When asked to think of the gifts Jesus gave us, we automatically think salvation, healing, eternal life. But there is one gift that Jesus spoke about and it is a gift that all of us should desire to have. I. REASONS WHY YOU AND I NEED TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY

SPIRIT: G.I.F.T G ift It is a gift promised by the Father, sent by Jesus.

The Father gives it to us, Jesus executes for us. If God wants to give me something, I won’t refuse it. He’s the giver of all good gifts. He’s gives the best gifts to us. If Jesus kept on talking about the Holy Spirit in his final moments with his disciples, then it must be good. I gotta have it!

Acts 1:4 Lk 11:13 James 1:17

I mportant Jesus emphasized the need for it by commanding His disciples to wait for it. Full Life Study Bible (Article: Baptism in the Holy Spirit) #2: One of Christ’s key goals in his earthly mission was to baptize his followers in the Holy Spirited (Mt 3:11, Mk 1:8, Lk 3:16, Jn 1:33). He instructed his disciples not to begin witnessing until they were baptized int eh Holy Spirit and “clothed with power from on high” (Lk 24:49, Ac 1:4-5,8). Jesus Christ himself did not enter his ministry until he had been “anointed… with the Holy Spirit and power” (Ac 10:38, cf. Lk 4:1,18).

Lk 24:49 Acts 1:4,5

F illed to the full measure

Jesus Himself was filled with the Spirit while He was here on earth. He operated his earthly missions under the leading, power, and anointing of the Holy Spirit. So should we. We should desire and ask to be filled to the full measure xof the Spirit. Baptize – Gk 907 baptizo (bap-tid’-zo) meaning to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge…to overwhelm Dakes Annotated Reference Bible (Notes on Lk 11:13) All children of God are given the Spirit in a measure at new birth so what is this extra asking for the Holy Spirit after men become children of God if it is not what the disciples received at Pentecost after they had been children of God for several years (Ac 1:4-8, 2:1-16)?

Lk 4:1,14,18

What was it that the others received after their sonship (Ac 9:17, 8:1-22, 10:44-48, 11:!4-18, 15:7-11, 19:1-7, etc.)

T riumphant Living

It is our source of power for Christ-like living here on earth. Full Life Study Bible (Article: Baptism in the Holy Spirit) #6 The baptism in the Holy Spirit will bring the personal boldness and power of the Spirit into the believer’s life in order to accomplish mighty works in Christ’s name and to make his or her witness and proclamation effective (cf. Ac 1:8, 2:14-41, 4:31, 6:8, Rom 15:18-19, 1 Co 2:4). This power is not some impersonal force, but is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit by which Jesus and his glory and works are present with his people (Jn 14:16-18, 16:14, 1 Co 12:7). Pentecostal Evangel (Article: “Counting on the Supernatural” by Randy Hurst) “Most of the time, the kind of power we need in everyday life is neither spectacular nor sensational. But it is supernatural. Accomplishing God’s purposes in this world requires divine help beyond our natural abilities. Supernatural living is not always outwardly dramatic.”

Acts 1:8

II. HOW DO WE GET THIS GIFT? John 7:37-38New American Standard Bible (NASB)

37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “[a]If anyone is thirsty, [b]let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From [c]his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

Footnotes:

a. John 7:37 Vv 37-38 may also be read: If anyone is thirsty,...let him come..., he who believes in me as...

b. John 7:37 Or let him keep coming to Me and let him keep drinking c. John 7:38 Lit out of his belly

1. You must be born again. (Repent, turn away from sin and turn to God. Confess

your sins. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ). 2. Be thirsty for God.

a. Seek the Giver more than the gift. b. Acts 42:1-2a “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for

you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” 3. Go to the source: Jesus, the Baptizer

4. Drink. a. Fill your mind with thoughts of Jesus and let Him fill you to the

overflowing. b. Open your mouth.

i. Praise Jesus. ii. Use your voicebox.

c. Yield yourself to the Spirit. 5. Let it flow.

III. AFTER I RECEIVE THE GIFT, WHAT’S NEXT? “Be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18 FLSB NOTES (Eph 5:18)

- Present passive imperative tense “repeatedly being filled” o Christians are to be baptized in the Holy Spirit after conversion (Ac 1:5,

2:4), yet they are to be filled with the Spirit repeatedly for worship, service and witness (See Ac 4:31-33 note).

Acts 4:31 (FLSB Note #3) All believers, including the apostles who had been previously filled (2:3) are freshly filled to meet the continuing opposition of the Jews (v.29). Fresh fillings with the Holy Spirit are part of God’s will and provision for all who have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. We should expect and seek those fillings.

o Believers experience repeated fillings with the Spirit by Maintaining a living faith in Jesus Christ (Gal 3:5) Being filled with God’s Word (Col 3:16) Praying, giving thanks and singing to the Lord (Eph 5:19-20, 1 Co

14:15) Serving others (Eph 5:21) Doing what the Holy Spirit desires (Eph 4:30, Rom 8:1-14, Gal

5:16ff, 1 Th 5:19). IV. ALTAR CALL