Online discipleship class Holy Spirit Baptism part 4

Be Filled with the Holy Spirit | 9 Blessings in It

For too long many Christian churches have been powerless and ineffective. The baptism of the Holy Spirit can infuse heaven-sent power into churches and equip them to impact their communities for Jesus Christ.

Act 1:5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Act 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Act 2:37 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?

Act 2:38 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.

I want you to look at these scriptures:

Acts 1:5-you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit:

Acts 1:8 you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth

Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:37-8 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

It is very important to notice that to be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5) and to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4) are one and the same experience.

These are two biblical ways of describing that great Pentecostal anointing upon those 120 disciples, which is also for you today.

And the expressions "baptism in/with/of the Holy Spirit" all mean the same thing.

These classic verses on the baptism in the Holy Spirit give us the first two of our nine reasons why we need this biblical experience.

1. To be witnesses with power.

Think of what happened in Acts 2. The disciples were baptized/filled with the Spirit (1:5 with 2:4).

Newly under the influence of this Holy Spirit anointing and power, the now-Spirit-filled apostle

Peter stood and preached a message which brought many under conviction of sin (2:37). A multitude believed and repented, and 3,000 souls were saved and water baptized the same day (2:41).

2. To speak in other tongues.

Speaking in other tongues brings edification to the one speaking.

1 Cor 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

3. Bold speaking of the Word.

Act 4:29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, Your servants, great boldness in preaching Your word.

4. Great power, including healings, signs, and wonders, flowed from their being baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Act 4:30 Stretch out Your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."

Act 4:31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

5. The threefold apostolic command of Acts 2:38

Act 2:38 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.

is fulfilled — that is, “Repent ... be baptized ... receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”• Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ brings them into salvation. • They are baptized in water. • They are filled with the Holy Spirit, as the 120 were on the Day of Pentecost.

Act 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Act 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Act 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

6. Radical transformation

Radical transformation of your life can follow your receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The example in the verse above is Saul of Tarsus. He had been viciously persecuting the Christian church.

Then Saul had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Saul was powerfully saved, filled with the Spirit.

Act 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

And Paul began to preach boldly about the same Jesus whom he had earlier been fighting against. Radical transformation!

Act 9:20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is indeed the Son of God!"

Act 9:21 All who heard him were amazed. "Isn't this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus' followers in Jerusalem?" they asked. "And didn't he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?"

Act 9:22 Saul's preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn't refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

He was later known as the apostle Paul and wrote more than a dozen books of the New Testament!

We saw the same astounding transformation with the apostle Peter. Out of fear, he had denied Jesus before Christ’s crucifixion. But after his personal Pentecost.

Peter boldly preached Jesus to a crowd that included many who had only weeks before been crying out for Jesus to be crucified.

7. Our prejudices are overthrown.

Act 10:43 He is the One all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name."

Act 10:44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.

Act 10:45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too.

Act 10:46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked,

Act 10:47 "Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?"

The Jewish Christians with Peter were astonished that the Gentiles received both salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

The receiving of the Holy Spirit by the Gentiles was the event that broke down the Jewish Christians’ biases and religious prejudice against the Gentiles.

8. Spiritual gifts

Spiritual gifts begin to flow in your life after you are baptized in the Holy Spirit. Notice here that, when this particular group was filled with the Spirit, they not only spoke in tongues, they also prophesied.

Act 19:6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.

Peter and John,

Can you name the miracles in the Bible that Apostle were used by God to perform thru the Holy Spirit anointing.

9. The church is strengthened

1 Cor 14:26 Well, my brothers and sisters, let's summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

1 Cor 14:39 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking in tongues.

1 Cor 14:40 But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.

Apostle Paul is describing a New Testament church service. Notice that it had three key components:•

The Word of God — “a word of instruction” Worship of God — “a hymn” Gifts of the Spirit — “a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation”

Too many churches in our day are content to focus only on the word and worship. But a biblically sound church will also have the manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

Summary: Nine Reasons to Seek the Baptism with the Holy Spirit

1) To be witnesses for Christ with power 2) To speak in tongues as the Holy Spirit enables 3) To be enabled to speak God’s word boldly 4) To minister with Holy Ghost power, including divine healings, signs and wonders 5) To fulfill the apostolic command — the triple witness of Acts 2:38 6) To see your life radically transformed by the Holy Spirit 7) To have prejudices conquered by the Spirit 8) To begin to be used in spiritual gifts 9) To see the Lord’s Church strengthened