Matthew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he 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:”
John’s entire mission was to set up for Jesus to come on the scene. He was to prepare the way! He made it clear that he was not the one to focus on, but it was Jesus. He also made it clear that there was going to be a Spirit baptism happening because of Him.
As he said in our verse, “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”
In order for God to do the work He wants to do in your life, you must decrease so God can increase.
In order for the Spirit of God to fill you and me, we must be emptied of all of “us,” so He can fill you and me will ALL of Him!
In John 14, Jesus is preparing the disciples for His departure. The disciples were worried, they have giving up everything. Jesus wanted to assure them that he wasn’t leaving them. He assured them that He would now be IN them, not just with them.
John 14:16-18 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 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 will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
After Jesus was risen, and seen for forty days…He prepares the disciples for the long-awaited promise to be poured out on the Day of Pentecost.
Acts 1:4-5, 8 “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
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.”
Acts 2:1-4 “And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Many didn’t understand what was going on that day. As a matter of fact, they thought those that just had received the Holy Ghost were drunk. Peter begins to explain what was going on and he preaches the first sermon at the birth of the church.
When the people HEARD THE WORD, they responded…
Acts 2:37-39 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
The promise for them is still the promise for you. It wasn’t just for Peter’s generation. The peace and joy found in the Holy Ghost are accessible for you! If you hear the Word and respond to it, that same gift is waiting for you.
