THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT - GOD'S ANSWER TO POWER! By Pastor Andrew D. Williams We live in a world where everyone is seeking to have power! Power to make money, power to find love, to control others, to see the future. On TV there are many advertisments where people could call and talk to a personal psychic. The claim they make was all of the things listed above and more and all you need to do is call 1 800 GET TOOK. But the one true God is more then willing to give you all the power you will ever need or desire!
GOD'S ANSWER FOR POWER
Jesus Christ told His disciples what they needed to do to receive God's power.
Acts 1:5, 8
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
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THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER
This wonderful promise was a gift from the Heavenly Father called the baptism in the Holy Spirit! This is God's answer for power in the day in which we live. Jesus said this:
Luke 11:11-13
11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If you then, being evil, 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!"
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JESUS DID ALL HIS WORKS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Most people think Jesus Christ did all the great works of healing and miracles, signs and wonders only because He was God. But the Word of God the Holy Bible says something quite different.
Acts 10:38
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
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In fact there is no record in the Bible that Jesus any powerful act before the Holy Spirit came upon Him at His baptism.
Luke 3:21-22
21 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.
22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."
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JESUS OPENLY DECLARED HIS POWER SOURCE
After Jesus returned from being tempted by the devil for 40 days and nights, He has this to say about His ministry.
Luke 4:18
18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
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Before Jesus died on the cross for our sins He prayed a prayer to His Father that we would have the Holy Spirit in our lives.
John 14:16-17
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--
17 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.
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DON'T BUY THE LIE!
There are some that teach that all the wonderful power and gifts of the Holy Spirit have passed away, and how they are not for us. Jesus Christ told the Pharisees that because of what they taught people were held back from the power in God's Word.
Mark 7:7-8, 13
7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' 8 "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."
13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."
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THE BIBLE ALSO SAYS:
Hebrews 13:8
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Malachi 3:6
6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change; . . . .
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If God's Word says this, why then do so many people not believe it to follow after people that don't know what their talking about? It's just not logical to reject this power Jesus died to make sure we could have, if we desired it.
Mark 16:15-17
15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
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Would you like this power now? You can have the Holy Spirit come upon you the same as He did in the Book of Acts, with power, signs and wonders! All you need to do is ask Jesus for this great gift. After He gives you this blessed experience then you simply open your mouth and speak the language the Holy Spirit gives you.
PRAY LIKE THIS
Dear Jesus, I know the Father sent you to die for my sins, and I receive you as my Savior and Lord. I am asking you now to baptize me in the Holy Spirit according to you Word in Matthew 3:11. I receive this wonderful gift now. Thank You for blessing me, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Now you must by faith in God and His Word open your mouth and speak the words the Holy Spirit gives you. Don't speak your normal language let the Holy Spirit put His words in your mouth and you must do the speaking as He gives you the utterance!
Acts 2:4
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
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This is a wonderful prayer language whereby you pray the will of the LORD because the LORD is giving you the words to speak!
1 Corinthians 14:14-16
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
Romans 8:26-27
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
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Remember this is a free gift from God. God is willing to give this gift to all His children that desire to have it. This is for every child of God no matter what their denomination is, its for all of them! His Spirit empowers our lives. Ask Him today and be blessed forever!
(c) 2002 Good Shepherd Fellowship Church, Inc.
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