Part Two

 

I've been pondering this thought for many years -  Can a "Christian" truly be Christian if he is never baptized in the Holy Spirit? Many "Christian " denominations outright deny the "baptism of the Spirit" and preach and teach against it. They deny tongues,  prophecy, The gifts -  really anything spiritual, except the "born-again" doctrine, which I know cannot happen without the Holy Spirit.  How can "these signs" follow a believer who isn't baptized in the Holy Ghost? 

"In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues,  they shall take up serpents,  and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover".

Those who refuse to be baptized into the Holy Ghost are preaching and displaying a powerless Gospel.  They accept Christ but not the Spirit with whom He's anointed. They invite Christ in but deny the Holy Spirit entry, and no, we are not automatically baptized in the Spirit when we are born-again.  It is a separate,  distinct experience.  "he that believes AND IS baptized".  Paul came across a group of believers who had never been baptized in the Spirit,  so he promptly laid hands on them and baptized them in the Holy Ghost.  

"He that believes on Me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit,  which they that believe on Him SHOULD RECEIVE; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given"

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive ". Do you see it? We are given the Spirit so that we may Abide with him forever! Eternal life comes from the presence of the Father - by his Spirit! Believe AND be baptized! Without the Holy Spirit we cannot live forever! Many denominations are full of "nice people" who blithely go about their entire lives without ever experiencing the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit abiding in them. 

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart I will send him unto you".

Could it be that when we ask Christ into our hearts -  we should be asking the Spirit to live within us too? Can we ask Jesus into our hearts without also inviting the Holy Spirit? Can a gospel be preached that lifts up the name of Jesus but denies his presence,  his very Spirit? Can someone "believe on Jesus Christ" and yet not believe on the Holy Spirit of promise?

We must have these three bear witness in us -  that we are indeed his - "And there are three that bear witness in earth,  the Spirit,  and the water, and tje blood"  Without any one of the three -  we are dead and not alive. We must have air, water and blood to live. And these three are essential forvour eternal life- "there are three that bear record in HEAVEN- The Father, The Word, and the Holy Ghost". On earth as it is in Heaven! 

John's baptism was in water, Jesus' was in the Spirit.  One baptizes our flesh for an outward display of an inward commitment. The other baptizes our spirit for an inward display of an outward confession. We cannot confess the real Christ -  the one full of authority and power,  without the Holy Spirit.  Men can confess a dead Christ  - a powerless Christ-  a past-tense Christ who is not relevant or alive today, but they cannot confess the real Christ of Scripture,  without the Holy Spirit-  living and breathing within them, daily. Amen.

"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit "

"Follow after love AND desire spiritual gifts"

"Quench not The Spirit"

"Despise not prophecying " "but if all prophecy "

"For to one is given by THE SPIRIT.....to another by the SAME SPIRIT"