Heres an article you might ejoy. Sorry its very long. WAS (IS) HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM FOR ALL? (MATT. 3:11)
No! But that does not prevent some from seeking that in which they have "neither part nor lot" (Acts 8:21). Preaching to an audience containing Pharisees and Sadducees, John (the immerser) said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 3:11). This is a "proof text" for those, even among brethren, who claim baptism in the Holy Spirit is for all of Christ's followers. Note carefully that neither this nor any other passage teaches that everyone is to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Brethren "Baptized in the Holy Spirit" Work Deceitfully, Teach Error, and Fellowship Those in Error
As far back as 1968, Richard Rogers, Sunset's "Sheikh of Deceit" (in doctrinal and other matters), penned, "The time honored (sic) position among the brethren has been that this promise (`Ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit') was made to, and for, only the twelve apostles. That this is not true can be shown conclusively from the scriptures."<19> According to Rogers, "The statement `Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit,' is simply the promise of the outpouring of the Spirit by Jesus on the day of Pentecost one time for all, henceforth available for all men whom God calls (through the gospel, 2 Thess. 2:14)."<20> With specific reference to Matt. 3:11, Rogers alleged, "This passage makes it clear that Jesus would baptize more than twelve men with the Holy Spirit, unless we are to take a very singular view of it indeed."<21> Question: Where did this verse make "it clear that Jesus would baptize more than twelve men with the Holy Spirit"? Context certainly did not interfere with the "Rogers method" of isogetical hermeneutics. Matt. 3:11 gives absolutely no indication of how many would be baptized in the Holy Spirit. From Matt. 3:11 it could be two, twelve, twenty, or a zillion. Like others of his "Holy Spirit baptized" brethren, Rogers played fast and loose with God's Word.
Brother Ben J. Franklin claimed he was baptized in the Holy Spirit in 1965. Relative to his study, Franklin declared:
"I became aware that all basic Christian doctrines were given the Apostles with the intention of their being passed on to every succeeding generation (he is right to this point, T.J.H.), even the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (oops, now he has gone too far, T.J.H.), with the accompanying manifestations, including speaking with other tongues!"<22>
Question: Where are the proofs that support this baseless assertion? Why did Franklin not take up deadly serpents (Acts 28:3), drink deadly poison (Mark 16:18), or raise the dead (Acts 20:9) to demonstrate the "accompanying manifestations" of which he spoke?
One thing is certain, being "baptized in the Holy Spirit" did not help Franklin when he debated Guy N. Woods on the subject in 1974. Woods devastated every one of Franklin's arguments that "believers can receive Holy Ghost Baptism today."<23> In the same debate, Woods proved his proposition: "The Scriptures teach that Holy Ghost Baptism has ceased and is no longer in the church today."<24> He also exposed the dishonesty, the lack of true spirituality, and the departure from the faith Franklin manifested after his socalled "Holy Spirit baptism." In his second speech on the first night of the debate, Franklin surrendered the debate, saying, "My brother apparently wants to win this. Well, I'll concede his winning it right now. But I want to study the scripture. I'm looking for truth."<25> Phooey! If Franklin had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, as he claimed, he would not have to get whipped in a debate to learn the Truth. The Holy Spirit would have taught him all things (John 14:26) and guided him into all the Truth (John 16:13).
A genuine "Holy Roller," named George Otis, assisted brethren Dean Dennis and Pat Boone in their "Baptism in the Holy Spirit." Otis was with Boone when he prayed, "Oh, precious Jesus, be my baptizer. Baptize me right now in Your Spirit, the Spirit of the living God."<26> Boone cited Matt. 3:11 as a Scriptural reference for seeking the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.<27> After an interview with Boone, for Mission Magazine in 1971, Dudley Lynch related, "Boone says his `baptism in the Holy Spirit' came in January 1969, at a time when he was burdened with personal difficulties."<28> And, what about Dean Dennis? Dennis wrote, "I thank God that since Jesus baptized me in the Holy Spirit, my life has been blessed, and my ministry has been changed from a dead formality to a living reality!"<29>
Whatever spirit brethren Dennis and Boone were "baptized in," one thing is certain, it was not the Holy Spirit. Both left the Lord's church and began fellowshiping those in denominationalism. Many can sadly recall seeing Pat Boone on nationwide television programs with Oral Roberts and Rex Humbard. In the pictorial section of his book, A New Song, Boone included pictures of his appearances on those programs. Even while he was fellowshiping the "Holy Rollers" on television for all to see, Boone deceitfully misled his brethren about it. He had told Oral Roberts (and perhaps other "Holy Rollers") he had been "baptized in the Holy Spirit" and could sing in tongues. Yet at the same time, Boone tried to mislead his brethren and cause them to think otherwise. The late James D. Bales exposed the hypocrisy and duplicity into which Boone's "baptism in the Holy Spirit" led him.<30>
Abilene Christian University's David Lewis, Carley Dodd, and Darryl Tippens advocate that "Generation X" (today's adolescents) be baptized in the Holy Spirit. They stated, "We suggest that church leaders and teachers provide ample instructions, advice, and counsel about the meaning of God's Spirit."<31> Championing a "Return to the Scriptures" (?) these tainted, truth-twisting Tartuffes testified (i.e., expressed their personal convictions), "Dr. Lynn Anderson reminds us of the critical importance of the Holy Spirit in the Bible."<32> Then they purveyed Anderson's false doctrine that men today are baptized in the Holy Spirit. Anderson expressly affirms, "Every person who becomes a Christian is overwhelmed and immersed in the Spirit."<33> Again, Lewis, Dodd, and Tippens, without disclaimers or qualifications, quoted Anderson, "`If you repent and are baptized you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."<34> (Note: All quotations Lewis, Dodd, and Tippens gave from Anderson were taken from a speech he presented in "Abilene Christian University's Youth and Family Conference, Feb. 1993."<35>) Anderson's deceitfulness has been known ever since his attempted cover-up after calling the church a "Big Sick Denomination" way back in 1973. Now calling himself a "Change Agent," Anderson is in print showing would-be heretics how to deceive whole congregations in order that "change" (i.e., heresy, Gal. 1:6-9; 2:4-5) might be brought in. Need anything be said relative to ACU's record of skullduggery?!
Baptism in the Holy Spirit Not for Everybody
About Matt. 3:11, Boles expressed, "John does not here state that every subject of the coming kingdom would be immersed in the Holy Spirit."<36> Commenting on Luke 3:16-17, a passage parallel to Matt. 3:11, Foy E. Wallace, Jr. said:
"The announcement here made was that there would be the Holy Spirit baptism, but it assuredly did not mean that the promise of it was to all who were in John's audience -- hence the clause, `he shall baptize you,' you was not intended as a general promise but merely as something that would occur."<37>
Wallace's statement about Luke 3:16-17 is equally applicable to Matt. 3:11.
Gus Nichols went so far as to say, "There was no promise of the Holy Spirit to be poured out in the baptismal measure upon all mankind, nor on the multitude of the people, nor on the `hundred and twenty.'"<38> How could these men be so sure in their denials that Matt. 3:11 (and other passages) allowed for the baptism of all Christians in the Holy Spirit? McGarvey answered that question when he explained, "A prediction is best understood in the light of its fulfillment; and it is a fact that the apostles on Pentecost, and the household of Cornelius, are the only persons said in the New Testament to have received this baptism."<39> "The apostles on Pentecost," as McGarvey correctly stated, were the only apostles mentioned in the New Testament to have received Holy Spirit baptism. However, no doubt McGarvey would allow that Paul, an apostle "born out of due time" (1 Cor. 15:8), was baptized with the Holy Spirit because he was equal in every way with the other apostles (2 Cor. 11:5; 12:11).
The Apostles and Holy Spirit Baptism
Jesus knew the magnitude of the task He would set before His apostles. Without Divine assistance they could not accomplish what would be required of them. Speaking specifically to His apostles in John 14:16-17, He said:
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 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."
Eight verses later, He said:
"These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:25-26)
Again, Christ told the apostles, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come," (John 16:13). Never did Jesus speak such words as these to anyone other than His apostles. Not knowing what was before them, the apostles may not have fully understood the power Holy Spirit would give them.
While with the apostles in the days following His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus told them, "I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). Later, in Acts 1:4-5, the Lord commanded the apostles 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." When they were baptized "with the Holy Ghost," the apostles would "receive power" (Acts 1:8). The promise of the Father was the "baptism with the Holy Spirit" John had mentioned in Matt. 3:11. Jesus was to be the Baptizer. He told the apostles they were the ones to receive this baptism. No one other than the apostles (including Paul) was baptized "with the Holy Spirit," with the exception of the household of Cornelius.