The Baptisms of the Holy Ghost
Notes
Transcript
KEY VERSE:
Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
The early Church in very short order, experienced the new birth as described in John chapter 3.
It was in complete harmony with the gospel as preached/taught by Jesus .
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to see His Kingdom, he had to be born again of the water and Spirit.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Jesus told his Disciples that they were going to be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
For to long, we (the church) have treated the Holy Ghost as just a part of salvation (the New Birth) and its what makes me feel good in church. That could not be farther from the truth.
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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
He told them that when they were baptized with the Holy Ghost, they would receive power, and they were to be witnesses of Him....
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This initial baptism was the promise that Jesus said would come to believers. It fulfilled the “re-birth” of the Spirit that he told Nicodemus was essential to see the Kingdom of God.
They were in one accord (unity)!
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? 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.
Peter’s response to their question, “What must we do?” was the requirement for entrance into the kingdom of Jesus. It constituted 3 things:
Repentance
Water Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of Sins
The Baptism of the Holy Ghost which would be confirmed by the evidence of speaking in tongues.
Once the Apostles and disciples experienced this new birth on the day of Pentecost, they began to fulfill what Jesus commanded them in Acts 1:8, and Mark 16; See below:
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
They were preaching the kingdom every where they went.
While they obeyed the commandment to preach the gospel to every creature, Jesus work along with them confirming the word with signs following them.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
However, as the young church began to spread the gospel of Jesus, it quickly came under attack from the Religious leaders that had crucified the Son of God.
We find Peter & John in Acts 3 headed into the temple and the lame man at the temple gate is healed.
The resulting testimony and preaching of the Gospel drew unwanted attention
1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
They were arrested and threatened and commanded not to teach/preach in Jesus name! Preaching the Gospel was definitely the will of God, but it wasn’t without danger and opposition.
The enemy (Satan), the intimidator, the thief, the lier, the destroyer tried to use intimidation and fear to silence the early church.
Not unlike today. Their is a spirit of fear and oppression that is working to grip the church and silence the Gospel.
We must use the power of the Holy Ghost to help us in this hour. (Too many saints live as though the only purpose of the Holy Ghost is to make us feel good, and a sign of “I’m Saved”.
Let’s see how they responded to the threat of fear and oppression! Then we can look at how Jesus responded.
23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Their response to the threats and oppression pray (in the spirit of unity) (in one accord). Just like the day of Pentecost.
Their prayer was heard and Jesus’ answer was powerful! and enlightening.
The church realized the threat that was upon them. They knew they were commissioned and commanded by Jesus to spread the Gospel. Human nature, because of the threats, would have caused them to stumble and perhaps fail completely. They knew they needed Jesus to help them
They prayed and Jesus provided an answer.
The place began to shake,
They were all filled with the Holy Ghost (but, they already had the Holy Ghost)
This was another baptism! A BAPTISM OF BOLDNESS!!!
But wait, there is more!
49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
Even though persecution and trials plagued the early church, they received just what they needed to continue to spread the Gospel.
When fear and intimidation was brought against them, through the Holy Ghost, they were baptized with Boldness!
The antonym (opposite) of fear is BOLDNESS!
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
When the enemy tried to use depression, through the Holy Ghost, they were baptized with Joy!
The antonym for oppression and depression is Joy!
52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
In closing, I say unto you as the Apostle Paul said the church at Ephesus:
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.