Welcome to Faith
Chapel. I'm Dennis Smith,
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Pastor of the New
Haven, Connecticut,
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Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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Today, we're
going to discuss what I
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think is one of
the most important
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subjects in the
Bible, the Baptism
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of the Holy
Spirit. We will learn what
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the Baptism of
the Holy Spirit is,
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and how we receive the Baptism
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of the Holy
Spirit? An experience
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that we must understand and
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have in order to meet Jesus.
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So, let us begin with prayer.
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Our gracious
Father, I thank you that
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you've given us
the gift of your Son
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and the gift of your Spirit.
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I pray that today
you'll open our hearts
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and minds to better
understand your word,
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and we will see very
clearly the wonderful
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gift of the spirit
that you've given to us,
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what that gift is
and how we're to receive
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the baptism of your
Spirit in our life in
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Jesus name I pray, amen.
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I have good news for you today
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Jesus is coming soon.
Now, I know Christians
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have been saying
that for a long time.
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In fact, I became
the Seventh-day Adventist
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Christian back in
1966 and I thought
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things are coming
down to the wire back then,
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but a few years
have passed since then,
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but today I'm more
convicted then ever
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that Jesus is coming soon.
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Why do I believe
that? It's not because
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of 9/11s or other
terror attacks is not
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because of natural
disaster such as earthquakes,
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tsunamis, hurricanes,
though all those things
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are signs of Christ's
second coming and that
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it is near, but
that's not the primary reason
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that I believe in
my heart the second
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coming of Jesus is very soon.
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Now, I invite you
to turn with me to
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Revelation chapter 7,
beginning with verse 1
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through 3. "And
after these things
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I saw four angels
standing on the four
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corners of the earth,
holding the four winds
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of the earth, that
the wind should not
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blow on the
earth, nor on the sea,
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nor on any tree.
And I saw the angel
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ascending from the
east, having the seal
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of the living God,
and he cried with a loud
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voice to the four
angels, to whom it
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was given to hurt
the earth and the sea,
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Saying, Hurt not the
earth, neither the sea,
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nor the trees, till we
have sealed the servants
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of our God in their foreheads."
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We see from the
scripture that God
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is not waiting
for more earthquakes,
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for more wars, for
more terror attacks,
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that is not what
God is waiting for?
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In fact, this text
tells us that God is
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holding those
things back. Those things
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are gonna come
and they're gonna come
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in more intensity as
we approach the final
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crisis in the earth's
history, but God knows
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that His people
are not ready for that
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final crisis. And
for that very reason
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He's holding back the winds,
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He's holding
back the final crisis,
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He's holding them
back for something
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to happen and His people.
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And that verse we
just read tells us
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He is holding
back the final crisis,
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He is telling
the angels do not let
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those winds go until
God's people are sealed.
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What's the
sealing? That must be rather
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important. Well,
if you turn with me to
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Ephesians chapter 4
verse 30, we'll find
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out what the sealing
is? "And grieve not the
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Holy Spirit of God,
whereby we are sealed
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until the day of redemption."
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You see the
scripture tells us that we
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experience the sealing
through the Holy Spirit.
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And when you read
through the scriptures
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you'll find you
receive the fulness of the
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spirit by
experiencing the baptism of the
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Holy Spirit. So, in
a way you and I will
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be sealed and
prepared for the final crisis
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and Christ second
coming is to personally
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understand and
experience the baptism
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of the Holy Spirit.
That is why I'm convicted
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beyond any
question that the coming of
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Jesus is soon.
Because I'm seeing God taking
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the message to
receive the baptism of the
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Holy Spirit which
is the sealing message
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to His people around the world.
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When I say around the world,
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I mean
literally around the world
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in a very short
time. He is calling
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His people to be
filled with the Holy Spirit;
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He is giving us
an understanding of
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what the baptism
of the Holy Spirit is,
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and calling us to
be filled with His
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Holy Spirit. So,
that we can be sealed
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and become just like Jesus.
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So, let's look more
closely today at just
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what is the
baptism of the Holy Spirit?
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Well, when we read in
John chapter 14 verse 16,
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Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit.
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He said, "And I
will pray the Father,
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and he shall give
you another comforter,
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that he may abide
with you forever;"
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In this scripture Jesus
promised the Holy Spirit.
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And He promised
that we would have the
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Holy Spirit forever.
And when you read on in
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verse 18 of the
same chapter we find.
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Jesus said, "I will
not leave you comfortless:
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I will come to you."
In this scripture we see
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that Jesus equates
the Holy Spirit coming
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to us with Jesus coming to us.
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So, you see it is
through the baptism of the
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Holy Spirit that
Jesus comes and lives in us
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fully that's what
the baptism of the
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Holy Spirit is all
about. And we're told that
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again in the
little letter by John in
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First John chapter 3 verse 24.
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"He that keeps his commandments
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dwells in him, and he in him.
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And hereby we know
that he abides in us,
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by the Spirit
which he hath given us."
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The scripture tell
us very clearly that
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Jesus abides in us
through the Holy Spirit
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that He has given
to us, that's what the
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baptism of the Holy
Spirit is all about is
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Jesus living in
you and me fully.
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And when that happens we become
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like Jesus and
that's what God is calling
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His people to experience today,
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He is calling us out
of the Laodicea condition
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and to become just
like His Son Jesus.
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There are several words in the
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New Testament that
that are equivalent
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concerning the Holy Spirit,
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the baptism of the
Holy Spirit, the in
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filling the Holy
Spirit, the anointing of the
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Holy Spirit, the early rain.
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You see the
baptism of the Holy Spirit
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is the early rain
of the Holy Spirit,
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which began on
the day of Pentecost.
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Now, the Bible
also describes another
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outpouring of the
Holy Spirit called
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The Latter Rain.
And what we discovered
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from the Bible using
the analogy of agriculture
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is that in the
Middle East, the seed was
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planted and the
early rain came and
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when the early
rain came the crop began
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growing to a
certain level of maturity.
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And that was important because
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later on the
latter rain would come and
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when that rain
would come, the crops
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would grow to
full maturity ready for
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the harvest.
Using that analogy the
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baptism of the Holy
Spirit, which is the
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early rain began to
fall on the day of Pentecost.
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That experience
in the Holy Spirit is
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necessary for you
and me to understand
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experience. We must
experience the early
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rain baptism of
the Holy Spirit we must
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grow under that
experience of the
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Holy Spirit to a
great level of maturity,
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so that when the
latter rain comes
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we will benefit
from that last outpouring
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of Holy Spirit
power on this earth and
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in our life. The
tragedy is that Satan wants
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to keep us from
experiencing the early
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rain baptism of
the Spirit, he wants to
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confuse us on
that, he wants to make us
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afraid of that, but
if we do not experience
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the early rain
baptism of the spirit,
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when the latter
rain comes it could be
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falling all around
us and it won't do us
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any good. In
fact, we won't even know
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that the Holy Spirit
is falling on the earth
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at that time and in
fullness. I'd like to
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look at it this way I,
I see water baptism is,
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is sort of like the,
the marriage ceremony
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when two individual's
commit their lives to
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one another,
and in water baptism
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we make our
commitment, we're gonna
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serve the Lord. And
then I look at spirit
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baptism is, as
more or less like the
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consummation of the marriage,
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where a man and wife get to know
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one another
intimately and that's what the
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baptism of the Holy
Spirit is, we get to
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know our Lord intimately.
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First the
commitment and then the
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consummation of the relationship
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and we get to know God.
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And by the way
that word knows very
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significant
because Jesus tells us the
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only ones that are
saved in the end when
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He comes are those
that know Him intimately
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and He knows them.
I thought I understood
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the baptism of the
Holy Spirit, I mean
00:09:22.13\00:09:24.79
as I said, I was
baptized in 1966,
00:09:24.80\00:09:27.97
became a Seventh-day
Adventist Christian I,
00:09:27.98\00:09:30.84
I've been active as a pastor and
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a layman for a many, many years
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I began pastoring in 1970.
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And I thought I understood the
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working of the Holy Spirit,
00:09:40.44\00:09:41.41
the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
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And then in the
fall of 1999, the Lord
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challenged me to
look more closely at it.
00:09:46.50\00:09:48.46
And I will just, I
will say, it was a bit of a
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struggle for me
at first 'cause I had
00:09:50.63\00:09:52.04
a lot of things
about the baptism of the
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Holy Spirit. You
know, if you, if you
00:09:53.36\00:09:55.21
seek the baptism of
the Spirit this might
00:09:55.22\00:09:56.70
happen or that
might happen and of course
00:09:56.71\00:09:58.05
think and I
already understood it,
00:09:58.06\00:09:59.50
I sort of had tunnel
vision and I had some
00:09:59.51\00:10:02.33
pre-supposed ideas about it.
00:10:02.34\00:10:04.33
And so, whenever I
read scriptures that
00:10:04.34\00:10:05.79
referred to it, I
just kind of read over them
00:10:05.80\00:10:07.91
I think I understood
it, but the Lord challenged
00:10:07.92\00:10:10.63
me to look more closely at it.
00:10:10.64\00:10:13.31
And I praise God that He did.
00:10:13.32\00:10:15.07
My life and my
ministry has never
00:10:15.08\00:10:17.89
been the same. As
I began studying into
00:10:17.90\00:10:20.46
what the baptism of
the Holy Spirit it is,
00:10:20.47\00:10:22.19
I began realizing
that there are actually
00:10:22.20\00:10:24.84
two works of the Holy Spirit.
00:10:24.85\00:10:26.40
The first work of
the Holy Spirit is send
00:10:26.41\00:10:29.59
out to all the world
to bring conviction to men
00:10:29.60\00:10:32.01
and women to accept
Jesus as their savior.
00:10:32.02\00:10:34.60
That work of the Holy
Spirit is available to all.
00:10:34.61\00:10:37.82
There's a second
work of the Holy Spirit,
00:10:37.83\00:10:40.78
which is called the
baptism of the Holy Spirit,
00:10:40.79\00:10:42.93
that work of the
Holy Spirit is for the
00:10:42.94\00:10:45.33
believer only. Once
we accept Jesus through
00:10:45.34\00:10:49.89
the convicting part
of the Holy Spirit then
00:10:49.90\00:10:52.49
our Lord says; now I
want to come into you
00:10:52.50\00:10:54.79
and I want to fill
you and I want to make
00:10:54.80\00:10:56.18
you like myself. I
want to make you like me
00:10:56.19\00:10:59.56
in character and
in conduct, I want to
00:10:59.57\00:11:01.35
minister through you
and that is the baptism
00:11:01.36\00:11:04.07
of the Holy Spirit,
the second work of the
00:11:04.08\00:11:05.96
Holy Spirit. We see
these two works of the
00:11:05.97\00:11:09.19
Holy Spirit in
the life of Jesus.
00:11:09.20\00:11:11.28
When we look we
find that Jesus was born
00:11:11.29\00:11:15.03
of the spirit and
by the way Jesus is our
00:11:15.04\00:11:16.62
example and everything.
00:11:16.63\00:11:17.60
And so Jesus
experience is to be similar
00:11:17.61\00:11:22.73
to our experience
we're actually parallel
00:11:22.74\00:11:24.54
to the experience of Jesus.
00:11:24.55\00:11:25.88
And so, when we
look at the experience
00:11:25.89\00:11:27.91
of Jesus, Jesus was
born of the Holy Spirit.
00:11:27.92\00:11:30.12
And so, we too that
are believers in Christ
00:11:30.13\00:11:31.93
are born of the Holy Spirit.
00:11:31.94\00:11:33.66
Jesus was led by the
Holy Spirit as a child
00:11:33.67\00:11:36.86
and the young
manhood to experience
00:11:36.87\00:11:38.97
water baptism. When
we are born of the Spirit
00:11:38.98\00:11:41.70
we're led by the Holy
Spirit to the point to
00:11:41.71\00:11:44.35
experience water
baptism. And then we
00:11:44.36\00:11:47.26
read about Jesus
water baptism experience
00:11:47.27\00:11:49.88
in Luke chapter
3 verse 21 and 22.
00:11:49.89\00:11:52.65
"Now when all the
people are baptized,
00:11:54.34\00:11:56.95
it came to pass that
Jesus also being baptized
00:11:56.96\00:12:00.55
and praying, the
heavens were opened,
00:12:00.56\00:12:05.51
And the Holy Ghost
descended in a bodily
00:12:05.52\00:12:07.65
shape like a dove
upon him, and a voice
00:12:07.66\00:12:12.06
came from heaven, which said,
00:12:12.07\00:12:14.04
Thou are my beloved
Son; in thee I'm well
00:12:14.05\00:12:17.29
pleased." In
this scripture we find
00:12:17.30\00:12:20.56
a very clear description
of the baptism of Jesus
00:12:20.57\00:12:24.48
and I find something
very, very significant
00:12:24.49\00:12:26.41
in this scripture
concerning the, the
00:12:26.42\00:12:28.31
baptism of the
Holy Spirit in His life.
00:12:28.32\00:12:29.81
We find that it
describes Jesus was
00:12:29.82\00:12:31.47
baptized in water
and while He has being
00:12:31.48\00:12:33.36
baptized we're
told He was praying.
00:12:33.37\00:12:35.57
Well, what was He praying for?
00:12:35.58\00:12:37.38
Well, as we read
the scripture tells us.
00:12:37.39\00:12:39.88
As an answer to
His prayer He received
00:12:39.89\00:12:42.72
the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
00:12:42.73\00:12:44.88
Significant point,
we find that Jesus did
00:12:44.89\00:12:48.04
not automatically
received the baptism
00:12:48.05\00:12:49.81
of the Holy
Spirit as water baptism,
00:12:49.82\00:12:51.08
that's what I
thought. I thought Christians
00:12:51.09\00:12:53.45
automatically
received the baptism of the
00:12:53.46\00:12:55.00
Holy Spirit at
the water baptism,
00:12:55.01\00:12:56.96
but we find it
can happen at the same
00:12:56.97\00:12:58.89
time as water
baptism, but what happened
00:12:58.90\00:13:01.00
and, as the result
of Jesus praying and
00:13:01.01\00:13:03.83
claiming the
promise that He would be
00:13:03.84\00:13:05.55
baptized with the Holy Spirit.
00:13:05.56\00:13:07.14
And from that
point in this ministry
00:13:07.15\00:13:09.51
we read of Jesus being
filled with the spirit.
00:13:09.52\00:13:11.88
In fact, in Luke
chapter 4 and verse 1,
00:13:11.89\00:13:14.65
we've read that very thing.
00:13:14.66\00:13:16.04
"And Jesus being
full of the Holy Ghost
00:13:16.05\00:13:19.32
returned from
Jordan, and was led by the
00:13:19.33\00:13:22.13
Spirit into the wilderness."
00:13:22.14\00:13:23.40
In this scripture
we read that as soon as
00:13:25.04\00:13:27.85
Jesus received the
baptism of the Holy Spirit,
00:13:27.86\00:13:30.06
He is described as
being filled with the
00:13:30.07\00:13:31.57
Holy Spirit and at
that point in His life
00:13:31.58\00:13:34.01
and ministry now
He was led into the
00:13:34.02\00:13:36.69
wilderness and it
says to be tempted.
00:13:36.70\00:13:38.62
Jesus faced the
greatest temptations
00:13:38.63\00:13:41.19
of His life after
He had experienced the
00:13:41.20\00:13:43.30
baptism of the Holy
Spirit that is significant
00:13:43.31\00:13:46.01
because Jesus was not
ready for the greatest
00:13:46.02\00:13:48.42
temptations of
Satan until he was filled
00:13:48.43\00:13:50.61
with the Holy
Spirit. Same for you and me,
00:13:50.62\00:13:53.57
you and I are not
ready for the greatest
00:13:53.58\00:13:55.69
temptations in our
life until we too are
00:13:55.70\00:13:57.85
filled with the Holy Spirit.
00:13:57.86\00:13:59.44
That is why there
is no way we're gonna
00:13:59.45\00:14:01.14
make it through the
final Christ of this
00:14:01.15\00:14:02.62
earth's history,
when Satan is coming on
00:14:02.63\00:14:04.74
with all his power
and his deception to
00:14:04.75\00:14:06.76
take God's people
down unless we too
00:14:06.77\00:14:08.84
are filled with the Holy Spirit.
00:14:08.85\00:14:10.92
Because the
filling of the Holy Spirit
00:14:10.93\00:14:13.01
it gives the
power to be victorious
00:14:13.02\00:14:15.79
just like Jesus
was empower, remember
00:14:15.80\00:14:17.71
Jesus was not this
super human walking around,
00:14:17.72\00:14:20.54
He was living like you and me,
00:14:20.55\00:14:22.42
He was divine and He
could used His divine
00:14:22.43\00:14:24.99
power deliver Himself,
but if He is gonna live
00:14:25.00\00:14:27.28
like you and me
He couldn't do that.
00:14:27.29\00:14:28.75
And so, He had to
be victorious just like
00:14:28.76\00:14:31.35
we are to be
victorious. And the baptism of
00:14:31.36\00:14:33.77
the Holy Spirit in
Jesus life was essential for
00:14:33.78\00:14:36.83
Him to be victorious
and it's the same for us.
00:14:36.84\00:14:39.77
So, the baptism of
the Holy Spirit again is
00:14:39.78\00:14:43.38
so necessary for us
to become like Jesus,
00:14:43.39\00:14:45.64
be victorious over temptation.
00:14:45.65\00:14:47.75
And then we go on
in the scripture and
00:14:47.76\00:14:49.49
read in verse 14, it
continues to describe
00:14:49.50\00:14:53.14
Jesus. "And
Jesus returned in the
00:14:53.15\00:14:55.45
power of the
Spirit unto Galilee:
00:14:55.46\00:14:57.43
and there went out
fame of him through
00:14:57.44\00:15:00.10
all the region round about."
00:15:00.11\00:15:02.19
This scripture
tells us then after Jesus
00:15:02.20\00:15:05.40
came out of the
wilderness experience,
00:15:05.41\00:15:06.88
He had been filled with spirit.
00:15:06.89\00:15:08.13
Now, it says He returned in the
00:15:08.14\00:15:09.50
power of the
spirit. He began ministering
00:15:09.51\00:15:11.71
in the power of
the Holy Spirit because
00:15:11.72\00:15:14.04
He was filled
with the Holy Spirit.
00:15:14.05\00:15:16.31
He had experienced the
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
00:15:16.32\00:15:19.23
And by the way
this is not a once
00:15:19.24\00:15:21.94
and for all
experience. The baptism of the
00:15:21.95\00:15:24.53
Holy Spirit is an
experience we must
00:15:24.54\00:15:25.71
have everyday in our life.
00:15:25.72\00:15:27.72
In fact, Ellen White describes
00:15:27.73\00:15:29.99
Jesus experience in
Christ Object Lessons,
00:15:30.00\00:15:34.19
page 139. "Daily
He received a fresh
00:15:34.20\00:15:38.16
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
00:15:38.17\00:15:39.60
In the early
hours of the new day the
00:15:39.61\00:15:43.08
Lord awakened
Him from His slumber,
00:15:43.09\00:15:45.49
and His soul and
His lips were anointed
00:15:45.50\00:15:49.58
with grace, that He
might impart to others."
00:15:49.59\00:15:52.31
In this
statement by Ellen White we
00:15:54.60\00:15:56.14
read very clearly
Jesus daily sought
00:15:56.15\00:15:59.14
the baptism of the Holy Spirit,
00:15:59.15\00:16:00.77
if Jesus needed
that you and I need that
00:16:00.78\00:16:03.87
and the New
Testament confirms that
00:16:03.88\00:16:05.74
because we read in
Ephesians 5 verse 18,
00:16:05.75\00:16:08.16
what Paul says
about that. He says,
00:16:08.17\00:16:10.52
"And be not drunk
with wine, wherein
00:16:10.53\00:16:12.32
is excess; but be
filled with the Holy Spirit."
00:16:12.33\00:16:14.93
Again when you
look at the, the Greek
00:16:14.94\00:16:18.95
verb form for be filled
it's a continuous action
00:16:18.96\00:16:23.43
verb. What Paul is
saying here is keep
00:16:23.44\00:16:26.38
on being filled
with the Holy Spirit.
00:16:26.39\00:16:29.47
We find Ellen
White conforming that for
00:16:32.06\00:16:34.00
our experience as
well, when we read
00:16:34.01\00:16:35.90
in volumes 6 of the
testimonies page 86.
00:16:35.91\00:16:38.23
"Impress upon all
the necessity of the
00:16:38.24\00:16:42.12
baptism of the Holy
Spirit, the sanctification
00:16:42.13\00:16:44.35
of the church, so
there will be living,
00:16:44.36\00:16:46.43
growing, fruit-bearing
00:16:46.44\00:16:47.43
trees of the Lord's planting."
00:16:47.44\00:16:49.41
Statements like that
help to clarify in me,
00:16:51.05\00:16:54.03
if I automatically
had the baptism of the
00:16:54.04\00:16:56.81
Holy Spirit at water baptism.
00:16:56.82\00:16:58.82
Why would I be
told that I need to be
00:16:58.83\00:17:02.04
impressed to
receive it? And that the
00:17:02.05\00:17:05.01
counsel to me is
impress others to
00:17:05.02\00:17:06.63
receive the
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
00:17:06.64\00:17:08.14
No question about it
we need to understand
00:17:08.15\00:17:10.91
and personally
seek the baptism of the
00:17:10.92\00:17:12.80
Holy Spirit in order
to be filled with the
00:17:12.81\00:17:15.64
Holy Spirit. How
do we receive it?
00:17:15.65\00:17:18.76
One Acts chapter
1 verse 14 we read
00:17:18.77\00:17:21.67
how they early
church received the baptism
00:17:21.68\00:17:23.27
of the Holy
Spirit. "These all continue
00:17:23.28\00:17:25.30
with one accord in
prayer and supplication,
00:17:25.31\00:17:27.92
with the women, and
Mary the mother of Jesus,
00:17:27.93\00:17:30.89
and with his brethren."
00:17:30.90\00:17:32.47
What we find here
is that Jesus said,
00:17:34.40\00:17:36.73
wait till you receive
the in filling of the spirit.
00:17:36.74\00:17:40.08
And they did and
they knew waiting meant,
00:17:40.09\00:17:42.19
wait in prayer. So,
here we find those in
00:17:42.20\00:17:45.23
the day of
Pentecost received the baptism
00:17:45.24\00:17:47.65
of the Holy Spirit
by claiming the promise
00:17:47.66\00:17:50.08
of the baptism of
the Holy Spirit in prayer
00:17:50.09\00:17:52.06
and on the day of
Pentecost that promise
00:17:52.07\00:17:54.21
was fulfilled. I
wasn't at Pentecost,
00:17:54.22\00:17:56.99
you weren't either.
How do we receive the
00:17:57.00\00:17:59.50
baptism of the Holy
Spirit after Pentecost?
00:17:59.51\00:18:01.47
Well, if we look in
Acts chapter 8 and verse 12.
00:18:01.48\00:18:04.57
We read about a
group of individuals called
00:18:04.58\00:18:06.65
Samaritans. "But
when they believed Philip
00:18:06.66\00:18:09.68
concerning the
things, concerning the
00:18:09.69\00:18:11.34
kingdom of God and
the name of Jesus Christ,
00:18:11.35\00:18:14.03
they were baptized,
both men and women."
00:18:14.04\00:18:16.07
What we find here
is that here was the
00:18:17.87\00:18:20.15
Holy Spirit speaking
through Philip bringing
00:18:20.16\00:18:23.32
conviction to
Samaritan men and women.
00:18:23.33\00:18:25.68
In fact they
accepted Jesus unto the part
00:18:25.69\00:18:28.30
of the Holy Spirit
and they were baptized
00:18:28.31\00:18:30.26
in water, but it's
significant when we
00:18:30.27\00:18:33.13
read the few verses that follow,
00:18:33.14\00:18:35.13
when we read here in
verses 14 through 17.
00:18:35.14\00:18:38.44
"Now when the
apostles which were
00:18:38.45\00:18:41.50
at Jerusalem heard
that Samaria had received
00:18:41.51\00:18:43.99
the word of God,
they sent unto them Peter
00:18:44.00\00:18:46.35
and John: Who,
when they were come down
00:18:46.36\00:18:48.99
and prayed for them,
that they might receive
00:18:49.00\00:18:52.28
the Holy Ghost: For
as yet it was fallen upon
00:18:52.29\00:18:55.23
none of them,
only they were baptized
00:18:55.24\00:18:58.02
in the name of the Lord Jesus.
00:18:58.03\00:18:59.55
Then laid they
their hands on them,
00:18:59.56\00:19:02.57
and they
received the Holy Ghost."
00:19:02.58\00:19:04.76
When I was
looking at this subject a
00:19:05.97\00:19:08.58
number of years
ago now that was one
00:19:08.59\00:19:10.77
of the verses
that really posed a
00:19:10.78\00:19:12.22
challenge to me
because I was thinking
00:19:12.23\00:19:14.39
I automatically
received the baptism of the
00:19:14.40\00:19:15.86
Holy Spirit in water baptism.
00:19:15.87\00:19:17.31
Well, here were
Samaritan believers
00:19:17.32\00:19:18.84
who experienced water baptism,
00:19:18.85\00:19:20.28
they accepted
Jesus, but they hadn't
00:19:20.29\00:19:22.32
been baptized
in the Holy Spirit.
00:19:22.33\00:19:23.84
And Peter and
John came and it says,
00:19:23.85\00:19:25.98
laid hands on them
and prayed for them
00:19:25.99\00:19:27.80
and they received the
Holy Ghost in fullness.
00:19:27.81\00:19:30.32
So, we see again
it seems to be very
00:19:32.75\00:19:34.91
clear that an
individual does not
00:19:34.92\00:19:38.56
necessarily
receive the baptism of the
00:19:38.57\00:19:40.02
Holy Spirit at water baptism.
00:19:40.03\00:19:41.66
Now, of all
individuals you would think
00:19:41.67\00:19:44.46
would have been baptized in the
00:19:44.47\00:19:45.44
Holy Spirit at this
conversion was Saul,
00:19:45.45\00:19:47.59
who later became
the Apostle Paul.
00:19:47.60\00:19:49.39
Saul was the
great persecutor of the
00:19:49.40\00:19:51.91
church. He was on
his way to Damascus
00:19:51.92\00:19:54.60
on the road to Damascus and, and
00:19:54.61\00:19:56.39
he had a vision
and he heard the voice
00:19:56.40\00:19:58.01
of Jesus. There is
a bright light knocked
00:19:58.02\00:19:59.46
off his horse, what
a powerful conversion?
00:19:59.47\00:20:01.66
A man who is the
enemy of Jesus Christ
00:20:01.67\00:20:04.07
persecuting the church
became the great apostle.
00:20:04.08\00:20:06.82
And you would
certainly think such
00:20:06.83\00:20:08.89
a man with such a
powerful conversion
00:20:08.90\00:20:10.89
even hearing the voice of Jesus,
00:20:10.90\00:20:12.27
seeing a vision,
you would think that man
00:20:12.28\00:20:14.16
would have been
filled with the Holy Spirit
00:20:14.17\00:20:15.38
at his conversion,
but we find out that
00:20:15.39\00:20:18.27
wasn't the case.
For when we read over
00:20:18.28\00:20:20.59
here again in Acts
this time chapter 9
00:20:20.60\00:20:23.12
verse 17 and 18.
"And Ananias went his way,
00:20:23.13\00:20:27.87
and entered into the house;
00:20:27.88\00:20:29.42
and putting his
hands on him said,
00:20:29.43\00:20:31.33
Brother Saul, the
Lord, even Jesus that
00:20:31.34\00:20:33.94
appeared to you in
the way as you came,
00:20:33.95\00:20:36.39
has sent me, that you
might receive your sight,
00:20:36.40\00:20:40.39
and be filled
with the Holy Ghost.
00:20:40.40\00:20:43.35
And immediately
there fell from his eyes
00:20:43.36\00:20:46.49
as it had been
scales. And he received his
00:20:46.50\00:20:49.99
sight and forthwith,
and arose and was baptized."
00:20:50.00\00:20:54.37
After Saul was
converted God sent
00:20:55.61\00:20:57.99
Ananias to Saul.
Now, I'm sure that was a
00:20:58.00\00:21:00.23
strange request
for Ananias, I mean
00:21:00.24\00:21:03.59
he knew who Saul
was? I tell you this,
00:21:03.60\00:21:05.54
sometimes when you're
filled with the Holy Spirit
00:21:05.55\00:21:07.61
and you in the
Holy Spirit's direction,
00:21:07.62\00:21:09.27
sometimes you'll
get direction from the
00:21:09.28\00:21:10.64
Lord that doesn't
make a lot of sense
00:21:10.65\00:21:11.84
at the time, but if
you know it from the
00:21:11.85\00:21:13.85
Lord is best to
move forward with it.
00:21:13.86\00:21:15.38
And Ananias went
to Saul and we notice
00:21:15.39\00:21:17.81
in that scripture
that God sent Ananias
00:21:17.82\00:21:20.55
to Saul for two
reasons. So, that as
00:21:20.56\00:21:24.82
Ananias would
pray for Saul by laying
00:21:24.83\00:21:26.42
his hands on him,
Saul would received
00:21:26.43\00:21:28.57
his sight also be
filled with the Holy Spirit.
00:21:28.58\00:21:32.45
So, there was
another clear case of an
00:21:32.46\00:21:35.06
individual who
accepted Jesus Christ
00:21:35.07\00:21:37.44
was converted, but
had not received the
00:21:37.45\00:21:40.45
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
00:21:40.46\00:21:41.52
And in Saul's
case he received water
00:21:41.53\00:21:43.75
baptism after the
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
00:21:43.76\00:21:46.75
And the case of
Samaritans they were
00:21:46.76\00:21:49.54
baptized in water
first and then received
00:21:49.55\00:21:52.00
baptism of the Holy
Spirit. So, God does
00:21:52.01\00:21:54.53
not limit himself.
The number qualification
00:21:54.54\00:21:58.15
to receive the
baptism of the Holy Spirit
00:21:58.16\00:21:59.85
is to have
accepted Jesus Christ as
00:21:59.86\00:22:01.90
your savior and
have your life committed
00:22:01.91\00:22:03.85
to him say Lord I
want to serve you.
00:22:03.86\00:22:05.97
Then the Holy Spirits
in filling in yours for
00:22:05.98\00:22:10.57
the asking. And
I can tell you from
00:22:10.58\00:22:13.27
personal
experience it's a wonderful,
00:22:13.28\00:22:16.25
wonderful
experience when you seek the
00:22:16.26\00:22:18.53
Holy Spirit and God
will answer that prayer
00:22:18.54\00:22:21.70
and He'll begin
coming into your life
00:22:21.71\00:22:23.41
and start bringing changes.
00:22:23.42\00:22:24.75
Now, some individuals want to,
00:22:24.76\00:22:26.07
what about laying of hands?
00:22:26.08\00:22:27.25
You're not to be
afraid of laying of hands.
00:22:27.26\00:22:29.49
In those two
cases we saw there is
00:22:29.50\00:22:32.55
laying of hands
for the Samaritans,
00:22:32.56\00:22:33.97
there is laying
of hands for Saul.
00:22:33.98\00:22:35.82
On the day of Pentecost there
00:22:35.83\00:22:37.73
was laying of
hands. So, laying of hands
00:22:37.74\00:22:40.16
is not a requirement,
a person can simply,
00:22:40.17\00:22:43.20
quietly pray to God
and claim the promise
00:22:43.21\00:22:45.69
of the baptism of
the Holy Spirit because
00:22:45.70\00:22:47.79
we're told here in
Galatians chapter 3
00:22:47.80\00:22:49.62
verse 14, "That
the blessing of Abraham
00:22:49.63\00:22:53.89
might come on the
Gentiles through Jesus Christ,
00:22:53.90\00:22:57.60
that we might
receive the promise of the
00:22:57.61\00:22:59.28
Spirit through
faith." You see when we pray
00:22:59.29\00:23:02.76
for the baptism of
the Holy Spirit whether
00:23:02.77\00:23:04.34
it's laying of
hands or not, it's simply
00:23:04.35\00:23:07.02
claiming the
promise that God had said,
00:23:07.03\00:23:08.81
I will give you the
baptism of the Holy Spirit
00:23:08.82\00:23:11.22
if you claim my
promise in faith, that's
00:23:11.23\00:23:14.26
how they received it
on the day of Pentecost.
00:23:14.27\00:23:16.04
And that's how they
received him and with
00:23:16.05\00:23:18.17
the Samaritans
and also with Saul.
00:23:18.18\00:23:21.32
Some individuals
wonder about feeling,
00:23:21.33\00:23:24.49
when you seek the
baptism of the Holy Spirit,
00:23:24.50\00:23:25.78
are you gonna feel something?
00:23:25.79\00:23:26.96
You may feel
something you may not,
00:23:26.97\00:23:28.53
there's a lot of
confusion on that,
00:23:28.54\00:23:30.59
when I sought the baptism of the
00:23:30.60\00:23:31.86
Holy Spirit I felt
nothing, but the next
00:23:31.87\00:23:33.84
day changes started happening,
00:23:33.85\00:23:36.22
just my own personal testimony
00:23:36.23\00:23:38.79
I was television not bad stuff,
00:23:38.80\00:23:40.54
but I was watching television,
00:23:40.55\00:23:41.60
I go channel to
channel to channel
00:23:41.61\00:23:43.26
I couldn't find
anything I was interested in.
00:23:43.27\00:23:44.71
God started to doing
something inside of me.
00:23:45.73\00:23:47.74
And then God
started driving me to more
00:23:47.75\00:23:50.28
personal prayer and
He started leading me
00:23:50.29\00:23:52.30
to study His word
more. And the scriptures
00:23:52.31\00:23:54.52
on the Holy Spirit
began jumping out at me.
00:23:54.53\00:23:56.64
I began seeing
things I have never seen
00:23:56.65\00:23:58.69
before in the Holy
Spirit, and the baptism
00:23:58.70\00:24:00.88
of the Holy Spirit.
And quietly God began
00:24:00.89\00:24:06.07
moving and bring
about this change.
00:24:06.15\00:24:07.78
And even they're in
your music I, I started
00:24:07.79\00:24:09.91
enjoying I, I wasn't
listening to bad music
00:24:09.92\00:24:11.69
but, but I just wanted
to hear religious music.
00:24:11.70\00:24:14.23
Everything focusing on the Lord,
00:24:14.36\00:24:15.89
that's what I
began realizing it starts
00:24:16.19\00:24:17.96
happening when you
seek the baptism of
00:24:17.97\00:24:20.38
the Holy Spirit.
God will began moving in
00:24:20.39\00:24:22.61
your life you see
you may or may not feel
00:24:22.62\00:24:24.63
anything initially, so
do not base your claiming
00:24:24.64\00:24:28.27
of the promise, of
the baptism of Holy Spirit
00:24:28.28\00:24:29.83
on feeling, is not
a matter of feeling,
00:24:29.84\00:24:32.62
it's a matter of
faith, don't be afraid of it.
00:24:32.78\00:24:34.78
I've known individuals
that did feel something,
00:24:35.34\00:24:37.65
I've known
individuals that have not,
00:24:37.71\00:24:39.16
but He will fulfill
that promise and He will
00:24:39.40\00:24:41.75
come into your life. And
I will guarantee of this,
00:24:41.76\00:24:43.47
He will make it His
presence known to you.
00:24:43.73\00:24:46.26
And He will open
up ministry to you,
00:24:46.63\00:24:48.10
I mean I never
planned to write any books,
00:24:48.11\00:24:49.58
but He is, He is led
in, in some books on the
00:24:50.34\00:24:53.86
subject. So, it's
been such a blessing to see
00:24:53.87\00:24:56.36
God moving in the
lives of individuals in some
00:24:56.37\00:24:59.22
very powerful ways
who decided to say,
00:24:59.23\00:25:01.66
okay Lord I'm gonna
take at your word and
00:25:01.67\00:25:03.13
seek the baptism
of the Holy Spirit.
00:25:03.14\00:25:04.88
I know beyond any
question today God is
00:25:07.74\00:25:09.99
calling a people to
come out of their Laodicean
00:25:10.00\00:25:13.03
condition, to
experience baptism of the Holy
00:25:13.04\00:25:15.73
Spirit. He is
taking this message on the
00:25:15.74\00:25:17.99
baptism of the Holy
Spirit to His children
00:25:18.00\00:25:20.38
around the
world. It is a message
00:25:20.39\00:25:22.80
that is not an optional message;
00:25:22.81\00:25:24.29
it's not just
simply a nice teaching.
00:25:24.30\00:25:26.50
It, it is something
that we must understand
00:25:26.51\00:25:29.72
and experience,
if we're living when
00:25:29.73\00:25:31.12
Jesus comes
because it is only through
00:25:31.13\00:25:33.03
the baptism of
the Holy Spirit that
00:25:33.04\00:25:34.64
we'll be prepared
for the coming of Jesus.
00:25:34.65\00:25:37.06
It is only through the
baptism of the Holy Spirit,
00:25:37.07\00:25:39.22
the early rain then
later the latter rain
00:25:39.23\00:25:41.24
that we're
sealed. And as we saw at
00:25:41.25\00:25:43.69
the beginning of
this message of that is
00:25:43.70\00:25:45.60
what God is
waiting for? He is holding
00:25:45.61\00:25:47.30
back the crisis
that's gonna come up on
00:25:47.31\00:25:49.42
this earth very soon.
So, we could be sealed
00:25:49.43\00:25:53.00
and prepared for that crisis.
00:25:53.01\00:25:54.34
That is why if
we do not experience
00:25:54.35\00:25:56.17
the in filling of
the spirit in fullness.
00:25:56.18\00:25:58.40
We will not
experience the full sealing
00:25:58.41\00:26:00.91
process in our life.
And we will not be ready
00:26:00.92\00:26:03.46
for the final
crisis when it comes.
00:26:03.47\00:26:05.71
There is a
statement in the writes of
00:26:05.72\00:26:08.34
Ellen White that
clearly confirm this.
00:26:08.35\00:26:10.14
It is found in Letter
15 written in 1889 to a
00:26:10.15\00:26:13.75
Dr. Berg. "Nothing
but the baptism of the
00:26:13.76\00:26:17.39
Holy Spirit can
bring up the church to
00:26:17.40\00:26:20.16
its right position
and prepare the people
00:26:20.17\00:26:22.58
of God for the fast
approaching conflict."
00:26:22.59\00:26:25.77
This statement
cannot be made more clearly.
00:26:25.78\00:26:29.81
We're told here that nothing,
00:26:29.82\00:26:32.42
but the baptism of
the Holy Spirit will bring
00:26:32.43\00:26:34.97
us to the
position where we must be
00:26:34.98\00:26:36.53
in our relationship with God.
00:26:36.54\00:26:37.67
There is no
option, there is no second
00:26:37.68\00:26:40.04
possibility, it is
only through the baptism
00:26:40.05\00:26:42.90
of the Holy Spirit
that we can be brought
00:26:42.91\00:26:45.29
to the right
position in order to make it
00:26:45.30\00:26:47.44
through the final
crisis. That is why
00:26:47.45\00:26:50.15
God is taking this
message on the baptism
00:26:50.16\00:26:51.97
of the Holy Spirit
to His children around
00:26:51.98\00:26:53.79
the world because the
final crisis is coming.
00:26:53.80\00:26:56.31
The second
coming of Jesus is near.
00:26:56.32\00:26:58.42
You see, it is not a
matter of what we know,
00:26:58.43\00:27:01.75
but who we know.
We can know all the
00:27:01.76\00:27:04.11
doctrines, but if we
don't know Jesus Christ,
00:27:04.12\00:27:07.54
we will not be ready
for that final crisis
00:27:07.55\00:27:09.84
and the second
coming. And it is only
00:27:09.85\00:27:11.81
through
experiencing the baptism of the
00:27:11.82\00:27:13.98
Holy Spirit that we
will get to know Jesus
00:27:13.99\00:27:16.30
intimately. It is
only that relationship that
00:27:16.31\00:27:19.39
will get us through.
Are you willing to be
00:27:19.40\00:27:22.33
filled with God's
Spirit? Are you willing to take
00:27:22.34\00:27:25.44
seriously God's call
to become a man or woman
00:27:25.45\00:27:28.92
of prayer, to
become a man or woman
00:27:28.93\00:27:31.82
who is daily seeking
the in filling of the
00:27:31.83\00:27:33.23
Holy Spirit? Are you
willing to commit your
00:27:33.24\00:27:36.09
life to God 100
percent say, Lord, here I am.
00:27:36.10\00:27:38.73
Fill me with your
Spirit, I give you permission
00:27:38.74\00:27:41.44
to bring the
changes in my life that
00:27:41.45\00:27:43.34
you choose to do.
Because it's only that
00:27:43.35\00:27:46.64
kind of commitment
and resolve that will
00:27:46.65\00:27:48.86
prepare you and
me for the second
00:27:48.87\00:27:50.28
coming of Jesus.
And I pray that will
00:27:50.29\00:27:52.29
be your commitment to God today.
00:27:52.30\00:27:53.84