John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:6-7)
The Holy Spirit is God’s answer to the trouble of our separation. We often falsely think that the answers to our troubles are in some plan we need to formulate or the supply of some material need that must be met. But in truth, if we have the Holy Spirit, we have all we need. And how can we receive the Holy Spirit? It is Christ who gives himself to us. Repentance is the first step toward Christ. Repentance is the act of turning away from the corrupted ways of the world to seek a new way. John baptized people in preparation for the Messiah. He was preparing a people for the Lord, but the greater baptism was yet to come, a baptism not of water but one of the very Spirit of God.
Many people think that because they have a good relationship with the church or with other believers that they have all they need. But no, the church is indeed the community of faith and being part of a church is certainly a good thing, but the church is not Jesus. You need Jesus! Only Jesus can give you his Holy Spirit. So come to Jesus Christ and ask him for the gift of his Spirit. His Spirit is all that you need.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, baptize me now with Holy Spirit. I open the door of my life to you and welcome you in to do your beautiful work within me. Cleanse me of my sin. Teach me your ways, Enable me to walk with you in sweet fellowship day by day. Be glorified in every area of my life. Help me to see that walking in the Spirit is a foretaste of eternal life.