January 8, 2012 The Baptism with the Holy Spirit
1.8.12
Judges 13
Samson is a Nazirite which means holy, set apart for God’s work.
could have used this text last week
verse 13:25; also read 14:5-6, 19; 15:9-15
The Spirit of the Lord came to him at certain times to empower him to do the work God had given him to do.
Destroy Philistines singlehandedly.
Not fight a war or lead an army.
The Spirit gives people what they need to do what God has for them to do.
Numbers 11:16-17; 24-29
the prophesy just evidence–
the Spirit given to enable them to lead the people
Mark 1:8 John the Baptist: “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:4-5 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
John 7:39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Jesus did not give the Spirit until he had died, been raised, was glorified and ascended to the Father.
But now all that has been done!
Q: Can we receive the Spirit like Samson and the elders to do the work of God?
If so, how do we receive him?
What do you do to receive the Spirit?
What is the secret?
What steps do you take?
What do you do?
Nothing.
If you have faith in Jesus, there is nothing to do to receive the Spirit. You have already received the Spirit.
Acts 19:1-2
These men were thought to be Christians
so Paul examines them, tests them to see what the are. He is not convinced.
Notice the question he asks them.
“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
Imagine if we asked this of people coming for membership?
what would you have said?
it is doubtful they never heard of the Spirit
“we had not even heard that the Spirit is now given!” (likely meaning)
since they had not received the gift of the Spirit, they can’t be Christians.
Paul said “when you believed” but he learns they never did believe
Jesus had now given the Spirit to all who believe– if they had not received there was a problem.
Paul knows they did not hear and believe the full message about Jesus and get baptized in it.
verse 3-4
baptism of repentance preparing for the one
they need to believe in Jesus the one that is now giving the Holy Spirit
verse 5
we are not told they believed in Jesus but it must be assumed
they were baptized into Jesus name
because they had believed in Jesus
verse 6-7
since they have believed in Jesus they also receive the baptism with the Spirit
tongues and prophesy were not the main point, they were just evidences they had received the Spirit, main point=Spirit
some misconceptions from this passage
Spirit baptism follows water Baptism– not in other places
someone must lay his hands on you to receive the Spirit– not in other places
you must speak in tongues and prophesy– not in other places
So what do you to get the Spirit? nothing
If you believe in Jesus,
You have already been baptized by Jesus with the Spirit.
If you don’t believe, then you must put your faith in Jesus and look to him to give it.
some think the baptism of the Spirit comes at a second point after conversion–
rather it is necessary for conversion… that is why Paul asked the question
Which means you already have everything you need to do the work that God has given you to do.
What does the Spirit do to you?
in order to prepares you to do the work of God?
There are many different things we could discuss.
Talked about “making you holy” last week– that is important
Want to focus on another thing this morning.
Romans 5:5
“…God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with an experience of the love of God for us
(not our love for God first)
feel like you have lost that experience and sesnse? Pray.
You have the Spirit who can pour it out.
Ephesians 3:19 – Paul prays for Christians that they will be able “to know this love that surpasses knowledge”
We will not be able to do the work of God
until we know and experience the love of God shown for us through Jesus Christ.
This is one main difference between a person with the Spirit and without the Spirit.
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