Thurs.’s Devo - Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Read: Acts 18:24-19:20; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3:23
Apollos and the men Paul met in Ephesus had only heard of John’s baptism which was ‘water unto repentance’. They believed in Jesus but that was as far as they had been taught. Priscilla, Aquila and Paul had to teach them about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. One evidence of this baptism is speaking in tongues.
This is true today. Many just know of salvation by faith and repentance of sin. They don’t know about being baptized in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. We need to talk about this because the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the baptism of fire and gives a person power to be a bold witness for Christ. Speaking in tongues is speaking the language of God about things only He knows. It is partnering with him in prayer. It is powerful. If it wasn’t powerful, the devil wouldn’t try so hard to keep people from receiving it or even wanting it.
One thing is for sure… you can’t fight the devil with your own strength or with someone else’s faith. The seven sons of Sceva tried. Sceva was Satan’t priest. We know that because his name means “mind reader”. When his sons tried to cast out demons in the name of Jesus who Paul preached, the demons spoke to them and told them that they knew Jesus and they knew Paul, but these men had no power over them, then the demons proceeded to attack and beat them up. When we fight against demons we have to have authority in Christ or we will never win.
The church in Corinth was having an age-old problem. The people were becoming followers of men instead of followers of Christ. When we follow men we are usually choosing them because of the doctrine they teach. No person has the whole picture. We can’t just follow what we like, we need the whole gospel. God wants us united in Christ.
Paul reminds us that God doesn’t choose the wise of the world, but the foolish to pour his wisdom into. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
Lord, thank you that though the spirit, we can know your thoughts and your deep secrets. Your plan is so great! “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”