Who We Welcome and Why – 8

                                                         Who We Welcome and Why – 8

Subject – Welcoming Holy Spirit Baptism – Part 2

By Rick Welborne

Luke 24:45-53 (NKJV)
⁴⁵  And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
⁴⁶  Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
⁴⁷  and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
⁴⁸  And you are witnesses of these things.
⁴⁹  Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
⁵⁰  And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
⁵¹  Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
⁵²  And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
⁵³  and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen. 

--How beautiful…The Promise of the Father…Holy Spirit baptism. Yes, I know we have already spoke about welcoming Holy Spirit, and if you remember, He showed up. Pastor Neftali spoke about Him.

--Today is a little different because, not only are we talking about Holy Spirit, but we are talking about the New Testament experience that is available to every believer…Holy Spirit baptism.

--You cannot do an honest, sincere, and exegetical study of the New Testament without seeing Holy Spirit baptism as a viable experience for the believer today.

--Five reasons we should welcome Holy Spirit baptism: We just mention the first three today.

1. We welcome Holy Spirit baptism and speaking in tongues because it is biblical.

2. We welcome Holy Spirit baptism because speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence.

1 Corinthians 14:18 (NKJV) ¹⁸  I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;

3. We welcome Holy Spirit baptism because speaking in tongues helps us communicate better with God.

4. We welcome Holy Spirit baptism because speaking in tongues moves us toward the mission of God.

--It is so apparent in the Book of Acts to see the connection between Holy Spirit baptism and fulfilling the Great Commission…missions. 

--Once baptized with Holy Spirit we see disciples who could not even stand for Jesus or stay and protect him, and now, they are boldly standing and proclaiming the Good News. Right before Jesus ascended to heaven:

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
¹⁸  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
¹⁹  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
²⁰  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

--We can see in Acts 2 where Holy Spirit empowerment transformed Peter (who could not witness to one young girl before) to become a mighty witness to all who were there at Pentecost. 

--Of course, Jesus knew what awaited the disciples and that the road would not be easy, He told them to wait for the Promise of the Father, Holy Spirit baptism.

--Jesus knew they needed supernatural power and boldness to accomplish what He had commissioned them to do. What makes us think we can do it any other way. Technology is good, but Holy Spirit power is better.

--At the start of the 20^th century we have seen the difference Holy Spirit baptism has made in the life and mission of the church. The church has grown exponential since Holy Spirit was poured out.

--Because these newly baptized believers have been emboldened by Holy Spirit they have taken this gospel to the ends of the earth. They have felt compelled to go! Obedience!

--As Pentecostals we should be seeking the same power and Spirit the early disciples sought because we want to declare to the world the message of salvation. So many countries were there at Pentecost hearing:

Acts 2:11 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                                   ¹¹  Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."

--Because of Holy Spirit baptism the wonderful works of God have been manifested in signs and wonders. God please again pour out Holy Spirit on your people so that signs and wonders will come. Healings.

--So what’s the point? If they needed Holy Spirit power then to fulfill the Great Commission and to reach the then known world, why do we believe it would be any different today?

Timothy Laurito – Given the connection in the Book of Acts between Spirit baptism and missional empowerment, we must not overlook the importance of seeking Holy Spirit today. A decline in Spirit baptisms will lead to a decline in missional effectiveness. 

Pastor Rick’s interpretation – If we are not Holy Spirit baptized, we more than likely will not be missionaries or be supporters of the Great Commission. Without Him we just don’t get it. 

Galatians 3:3-5 (NLT2)
³  How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
⁴  Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?
⁵  I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. 

--So, speaking in tongues is not just about Pentecostals continuing a tradition, it is about us receiving power to be the effective witnesses God called us to be. If you care for the lost, get Spirit baptized.

5. We welcome Holy Spirit baptism because speaking in tongues gives us a glimpse of our future hope.

--In the AOG we have emphasized in our doctrine and in our preaching that there is coming a day when Christ will return for those who belong to Him. 16 Fundamental Truths.- The Blessed Hope

Titus 2:13 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                                   ¹³  looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

--Okay, Pastor Rick, how are you connecting Holy Spirit baptism or outpouring on end time events or hope?

--A Pentecostal understanding of the outpouring of Holy Spirit in Acts 2 must include the prophecy from Joel 2 concerning eschatological (end times) events. People there from every nation under heaven (Acts 2:5).

--Watch in these verses the connection between Holy Spirit outpouring and end time events. 

Acts 2:17-18 (NKJV) ¹⁷  'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.
¹⁸  And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 

--As Peter continued to preach under the inspiration of Holy Spirit, it was obvious God was using him to help fulfill the Great Commission He had just called them to in Mat. 28.

Acts 2:37-41 (NKJV)
³⁷  Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
³⁸  Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
³⁹  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
⁴⁰  And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
⁴¹  Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 

--Holy Spirit preaching led to repentance, water baptism, and Spirit baptism. In other words, once we are filled with Holy Spirit, we should be sharing the same message to others. Salvation, water baptism, Spirit baptized.

--So why is it important to mention that every nation under heaven were represented in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost? Because it sounds like heaven.

Revelation 7:9-10 (NKJV)
⁹  After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
¹⁰  and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

--So why do we support 213 missionaries and continually want more? When we are Spirit baptized, when we support the Great Commission, and when send missionaries to the end of the earth:

Matthew 24:14 (NKJV)
¹⁴  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.