City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

⁴ John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. ⁶ John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And he was preaching, saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to bend down and untie the straps of His sandals. ⁸ I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you ^[e]with the Holy Spirit.

Mark 1:4-8 (NASB)

Commentary

John baptized in water, but Jesus baptizes in the Holy Spirit.

I had been a Christian for 14 years before I was baptized in the Holy Spirit. I had been baptized in water in the Baptist church I attended in college, and I had a relationship with Jesus. But I was timid in talking to others about Jesus, and I had no power in my life. I was like Jesus’ disciples prior to Pentecost, who were convinced of Jesus’ resurrection but still cowering in fear of persecution, having been breathed on with the Holy Spirit (John 20:22) but not yet baptized in Him. That all changed in my second semester in law school, when someone prayed for me to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

I went fourteen years without the benefit of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit for primarily one reason: I didn’t believe in it. The Apostle Paul asked the Galatians rhetorically, “…did you receive the Holy Spirit by works of the Law or by hearing with faith?” Galatians 3:2. Like Many things in Christianity, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is secured by faith, not by reciting a precooked prayer or ticking boxes in a religious ritual. Consequently, if you don’t believe in it, God will likely not bother you about it. He doesn’t force himself on anyone. 

But here is the good news: If you do want to live in victory over sin in your life, and want the same boldness to share the gospel that Jesus’ disciples had, all you need to do is ask in faith. Jesus’ words should be reassuring:

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

Luke 11:13

Application

Maybe like the Ephesians mentioned in Acts 19, this is the first time you’ve heard about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. See Acts 19:2. Or maybe you’ve read about it in the New Testament but didn’t think it was for today or for you. Or maybe you’ve asked for it and haven’t received it yet. I do know this, that if you don’t ask the Lord for it, you almost certainly will not receive it. And if you have asked and haven’t yet received, you should keep asking. See Luke 11:5-9.

One last thing, the Biblical default for how people were Baptized in the Holy Spirit is that they first believed on Jesus for their salvation, were baptized in water, and then another believer laid hands on them to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. See e.g. Acts 19:1-7.  So, if you have believed on Jesus and been baptized in water, and want to receive the fullness of the power of God in your life, get with a City Life elder, deacon, or staff member and ask them to pray for you to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Lord, help those who are living without Your power to humble themselves and ask You to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.