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!
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?
This question of a ‘baptism of fire’ is not a matter just for the church collectively, but rather it is an individual experience that each one of us needs to experience. Jesus, speaking to His closest disciples in the aftermath of the drama of the crucifixion and the miracle of His resurrection realises the situation facing them. They realise that despite these miraculous events He is leaving them again, until His final return as Messiah! They now face a leadership crisis – they need inspiration, direction, but most of all someone who will perform the miracles and empower them!
His answer was for them to wait in Jerusalem for the gift promised by the Father – “John baptised with water but in a few days, you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” Later, as they questioned the meaning, His answer was simple, “When the Holy Spirit comes, you will receive power and become witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth!” Wow! Then He was gone! (Acts 1:4-9.)
Ten days later the remaining group of only 120 dispirited disciples were meeting in an upper room on Mount Zion behind locked doors. They were now secret disciples desperately trying to hold on to their faith – but in total fear of imprisonment or even death. Suddenly a miracle – the noise of violent wind filled the room and fire that separated and sat on each one individually! All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign languages! But amazingly, they spoke many languages recognised by all the nationalities of the Jews who had come to worship at the feast in Jerusalem. (Acts 2.)
So, the Church was born in Fire – the disciples were empowered – they could do all that Jesus had done previously – and now they evangelised the world! That is how the Church began and how it should be today! Was this experience only for the few? No, they laid hands on others, including all the new converts, until all became empowered by this power from the Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts reports that everywhere the disciples ministered many repented were baptised in water and received the Holy Spirit.
I want you to understand the power of the Holy Spirit to change and empower lives. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, Peter, according to John 21, went back to his old life of fishing. He is disillusioned and disappointed. Yet, when the Holy Spirit came upon him on the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached with such power and conviction that 3000 repented!
It is interesting that on the Day of Pentecost, Peter in his first evangelism spoke of this experience of the Holy Spirit, not just in the words of Jesus, but of the Jewish prophets. He said, “This is that spoken by the prophet Joel… . (Joel 2:28-32.) This prophecy continues until the coming of the ‘Day of the Lord’, and the final prophecy concerning the return of Christ to Jerusalem!
If we believe we are living in the last days, we need the same Holy Spirit desperately! The reason I first received the Holy Spirit was because I knew I had to preach the Gospel – with lives changed, souls saved into the Kingdom!
I've seen incredible miracles in my life. But that was 'yesterday', I'm believing for greater miracles 'tomorrow'. I want a new baptism of Fire, a baptism of Power, because I need the Power of God in my life. By faith, I take that promise; by faith, I believe everything in the Bible! Only three years ago I challenged the Lord saying, 'Look at all the miracles in the Old Testament, we need to see bigger miracles now! Lord, is it possible?' God then showed me from the Scripture that we can actually see bigger miracles today than recorded in the Bible. Jesus said, 'When the Holy Spirit is come, you will do the same work I have done and greater! You'll heal the sick and raise the dead! And you will do greater miracles because I am going to my Father; and I will send the Holy Spirit to empower you. Nothing is impossible!' (John 14:12-14, Mark 16:15-18.)
I want you to be filled with the Fire and Power of the Holy Spirit. God raised YOU up to heal the sick, raise the dead, work miracles and preach the Gospel – and He sent the Holy Spirit to do this through YOU! When you’ve got the Holy Ghost, God does everything! – Because it’s the Holy Spirit who gives you the gift of faith to do it! ‘Those that know their God will be strong and do exploits!’ (Daniel 11:32 KJV.)