Welcome, beloved in Christ. Today, we continue our journey into a deeper Christian experience by focusing on the third essential step:
- You must be born again
- You must be sanctified
- You must be baptized with the Holy Ghost
Let us dive into the Scriptures to uncover the power and promise of the Holy Ghost, as revealed in the Book of Acts:
“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…
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost 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 1:4-5, 8 (KJV)
Wow! You need to experience this power! It is the power of the Holy Spirit—promised by the Father, provided through the Son, and poured out upon all believers.
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
— Acts 2:1-4 (KJV)
Glory to Jesus! What a mighty outpouring! A holy fire, a supernatural transformation, and a manifestation of divine power!
Now take note of Apostle Peter. Before Pentecost, Peter was timid and afraid, even denying Jesus. But after receiving the Holy Ghost, he stood up with boldness and preached with such authority that 3,000 souls were saved in a single day! (Acts 2:41)
When the Holy Ghost comes:
- Power comes,
- Boldness comes,
- Deliverance comes,
- Healing comes,
- Signs and wonders follow!
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
Amen! The Holy Spirit empowers you to stand strong, speak boldly, and walk victoriously!
Let’s revisit Peter’s transformation in Acts 2:12-17. As mockers accused the believers of being drunk, Peter declared:
“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh…”
— Acts 2:17-21 (KJV)
Peter spoke with holy fire. That same fire is available to you today!
The Holy Spirit is:
- A Comforter
- A Defender
- A Baptizer
- A Teacher
- A Guider
- A Minister of truth and power
You need the Holy Ghost, and you need His power. Somebody shout Amen!
How Can You Receive the Holy Spirit?
1. Be Born Again
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
— John 3:3 (KJV)
To be born again, confess Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
— Romans 10:9-10 (KJV)
Pray this sincerely:
“Lord Jesus, I confess You as my Lord and Saviour. I believe You died for me and rose again. Come into my life, wash me with Your blood, and make me Yours. Amen.”
Congratulations! If you prayed this prayer with faith, you are now born again!
2. Be Sanctified
Sanctification is a necessary step for receiving the Holy Spirit. It is a deeper cleansing of your heart and a setting apart for God’s use. You can read more on this in my previous article on Sanctification.
In Conclusion
A deeper Christian experience isn’t complete without the baptism of the Holy Ghost. This divine empowerment enables you to live victoriously, minister effectively, and walk boldly as a witness for Christ.
Seek it. Desire it. Pray for it. Receive it!
And you too shall be filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit.
God bless you!