“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved… For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” -Romans 10:1–13

John the Baptist said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Mathew 3:11). The baptism of repentance and water is an outward act of faith of what has taken place already inside of the new believer born of the Holy Spirit. Now the born again believer may receive the baptism that Jesus will perform with the Holy Spirit and fire, and scripturally through the laying on of hands of a believer that has received the Holy Spirit as in Acts 19:1-6.  

Peter said, “Can anyone forbid water, that these (Believing/born again, Holy Spirit Baptized & speaking in tongues Gentiles) should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” He then commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord (Acts 10:44-48). Once you see the Spirit of truth you can’t un-see Him, and He will confirm the truth through many scriptures).

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin & death… For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” -Romans 8

Jesus is a man of war (Exodus 15:3), and we are in a spiritual war. Your spiritual growth and preparation for your purpose and time that you were appointed too be born on the earth is part of God’s plan. He needs you to not be deceived, to know Him in spirit and truth and this changes your reality. Loving God is what Jesus said we are to do with all of our heart and all of our mind and all of our soul, and that if we love Him we will obey His commands.  Be teachable. Have a heart like David’s who said, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting” (Psalm 139:34-24). Jesus told His disciples, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come (John 16).

During the 70’s, a favorite childhood memory was singing worship songs at Spirit filled prayer meetings gathered in my grandparents basement. Barely we all fit, but the Holy Spirit was there moving while my grandmother and uncle’s voices and guitars lead us in worship that I’ll never forget.

Worship is for God, and for us… we were made to worship Him. Everyone fades away until it just the believer and Him. If you look upon the imperfect people worshipping Him, see that they belong to Him, it’s beautiful, powerful because the Holy Spirit touches, and ministers to each.  -Dawn Francis