I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:11)
Thought: This is one of the first scriptures that talks about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this scripture we see John, whose calling and purpose was to prepare the way for the coming messiah, describe Jesus. He describes what Jesus would do when he showed up: baptize with the Holy Spirt and fire; but think about this: when Jesus was on earth, did he baptize anyone with the Holy Spirit and fire? The answer is NO. Then what was John talking about? I believe John was talking about the BIG PICTURE with regard to the ministry of Jesus. The ministry of our Lord Jesus was nothing but an expression of all that God the Father had in His heart with regard to His creation that was lost and hurting; Jesus was the ultimate expression of God’s love for us. God did not want to demonstrate His love for just 33 years and then cease demonstrating His love. When He was on the earth, our Lord Jesus needed the presence and the person of the Holy Spirit to express and demonstrate God’s heart to the people and the ONLY way the work of demonstrating God’s love to the world can continue effectively is by the same person and power that worked through Christ: the person of the Holy Spirit. You know why John’s ministry was nothing compared to the ministry of Jesus? Because the ministry of John ended when he died but the ministry of Jesus continues through mortal men like you and me just because of one thing: the Holy Spirit. I believe the difference between the baptism of John and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is this: with the baptism of John we see the work of God IN a person but with the baptism of the Holy Spirt the work is not only done IN a person but the work of God is also done THROUGH the person. The Lord desires to baptize us with the Holy Spirit so He can not only transform us but also use us to effectively express Christ through us and transform the world around us. Let us be open for everything God wants to do IN and THROUGH us.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for the Holy Spirit. Lord, I thank You that You not only want to do a work IN me but you desire to do a work THROUGH me, and I make myself available for this. Father, I am open to receiving the Holy Spirit and I thank You for this priceless gift. In Jesus’ name, amen.