Sunday, January 9, 2022

Fire Baptism - First Sunday after the Epiphany


 He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” – Luke 3: 16

In the book of Acts 2, we see the birth of Church. When Apostles started the church, they never thought or planned about a ministry in Samaria, even though Jesus told them to do so before ascension. In Luke 9: 51-56 we see Samaritans refusing to welcome Jesus to their village because He was going to Jerusalem to the Temple.

But still why John and Peter went to a follow up in Samaria? Follow-up means someone would have already have a ministry of Jesus in that place. How it happened?

After the filling of Holy Spirit and the birth of Christ, the believers and Apostles stayed in Jerusalem. They never went anywhere else to preach the gospel. In Acts 6, we find some confusion and conflict happening in the church. Here we see Stephen emerging as a leader. When you read Acts 6, we find how good things can come from difficulties. But then what happened, to human was worse. Stephen got killed and what followed was a heavy persecution by a man called Saul. At that time, believers and Apostles fled from Jerusalem. That sent Philip to Samaria and to the Ethiopian official. 

When we see hard things, you might think how tough life is, but God does good things from tough situations. In Acts 1: 8, we see Jesus commanding to His disciples to be His witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth. But after receiving the Holy Spirit, the believers were staying in Jerusalem. God took this persecution to expand the ministry to widen it to Samaria and Judea. Believers feared the persecution and fled to Samaria. Where ever they went, they witnessed Jesus.

That is the power of the Holy Spirit. When a believer is filled with the anointing of God’s Spirit, even if He goes through the toughest time in his life, He will make sure to witness Jesus. He will have the strength and heart to glorify Christ Jesus.

In Luke 3: 16, we see John the Baptist introduction Jesus to people saying, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us a task to do, to witness Him everywhere. The task is too big. So without the power of God’s Spirit, it is difficult to do. So Jesus gave us the helper, Holy Spirit. If you need the anointing of Spirit, you need Jesus In your life.

It doesn't mean that you know Jesus, but you need to have Jesus in your life. Satan knows Jesus and theology much more than any man. If you need the Spirit’s guidance in your life, Jesus should be in your life.

To have Jesus in your life, first you need to believe in faith that Jesus is the son of God and He came to the earth from heaven to take your punishment for sins. All your sins punishment have been put into His life and He was sacrificed for your sins, to cleanse you from that sin so that you can be sin free. It has already been done before 2000 years. Jesus died on the cross for your sins.

There is one thing you need to do in your life to claim that salvation. You need to repent your sins before Christ Jesus, accept the truth that He took all your punishment and accept Him as your Savior with all your Heart and soul. Its so simple. There is no need to change your religion, or change your government records etc. You are a child of God once you accept Jesus

Once you accept Jesus, try living a life knowing that God is near you and He is seeing everything you do and hearing whatever you speak. Since now, you are a believer, He cares for you more. Live a life pleasing to Him. How will you know what is pleasing to Him? Read and study His Book, the Bible. Get into a place where you can study it, ask someone to help, if needed. Moreover Pray in the name of Jesus. There is no procedure to receive the Holy Spirit, even though some people may tell there is. Continuously pray to be filled, and definitely you will be filled.

May the Sprit of God guide you and help you to receive His anointing and be a powerful witness for Him in Jesus name, Amen.

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