The one thing that a Christian cannot afford to be without is the Holy Spirit and yet most professing Christians do not have the Holy Spirit and are not even concerned about it. Without the Holy Spirit the believer is powerless, without guidance and direction.
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, after He had been crucified and resurrected, He commanded His disciples not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the Holy Spirit. He said: “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;” Acts 1:8.
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing win22d, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4.
Not only did they speak in tongues but they were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. They preached under guidance of the Spirit and many signs and wonders took place where they went. Many of those who believed as result of their preaching, repented and were baptized and also received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the very same as they did.
It is a requirement for a born again child of God to receive and be led by the Holy Spirit. “Those who are being led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14. “But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” Romans 8:9. The first Christians did not have Bibles, none of them, but they had the Holy Spirit. You need to have the Holy Spirit and be led by the Holy Spirit. It is Christ in you. You become one of His sheep, who hear His voice and follow Him. It is promised to ALL those who believe in Jesus, receive Him, obey Him, repent and be baptized and seek to follow Him. Nobody is excluded. Peter said: “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” Acts 2:38,39. The Holy Spirit, the Comforter, is promised to ALL born again believers.
The first believers sought after the Holy Spirit baptism and they received it. Without it they were not equipped to follow Jesus. The very same today. If we do not have the Holy Spirit, we are not equipped to follow Jesus. Without the Holy Spirit guidance we are in darkness, without direction and communication with Jesus. Praying in tongues edifies the Spirit filled believer. Jesus said:”13“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14“He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15“All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.” John 16:13-15. That is how the Holy Spirit equips, guides, assists and equips the Spirit filled child of God.
Sadly very few professing Christians desire or seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Some give up too soon and lose out. Others believe the lies of the devil that the Holy Spirit baptism has ceased, that tongues have ceased. Jesus never changed but believers are powerless and unequipped to function as Jesus wants them to, because they have not sought for and received the Holy Spirit. They are powerless against the wiles of the devil, because they fight him in their own power.
The Holy Spirit baptism is not a guarantee of salvation. It is a gift, equipping the born again child of God. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are to equip the saints for work of service in the kingdom of God. They are not status symbols or titles. They are tools, they need to be practiced and applied to serve and do our duty as children of God. We can only bear fruit for the kingdom of God if we apply and practice the gifts of the Spirit. We need to be filled with the Spirit and pray in the Spirit to overflow with streams of Living Water.
Do not be satisfied to go without the Holy Spirit. Ask Jesus to baptize you in the Holy Spirit and with Fire.
May Jesus bless you.
finalcall07 