Gleans from Monday Bible Study with Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
DLBC Gbagada HQ
11th February 2019
Study 2 – THE BAPTIST’S INTRODUCTION OF THE BAPTIZER
Mark 1:7-8; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17
As John introduced the Lord Jesus Christ, who had not started His public ministry as yet, he started by saying, “There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whole shoes I am no worthy to stoop down and unloose.” (Mark 1:7) That is, you have not seen Him, and He has not been manifested to Israel publicly and yet I know Him and that He is coming after me. You will see his humility and submissiveness to the Lord, though he was a popular minister that many people came from Jerusalem and the counties to be baptized of him in Judah. He knew the following about the Lord Jesus Christ: (1) The Eternality of the Lord Jesus Christ, being from everlasting; (2) The Equality with the Father, being the second in the Trinity, though He came as a Servant; (3) The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that the Lord Jesus Christ will do great miracles as the Creator, Lord and King while John did no miracle; (4) The Final Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of the whole world unlike him that cannot sacrifice for the sin of man; (5) The Ministry of Jesus Christ for salvation of man through His death, burial and resurrection that he John cannot claim for himself; (6) The Worship of the angels at His birth; (7) His appearance to the disciples and Ascension into Heaven after the Resurrection; (8) The final judgement by the Lord Jesus Christ given to Him by the Heavenly Father; and (10) He will come to baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire unlike him that was baptizing with water. That was the introduction that John gave concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.
Actually, John was born six months before the Lord Jesus Christ, and he started his ministry at the age of thirty, six months earlier than Jesus Christ yet mightier than John because He was coming as Saviour, the Son and Lamb of God to bear the sin of the whole world. John in his humility regarded himself lower than the lowest in the household to unloose the latchet of his shoes. Each of those Gospel writers wrote of His coming but Matthew gives a fuller record and work of the fire. “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:11-12). Jesus is the Baptizer in the Holy Ghost. He is the One that will send and empower the believer with the Holy Ghost. He is the One that will send the Comforter, the Paraclete and the One that strengthens His own people who are saved and sanctified, and immerse them in the power of the Holy Ghost. Now John who baptized in water was introducing the One who baptizes with the Holy Ghost and Fire.
3 points:
Point 1. THE FAITHFUL RECIPIENTS OF THE HOLY GHOST
Mark 1:8; Acts 1:4,5,8; 2:1-4,15-18,33; 9:9,11,17; 10:44-48
“I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost” (Mark 1:8). He shall baptize, immerse and put you inside the Holy Ghost until the Holy Ghost will overwhelm and saturate you. The disciples that waited were faithful and obedient. After they had been saved and the Lord had prayed for their sanctification, He told them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Ghost with power be given to them. Even though the gospel preaching was urgent and the people were perishing, yet He asked them to wait and tarry for the Holy Ghost to equip and endue them with power; so very important for them., “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me” (Acts 1:4). Why were they to be baptized in the Holy Ghost? “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The purpose was to be empowered to be witnesses unto Him. The day came as Jesus had said, and as prophesied by Prophet Joel (Acts 2:1). {Pray that your own day will arrive as well.} They waited in obedience and in one accord (Jesus had prayed for their unity); they loved and had forgiven each other, and were together in the love of the Spirit. The fire sat on each of them and they were all filled and spoke with other tongues. The fire that accompanies the baptism of the Holy Ghost is for everyone.
When the Holy Ghost comes: (1) He will bring power, boldness, authority, assurance and the strength of the Spirit and (2) He will bring revelations, insight to the future, prophecies, dreams and visions of what they need to do. So it is not just the speaking in unlearned tongues which is the initial evidence. The people saw the evidence of the Holy Ghost baptism in their lives; the accompanying power. And later as people were getting saved, and pressing further to be sanctified, they were filled with the Holy Ghost. Saul of Tarsus was converted, purged and sanctified when the Lord Jesus met with him; his life changed and he asked what to do. He received the Holy Ghost when the Lord sent Ananias to him. “And Ananias ……. putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightiest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 9:17). Then the Gentiles at the house of Cornelius were filled with the Holy Ghost as they heard the word of the Lord through Peter (Acts 10:44-48).
The Holy Ghost had been operative before this time, Mary the mother of Jesus was overshadowed with the power of the Holy Ghost to conceive the Son of God; Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost when she had encounter with Mary who was pregnant of the Lord Jesus Christ; John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb; and so was Zacharias his father. Let us look at Past, Premier and Present recipients of the Holy Spirit.
- The Past Recipients – Deuteronomy 34:9-12; Numbers 11:29; 2 Kings 2:9; Micah 3:8
The people of the past were not total strangers to the empowerment and infilling of the Holy Spirit. Moses had a desire that the Lord would put the spirit on him upon others too (Numbers 11:29). Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom (Deuteronomy 34:9). The only difference is that the people of the Old Testament did not have the speaking in tongues, but they had the unction, power, vision, boldness, insight, faith, courage, signs and wonders, revelations, visions, gift and grace of the Holy Ghost. Why is it when you say that you are baptized in the Holy Ghost and there is no difference in your life? There must be the power, practical and purposeful manifestation of the Holy Ghost baptism in your life and ministry. If those of old filled with the Spirit had courage, power and boldness come upon them and were not cowered nor afraid of anything but were obedient to the will and work of God, how can we claim that we are baptized with the power of the Holy Ghost today and the evidences are not there? “But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin” (Micah 3:8). When they received the Holy Spirit in the past, they knew the difference from when they were ordinary normal believers, and people could see and feel it too.
- The Premier Recipients – John 14:16-18,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 4:31,33; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16). The Lord Jesus promised His disciples the Comforter, Spirit of Truth. When you are born again and sanctified He abides with you, but when you are saturated, baptized, He will be in you. Also, the Spirit will teach you all things, deep and mysterious, and will make you remember the word of God. He will testify of Christ, to make you know how great your Redeemer is. With the Holy Ghost, third Personality in the Godhead, in you, when you preach, your message will not be superficial but pointing, pungent, penetrating and bringing convictions in the hearts of the people. He will guide you into all truth and show you things to come; “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:13-14). The Comforter comes with great transforming influence to guide. Everywhere those disciples went, they declared the gospel of salvation and of the grace of the Lord, and many people turned unto the Lord.
- The Present Recipients, us: Luke 24:46-49; John 7:37-39; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10,13; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; Jude 20
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The promise of the Father is also for us as well as we preach the gospel of repentance and salvation. We receive salvation, sanctification and the Holy Ghost baptism to the present day. Today, the Holy Ghost is available and He will baptize you. “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). We receive deep things of the Spirit, as He becomes our Teacher. “That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us” (2 Timothy 1:14). The power to keep and preserve the word of God comes through the help of the Holy Ghost. For us not to retrogress and be like the stagnant water that smells, we need to build and stir ourselves up and make progress, by the power of the Holy Ghost that dwells in us (Jude 20).
Point 2. THE FRUITFUL REFINEMENT OF HOLY SANCTIFIED SAINTS
Mark 1:8; Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; Acts 2:1-4; Malachi 3:1-3; John 5:33,35; Jeremiah 20:9; Luke 24:25-27,32; Romans 12:11; Hebrews 1:7
What is the purpose and evidence of that fire that came that made them flaming ministers of the gospel? Fire talks about being hot: Fire of the Holy Ghost would revive fervent preachers of the word of God and make them more zealous, passionate and empowered. There are things that are cold and not useful. Jesus said the Laodicean Church was dull and lukewarm and therefore He would spue her out of His mouth (Revelations 3:15-16). The engine cannot move until fire powers it. “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them” (Acts 2:3). That was the fulfilment of prophecy and the promise. But what will that fire do? When that fire came there was revival, renewal, refinement of their lives to serve the Lord with zeal and passion. See the commentary of Christ about John the Baptist, “He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light” (John 5:35). When you are filled with the Holy Ghost, with the passion, fire and fervency, you will be burning and shinning for the Lord. “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” (Malachi 3:3). The fire is to melt away all the dross from our lives, burn the chaff, and to refine and revive us. When we become ministers of the gospel, we need to be passionate and fervent, full of zeal that comes as we are baptize in the Holy Ghost and with fire, “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire” (Psalm 104:4).. When you have the Holy Ghost you will not be dull, lazy, laidback and at ease; you will not be saying that you don’t want to preach, rather the word of God will be as burning fire inside you and stir you up to preach (Jeremiah 20:9), and like the words of Christ did in the hearts of those disciples; “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32). When we have the Holy Ghost, we will be fervent and fiery in our messages that the people who hear us will not be sleeping and dozing, but their hearts will burn within them. Tired of lukewarmness, weariness and fruitlessness in your life and ministry? Then come to the Lord: get saved, sanctified, and be baptized in the Holy Ghost. He will make you a flaming fire through the baptism of the Holy Ghost, in Jesus Name.
Point 3. THE FEARFULNESS RETRIBUTION OF HARDENED HYPOCRITICAL SINNERS
Mark 1:7-8; Matthew 3:11-12,9-10; Luke 3:16-17,9; Isaiah 63:10; Acts 7:51-52; Matthew 13:40-43,47-50; Isaiah 5:24,14; 33:11-14; Ephesians 4:30,31; Hebrews 3:7-8,12-14
The chaff will be burnt with unquenchable fire. “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12). The two types of fire in Matthew chapter 3 verse 11 and 12 are different. The fire in verse 11 is the one of the Holy Ghost that gives the believer the zeal, passion and excitement to preach the word of God, but the one in verse 12 is the fire of judgement and unquenchable fire as spoken of by John the Baptist, “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire” (Matthew 3:10). The fruitless tree is the chaff that will be burnt with the unquenchable fire. This is the fire of judgement, retribution, recompense and fearful punishment of sinners on the final day. These are people who have neglected the warnings, and drawing convictions of the Holy Spirit and they remained adamant in their sins, rebellious and rejecting the word calling them to repentance by the preaching of the Holy Ghost; because of that, they will be cast out as chaff to be burned by fire. “But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them” (Isaiah 63:10). The people who have pushed away the Holy Ghost, have rejected the message of life that the Holy Ghost brought through those preachers who are baptized in the Holy Ghost are referred to as chaff. They will be burnt with fire (Acts 7:51-52; Matthew 13:40-43,47-50). “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” (Isaiah 33:14). “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). This is the day of salvation, repent and receive His words, and do not resist or grieve the Holy Ghost. Do not harden your heart nor depart from the Living God (Hebrews 3:7, 12-14).
Today the Holy Ghost is available for all, for the sinners, the Holy Ghost will assist and move you to be born again in Jesus Name, “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” (John 3:5). There is salvation made clear and plain to us by the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Spirit ministers sanctification to us, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied” (1 Peter 1:2). And then there is the baptism in the Holy Ghost as well, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39). He is available for salvation, sanctification and empowerment. This is the day of receiving blessing of His grace, forgiveness and gifts of the Holy Ghost, and everyone that will call will receive and you will not go back empty-handed. Do not resist or reject the Spirit and everything He has for you, He will bestow upon you in Jesus Name.
Ponder on this! How can we claim that we are baptized with the Holy Ghost today and we cannot see the boldness, courage and the power to do the will and the work of God. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Ponder on this! When we have the Holy Ghost, we will be fervent and fiery in our messages that the people who hear us will not be sleeping and dozing, but their hearts will burn within them. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Hard Sayings – The purpose of being baptized in and having the power of the Holy Ghost is to be witnesses unto Him. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Reflection – And for us not to retrogress and be like the stagnant water that smells, we need to build and stir ourselves up and make progress, by the Holy Ghost that dwells in us. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Words on the Marble – There must be the power, practical and purposeful manifestation of the Holy Ghost baptism in your life and ministry. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
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