Title: The baptism in the Holy Spirit
Introduction
“And afterwards, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29)
Question 1: Who would God pour out his Spirit on?
(On all people; my servants: sons and daughters. old men and young men, both men and women.)
God desires every believer to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Question 2: When would God pour out his Spirit?
(Afterwards, or after what?)
1. After the ascension of Christ
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” (Acts 1:7-9)
2. On the Day of Pentecost
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came down from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)
Question 3: What does this mean? (Acts 2:12)
Peter answered: “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” (Acts 2:16-17)
Question 4: What should we do to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off- for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)
The answer: You receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit the same way you receive the forgiveness of your sins.
Going back to Acts 2:38-39: When a person repents they receive the forgiveness of their sins.
Define some terms.
By repent the Bible means “a turning away from unbelief, mistrust and rebellion against God and towards a complete reliance upon his forgiveness and favor on account of Christ.
The forgiveness of sin: At present salvation imparts a release from the penalty of sin; the removal of the presence of sin, along with its consequent effects of physical deterioration and sickness will occur when Christ returns.
“We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption of sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:23)
When a person repents they receive the forgiveness of sin and the Holy Spirit puts that person into Christ
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14)
Having repented; having received the forgiveness of our sins and being put into Christ by the Holy Spirit we publicly demonstrate this by being baptized in the name of Jesus.
The Pentecostal message is that in addition to receiving a pardon for your sins you can also receive the power to be Christ’s witness
“And you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
One should naturally follow the other. First you receive a pardon and then you receive power.You receive the power or outpouring of the Holy Spirit the same way you receive the pardon
You receive the fire of God the same way you receive the forgiveness of God.Look again at Acts 2:38-39
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off- for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)
1. Repent and you receive the forgiveness of sins
Repent of your sins and you will receive forgiveness
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out and times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)
2. Repent and you also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
But repent of what? Repent of our self-sufficiency- trying to be a witness for Christ/living the Christian life in our own power.
“It’s not by might nor by power but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6)
“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5)
Why do we need the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
1. In order to make Jesus real to us.
It takes the supernatural to reveal the supernatural.
“Then John gave this testimony:” I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:32-34)
Why do we need the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
2. In order to receive the tools to live the Christian life
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal.5:22)
3. In order to receive the power to make Jesus real to others.
“The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” (Acts 16:14)
Lastly how can I be sure that I will receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13
The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to every believer who asks.
Our 3 responses
1.No thank you
I don’t want to know Jesus better
I don’t want the tools to live the Christian life
I don’t want the power to tell others about Jesus
2.I’d like to know more about the baptism in the Holy Spirit first.
I encourage you to read the Book of Acts
3.Yes I would like to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
I want to know Jesus better.
I want the tools to live the Christian life
I want the power to tell others about Jesus.
But what if I already received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Do you need it again? Has the fire dimmed?
1.Acknowledge and confess that Jesus is Lord and savior.
2. When you receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit you will speak in other tongues. See 1 Cor. 14:2-4
(V2) For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
(v4) He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.
3. It is Jesus and Jesus only who does the baptizing in the Holy Spirit. You must ask Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit.
4. Repent of serving God in your own strength and start expressing praise to God for giving you the Holy Spirit’s strength.
5.As you express praise to God the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say.
