In the Gospel of John, chapters 14, 15 and 16, Jesus emphasized the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit, until the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
The Holy Spirit never came upon the disciples. Yes, they were saved, but they never received the baptism with the Holy Spirit. And I can show you from Scripture that there are two separate experiences, one is Salvation and the other, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
In John 20:25-29, we read that Jesus after His resurrection appeared to the disciples. Let me backtrack a little to verse 19. The disciples were assembled in a room the doors were shut for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood in the midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
If you compare that situation to the Day of Pentecost when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and Peter stood and preached the first message to all the Jews who had gathered to hear this amazing spectacle, Acts 2 verse 11, “we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”
So before receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit, they were behind locked doors. Now there is a boldness and an authoritative declaration of the Word of God and as a result 3,000 get saved and are water baptized (Acts 2.1-47). In Acts 8:5-17, we read about Philip who previously was a deacon. God promoted to the office of evangelist, (Ephesians 4:11), he went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a load voice came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.
Firstly, I would like you to see the consequences of an area large or small prior to the gospel being preached, people walking in darkness, sickness and disease rampant, spiritual oppression. This paints a very dark picture, but when the glorious light of the gospel comes bursting in there is a dramatic change. Freedom from oppression and sickness. Glory to God! Now if that was all they needed, good enough. But wait, verse 14-17 says when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit for as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Jesus (water baptism).
Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. The apostles recognized the necessity of receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit. We all need this wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit in order to live a victorious life. Please don't think you can fulfill the great commission without being filled with power that comes with the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). Jesus said “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me...”
Many think that the last words of Jesus before He ascended to heaven were, “Go” but that's not the case His last words were, “Wait.” Wait for the infilling of the Holy Spirit, the baptism with the Holy Spirit is the 'gateway' to the gifts of the Holy Spirit as recorded in I Corinthians 12:1-11. So much more to share, but we will have to wait until next week.
Until then, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit” and the good news is you don't have to wait. He is waiting for you to ask (Luke 11:13).