When you look at the verses yesterday about the laying on of hands, you have to come away with the thought that there has to be more. There has always been so much emphasis on water baptism but very little on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. People say they were baptized but where is the power of the Holy Spirit. Because there has been so much unbelief in the area of the Holy Spirit, most just fall back to John’s Baptism because I think they feel it is safer but there is more. Many Christians do not even know there is more and many fight against there being more. Matthew 3:11 “John said, I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Yes repentance is the first step but there is more, as we need to be baptized by the Holy Spirit. Where is this anointing and where are the people laying on hands? (Just a side note. I am not talking about the false prophets who are laying on hands. 1 Timothy 5:22 “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.”) Peter said, Acts 11:15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
It is almost as if the church has not read these verses. Most Christians say they are filled with the Holy Spirit but really they were just baptized with water and have been content living without the power that is available to all who believe. While Peter was at Cornelius’s house he said, Acts 10:37 “You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” This is the gospel that can only continue not because you were baptized but because of the power of the Holy Spirit. As he was speaking “the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.” I have always found this interesting as they were baptized with water after being baptized with the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:45 “The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.”
So what if the Apostle Paul shows up one day and asks you, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” What would you say? Most would say yes because they got baptized. That is what they have been taught but since the empty way of life has been handed down there is no power. When you ask most to explain the power of the Holy Spirit they have no idea. But the answer should be “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” At Christmas time we say Emmanuel Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” Do we actually believe that God is with us like God was with Jesus? Jesus then gave us that same authority so our answer should include this. Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. Luke 9:1 “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Acts 19:11 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them” Mark 16:15 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well. 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” Luke 7:21 “At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Not very many can say this but yet most think they have been baptized by the Holy Spirit. The gospel /church that they believe in looks nothing like these verses. The right answer would be this. Acts 19:2 “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (bottom line is they have no idea) 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 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.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” We should be humbling ourselves and asking for repentance because we have been satisfied with only part of the gospel. There is more!
