If you want to be effective in ministry, you MUST be filled with the Holy Spirit! There is a danger today that we do not understand the reality of what the baptism in the Holy Spirit means.
In Acts 1:5 Jesus said to His disciples, “You have been baptised in water, but you’re about to be baptised in the Holy Ghost!” – It was to be the power to change their lives, yet immediately the disciples got their minds on prophecy: “When this happens, will You then restore the Kingdom to Israel? Get rid of the Romans?” Jesus said, “Hold on, before that happens, you’ve got a job to do, and that’s why I’m telling you, when the Holy Spirit comes, you will receive power, fire, miracles – and you will be My witnesses!” – If we are truly living in the days before Christ’s return, that’s what our job is! And we NEED this baptism of fire to spread the power of this miraculous Gospel!
Our God is about to do great things! His power is on the increase. Biblically God’s power cannot become smaller! At a time of national calamity, Joel 2:21&23 says, ‘Rejoice and be glad, for the Lord is about to do great things – in YOUR nation! ... Be glad, rejoice in your God, because He gave you the former rain moderately, and He will give you the latter rain!’ I know Israel well: the former (first) rain is when they plant the seed, the last rain is just before the harvest and it is greater than the first – that’s why I believe we are living in a new Day of Pentecost (harvest) now! When the church was born on the Day of Pentecost, it was born in fire! And before Jesus comes back, we’re going to have another greater baptism in fire!
In Acts 1 Jesus spoke both of baptism in water and in the Holy Spirit in the same way, using the same Greek word ‘baptizo’, immersed. The Word of God in Acts 2:38 is clear, ‘Repent and be baptised for the remission of sins.’ – Jesus came to John the Baptist and asked to be baptised. John hesitated because he knew who Jesus was (Matt 3:14), but even Jesus had to be baptised in the river Jordan – not sprinkled, but immersed! And immediately after Jesus was baptised, the Holy Spirit came upon Him! Now if Jesus needed baptism both in water and the Holy Ghost, so do you!
Baptism in the Holy Spirit should be more powerful than in water! – Jesus said, “You shall be baptised in the Holy Spirit.” Why? Jesus said, “Unless I die, you cannot receive the Holy Spirit! But if I go I will send Him – and He, the Holy Spirit, will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment – and nothing will be impossible! You will be My witnesses, preach Christ, demonstrate the power of God on earth!”
The revolution when you are baptised in the Holy Spirit, has to be LIFE-TRANSFORMING! In the Acts of the Apostles the disciples received the baptism of the Holy Spirit – instantly they were no longer frightened and ineffective, but filled with boldness and fire! That’s what we need today in the church – a new boldness, a new authority, a new power – which is the result of a baptism in the Holy Spirit!