Title: Requirements to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Theme:
Text: Matthew 3:11
Matthew 3:11 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: Luke 3:16
John preached with boldness. He preached with power. He preached with a purpose and a mindset on the coming of Christ. He preached a message of repentance. John 3:2 Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This was his message. He was preparing the way for one that is greater than him. He was preparing the way for Jesus.
Jesus himself preached repentance. But he said there is more than just being saved. It is more than just being baptized. John baptized with water but Jesus would come and baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire.
This was important to him and to the New Testament church. It was so important that when Paul went to places evangelizing he would ask them, ”Have you received the Holy Spirit?” Acts 19. I know you are saved but have you received the Holy Spirit. This was priority. It was important. It is what set the New Testament church on fire and we read of the 3,000 souls saved and then we read later on that “daily they added to the church”. Why? Because the Holy Spirit had set on fire the church.
Remember we read last week. Acts 1:8 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. (Acts 1:8 AV)
We’ve seen the importance of the Holy Spirit as we look in the life of Jesus and how he relied on the Spirit. We have seen the purpose and work of it as we have looked at it from the words of Jesus. Now we must ask is there a qualification to receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost?
When one is converted, he has the Holy Spirit but does not have the fulness.
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Eph 3:19 )
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:18 AV)
Paul speaks of the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ in Romans 15:29. It is when we are filled with the Spirit to the point of overflowing that we become a power to bless others. It is then that rivers of living water flow from our innermost beings and thirsty souls are watered and desert like lives are made into spirit oases.
What are the qualifications to receiving the Holy Ghost?
I. Accept Jesus as Lord Acts 2:38-40
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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (Acts 2:38-40 AV)
Repentance is an inward change and baptism is the outward showing. 3340 metanoeo {met-an-o-eh’-o}
1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent
2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins
A. Surrendering our will Acts 5:32
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. (Acts 5:32 AV)
We are no longer under the subjection of our own will but now under the will of the father. We have changed our minds.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33 AV)
“these things” our needs and the desires of our heart.
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.(Rom 14:17)
B. Turn from what offends God-Santification 2 Tim 2:21
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21 AV)
Not only is there a repentance but there is a turning away from. It means that we no longer, walk, talk or act the way we used to. Now we are on a new path a path of righteousness.
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:16-18 AV)
Sanctify means to set apart. It is symbolized in the OT with the commands of God toward the Israelites to be separate. Separate from all other nations. Do not mix marriage with other religions and even nationalities because of their religious systems.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:15-16 AV)
Separation from
1. the corrupt world (John 17:15-16,2Tim 3:1-5, Jas. 1;27;4:4)
2. those in church who sin and refuse to repent (Mat 18:15-17,1 Cor 5;9-11, 2 Thes. 3:6-15)
3. false teachers, churches, or cults who teach theological error and deny Biblical truths (Mat 7:15,Rom 16:17, Gal 1:9, Tit 3;9-11, 2 Pet 2:17-22, 1 John 4:1, 2 John 10-11, Jude 12-13)
II. Must be a deep desire to be filled Jn 7:37-39
¶ In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37-39 AV)
Some Christians are like a shallow-well pump that have to primed to get anything out of it. It is a struggle just to get water. And when it does come there is so much gurgling and moaning and protests.
This is not as the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is as rivers of living waters. It is fired up and spreading out to others.
Here is that same theme again, “Hunger and thirst”, “Hunger and thirst”. We are expected to hunger and thirst. The Lord did not come for the righteous but the unrighteous. He did not come for the well but the sick. He did not come for the full but those who, “Hunger and thirst after righteousness”.
When we hunger and thirst then we desire for all of what God has for us. We desire for his spirit in our souls. We desire for his spirit to overfill us. Notice that the river will flow over and when it does it will touch others.
III. We must pray
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13 AV)
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:14 AV)
¶ And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4 AV)
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. (Acts 4:31 AV)
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:15-17 AV)
IV. Expect God to fill you with His spirit Mk 11:24; Acts 1:4-5
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:24 AV)
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:4-5 AV)
