A Shaking and an Awakening (Part 8)

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts

3.5.2023

Review

This is lesson 8 in a series on dealing with life during this transition time just prior to the coming of Jesus.

January 1 – The world seems to be in preparation for Jesus’ return!

God is seeking to prepare us for the days ahead.

“End times is not happening to me – I am happening to the end times!” – Mario Marillo – Vessels of Fire and Glory.

January 8 – His covenant with us will provide for us and give us direction as we navigate the waters of change.

January 15 and 22 – I addressed the greatest challenge we face today and into our future – deception and delusion.

January 15 – Deception is truth mixed with a good bit of false information.

January 22 – Delusion is knowing what is right but being coerced to do the opposite.

January 29 – Repentance opens the door for God to do something fresh in your life!

February 5 – Let the Holy Spirit help you!

In a strange way today, we seem surrounded by lies, distortions, deceptions, and twisted truths that only present a partial picture of whatever we are dealing with.

We have an internal antidote for today. He is the Spirit of Truth.

February 12 – The Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Today’s Intro:

Revelation 12:9-12 (AMP)

And the huge dragon was cast down and out—that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him. 10 Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come—the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out! 11 And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing]. 12 Therefore be glad (exult), O heavens and you that dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in fierce anger (fury), because he knows that he has [only] a short time [left]!

This is a day of battle. This is not a day to relax. This is a day to rise up be who God called you to believe.

Those who choose the leisurely way today will lose what they have.

Satan is right now aggressive and bold in his attacks against the Church of Jesus, against truth, and against freedom. He wants you to leave your faith behind and follow the current of the present culture. He wants you to give in to self-centered living, to immorality, to bigotry and lawlessness. He wants you to be lukewarm and half-hearted.

Satan is actively promoting lawlessness, immorality, perversion, lies, deception, pride, selfishness, and the rejection of God, the Bible, Jesus, and the church.

Question. What are you doing in your own life to stand up for Jesus, for Truth, righteousness, and for godliness?

Are you benignly tolerant of the changes we see today, or are you actively standing against them?

Are you spending time on your knees for your family and your children and grandchildren, for your church, and for the Kingdom of God to manifest throughout the world?

Are you aggressively asking for God to manifest Himself in you life, your family, your church, your nation, and the world at large.

Fence living will get you killed today! Compromise today will cost you everything you have!

Paul was right when by the Holy Spirit he penned:

Ephesians 6:10-13 (NLT)

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (TPT)

Characteristics of the Last Days

1 But you need to be aware that in the final days the culture of society will become extremely fierce and difficult for the people of God. 2 People will be self-centered lovers of themselves and obsessed with money. They will boast of great things as they strut around in their arrogant pride and mock all that is right. They will ignore their own families. They will be ungrateful and ungodly. 3 They will become addicted to hateful and malicious slander. Slaves to their desires, they will be ferocious, belligerent haters of what is good and right. 4 With brutal treachery, they will act without restraint, bigoted and wrapped in clouds of their conceit. They will find their delight in the pleasures of this world more than the pleasures of the loving God. 5 They may pretend to have a respect for God, but in reality they want nothing to do with God’s power. Stay away from people like these!

Today – The Baptism with the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts

Baptism with the Holy Spirit brings God’s power into daily living.

Peter denied Jesus during His crucifixion, but after the Baptism with the Holy Spirit he became a bold follower of Jesus.

Look again at Acts 1:8 (NLT)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Power:

=Dunamis: Inherent power, capable of reproducing itself, like a dynamo

We get three English words from Dunamis: Dynamic, Dynamite, Dynamo.

Dynamic:

pertaining to or characterized by energy or effective action; vigorously active or forceful; energetic: the dynamic president of the firm.

Dynamite:

any person or thing having a spectacular effect.

Dynamo:

an electric generator, especially for direct current.

This power enhances our ability to walk with God, and empowers us to bless others in a more full way.

It was not just for the early church, but was for every generation of the church age, including today!

There are four clear, distinct references to the Baptism with the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts:

*Acts 2:1-4 (NLT) – Pentecost. People in Jerusalem receive.

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

*Acts 8:14-17 (NLT) – People in Samaria receive.

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

*Acts 10:44-46 (NLT) – Gentiles receive in Cornelius’ house.

Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

*Acts 19:1-6 (NLT) – People in Ephesus receive.

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” 5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.

This amazing experience is still available to every believer today!

To be a candidate for this experience you must be born again.

You do not have to be perfect.

You do not have to be free from all of your negative habits.

One of the things the Holy Spirit will do is move you away from fleshly distraction and give you a heart for Jesus, His Word, and for doing His will.

You only need to be born again.

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit immerses you in the Holy Spirit.

When you are immersed into something, it changes the atmosphere of your life.

When you are immersed in something, it changes your focus.

Example – Bottle of Water

3 supernatural things happen when you’re baptized with the Holy Spirit.

1. Supernatural witness.

Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

 

2. Supernatural understanding of the Word.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

 

3. Supernatural way to pray.

1 Corinthians 14:14 (NKJV)

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

 

On September 12, I will celebrate my 47th year of Spirit-filled living. On September 12th, 1976, at 7:20 pm, after rededicating my life back to Jesus, I received the Baptism With The Holy Spirit.

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit changed my life forever! And this experience will forever change yours too if you will yield to it!

Action Points:

How to receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

1. You must be a born again Christian. You can receive alone or with someone ministering to you.

Luke 11:11-13 (NKJV)

If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!

2. In faith, pray and ask the Father to baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Father, thank you for saving me from my sins and making me a child of God. As your child, I ask you to baptize me with the Holy Spirit, from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet, fill me with the Holy Spirit now. I believe that I will speak with other tongues as the Holy Spirit enables me, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

3. Have an open heart, and allow Jesus to minister to you.

4. Lift your hands to the Lord in thanksgiving, open your mouth, and begin to speak in the language the Holy Spirit gives you.