January 12, 2022 -- Acts 1:4-5 -- Baptized in the Holy Spirit

People loved by the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:4-5 ESV

Jesus promised His followers would be baptized with, or baptized in, the Holy Spirit. For those first believers it happened ten days after Jesus’ ascension into heaven; it is the day the Church celebrates as Pentecost. What happens when someone is baptized in the Holy Spirit?

No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:3). If the Spirit is not present in the life of the believer, a believer cannot live for Jesus and demonstrate His LORD-ship in all his living.

When one is baptized in the Spirit, one is completely changed, the old life is gone, new resurrection life takes hold. It is impossible to be a “carnal Christian”, that is a Christian who is saved, but who primarily serves sin so that there is no evidence of Christ’s work in his life (Ephesians 1).

A true Christian who slides back into sin, will be restrained by the Spirit and disciplined by the Father, in order to be brought back into true, faithful Christian living (Hebrews 12:7-11).

When a believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit brings fruitfulness—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-24). The old life and old passions are put to death in the life of the believer, these are so incompatible with this new life and new fruitfulness.

The Scriptures contain examples of believers who are filled with the Spirit immediately. Others are filled with the Spirit in some sort of fuller measure after others pray with them for such filling. The point is, God our Father is free to will and to act in us as He chooses. In all instances the Father will receive the greater glory and believers who, in the power of the Spirit yield their lives to Jesus Christ—that is for obedience and sprinkling with His cleansing blood (I Peter 1:2)--will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

In sweet communion, Lord, with you I constantly abide;
my hand you hold within your own to keep me near your side.

Your counsel through my earthly way shall guide me and control,
and then to glory afterward you will receive my soul.

To live apart from God is death; 'tis good his face to seek.
My refuge is the living God; his praise I long to speak.

Hymn "In Sweet Communion" Text: Psalm 73:23-28 versification, Psalter, 1912
Stanzas 1,2,5

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