SPIRITUAL BAPTISM

Matthew 3: 11 (KJV) I (John the Baptist) indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he (Jesus Christ) that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

To my fellow readers, this baptism of the spirit is indeed important and is required and should be desired, in order to experience for yourself, the kingdom of God on earth and in you as it is in the heavenly realm. However, before I continue further on the free gift of the spiritual baptism, I must stress to you that first and foremost, the water baptism known as baptism unto repentance is required to all before this spiritual baptism. Due to the requirement and order that was orchestrated by God through His apostles and prophets. It is told and shown to us in the living and spirit filled Word of God, the Bible.

The phrase 'baptism in the spirit' was first used by John the Baptist (although the experience was foretold in the Old Testament) describing that Spiritual experience that Jesus alone would bring to His disciples. (Jesus' followers are His disciples, which we as believers are called to be His disciples). As written in the previous blog, 'Water Baptism', the word baptism means "to be plunged into" and to be "fully immersed". Therefore the baptism in the Spirit describes that experience where the believer is completely immersed and plunged into the power and presence of the Spirit of God. John 1:33 (KJV).

Mark 1:8 (KJV) I (John the Baptist) indeed have baptized you with water: but he (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Many have the misconception that the Spirit of God is a dove. Perhaps this thought was believed in a literal physical sense of a dove, because of what Luke 3:22 says..."And the Holy Ghost descended in a (bodily shape) LIKE a dove upon him...". It still doesn't mean a literal dove. A literal dove never rested upon Jesus when He came out of the waters of baptism. The Bible says that the Spirit of God rested upon Jesus LIKE a dove, and also like lightning upon Jesus. God's spirit that descended from the heavens (plural, not singular) was comparing it's immediate resting upon Jesus as gentle and pure as a dove and yet powerful and bright as lightening.

Dove (Matthew 3:16): Innocence, gentleness, purity, a messenger.

If it was literally a dove, then it would have to be literal lightning bolt that would hit Jesus. That's why it is so important to read the Bible, word by word and not take it thought by thought of our own. Also when John the Baptist said that Jesus, being mightier will baptize in The Holy Ghost and fire, doesn't mean a literal fire. The description of the fire in which we are to be baptized by is meant as; to separate, purify, illuminate, guide, attract, tries and tests, fully engulfs. (Luke 3:16; Acts 2:3)

Matthew 3:16-17 (KJV) And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending LIKE a dove, and lighting upon him:

The book of Acts in the New Testament holds record of some believers everywhere experiencing the Baptism of the Spirit. Acts 2:4 (KJV) And they (believers and followers of Christ) were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

A few recorder that experienced the Baptism of the Spirit:

Believers at Samaria : Acts 8:15-17

Paul : Acts 9:17-18

Cornelius and his household : Acts 10:44-47

Disciples at Ephesus : Acts 19:6

When Jesus spoke of the Baptism of the Spirit to His disciples, He placed the emphasis upon the Power they would receive within their lives and the purpose, for which they would receive POWER-" to become witnesses unto Him (Jesus Christ)".

Being spiritually baptized simply means that you are filled with the very Holy Spirit of God that Jesus was filled with. Remember God is Spirit. When baptized in water, unto repentance, now your body is new (rebirth) and is now accessible for the filling of the Holy God, to be filled with God in you! That's where the term 'spirit-filled' Christian comes from. The immediate and well known sign of a Christian who is spirit filled, filled with God's Spirit, Jesus' Holy Ghost, is usually first off the gift of speaking in tongues. Tongues are a God given unknown language. Liken to when a baby is conceived and the baby lets out a cry. It’s the same thing, in most cases. When you are born by the Spirit of God, an unction takes place, which is the release of tongues. There are some cases that people do speak in other tongues before water baptized. That is yet a mystery from God and God will do anything of His own will and desire. Read Acts 2:1-4 (KJV).(more about this heavenly God given unlearned language will be mentioned in another blog).

The real emphasis on Spiritual Baptism isn't so much the speaking of tongues, but the unleashing of the Power of God to be shown on this earth, to show forth the Kingdom of Heaven on this earth, as it is in the heavenly (spiritual) realm. Also that we can bear witness of Jesus Christ's present reign and move.

Power: (Greek-Dunamis): Mighty and miraculous power and ability.

What we can expect from the Baptism in the Holy Spirit; Boldness and Authority (Acts 4:31-33), Spiritual Gifts (I Corinthians 12:8-10), Spiritual Fruit (Galatians 5:16-22), Spiritual Rest (Isaiah 28:11-12), Praying in the Spirit (Jude 20, Romans 8:26-27, Ephesians 6:18), New Realms of Praise and Worship (John 4:23-24, Ephesians 5:18-19), Being taught by the Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13, I John 2:20-27), Spiritual Guidance (Matthew 4:1, Luke 4:1, Romans 8:14), Having Spiritual understanding of the Will of God (Colossians 1:9), Spiritual Power to put the works of the flesh to death (Romans 8:13), Quickening Power (Romans 8:11), Kingdom Life (Romans 14:17), Supernatural Joy, especially during times of affliction and persecution (Acts 13:53, I Thessalonians 1:6), and Spiritual Weapons of Warfare (II Corinthians 10:4, Ephesians 6:12, 18). (all these gifts within the gift of the Spirit will each be separate blogs.)

Acts 1:8 (KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. The Free gift of the Holy Spirit is for all who so desires it and believes. It's of God's will for all of us who are called by His name to be filled with Him, filled with His Spirit! In order to experience the fully dynamic of an intimate relationship with Him and be lead by Him! By His spirit residing within us, we can hear, feel, and see Jesus literally and spiritually! Consider the wind. Many can not see the wind, it appears to be invisible, yet you can hear it, feel, smell it, and even see objects moved by it.

Jesus had to die on the cross, resurrect, and ascend to the heavenly realm to take His rightful place on the right hand of God first, in order for all believers to receive the free gift of the Holy Ghost. John 15:26 (KJV) But when the Comforter (Holy Spirit) is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he (Holy Spirit) shall testify of me (Jesus Christ):

For example, what if I personally told you, my fellow reader, that tomorrow I will leave to Florida and once I get there my first priority right away is to personally mail back to you oranges (since oranges is your utmost favorite fruit, especially Florida oranges, let's just say). I leave and let's say 3 days after I left to my destination, Florida; you have not yet received the oranges in which I promised you. 10 days go by since I left and still no oranges show up. Until you receive the oranges that I promised your thought would naturally be, that perhaps I have not arrived to my destination in the state of Florida yet. So 15 days go by and finally you receive the package of delicious Florida oranges. Your first initial thought once you received the package is that I have arrived in Florida. Thus the fruit you are then consuming once you received it.

The same is with Jesus. The Lord promised the comforter (Holy Spirit) would be sent to us, once He made it to His next destination on His throne at the right hand of God. The amazing truth is that we no longer have to wait around until Jesus gets to His destination, He Is On The Throne! Presently moving and reigning! There is a package waiting of the free gift of His Spirit, that He wants us to be filled with. Sort of like a one way calling card between us individually and Jesus. I said before, Religion starts from the outside and tries to work its way into the heart, but relationship with Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, starts by filling up in our heart and transforming us from the inside out.

John 14:16-17 (KJV) (16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

I encourage you my fellow reader, desire after the free gift of the Holy Spirit! Be baptized unto repentance and receive what Jesus has to offer. Believe in Him! The amazing thing is that this free gift isn't just a one time deal. It does have a starting point, but Jesus will keep baptizing you with His Spirit as mush as you desire to be. We are to be made vessels for Christ that are to be continually poured into of His Spirit. Our mouth is like the pouring spout of the vessel, in which out of our mouth we can pour out the Spirit of God. Speak truthfully and prophetically into another's life, the very good promises of God, His love, and calling upon them. Do as David did and encourage yourself in the Lord, stir up the Spirit of God inside of you, and speak of His Goodness and Glory!

John 14:26 (KJV) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I (Jesus Christ) have said unto you.

Acts 19:1-6 (1)And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, (2)He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. (3)And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. (4)Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. (5)When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (6)And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

God Bless