Baptism in the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third part of the Trinity.

He was sent to comfort us, to guide us, and to help us fulfill the call of God on our lives.

As a church we believe in two baptisms

Obviously, we believe in being baptized in water which we are doing on Easter.

But then we believe there is a separate baptism that involves the Holy Spirit.

Where did being baptized in the Holy Spirit start?

Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”

John the Baptist spoke of this about Jesus.

And what’s interesting is Jesus was actually baptized in the Holy Spirit as well.

If you keep reading in Matthew 3 Jesus shows up to to be baptized by John the Baptist.

But look at what happened.

Matthew 3:16 NLT “After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.”

After Jesus was baptized the Holy Spirit came down and descended on Jesus.

Notice how Jesus got water baptized AND baptized in the Holy Spirit BEFORE he started his ministry!

Because he was modeling for us what we need to do to be fully equipped to live the life we’re called to live.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven He said…

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

He even tells them to wait in Jerusalem and not to go anywhere before they receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:2-4 “ Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

When I think of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit I think of POWER!

Acts 1:8 NIV “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.”

Too many people are trying to serve God with their own strength. God wants us to be empowered by the Holy Spirits.

Romans 8:11 NIV “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

That’s why the disciples did such amazing things.

Peter and John were arrested for preaching the Gospel. They had to stand before all the priests and elders of the people and they asked them “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Acts 4:8 says “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…

After he speaks, listen to what it says. Verse 13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished…”

After Peter and John were free they went back to their people to tell them what was going on and how everyone was against them. So they prayed for God to help them and give them boldness.

Acts 4:31 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

I think of when Peter preached right after the Holy Spirit came and 3000 people got saved.

Just a little time before that he was afraid to admit he knew Jesus now he’s preaching with boldness.

It’s because of the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit gives us that extra power to accomplish His will in our lives.

Why would we want to live without that and do things on our own?

Galatians 3:3 “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”

I think of a story I heard a Pastor tell a few years ago.

He said he was trading in his Ford Explorer for a newer one.

When he was getting the keys to his car they were showing him what the keyfob can do.

They showed a button and said this is your remote car starter.

He said, “that does what?”

All of a sudden he grabs his old keyfob and goes out to his old vehicle and hits a similar button on that keyfob.

He car all of a sudden starts up.

He’s had the ability to remote start his old car and he never knew it.

He had the power to turn it on but didn’t realize it was there.

That’s the Holy Spirit.

If you are a believer in Jesus you have the Holy Spirit inside you.

The baptism in the Holy Spirit just unlocks that power.

It puts that power to work!

So the question is “how can I receive this power?”

It’s simple. You ask!

Luke 11:11-13 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

We must ask and seek him with our whole heart.

The Bible then talks about how there are GIFTS of the Spirit.

These are certain gifts that at any point time the Holy Spirit can give you.

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 “for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”

One form of evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues.

Mark 16:17 “And these signs will follow those who believe… they will speak with new tongues”

This is probably the most common gift that believers receive.

A lot of people call this your Heavenly language.

It’s most used in your prayer time.

If you don’t know what to pray, pray in tongues.

Some people can do this right away and sometimes it takes a little time. The key is that you are constantly seeking after this gift.

It’s when your spirit connects directly with God and you’re praying things that your mind doesn’t even know you’re praying.

1 Corinthians 14:2 “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.”

Other gifts are…

Gift of Knowledge

Wisdom

Prophesy

Faith

Healing

Miracles

Discerning of Spirits

The bottom line is that I want every gift God has for me.

I want everything God has to offer.

Because I want to be equipped to do what he’s called me to do.

And if you want that as well I encourage you to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

So tonight we want to give you an opportunity to receive this.

So I’m going to ask our prayer team to come forward and stand along the front.

We will also have a couple prayer people in the back if you are more comfortable going to the back.

But if you have not received the baptism in the Holy Spirit I’m going to ask you to come forward and be prayed for.

And I believe that some people’s lives are going to be changed tonight.

I believe people who have been fighting with addictions are going to be set free.

I believe people are going to have boldness like never before.

CLOSE IN PRAYER