Building on our Acts of the Apostles series, this message dives deep into the primary foundation of the early church: the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Beyond salvation, this experience is the most profound gift God offers to the body of Christ, providing the necessary power to carry out His mission on earth.
The Command to Wait: Jesus ordered His apostles to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the \"promise of the Father\".
Defining the Baptism: This \"promise\" is the infilling of the Holy Spirit, which clothes believers with power from on high.
Immersion and Overflow: Just as water baptism involves immersion, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is an immersion in and saturation with God's power. It is an infilling that begins within a believer and overflows out of their inmost being.
For Every Believer: This experience is for everyone who has accepted Christ’s forgiveness and yielded control of their life to Him.
A Primary Mission of Jesus: One of the main reasons Jesus ascended to the Father was to release the Holy Spirit to His followers.
Distinct from Salvation: Every person receives the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation ; however, the baptism is a \"second work of grace\" that builds upon that initial birth.
The Evidence of Tongues: In the book of Acts, the initial physical evidence of this baptism was speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.
Authority Over the Tongue: Based on James 3, the tongue is the one member no human can tame. God uses this supernatural sign to prove He has authority and power over a believer's life.
Empowerment for Witnessing: The primary purpose of the baptism is not just to have an experience, but to receive personal boldness and power to be an effective witness for Christ.
Increased Sensitivity: A genuine baptism results in a deeper awareness of God's heart, causing a believer to feel a greater sensitivity to the things that offend or grieve the Holy Spirit.
Active Use of Gifts: This experience \"inaugurates\" a believer into the nine manifestation gifts, allowing the Spirit to \"put you on\" to act as His hands, feet, and voice.
\"It is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God\". As we move forward, may we all operate in the overflow of the Holy Spirit, seeking a fresh impartation of His power every day.
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