What is the Baptism in the Holy Ghost?
Matthew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, Who's shoes I am unworthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
Mark 1:7-8 “…There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost!”
Luke 3:16 “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire.”
John 1:29-33 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is He of whom I said “after me cometh a man of whom I said is preferred before me: for He was before me. And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record saying, I saw the Spirit descending like a dove, and it abode upon Him. And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me “ Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is Him which Baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost was so significant that it is mentioned in all four gospels by John the Baptist!
Well someone might say. . .
. . . "Did Jesus ever mention it?"
Let's look at the book of Acts to see what Jesus said after His resurrection!
Acts 1: 4 “And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father which ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
Yes! Jesus did mention the Baptism in the Holy Ghost!
So that's all four Gospels and Jesus Himself speaks of it!
Acts 2:1-4 “And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all (120) with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as a rushing mighty wind: and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each (120) of them.
And they were all filled. . .
With the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance!”
What a thrill to know that this was the beginning of the Church that Jesus came to establish on the Earth! (Matthew 16:18) All of them received the Baptism in the Holy Ghost! All of them spoke in other tongues!
What is the Purpose?
Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth.”
Thank God He gives us the power wherewith we can be powerful witnesses to our world!
The world, for the most part, thinks of Christians as weaklings, just biding our time until The Rapture. (The coming of Jesus for His Church.)
If they only knew we are the force holding this thing together with the help of the Holy Ghost through our prayers, and our moral influence. We are the “salt of the earth, the light of the world!” You think things are falling apart now? Just wait until the Christians, and the Holy Ghost influence are taken out! Talk about darkness, and chaos! I would not want to be here!
Who is called to receive this?
Some would argue and say that this was only for the “First Church.” Well if this is true would someone tell me the dividing line between the first church, and the second church?
Jesus did not say I will build my churches! He said “Church !” Jesus was smart enough to build the kind of church He wanted! Why start out with a “powerful church” and wind up with a weakling church?
Let's search the Word of God and find out who this Baptism in the Holy Ghost belongs to!
Acts 2:38-39 “ ………..Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost! For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call!”
How many has God called?
So dear reader this would include you and everyone else that God has called! How many has God called? “ Whosoever believeth in Him shall have eternal life!” This belongs to you!!
Why don't you ask the Lord to baptize you in the Holy Ghost today? And receive Power to be a witness to Jesus death, burial, and resurrection? You will be filled with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead! (Romans 8:11) Glory to God!
If this article has helped you or if you have received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, please write me and let me know!
Send me an email right now Rick McKnight !