What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire? First, the Holy Spirit is the power of God in your life. Jesus knew what it would take to build a Church the gates of hell could not prevail against and that’s exactly what He is doing.
After His resurrection, He gave some apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry. This means he anointed five ascension gifts to equip and empower you to advance the Kingdom of God. He also sent you the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart I will send him unto you” (John 16:7). That Comforter is the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was the Word of God made flesh. He never became God He was always God. He was also the Word of God incarnate, “Immanuel; God with us.” At the River Jordan, we read that Jesus was baptized in water by John the Baptist. John the Baptist was the last Old Testament prophet. This meeting between John and Jesus marked a great transition in the order of things moving from the Old Testament Order of Aaron to the New Testament Order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:11). At the water baptism, the Holy Ghost descended on Jesus like a dove. The Holy Ghost is not a dove, fire, water, it, thing, or a feeling he is the third person of the Trinity. Notice the Trinity in this scripture: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)
Again, the Holy Ghost is the third person of the Holy Trinity. He is as much God as the Father and Son is God. Before Jesus was baptized by the Holy Ghost, there were no miracles, healings, casting out demons, walking on water, rebuking storms, multiplying bread and fishes or raising the dead. In other words, there was no manifesting the Kingdom of God. This is a simple but profound truth, Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, had no miracle-working power until the Holy Ghost came on him.
THE ANOINTED ONE
Today it is rightfully common to refer to Jesus as the Christ. Christ means the “Anointed One.” Jesus, however, did not become the Christ until the Holy Ghost came on Him. Scripture teaches that Jesus the Word was in the beginning with God. Let’s take a look:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1-3)
Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, the Lamb of God sent as an atoning sacrifice for your sins, and the Restoring King. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This is the ministry of the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. The cross is the most preached about the ministry of Christ, but he was also the Restoring King (Acts 3:21). Jesus not only came as the Lamb of God but also the Last Adam. As the Last Adam, Christ revealed how to manifest His Kingdom after being baptized by the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 15:45). He said, “If I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you” (Luke 11:20).
KINGDOM RESTORATION
Scripture teaches Jesus came to, “Seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). That which was lost was the Kingdom of God. After Christ’s baptism of the Holy Ghost, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to confront Satan. During this confrontation, Satan showed him all the kingdoms of the world. The devil said the kingdoms of this world belonged to him. Let’s read Christ’ response.
“And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered (surrendered) unto me and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou, therefore, wilt worship me all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve.” (Luke 4:5-8) {module Spiritual Discernment Strategies Value Kit}
This wilderness place was probably the old kingdom of God conferred to Satan by the outright traitorous rebellion by Adam and Eve. Satan thought he was talking to someone like the first Adam, but not so, Satan was now speaking to Christ, the Anointed One. After this incursion, Jesus went into a synagogue and read this Scripture.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)
Jesus revealed something very important for you to understand, He was anointed by the Holy Ghost. Jesus did not anoint Himself. As already said, before Jesus was anointed by the Holy Ghost there were no signs, wonders, or miracles. The bottom line is this, if Jesus needed the anointing of the Holy Ghost to manifest the Kingdom of God then you do too.
TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Jesus was the greatest revolutionary of all time. He took a hand full of disciples and used them to turn the world upside down. You are part of His revolutionary army, the priesthood of kings (1 Peter 2:9). After the resurrection of Christ, He met with His followers. They were anxious to start their ministries, but Jesus knew they needed the power of the Holy Spirit for success. After all, they would face demonic principalities, powers, and spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places. Like you, they would battle the spirit of religion, witchcraft, Jezebel spirits, and anti-Christ forces. He had already taught them much on the ministry of the Holy Spirit as read in this Scripture.
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine and shall show it unto you.” (John 16:13-14)
Notice the Holy Spirit as:
- Teacher
- Comforter
- Guide into truth
- Revealer
The Holy Spirit also empowers you to manifest the Kingdom of God with the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. As already said, Christ’s world changers were eager to get started in ministry, but Jesus told them to wait for the “promise of the Father”, the Holy Ghost who would endue them with overcoming power.
“And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence” (Acts 1:4-5).
This Holy Ghost promise of the Father would empower Christ’s disciples to invade, occupy, and turn the world upside down for Christ.
“But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
I encourage you to be baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. This gift is for you right now.
Your partner,
(c) Apostle Jonas Clark -STAY INFORMED
www.jonasclark.com
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