SATURDAY September 30, 2023

Believing in Jesus

Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.
Acts 19:4-7

Paul had found twelve disciples who had listened to the teachings of John the Baptist. Paul was able to take them deeper into the Gospel message. First, he explained to them John’s ministry. John had baptized people in water and taught them to repent of their sin: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2).

Second, Paul helped the twelve disciples to understand that John, as a forerunner, pointed them to the One who would come after him. That Person was Jesus Christ. Consider the truth of John’s message:

John 1:26-27: “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”

John 1:29-31 “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ... therefore I came baptizing with water.”

Water baptism does not save a person. A true conversion happens when a person is born again of the Holy Spirit. They have been regenerated: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Paul encountered believers who only had the Holy Spirit dwelling “within” them as they repented, but they had not received the “upon,” dunamis, power of the Holy Spirit in their lives (Acts 1:8). When Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came “upon” them, and they spoke with tongues.

If you are lacking power to live the Christian life, and you want to become a witness for Christ, ask God to baptize you with His Holy Spirit.

Our decision every day must be to live a righteous life—not in our own strength, but by the enablement of the Holy Spirit in us.
~Stormie Omartian~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!