God is Holy.
God is Spirit.
God is Holy Spirit.
For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.”~ John 4:24.
Preacher: All right, devil. Let me ask you straight up. If you could convince the church to do one thing, what would it be?
Devil: Oh, please. I already have. I've convinced pastors, preachers, church leaders, entire denominations to stop teaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Preacher: Why would you do something like that?
Devil: Because it is the most dangerous event in church history after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Of course, without it, they're powerless to witness, powerless to resist me, and yet I've got them arguing about it, fighting each other, or worse, ignoring it entirely.
Preacher: Now that you mention it, the baptism of the Holy Spirit was the launching pad of the early church and gave them the ability to do what they did, to see signs, wonders, to walk in unity, and the church grew by leaps and bounds from that moment forward. Without that event, the church might not even be in existence today. Do you really think that the church has forgotten about the significance of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Pentecost?
Devil: Oh, they remember Pentecost. They just do not live it. I've turned the baptism of the Holy Spirit into a doctrinal landmine. Some say it is not for today. Others are too afraid of emotionalism. And plenty just do not want to lose control of their precious church services.
Preacher: So then you don't really care if church members gather just as long as they don't experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Devil: Exactly. Without the Spirit, they're loud but ineffective. They preach sermons, run programs, build buildings, but they can't break chains, heal the sick, cast out demons, or boldly proclaim truth in a hostile world.
Preacher: So, let me ask you a question. I was at a church growth seminar where pastors would come and learn how to grow their churches. And one of the keynote speakers suggested that we were to leave the Holy Spirit in the basement. And he went on to elaborate and said what he means by that is don't teach on the baptism of the Holy Spirit or the gifts of the spirit or speaking in tongues on Sunday mornings, but leave that for Wednesday night small groups. Because he knew that the masses that were coming in weren't attending small groups and was concerned that the teaching of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and operating in the gifts of the spirit would scare half the congregation away. And to be honest, I thought that was crazy because we were at a church growth seminar and the very thing that caused the church to explode was the baptism of the Holy Spirit. So, did he think of that himself or did you suggest that to him?
Devil: I'm going to plead the fifth on that one.
Preacher: That's exactly what I thought you'd say.
And so basically what you're telling me is that instead of shying away from teaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit instead of not mentioning the gifts of the spirit instead of sweeping that under the rug, we should bring attention to it, teach on it, and allow God to be God and baptize his people with the Holy Spirit so they can be empowered to overcome sin, to cast out devils, to heal the sick, and walk in freedom and victory. I mean, think about it. Jesus told his disciples to feed my sheep, to raise up other disciples, to preach his word throughout the entire world. (See Acts 1: 4-5) But he gave the caveat before you do any of that, go back to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father, which indeed was the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I mean, if that was important to Jesus, then it surely is just as important to Jesus today. Am I right?
Devil: This conversation is over.
Preacher to you: What do you think about that? You think the baptism of the Holy Spirit is still important today? Do you think that if Jesus made his disciples wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit? That we today should also be waiting for the baptism of the Holy Spirit or seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit in our own lives. Everything they did, the signs, the wonders, the healings, the miracles, the unity, even the generosity where they sold their possessions and gave it to anyone who had need. Those are all concepts that are taught today.
But they can only be lived out through the power that comes from the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And just to be clear, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the infilling of the Holy Spirt are two separate events. As soon as we become born again, the Spirit of God comes and lives on the inside of us, and we immediately become sons or daughters of Christ. And what's interesting about the disciples, they actually had what I believe was a born-again experience.
When Jesus appeared to them in a room in which they were hiding after he was raised from the dead, he looked at them and breathed on every one of them. Then he breathed on them. Receive the Holy Spirit.
Because Jesus was now in his spiritual body, I believe he was breathing His Spirit into them the same way that he breathes into us when we surrender our lives and put our faith in Him.
There is evidence in the book of Acts of people who had not yet been baptized of the Holy Spirit, but they were definitely saved. But when it comes to being endued with power to be his witnesses to overcome evil, temptation, etc., we need the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Not everybody believes that and many people teach against that.
But Peter said, "This promise is for you and all those who are a far off." And let me tell you, we are a far off. The promise is still available for us today.
If you have never received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and have already surrendered your life to Christ, you're already born again. Then ask God to baptize you in His Spirit so you can walk in victory and follow Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Hey, thanks for tuning in.
Be blessed.
Be encouraged.
Biblical study to show yourself approved unto God , here .