How to Be Baptized With the Holy Spirit
Salvation through Jesus Christ is important but equally important is receiving the Holy Spirit. Before proceeding, it is vital to know who the Holy Ghost is. Jesus told about the third person of the Holy Trinity to his disciples at the last supper: "I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you" (John 14:16–17).
The Holy Spirit was left behind in the world as a custodian to the ministry after Jesus ascended to heaven. Its purpose is to empower the faithful in fulfilling the Great Commission of preaching the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This doesn't mean that we have to pack our bags and evangelize in every continent.
Having the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to manifest through one's lifestyle is already bearing witness to the Gospel. A person who has received Christ as their personal Savior and has repented their sins is baptized by the Holy Spirit. This can be determined through one's outward actions.
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Those who proclaim to have been Born Again but continue to live in sin don't have the Holy Spirit. Jesus said "but you know Him," referring to the Holy Ghost. A true follower of Christ can spot the nominal Christians or Sunday Christians who go to church but have not completely given their lives to God.
They can be identified because they don't have the Holy Spirit in them. They don't show enthusiasm for the Word and don't get excited with God's work. Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is thus offering one's existence completely to God and making Him a priority in life.
The Holy Spirit has many gifts as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12, but the most common is the gift of understanding (John 16:13–14). It is thus wrong to say that those who don't prophesy, speak in tongues, heal, etc. are not baptized by the Holy Ghost. A Christian who has understanding and wisdom has the Holy Spirit.
