Baptized In Fire Series

April 7, 2013

Morning Worship

Text: Mark 1:4-8

Subject: What We Believe Part 6

Title: Baptized in Fire

We continue our series today in what we believe. How many of you know how important it is to be able to explain the things that we believe as a church? The bible says that we are to be ready to give a reason for the hope that we have…

What do we believe?

The bible is the inspired word of God…

There is one true God…

Jesus is fully God and fully man…

Mankind is fallen as a result of Adam’s sin…

God has made a way of salvation through faith in Christ…

God has established the church to be the body of Christ on earth…

That is what we talked about last week – the church being the church… the way God wants it!

Also, last week we participated in one of the bible ordinances that Jesus has created for the church – communion.

There is another ordinance that has been given the church – water baptism.

Let me stop right here for just a moment. The topic of baptism can be confusing for some so let’s take time to clear up some misconceptions.

First of all, tie bible talks about three different baptisms.

The first is when you receive Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior. You are baptized into Jesus. You become immersed in Him. That is the salvation that God has offered to all of lost mankind. This is a work of the Holy Spirit and is an act of God’s grace. This is what Jesus talked about when He said in John 3:5, Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

The second, water baptism, is a public demonstration of the inner work that was done at the time of salvation. This becomes a confession of your faith. When you are baptized you are proclaiming to the rest of the church that “I have died with Christ (That is the symbolism when you go under the water) and I have been raised to a new life and washed clean from my sin (when you come up out of the water). Water baptism does not save you. Too many times we have seen this happen. Someone responds to an altar call and gives their heart to the Lord. Then they are baptized in water. That’s the right thing to do isn’t it? Do you know what happens next in too many cases? After they are baptized we never see them again – or at the most just occasionally. Water baptism in an outward expression of what has transpired on the inside of you. Baptism is a beginning and not an end. Is everybody with me so far? Baptized into Jesus and then baptized in water…

The third baptism mentioned in the bible is where we want to be today… Mark chapter 1 and beginning in verse 4… 4And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

I. The first thing I want you to understand about the baptism in the Holy Spirit is that it is a gift. It is the secondary act of grace from God subsequent to being born again. Like your salvation you cannot do anything to earn it. You can’t be good enough to get it or so bad that you can’t. It is a gift from God. Now I know a lot of us have received gifts from others that when you open them up you think, “What in the world will I ever do with this? A pink and green pin - stripe pullover sweater. Wow!” Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t give us gifts like that? When God gives us a gift it is because He knows that we need it. That is why He saved you. That is why Jesus desires to baptize you in the Holy Spirit. Acts chapter 1. Any of you who have been around Pentecostal churches or Word churches for any length of time have heard this over and over. Acts 1 and let’s start in verse 1. 1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift (wait for what?) my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”