Christ baptizes the Believer into the Holy Spirit, the enduement of power for service. It can take place before or after water baptism. When we read in the Word of God about being "baptized in the Holy Spirit", it is clear that it refer to the coming "upon(G1909)" of the Holy Spirit on believers whom were already baptized into Christ and already received the Holy Spirit and living "in(G1722) " us as from the moment we were born again.

Looking at the Greek translation, we see that there is a difference between the Holy Spirit in(G1722) us and the Holy Spirit upon(G1909) us.

2 Timothy 1:6 - Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in(G1722) you through the laying on of my hands.

Paul said to Timothy to stir up the gift of God, which was the Holy Spirit in(G1722) him, whom he received when was born again. When the Holy Spirit comes upon(G1909) us, He also stir His gifts which are already inside(G1722) of us.

The Holy Spirit upon us.

The "coming upon(G1909)" of the Holy Spirit as in Acts 1:8, is an empowerment for service and to witness. It is a separate event from salvation and is not the equivalent to having the Spirit in(G1722) us. We must first have the Spirit in(G1722) us, before we can receive the Spirit upon(G1909) us. In other words, we must be saved first in order to "receive" the Holy Spirit upon(G1909) us. When the Holy Spirit comes upon(G1909) us, we are empowered for service and to witness.

Matthew 3:11 - I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John the Baptist spoke about Jesus and he clearly said that Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Luke 24:49 - "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon(G1909) you, but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

Jesus said that He would send the Holy Spirit to come upon(G1909) us. He clearly did not speak about the time we would experience salvation and receive the Holy Spirit inside(G1722) of us. In Luke 24 He spoke to His disciples whom already had the Holy Spirit inside of them. We can read this in Matthew 10 where Jesus said to His disciples that the Holy Spirit spoke in them.

Matthew 10:19-20 - But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

Acts 1:4-5 - And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Again Jesus spoke to His disciples who were already His followers with the Holy Spirit inside(G1722) of them and He told them that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit, which means the "coming upon(G1909)" of the Holy Spirit on them.

Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Holy Spirit came upon(G1909) them and "stirred" the Spirit in(G1722) them. This was the experience Jesus spoke about when He told them in Acts 1:8 that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon(G1909) them.

Acts 1:8 - "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon(G1909) you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

2 Corinthians 12:9 - And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon(G1909) me.

Paul knew that he had the Holy Spirit inside(G1722) of him and that He would never leave him, but the Spirit upon(G1909) him might leave and he would rather boast in his infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon(G1909) him, than to experience a time without the Holy Spirit upon(G1909) him.

1 Peter 4:14 - If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon(G1909) you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

Matthew 3:16 - When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon(G1909) Him.

Jesus had the Holy Spirit in Him, and with His baptism the Holy Spirit came upon(G1909) Him and only then His Ministry started.

Matthew 12:18 - "Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon(G1909) Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles.

This is what Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 42:1-4, that the Holy Spirit would come upon(G1909) Jesus. Even Jesus needed the Holy Spirit upon(G1909) Him before He could do the miracles He did, how much more will we need the Holy Spirit to come upon(G1909) us before we can go out and do what Jesus did. We all want to go out into the streets and pray for the sick and bring people to Jesus, but we need the power when the Holy Spirit come upon(G1909) us to be witnesses for Jesus. Amen.