Why do Vickie and I travel each week to different churches and preach and teach about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the necessity of every born-again believer having a relationship with the Holy Spirit? The answer is quite simple. Without the infilling of the Holy Spirit, today’s believers will never continue Jesus’ earthly ministry to this present generation.
How important is it that today’s believers be baptized in the Holy Spirit? In reading through the Gospels, from the time that Jesus entered into the Temple as a youth until the day that He was baptized in water, we read of no ministry happening. There is no miracle or supernatural teaching to be found during these years. But, after the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus at His water baptism, Jesus was launched into a ministry of the supernatural with signs, wonders, and miracles. Acts 10:38 tells us that His miracle-working power manifested because of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. So, if Jesus was dependent upon the Holy Spirit to fulfill His earthly ministry, how can He continue His ministry today unless His followers too are filled and dependent upon the Holy Spirit!
I love how this quote from D.W. Kerr reminds us of Jesus’ dependence …
“Whether we speak of His ministry during His earthly career
or since He returned to heaven, there is no difference at all as to
the manifestation of His power in casting our devils, healing the
sick, raising the dead, cleansing the leper, causing the lame to walk,
the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.
When Jesus Christ was upon the earth, He wrought miracles
by the power of the Spirit: When He returned to heaven
He continues to work by the same power.”
~ D.W. Kerr “The Phenomena of Pentecost”
This same power is readily available today to all who like Jesus will be filled with the Holy Spirit and rely upon His presence and power (the anointing). The greater works that Jesus promised in John 14:12 are waiting … Be filled with the Spirit!
