The Holy Ghost is the third person of
God, in the Divine Trinity. The work of Holy Ghost in the Godhead reveals the sin
of man, his rejection of Christ, and doubt to the human conscience. How? By stirring
the conscience and showing man what he really is in the presence of Christ. Sanctification
through the Spirit is the will of God for all men. The initial work of the Holy
Ghost is conviction and repentance for the sinner. This ministry of the Holy Ghost turns the
penitent from sin to Christ, for salvation of the human soul. The sanctifying
work of the Holy Ghost relates to the child of God (after Salvation) where the believer’s
heart is purged from the inherited Adamic nature. The final work of the Spirit (in
this life) through the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire will be the central
focus of this discourse. Its content will describe how, when, and
why this Baptism performed by Christ deals with a part of a believer not
dealt with at the new birth.
- All believers need the sanctifying work of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire
Reason: The Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire is the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a Christian, not the sinner. This purifying work of the Holy Ghost has nothing to do with initial Salvation in the new birth where the believer receives a new nature. This Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire is another Christian experience that comes after the new birth. The purpose of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire is God’s deliverance from the Adamic nature.
Through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross the miracle of Salvation of the human soul is granted to those who “trust in Christ’s death for the forgiveness of sins”. Within that miracle is a new birth where that believer receives a divine nature. The divine nature allows the believer to live a holy life in the sight of God and the new nature takes over. Greater is He…
There is no struggle to do right in a believer’s life; however when there is a lack of recognition to this power, self still tries to rule the mind, soul, and body. This inner conflict wars against the power and will of the Holy Spirit’s directive. Why? The Adamic life and memories of it still exist in the life of a believer and thus tries to rule the mind, soul, and body even though a new nature was given by the power of the Holy Spirit in the new birth.
The miracle of the new birth is an instantaneous work of the Holy Ghost in the soul of a penitent sinner. The Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire likewise is an instantaneous work however; this operation of the Holy Ghost deals with the believer instead of the sinner. Unlike the new birth received by the sinner, the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire deals specifically those who know Christ. The Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire allows God to deal with a part of this believer not dealt with at the new birth. What is not dealt with in the new birth? The old life man experienced! That old life was forgiven in the new birth and all past guilt was taken away. But memories of man’s fallen nature still try to be recognized. The only way a believer can get rid of this old life is through crucifixion of the old life and the sanctifying power of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire that destroys that part of man, entirely.
The
Adamic nature which once ruled the sinner does not rule those who trust in
The sanctifying work of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire” came upon” believers, not sinners on the day of Pentecost. This Baptism by Christ was an instantaneous work at one stroke at the hand of the Holy Ghost and not a progressive work as some profess. Why do Christians need the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire? It’s a more complete work of the Spirit for the believer. It’s the power of the Holy Spirit’s presence that delivers and sanctifies believers in Christ completely from the Adamic life. This sanctifying power a spiritual baptism by Christ in the heart of a believer makes Christian’s better witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Acts 1:8…But ye
shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you ;and ye
shall be witnesses unto me both in
The Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire has no relationship to Water Baptism in any manner. The Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire deals primarily with an inner conflict from the Adamic life that hinders the believer from having all the Spirit of God has to offer in Salvation. This purifying work of the Holy Ghost that removes the believer’s conflict with the Spirit… is the predestinated will of God for all believers. It’s the fullness of God to some however; vague to others due to lack of recognition of the Holy Spirit’s presence in their lives; or vague because of erroneous indoctrination.
After the new birth, a believer’s conscience desires to become totally subject to the presence of Christ. The conscience of a believer desires to be without sin or an inner conflict with self. The presence of the Holy Ghost allows a believer to constantly see himself in light of a Savior. In this believer’s relationship with the Savior, the Holy Ghost reveals the need for death to the Old life. This cutting away of all that a believer is points to the work of the Holy Ghost dealing with the negative part of that believer. When the believer actually dies to all that he is and puts off the Old man, the power of the Indwelling Spirit (through Baptism) destroys indwelling sin. The body of sin is no longer in conflict with the old life; it’s destroyed through the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire.
· Rom 6:4-6…Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
- Conditions to receive the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire
This discourse was written to highlight the power of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. It’s important to understand the Sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost is not limited in power. Regeneration deals with the sinner. Sanctification deals with the saint. The sanctifying work of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire takes the believer away from a self life and thus makes him totally subject to Christ. How? The presence of the Holy Ghost reveals Christ’s suffering and death to the heart of a believer. In contrast Christ’s death and suffering shows the believer the need to die to the Old life. Through the believer’s recognition of Christ as Savior helplessness and nothingness from the Old man is likewise revealed. “Death (burying the old life) becomes the believer’s path to receive the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire”.
Believer’s need deliverance from an inner conflict as the presence of the Holy Ghost makes Christ known to that heart. Unlike the sinner who doesn’t know Christ, a believer continuously sees himself in the presence of the Holy Ghost. What is revealed? A believer in light of Christ sees a need to die, and to get away from the selfishness caused from the old life. Through the work of the Holy Ghost a believer has a God given desire to put off the former lifestyle.
· Eph 4:22…That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts
Without Christ a believer has no strength of his own to overcome the old life. A believer is powerless to such struggle that tries to rule the mind, soul, and body. A believer knows his sins were forgiven at the cross. A believer knows he received a new nature when he turned to Christ for forgiveness. Enlightenment from the presence of the Holy Ghost allows this believer to realize only God can purge his heart from a still existing struggle with the old life. Without death to the Old there can be no renewal from the Holy Ghost. Deliverance from that struggle is the reason for the blessed experience of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. Only those that know Christ through the presence of the Holy Ghost can experience this completed work of God termed as Sanctification.
Ponder the lives of Peter, John, and James. Did you notice they did not receive the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire when they first believed? The Bible doesn’t teach that man receives the Baptism with the Holy Ghost in the new birth. Why? The unbeliever doesn’t acknowledge the presence of the Holy Ghost until after his sins are forgiven. Then after Salvation, the believer’s recognition of Christ allows the presence of the Holy Ghost to reveal and rid man of the selfish part that was not dealt with in the new birth. Crucifixion revealed through the presence of the Holy Ghost is a path to the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. After the old man is put off, the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire is performed by Christ …at one stroke.
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Matt
The presence of Holy Ghost shows the sinner his need to get away from old life and all old associations; likewise the presence of the Holy Ghost shows the believer his need to get away from everything pertaining to the old ways. Remember, the presence of the Holy Ghost reveals the negative side of man to the saint. When the believer totally surrenders to Christ, he will bury the old life. Then at one stroke from the hand of God the believer will “put on” the new man. The new man is created through the purifying operation of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire.
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The Bible does teach various modes of Baptism however; the intent of this discourse is to magnify Christ as the one who baptizes with the Holy Ghost and fire. The Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire received at Pentecost was not the works of man nor was it performed through water Baptism. The Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire comes from the Throneroom where a believer’s faith in Christ should remain every minute, every hour, and every day…without wavering. As promised by the Father Christ baptizes with the Holy Ghost and fire.
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Luke 24:49…And,
behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the
city of
· Acts 1:4-5…And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
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Matt
- The Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire began on the day of Pentecost
The Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire was promised by the Father and has been ministered under Grace since the day of Pentecost. The power and presence of the Spirit of Truth was taught by the Lord Jesus himself before His ascension to Heaven. God’s plan (through the Divine Trinity) understood man’s need to overcome sin and struggles caused from the flesh. The omnipresence of Holy Ghost under the Grace dispensation we now live in provides every believer with such power of deliverance. Christ knew the fullness of the Spirit would come through His body, the Church. Christ knew the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire was an enduement of power that would produce fruit in the heart and life of every believer from Pentecost until the Rapture of the Church.
·
Luke 24:49…And,
behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the
city of
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