David Diga Hernandez - How to Let the Holy Spirit Take Control

The baptism with the Holy Spirit is an intensified increase of the influence of the Holy Spirit. The word «baptized» means to be immersed or overwhelmed. Think of how the Titanic sank: the Titanic didn’t sink because of the water around it; it sank because of the water that got in it. The Titanic was on the water, and once it sank, it went into the water. I know this sounds a little too basic, but I want you to see it in the spiritual realm, too. We would not say a ship is baptized unless it sinks. If a ship is floating, it’s not baptized; it’s just touching the water. Now, the way to sink a ship is to fill all its different compartments with water, and the moment it becomes filled, then it goes under. That’s what it means to be baptized in the person of the Holy Spirit. When you’re saved, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you; when you’re baptized with the Spirit, you begin to live in Him. So, that’s what the baptism with the Holy Spirit is.

I mean, think about it as another analogy. When you see your friends baptized, they say, «I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.» What do they do? They dunk you under the water, and you’re being baptized in water—submerged, immersed, flooded from within and all around you. That’s what it means to be baptized: to be submerged in Him, to have Him all around you and within you. That is the baptism with the Holy Spirit. So, when we are baptized in Him, we’re immersed in Him. When we’re baptized in Him, He begins to fill all those little compartments of our lives, but it is a flood from within.

Watch this now; here’s a key verse you’ve got to hear: John 7:38. «The one who believes in me, as the Scripture said, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.» Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa—I’m being shaken right now just looking at this! Think about what Jesus is saying: «The one who believes in me, as the Scripture said.» Watch this now; listen to what Jesus said: «From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.» Where does the water come from? The baptism of the Spirit is not rain from heaven. I’m going to say that again: the baptism of the Spirit is not rain from heaven; it’s a flood from within.

So then, the waters in which we are baptized, spiritually speaking, the influence in which we are immersed, does not fall upon us; it comes from within us. Think about the Titanic again: it’s floating on the water, but it’s not until the water gets in it and all around it that it begins to be submerged, influenced, or sunk. Right? That’s what baptizes me. I’m sunk in the Spirit as a ship.

So, the Holy Spirit fills us from within to without. The spiritual waters, the rivers of living water, begin to flow from my spirit to my soul, and that begins to affect my mind, will, emotions, personality, and my will is transformed by that holiness—right? Living, joy, peace, and love overflow. It touches my soul, cleanses my mind, and starts to spill out into my actions. This is why religion will never work, because religion says you have to work on the outside before you can see transformation on the inside. In religion, transformation is the reward for doing good. But in God’s kingdom, the way the Lord does it is first He changes us on the inside, and then the outer shells begin to catch up.

So, the influence of the Spirit starts within; the enemy influences from the outside in. The Holy Spirit influences from the inside out. The spiritual waters now begin to flow out of me; they touch my soul, touch my mind, and then eventually it gets to the body. Now, it starts to change where I go, what I say, how I behave, what I do, and who I’m around. It begins to influence the outer man; it begins to influence the soul and the body. That is what baptism means. So, the baptism with the Spirit is simply the increased influence of the Holy Spirit in your life.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the increased influence of the Holy Spirit—not that He comes and goes, but we surrender to the flood from within. At salvation, you receive Him; at baptism, you release Him. So, when you’re saved, He comes to dwell in you, and then that influence takes over your life. Sometimes, because of the way we live, we begin to find setbacks spiritually, and those waters start to recede. Then we start to act not according to who we are, but according to the outer shells. But the baptism with the Spirit is saying, «Holy Spirit, flood me. Immerse me. Drown me. Drown who I am.» That’s what happens with the flesh: the flesh drowns in the waters of baptism. Holy Spirit, sink me; Holy Spirit, drown me. Kill the old me; drown who I was in You, and then you begin to come alive in the Spirit. Those waters fill you, and they’re all around you.

So, it’s greater surrender. So, what is the baptism with the Holy Spirit? It is being immersed in the Holy Spirit, but you’re not receiving Him; you’re releasing Him. So, how do you receive this? Now, I’m going to tell you the three keys to receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Number one: see the truth. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, «But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these.»