Importance Of The Baptism In The Holy Spirit

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 10:1-46

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: NOSTALGIA

REMEMBER WHEN:

1. Marriages were likely to outlast all 3 wedding gift toasters?

2. Paperbacks had more passion on the covers than in their contents?

3. The only person you could find at a store at 3 o’clock in the morning was a burglar?

4. Someone said, “If you’re longing for the ‘good old days,’ just turn off the air conditioning!

5. Living in the Past can be a deadly thing if it robs us of the significance of the present! The Day of Pentecost was never meant to be a terminal event. God wants His people to continue to be baptized and filled with His Holy Spirit so they can accomplish His will.

6. Acts 2:1-4; “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

B. THESIS

1. I want to speak to you about something vital to the Early Church and vital to the church today.

2. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit came upon the early believers, filled them, and caused them to speak in other languages.

3. The Book of Acts portrays this event as not isolated, but a widespread phenomena which was considered normative to the N.T. believers.

4. Though some have tried to teach this experience is “not for today,” they have no biblical basis for this and, in fact, are contradicting the Bible’s N.T. teaching to say that.

5. Rather, the Bible portrays this experience as VERY IMPORTANT:

a. Our Lord Jesus told His disciples (not just the 12, but ALL the disciples) not to leave Jerusalem until they were baptized in the Holy Spirit;

b. In Acts 8, after many Samaritans had been saved and baptized in water, Philip sent for Peter and John to come lay hands on them, for the Holy Spirit had not yet “fallen upon any of them.” (this also confirms that salvation and Spirit baptism had two separate purposes).

c. The Apostle Paul’s first question to new Christians (Acts 19:1-2) was to ask whether they had received the additional experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.

6. Let’s look at one more instance where God emphasizes the importance of this experience.

C. TEXT

3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants 8 .…and sent them to Joppa. 9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” 23 The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 33 [Cornelius said,] “Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

D. TITLE

1. We see here the trouble God went to to help Cornelius get to the place he could experience salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

2. The title of this message is, “The Importance of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.”

I. A MAN SEEKING FOR GOD

A. TWO INGREDIENTS FOR REVIVAL

1. A person who is hungry for God.

2. An anointed vessel to bring the Word.

B. FATE OF IGNORANT HEATHEN

1. What will happen to the lost who’ve never heard about Christ? God will guide them to the knowledge of His Son.