The Baptism In The Holy Spirit
Lesson Eleven: The Purpose Of The Baptism In The Holy Spirit

TEXT: John 14:20 - At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

1 Cor. 2:12-15
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [14] But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. [15] But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
 

The message of the Holy Spirit is VITAL to fully understand what Jesus did for us at the Cross. Jesus did not just come and die for men to be saved, which of course He did - "for God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in HIM should not PERISH but have everlasting life;" Jesus came also that men would be FILLED with the Spirit of Almighty God as a habitation of the Father to become witnesses of heaven's grace and mercy to a fallen, sin-besieged human race.

Ephes. 2:20-22
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; [21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: [22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

One of the great fallacies among religious teaching today is that the Holy Spirit was sent by God the Father for the PRIMARY and only purpose of winning souls and thus these same teachers reject any other ministry and work of the Holy Spirit outside that of conviction. Of course, the winning of souls is a COMPONENT of the great overall ministry of God's Holy Ghost but to restrict His broad wide-ranging aims of God's plan to one narrow segment is to distort the true portrait of God's omnipotence. Even those who have been baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues have backed away from dependence on the anointing and walking in the fullness of the Spirit of God thinking somehow that if we have a "name" we're Pentecostal without the Holy Spirit actually moving we'll be safe within the confines of our denomination and everyone will "think" we're spirit-filled.

Please don't get this writer wrong; he loves souls and believes the only hope for fallen lost humanity is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The very fact this website exists is to hopefully be a light to a soul who, though wandering in darkness, may by the leading of the Spirit come across this site, read something that will plant a seed about the Lord and eventually lead them to Jesus Christ. We do ALL things for the gospel sake and yet we can do NOTHING except the Holy Spirit birth, produce, lead, guide, direct and empower us to do what the Lord has called us to do. The anointing of the Holy Ghost is a tangible presence of God that is either a REBUKE to every child of the WORLD system and repels everything not of God off the believer OR it becomes one of the greatest drawing mechanisms the Holy Ghost uses to bring people to CHRIST through the testimony of our hearts and lives as they see Christ formed in us! The Spirit of God does not draw men to other human men; He draws men to the SOURCE of all LIFE - the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who declared that if "He be LIFTED UP, He would 'draw' all men to Him." The "drawing" is made possible by the Holy Ghost!

During the last week of His life Jesus said more about the Holy Spirit of God than he did throughout the rest of His life in its entirety. When Jesus walked the earth He was like an author writing the final act in the longest running play in all history - the era of the Mosaic Covenant known as Law - and presenting a new production known as "GRACE." Law came by Moses, the Scripture says, but GRACE and TRUTH came by JESUS CHRIST!

John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Under the Mosaic Law, and while Jesus was here in person, there wasn't the same necessity for the presence of the Holy Spirit as there would be later. While Jesus was here, He was the guiding beacon for all mankind. This is why He stated to His disciples, "it is expedient that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come!" This doesn't mean the Holy Spirit was not present on Earth prior to the resurrection for Scripture clearly reveals the Spirit of God was here even from the time of Creation:

Genesis 1:2-3
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
[3] And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Before the Cross however, He did not operate with the RANGE He was subsequently to have, nor with the access to the hearts of men He was allowed because sin had not been paid for under the Law's ceremonies and rituals. The blood of bulls and goats can NEVER take away sin - only the BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST can do that! Sir, you can attend church, be a good deacon, a good Sunday School teacher, even sing in the choir or worship team and in some instances run and shout down the aisles of your church all day long as if you're the greatest spiritual icon the fellowship you attend has. But if your name is not written down in the Lamb's book of Life, having been BORN AGAIN, not by a corruptible means but by the incorruptible power of the Word of God which takes place when one REPENTS of their sins and confesses to God their need of salvation and utter helplessness without Him - your sins are still not paid for and if you do not come to Christ before it is too late you will stand in front of a thrice Holy God with sin on your heart's account! Man needed a Redeemer and man STILL needs a Redeemer today - that Redeemer is JESUS CHRIST the Crucified Lamb of Glory who came 2,000 years ago and broke the shackels of sin and destroyed the powers of darkness.

1 Peter 1:22-24
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: [23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. [24] For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

John 3:3-8
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? [5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. [8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

After the Cross, the resurrection and ascension, the Holy Ghost was to become available to EVERY born again believer whereas before He was available on a very selective occurrence! Jesus therefore did not spend considerable time teaching on the role of the Holy Spirit until just before His death when the tangible ministry of the Holy Ghost was about to begin. Only in the last week of His physical life did He begin to prepare the hearts and lives of His disciples for this new and earth-changing force in their lives. Once He did open up the subject of the Holy Ghost He said a great deal about the Third Person of the Godhead Who would carry on the ministry of Christ upon the Earth through the hearts and lives of those who would but believe to receive His power and grace!

In the gospel of John chapters 14, 15 and 16 we read what the Lord Jesus had to say about the Holy Spirit. This journal wants to take a look at THREE specific ones that will show the reader how important it is that we have RECEIVED the SPIRIT OF GOD and been baptized in the Holy Ghost.
 

In That Day You Shall Know
 

John 14:20
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

At the outset of His teaching on the Holy Spirit, the Lord said "at that day you shall KNOW, that I am in the Father and you in me and I IN you."  The key phrase in this passage is YOU SHALL KNOW! What would those who experienced the Holy Spirit know? Biology? Philosophy? Business administration? Church growth methods? NOT QUITE. He was not talking about worldly knowledge which anyone can acquire if they have the persistence and the application. He was talking about something far greater than anything the world could comprehend. This assurance was founded in the knowledge of GOD HIMSELF and the fact that the Godhead would be totally involved in the development and maturity of the believer who comes to faith in Christ!

Look at the three components of this statement:

1. "You will know that I am in the Father."

Here is deity. Jesus IS GOD. Our salvation rises or falls on that statement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If Jesus Christ were only a "good man" (as the world teaches and sadly and dangerously a growing segment of so-called Christianity), He could not assure you nor me, nor even HIMSELF of salvation! But praise God, Jesus Christ is NOT just a "good man," a "great philosopher," a "wonderful teacher," a "person who did good deeds," but He is the SON OF THE LIVING GOD - HE IS GOD! That single statement is the linchpin of our faith and our salvation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. "You will know YOU are IN ME."

Secondly, when talking about things the disciples would know on the Day of Pentecost would be their position within HIS position! Through the ministry of the Holy Ghost we are allowed to be part of the glory and grandeur Jesus earned through the work He performed by dying on the Cross!!! HE is deserving of EVERYTHING, we are deserving of nothing!!!!!!! Yet He has includd us in what He bought at such a great price! That is why we preach CHRIST and HIM Crucified! That is why we rebuke and reject outright and without measure the arrogance and the outright deception certain camps in the Body of Christ exhibit with their self-exaltation instead of exalting the only ONE WORTHY of any praise and glory - the LORD JESUS CHRIST! Christianity is NOT some abstract religion, it is a relationship with the Son of the Living God, the Lord Jesus. Neighbor you may be a member of the Baptist church or the Methodist church or the Assembly of God church or whatever else church you may want to be part of but I am here to declare to you today that there is only ONE church you MUST be a member of to make heaven and that is THE TRUE CHURCH the BODY OF CHRIST the called out body of the Jesus Christ. You must be BORN again and be placed into this Body by the Spirit of God who comes INSIDE the believer when we are saved! We are new creatures IN CHRIST if we have been truly saved!

2 Cor. 5:17-21
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. [18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Those IN CHRIST are new creatures - old things are passed away, behold all things are BECOME NEW! All things are of God who hath reconciled us to HIMSELF BY JESUS CHRIST and give us the ministry of reconciliation or the ministry of tearing down the wall of hostility between man and God so man can be saved and be a temple of the Holy Ghost! We are the NEW TESTAMENT temple of God and as such we don't just go to church, we ARE the church. We ARE the Body of Christ, we are IN CHRIST and in HIM we can tread on serpents, break doors down of darkness, change nations through the power of HIS SPIRIT and because we are IN CHRIST tear down the gates of hell which shall not prevail against us!

Matthew 16:17-21
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. [18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [20] Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
[21] From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
 

3. "You will know that I am in you."

The same statement just made can be rearranged to cover this part of the Lord's statement. The late A.N. Trotter calls this "the great, divine entanglement." Perhaps better "the greate, divine conjunction." Once we accept the Lord into our hearts and lives we no longer can be completely separated from Him and His nature. In other words, our heart becomes HIS HEART. Our motives become HIS motives; our direction becomes HIS DIRECTION; our burden becomes HIS BURDEN; what He hates, we will hate; what He loves, we will love; what He decrees as wicked and evil, we too will see as evil and wicked; what He calls righteous and holy, that will we see as righteous and holy.

The way the Lord Jesus lives "IN YOU," and in me is through the indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost! This is how we will KNOW these things we just stated. We have received the HOLY GHOST so we will KNOW CHRIST and the indwelling glory of His grace and power in our lives.

He is called the COMFORTER because He was to come and take His place after the depature of Christ.

John 15:26-27
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: [27] And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

When the Apostle Peter and the other disciples were strictly commanded by the Jewish council not to teach in the name of Jesus they said, "we are HIS WITNESSES of these things; and so is also the HOLY GHOST!"

Acts 5:32
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

We find the Holy Spirit's testimony to the knowledge of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures! In this same realm the Holy Spirit also bears witness directly to the individual heart concerning Jesus Christ. He takes His own Scriptures, interprets them to us, and makes them clear to us. ALL TRUTH is from the Spirit, for HE IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, but is expecially His work to bear witness to Him who IS THE TRUTH, that is, Jesus Christ!!

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

It is only through the testimony of the Holy Ghost directly to our hearts that we ever come to a true, living knowledge of Jesus Christ!!

1 Cor. 12:3
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

It is by the Spirit of God we call Jesus "LORD." It is by the power of the HOLY GHOST that we have the fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ revealed. Churches and seminaries that reject the Holy Ghost reject the knowledge OF God and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Studying "about" God does not result in one KNOWING GOD! Seminaries today are turning  out thousands of graduates who have never come to know God. To be sure, we are turning out graduates who have studies about God and know all the theology and doctrine to sink a ship. Sadly, MOST of this theology is anti-Holy Spirit, anti-supernatural, anti-miracles, anti-speaking in tongues, anti-gifts of the Spirit, anti-everything that the Spirit of God does and manifests for the believer in our walk with Christ.

WE ONLY COME TO KNOW GOD THROUGH THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST. If we want to know God, we must be BORN AGAIN and have our hearts changed by the power of the Holy Ghost. When we are saved we need the mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost comes into our hearts and lives and only then are we in a condition to begin to KNOW GOD! God's Holy Spirit becomes our mentor, our leader, our comforter, Scripture tells us it is HE who will lead us into ALL TRUTH.

No church growth seminar or leadership seminar, John Maxwell conference, Rick Warren initiative, or any other foolishness can bring about this knowledge. The church world today seeks to impart to mankind a "knowledge" about God but the modern church is not producing an atmosphere for men to KNOW GOD through the power of the Holy Ghost! Reject the Holy Ghost preacher and you reject GOD! Reject the baptism in the Holy Ghost and you're touching the very source of LIFE that will mean eternity for MOST under the auspices of your ministry. How we as the modern day church be so busy and not be changing the world we live in is a testimony to the reality that we have rejected the HOLY GHOST and as a result men do not know the one and only true God - the Lord Jesus Christ. When we lift up the Son, we lift up the Father; when we see the Son, we see the Father; when we speak of the Father, we can only speak of His grace and mercy to us if we speak of HIS SON, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Through the Holy Spirit, we come to a true, living knowledge of Jesus Christ. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter gave all his hearers the testimony of the Scriptures regarding CHRIST, and he also gave them his own testimony. He told them what he and the other apostles knew by personal observation regarding Christ's resurrection. Unless the Holy Ghost Himself had taken the Scriptures that Peter had brought together and taken the testimony of Peter and the other disciples, the 3,000 on that day would NOT have seen Jesus as He really was, nor would they have received Him and been baptized in His name.

Acts 2:36
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

The HOLY SPIRIT added His testimony to that of Peter and that of the Written Word. Dwight L. Moody once said in his special way that when Peter proclaimed: Acts 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ," the HOLY GHOST SAID "AMEN." As result the people saw and believed and KNEW the true and Living God through the revelation of the Crucified Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom God the Father made both LORD and CHRIST!

If one wishes men to get a true view of Jesus Christ, such a view of Him that they may believe and be saved, it is not enough that we give them just the Scriptures concerning Him. It is not enough that we give them just our own testimony. We must SEEK and HAVE the testimony of the Holy Ghost for them and put ourselves into that same relationship with God that the Holy Ghost may bear His testimony through YOU! In that day, in that day, in that day, YOU WILL KNOW THAT HE IS IN YOU!

What "day," was our Lord speaking of when He said that? He was speaking of the DAY in which one receives the MIGHTY BAPTISM in the HOLY GHOST, which was first experienced on the Day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. [3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The infilling of the Holy Spirit can teach a person more about God in one day than ALL the seminaries and Bible colleges of the world put together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There used to be some seminaries in the Pentecostal community who still taught the baptism in the Holy Ghost but those are dwindling fast and furious. Many Assembly of God, Church of God seminaries have now substituted the teaching of the baptism in the Holy Ghost with classes on humanistic psychology, pastoral counseling and other foolishness that drives men into further darkness instead of bring men into a living relationship with a living God through the power of a LIVING Holy Ghost, the third Person of the Godhead. WE HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT WHICH IS OF GOD, not man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No offense, but a six-year old child filled with the Holy Ghost knows more about God than all the atheistic brains of the world's so-called "experts" put together. A six-year old child filled with the Holy Ghost knows more about God than all the PULPITS in the world filled with lukewarm, modern, liberal graduates of lukewarm, modern, liberal, selfish Bible schools and seminaries!

The Spirit of God has come to us to illuminate the Bible which reveals Jesus as the atoning Saviour onthe cross, a Saviour from the guilt of sin, and as a risen Saviour, a Saviour from the power of sin!!!!! it is just the truth the sinner man needs to see and believe in order to be saved, but most do not see it!

John 3:33-36
He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. [34] For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. [35] The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. [36] He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
 

John 3:20
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 3:30 -31 He must increase, but I must decrease. [31] He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. [32] And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifies; and no man receives his testimony.
 

The sinner and the apostate Christian hates the light and does not come to the LIGHT of the HOLY GHOST, let his deeds be reproved. When the HOLY GHOST is allowed to work the deeds of our hearts are always made manifest through His office of conviction and we are "wrought" in God! The rejecter of the Holy Ghost sits in blank darkness, sees nothing, grasps nothing, comprehends nothing, and embraces NOTHING that is spiritual but instead embraces darkness many times thinking they are embracing LIGHT. Sound like the modern church? You bet!!! God help us to come back to a KNOWLEDGE of the TRUE God through Faith in Christ Jesus and Him Crucified. Because the church rejects the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD and the teaching and preaching of the baptism in the Holy Ghost it sits in spiritual blindness which makes us STUPID and blind. I don't say that in malice but that is what the Lord described the condition of a lukewarm church that needs "eye-salve" so it can see.

Rev. 3:17-20
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. [19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
 

The church that rejects the power and supernatural work of the Holy Ghost sits in spiritual blindness and darkness that will possess the mind of ALL who reject this knowledge this writer speaks of. Friend, when light is rejected, DARKNESS always is the result! As our text states, "the natural man receives NOT the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him." I heard a pastor I respect define "natural" man as one who is lost which this writer is not going to disagree with. That term includes those who are lost, but I also believe it speaks to ALL who profess Christ yet live their Christian "lives" in the flesh and have refused to walk after the Spirit of God and embraced that which is of flesh. That is why many leaders - in Baptist, Presbyterian and other denominational churches - mock and lampoon the Holy Ghost. Methodists I'm going to give you a pass on this one because I know as a whole most Methodists who have not left the faith were birthed in the fires of a Spirit-filled evangelist named John Wesley who was baptized in the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues.

1 Cor. 2:14
But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
 

The natural or carnal man can go over and over and over and over the things of the Spirit and STILL he does not and will not see it!  When we surrender our wills to God and seeks light from the Lord Jesus, then and only then can the HOLY SPIRIT do His work of leading us to the knowledge of the TRUTH - the LORD JESUS CHRIST. We must put our hearts and minds on the "things of the Spirit!"

John 7:17
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Acts 5:32
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Romans 8:4-8
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. [6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. [8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

When we will to the do the will of God, then the conditions are provided on which the Holy Ghost works and He illuminates the mind the SEE THE TRUTH about Jesus and to see that His teaching is the very Word of God. John's gospel was written for men might see Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, through what he recorded; and that they might believe that HE IS THE CHRIST, the SON OF GOD; and that, thus believing, they mighty have life through HIS NAME!!! Only the Holy Ghost can take that which He wrote Himself and illuminate His own testimony of Christ to our hearts.

II. In That Day Ye Shall Ask

John 16:23
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Once again our Lord directs our attention to the phrase "in that day." What day? The day the Holy Spirit comes and takes up abode in the heart and life of the believer. And what will happen at that time? We shall ask! Until one is baptized in the Holy Ghost, one doesn't really recognize the power of prayer which is the vehicle through which we ASK and PETITION the Father as a believer!

Matthew 7:7-10
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For every one that asketh receives; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. [9] Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? [10] Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

1 John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: [15] And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Romans 8:26-28
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. [27] And he that searches the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. [28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Zech. 10:1-4
Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. [2] For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. [3] Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. [4] Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.

Holy-Ghost birthed prayer is in this writer's mind the greatest benefit of being baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues! Attend a prayer service conducted and attended by non-Spirit-filled believers. The prayers are perfunctory, stylized, and a concession to social demands. Prayers, if they are made at all, are read out of a book consisting of bland, meaningless generalities - supposedly aimed at God. Prayers of this type are found in churches that deny the reality of the Holy Ghost experience, or which deny that is for today. Some will admit God did have a short burst of power for a time during the apostolic period. But then - somehow - God's batteries ran down. After a 100 years or so He just "lost power." That sounds stupid don't it? Don't laugh too hard because that is exactly the theology of MOST modern day churches in America.

Let me tell you this however - those who have been baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues don't believe God has lost His power! An infusion with the Holy Ghost battery charger and fire convinces people that Jesus lives, Jesus saves, Jesus heals, Jesus delivers, Jesus baptizes in the Holy Ghost, Jesus breaks the powers of darkness and the shackles of sin, and Jesus is coming again. Ever notice people who doubt the rapture are always people who either deny the HOLY GHOST or at the very least keep the Spirit of God at arms length? Spirit-filled beleivers trust in miracles, they know GOD can do anything and they EXPECT God will meet their needs. They trust in miracles because they don't believe in a day of miracles they believe in the GOD OF MIRACLES. They don't worship a God with limits. Their God is the same, yesterday, today and forever. They do not come before God trembling in uncertainty, they come before God in confidence. They're not afraid to ask a BIG God for BIG things.

What is the difference between these two types of believers? One SIMPLE step in their spiritual lives and one important DAY in the life of the believer!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One group trembles off at the sie and says, "Oh dear, I wouldn't presume to ask God to infuse me with the source of His power." The other group comes forward in confidence and says, "Lord, here I am. I want everything You feel I need to lead a maximum Christian life." The second group, from THAT day onward, operates in the FULL POWER and support of the heavenlies. The first group limps along with whatever power they can muster from their own resources which is NONE or they push aside the power of God for some ungodly substitute such as humanistic psychology, church growth seminar techniques and all sorts of other ridiculous ideas and efforts.

It is tragic that so many can be saved, and be believing Christians and are being deprived of the power of God because many have never heard the message of the baptism in the Holy Ghost. Misguided teachers and preachers tell millions under their care that salvation in itself is the end of the road, the FULL infusion of everything God has for them. If only would realize that the only requirement to be baptized in the Holy Ghost is to be saved and to ASK God for the fullness of His grace and they will be blessed with the completion of their armament against the woes of this world and of Satan.

Obviously, Satan reserves a special hatred for the Holy Ghost. He knows that an infusion of Holy Ghost power will turn an ineffectual church into a powerhouse for God. He knows that ineffectual preachers who have previously majored in book reports will suddenly rise up in power and fury and stand AGAINST the enemy instead of being the enemy's mouthpiece and poisoning the hearers of their false gospel! Satan knows when the believer kneels in Holy Ghost birthed power and prays in other tongues that believer rips and tears the devil's kingdom into shreds by pulling down stronghold after stronghold, principality after principality, dominion after dominion, bondage after bondage through the torrent rain and fire of the Spirit of ALMIGHTY GOD. Satan KNOWS he can't stand against the power and majesty of the latter-day rain of Holy Ghost power.

Satan writhes in anguish when Spirit-filled believers stand their ground and cast demons out of the afflicted; he flees in panic when Spirit-filled believers lay hands on the sick and they are healed; he shrieks when he hears the believer praying in tongues because as the Holy Ghost says when we speak in tongues: WE SPEAK DIRECTLY TO GOD THE FATHER.

1 Cor. 14:1-3
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. [2] For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. [3] But he that prophesies speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
 

The Scripture says that "NO MAN" understand him because IN THE SPIRIT we speak mysteries. Do you realize that that is saying? That is saying that when one takes up the mantle of the HOLY GHOST intercessory prayer call not even SATAN can interrupt our communication with God. When we pray in English many times we ask things amiss and are so easily distracted by the cares and concerns of this life. WHEN WE PRAY IN THE SPIRIT though neighbor, oh, Glory to God, we enter into a realm that not even the DEVIL himself would dare trod - the realm of heavenly language and revelation where the LORD JESUS CHRIST awaits to receive the intercession of the saints instead of listening and receiving the accusation of the enemy! RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, there are two ministries before the throne of God - intercession and accusation - one by the enemy of man's souls and one of intercession by the Son of God who receives that which the Spirit intercedes through the believer here on earth when the believer speaks with other tongues as the SPIRIT OF GOD GIVES THE UTTERANCE. Child of God, I don't care what your denomination or bias in this - I pray you grasp what this writer pleads with you in this. I pray the Holy Ghost plants this seed in your heart for you to see the truth of what I say; it is the WORD OF GOD!

Romans 8:26-28
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. [27] And he that searches the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. [28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Rev. 12:10-12
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. [11] And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. [12] Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
 

Hebrews 7:24-28
But this man, because he continues ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. [25] Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. [26] For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; [27] Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. [28] For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

ONLY THE HOLY GHOST can transform the CHRISTIAN to become what he/she needs to be in CHRIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No church system, program or preacher can do that. No theology can do that. No seminary course can do that. No Purpose Driven Life 40 Day of Purpose event can do that. No backslidden humanistic psychologist of Christian counselor which in this writer's mind is no better than a clown at a circus - what psychology takes weeks, months or years to form in you sir and lady - the HOLY GHOST can do in TWO MINUTES! LET ME CHANGE THAT - TWO SECONDS.

Nothing residing on this earth can do it. But when the struggling child of God, the born again Christian steps forward and ASKS, ASKS, ASKS, ASKS, ASKS, ASKS, ASKS, God to change his life through this revolutionary power, he suddenly has the confidence and assurance to step out, and ASK GOD for the things he needs to be a succesful warrior against the enemy. That's why our Lord, said, in that DAY, YOU SHALL ASK."

Luke 11:13
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

III. In That Day You Shall DO

John 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Neighbor, the devil is fighting an epidemic! During those years when Jesus walked the earth physically, Satan had only one Jesus to contend with. Now he has MILLIONS of deputy Jesuses confronting him on every turn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That does not mean we're deity, but we have DEITY LIVING INSIDE US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The number is growing every day and as the closing days of the church of Jesus Christ wind down things are not going to end with a whimper! Even though Satan has set the obituary of the church in print many times, he has never been able to print it. He isn't about to now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, the church is in a mess spiritually. Yes, there is a segment of the church sinking deeper into apostasy than at any time since the Reformation. Yes, 3/4ths of the church believe more of what Rick Warren and Joel Osteen say than they know what the Word of God says; Yes, there are preachers who stand behind pulpits preaching that need to be born again themselves instead of preaching to others; yes, most deacon board members need to be saved; yes, most song directors need to stop sleeping with half their choirs, repent and come to know Jesus; yes, there is a spirit of homosexuality and perversion that is attacking the church from the front (leadership) and the back (laity) and many are succumbing to the lie that it is ok for homosexuals to be preachers, leaders, song directors and not be forced to either repent or GET OUT of our fellowships; (IF THE CHURCH WAS FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT BELIEVE ME THE CONVICTION WOULD BE SO STRONG THEY WOULDN'T STAY LONG!) but friend, there is STILL, there is STILL, THERE IS STILL, let me change that - there ARE SOME THAT STILL PLURAL who have not bowed the knee to Baal and are receiving the latter-day rain of the Holy Ghost outpouring spoken of in Joel:

Joel 2:28-29
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: [29] And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

People baptized in the Holy Ghost cannot and do not spend their Sunday mornings sitting in a cold, dead, ecclesiastical, denominational laced sickening church church where they sit and watch instead of DOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Spirit-Filled Christians worship GOD as participants, not spectators!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The fine line between the laity and the clergy is not easy to demarcate in Spirit-filled body because everyone participates in whatever is going on. Everyone is a preacher, every one is a choir director. And Satan? Well, pretty soon, he's so confused he doesn't know which point to attack with a united front of DOERS, instead of just people who hear and sit and listen to the garbage and poison coming from behind most pulpits in America today. Let the reader be clear of one thing. This writer is not going to attend a church he can't worship God. This writer is not going to attend a church where the Holy Ghost is not allowed to move and operate the change hearts and lives. This writer is getting too old too quick to allow many more days slip by him without being in a place to see God move in power and the way He seeks to move.

That is one reason we are starting MANNA HOUSE in January of 2007. The LAST thing this backslidden city of Knoxville needs right now is another church. Believe me it's not something I want to do in the natural. I wished I could go on just sitting behind the computer at night typing these messages and allowing the Holy Spirit to take them wherever there are hungry hearts but the constraints of my heart have dictated the Lord has asked me to do something more than sit and type. There is an inner city of Knoxville full of people bound by drugs, alcohol, homosexuality, perversion, bondages, hatred, malice, greed, unforgiveness who have no where to worship because they are not welcomed in most of the affluent churches of our fair town. There is also a cry in the hearts of other believers in this city for a true move of the Spirit of God and the pure Word of God to be preached without fear or favor! I know they are out there and so does the Lord, even more so 1,000,000 times more than this writer ever could start to ponder. The challenges? Well, for starters, no building even though we have an eye on a store front or two right now to start. Secondly, not a soul to help us at the present time. Don't have anything but a keyboard, my Bible and my precious step daughter who has volunteered to lead singing. Thirdly, not a clue how to bus the folks into the services. We're looking  at finding a place close to the inner mission so folks can get to the services fairly easily.

This writer is secure and assured of one thing however no matter the challenges he just laid out for you above - GOD THE HOLY GHOST HAS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE ANSWERS TO EVERY SINGLE OF THESE CHALLENGES AND QUESTIONS AND I KNOW BY THE POWER AND THE GRACE OF ALMIGHTY GOD WE ARE GOING TO SEE HIS POWER MOVE IN A MIRACULOUS WAY IN HELPING GET THIS WORK STARTED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE CHURCH OR BRAND WE'RE GOING TO BE BUT I DO KNOW ONE THING - DON'T COME EXPECTING ANYTHING BUT HOLY GHOST FILLED WORSHIP, PREACHING, PRAYING, AND YES YOU WILL HEAR PEOPLE SPEAKING IN OTHER TONGUES AS THE SPIRIT OF GOD GIVES THE UTTERANCE. So if those things offend you - stay at your dead cold church on Sunday and enjoy the safe confines of your stain-glassed cemetery. But if you want more and the Lord lays it on your heart to help us - as the Macedonians proclaimed to Paul in the heavenly vision - "COME ON OVER AND HELP US!"