Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

W e ' r e m o r e t h a n j u s t a C h u r c h . . . W e ' r e a F A M I L Y !

A word of clarification on "baptisms"...

There are many different baptisms mentioned in the Bible. But often times the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word "baptism" is the baptism that is most commonly known, and that's when someone gets baptized in water after they receive Jesus into their heart and life.

While both baptisms occur after one has experienced salvation, the difference between the baptisms of water and the Holy Ghost is simple. Respectively, one is a physical act that we observe in obedience to Christ; the other is a spiritual gift, or blessing, that we experience inwardly.

Water baptism is symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. When we are immersed in the water, we represent Jesus' death and burial. But when we are raised out of the water, we represent His resurrection from the dead and our new life in Him (see Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21).

This physical act is simply an outward expression of an inward spiritual change, and serves as our public testimony to the world that we have committed our lives to Christ and are living in submission to His will.

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost...

The "Baptism of the Holy Ghost" isn't quite the same as water baptism. Water baptism is simply a physical act of obedience that symbolizes and testifies of our new life in Christ. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost, however, is a spiritual gift that you receive from the Holy Spirit.

When you get saved, God does not, unfortunately, jerk you up off the planet. You're still here on earth. And even though you may now be born again and on your way to heaven, you still have to fight the battles of life, and there are devils waiting for you all along the way trying to trip you up. In the natural, you will fight sicknesses, pain and loss. In the spiritual, you will face times of discouragement and disappointment, fears and anxieties, and false doctrine all along the way. And that's when having the presence of the Holy Spirit at work in your life becomes so beneficial. You see, getting saved gets you ready for heaven. But the baptism of the Holy Spirit gets you ready for earth.

Before Jesus ascended back to heaven, He gave us a promise... that He would send another Comforter, a Guide to lead us into all truth (see John 14:16-17, 15:26, 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10). Jesus promised that we would receive a supernatural power once the Holy Ghost came upon us (Acts 1:8a). This enduement of power comes to enable us to live consecrated and sanctified (dedicated to God and separated as holy) lives before God and man, and to be an effective witness for Christ (Acts 1:8b). You see, getting saved gets you ready for heaven, but the Baptism in the Holy Ghost gets you ready for earth!

The record of the Holy Spirit's visitation upon the early Church is found in Acts 2. He gave them power in their day to do great exploits for the Kingdom of God, and He is still enabling the Church today to continue to spread the Gospel of Christ with spiritual manifestations and demonstrations of His wonder working power.

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is given freely to those who have been born again and are actively seeking to walk in purity and holiness before God (that's what we call living a continually sanctified life). In like manner to receiving salvation, you receive this spiritual gift by simply asking and receiving. Jesus promised that if you sought the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, you would surely receive (see Luke 11:9, 10:13; Acts 2:39)!

When you receive the Holy Ghost, a wonderful manifestation occurs to assure you that you have truly received this spiritual gift. The first initial evidence of the Holy Spirit's baptism is when you are enabled to speak in "other tongues" by the power of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:1-4). Tongues is a heavenly prayer language that is unknown to us, but is clearly understood by God, and on occasion is revealed to us.

This supernatural gift of tongues is a unique and powerful weapon given to consecrated believers. Tongues is a prayer language through which you can communicate to God unhindered by the limits of mental reasoning and logic (see Rom. 8:26-27; 1 Cor. 14:2, 14). This allows you to pray a more perfect prayer... a prayer directly from your spirit man... not a prayer from your mind that has to battle through carnal doubt and unbelief. Praying in the Holy Ghost (tongues) is a direct communication link to heaven that the devil can't understand, and that can't be stopped by any spiritual roadblocks (hindrances of doubt, unbelief, logic, reasoning, satanic hindrances, spiritual adversaries, etc.)!

Tongues, however, is not just a one-way communication piece through which you do all the talking. Because it is the Holy Spirit that is the source of your ability to speak in the unknown tongues, He can not only direct a more perfect prayer from you to the Father, but He can also, through tongues, bring the Father's response, or answer to your prayer, back to you. Once the Father speaks to your spirit, the Holy Ghost reveals it to your mind and then you have understanding on your circumstance or situation...a Word from the Lord, a supernatural answer to prayer. This is one manifestation of the Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues (two of the nine Gifts of the Spirit, which is a completely different topic of study).

Suffice it to say, through praying in tongues, you are enabled to pray to the Father and receive His responses unhindered by any device or tactic of the devil (see Rom. 8:26-27; 1 Cor. 14:2, 13-15).

Speaking in tongues is not just a prayer language, but it is also a praise language by which you can worship God on a more personal level. Praising God "in the Spirit" (in tongues) deepens and enriches your relationship with Him. It edifies (strengthens, encourages, and empowers) your Spirit man to walk in supernatural faith and live a victorious life as a witness for Christ (see 1 Cor. 14:4a, 15; Jude 20).

There is greater power for you to experience through the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, and I encourage you to ask for His indwelling today! If you're born again, you're a candidate for the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, and all you need do is ask! He will surely give this gift He has already promised to you!

(If you haven't yet asked Christ into your heart and life as Savior and Lord, you need

to do that today! The Holy Ghost will not come to dwell in an unclean temple, so if

you want to experience this relationship with God, the Bible says you must be born

again! For help in becoming born again by faith in Christ, Click Here)

If you're a born again believer in Jesus Christ... if His precious blood has washed your sins away and you want to experience this deeper walk with the Lord through the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, then just pray this prayer right now:

"Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You that I am saved and born again by Your blood! I

thank you that my name is written in the Lamb's book of life! I thank you for bringing

me out of darkness and into light! I thank you that I am ready for heaven, but Lord I

ask that right now you make me ready for earth! Make me an effective witness for

you, so that I may point others to the cross! Make me a living testimony of your life-

changing power!

"Lord, I ask that you fill me right now with the power of the Holy Ghost! Lord Jesus,

fill me with Your Spirit! Fill me with power that I may work wonders in the earth that

point the way to Calvary! Use me! Fill me! Empower me! Lord, give me power from

on high that I may declare Your Word with boldness! Thank you for Baptizing me in

Your Holy Spirit right NOW! In JESUS' Name... AMEN!"

Now, quit doing all the talking yourself, and let HIM do the talking through you! Let the gift of tongues well up out of your spirit man and speak them forth as He enables you! Don't be afraid, and don't try to reason what you hear coming out of you. You're not praying with your mind now; you're praying with your spirit. Your mind has absolutely nothing to do with it! Your spirit man is in control now! Let that prayer and praise language called tongues come up out of you as the Holy Spirit desires!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY for this wonderful supernatural gift called the Baptism of the Holy Ghost! Welcome into this new experience and dimension of praise to the Lord! Praise the Lord right now for this marvelous manifestation He is pouring out upon you! Hallelujah!

Yours for Holiness,

Pastor Chad Carter

Pastor Chad Carter

Family Harvest Church

If you have further questions, or if you need further assistance in receiving this special blessing, please feel free to contact us! We would be happy to correspond with you and lead you deeper into this experience and relationship with the Lord!

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FAMILY HARVEST CHURCH

PASTOR CHAD CARTER

P.O. Box 512

Salem, IN 47167

812-883-2523

www.ChadCarter.org

info@ChadCarter.org