An enemy has made its way into the church and filled our minds with a lie of weakness. Yet Scripture reveals that Christians have amazing strength through their unbreakable connection with Jesus Christ. Through that connection we are being given power to rule in the earth. Sin has lost its power to command us. Even Satan is thrown into confusion when God’s people praise.
The source of our power flows from the presence of God in our hearts in the person of the Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 1:13,14. The Holy Spirit living in us sanctifies us and works through us and comes upon us at certain moments to do miracles when needed. This is the experience of every born again Christian. Yet there is an even greater level of power that is available to all Christians, one that most of Christendom is making no use of. I am speaking about the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
John the Baptist introduced the baptism in the Holy Spirit when he foretold the coming of Messiah. He said ” I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:” Mat. 3:11 KJV
Jesus spoke of the baptism again after His resurrection when he said, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. John baptized with [fn] water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4,5
So what is this baptism in the Holy Spirit? According to Scripture the baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experience that comes after salvation which fills the believer with power for living and sharing the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. This power manifests in nine supernatural gifts which should begin to flow regularly after a person is baptized. Those gifts are outlined in I Corinthians 12 as: word of knowledge, word of wisdom, prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues, healing, miracles, discernment of spirits, and faith.
Jesus desired that all of his servants would be baptized in the Holy Spirit. It was so important to him that he even commanded his servants not to begin their task of preaching until they had received the baptism (Acts 1).
In explaining the baptism on the day of Pentecost Peter said, “In the last days saith God I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.” (Acts 2) indicating that the baptism in the Holy Spirit was available to all who lived in the last days.
We need this baptism today because it is power that is sorely required to carry out the work God has for us in these last hours. For those of us who have the baptism it is time we started operating in it as the Holy Spirit intended.
The difference between having the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the difference between drinking a glass of water and being thrown into a lake and never getting out. The problem comes when a person has been thrown into a lake comes up soaking wet and still acts as though they have only had an eight ounce glass of water to drink. This is what most of us are doing. We receive the baptism and then after the initial experience has faded away we think we have to wait for some special unction to come on us before we can operate in power. This is an unbiblical mindset. Once we have the baptism, the Holy Spirit intends that we should operate in His gifts everyday in every situation we come to.
The hour demands it. Our lives require it. Let us be baptized in Holy Spirit. Let us operate in His gifts on a regular basis!
Scriptures to ponder:
Mark 16/ Luke 24/ John 16/ Acts 1,2,3,8,10,19/ I Corinthians 12,13,14
Reinventing the We'll 