God's design is for every believer to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. He wants to give this magnificent gift to every believer-including children. According to Acts 2:39, the promise of the Holy Spirit is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call."

The baptism is for all Christians. Age is not a criteria. Salvation is the only prerequisite. Children learn and mature at different rates. If a child seems to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and desires to receive the Baptism, encourage him. God sees a child's heart; H e knows when the time is right.

Children need the baptism in the Holy Spirit for the same reasons adults need the experience. He is the One who gives power to witness and power to conquer sin. He is the One who gives love, joy, and peace-qualities needed in a world that is uncertain and stressful. Children are not immune to stress. They need the Holy Spirit.

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 11:15,16; 19:6) can be taught using the following Bible Fact-Pak Card Numbers: 213, 216, 229-232, 235, 241, 242, 266, 284, 285, 332-334, 339, 340, 406-415, 548-554, 557

Teaching Children
Teach children these truths about the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

1. The Holy Spirit is God, just as Jesus and God the Father are God. He is not an "it," a mere presence. He is a Person and He is God.
   
   
2. The Holy Spirit wants to live in each Christian so He can help that person live a life that pleases God and is full of joy. The Holy Spirit brings power to conquer sin and to witness. He also brings love, joy, and peace-qualities that make life better for the Christian.
   
   
3. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is only for Christians. Help your children understand that that they must have accepted Jesus as Savior. Then they can begin seeking the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a gift available to all Christians. Salvation is the only requirement; there is no secret formula. They do not have to earn this blessing. They just need to love God and ask.
   
   Children are not as skeptical as adults. They are often eager to please God and seek what He has. They may actually be more open and accepting to the baptism in the Holy Spirit than adults.
   
   
4. A person knows the Holy Spirit has baptized him when the Holy Spirit helps him speak in a language he has not learned. Speaking in tongues is given to each believer who receives the Holy Spirit as the first sign that the Holy Spirit has indeed filled him.
   
   Speaking in tongues is by no means the only or complete evidence that the Holy Spirit has come to fill a Christian. A believer who allows the Holy Spirit to consistently fill and daily refill his life will soon show evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in his attitudes and behaviors.
   
   
5. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is not scary, even though it is unique. The idea of speaking in unlearned languages as the Holy Spirit fills him can be hard for a child to understand. Help him realize that the Holy Spirit loves people. He will not force them to do anything-including speaking in a language they have not learned. Help the children understand that if they want the Holy Spirit to fill them, the Holy Spirit will give them the unknown language as He fills them.
   
   
6. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the beginning of an ongoing relationship. It is a step toward a closer walk with Jesus. Avoid the tendency to stress the experience of the baptism in the Holy Spirit without emphasizing the ongoing nature of the Spirit-filled life. Help children avoid the trap of seeking only to speak in tongues. Speaking in tongues is not a sign that a Christian has "arrived." It is instead the sign of the beginning of an ongoing walk with God.
   
   
7. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today. The gifts of the Holy Spirit may be hard to understand. As children see the gifts of the Spirit in operation in your church, they may ask questions. Be prepared to answer.
   
   Stress to the children that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not just tongues and interpretation. These gifts are special and useful. But the Holy Spirit has other gifts, such as the gifts of knowledge, discerning of spirits, healing, and other gifts that are equally as valuable to accomplish God's work.
   
   Also help children realize that those who are used in the gifts of the Spirit are not extra-special Christians. They are just willing to be used by God to help His Church. Those who are used in the gifts do not own or control those gifts. They just obey as God the Holy Spirit gives them the gift. Point out that God wants to give each Christian gifts to help His church.

What Comes After the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

1. Celebrate when a child receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Tell others and encourage the child to tell others as well.
   
   
2. Encourage children who receive the Holy Spirit to daily take time to let the Holy Spirit pray through them in tongues. This "edifies" or builds up each believers. (See 1 Corinthians 14:4.)
   
   
3. Remind children that they can expect to see the fruit of the Spirit develop further in their lives. They should ask God to help them develop these character traits.
   
   
4. Encourage the Spirit-filled child to be ready to be used by the Holy Spirit in ministry gifts the Holy Spirit chooses and gives. (See Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; and Ephesians 4:11,12.) Stress that the Holy Spirit controls the gifts and provides the ability. They are not earned nor are they provided for personal gain.

Teaching By Example
Children learn best through example. It is important to teach about the Holy Spirit. However, it is more important that the children see the Holy Spirit at work in your life. If you have not received the baptism in the Holy Spirit with its evidence of speaking in tongues, seek God for this Baptism. It is God's desire to give His Holy Spirit to every believer. "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13).

Here are three keys to teaching by example.

1. I must be Spirit-filled. In the business world, it is said that the best advertisement is a satisfied customer. If you are Spirit-filled and walking in the Spirit in your daily life, you are the "commercial" the children will see for the desirability of being Spirit-filled.
   
   If you are not Spirit-filled, you can still be an example as you seek God for this blessing from God. God wants every believer to be Spirit-filled.
   
   
2. I must model the Spirit-filled life. Both the fruit and the gifts must be present in my life. I can exhibit the fruits of love, joy, patience, gentleness, etc. in my classroom. I can let them hear me worship and praise God, both in English and in tongues. I can let them see a boldness and excitement for God in my actions. Children are looking for examples. I can give them an example of a Spirit-filled Christian life.
   
   
3. I must provide opportunities. As the Spirit leads, I can give opportunity for the children to seek and accept the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I can also encourage students to attend other church events where they may receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit-revival services, church summer camps, and regularly scheduled worship services.

Resources for Further Information and Study
Foundations for Faith: Lesson 9: Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Young Explorers Route 66: Lessons on Bible Doctrine: Session 9: Our Traveling Companion/The Baptism in the Holy Spirit