“Baptism"

• is from the Greek verb baptizo which means “to immerse.”

• Immerse – if something is immersed in liquid, someone puts it into the liquid so that it’s completely covered

• The process of baptism consists of immersion, submersion and emergence.

• to baptize is to totally immerse an object in another substance and then bring it out again

• In a biblical sense, to baptize a person in water means to put that person completely under the water, then immediately raise him or her up again.

Water Baptism

• Water baptism is a symbolic act whereby a new Christian identifies with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

• Water baptism is a way of giving outward testimony to an inward work of God, and is also a public profession of a person's repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

• Water baptism also gives the believer the opportunity to openly testify to others of his born-again experience.

• Water baptism is not the baptism that saves. It is the precious blood that Jesus shed on the cross, not water, which cleanses us from sin. (See Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:22; Revelation 1:5.)

• Water baptism is an experience after salvation to confirm and strengthen your commitment to live a godly life.

• Water baptism symbolically identifies us as new creations in Christ. By going down in the water, we illustrate that our old man is dead to sin and buried by faith in Christ. As a result, we are free from our old master Satan. By being raised up out of the water, we show that our new man is raised by the Spirit, alive by faith in Christ, and our new Master is the Lord Jesus. We then commit to walk in righteousness, not through our old ways and fleshly habits but through our new life in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling our spirit.

• Water baptism should be a very significant time in your life as a believer. It’s a time to fully commit to obey and follow Jesus, being willing to fulfill the purpose and plan of Almighty God for your life.

• Baptism is the line of separation between being alien sinners and becoming children of the living God.

• Baptism is the manifestation of the repentance, that gift from God that is the sign of the circumcised heart.

• Water baptism demonstrates obedience to the command of Jesus (see Matthew 28:19) and gives evidence of saving faith (see James 2:22).

Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?

• "No, water baptism is not necessary for salvation." • Water baptism is purely an outward sign of God's

cleansing work in a person's heart• Water baptism is an important first step of obedience

for a new believer to begin walking out his or her faith.• People in the Old Testament were not saved by their

animal sacrifices but rather by their faith in the coming Lamb of God. In a similar way, one is not saved by being immersed in water, nor is water baptism a requirement for one's salvation. A person is saved purely by his or her faith in Jesus Christ.

Who Should Be Water Baptized?

• Water baptism is only appropriate for those who have repented of their sins and believed in Jesus with all of their heart. A biblical example comes from Acts 8:36-38.

• Disciples of Jesus in the New Testament church were baptized to proclaim their total allegiance and commitment to Jesus, regardless of the consequences.

Examples of water baptism in the New Testament:

• John the Baptist baptized whomever would repent (Mark 1:5).• On the day of Pentecost, 3,000 new believers were baptized

(Acts 2:41).• The Samaritans that believed were baptized (Acts 8:12).• Paul was baptized three days after he met Jesus on the road to

Damascus (Acts 9:18).• Cornelius and some other Gentiles were baptized (Acts 10:47).• Lydia and her household were baptized (Acts 16:15).• The Philippian jailer and his household were baptized (Acts

16:33).• Many Corinthians were baptized (Acts 18:8).• The Ephesian disciples were baptized (Acts 19:5).

HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM

• Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the empowering of the believer for service

• The baptism in the Holy Spirit is an infilling of power which Jesus performs in the life of one who is completely yielded to Him.

• is the flowing forth from our lives in the dynamis (the dynamic)-the power of God's Spirit working through our lives in touching those around us (John 7:37-38)

• the outpouring of the Holy Spirit would give them power to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and boldness to spread the good news wherever they went.

• The power (dunamis in Greek) of the Holy Spirit actually enables Christians to stand firm in the face of persecution and do the works Jesus did.

• We know that there is baptism in water. And the one who baptizes you in water is usually the pastor of the church. He is the one who is baptizing and the water is the element in which you are being baptized. There is the baptism with the Holy Spirit and Jesus is the baptizer. John said, "He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit" (John 1:33). And the Holy Spirit is the element in which you are immersed, even as you have been immersed in water. So, to be immersed in the Holy Spirit is the thought and the idea behind the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Following the outpouring of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost (Acts 2), the early church continued to experience the baptism in the Holy Ghost. Four incidences in particular are recorded in the book

of Acts.

• New Christians in Samaria - Acts 8:14-17• Saul of Tarsus (Apostle Paul) - Acts 9:17-18• Cornelius and his household - Acts 10:44-46• Disciples at Ephesus - Acts 19:1-6

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Bible teaches that God is a Spirit (John 4:24), and He is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator (Elohim, Deuteronomy 6:4) Who is revealed throughout Scripture in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thus, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead.

Now let's take a moment to discover what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit.

• The Holy Spirit is likened to oil (I Samuel 16:13)• The Holy Spirit is likened to fire (Acts 2:3)• The Holy Spirit is likened to water (John 7:37-39)• The Holy Spirit is likened to wind (Acts 2:2)• The Holy Spirit is the Counselor (John 14:16)• The Holy Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:8)• The Holy Spirit is our teacher (John 14:26)• The Holy Spirit gives supernatural gifts (I

Corinthians 12:8-10)• The Holy Spirit makes intercession for the children

of God (Romans 8:26-27).• The Holy Spirit is power (Acts 1:8)

Illustration of the Godhead

• "The LORD hath sworn by his right hand [Spirit], and by the arm of his strength [Jesus]...“ (Isaiah 62:8)

• Both the arm (Jesus) and the hand (Holy Spirit) of God work in perfect agreement with the will of the Father, Who is the head (see Matthew 26:39; John 14:28, 15:26; and I Corinthians 11:3)

Hand of the Lord: The Holy Spirit• Old Testament prophets often associated the "hand of the Lord" with God's

Spirit.• "So the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the

heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me" (Ezekiel 3:14).

• "The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones" (Ezekiel 37:1).

• "That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever" (Joshua 4:24).

• "The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly" (Psalms 118:16).

• A hand suggests direction, instruction, help, and comfort. The Holy Spirit is indeed the Helper, the Teacher of God's children (I Corinthians 2:13; I John 2:27), and the divine Comforter (John 14:26). Also, a hand can represent skill, power, restraint, and touch (see Job 32:18; Isaiah 50:2; Luke 4:14, 11:20). All of these words accurately describe the work of God through the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit Baptism of Jesus’ Disciples

• John 14:16-17 • He lives with you & will be in you• John 20:22 • Indwelling of the Holy Spirit• Acts 1:4-5• Acts 2:4;17 -18 • Outpouring of the Holy Spirit• Acts of the Apostles – Book of Acts• Baptism of the Holy Spirit• John 7:37 – 38• Illustration of Baptism of Holy Spirit

Hindrances to Receiving the Baptism

• Doubt — Unbelief (doubt) is the worst enemy of faith. When approaching God, doubts such as "What if the infilling of the Holy Spirit doesn't happen for me?" must be conquered with the shield of faith. Listening to the world (television, media, certain friends and music) will tear down your faith and cause doubts, so build up your faith by reading and hearing the Word. (Romans 10:17).

• Pride — Pride shows up when a person seeks the praise of others or desires the power of the Holy Spirit to serve his or her own lusts (read the example of Simon in Acts 8:14-25 who tried to buy the Holy Spirit with money). God resists the proud heart, but He gives grace to the humble heart. Being filled with the Holy Spirit does not make someone better than another and should never be a reason for prideful comparison among believers.

• Fear — The Bible tells us to fear God only, for when you fear Him, you will have no need to fear anyone or anything else. This kind of fear is an awesome reverence and respect for Him Who is holy; it is recognizing how all-powerful our God really is.

Evidences of Holy Spirit Baptism

• In the book of Acts, the most common sign of Holy Spirit baptism was the expression of unknown tongues. "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4)

• The biblical examples indicate that in addition to tongues, evidences of being filled with the Spirit include prophecy (Luke 1:41, Acts 19:6), boldness (Acts 4:31), miraculous healings (Acts 5:15-16), spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19), wisdom (Acts 6:3), faith (Acts 6:8), and joy (Acts 13:52).

AUTHORITY & POWER OF THE WORD

• 2 Peter 3:5 - By God’s word• Acts 6:4 - Prayer & ministry of the Word• Acts 6:7 - Number of disciples increased rapidly &

large number of priests became obedient to the faith• 2 Tim 3:16 - God – breathed • 2 Peter 1:20, 21 - men spoke from God as they were

carried along by the Holy Spirit• John 1: 1 - Word was God• John 1:14 - The Word is Jesus Christ

• Psalms 119:89 – eternal; it stands firm in the heavens• Psalms 119:160 – true• Isaiah 40:8 – stands forever• Isaiah 55:11 – will accomplish what God desire & achieve

the purpose for which God sent it• Matthew 24:35 – will never pass away• John 17:17 – is truth• Hebrews 4:12 – the Word of God is living & active. • John 12:48 – the word that Jesus spoke

BENEFITS OF THE WORD

• Joshua 1:8 – do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day & night; prosperous and successful

• Psalms 1:1-3 – whatever he does prospers• 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 – teaching, rebuking, correcting & training• Mat. 4:1-11 – through God’s Word• Psalms 119:98-100 – make us wiser than the enemies • Psalms 119: 105 – lamp to the feet & light for the path• Psalms 119:165 – nothing can make them stumble; great

peace• Proverbs 4:20-22 – health to a man’s whole body

PERSONAL PRAYER

• Mark 1:35 – very early in the morning & to a solitary place

• Matthew 6:5 – in the synagogues & on the street• Matthew 6:6 – a secret place• Matthew 6:6, 8, 9 - to the Father• Matthew 6:9-13 – His will be done on earth; daily

bread; forgiveness; deliverance from temptation;

THE POWER OF PRAYER• Mat. 7:7-11 – receive; find & door will be opened• Mark 11:24 – believe • Matthew 21:22 – whatever we ask in prayer• James 4:3 – ask with wrong motives• Psalms 66:18&19 – sin• James 1:6-8 – doubt• 1 Peter 3:7 – selfishness • John 14:12 – 14 – in Jesus name• Philippians 4:6 – to God• John 14:6 – through Jesus• 1 Timothy 2:5 – one mediator & that’s Jesus Christ• Acts 16:25 – praying & singing hymns to God• Acts 16:26-34 – God moved• James 5:17, 18 – it would not rain; God granted the requests of Elijah

CORPORATE PRAYER

• Acts 1:13, 14 – they all joined together constantly in prayer• Acts 4:23, 24 – they raised their voices together in prayer to

God• Acts 4:29,30 – enable your servants to speak your word with

great boldness; heal and perform miraculous signs & wonders through Jesus name

• Acts 12:5, 12 – earnestly praying to God; may people gathered & were praying

• Acts 12:7-12 – God rescued Peter• Acts 13:2 – worshipping the Lord and fasting• Acts 13:3 – they fasted & prayed• Matthew 18:19 – agree with anything you ask for