The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit Series

Title: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Theme: To show the importance of being baptized with the Holy Spirit

Text: Acts 19:1-7

¶ And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. ¶ And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (Revelation 19:1-6 AV)

1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,2 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. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4 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. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

7 And all the men were about twelve.

Last we discussed that fact that if we were going to get in tuned with God then we must get in tuned with his Spirit. God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. This is so important when it comes to the time of praise and worship that we give to God.

This week I got to see a beautiful sight of young people gathered around the altars. When you think the country is going to pot God gives you a new vision of what he is doing. Raising up people to preach and People who see the importance of the Spirit. This is what Paul was trying to tell these at Ephesus.

The coming of the Holy Spirit had been heard about for many years now. Almost thirty years before we hear it mentioned by last Old Testament prophet and the first New Testament preacher John the Baptist. Turn with me to Matthew 3:11

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11 AV)

Soon Jesus Himself began to preach and talk about the Holy Spirit. It is said that Jesus taught four specific things about the Holy Spirit.

1. The Spirit as the giver

He recognized the Spirit as God’s gift, the key to all God has for us (Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13)

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:9-13 AV)

2. The Spirit as the speaker

He promised that the Spirit would be with His disciples to help them in ministry and to anoint them even in the midst of persecution. ( Matthew 10:16-20; Mark 13:9-11; Luke 12:11,12; 21:12-15)

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father (Holy Ghost Luke 12:11,12) which speaketh in you. (Matthew 10:19-20 AV)