New birth and baptism with the Holy Spirit

 

In last monday's post we talked about conversion and today we will carry on talking about the new birth and baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Once the person recognizes that she is lost without God, and that she need Him above all things, she seeks to obey God, fleeing from the things that go against her faith, and begins to desire a true encounter with God, a personal experience, which is the new birth, but it requires a devotion of 100%.

Now, the question that must be asked; How will I find God, how will that new birth occur?

God Himself gives us the answers: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

It seems as something simple, there is no mystery behind it, but just having the desire is enough? We desire this and many other things, think, what do you most desire in this moment?

Do you want to get married, have more money, see your children converted, be healed, have a restored marriage, to be reborn you need to desire it above all these things, God must be the first one in your list, you need to desire Him above your family, your job, your wanting, your money, and everything you desire to have.

 

Now it doesn’t seem so simple does it?

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”” (John 3:3)

That’s the price, you surrender completely, in body, soul and spirit, (I explained this in the previous post) without any reserves, with sincerity, undress the old garments, sacrifices.

The result will be the certainty that God is with you. The new birth will give you the opportunity to start a new life without caring about your past and who you were. If you conquer this, everything else will come. If you obtain everything else and don’t have God, you will never be complete nor fulfill, in fact you will need everything.

 

After this encounter with God, which is the new birth comes the baptism with the Holy Spirit which is the confirmation. Many have asked if that could happen at the same time, the new birth and the baptism with the Holy Spirit, yes it could, God Himself is who makes this happen, and who can put limits to God? He can make that happen, just as you could also be reborn, and after a while you could be baptized with the Holy Spirit, which is receiving the power. Imagine having God Himself within you at all times, supplying all your spiritual needs, guiding you, strengthening you, and renewing you with peace and joy, you will never be the same. Everything changes, there is a different glow in your face, a inexplicable peace, resisting temptation is no longer hard, even the way you dress changes, your thoughts and even with your flaws you overcome them and carryon, because now you learn from them and you grow.

 

It needs to be said that the rebirth occurs without the interference of others, no one can say that the pastor prayed over her and she had an encounter with God, this is something between you and God, the pastor can’t give your life to God, you are the one who does that.

After this process you will be ready to serve in the work of God, if this is your desire, and be an instrument in the hands of the Holy Spirit.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”” (Acts 1:8)