Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

The second stage on the road towards total wholeness is for the individual to be baptised in Holy Spirit. Now there seems to be a lot of confusion when it comes to the baptism of or in the Holy Spirit. This in not some esoteric experience to be attained by the ‘chosen few’, not is it a Nirvana experience. This is a pre-requisite for all those who want to be an integral part of the kingdom of God and not just church members. So how is the individual baptised and by whom?

Firstly, let us turn to the scripture to answer these questions. During his ministry John the cousin of Jesus, preached repentance in the wilderness and hundreds of people came, confessed their sin and were baptised by him in water. Whilst ministering there he made this declaration in answer to their question about whether or not he was the Messiah: “I baptise with water, among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”  The scripture states that the next day Jesus came to be baptised by John and the spirit of revelation and wisdom came upon John who exclaimed: “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me (God the Father) to baptise with water said to me, the one on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:26-34). Matthew adds “baptises with Holy Spirit and fire” in his gospel (Matt 3:11).

This was fulfilled 50 after Jesus ascended to heaven on the day of Pentecost as recorded by Dr. Luke in Acts 2. The disciples of Jesus were in one place on one accord when Jesus the baptiser came and baptised everyone who was in that upper room, all 70 of them in Holy Spirit which was evidenced by tongues of fire  (Acts 2:1-4). Now I am aware that there is also contention about speaking in tongues and whether it is the initial evidence of Holy Spirit baptism. I am also aware that this is a huge topic and cannot be broached here, but suffice it to say that the apostle Paul tells us that there are two types of tongues, tongues or the language of angels and that of human beings (1Cor 13). Whilst speaking the speaker is totally oblivious to the language he is speaking it is the hearer who makes the distinction as on the day of Pentecost.

Being baptised in Holy Spirit by Jesus is for every believer; however, because of miss-information and fear many believers neglect this baptism and live on the edge of the kingdom of God. Today if you have repented and have received the baptism unto repentance in water, pray this prayer: Dear Jesus, would you please come and baptise me in Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in the tongues of men and of angels?  Please read the scriptures in the text.