BAPTISM BY THE RUACH HAQUODESH/ HOLY SPIRIT

Boker tov Mishpoha
Good morning family from our family here in Kenya 🇰🇪

Today we are going to tackle a subject very seldom….. actually if ever spoken of in Messianic and Hebrew Roots congregations.

But this subject is of all the mitzvahs the most important one of all.

We are going to delve into the most misunderstood subject especially among Christians that needs to be understood !

So let’s get our Bibles out.

BAPTISM BY THE RUACH HAQUODESH/ HOLY SPIRIT

” It’s true that I am immersing you in water so that you might turn from sin to God, but the one is coming after me is more powerful than I,….. I am not worthy even to carry his sandals….. and He will immerse you in the Ruach HaQuodesh and in fire. “
Mattiyahu / Mathew 3 :11

Before we begin I want to make one thing clear about the fire …..the 2 baptism separating Holy Spirit and fire are an incorrect teaching.
Our G-d is an all-consuming fire….. and the Holy Spirit is God…. and when His Spirit dwells within us it burns up all that which is not of Him.

What is the difference between Yochanan’s ( John’s ) baptism with water….. and the baptism of Messiah by the Ruach HaQuodesh ?
The contrast made with John’s baptism would suggest it was designed to bring people out of their old life…… away from that pit of Darkness…. whereas the baptism of Yeshua by the Holy Spirit / Ruach HaQuodesh was designed to bring people into a new life……. and for this to happen there needs to be a rebirth !

To be brought out of sin, as depicted by John’s baptism of repentance / Teshuvah, does not represent the work Yeshua Hamashiach is going to accomplish in our lives. It is one thing to come out of the old life, but quite another to come into the new life. The preacher can explain forgiveness, repentance and submission to Messiah, but only Yeshua is capable of bringing us into the new purpose for which we have being brought out of the old life. And this purpose is to be in Union with Him, our only means to the real end whereby we are being conformed to His likeness. But this takes obedience ! Rav Saul / Paul, in his reference to baptism by the Spirit, gives it a doctrinal context. He says, ” for we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body…… and we’re all given the one Spirit to drink ” 1st Corinthians 12 verse 13.
This baptism brings us into Messiah Himself, and makes us sharers of His life together.

The water baptism that Christians tend to believe is a one-time thing among the Jews have a true understanding of this mitzvah.
It is a cleansing sometimes daily immersing ourselves in what we need to wash away and get rid of in our life through a turning away from sin whatever it is that is pulling us back into the old life.
There is great wisdom in the tradition of mitzvah. But it is not the end …. instead it is merely the beginning of our conversion.

Yochanan / John also says the baptism of Yeshua is one of Fire, which cleanses and destroys in order to make possible renewing and rebuilding. We can point people to Messiah, but then we must leave them with the One who alone baptizes with the Holy Spirit and brings them into Union with Him, whereby Messiah lives in them and they are in Him.
Too often I have seen people in Christian churches and Revival meetings telling people they need to ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is something a Believer does on their own…. we can remind them that this is their goal…. but it is Hashems timing…… because it is only God that knows our hearts and does the work in us.
True Messianic followers experience goes beyond believing facts and making appropriate responses to Adonai to actually experiencing Adonai, which can only be done in Union with Messiah.

Baptism, however, does not accomplish anything in itself. It is an external act portraying and intentional response, and outward demonstration of an inner reality. This is what the Pharisees religious leaders of Messiahs day had lost sight of….. and why Yochanan told them they needed to repent…. and then come and be baptized.
Going down into the water portrays our being crucified with Messiah. Submerged in the water depicts our being buried with Messiah, and coming out of the water depicts our being raised to the new life and cleansed…. by His living water. At the point of coming in Humble repentance to Messiah, we are indwelt by His Spirit, which is a one-time event that actually can happen and should happen more than once as we continue to battle with our flesh. Once we are in dwelt by the Holy Spirit, we can never lose Him . We can turn and disobey but we will find our self in an even darker place than we were before which will bring us to repentance and to our knees. Baptism is also, for most a one-time event, it is symbolic of a lifetime Union with Messiah. And being in Union with Messiah is the essence of the Torah, writings, prophets, and Gospel !!!!!

Our Prayer
Heavenly Father
I pray that my union with You takes precedence in my everyday life and continues to conform me to your likeness.
Thank You Adonai Amein