The Best of ALC Devotions: Day 1

Jesus The… || Part 3, Day 1

Matthew 3:11-12

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Mark 1:7-11

And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

John 14:12-14 (NLT)

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in My name, and I will do it!

The purpose of baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is so we can have greater works than Jesus.

The question is what happened when Jesus ascended to the Father? First, He gave the 500 people present that day instructions to go and wait in Jerusalem until they have been endued with power from on high.

The second thing that happened was 10 days after His ascension, He sent the Holy Ghost. The Bible says that they were assembled together in an upper room, and suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house, where they were sitting. There appeared to them tongues as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Bible says that the crowd started mocking them and said they were drunk. Peter stands up with the eleven and raised his voice and said, “These are not drunk as you suppose but this is what the prophet Joel prophesied about.” Peter then begins to preach the very first sermon ever preached after the birth of the church.

The very first sermon ever preached after the church was born, had 4 points to it:

1. Jesus was dead, but now He is alive.

2. Repent from your sins, and you shall be saved.

3. Be water baptized and come and be separate.

4. Receive the Holy Spirit for this promise is for you, your children, and as many as the Lord God will call.

Peter started his message by explaining the Holy Ghost and finished it with the Holy Ghost. No wonder the church is in need of revival in this land; it has gotten away from the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire!