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HOW TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

FOR THE EARNEST SEEKER DESIRING THE FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

You have been born of the Spirit …..

John 1:12 – “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God...”

John 3: 3-8 – “3In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. 4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Now be filled with the Spirit….

Acts 19:2 – “and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor conforming to it, but by the spiritual combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God.
The outflow and the overflow of spiritual life and power in the early church was the result of the INFLOW of the Holy Spirit.

Here are some simple but essential steps to be taken by those seeking the power of the Holy Spirit that they may be more effective in their work and witness for their Maker.

FIRST – GET THE FACTS

You can’t have faith without the facts. Establish the biblical base upon which you can build your faith for, “without faith it is impossible to please God” [Hebrews 11:6]. Not by feelings but by faith in God’s order. Jesus called this promise the greatest of promises. It is “THE promise of the Father”

Luke 24:6 – “He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee.”

Jesus, knowing the opposition His followers would face, told them not to go into all the world until “they were endued with power from above.” [Acts 1:8]
The Book of Acts is normative for Christian experience and sets a pattern for the church. What the Lord provides for all. He who is eternally the same [Hebrews 13:8] fulfills His promise of the Holy Spirit to all generations.

Acts 2:38, 39 – “38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Luke 11: 9-13 – “9So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Get the facts, believe the facts and you will enjoy the results of those facts. [Study Acts 8:14-17; 10:23-48; 19:1-6]
UNDERSTAND that Jesus only is the ONE who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. [Luke 3:16]
The One who saves you is the One who baptizes you. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is simply a fresh encounter with Jesus. He is the answer.

Don’t seek an experience, establish a relationship with the Giver; rely on Him alone.

SEEK THE LORD EARNESTLY

We have stated the need to get the facts…to believe those facts and rely on the Lord Jesus Christ. Now we must seek the Lord in prayer and ASK Him to fill the vessel that has been cleansed by the precious Blood of Jesus. This is His will and plan for you. Develop a hunger and thirst for righteousness and you will be filled. The thirsting and the longing He will meet with His fullness.

Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Isaiah 44:3 – “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants.”

REMEMBER, THERE IS NOT A SINGLE SCRIPTURE TO INDICATE OR EVEN SUGGEST THAT THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT OR HIS

Expect: Jesus promised that the thirsty would experience “rivers of living water” [John 7: 37-39]. This is for you, too. Rejoice in anticipation.

Persist: Prove to your Master that you want to be an effective witness for Him. Ask, [and keep on asking], seek, [and keep on seeking], knock, [and keep on knocking], AND YOU WILL FIND. Let your faith be a growing, joyous, anticipating faith. The firm hand of faith persists until it receives. [Consider the story Jesus shares in Luke 18:1-7]. Keep strengthening your faith.

Pay the price: Put ‘things’ aside to seek the Lord. Some friends may hinder your search, so relate to those who have been so blessed. “Buy the truth and sell it not” [Proverbs 23:23]. We find Him as we seek Him with ALL our heart. [Jeremiah 29:13]

Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth. Live up to the light you have, and He will give you more light.

Begin Today
Lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets you and with patient endurance keep your gaze fixed on Jesus, the Baptizer. [Hebrews 12:1 -3]

Rev. Ernest V. George
Founder and Senior Pastor
Garden City Assembly of God


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