27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 01 01-05 THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12 Acts 01 04-05 The baptism of John
📖 Acts 01:01-05
12 – 15Jun2022 – *The baptism of John* - _Acts 01:01-05_ - THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - Bible reading: _Luke 3:2-20_
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You cleanse us and make us be those who are accepted in Your sight. You also make us be Your instruments, to be Your witnesses to reconcile the world to You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.”
_Acts 1:4-5 And being assembled together with them, *He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; (5) for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now*."_
The Lord commanded the disciples to wait to be baptised with the Holy Spirit before they went about with the task of being His witnesses.
To understand the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we must know how John’s baptism is the bridge for us to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
_Luke 3:2-20 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. (3) And he went into all the region around the Jordan, *preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins*,_
People need to be convicted of the sins in their lives, seek God’s forgiveness and be baptised for repentance and also the remission of their sins. Repentance, included that people needed to bear fruit that demonstrated that they have turned from their old ways and are now living a changed life. Remission of sins included forgiveness and cleansing from their sins.
When we look at the baptism of John, we can see how this was truly a wonderful experience.
_(4) as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS: 'PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD; MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. (5) EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE FILLED AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL BROUGHT LOW; THE CROOKED PLACES SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT AND THE ROUGH WAYS SMOOTH; (6) AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.' "_
John’s baptism was a preparation for the Lord Jesus to come and give us the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
People needed to become conscious and convicted of their sin, repent by bearing fruit worthy of repentance and experience the remission of sins, which included both forgiveness and cleansing. This was a spiritual preparation for the Messiah to come and give us His baptism, which is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
_(7) Then he said to the *multitudes that came out to be baptized by him*, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. (9) And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."_
John’s baptism came from a strong position of convicting people of their sins, which were visible. John did not spare the religious leaders, for their sin of hypocrisy. He told them that being the generation of Abraham, would not spare them before God. John did not even spare Herod. He made it clear that if there is no fruit of repentance then the tree will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
_(10) So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?" (11) He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." (12) Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" (13) And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you." (14) Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."_
John addressed specific issues. People had become callous and sin had become the norm. As John preached, people were being convicted and were being baptised by him. The Lord God was preparing for His Son to come and give people the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
_(15) Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, (16) John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (17) His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire." (18) And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. (19) But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, (20) also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison._
John made clear his identity and his baptism. John was setting the stage for Jesus to come and give people a different baptism but a baptism that was built on the baptism of John.
John’s ministry was so effective and powerful that people were eager to see him as the Messiah, for whom they were all waiting. People’s heart was now ready for the Messiah for John had prepared the hearts of the people to receive the Lord Jesus.
*My gratitude*
```“Thank You Lord Jesus for John the Baptist, who gave us the conviction of sin.”```