The Promise of the Father- Baptism of the Holy Spirit

DIVINE ENCOUNTER RETREAT

Spring 2006

Session #3:  GOD’S PROMISES FOR YOUR LIFE

Intro:

Throughout history from creation to the present God has been building a kingdom.  A kingdom made up of humanity, but orchestrated by God through the power of the Holy Spirit working within those who have accepted the work of Christ in their life. 

Along the way, promises have been given by God the Father to us through His divine representatives…

Promises like:

This power for service is called:  “The Baptism In The Holy Spirit”

This is also referred to as: 1) The Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  2) The Holy Spirit’s Baptism, 3) Pentecostal Baptism, 4) The Gift of The Spirit, 5) The Fullness of the Spirit, and a few other titles.

Throughout the centuries this “divine encounter” has often been greatly misunderstood and even forced upon God’s Children by well meaning Pentecostal Christians. 

This brings us to our last session of this “divine encounter”- HIS PROMISE OF POWER FOR YOUR LIFE!

I.  So what is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

A.  It is …..

1.  the promise of the Father!   

2.  It is the same mantle that Jesus had when He was on the

            earth. 

3.  It is the power of the church, to all who receive it.

B. The term “baptism of the Holy Spirit” is used by

1.  John the Baptist - Matthew 3:11: “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 (Believers) with the Holy Spirit and (Unbelievers with) fire.”

2.  Jesus also spoke of the Holy Spirit baptism - Acts 1:4-5:”…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; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

3.  In Luke 24:49, Jesus told his disciples, “Behold, I send the Promise of my Father unto you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

NOTE:  When you accept Christ the Holy Spirit enters your life.

C.  The work of the Holy Spirit in the new birth, brings you into the Kingdom and imparts the character of God to you. (Rom 5:5) “… the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.”

1.   After you have been born again,

a.  the evidence of your Born-again experience is the development of the fruit of the spirit,

b.  which is the character of God in you.  Gal. 5:22 –23.

D.  The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the dynamic power of God working through you through the Gifts of the Holy Spirit….

1.  I Cor. 12:8-10 that we may do the works of God.

2.  In Acts 1:13, the disciples and the mother of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.

E.  ELIJAH’S MANTLE

1.  Elijah was caught up into heaven and dropped his mantle;

a. Elisha got a double portion of Elijah’s anointing

b.  He picked up the mantle and smote the Jordan River which parted and he walked across on dry ground. 

2.  When Jesus was caught up into heaven He said His mantle would fall on the day of Pentecost. 

a.  The mantle of Jesus that empowered Him for ministry was the baptism of the Holy Spirit—He ministered as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit, and not as God!

b.  When the Holy Spirit falls upon you, there’s going to be an anointing of power. 

NOTE:  When we accepted Christ we received the presence of God and when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit we receive the anointing of the dynamic power of God— In Eph. 5:15-20, we are commanded to remain full of the Holy Spirit with the fire and presence of God (which is our mantle)…

“So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. 19 Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Summary of The Baptism in The Holy Spirit : 

1.    When you were born-again, The Holy Spirit baptized immersed you into the body of Christ (I Corth. 1:13).

2.    Now that you have salvation in Jesus, Jesus leads us to receive the promise of the father which is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

a.     Luke 24:49- The Holy Spirit baptizes us into Christ in salvation,  (I Corth. 12:13) and then

b.    In Acts 1:4-5 & John 15:26-27 Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.

II.  What is the evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

A.   Acts 2:4 states, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” 

1.    Speaking in tongues is a supernatural sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, what we call the initial physical evidence.

2.    (Refer to Brochure of Baptism in the Holy Spirit)

B.   Mark 16:17- These signs shall follow those who believe….

C.   Five incidence of Baptism/Filling of the Holy Spirit w/ Speaking in Tongues or the implication of a sign such as tongues were present:

1.    Acts 2:4                    at Pentecost

2.    Acts 8: 14-17           at Samaria(Tongues is not mentioned  

however…Simon saw something and wanted to

be able to duplicate it in order to sell it)

3.    Act 9:17-18              Paul- Cf I Cor 14:18-“I speak in tongues…”

4.    Acts 10:45-46                   Cornelius’ Household- Spoke in Tongues

5.    Acts 19:6                 Ephesian Believers -Spoke in Tongues

III.  What is speaking in tongues?

A.     What Tongues IS NOT:

1.    Tongues are not learned,

2.    Not an emotional reaction

3.    Not babbling or ecstatic utterance

4.    Not a license to do whatever we want whenever we want…

5.    Tongues is N OT the desired result of the seeking….

B.      What Tongues are:

1.    It is a heavenly or Earthly language inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit. 

2.    Speaking in tongues is a way to edify or build up the believer (1 Corinthians 14:4). 

3.    It is a SIGN to the unbeliever

4.    Speaking in tongues empowers the Believers to do the work of God here on the Earth.

5.    It is also the initial physical evidence that someone has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

6.    Speaking in tongues is your direct prayer language to God (I Corth. 14:2)

C.     The Holy Spirit produces a rivers of  power (the supernatural gifts of the Spirit) that flows out from you to meet the needs of others. (John 7:37-39)

ILL:  Water HOSE

IV.  Important points to remember

• If you are saved, you have the person of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16, Romans 8:9)
• The gift of the Holy Spirit is a promise for all who ask (Luke 11:11-13)
• Any believer may receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29) It is a believers inheritance.
• The Holy Spirit empowers you to be a witness (Acts 1:8)
• The Holy Spirit helps us to pray (Romans 8:26)
• A person may be saved and water baptized but not yet be baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-16)
• Speaking in tongues and praising God are signs or evidence of the baptism In the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:44-46)
• Some believers may receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit before they are baptized in water (Acts 10:46-48)
• The word “baptize” means to put under or cover. 
•  When a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit, he is totally immersed or enveloped in the Spirit of God.
• Speaking in tongues is the one experience that is common to all of the New Testament examples of believers receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. 
• When you speak in tongues, you speak to God and at the same time build up your inner man.
• The more you pray in the Spirit (in tongues), the more you sensitive to God and His creation you become. 

V.  How to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit

• Prerequisite number one is that you must be “born again.”
• Ask! Luke 11:13 “…how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.”
• Receive it.

1.    Because it was given to you at Pentecost.

2.    Reach out by faith and take hold of this gift. 

3.    When you speak you use your will, your vocal cords, tongue, lungs, and mouth all work together to form words. 

4.    The same thing happens when you will to speak in tongues. 

5.    Without you having to think about it, the Holy Spirit directs all of your speaking faculties to speak the words of the Spirit.  

6.    You will speak, but it is He who hears your tongue.

• Release By Faith! Open your mouth and begin to speak the words or sounds the Holy Spirit gives. 

1.    They will not be understood by your mind. 

2.    Do not speak in your native language. 

3.    The Holy Spirit gives the language. 

4.    You may at first have only a few sounds, but go ahead and speak those in faith, and others will follow.

VI.  Do not fear failing or receiving something false

A.  Jesus said “If your child asked you for bread, would you give him a stone? If your child asked you for a fish, would you give him a serpent? If your child asked you for an egg would you  offer him a scorpion?

No, you wouldn’t!  “If you  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? We can be confident that God will not give the believer a counterfeit when we ask Him for the Holy Spirit.

B.  The Holy Spirit gives you the “utterance”, but you will do the speaking by by-passing your thinking and praying through and with your spirit. 

*  Spend time praying in tongues everyday at least 10 to 15 minutes to change your spirit in God.

Questions

• Have you received the power to do the work of God since you believed?
• What does the Baptism in the Holy Spirit give you?
• Who can be Baptized in the Holy Spirit?
• What is the evidence of being born in the Holy Spirit?