Day 24 HE BAPTIZES US IN THE
HOLY SPIRIT
Taken from Daily Meditations on Jesus Christ Booklet # 8
(Also available in Dawning of Wisdom Part 2) John the Baptist announced that Jesus would baptize His disciples with the Holy Spirit. First, Jesus, Himself, would receive the Holy Spirit from heaven upon Him, which happened when He was water baptized by John the Baptist. Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' (John 1:32-34)
Day 24
HE BAPTIZES US IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Mark 1:7-8) Jesus arrived on the scene at the Jordan River, was baptized and received the Holy Spirit. This was preparation for His ministry.
Jesus told His disciples before He went to the cross that He would ask the Father to send another Counselor to them who would be with them forever because He was going back to heaven from whence He came. The Counselor would come to live only in believers. .. the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:17) The Holy Spirit was already with them but soon would be in them. This took place when Jesus first appeared to His disciples after His resurrection. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. (20:21-22)
There was a third dimension of the presence of the Holy Spirit that Jesus instructed them to receive. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:49) Before ascending up to heaven, Jesus again reminded them that they needed the power of the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses and that they were to gather together and wait to receive it. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place on the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus. All who were obedient to gather together to wait to receive the Holy Spirit did indeed receive this mighty outpouring. They were all filled and supernatural things began happening. Peter announced to the crowd that had gathered to see what all the excitement was about, that this wasn’t just for those who had gathered that day, but was available to all believers down through the generations. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:39) Jesus asked the Father for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Father promised it and believers receive it. Jesus is the Baptizer, the Holy Spirit is the element of baptism and the receiver is the believer. It is present tense. Jesus is still baptizing His children in the Holy Spirit when they ask the Father for it in faith. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13)
Meditate on:
· the Holy Spirit coming upon Jesus at His baptism
· the power to be a witness for Jesus that resulted from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
· the Holy Spirit who is with us, in us and upon us
· the promise of the baptism in the Holy Spirit still available for believers today
Flossie Randels
| 
