Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Act 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
We see in the Book of Acts that an Ethiopian eunuch was reading the Book of Isaiah, the fifty-third (53rd) chapter, but without understanding. The Holy Spirit specifically told the Apostle Philip to approach the Ethiopian’s chariot. When Philip heard that the Ethiopian was reading from the Book of Isaiah, he used the 53rd chapter of Isaiah to preach about Jesus Christ. If you read the 53rd Chapter of Isaiah, you will realize that there is only one person in history Isaiah could have been writing about…JESUS CHRIST!
We know that Philip preached about Jesus, but he also must have preached about salvation and baptism in water because the eunuch specifically asks to be baptized. It reminds me of the story in the Book of Acts about Paul and Silas being imprisoned in the city of Philippi.
Act 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Act 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Act 16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Act 16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Act 16:29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
Act 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Act 16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
Act 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
We can see from scripture that salvation is simply “BELIEVING ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST”. The Apostle Paul makes the requirements for salvation plain in the Book of Romans:
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM (JESUS) FROM THE DEAD.
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.
CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS.
Act 8:37 I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
We see that the Apostle Paul does not tell us that we need to be baptized in water to be SAVED! However, neither Philip nor Paul wasted any time before they baptized the Ethiopian eunuch or the Jailer in Philippi. Baptism in water is needed for REMISSION OF SINS (publicly forsaking sin)! When a new Christian is baptized, they are formally, and publicly, leaving Egypt (the Satanic World System)!
Therefore, if we lead a person to Jesus Christ on their death bed, we do not need to insist that they be baptized in water. However, if we lead somebody to Jesus Christ, and they confess that Jesus is LORD, and they are able bodied, they should be baptized in water as soon as possible…not weeks, or months, or even years later!
Also, if you lead somebody to Jesus Christ, you do not need to make an appointment with a minister, pastor, or priest to schedule a baptism…YOU take them to the closest body of water and baptize them (fully immerse them in water), IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!
Act 2:38 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.
REMISSION: G859, aphesis, af'-es-is
From G863; freedom; (figuratively) pardon: - deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, remission.
I do not believe “forgiveness” is the best translation of the Greek word APHESIS. The best translation is probably “FORSAKING” or “LAYING ASIDE” our sin, as we will clarify by the Greek root word HIEMI.
G863, aphiēmi
From G575 and ἵημι hiēmi (to send; an intensive form of εἶμι eimi (to go)); to send forth, in various applications: - cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.
If you are reading this article and you BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, but you have never been baptized in water, nor have you publically forsaken your sin and your attachment to the world, then you should pray to God that He will lead you to a mature Christian who will baptize you for the remission of sins. We see from many stories in the Bible that God sent His servants far and wide to save His lost sheep!
Although by the act of baptism, we are publicly forsaking sin and renouncing the authority of Satan over us, the devil is not very willing to allow us to work for the benefit of God’s kingdom. Therefore, Satan will do everything in his power to either tempt us back to sin and back under his authority, or the devil will keep us wandering around lost in the wilderness until we die.
Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
There is no such thing as a little sin. You cannot have one foot in Egypt and one foot in the Promised Land. You need to make a conscious choice that you are going to forsake Egypt, or stay in Egypt. If you decide to stay in Egypt, you will never enjoy the supernatural blessings of God. Egypt can counterfeit the blessings of God, but the leeks, and the melons, and the garlic, and the fish from the Nile River will never be the same as the milk and the honey in the Promised Land. There will always be many false brethren who will try and convince you that the joys of Egypt are the same, or even better than the blessings of the Promised Land.
Num 11:4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
Num 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
Just like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, just like the Children of Israel and Jesus, in the Wilderness, we are going to suffer temptation from Satan during our journey in the Wilderness. That is why we need the BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! This is also why we need to complete the journey as soon as possible.
We cannot overcome Satan in the wilderness by our own strength, but the Holy Spirit can, and will, overcome Satan and the lusts of our flesh…if we invite Him to work on our behalf.
We see that after the resurrection, Jesus taught His disciples and His followers for forty (40) days. Interesting that the ministry of Jesus began with a forty (40) day fasting period, and then Jesus ended His ministry with a forty (40) day teaching period.
Act 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Act 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
Act 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Act 1:4 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.
Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Just before Jesus ascended back to heaven, He commanded His followers to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the “baptism of the Holy Ghost”. We know that one-hundred and twenty (120) people received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost ten (10) days later on the Feast of Pentecost.
Act 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
Another interesting fact is that Jesus appeared to about five-hundred (500) people AFTER His resurrection, but only one-hundred and twenty (120) were obedient enough to tarry in Jerusalem and receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost!
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
The Book of Acts does not mention that the disciples “FASTED” during their ten (10) day period of prayer and supplication, but I think we can reach a logical conclusion that the disciples were probably fasting from what the Bible tells us about that ten (10) day period.
Act 1:14 The apostles had a single purpose as they devoted themselves to prayer. They were joined by some women, including Mary (the mother of Jesus), and they were joined by his brothers. God’s Word Bible.
I picture them all together praying continually, perhaps taking a little water, maybe a little food, and an occasional nap, until they received the baptism of the Holy Ghost…no matter how long it might take! However, there appears to be some significance to a ten (10) day fasting period.
Dan 1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
Dan 1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse (VEGETABLES) to eat, and water to drink.
Dan 1:13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
Dan 1:14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
Dan 1:15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
I know some people ask God for the baptism of the Holy Ghost and don’t receive it for years…me included. However, I do not believe we have too many years to wait because Jesus is coming back very soon! Therefore, here are some pointers about how you can ask for, and receive, the baptism of the Holy Ghost:
First, set your mind to pray, and to keep praying, until you receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Some people claim that speaking in tongues is from the devil. God will not give you something evil if you are praying for the baptism of His Holy Ghost.
Luk 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Luk 11:12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Second, FASTING goes with prayer like milk goes with honey. All through the Bible, people fasted and prayed when they really, really, wanted something from God. The prophets fasted, the Apostles fasted, Jesus fasted, fasting will never go out of style!
FASTING: G3521, nēsteia, nace-ti'-ah
From G3522; abstinence (from lack of food, or voluntary and religious); specifically the fast of the Day of Atonement: - fast (-ing.)
Mat 6:16 "When you fast, stop looking sad like hypocrites. They put on sad faces to make it obvious that they're fasting. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.
Mat 6:17 When you fast, wash your face and comb your hair.
Mat 6:18 Then your fasting won't be obvious. Instead, it will be obvious to your Father who is with you in private. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.
Jesus said, “WHEN you fast” not “IF you fast”. God expects us to fast if we are serious about our prayers. Fasting appears to be mandatory if we expect deliverance.
Mar 9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
Mar 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
If you are taking medication, you should probably discuss any long fast with your family drug dealer… I mean with your family doctor!
Last but not least, start hanging around with Christians that have already been baptized with the Holy Ghost (i.e. usually people who attend charismatic or Pentecostal Churches, but not necessarily).
If you spend all your time around people using drugs, or alcoholics, or people who are sexually promiscuous, or people who like to dabble in the occult…you will be attracting demonic spirits, NOT the Holy Spirit.
I received the gift of the Holy Ghost when I attended a Pentecostal “revival”. I didn’t fast or pray, I was filled with the Holy Ghost when I was sitting in the pews. The same thing happened several times in the Book of Acts.
Act 2:38 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.
Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Act 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and 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 mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST!!!
Do not let the devil steal your victory in Jesus Christ with bad theology!
You might have heard, “The Minister/Pastor/Priest at my Church says speaking in tongues is from the devil.”
Jesus called this: BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST.
Mat 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
You might have heard, “The Minister/Pastor/Priest at my Church says speaking in tongues stopped with the Apostles.”
Stephen called this: RESISTING THE HOLY GHOST.
Act 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Act 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
You might have heard, “The Minister/Pastor/Priest at my Church says that speaking in tongues should be done in private, and that we should do everything “decently and in order”.
The Apostle Paul called this: QUENCHING THE SPIRIT.
1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
1Th 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.
1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
The Apostle Paul specifically told the Church at Corinth: “covet to prophecy” and “forbid not to speak in tongues”.
1Co 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
There will be a day of reckoning for all the foolish Shepherds/Ministers/Pastors/Priests that have actively tried to prevent the Holy Ghost from sanctifying His Church. However, God will have a victorious, overcoming Church prepared for His Son. A glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle!
Every movement of the Spirit of God must also run the Gauntlet of the devil’s forces. The Dragon stands before the bearing mother, ready to swallow up her child (Rev. 12:4). And so with the present Pentecostal work in its beginning. Frank Bartleman, Azusa Street, How Pentecost Came to Los Angeles.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
