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The Last Words of Jesus – Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:4-4-5-8. Before JESUS went up to heaven, HIS last WORDS to HIS disciples were:
Go and preach the gospel to all nations; and
Wait until you are endued with power from on high.
The Promise – Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5
The LORD JESUS commanded HIS Disciple to receive the PROMISE of the FATHER. This PROMISE is the baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT, the disciples will receive power to be witnesses of JESUS.
Baptism Explained
The word baptism is taken from the Greek word “baptizo” which means to be immersed in a liquid. The thing immersed is filled inside and surrounded outside by the liquid.
The Christian who is baptized with the Holy Spirit is filled inside and surrounded outside with the Holy Spirit. The Christian receives power.
This power in Acts. 1:8 is taken from the Greek word “dunamis”, form which we derive the English words dynamite and dynamo.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit enables the Christian to receive “dynamite” and “dynamo” power from God.
Power for Witnessing – Acts 1:8
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is given to the Christian so that he can be a witness of JESUS.
To witness means to be a martyr. The word witness in Acts 1:8 was taken from the Greek word “martus” which means martyr.
So, we are baptized in the Holy Spirit in order that we can be martyrs of JESUS.
All were Filled – Acts 2:1-4
All the Christians (about 120 believers Acts 1:15) who waited for Pentecost were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Speaking in Tongues – A gift of the Holy Spirit – I Cor 12:10
This gift is given to the individual for these reasons:
As a prayer language - ! Cor. 14:2
This needs no interpretation. “for no one understand him” since the believer “does not speak to men but to GOD.”
Through this prayer language of speaking in tongues, the SPIRIT helps in our weaknesses and enables us to pray according to the will of God – Romans 8:26-27.
To Edify himself – I Cor. 14:4,
When the believer speaks in tongues, he edifies or strengthens himself.
Hindrances:
Some Christians are hindered from being baptized in the HOLY SPIRIT because of:
Unforgiveness – Matt. 6:15
If one does not forgive other their trespasses, then he is not forgiven by the FATHER.
What is forgiveness? It is a decision, not a feeling.
Prohibited Practices – Deut. 18:10-12
These practices must be forsaken, confessed and renounced.
Fear – Luke 11:10-13
We need not fear to receive the wrong spirits. The LORD assures us that if we ask the FATHER for the HOLY SPIRIT, then HE will surely give us the HOLY SPIRIT.
D. Unbelief due to wrong teaching – James 1:6-8
How to Receive the Baptism In the Holy Spirit.
Ask.
Ask the FATHER to baptize you with the HOLY SPIRIT so that you can be a witness of JESUS.
Received and give thanks.
After you asked, you have already received. This means that you are already baptized in the HOLY SPIRIT. So, you must give thanks. Say: “Thank YOU, LORD.” Begin praising GOD audibly. Continue to praise the LORD.
Speak in other tongues.
You will be able to speak in other tongues for this a gift of the HOLY SPIRIT which you have already received.
Open your mouth and speak. Do not think of the words. Think of JESUS and praise HIM. The gift of tongues will just come out of your mouth as you praise the LORD JESUS.
Lesson-4
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE LAST WORDS OF JESUS:
What were the last Words of Jesus? What we mean here is not the last Words of Jesus on the cross. We refer to the last Words of Jesus before He went up to heaven. (read Luke 24:46-49).
“Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Jesus is saying that we, (His Disciples) must preach repentance and remission of sins in His Name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem. He says that the disciples must go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, to all nations. Then, Jesus says that he disciples must wait because they must receive power from on high.
If you look at these Words, it would appear that they are contradictory. Jesus says you go, but then wait. How can we go if we are to wait?
The Lord Jesus is actually saying: “Yes, you must go and preach the Gospel. But cannot preach the Gospel on your own power. You need to receive power from on high. So, wait first in order to receive power from on high. Then, after receiving power from on high, you can go to preach the Gospel.
You cannot do the first one, preach the Gospel, unless you receive power from on high. So it is very important that you receive power from on high in order to preach the Gospel. And so these last Words of Jesus are not contradictory.
We are going to study how to receive power from on high. That is the meaning of Holy Spirit baptism. Let us read Acts 1. By the way, Luke wrote the Book of Acts and Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke of course. The last chapter of Luke was the first chapter of the Book of Acts. Here in Acts 1 Luke was recounting the last Words of Jesus.
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days form now.” Acts 1-4-5
“But you shall received 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.” Acts 1:8
THE PROMISE:
Jesus said in verse 4 that you (the disciples) must wait because the Father has a promise. What is the promise? Jesus explains the promise of the Father in verse 5. He says: “For John (meaning John the Baptist) truly baptized with water, but you, (your believers shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. “The promise of the Father is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The term “baptism of the Holy Spirit” is not the words of a denomination or confined to a particular denomination of Christianity. The promise of the Father is for all Christians. In other words, it is possible for you to be a Christian and yet not receive the promise of the Father. What is the promise? The baptism of the Holy Spirit. Look at these people, the disciples. They were all Christians, yet Jesus said that “I want you to receive the promise of My Father and the promise is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.”
Some people may say: “Oh yes, I am a Christian but I am not holy. Only holy persons will receive the Holy Spirit.” This is a wrong attitude. It is precisely because you need the Holy Spirit that you must be baptized in the Holy Spirit. That’s why the Father is giving you the promise, so that you will received power from on high by receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Meaning, we need not first to be Holy to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit but, we need the Baptism in the Holy Spirit for us to be Whole”
The word “baptism” is taken from the Greek word BAPTIZO. When they translated the Greek word “baptizo” in English, they could not find an appropriate English word. So what did they do? They simply Anglicized the Greek word “baptizo” into “baptized”
The real meaning of the word baptize is this…… Supposing here is a big pitcher of water and inside it there is a small glass. If I were a Greek, I would say that the small glass is baptizo. What’s the meaning? This small glass which is empty before, is now filled with water inside and also it is surrounded by the water outside. That is exactly the meaning of ‘baptizo’. You will be filled inside with the Holy Spirit and not only filled inside, you will also be surrounded by the Holy Spirit. Meaning, we will be placed within the Holy Spirit. So that we will be filled inside by the Holy Spirit and also surrounded outside by the Holy Spirit.
The purpose is for us to receive “Power” what kind of Power?
POWER OR DUNAMIS
In verse 8. He says: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you.” Now the word ‘power’ is taken from the Greek word “dunamis”. the word “dunamis” is the root word of the English word dynamo and dynamite. So Jesus is saying that when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, you shall receive dynamite power. What is the meaning of dynamite power?
Example:
A group of people went up to the mountain and then go down. They took a very long and difficult walk. But when they reach the place, they found out that they could not pass through this mountain. So what they did is, they put dynamite on the mountain sides, and blasted the mountain so that they were able to make a way through the mountain.
The Lord is telling us today……….. “The power that I give through the baptism of the Holy Spirit is like dynamite power that will enable you to blast through any mountain and will enable you to go on with your walk with Me.
That is the power that God wants to give us, a dynamite power that will enable us to go through any kind of obstacle. The devil will always block the work and our walk with God. And we need this dynamite power.
What is the meaning of dynamo? Look at the electric bulb. It gives steady light because of the dynamo that empowers it. But there are gas lamps that are bright and then they will get dim, then bright again and then dimmer! What is the meaning? Some believers are like bright lights to the world, for a time. Then they get dim and dimmer. The Lord does not want us to be in like that. The Lord wants us to be always bright with dynamo power. We can always be bright with dynamo power only when we receive the power from on high. We cannot be bright on our own power. We must receive dynamite and dynamo power only by the power from on high through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
POWER FOR WITNESSING PURPOSES
In verse 8 we are to be witnesses of Jesus. This is the only reason why the power is given to us, in order that we can be witnesses of Jesus. This word “witnesses” was taken from the Greek word ‘martus’. From the Greek word “martus” we get the English word martyr.
Jose Rizal (the national Hero of the Philippines) was a martyr. What happened to Rizal? He was ready to die bravely and calmly for his political convictions. A Christian is even better. He has the anointing of the Holy Spirit and is not afraid of anything because at the moment when he needs power to witness about God, then God gives him that supernatural strength and grace, ever possibly to die for his supernatural convictions. So Jesus is saying: “I want you to receive this power from on high so that you will be a martyr.” A martyr is not afraid to die. That courage makes him invincible…….. Now do you still want to receive this power from on high?
A person can be baptized with the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, dancing in the spirit, praying in the spirit. Yet, there is no power in his life. Why? It is because this person refuses to be martyr of Jesus. It is also possible to have power coming out from your life in the beginning, but you cannot see that power coming out from your life. Why? Because you refuse now to be a martyr.
What is martyr? A martyr is one who tells the truth, speaks the truth and lives the truth no matter what happens to him. In other words, as martyr you are committed to speak the truth and live the truth whatever the world may do to you. Jesus wants to give us this power from on high only because He wants us to be His martyrs. This powers from on high is not for display so that people will pat us on the back and say: “You are very good, very good!” No! Jesus wants you to use His power even to the point of being His martyr.
ALL WERE FILLED
Now let us find out what happened to the people who received this power from on high. Let us read Acts 2:1-4:
“Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
All were filled because God made a promise. It is the will of God that every Christian be filled with the Holy Spirit and to receive power from high. Why? Because it is the will of God that you become a witness or even a martyr for Jesus.
It is the will of God that every Christian be baptized in the Holy Spirit. But you have to receive it by faith.
What was the result when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit? They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and everyone spoke in other tongues. (Acts 2:4). Now we will study why the Holy Spirit gives his gift of speaking in other tongues. The Bible says in Acts 2:4, “And they… began speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” So who gave them the gift of speaking in tongues? The Holy Spirit. But who was speaking? Was it the Holy Spirit who was speaking? No. They (the believers) were the ones speaking in tongues. But who gave the gift? The Holy Spirit. However, you will be the one to open your mouth. If you refuse to open your mouth, you will not speak tongues.
SPEAKING IN TONGUES:
Why does the Holy Spirit give the gift of speaking in tongues? We will explain this because if people do not know the purpose of speaking in tongues, they will not desire to speak in tongues. And if they do not desire, they will not ask, Jesus says, “Ask and it shall be given to you.” (Matthew 7:7). If you do not ask nor desire you will not receive.
PRAYER LANGUAGE
So, why does the Holy Spirit give us the gift of tongues?
“For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understand him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” (1 Corinthians 14:2)
You are using the gift of tongues as a prayer language to God. Why do you still have to speak in other tongues when speaking to God? Why? The Bible says you are speaking mysteries to God. But the question is why should I speak in a language that I cannot understand to God?
Let me give you an illustration. One day a brother gave this testimony. He said, One afternoon I felt very heavy in my heart. The Lord said to me “Pray.” What to pray for? The Lord said to me “Pray in tongues.” I prayed in tongues. I was praying for about one hour. After that the heaviness in my heart was gone. Later on the same day my blood brother from the province came. My brother reported that he was riding in a bus and the bus had an accident. Many people were hurt and wounded and some were killed. But my brother who came from the province and rode on the same bus was safe.
At that moment the Lord spoke to me. The Lord said that I did not know I was praying for my brother, but the Holy Spirit knew. Through the gift of speaking in tongues, I was praying for the needs of my brother.
We might ask, is it Biblical? Yes, in Romans 8:26:
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.”
The above verse says, “we do not know what we should pray for as we ought”. The brother mentioned in the above incident did not know the prayer needs of his brother while riding in the bus. But the Holy Spirit knew these prayer needs. So, “the Spirit also helps” us to pray alright. How? Through the gift of praying in tongues “for he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God” (1 Corinthians 14:2).
This gift of speaking in tongues is a very wonderful gift. You can use that gift praying for needs that you do not know.
TO EDIFY HIMSELF
The second purpose of the gift of tongues is found in verse 4 of 1 Corinthians 14:4:
“He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.”
Now what is the meaning of “to edify”? According to the dictionary, it means to strengthen.
The author’s testimony: I was staying in a hotel. When I went to bed, I could not sleep because some evil spirits came inside my room and began attacking my mind. So I got up and I said: “I bind you evil spirits in JESUS Name and I cast you out of this room.”
They would not go out. So I repeated: “I bind you evil sprits in Jesus Name. I cast you out.” They would not leave. Then, the Lord said, “Speak in tongues.” So I begun to speak in tongues and in less than 5 minutes after that, all the evil spirits were cast out from the room. Now I could not understand why I had to speak in tongues to cast out the evil spirits. So I said: “Lord I believe Your Name is powerful. I am using Your Name, and Your Name is high above all names. Why were the evil spirits not cast out the first time? Only after I prayed in tongues that they were cast out. And I ask, Why Lord? Why?
Then the Lord spoke to me in verse 4 of 1 Corinthians 14. The Lord said: “Yes, My Name is powerful. Yes you are using My Name, but you are very weak. You have to strengthen your faith. Your faith is weak. You must strengthen yourself by speaking in tongues.”
When I realized that by praying in tongues I could edify myself, I began speaking in tongues every day and everywhere I went.
BAPTISM ASSURED
How can we be sure that we can be baptized with the Holy Spirit? It is the will of God that every Christian be baptized in the Holy Spirit. In fact, the Lord Jesus commands every Christian to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:4-5, “… He commanded them… to wait for the Promise of the Father, … be baptized with the Holy Spirit…” God is commanding every Christian to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Why? So that we shall receive power in order to be witnesses of Jesus (Acts 1:8).
How do we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you” (Luke 11:9). The Lord continued, that the heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13). The Lord assures us that all that we need to do is to ask and receive.
HINDRANCES:
There are some hindrances why Christians are not baptized in the Holy Spirit. we will discuss the most common, namely:
Unforgiveness - Matthew 6:15
Prohibited practices - Deuteronomy 18:10-12
Fear - Luke 11:10-13
Unbelief due to wrong teaching - James 1:6-8
UNFORGIVENESS
“But if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matthew 6:15)
To forgive is a decision that must be made by offended person, no matter what he felt. And if this offended person refused to forgive, then the heavenly Father does not forgive the same person.
The Author’s testimony:
An old woman about 85 years old came to me and asked me how she could forgive. She related to me a story, which happened more than 40 years ago, but it was still very fresh in her mind. It had pained her heart ever since. She told me that one-day the soldiers came to her village and the soldiers began shooting. They ran away to hide. While she was hiding, she saw the soldiers grabbed her husband and they shot him. She also saw some soldiers raped her two daughters and then the soldiers killed her daughters. She hated the soldiers. There were nights she could not sleep. The pain of her loss was still very fresh. How could he forgive?
I told here let us pray. While we were praying, the Lord spoke to her: “My child I can feel and see your pain. But if you withhold forgiveness, that pain will continue. You must decide to forgive the soldiers. Make your decision. That is the key. Release these soldiers to My mercy and justice. And you will also be released from your pain.”
The old woman obeyed the Lord. She decided to forgive the soldiers. She did it by saying in an audible voice her words of forgiveness” “Lord Jesus, I decide to forgive the soldiers who killed my husband and the soldiers who raped and killed my two daughters. I leave the soldiers to Your mercy and justice.” Immediately after this, I saw the woman jumping for joy and she said: “The pain is gone! The pain is gone! Thank you Jesus for forgiving me because I have forgiven these soldiers.
As you hear this story, the Lord may be reminding you of people that you have not forgiven up to now. Every time you remember what these people have done to you, there is pain in your heart. The Lord is saying to you “decide to forgive them, and I will release you from that pain.” If you are willing to decide to forgive them, then pray this prayer:
Pause for Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, because it is Your will that I forgive those who offended me, I now decide to forgive them (mention the names of the people you are forgiving). I ask You Lord to bless these people that I have forgiven. I release them to Your grace and mercy. Amen.
PROHIBITED PRACTICES:
“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out before your.” Deuteronomy 18:10-12
Included in the above prohibited practices are making an offering by fire to any god or goddess, being involved in yoga, or transcendental meditation, or fortune telling, or palm reading, or witchcraft, or soothsaying, or sorcery, or dealing with a medium or a spiritist. The Lord also prohibits us from talking with the dead. What is the meaning of talking with the dead? When a person dies, we should not talk with him. This person or may even be a relative like our parents or brothers and sisters. The person may be a well-known Christian, but if the person is dead God prohibits us from talking with him. Mary is dead. Peter is dead, Paul is dead and your pastor may be dead. So the Lord prohibits us from talking with these dead people.
But why do we talk to Jesus? Because Jesus is ALIVE!!! If you have done any or some of the prohibited practices I have mentioned, you need to repent. The Lord says that the people who do these prohibited practices are abominations to the Lord. If you are willing to repent then pray this prayer.
Pause for Prayer:
“Father in heaven I confess to have done the following prohibited practices (enumerate them). I ask you to forgive me and to cleanse me by the precious blood of Jesus from all effects of these prohibited acts. Thank you Father I am now totally cleansed and delivered Amen.”
FEAR:
“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for you a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you them 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!” Luke 11:10-13
The Lord is assuring us that we don’t have to fear. Why not? Because the Lord guarantees that if we ask the Father for the Holy Spirit, we will surely receive the same Holy Spirit.
UNBELIEF DUE TO WRONG TEACHING:
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:6-8
Some Christians receive wrong teachings such as:
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is applicable only to very holy people or only to the early Christians, and therefore there is no baptism in the Holy Spirit today; and
The moment you become a Christian, you are automatically baptized also in the Holy Spirit, and therefore you do not need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit today.
The above are some of the wrong teachings that some Christians receive. These will make them doubt whether they need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit or not.
But the Word of God is very clear. We have learned from the discussion in this lesson, that it is the will of God for every Christian to be baptized in the Holy Spirit so that he will receive power to be a witness of Jesus. If you believe this, then you are ready to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Now, you are ready to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. How? Just follow these steps:
Pointers to remember in receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit:
ASK. Ask the Father to baptize you with the Holy Spirit so that you can be a witness of Jesus. Use your own words in asking the Father. Talk to Him as a son to his Father.
BELIEVE, RECEIVE AND GIVE THANKS. After you ask, you have already received. This means that you are already baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Lord says ask and you shall receive. Received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Now you give thanks. How do you give thanks? Say thank you in your own words and begin praising God audibly. Continue to praise the Lord.
SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES. You will be able to speak in tongues for this is a gift of the Holy Spirit. You will be the one to speak in tongues but this gift comes from the Holy Spirit. So open your mouth and speak. You are not to think of the gift of tongues. You are not to think of what you are speaking. You do not learn this speaking in tongues. It is a gift coming from the Holy Spirit. So I suggest that you think of Jesus while you are praising Him. You can think of Jesus sitting on His throne and you are before His Father worshipping Him and praising Him. The gift of tongue will just come out of your mouth.
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT: GUIDE QUESTIONS
Why does Jesus want us to be endued with power from on high?
Answer:
Because we cannot do an effective work of evangelism by our own power. We need the power of God
Is it possible to be a Christian and not have power from on high?
Answer:
Yes, a) Jesus’ original disciples (already Christians) needed this power, (Acts 1:4-5,8) b) the Christians in Samaria were baptized in the Holy Spirit after they were converted (Acts 8:14-17) c) Paul received the baptism in the Holy Spirit after his conversion (Acts 9:17-18 and 1 Cor. 14:18) d) Converts in Ephesus were likewise baptized in the Holy Spirit some time after their conversion. (Acts 19:5-6).
What is the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Answer:
It is the receiving by a Christian of the power from on high to enable him to be witness of Christ. The Christian who is so baptized is immersed in and filled with the Holy Spirit
Why do we need the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Answer:
So that we will have POWER to be witness of Jesus
Why does the Holy Spirit give the gift of speaking in tongues to individual believers?
Answer:
As individual’s prayer language (1 Corinthians 14:2)
To edify the Individual (1 Corinthians 14:4)
What are some of the hindrances to receiving the Holy Spirit baptism?
Answer:
Unforgiveness Mt. 6:15
Occult Practices Deut. 18:10-12
Fear Luke 11:13
Wrong Teachings Eph 4:14
Unbelief James 1:16-18
What is forgiveness?
Answer:
It is a decision
How do you receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?
Answer:
Ask, Believe, receive, give thanks, and speak in other tongues