Today was a glorious day in every way possible. For two woman, that I have come to know very well, have given their lives to Christ and were baptized. For the last six months they had allowed me into their home, on the weekends for Bible Study, which was wonderful, as God spoke to our hearts through scripture. Then, two weeks ago, while discussing baptism, Angela and Toni committed to go all in for Jesus and be baptized. And today was the day they committed to. What was awesome about this day is that everything went as planned. I went to pick them up for baptism and they were anxiously ready to go. Then, at the river, my friend Gage and Jaron, along with their wives joined us. Gage started it all off with a prayer, which I then gave a short message on the importance of baptism. The chapters and verses I covered are below in the Bible section of this message. The time in the Word was awesome and the Spirit was so strong. Then came Jaron with me in the water to first baptize Angela. And although the water was cold, it felt amazing just to be there with Jaron and Angela. And so it began. I mentioned her name and baptized her in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Then, as she came out of the water, I could not help but give Angela a hug. And looking at her face, she was so happy. You could tell that the Holy Spirit had come inside of her. God be praised.
Next up for baptism was Toni. And her having back problems, Gage and I helped her into the water. The three of us men then helped support Toni, as I got ready to baptize her. Though she was so cold and mentioned it, she was also very anxious to be baptized. So, just like Angela, I called her by name and baptized her in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Then, as she came out of the water, I looked at her face and she was smiling. She even said something that cracked me up. She said that if the water wasn’t so cold that she would have started speaking in tongues. At that, I hugged her and then helped walk her back to her wheel chair. The baptisms were performed by the power of God and through the Holy Spirit. It was awesome to see these two women come into the fold of Christ and be a part of His church. Jesus and the 1angels are now rejoicing in the heavens. I give God all the glory for this beautiful day. These two women are just like those at Pentecost that were pricked to the heart and responded by being baptized. They did not delay their calling from God but 2“gladly received his word” and 2“were baptized”. Them and the two women today have received a remission for their sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost. They have 4put on Christ, through baptism and have received 3“newness of life.” I am so grateful to be a part of all this. Thank You Lord.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, thank You for this glorious day. Thank You for leading me to the home of Angela and Toni, about six months back. It has been a great journey and I am so grateful that it has led us to this day of baptism. To see them finally get to the point where their lives have been given over to You in faith is amazing to witness. Then, to see them take the next step and repent and be baptized is awesome. Lord, two weeks back, You spoke through me about baptism and they responded in a big way. I know that You did it all that day. You opened their hearts to baptism and helped them understand the meaning and importance. I am grateful for that today and today and give You all the glory. Yes God, on this glorious day, these two women have been baptized and received You into their lives. You have taken them in and saved them. They have been brought forth into Your kingdom. Thank You for their willing hearts to come to You fully. It is such a pleasure to be there for them in this moment of their lives. I just pray that they remember the importance of this day and never forget it. May they continue to call upon Your Name and repent. I trust in You, Jesus. I love You Lord. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Luke 15:1-10 (KJV)
1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
2Acts 2:21-41 (KJV)
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
3Romans 6:1-12 (KJV)
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
4Galatians 3:24-29 (KJV)
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
