Great is the mercy of God who has brought you out of darkness into the light of His dear Son, and there is joy in heaven over your turning to Christ. We thank the Lord Jesus Christ with you for His saving grace shown to you these five months past, for salvation is through Him alone, and faith in Him is what saves the soul.
Your desire is a right and precious one, to know the full work of the Holy Spirit in your heart and to walk in obedience to Christ in baptism. Hear what the Scripture teaches for your comfort and guidance.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a rite which one man can administer to another. It is the Lord Jesus Himself who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. This inward and spiritual baptism is the communion of the soul with Christ, the quickening of those who were dead in trespasses and sins, the creating of a new heart and a right spirit within. If you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart, trusting Him alone for salvation, then you have already received the Spirit who is the Author of all spiritual life. It is the Spirit that quickens, it is the Spirit that instructs, it is the Spirit that sanctifies and preserves and makes us meet to be partakers of the inheritance. Every faculty is awakened by the Spirit of God, yet it is you who believes, and your faith in Christ is the evidence that the Spirit dwells in you as in His palace, though that heart be but a narrow cottage.
Water baptism is distinct from this, and it remains the ordinance of Christ for every believer. The outward element to be used is water, wherein the believer is buried with Christ and raised again, a sign of death to sin and of newness of life. It does not save, for it is faith that saves, but it is linked with faith over and over in the New Testament, as Peter said, Repent and be baptized every one of you, and as it was said, Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we. The Ethiopian nobleman said, Look, here is water, what does hinder me to be baptized, and Philip answered, If you believe with all your heart, you may, and they both went down into the water and he baptized him.
Therefore do not think that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is given to you instead of water baptism, or that water baptism is no longer required. The one is inward and is Christ's gift, the other is outward and is Christ's command. You are not to despise the outward because you have the inward, nor to seek the inward as if you had it not when you have believed. Rather, thank God that He has given you His Spirit to dwell in you even now where you cannot publicly confess Him, and keep a ready and earnest heart to obey Him in water when He in His providence opens the way. That man was in downright earnest and therefore he would not delay his baptism. So when the Lord makes a safe and faithful opportunity for you, whether by a trusted believer in quiet water or by His leading to a place of safety, do not delay to put on Christ's regimentals and be buried with Him in baptism.
In the meantime, seek the Lord to be filled more and more with the Spirit who already dwells in you. The Spirit always keeps sweet company with Jesus Christ and glorifies Him, not outward rites. Wherever the Spirit comes He works according to His own holy nature, first making us pure and then peaceable. Take off your shoes in reverence when you think of Him, and do not grieve Him by unbelief or unholiness, but walk in holiness, in prayer, and in the Word, for He is the one who teaches you and who helps you to pray when you know not how.
We will pray for you now.
O Father, glory of our salvation, we bless You for this soul whom You have called by Your grace to know Your Son Jesus. We thank You that You gave not the Spirit by measure unto Him, and that from His fullness we receive. Pour out upon our brother the abundant supply which lies in the hands of Christ. Let the Spirit who quickened him at the first continue to instruct him, to sanctify him, to preserve him, and to satisfy his soul as with living water springing up unto everlasting life, so that though he be in a dry and thirsty land where there is no outward water, his sources may be in You, the All Sufficient One. Keep him from fear and from the evil one, guard his confession, and make him holy and bold. Grieve not Your Spirit within him, but cause him to walk in faith and obedience, and in Your good time open a door for him to be baptized in water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, to the glory of Christ. Make Your presence his church, Your Word his fellowship, and Your Spirit his comforter, until You bring him into open fellowship with Your people. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who alone saves, we ask it. Amen.
Be of good courage. The Lord who began this work will perfect it. Continue in the Scriptures, continue in prayer, and look to Jesus, and He will keep you.
