(Acts 1:5) "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Have you been baptized with the Holy Spirit? Have you been immersed in the Spirit as you were immersed in water at your water baptism? Many Christians confess to the experience of being dry in their Christian life. They say they lack the power to live for the Lord. They comment on the fact that out of their lives trickle only a few drops of water that isn’t enough to satisfy the soul, let alone share with someone else. Tired of the trickle that makes you Christian life fickle? Then get ready for torrents of living water to start flowing from your life! (John 7:38-39)
Some Christians think they need to get more of the Holy Spirit when in reality it’s the Holy Spirit getting more of you. The Bible says we have the Holy Spirit in our lives because we have trusted in Christ (Eph 1:13). But have we been baptized with the Holy Spirit, fully immersed in His power? Jesus told His disciples the Spirit would come upon them and that they were to expect His power to effectively live their lives for Him (Acts 1:4-8).
How about you? Is your Christian life overflowing with the Holy Spirit? Is the Spirit in you but you lack that “upon” experience? How can a person know? Well, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will experience:
POWER TO BE A WITNESS FOR CHRIST (Acts 1:8). Have you ever tried to be a witness for the Lord but felt you lacked the inspiration to do so; like you were a leaky squirt gun? When you have the power of the Spirit then you’ve got the water pressure you need to take that living water and saturate this lost world!
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (Gal 5:22-23). When the Spirit has control of our lives then we will bear the fruits of the Spirit, like a tree drawing nourishment from the rain.
GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT (1 Cor 12:8-10). We need all the gifts the Lord has for us so we can serve the Lord and do God’s work, God’s way. (Zech 4:6)
And is the baptism with the Holy Spirit a one-time experience? Here’s what Paul said and I think you will agree: And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled (present tense . . . always . . . ongoing) with the Spirit. (Eph 5:18)
Have you been thirsting for more of the Spirit in your life lately? Then you know what to do. Ask the Lord for a fresh filling now (Luke 11:13). Get out of the doldrums and enjoy that refreshing and thrilling Spirit-filled life where you are caught up in the Lord’s love and nothing else matters except knowing Him and making Him known.
Louie