Category: Baptism

The Gift of the Spirit is by Faith

Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Galatians 3:2

The gift of the Holy Spirit is given by Faith. In otherwards one must believe in the giver of the Holy Spirit. Who is the giver? It is Jesus Christ. Listen to what Jesus said.

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;”

John 14:16

Jesus said He would pray to the Father for the comforter to come and be with us forever. Can you imagine what this means? I am still amazed about the Holy Spirit and how the church can so easily overlook its work within the believer’s life. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth that the world cannot receive but we who are Christians should know him for He dwelleth within you [see John14:17]. If you are born again and baptized in Christ, you have the Spirit of Christ living inside you. The Holy Spirit will help our walk and give us directions. The Holy Spirit will help us to understand the word of God. The Holy Spirit will open our eyes to see the will of God. We will not stand alone when we acknowledge the Holy Spirit presence in our life.

Look at what happened to those who were disciples of John the Baptist. The apostle Paul asked them if they have received the Holy Spirit since they believed? What was their response? “We have not heard whether there is a Holy Spirit? [see The Acts 19:2-3]. Paul told them that John Baptized with the baptism of repentance, but they should believe in Jesus. Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied [see The Acts 19:4-6]. Can you imagine these disciples of John speaking in tongues and prophesying.

This was my experience. Repentance and knowing that I have sinned. Jesus who for gave me and washed me clean from the guilt of sin. Being born again into a new life to where I could be free from the burden of sin. This is the liberty we have in Christ. This happened in 1974 when the movement of the Holy Spirit [the charismatic movement] begun in Seattle, Washington. I was not the only one, there were others. A group of young people wanted all what God had to offer them. We were hungry for more of God. We ended up at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Seattle, Washington. When the altar call was given, we flew to the alter and Dennis Bennett laid hands upon our heads, and we began to speak in tongues. At the time we did not know anything about the Holy Spirit.

Mainline protestant churches were experiencing outbreak of the Holy Spirit were people spoke in tongues. I was at the time attending the Presbyterian church on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. I was a part of the youth group that meet weekly at the church. I heard from a brother that the Elders of the church had a meeting and announced during a service that I had missed, that the speaking in tongues had to stop. That it was of the devil. I was confused for why would God give us the gift that was from the devil? Later I found that this was really a matter of control within the body of Christ. It was not what the elders would endorse. Having had this experience stunted my growth as a Christian, but I began to read books on the subject and study in the Bible what the Holy Spirit was all about. The issue is ignorance about the Holy Spirit and not moving in the will of God. Remember the apostle Paul said, ” I speak with tongues more than ye all,” [1 Corinthians 14:18].

Needless to say, the charismatic movement carried on in the 80’s and the 90’s here in the Pacific Northwest. As I moved in the Spirit and performed Gospel music in many churches, God was manifesting himself among the people with healing. The Holy Spirit will always point to Christ. If it is any other Spirit that only speaks of itself, it is not the Holy Spirit. John tells us to test the Spirits whether they be of God or not [see 1 John 4:1]. Ask if Jesus Christ is come in the flesh [1 John 4:2]. If they do not answer or state no, it is not of the Holy Spirit. We must grow and know the will of God. There should be no fear when God has supplied us with the answer in the word of God [the Holy Bible]. The Holy Spirit will teach us and show us what we need to know. We can read about the Spirit in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 to 14. Do not deny the Holy Spirit work in your own life. You do not need anyone to lay hands on you today to receive the Holy Spirit. Pray, ask, and believe in faith and receive the Holy Spirit.

Born of Water and Spirit

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.”

John 3:5

Are you born of water and spirit? Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born of water and spirit. If he is not born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is the rule of the sovereign God over all creatures and things. Many do not accept this rulership of God. Some do not even think about the rulership of God over their own life even though the new birth brings them eternal life through Jesus Christ. It is interesting to note that Jesus told Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world [see John 18:36]. The Kingdom of God is God’s sovereign rule and authority. Do we believe in His rule and authority over our own life?

The Kingdom of God is like a woman with leaven who took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened [see Luke 13:21]. This means that the leaven uses an agent to make the dough rise. That agent is yeast, which is the Holy Spirit in the Bible. We must have the Holy Spirit in our life in order to grow and expand. This growth will produce fruit into our life. The fruit comes when we follow God’s will and not our own. The Holy Spirit will always point to Christ for He is the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus is also our foundation in which we stand [see 1 Corinthians 3:11]. Are you standing on a firm foundation?

The only foundation that is a sure one is when we have Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith. We believe that Jesus came in the flesh and that He is the son of God. We are assured that with Jesus as our foundation, we cannot go astray. It is Jesus who opens the door into heaven. It is Jesus who atones for our sins. It is Jesus who saves us from Satan. It is Jesus who gives us the Holy Spirit. It is Jesus who was baptized in the Jordan river.

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”

Luke 3:21-22

Baptism is full immersion in water. Baptism in water speaks to conversion from heathenism to God. Conversion of the old nature with its lusts to walking in the character of Christ. It is the washing away the dirt of sin and the selfish life to the life of Christ. It is the washing of regeneration as stated in Titus chapter 3, verse 5. John the Baptist preached for people to repent and be baptized. He also exclaimed that one would come after him who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire, [see Luke 3:16]. If we have been baptized into Christ by water, we have in faith put on the character of Christ.

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Galatians 3:27

Born of water and spirit is to follow Jesus through baptism in water and in the Holy Spirit. This is the condition to which we can enter into the Kingdom of God. A person asked Jesus the question if there are few that are saved? Jesus answered and said, “strive to enter in at the narrow gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able,” [Luke 13:24]. In Matthew chapter 7, verse 13 explains that the gate is wide that leads to destruction, and many are going in that way. Many are going in a different way instead of following Jesus.

 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me.”

John 14:6

There is only one way to the Father and that is through Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul told the Corinthains that he preached Christ crucified. It is Christ crucified who became the power of God [see 1st Corinthians 1:23-24]. If we can see this truth, we will be standing on a firm foundation. The power comes from Jesus being crucified on the cross for all mankind. Being born of the water and spirit means that we have become a new creation in Christ Jesus and the old things that we have been, are now passed away. Jesus became sin who knew no sin for our sakes. The father was pleased that Christ became the final sacrifice for all mankind’s sins. This is why we have the word and the ministry of reconciliation.

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

2nd Corinthians 5:19

Pray that you enter in through Christ. Pray for the Spirit to come and fill you with living water so that you may not thirst any longer.

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

John 7:38

Do you have rivers of living water flowing in your life? Now is the time for the living waters to flow into your life. Jesus prayed to the Father to give you the Holy Spirit of comfort. Ask for the Holy Spirit of comfort to come. Pray for the love of Jesus to flow into your heart and soul. Remember that Jesus said, “the wind blows, and we may hear it and not know where it comes from, or where it goes,” [John 3:8]. This is everyone that is born of the Spirit. Remember also that the Spirit will testify of Jesus [see John 15:26]. Without Jesus we can do nothing on our own, but with Jesus we can say with Paul, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me,” [Philippians 4:13]. To follow Jesus, we first must be born of water and spirit. Be baptized in the water and in the Holy Spirit.