Most Christians will acknowledge God for the things He does in our lives… but do we ever stop to give the devil any credit? Seriously… some Christians would rather not think about the devil at all. They would rather dismiss the devil and any idea of spiritual warfare. This is exactly what the enemy loves to do… he loves to lie and deceive… remember this is what he does for a living. I am going to give credit where credit is due… and let’s be honest… he does a great job.
The devil has been so good at his job that we have allowed him to creep into our churches. For example most churches don’t want to talk about spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues, prophecy, healing, or the Holy Spirit. There are some Christians who believe that these things are from the devil and are not from God. Still others think these things aren’t for Christians in this day and age… that kind of stuff only happened during Jesus’ time. Then there are other Christians who believe this stuff if just weird and don’t want anything to do with it. All of these things couldn’t be farther from the truth! So don’t believe the lies!
If you get a chance, please read my blog “Mission Impossible” and it will discuss the issue of speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing. Since those things have already been discussed in a previous blog, I’m going to focus on the Holy Spirit. First off, none of the things I mentioned in that previous blog are even possible without having the Holy Spirit in you. The best explanation I’ve ever heard on the subject of the Holy Spirit is from a pastor named Robert Morris from Gateway Peoples Church. Here is a link to a sermon series on the topic of the Holy Spirit. I’ll give a brief overview for those who don’t want to listen to his message.
Three types of baptism
-
Baptism into the body of Christ (baptism by the Holy Spirit) – when you accept Jesus as Lord and savior and He washes away your sins
-
Baptism by water (baptism of repentance) – when you turn away from your sin
-
Baptism in the Holy Spirit (baptism of the Holy Spirit) – receiving the power of the Holy Spirit from Jesus
Matthew 3:11 John the baptist says, “I baptize you with water for REPENTANCE. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the HOLY SPIRIT and with FIRE.”
The following scriptures are Jesus’ last words to His disciples before He ascends into heaven.
Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with POWER from on high.”
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.'”
The following verses explain how the disciples received the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:1-4 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of FIRE that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the HOLY SPIRIT and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
Acts 8:15-17 “When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had SIMPLY been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the HOLY SPIRIT.”
Acts 19:4-6 “Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of REPENTANCE. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the HOLY SPIRIT came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.”
Ephesians 3:16-21 Paul says, “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through HIS SPIRIT in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the FULLNESS of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
