Standing Firm

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. [1 Corinthians 16:13]

Biblical TeachingsPodcast Episode

Doctrine #8: Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Cathy

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. [Acts 2:42-43]

Based on the scripture above please note that there was a deep sense of awe of God. Believers devoted themselves to the church and doing the work of the Lord. Yes, we talked about this within the ordinance of the church in Doctrine #7. However, this is so important that it deserves a doctrine of its own because there is a lack of awe in our churches and among believers today. There are fluffy churches and believers with flippant attitudes towards God. There also is a lack of deep reverence and a reverential fear of God. There will be many believers who don’t want to hear the truth, or they will outright reject it. We need to know the Word so that we are not deceived.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. [2 Timothy 4:3-4]

Benefits of Sound Doctrine

  1. Sound doctrine is imperative for all believers in these last days.
  2. Sound doctrine will cause you to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
  3. Sound doctrine will produce a church that allows the Holy Spirit to lead.
  4. Sound doctrine will provide power and supernatural workings of the Holy Spirit.
  5. Sound doctrine provides a life of peace, prosperity, and purpose.
  6. Sound doctrine gives you a solid foundation for everything in your life.
  7. Sound doctrine prevents you from living in fear and anxiety.
  8. Sound doctrine will give you boldness in the Holy Spirit.
  9. Sound doctrine will give you the ability to be a living sacrifice.
  10. Sound doctrine will help prevent you from receiving the antichrist spirit.
  11. Sound doctrine gives you discernment about heaven and hell.
  12. Sound doctrine will allow you to live a holy life.
  13. Sound doctrine will keep you from falling away from the faith.
  14. Sound doctrine will prevent you from being deceived.
  15. Sound doctrine will help you from going insane in this crazy world.
  16. Sound doctrine will help you to STAND FIRM.

Without the baptism of the Holy Spirit, there is no power in a believer or a church. There are no signs, wonders, miracles, healings, or evidence of transformation. This is what makes the church fluffy and causes a believer to not have a reverent fear of the Lord. Without the baptism of the Holy Spirit, there is also a disrespect towards God and His Word.

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is our second baptism, after we repent and accept Jesus.  This aligns with the biblical doctrine for believers. Before Jesus ascended into heaven following His resurrection, He instructed His disciples not to embark on preaching the Word until they experienced baptism in the power of the Holy Spirit. Similarly, for us, it is imperative to undergo baptism with the power of the Holy Spirit to effectively carry out the work of the Lord.

I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel. Then John testified, I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God. [John 1:31-34]

There is a difference between the gift of the Holy Spirit and being baptized in the Holy Spirit. This is a separate experience from becoming a believer. This can happen right after you accept the Lord, or it can happen several years later. Either way, this is something that should be present in your church and within the body of believers. Even Jesus was baptized in water, and he also needed to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Because without the power of this baptism, we are ineffective. Jesus was water-baptized by John and then baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. I am the one who needs to be baptized by you, he said, so why are you coming to me? But Jesus said, It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires. John agreed to baptize him. 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. And a voice from heaven said, This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. [Matthew 3:13-17]

All believers are entitled to and should expect and earnestly seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is a commandment that we receive this baptism. As Jesus spoke to His disciples the actions and responsibilities apply to us.

Jesus came and told his disciples, I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [Matthew 28:18-19]

Within the church today there will be many people who will not accept the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It has been noted among scholars that it’s because there is a lack of education, lack of experience, and fear.

  • Within the church, there is a broad ignorance and lack of knowledge about what the Word says about the Holy Spirit and its power and importance.
  • Some have been intellectually convinced by some theological argument that they were baptized in the Spirit when they were born again. They don’t believe there is a second baptism.
  • Some are skeptical, cautious, or even afraid because of some goofy things they have seen, heard about, or even experienced. These things were not of the Holy Spirit, but man acting out of biblical doctrine.
  • Some people may feel that they are not worthy enough to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Now this is sad…
  • Some don’t believe that God is a good God and that He is the one who gives His gifts freely to all who ask Him.

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Something kind of important that I didn’t mention in our prior message about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, was how to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Jeepers, blonde move).

Luke 11:10-13 tells us all we need to do is ask and believe.

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people 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.

So, say this prayer: Heavenly Father, I recognize and know that I NEED your power to live a holy life and a life as a living sacrifice. Please baptize me in the Holy Spirit and fill me up with the Holy Spirit. I believe and receive it right now! Holy Spirit, you are welcome in my life. Thank you for baptizing me with the power of the Holy Spirit – in Jesus’ name, amen.

Once you said this prayer, it doesn’t matter whether you felt anything or not. When you prayed to receive the Lord and His Spirit, your prayer was heard and you were baptized in the Holy Spirit. God always honors His Word. If you believe His promise, you’re filled with God’s supernatural power!

I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. [Mark 11:24]

Most believers are not interested in change or walking away from their sinful lives. They don’t thirst or are not craving more of God. They are very uncomfortable with the possibility of the Spirit moving and leading. They would rather go to church, sing a couple of songs, hear a watered-down message, sing another song, clap their hands, and go home. They are not interested in the full doctrine, becoming a living sacrifice, living a holy life, or having the power to impact others.

People have a fear of things becoming weird when the Spirit moves in a group setting, such as someone speaking in tongues or receiving a prophetic utterance, etc. The idea that God, the Holy Spirit, might break in and interrupt their schedule is not received in our society, among believers, and in many churches.

Girlfriends, make sure this isn’t you. There isn’t anything to fear about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I can walk into a church and immediately know if the Holy Spirit is present and welcome. We should be so tuned in with God that we can sense His presence or know when it is NOT present. In the next doctrine, we will go into more of the evidence and the benefits of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. As a child of God, we should desire and crave the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the power that comes with it.

Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life. [2 Corinthians 3:2-5]

 

 

 

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