According to the Bible, yes, they are two completely separate experiences!

Now we have an account here of twelve men who were called “disciples.” A disciple is a follower and imitator of Jesus, so they had definitely received Jesus as their Savior.

But according to this account, they not only DIDN’T have the Holy Spirit yet, they weren’t even aware that this second separate experience even existed.

Reading on in this passage, these men were baptized in water in the name of Jesus, and then they were baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke with other tongues. We are clearly shown that water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism are two completely separate experiences as well.

So being baptized in the Holy Spirit is not salvation and it is not water baptism. It is something else entirely. And something that every single believer desperately needs.

Salvation is like receiving a new car. And water baptism is like getting your new customized license plate put on your car. But the baptism of the Holy Spirit is like putting gas in the tank.

Do you know how many Christians have received their new car and license plate, but haven’t put any gas in their tank because they haven’t been baptized in the Holy Spirit?

The majority!

Now why is this? Because the majority of churches are teaching that the experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit is either equivalent with the salvation experience or the water baptism experience.

Honestly, you have to throw the Bible in the trash to teach this. But many Christians are not letting the Bible get in the way of their opinions.

And so they operate like new cars with no gas. They are stuck on the side of the road looking goofy and waiting for a tow truck. But this is NOT God’s best!

God didn’t design you to be waiting for a tow truck to rescue you from your inability to move. He actually sent you the gas to empower you to GO!

If you are a powerless Christian who has never spoken in tongues, there is only one thing preventing you from receiving the gas you need in your tank so that you can crank up your engine and get moving.

You are believing a lie. Someone told you that speaking in tongues was only for the early church and that you shouldn’t expect this experience.

And so you are stuck on the road waiting for a tow truck. (Translation: You are in a crisis and waiting to be delivered by a miracle).

But God has a full gas can for you. Just ask Him for it. It’s free! And it’s available for every single Christian if they’ll just renounce the false teaching that prevents them from receiving it.