Day 216 - FOUNDATION STONES IN A YEAR

Reading: Acts 1 and 2

So far this month we’ve looked closely at what baptism means and brings – and at our baptism into Christ and into suffering. We’re going to look at the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

Although we see the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, endowing priests, prophets and kings with power and wisdom, there is an all-consuming outpouring of the Holy Spirit that is predicted in the Old Testament, in the book of Joel… 

And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on my menservants and on my maidservants I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Joel 2:28-29 

And we can also find it in the New Testament, when John the Baptist was speaking to the people about Jesus:

John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Luke 3: 16

The fulfilment of these prophecies was mentioned in John 16: 7, when Jesus was telling His disciples that it was better for Him to go, because once He was gone, He would send The Comforter, the Holy Spirit. 

The actual fulfilment took place on the Day of Pentecost as Jesus had said it would. We read about that incredible event in Acts 2. 

But hang on a minute..? Didn’t I receive the Holy Spirit when I received Christ? How else was I regenerated if not by the work of the Spirit? 

Yes. 

But the baptism of the Holy Spirit we are speaking of is given for the purpose of receiving God’s power for the work of ministry. 

Prayer

Lord, please open my heart and mind to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

For the family

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