Baptised In Christ (2)

Memory Verse: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” Ephesians 5:18

Bible Passage: Acts 2:1-21.

Introduction
WE will continue our study of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Christ by looking at its effect on everyday life and the influence of the fruit of the Spirit.

The In Filling Of The Holy Spirit
There is only one baptism of the Holy Spirit but there are multiple in-fillings. We must be constantly and continually filled with the Holy Spirit God commands us to “…be filled with the Spirit;” Eph. 5:18. To constantly stay filled with the Spirit, we must:
• Be conscious of His presence in our lives.
• Always yield to Him, Eph. 5:18, John 20:22.
• Repent, confess and forsake sin, I John 1:9.
• Obey God always, Gal. 5:16.
• Pray earnestly daily for the in-filling.
• Walk in truth and gratitude
• Pray in the spirit by speaking in tongues, Rom.8: 26.

Fruit Of The Spirit
The fruit of the Spirit is the clearest evidence of the baptism. The fruit of the Spirit is made up of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance, Gal. 5:22-23, 2 Pet.1: 5-8. The nine strands of the fruit combine to shape our character and make us Christ like. It sets us apart from the world. We need to
• Offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, 1 Cor.6: 19-20, Rom.12: 1-2.
• See ourselves as dead to sin but alive in Christ, Rom.6: 11, Gal.2: 20.
• Be humble and broken, Rom.12: 2.
• Work on every strand until the fruit is fully formed Gal.5: 22-23, 2 Pet. 1:3.

Conclusion
Are you baptised in the Hoy Spirit? Are you constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit? Prayer and fasting tend to break and empower at the same time. Christ needs to be fully formed in us. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not optional. Without it, we will be vulnerable to the destructive power of the flesh. The flesh kills, but the Spirit makes alive. We have great precious potential and promises in Christ through which we can escape the rottenness and corruption of the world and from its lust, materialism and greed. We can and we will partake of the divine nature of Christ. So shall it be in Jesus’ name.