Holy Spirit Baptism

 

Sermon -Holy Spirit Baptism – Inner Transformation
Mark 16:15–16

O worshippers and inner believers! May the Holy Spirit Father pour out the blessings of baptismal worship—without measure—upon both new and old believers alike this Lord’s Day. Amen.

When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, He gave His disciples a commission. At that time, there were only 11 main disciples, but the task entrusted to them was vast and great. Hear the Lord’s words:

1.      Preach the Gospel to all people.

2.     Proclaim the Gospel to the whole world.

3.     Teach every creature.

4.     Be witnesses to the ends of the earth.

Though the laborers were few, the harvest was vast—just like a handful of workers given responsibility over millions of acres. These few disciples were entrusted with the whole earth.

Ends of the earth – The earth has four main directions: East, West, South, and North. Between them are four corners: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest. That makes eight directions in all.

The Lord gave a significant commission to those 11: “Make disciples of all nations.” Not just preaching, but making disciples—a very hard and vast task.

1) A difficult task
2) A broad mission – Preaching is easy; turning hearers into disciples is hard.

Those who have come today for baptism have been hearing the Word for a long time, and only now have they begun walking the path. How far each one is committed—that is known only to them and to the Lord.

He said, “Go into all nations,” not just your hometown. Whether baptized or not, all are called to go.

Like the 11 disciples, we too must become disciples of Christ and help others become disciples. Even if we cannot physically go to all nations, we must go as far as we can, because He said, “Go.” The eight directions and four major races must be reached.

Ask yourself:

·        How many in our church have received baptism?

·        Are they simply staying at home, or are they going and proclaiming as the Lord commanded?

·        Are all doing this?

That’s why Paul said he would be in distress if he did not preach the Gospel.

Ask yourself:

1.      Am I going?

2.     Am I preaching?

3.     Am I making disciples?

The 11 disciples left everything and went forth. We too must leave behind ungodly traits and go in the way of the Lord.

A devout man once said: “When we depart this world and reach the gates of heaven, Peter will ask, ‘You have been saved, but how many did you bring to salvation?’” One man replied, “I have no record.” Peter then said, “If you have no record of saving others, you will receive no reward.”

Pastors, supervisors, catechists, evangelists—all must preach. How wonderful it would be if everyone traveled around Guntur and preached!

The steps are:

1.      Believe

2.     Be baptized

3.     Receive salvation

Believing means accepting the teaching about Christ. Some say, “I’ve believed; why should I be baptized?” But if you truly believe, you must be baptized. If not, it shows you have not truly believed. Only when belief and baptism come together does salvation happen.

Just as a lamp has:

1.      Shape

2.     Light

3.     Fire—
So too, faith, baptism, and salvation are one unit.

Since you have come for baptism today, I will not say “Go ahead and take it” just because you showed up. We must ask if you truly believe. If you say yes, then we know you are ready. Only the Lord knows whether your faith will remain till the end.

An Example:
A 16-year-old Vaishya boy from West Godavari came to Ayyagaru a and said he would always stay with him. He said, “When you are old and unable to walk, I’ll go door to door asking for rice and vegetables without shame, because I’m a Vaishya.” He came to Guntur to stay with Ayyagaru, but did not have true faith in him. This was 25 years ago. At a small gathering in Gudlavalleru, Ayyagaru taught about the “Presence” and said, “Build a room for the Presence.” The local Baptists said they had never heard of this before. The young Vaishya boy believed all that Ayyagaru taught. But when Ayyagaru sent him to preach, wherever he went he would boast, “Our religion is best, our Lord is greatest—you must all come to our way.” This caused conflict. He would observe if people followed his teaching, blinking and shifting his eyes to check. Once, while mingling with another mission group, they told him:

1.      If you’re immersed in the river, you will receive gifts.

2.     You’ll preach well.

3.     Many will follow you.

These three promises appealed to him. So he left Ayyagaru’s teaching and followed them.

One night, he was immersed in the Krishna River, but afterward, he looked up—no Spirit, no gifts. Eventually, he left them too and joined the Communists, became a leader, was jailed, and later came out. When he returned to Ayyagaru, Ayyagaru asked, “Are you reading the Bible and praying? Are you preaching?” He replied, “No. I find Communist teaching better.” And he stayed there.

The Lesson: If today’s candidates for baptism hear false teachings, they may stray. There is a principle for avoiding this: Those who frequently take the Lord’s Supper gain strength and are preserved from falling.

Ayyagaru used to say: “Sanctification members, kneel down every Thursday and ask for sanctification.” They did so, and the Lord gave it. Angels came and stood beside each one. A table was set in the Presence. A small round loaf was given by the Lord, and He stood beside each one to bless and protect them.

Personal Testimony: On April 24, 1938, at 10 AM, during Sunday worship in the temple, the Lord Himself gave me sanctification. While others were going to the pastor or the table, the Lord came to me directly and gave it. Even the doctors sitting beside me didn’t know.

When I shared this with the “Presence” gathering, they did the same. The Lord said:
“Don’t stop taking it in the temple. Take it whenever the congregation offers it, but also take it when I give it to you directly.”

May these few words be blessed by God. Amen.

This was a sermon delivered by God’s servant Father.M. Devadasu Ayyagaru on October 27, 1957.