ACTS 1:1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This morning we talked about being "clothed with the Spirit". I believe that today’s church has made a move away from the Spirit and it’s workings. We are often worried that someone might not understand, or we might "scare ’em off" if a great move of the Spirit happens in our midst. What a far cry from what we grew up with.....great men and women of God crying out, pleading for the baptism of the Holy Spirit for new converts.
I used to wonder about this and thin they were putting too much emphasis on this baptism, but I now know that these saints were crying out because they knew what these new converts would be facing. Satan is going to test you exta hard whenever you give your heart to Christ, and you need every ounce of help you can get. The Holy Ghost IS that power and we as christians have minimized that extra power that Jesus Himself promised us.
Jesus knew we couldn’t do it on our own....and gave us the promise of the Holy Ghost to help us in this crazy, mixed up world. He wants us to succeed and not fail and He has given us the power to succeed. Are we utilizing that power? The baptism of the Holy Spirit is something Jesus said all believers should receive – “these signs will follow those who believe...” He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive. What is it about the baptism of the Holy Spirit that makes it so necessary to our walk with the Lord?
HEBREWS 6:1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so. 4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, becauseto their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
This is sobering scripture, isn’t it? This text tells us that the basic teachings are great ut we must move on, mature in the Lord. It is saying that we have to get past the fundamentals of sin and repentance and move on up to the realm of His Spirit. Look at vs 4 -6. Does that make anyone uncomfortable? It should...if you are not being directed by the Holy Ghost and trying to life a life that imitates Christ.
You say "I can’t live a holy, righteous life, preach’a"...well, you can’t in yourself, but God’s Holy Spirit living in you will enable you to be what God has planned for you to be every since the day you were formed in your mother’s womb. "I know the plans I have for you........"
I can’t make it without God’s pouring out His Spirit on me, and you can’t either...I don’t care how long you’ve been a christian. You might say "look here, preach’a boy.....I been living "in the way" for 20 yrs" but if you are not in tune with the Holy Ghost and if you haven’t been filled lately with the springs of living water that Jesus talked about, then perhaps you are NOT living in the way, but simply "in the way" of God molding and perfecting His will for your life.
Vs 7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God...folks, isn’t it time that we all drink in this rain...this latter day rain that flows down from the Heavenly realms to refresh us and enpower us? God says "anyone that is thirsty, come to me and I will quench your thirst, I will fill your needs, I will give to you the strength you need whenever you just feel like you can’t go on.....come, be filled!"
You can’t even be a good witness for Him unless you are filled and producing a crop. You want the blessings of God? Drink in the rain! Look at vs 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
Brothers and sisters, it’s time. It’s time to be filled and start producing crops. It’s time to be filled so we can do battle with that great deciever that is out to steal men’s souls....and your children’s souls! You would be crazy to go to a battlefield without a weapon, and you would be unarmed to try to do battle with Satan without the power of the Holy Ghost!
Matthew 3:11-12 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Part of our calling as Christians is to be Holy as God is. We have been called to be holy and blameless. Jesus is coming back for a bride without spot or blemish. In the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus shows us that it is the oil or the baptism of the Holy Spirit that prepares us for this beautiful relationship between Christ and his purified bride.
Baptism In The Holy Spirit Builds and Strengthens Our Faith Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit...
We are told to pray in the Spirit. We need to understand that we have to pray in God’s will, and the best way to do that is to pray in the Spirit. Pray in the Spirit AND with understanding. You need the Holy Ghost TO understand!
1 Corinthians14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
Sometimes we don’t even know what or how to pray. Did you know the Holy Spirit can pray FOR you? Romans 8:26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
Saints, it’s time for us to get back to our roots. We are called pentecostals because of what happened on the day of Pentecost. Read it with me if you will...ACTS 2:1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
I desire that same Spirit here in this church body tonight. God isn’t limited to Asuzu street or Brownsville, Florida. God knows where Chico, Tx is and His Spirit is working here, too! Are you feeling empty? Do you need an extra boost? God invites you to come, taste the living waters He offers you.
