JESUS: UNDERSTANDING THE MYSTERY AND POWER OF HIS NAME 8 Baptisms In His Name

"Therefore leaving the principle of the doctrine of Christ, let us go unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward G.o.d, of the DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS and of laying of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement."

The six doctrines form the elementary or basic doctrine of Christ. For almost three decades now, I have based our foundational studies in the ministry on all these doctrines. Note that we are considering how this wonderful Name evokes power in the various kind of baptisms.

There are three types of baptism:

1. The baptism into the Body of Christ

Baptism into Christ and his Body is a spiritual transformation or plunging of a sinner (who is previously in the domain of Satan) into the kingdom of his dear son

Galatians 3: 26-27

26 For ye are all the children of G.o.d by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

I Corinthians 12:13

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

On the day you repented of your sin and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit baptized you into Christ and his body (Church). You then become a member of the body of Christ where Jesus is the chief Shepherd. But you should know that the salvation of the sinner is by the agent of the Holy Spirit as evoked by his name.

Matthew 12:21

21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Matthew 1:21

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Act 4:12

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

2. Baptism by water immersion in His name

Another form of baptism that follows the baptism into the Body of Christ is water baptism. While the agent of baptism into the Body is the Holy Spirit the local Pastors or ministers is the one that conduct this in his Name.

Matthew 28:19

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Act 8:15-16

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Act 8:38

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.

From the above three pa.s.sages you can see that water baptism was done in his exalted Name and it involved the three persons of the G.o.d head. Some thought that Paul as an apostle did not count water baptism as important but this cannot be true. He even re-baptized some converts.

Act 19:3,5

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

In our various churches, may be because of my Baptist background, we place great emphasis on water baptism in his Name. I believe G.o.d is not frivolous and he does not establish what is not beneficial.

In conducting water baptism in our church, we take along with us many of our Pastors (men and women), so they will help us bring them out, as many of them get slain in the power of the Holy Spirit. At one time we had to travel to the warm spring at Ikogosi in Ekiti State (Nigeria) to conduct the service. People who came around were always astonished at the power of G.o.d in display. I believe this happens in our ministry because we hold each service as they come in holy reverence and fear of the Holy Spirit.

3. Holy Ghost Baptism in His Name

The Holy Spirit baptism is the greatest priority in the heart of the exalted Jesus as the Head of the church. This is for the purpose of effective service, power and victory over every work of the devil. When you become conscious of his indwelling presence your lives will change for good.

Act 1:8

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

I learnt my lesson many years in a school where I took up teaching early in life, as a recognized Christian teacher full of the word but not full of the Spirit. I was not baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongue.

An intelligent form IV students had a spiritual problem in the previous year. He would always listen to a voice that asked him to look up. When he could not be further tolerated by the teachers, he had to be taken to a mental inst.i.tution where he spent almost a year. Now, he came to his cla.s.s where I happened to teach very briefly. The moment he got to the cla.s.s he started to listen and to obey those voices. He seems to enjoy the voice. The Christians in that school brought him to me for spiritual help. This was in the days when Dr. Kenneth Hagin books on faith series were entering our country. I enjoyed reading after him and I believe so much that his spirit of faith and confidence had robbed up on me. I stood before him and commanded the devil to leave in the name of Jesus. I told him he was free with an instruction that he should ignore the devil now that the devil was out of his life. According to the boy he was free but on my way home a strong thought came upon me asking "what if you also start to look up"

I knew enough faith to resist the devil but I had to keep looking down for three solid days. At the end, I did not sense the tormenting thoughts again but my neck had started to bring me discomfort. I believe this happened because I was trying to serve G.o.d in my own strength without the baptism of power.

Few years after this encounter I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Today G.o.d uses me to minister the Holy Spirit baptism in the body with the a.s.sistance of the gifts of special faith.

Hear what John said about Jesus:

Matthew 3:11

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mark 16:17

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

i. The Name of Jesus opens you to the fullness of the Spirit

ii. The promise of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongue is unto us and our children

iii. The Holy Ghost/ Spirit is a person and the speaking in other tongue is an experience peculiar with New Testament dispensation,
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iv. The Holy Ghost is more eager than you are eager to fill you with the Holy Spirit. He filled Cornellius before Peter finished his message

v. He is G.o.d, the executive of G.o.d on earth. You don't need to struggle for the gift. You cannot purchase G.o.d. Come as you are

I was in a church to minister on the working of the Holy Spirit. The church, because of their background believed in fasting to receive and they were more demon-conscious than Jesus-conscious. A friend who newly took over the pastorate invited me and I went. I preached simply and pray. They could not believe it as they were all baptized.

One lady came to me at the end of the meeting to ask me a question. She asked 'How am I sure I have not received an evil spirit? She asked the question with soberness. I was to help her. I asked if she had parents. She had no mother so she must have lost the comfort of a mother but she had a father. I asked her further "can your father poison your meal of rice"? She replied No! How can my father poison my plate of rice? I trust him" Then I told her she must have trusted her father more than her heavenly father. That got her thinking.

Sometimes in 1985 I was ministering and laying hand in a church so that they would receive the Holy Ghost. It is so easy nowadays with me to get people filled with the Holy Ghost without laying hand but it was not so then. I was wearing my wedding ring and the brethren were so shocked they received the Holy Spirit baptism with evidence of speaking in tongue even though I was wearing a wedding ring.

The greatest danger to the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the move of the Spirit is man-made doctrine

2 Corinthians 3: 15-16

15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

I tried to explain to the pastor who invited me. He was a loving and humble man. When the Pastor left, the Holy Spirit, listening to our conversation spoke to me at the middle of the road. He asked. "What is the difference between your wrist watch and your wedding ring?"

I told the Holy Spirit that they are the same. While the ring was a small ring round one of my fingers to indicate or symbolize marriage vow: the wrist watch was a bigger ring around the wrist and it is indicative of our timing. Why do people who set up man made laws wear wrist-watches in the first place?

Importance of Praying in the Spirit/ Speaking in Tongues:

• Initial sign of His presence

• For spiritual edification

• Praying in line with G.o.d's perfect will

• A faith stimulant

• Means of keeping us free from worldly pollution

• Praying for the unkown

• As a form of perfect worship/ thanksgiving

• As a door to the manifestation of other spiritual gifts