RECEIVE THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

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“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission f sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”—Acts 2:38
 I had been “born again” for several years before I experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Through teaching and the study of the Word of God, I discovered the difference between the work of the Holy Spirit in the “new birth” and receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  These are two separate works of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Although I was instantly delivered from drugs and alcohol when I was “born again,” it was though the baptism of the Holy Spirit that I received empowerment to break many bad habits in life.  People of today are no different than the people were when the Holy Spirit was initially poured out during the Day of Pentecost.  We need the help, the comfort, the power and the life giving rivers of living water that the Holy Spirit gives to us when we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
 To have a good understanding of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, today’s devotional is longer than usual.  However, I hope that today’s devotional will give you a better understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, and if you have not yet done so, to be inspired to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
 The term, baptism of the Holy Spirit, comes from the prophecies made by John the Baptist and Jesus concerning this experience.  John said to those he baptized in the Jordan River “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” (Matthew 3:11).  Just before Jesus ascended back into heaven, He spoke to the apostles and, “… commanded them they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, you have heard from me” (Acts 1: 4-5).
At the moment a person is converted, The Holy Spirit gives birth to a new creation in the believer (John 3:1-8; II Corinthians 5:17).  Not my works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).  The Holy Spirit’s basic work in salvation is to impart a new life to a person, and thus making her/him a child of God (I John 5:12; John 1:12).  Through the process of the Holy Spirit you become a part of God’s family; the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13).  Scripture tells us that “…no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” (I Corinthians 12:3).  As believers, it is the Holy Spirit that bears witness with your spirit that you are the children of God (Romans 8:16).  God has more for you as a believer; not only does He wants you to be blessed, He wants to use you to bless others.
After His resurrection, Jesus told his disciples, “Behold I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).  The baptism of the Holy Spirit was called the promise of the Father in this passage of scripture.  According to Jesus, these followers would be endowed with God’s power to be witnesses of Him.  Furthermore, following His instructions some 120 of His followers, including the disciples, met together to wait for the promise of the Father.
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as a rushing might wind, and if filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” –Acts 2: 1-4
 An important reason for the baptism of the Holy Spirit is power for witnessing of the living Christ.  “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  After the 120 received the baptism of the Holy Spirit they went into the streets witnessing of Jesus.  Not only that but, Peter stood up and preached about Joel’s prophecy and the resurrection of Christ.  The results were amazing as they witnessed in the power of the Holy Spirit; about 3,000 people received Peter’s word and were baptized (Acts 2:41).  Soon another 5,000 people believed the word and they were added to the church (Acts 4:4).  By reading the Acts of the Apostles, you can discover more remarkable events including the miraculous due to the empowerment (the enablement) of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus described the Holy Spirit as rivers of living water that would flow out of the believer’s innermost being.  “…Jesus stood and cried out saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’  But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7: 37-39).  The Holy Spirit produces rivers of life, love, joy, peace, and power to flow out of your spirit to meet the needs of others.  Jesus said those that believe upon Him should receive the holy spirit.
One of the names that Jesus used in speaking of the Holy Spirit was “Comforter.”  The Greek word is Paraclete, meaning “one called alongside to help.”  Jesus also said that the Holy Spirit would teach and guide the believers.  “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—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” (John 14:16-17).  It is important to notice that Jesus declare that an unbeliever cannot receive the Holy Spirit, for Jesus said that the world cannot receive Him.  The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to testify of Jesus to the believer.  It is He who is the revealer of truth to the believer.  He reveals the wealth and riches in Christ, opens our eyes to what is promised to you in Christ.  He glorifies Christ Jesus the Lord and Saviour.  “However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16: 13-14).  The truth is in God’s Word.  The Holy Spirit will always guide you into an understanding of the truth as revealed in the Scriptures.  What He hears from God, He speaks to you.  What He speaks will always glorify Jesus and be consistent with the Word of God.
God’s will is for every believer to be filled with His Spirit “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit’ (Ephesians 5: 17-18).  His desire is that you be continually overflowing with His Spirit.  Jesus commanded  the disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they had been endued with power (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4).  In John 7:39, Jesus said that those that believe on Him should receive the Holy Spirit. 
 
Knowing that it is God’s will for you to be filled with the Holy Spirit gives you confidence in asking Him to baptize you with the Holy Spirit.  “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him that if we ask anything according to His will he hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (I John 5:14-15).  Jesus said that our heavenly Father would give the Holy Spirit to those that would ask Him.  We may ask the Father to give us the Holy Spirit and have confidence we shall receive (Luke 11:9-13).
The 120 believers all spoke with other tongues on the Day of Pentecost when they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4).  The gentiles in the house of Cornelius spoke with tongues when the Holy Spirit came on them (Acts 10:44-48).  Likewise, the people at Ephesus spoke in tongues when the Holy Spirit came on them (Acts 19:6).  Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit when Ananias laid hands on him.  He later told the Christians at Corinth that he thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than they did (I Corinthians 14:18).  In his message to the Corinthians Paul concluded his instruction on tongues with these words, “Therefore brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.  Let all things be done decently and in order” (I Corinthians 14: 39-40).  One of the signs Jesus said would follow those who believe was that “…they would speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17).
If you have not yet received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, ask your heavenly Father to baptize you today.  I have found that there are many believers who have not spoken in their new tongues in some time.  How long has it been since you have prayed in tongues?  The Bible tells us that tongues are a refreshing (Isaiah 28:11 -12), and that praying in tongues will build you up on your most holy faith (Jude 20).   
Prayer—Heavenly Father, I ask you for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the refreshing, the empowerment to be a witness for you.  Please fill me now as you promised me you would in your Word in Jesus Name.  Amen.