the verse to mean one must be baptized to be saved. But Peter said, that if they repented of their sins and were baptized they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 11:16, Peter said when he saw what happened he remember what the Lord had said "John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost."
I am not sure I have explained this clearly enough, but I have tried to point you in the right direction. That being, that Acts represents a transitional period when the Gospel was going to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. It is the dispensation of the OT and NT overlapping. Each group heard the same Gospel, but because of their different cultures and backgrounds there were some differences initially in what happened. However, in the Epistles we find our instructions for today because we are Gentiles and the the Jewish culture is not in view.
The filling of the Holy Spirit is explained in Ephesian 5:18. It is letting the Holy Spirit control our lives and living a faithful life in Jesus Christ. A believer is permanently indwelt at salvation and subsequently filled with the Holy Spirit as he yields himself to the Lord. If a believer allows himself to get in the flesh and to ignore God's leading...he then is not filled or controlled by the Spirit. But if he confesses and repents of his sins, the filling of the Spirit will be restored.
As Paul explained in Romans 7 we have two natures....and their is a war in our hearts over which will rule us...the old carnal nature or the new nature which is the Spirit of Christ.
The receiving of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, (indwelling) has nothing to do with what religion group a person belongs to when they by faith believe and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. Religious organizations nor churches have nothing to do with a person being saved. It is a personal matter between them and the Lord. However, surely very soon a Mormon, JW or anyone else in a false religion would see the gross doctrinal error of their religious affiliation and seek a New Testament church were the word of God is taught, lived and preached.
Anyone who receives Jesus Christ by faith they at that time receive the baptism or indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Note these passages that teach that all believers are indwelled by the Holy Spirit (baptism of the Holy Spirit):
Jesus said, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14:16-17)
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:4-5)
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:11-13)
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:3) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18)
Quench not the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. (1 John 4:13)
So these and many other passage clearly state that believers are indwelled by the Holy Spirit and Romans 8:9 says that if one does not have the indwelling of the Spirit he is not of Christ.
As to Acts 8:11-16. The reason that Philip prayed for the Samarians to recieve the Holy Spirit is because this event was during the transitional period between the Old and New Testament dispensations and was a unique event. In Samaria there were believers who had believed under the Old Testament dispensation. Jesus preached there and the Samaian woman was saved and those of her village. Also John the Baptist preached there and Samarians believed looking for the coming of the Messiah. However, you must understand that this was still in the Old Testament period. The new dispensation of the Church Age which the Lord began at Pentecost had not happened. These Samarians were Old Testament saints.
When the apostles, after Pentecost, heard about the Samarian believers they when there to share with them the Good News that Jesus Christ was the Messiah and to bring them into the Church Age. Verse 16 explains way this happened this way, "(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)" (Acts 8:16)
In Acts 10 Peter preached to Cornelius and the he received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit the same as what happened on the Day of Pentecost. When Paul came to Ephesus he found Old Testament believers there and ask them if they had received the Holy Spirit since they believed. They replied they did not know anything about the Holy Spirit. Paul asked about their conversion and they replied they had responded to John the Baptist and been baptized by him. Clearly they were not Christians but OT saints. They then were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and Paul laid hands on them and they receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Thus you had saved OT saints becoming a part of the Church Age dispensation in which all believers are indwelled automatically when they accept Jesus Christ.
After the record of the events in Acts there is no further mention of anyone asking for or praying to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Phillip, Peter and Paul's encounters were in the transitional period when there were many OT saints who did not know about Jesus Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit's indwelling. These that received the baptism of the Holy Spirit not lost people but saved children of God. After a few years true OT saints heard of Jesus Christ and believed in Him and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and became a part of this dispensation. Today there are no OT saints as we have been in the New Testament dispensation of the Church Age for 2000 years. All who are saved today are those who are lost and by faith accept the Gospel and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. When the lost receive Christ they receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Has there been times when I "felt" His presence....? Yes, in the sense that many times I saw the Lord working in my life and others and my spirits were lifted.
However, it is not biblical to think we have to be aware of His presence or have some emotion that confirms His indwelling presence. God's word says we know that a true believer is eternally indwelled by the Holy Spirit...because God says we are whether we feel it or am aware of it or not. That false teaching has it roots in the false teaching of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement. It actually comes from Oriential mystism. Our confidence in God is not to be based on some feeling...but on His immutable promises.
What happens to some is they lose the initial excitement of their salvation as they mature in the Lord, but they grow in trusting Him and not having to have feelings and emotions as a child would, but the confidence of God's loving promises.