Introduction
OK, so last week we spoke of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Believer, but you noticed some things were missing. There was no mention of the gifts of the Spirit, no mention of the fruit of the Spirit, so what gives? Doesn’t God want us to have these? Of course He does!
As we continue to use the Sgt. Joe Friday method of following “just the facts” we see there is a missing step and we cannot go from crawling to running, we must walk first.
Don’t Be Scared Now
What we are going to talk about today scares many Bible Scholars. In fact when I spoke with some of the wises men I knew about the Bible in this area and what God had shown me they emphatically disagreed with me, however, instead of countering my Biblical argument with a stronger Biblical argument they mocked my stance and what people do not understand and will not accept they will mock.
What we are talking about today is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The thought of this has been so twisted in some of the more extreme circles to the point that some are so scared of going out on a limb, they never even try to climb the tree.
That leads us to our first question:
What Does It Mean to be Baptized?
baptizo
NT:907 baptizo (bap-tid'-zo); from a derivative of NT:911; to immerse, submerge; to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N. T.) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism: KJV - Baptist, baptize, wash.[i]
Boy you do learn a lot from just studying what a word means. This eliminates the thought of baptism by sprinkling doesn’t it? To make overwhelmed may have some significance also.
Think about this: you have a son you adore, and he is 4 years old and he wants to be “just like daddy” and he follows you around. You drag out the old lawn mower do so some yard work, and here comes Junior, “Daddy I want to help!” so you whip out the hedge clippers, and them to your darling boy and say “have at it son!” Of course you don’t! He is not ready to handle them yet (but where is that boy when he is 12 and you want his help, he is nowhere to be found, but that is another sermon!)
When you are saved, it is a rare person that is ready for the gifts and fruit of the Spirit and most of the time it takes time to make us ready to receive the gifts and fruits of the Spirit.
Where is the Bible to Back this Up?
I am getting there, be patient. Let us look at a couple of Bible Verses.
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (John 20:19-22)
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:4-8)
John 20 happened right after Jesus’ resurrection while Acts 1 happened right before His ascension. And there was a notable difference in the disciples: beforehand they were afraid and hiding, afterwards they preached with boldness. Something happened to transform them, and it was the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
A Cool Illustration: The Cucumber and the Pickle.
What is this (a cucumber), and what is this (a pickle?) No, it is a baptized Cucumber! A few thoughts on this:
-When those cucumbers are put in that pickling jar and covered with the pickling juice and sealed, they do not get any more juice, they are heated and stored for several weeks. Likewise we get no more of the Holy Spirit at Baptism then we had when we were saved.
-The effect of the juice on the cucumber changes it so much it gets a new name: the pickle. It has a new taste, a new texture, even a new feel. This happens because the juice changes the characteristics of the cucumber. Like the pickling juices work from the outside in, the Holy Spirit works from the inside out.
A Practical Result
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:18-21)
The baptism of the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit are the same. Peter explains this in Acts 2:13-18. We see some things resulting from filling: there is a joy that comes out in song, thankfulness, and humbleness.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:38-39)
-I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me. It makes the lame to walk, makes the blind to see. The baptism allows this river of life to flow out of us. Like I said before, this does not come to children in the faith, not to newborn babes in Christ.
-This does not mean we are to be doing nothing while waiting.
A Biblical Example
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)
-They were all in one place and in one accord. No they were not in a Honda. They were in one place, of one mind, in unity of Spirit.
Ps 133
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
The Spirit did not just show up but when they had come together in one place, in one mind, praying, meditating, worshiping, then the atmosphere was ripe for something to happen. If we are going to pray to change our nation, for revival, for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit then we need to be doing things that enhance the chances of this happening not doing things that will quench or grieve the Spirit.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:6-11)
-Everyone noticed. When it is God moving people will notice.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:36-41)
-The Word of God was preached and the Spirit brought conviction and 3000 souls were saved.
-That is the greater miracle. To me, just celebrating the fact that people spoke in tongues and not the fact that the reason for the miracle is that 3000 souls were saved (and God’s miracles always will glorify God not the person performing them) is like finding one million dollars in a paper bag and throwing away the money and celebrating the fact you found the bag.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. (Acts 2:42-43)
The apostles' doctrine or teaching. The teaching of the Lord, together with the proclamation of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and its meaning for man's salvation. This teaching was an authoritative tradition in the early church and later found embodiment in our New Testament. These early believers’ found delight in fellowship with one another, particularly in the breaking of bread (which probably consisted of a fellowship meal, together with the Lord's Supper) and in regular times of united prayer. 43. The character of the early Christian community aroused in the people a sense of awe, that was reinforced by many miracles performed by the apostles.[ii]
Acts 2:46-47
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Once again reinforced here is the results of the miracles, praise, worship, thanksgiving, all our lives need to be lived with the thought in mind of advancing the Kingdom of God by leading people to Jesus.
Wrap Up
The whole point is this: if you are not saved you have missed the whole point. It does not matter how much Bible you know, it does not matter how spiritual you look or religious you act. It does not matter how many good works you have done, if you missed salvation and wind up in Hell, you missed it all.
The good news is that it is not too late.
Rom 10:9-10, 13
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation…13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If you have never been saved, why not now?
If you have been saved, but never baptized in the Spirit, you are limited. God did not design it to be this way but we need to yield to God. If there are things we are doing displeasing to Him, we need to set them aside, confess and forsake them. Do not be praying for the Baptism when there are things in your life you will not surrender to Him. Just like you cannot trust a child with the hedge clippers, can God trust them that do not yield to Him with His anointing? With His Baptism? Come and surrender to Him today. With all the strength and desire in our hearts say “today I give it all to you, I will follow you completely, let your will be done in my life and if there is anything I should be doing, show me and I’ll do it. If there is something I need to lay down, show me and I’ll do it.”
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[i] Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.
[ii] The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press
