'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him' (Mark 1.3, NIV). As it is written in the Scripture, there was a voice in the wilderness, John the Baptist, who was preparing the way for Jesus. We should be living this way too. Evangelism is the preparation for the Kingdom. John preached a baptism of repentance, he lived like Elijah, but he said, 'there is One mightier than I, He must increase, but I must decrease.' Like John, we are not Christ, we're forerunners, John prepared the way for Jesus through preaching a baptism of repentance, we are preparing the way for His Second Coming with a message of forgiveness through the saving grace of Jesus.
'I baptise you with water, but He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit' (Mark 1.8, NIV). From the moment I was baptised in the Holy Spirit, my whole life was transformed – not just by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but absolute change! Saved, baptised in water, now almost 14, that baptism in the Holy Spirit was the greatest change of all, a REVOLUTION in my life! It changed my living, my thinking, my preaching, – a physical and spiritual manifestation that was obvious wherever I went. I was preaching in the school: now my classmates changed, two went on to become preachers; the cynical Scripture teacher, who spent his time criticising the Bible, also changed and started a Bible study group and prayer meeting in the school! Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not just an anointing or a feeling or an emotional experience – it has to be an ABSOLUTE LIFE-CHANGING MIRACLE, a spiritual revolution in your life. If it has not changed you, you need to be immersed and baptised in the Holy Spirit again!
This Gospel that we preach has power to change the lives of drug addicts and criminals! Sixteen years ago I was preaching in a prison in Russia, 1400 criminals – mass murderers, sex offenders – every one of them repented, and out of them, God raised up 140 evangelists and pastors! That is the power of God! Not just conversion, but changing men, turning them into preachers on fire with the Holy Spirit!
When the Holy Spirit filled that early church, a boldness came on them, they lost their fear, they preached the Word – like Philip in Acts 8:5-8,14. Every time they were filled with the Holy Spirit, miracles happened! When the apostles prayed for the new converts, power came on them! If you are not seeing miracles, get a fresh baptism! Read the Acts of the Apostles! It is the story of a transformed church, a church motivated, with a purpose, on fire with the power of the Holy Spirit! The Word of God says, Jesus will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire! Church, where is the fire, the boldness, the miracles today?
‘At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.’ At once the Spirit sent Him out into the wilderness, and He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended Him.’ (Mark 1:10-13, NIV). Jesus had to be baptised with the Holy Spirit. When He was born, He gave up His heavenly authority, so to work the miracles we read in the Gospels, He had to receive the Holy Spirit. There is a parallel in this with Acts 1, when Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit. It was after this baptism, that the disciples were changed and transformed into mighty men of God who literally changed the course of history. You and I need this same power from God if we are to be effective in ministry. And just as Jesus was tested, so we too, ‘should not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.’ (1 Peter 4:12-14, NKJV.)