Father of everlasting grace,
Thy goodness and Thy truth we praise,
Thy goodness and Thy truth we prove;
Thou hast, in honour of Thy Son,
The gift unspeakable sent down,
The Spirit of life, and power and love.

Send us the Spirit of Thy Son,
To make the depths of Godhead known,
To make us share the life divine;
Send Him the sprinkled blood to apply,
Send Him our souls to sanctify,
And show and seal us ever Thine.

(Charles Wesley. Hymns of Pe­ti­tion and Thanks­giv­ing for the Pro­mis­es of the Fa­ther - 1746).

John Baptist declared at the very outset of Jesus’ ministry that Jesus was He who “baptises in the Holy Ghost and in fire”. But Jesus could not baptize with the Holy Ghost until He’d fulfilled all His Father’s will and undergone all that He experienced and suffered as a Son - “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”. (Hebrews 5:8-9)

As the Baptiser in the Holy Ghost it was imperative that the Son Himself should first overcome sin and death. “Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:9-15)

“Being found in fashion as a man” Jesus took upon Himself and experienced all that was common to man, and having overcome all returned to His heavenly glory to receive the Promise of the Father. Through His obedience as a Son to the will of His Father, Jesus became the baptiser with the Holy Ghost. The out-pouring of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost was the culmination of the Son’s life and ministry. “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” Acts 2:32-33.

The Father and the Son, are made known by the Spirit in the baptism. In which consists the life of God and the salvation His Son has wrought, which salvation the Spirit makes known by revelation in those who receive the baptism. It is not possible to know the Father, the Son, or salvation, except through the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Jesus "received" the Promised of the Father, and could not pour out the Spirit until He had received the Promise.

His disciples waited in expectancy and earnest for that promise of the Father. "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.

...But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:4-8)

Peter declared on that glorious day - “For to you belongs the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, whoever the Lord our God may call." (Weymouth)

During the time of persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, Philip (one of seven who were appointed to “serve at tables”), went to Samaria and “preached Christ unto them”. “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city….they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”
(Acts 8:5-17)

Those who had believed the word Philip preached were baptised in water, but not baptised in the Holy Ghost until Peter and John laid hands on them “and they received the Holy Ghost”.

 “I cannot rest in sins forgiven, where is the earnest of my heaven?” Charles Wesley.

In the Book of Acts we see clearly that the baptism in the Holy Spirit brought the Church of Jesus Christ to birth, and that all believers after the Day of Pentecost had their own baptism in the Spirit. What occurred in Samaria and in Cornelius’ household is set forth as a pattern. In Acts 19 we see this truth clearly demonstrated.

“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.” (Acts 19:1-7)

The Apostle Paul, detecting that something was amiss with these believes, enquired of them if they had received the Holy Spirit. For Paul it was quite obvious they had not. The twelve men had been baptized with John's baptism - a baptism of water to prepare Israél for their coming Messiah who would baptise them in the Holy Ghost.

John Baptist said that “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” John 3:27.

But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:39  

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 14:17  

 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:14

We are beginning to see a pattern here…

 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24 

 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. John 20:22 

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8  

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Acts 2:33  

The Greek word translated receive in our English Bible, is the active verb λαμβάνω (lambanō) and means “to take”, “to get hold of”. The Holy Ghost is to be received, not merely believed about.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38 

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. Acts 8:15  

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 9:17 

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.  Acts 8:17  

Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? Acts10:47  

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. Acts 19:2  

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15 

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. I Corinthians 2:12  

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Galatians 3:2 

Have you received the Holy Ghost?