I’m concerned about this generation of children having a genuine Pentecostal experience and understanding. My concern is primarily because I sense far too many misconceptions by leaders about what it means to be Pentecostal. These misconceptions are creeping into our teaching of children about the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

If you would, please allow me a few minutes to share some key perspectives that must shape how we teach children about the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

1. Jesus is the Baptizer: For some, this may sound like an unnecessary clarification. But in fact it’s very important. John the Baptist introduced Jesus as “after me comes one who is more powerful than I … He will baptize with the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 3:11). Jesus is the baptizer; He is the one who gives the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    

2. All believers have the Holy Spirit: I’ve heard many people indicate that if someone was not baptized in the Holy Spirit they were missing out on the working of the Holy Spirit in their life. The truth of the matter is that the Holy Spirit is even at work in the life of an unbeliever. In this case he draws them to the Father. The Holy Spirit’s working is not limited only to those who have been baptized in the Spirit and speak in tongues. However, the Scripture is very clear that the initial physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is speaking in an unlearned language (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6).

    

3. The Holy Spirit did not arrive in Acts 2: The Holy Spirit was active in creation and all throughout the Old Testament. The supervising craftsmen who worked on the tabernacle (Bezalel and Oholiab), Samson, Saul, David, Elijah, and Elisha are just a few who are recorded as acting under the power of the Holy Spirit. Not giving children an accurate understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit can cause them to misunderstand His working in the world today.

    

   However, Acts 2 did mark the beginning of a new era in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all believers. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit acted through a select number of people. The Day of Pentecost marked the beginning of a time when the Holy Spirit is available to be “[poured] out on all people . . . Even on my servants,” (Acts 2:17–18) not just those selected as prophets, judges, priests, or kings.

    

4. Being Pentecostal is more than a belief: Let’s stop talking about the baptism in the Holy Spirit as something we believe in. Let’s bring the power of the Holy Spirit into our everyday life. Do kids know they can get a word of knowledge during school? Have they ever been impressed to pray for healing during a soccer game? Is the fruit of the Spirit growing in their lives (and ours)?

We must live and teach about the Holy Spirit in a way that reveals His power to the next generation. They are hungry for the supernatural. If we don’t allow them to see His power in our life they may settle for something counterfeit.

How do you help children personally learn how to live their lives through the power of the Holy Spirit?