It is common for new believers in Christ to participate in baptism as an outward sign of an inward commitment of their lives to Christ. They symbolically die to self and rise up to a new life in Christ.
As we pursue such a dramatic commitment in our lives we are called to do more than just make a personal commitment to repentance but actually a spiritual commitment to follow and submit to Yeshua with all of our lives. This is a very difficult challenge to live out because of our sin nature. We need God’s help.
John the Baptist knew that only the power of Jesus Christ can bring baptism with the Holy Spirit.
11“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
When we truly submit to Jesus as Lord and Savior, God comes to dwell inside of us to help us live for Him.
23Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
Scripture gives us multiple examples of the power of the Spirit regarding baptism, but Acts 19 provides a good view of the difference between baptism in repentance of men and the baptism with the Spirit which is of Jesus.
Paul at Ephesus
1It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7There were in all about twelve men.
The presence of the Spirit is real and it is powerful. In this scripture the impact was immediate and dramatic for the men involved.
This scripture should not be seen as diminishing the role of John the Baptist, but rather it should serve as an excellent reminder that Jesus alone is Lord. John the Baptist was a faithful servant of God. He himself recognized that the one we are to believe in is Jesus and not himself. We must be careful not to get hung up on the names and personalities of his servants whether they be preachers, teachers, evangelists, or prophets. No matter the circumstance or the accomplishment, we should look through them and recognize the power comes from Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. As His followers we should invite God to come and dwell within us to lead and guide and help us to live more fully for Christ and to die to our own selfish, sinful nature.
I invite you to pray with me:
Father, thank You for Your Spirit to dwell with us. Please help us to know You and be Spirit filled. Help us to be fully committed to You. Increase our understanding of the Spirit and of our call to walk with You. Help us to be a light to others. Though the Spirit may strike many as having strange effect on us, please help us to embrace Him in our lives. Amen.
Shalom
Devotion by John in service to Christ
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