Baptism Class

1. WHY BE BAPTIZED?

A. Those who are baptized are following Jesus’ example.

Matthew 3:16–17 NKJV

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

B. Those who are baptized are obeying Jesus’ command.

Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

C. The Holy Spirit is moving on your heart that this is the right thing to do and the right time to do it.

Romans 8:14 NKJV

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

2. WHAT IS WATER BAPTISM?

Water baptism is a public declaration of three very important things:

A. You are a follower of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:41 NKJV

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

B. You are beginning a changed life in Christ.

Old Testament Water Baptism was done ceremonially for the remission of sin.

New Testament Water Baptism links us with Jesus’ Death, Burial, & Resurrection & BRAND NEW changed life!

Romans 6:3–4 NKJV

3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

C. You are part of a new family.

Galatians 3:26–27 NKJV

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

3. WHAT IS HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM & WHY SHOULD I WANT IT?

A. Jesus Himself baptizing & equipping you in the same way He was equipped for a successful Earthly ministry

Matthew 3:11 NKJV

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 with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John 20:21–22 NKJV

21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

B. God’s Spirit going from being with you to being IN you.

John 14:16–17 NKJV

16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

C. The Character of God & the Power of God becoming available to you

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 NKJV

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 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. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

We cannot have the Gifts OF the Spirit or the Fruit OF the Spirit WITHOUT the Spirit!

4. How to Receive the Holy Spirit:

A. Honestly desire to have the Holy Spirit in your life

B. Ask for the Holy Spirit

Luke 11:13 NKJV

13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

C. Have a Holy Spirit-Filled believer lay hands on you to impart the Holy Spirit to you.

Acts 8:18–19 NKJV

18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

D. Receive the Holy Spirit - God Won’t FORCE the Holy Spirit on us, we must embrace Him

•Receive - to take, to get ahold of, to (violently) seize

E. Speak in Tongues OUT LOUD as the Spirit gives you words to say in a Heavenly language

Acts 2:4 NKJV

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

•You won’t understand what you’re saying with your mind since Tongues is a Heavenly language and not an Earthly language.

•This was the one common visible/audible indication to other believers that someone was filled with the Holy Spirit.

•Because praying in tongues is literally the Holy Spirit praying His words through your mouth, you are praying PERFECT prayers directly to God Himself

5. WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR BAPTISM

A. Baptism by immersion

The Word Baptize (Greek - Baptizo) means to immerse or fully submerge so as to entirely cover; to stain

B. The Lord Jesus to Speak to you

God spoke to Jesus, He wants to speak to you too.

Luke 3:22 NKJV

22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

C. Another believer to baptize you

John 4:1–2 NKJV

1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),

Believers baptize other believers in water & Jesus Himself baptizes us in the Holy Spirit.

D. Jesus to Baptize you in the Holy Spirit

Matthew 3:11 NKJV

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 with the Holy Spirit and fire.

E. Receiving the power to live a changed life cut off from your past

Romans 6:4 NKJV

4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Jesus was raised from the dead after 3 days, but the sins of the world were not able to come back through the grave.

6. PRACTICAL STEPS TO PREPARE FOR YOUR BAPTISM

Read and process the verses here and allow faith to convince your heart about what will happen & what to expect

Prepare your heart to hear from God and receive the Holy Spirit

- feel free to fast from Social Media, Television, Negativity, Drama, & even Food for the purpose of focusing on hearing God’s voice to your Spirit

Be prepared to share a short statement about what you are believing God to do in your life when you get baptized.

Wear Dark Colored Clothing so they don’t become see-through when wet

Bring a Towel and a change of clothing

- Remember, you’ll be going completely underwater, so be prepared (hair, makeup, pinch your nose, etc).

Invite all of your friends and family to come and watch (& even come to church)

- even if they don’t know Jesus. It’ll be a great testimony to them and the power of God will touch their heart as you share what you are believe for in baptism.