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Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and illustrations are often gleaned from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, any similarities and wording, including sermon titles, that may appear to be the same as any other sermon are purely coincidental. In instances where other minister’s wording is used, due recognition will be given. These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely. May God richly bless you as you read these sermons. It is my sincere desire that all who read them may be enriched. All scriptures quoted in these sermons are copied and/or quoted from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Pastor James May
POWERED BY THE HOLY GHOST
The question has often arisen, “Does the Baptism in the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, really make a difference in the life of a Christian?”
I want us to examine the life of one man in scripture that will give us just a glimpse of the difference that the Baptism makes in you life. That man was one of the original disciples named Peter.
Peter was known for having a number of character flaws and yet we know that through it all God delivered Peter and brought him to a place of power and exalted him among his fellowmen to become the Apostle to the Jews just as Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Peter was a naturally impulsive sort of fellow with a tendency to put his foot in his
mouth or to put himself between a rock and hard place. Let me show you what I mean.
1)On the wind driven waters of the sea, it was Peter who spoke up and asked Jesus to allow him to walk on the water to meet Jesus “. (He would have certainly drowned in his own sea of doubt had it not been for the merciful hand of the Lord reaching out and lifting him out of his troubles) (Matthew 14:28)
2)On the Mount of Transfiguration, it was Peter who spoke up without thinking it through and said that he wanted to build three tabernacles, one to Moses, one to Elijah and another to Jesus. (He would have fallen into idolatry and error had it not been for the audible voice of God the Father who instructed those present to listen to His Son only and no one else) (Matthew 17:4)
3)When the disciples were fishing on the Sea of Tiberius after the resurrection of Jesus, they had fished all night and caught nothing until Jesus told them to cast the net out of the right side of the ship and the nets were suddenly filled. When John recognized Jesus, it wasn’t him that jumped overboard and swam to shore, it was Peter. The ship was just a short distance from the shore but Peter couldn’t wait. ( I can’t say that I blame him – I would like to think that I would have done the same thing but none of the other disciples did.) (John 21:7)
Being impulsive doesn’t necessarily mean that you are committing sin or doing something that you shouldn’t do but it does tend to get you into tight spots from time to time.
Peter also had his know-it-all, bossy, controlling attitude from time to time and it often got him into trouble, even with Jesus. Let me give you a few examples:
1) When Jesus announced to the disciples that he would be going to Jerusalem to die and rise again, it was Peter that said, NO WAY, I will never let that happen. Jesus rebuked him and identified that the spirit of the devil had influenced Peter to attempt to stop the very thing that Jesus had come to earth to accomplish. (How would you like to have the very Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ say to you what He said to Peter, “get thee behind me Satan, for thou art an offense unto me…?”) (Matthew 16:22)
2) When Jesus began to wash the feet of the disciples, it was Peter who said, You are not going to wash my feet, no way! Jesus had to convince Peter that he would either have to get rid of that pride and arrogance and humble himself to the place of having his feet washed or he would have no part in God’s Kingdom. (At least Peter was quick to humble himself but I wonder if some of us would still have dirty feet!) (John 13:8,9)
3) In the Garden of Gethsemane, when the temple guards came to arrest Jesus, it was Peter who drew a sword and chopped off Malchus’ ear! Jesus had to rebuke Peter once again for fighting and attempted murder. I believe Peter meant to chop Malchus’ skull in two, not just cut off an ear. Talk about a vindictive and over-protective attitude, here’s a man who had them in a big way. (How many of us would be so quick to swing a sword that cuts into another person with that wagging tongue or maybe even a real sword if we could get one in a moment of rage and anger? None of us are above doing the same thing under the right circumstances.) (John 18:10)
Even though Peter carried the overall appearance and manner of a powerful man there were those times when he was a coward and timid.
1)Just like any of us would have done, when Peter looked around at the wind and waves and the power of the winds around him, he began to sink. At that moment, fear and doubt engulfed him and he cried out for the Lord to save him. (I can’t really say that the cry for help was a character flaw. What man would not have done the same? The character flaw was that he failed to keep his eyes on Jesus. When we look upon the circumstances all things seem impossible but when we keep our eyes on Jesus, even the impossible becomes possible. Faith comes from keeping your eyes on the Master of your circumstances.)
2)At the very time when Jesus was being tried, tortured and condemned to death on the cross, Peter, who had sworn allegiance to the death to protect Jesus, was so overcome of fear and doubt that he denied even knowing or being with Jesus, not just once, but three times. (It is amazing how fast our “spirituality” runs out of the back door when trouble comes in the front door. Was Peter still “saved” at the time of his denial? Had Jesus already given Peter over to the devil because of his unbelief? I think not! Peter was being “sifted by Satan” but he was still under the protection of God and God would stay faithful to Peter until Peter could once again have faith and follow after Christ.)
Thank God that the Father in Heaven does not give up on us as quickly as we tend to give up on Him. God knew the weakness of Peter and warned him of the trials to come before they came but Jesus also knew just how far Peter would go and Jesus loved him through it all because He also knew the ultimate victory would be won on the cross for all of the “Peters” of all time.)
Peter could also be self-centered and self-seeking at times.
1)Read with me these scriptures from Matthew 19:24-27, "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?"
Peter’s attitude at this time was, “Look here, all of the disciples, including myself, have given up our businesses, our personal desires, our own dreams just to follow you Jesus. Now what are we going to get in return for our sacrifice for you?”
Now don’t condemn Peter for his attitude because there isn’t one of us who hasn’t felt the same way at some point in our walk with the Lord. How many people do you know that “expect” God to repay them for their “sacrifice of labor”? How many ministers do I know that are not willing to surrender their all to the work of the Lord until they know that they are going to be properly compensated? I have known some ministers that would not lift a finger to work for the Lord until they were given a salary or payment for doing so. Most of those were only hirelings but had no real vision for the ministry that God desired to accomplish through them.
What about each of us? Are there times when you wonder if serving the Lord will really be worth it? Do you sometimes think that the price of serving the Lord is just more than you are willing to pay? That’s a self-seeking and self-centered attitude and we must repent of it lest it drives us into doubting the Lord and refusing to work in the Kingdom of God.
Peter also had a tendency to be a little slow in grasping the teachings of our Lord from time to time. He didn’t always “get it” and sometimes the words of Jesus just went right over his head.
1)Jesus had just offended the Pharisee again and Peter, watching and hearing what was said just couldn’t quite understand what was happening. He needed some clarification of what Jesus was really doing. Matthew 15:14-16, "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?"
Peter’s walk with the Lord prior to receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was like riding a roller coaster in the realm of the spirit. The good times with Jesus were often punctuated with great mistakes and it seemed that Peter could never find a stable ground to walk upon where he wasn’t constantly failing or “blowing it”.
In his faltering life in obedience to the commandments of God, Peter had gone down the same path that every one of us walks when we begin to fall away from the Lord.
First Peter began to be conceited in his own ability and spirituality. (Matthew 26:33, "Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.")
Then he was at ease, or too comfortable, in his walk with Jesus. (Matthew 26:40, "And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?")
Then Peter began to act rashly without thinking because he wanted to take matters into his own hands and not wait on the plan of God for his life to be fulfilled in God’s time and in God’s way just like he did when he chopped of the ear of Malchus.)
Then Peter began to drift farther and farther from the Lord and viewed Jesus from afar off. Matthew 26:58 says, "But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end."
Then Peter began to hang around with the wrong crowd and to be affected by their attitudes as well like he did when the damsel accused him of being a follower of Jesus during Jesus’ trial. (John 18:18, "And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.")
The fact that Peter had drifted away and became influenced by those around him brought him to the place where he actually denied having been with Jesus or even knowing Him.
Not only did Peter deny Jesus but he sank so low as to even begin to blaspheme and curse. (Mark 14:71, "But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak."
In all of that time, I believe that Peter had accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ in His life and he was walking as close to the Lord as any of the other disciples. Even though Jesus had not yet been crucified, surely these disciples trusted in Jesus and placed their faith in Him. Peter was the first to confess that Jesus was the Son of God. He was close enough to know Jesus intimately and yet he knew that Jesus was more than just a man.
Peter already had the measure of salvation through his faith in Christ but that measure wasn’t enough to allow him to live a victorious Christian life under all circumstances.
Then came the day, after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus from the dead and His ascension into Glory, when the 120 were gathered in the Upper Room, praying and waiting for the “Promise of the Comforter” that would come. They knew not what to look for but they knew that when it came, they would know, so they waited, watched and prayed as they had been commanded to do.
Suddenly the Holy Ghost came like a mighty wind and every one of them were baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as described in the 2nd chapter of the Book of Acts.
From that moment on Peter’s life took on a whole new perspective and their was a new power given to him to preach the gospel and live a victorious Christian life.
Acts 1:8, "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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
From that time onward there is little mention of Peter’s faults for he had been given the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to lead him, strengthen him and guide him through the pitfalls that had formerly caused him to stumble so very often.
That’s not to say that he didn’t still have some faults to work through. Peter’s life was the same as yours. God does not always choose to remove our faults but helps us to build our trust and faith in God in spite of those faults. As we mature in Christ, many of those old faults disappear as we overcome them and gain the victory over them. The power of the Holy Ghost within your heart helps you to be victorious over those things that could never be defeated through personal will power and effort.
After receiving the Baptism in the Holy Ghost Peter became that “rock” and was no longer a “reed driven in the wind”. He remained courageous and immovable throughout the rest of his life.
History and tradition tell us that Peter was such a powerful man of God and accomplished great things for the Kingdom of God throughout his entire life of ministry. He was finally crucified upside down because he did not feel worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.
The point is this. Paul was visiting Corinth when he came across some of the former disciples of John who had accepted Jesus as their Savior.
His words to them are recorded in Acts 19:2-6. "He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."
That’s the same question I have for you tonight! Have you received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost since you believed? If not, then seek after it, believe for it, pray for it, and accept it! The Baptism is a gift from the Father to help you live a more victorious life for Christ. The Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you and help you to be an over-comer in this life.
I know that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not necessary for salvation but it is necessary to live a really victorious life! Why wait? Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues right now! All it takes is a 100% commitment and a heart that is right with God, then just accept it and allow God to fill you.
Peter never lost his salvation but what a difference there was in his life and ministry after he received the Holy Ghost!
How can we settle for less than God’s best? We must receive the Baptism in the Holy Ghost if we want all that God has for us in this life!
