A child of God is primarily baptized with the Holy Ghost for the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of God. There are other amazing reasons we are baptized with the Holy Ghost which we would be seeing in the course of this message.
Let’s Pray
Eternal Father, we thank you for the privilege of being in your presence now. We pray for understanding into the purpose for which you give us the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Holy Ghost empowers us to be effective witnesses of Christ. Jesus himself couldn’t effectively preach the gospel for which he was sent until he was baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Luke 4:16,
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
It was Jesus habit to preach in the synagogue even before he was baptized with the Holy Ghost. He didn’t start preaching from the day he was baptized. In fact, from year twelve he has started preaching the gospel of the kingdom.
And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
Luke 2:42-46 (KJV)
At the age of twelve, he has started preaching the gospel of the kingdom. His message lacked the desired impact until he was baptized with the Holy Ghost. For almost twenty years, his message had no expression.
However, after the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the direction of His ministry changed.
1. He was led.
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Luke 4:1 (KJV)
The Holy Ghost becomes our leader after baptism. Before the baptism of the Holy Ghost, as children of God, we lead ourselves to where we wish to go. At the baptism of the Holy Ghost, we graduate from being children of God to sons of God.
The Bible made us understand in Roman 8:14, that only those who are led by the spirit of God that are the sons of God. It is not those who are born again. Those who are born again are the children of God.
One can remain a child forever in the kingdom of God simply because he refuses not to be led by the spirit of God.
Only sons have the authority to manifest heaven on earth.
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Romans 8:19 (KJV)
The Spirit of God is the custodian of the power of the kingdom. The power of the kingdom of God is demonstrated through the Holy Ghost.
2. His identity as the son of God was revealed.
And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
Luke 4:3 (KJV)
The devil didn’t just form that sentence, “if thou be the Son of God.” He heard it when God unveiled Jesus true identity in the wilderness through the Holy Ghost.
Most of our victories in the kingdom are won on the platform of our identity in God, not in prayer. Yes, prayer is very important for our victory but there are times we just wake up and ask. Devil do you know who am I; get out of here now in the name of Jesus.
No too much prayer.
In one of Jesus responses to satan he said, “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Luke 4:8 – KJV).
Jesus was saying to satan, your only qualification that can bring you to my presence as a son of God is for you to worship and serve me.
And as the Father has sent Him so has He sent us to be worshipped and served by the devil (John 20:21). However, it takes the empowerment of the Holy Ghost.
3. It gave him victory over temptation.
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB)
Temptation only brings down the man who didn’t take the way of escape provided by God. God is always faithful to make a way of escape for His children in time of temptations.
This way of escape is only communicated to us through the Holy Ghost.
In Jesus temptation in the wilderness, he was always firing, “it is written.” That was God’s wisdom for his escape. Yours may be to run and not to speak the word.
A brother shared with me of how God told him not to show a certain document to someone. He didn’t listen thinking he had faith. After things have gone wrong he remembered the warning of the Holy Ghost.
He came to understand that when God makes a way of escape for us, it isn’t because he is weak but because we may not trust in him to the point of delivery due to the forces against us.
The devil’s most lather weapon is distraction. When he distracts you from focusing on God, he has gotten you.
4. The Bible was opened to him
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luke 4:17 (KJV)
His custom has been to read the Bible from childhood but after the baptism of the Holy Ghost he not only read but he found. The revelation was given to him by the Holy Ghost that changed everything for him. When he found it, he took it.
And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Luke 4:21 (KJV)
Until we find it, we can’t have it.
Revelation is our cure for frustration. Until it is revealed to us, we can’t have access to it.
Deuteronomy 29:29,
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.
Why is the revelation of the word very important to us as children of God?
Every answer to the problem of life is in this book of the Lord. The unveiling of the answers to the problem of life from the bible stops the ties of men.
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to lose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in the earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders' saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Revelation 5:1-5 (KJV)
5. He manifested heaven
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God comes unto you.
Matthew 12:28 (KJV)
The Spirit of God is the custodian of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is resident in the Holy Ghost.
One who is baptized with the Holy Ghost carries the kingdom of God everywhere to cause change.
The bible speaking of Jesus in the book of Acts 10:38 says,
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Jesus went about doing good because he was anointed with the Holy Ghost who is the carrier of the goodness of the kingdom of God.
It says, “For God was with him.” The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God personified.
You become a carrier of God when you are baptized with the Holy Ghost and can bring the change of God to man.
Whatever the Holy Ghost did for Jesus Christ, the same he can do for you and much more.
We will stop here today in the enumeration of the purpose of Holy Ghost baptism. But is vital you know that the baptism of the Holy Ghost is for the children of God alone.
One who is not born again can’t be baptized with the Holy Ghost. To be saved, say the following prayer of salvation with me from the depth of your heart with all sincerity.
PRAYER OF SALVATION
Oh Lord God, I believe with my entire hearth in your son Jesus Christ. I believe He died for me and You raised Him from the dead. I believe He is alive today. I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life from today. Through Him and in His name I have eternal life.
I am born again. Thank you, Lord. I am now a child of God. Praise God!
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PASTOR’S PRAYER FOR YOU
Father in the name of Jesus Christ, I decree your spiritual eyes opened to see the purpose of Holy Ghost baptism in other to stir up a genuine desire for Him in your heart.
As the Holy Ghost come upon you, I pray your life takes an upward and forward direction with speed to the actualization of your God's given vision in the name of Jesus Christ.
I release the blessings of the spirit of knowledge, of understand and of wisdom upon your life right now in the name of Jesus Christ. Go and manifest God in the name of Jesus Christ.
PERSONAL CONFESSION
I am a child of God. I am born of the Holy Spirit of God. I believe in the Holy Ghost and in His ministry on the earth in the name of Jesus Christ.
I believe the Holy Ghost is here on earth to guide me to manifest the full nature of God. I trust in His ability to lead me right.
Therefore, I am the servant of the Holy Spirit of God to the fulfillment of the will of God on earth.
Remain ever blessed
Jesus is Lord
