Holy Spirit Baptism - Are You Ready for More?

I baptize you with water for repentance.  But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. - Matthew 3:11

One of the pleasant surprises of my ministry experience on my church's Healing team is the time we spend with each individual not just with physical healing needs, but in other areas of need in their desire for more with God.  I've been privileged to walk several people through the process of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, and I get more excited about seeing people walk away with that gift than anything they may see physically.  After salvation through accepting Jesus as your savior, being baptized in the Holy Spirit is the greatest gift God has given us, and it really is a game changer.

I get many questions about Holy Spirit baptism that I hope to answer for you in this article:

• What is Holy Spirit baptism? Why is it important?
• Am I still saved if I'm not baptized in the Holy Spirit?
• How can I get baptized in the Holy Spirit?
• How do I know that I've been baptized in the Holy Spirit? What happens to be me when I am?

We will look at the experiences of three church leaders - Smith Wigglesworth, Agnes Sanford, and Francis MacNutt - as well as my own experience, to help answer these questions and encourage you to seek this important gift.

What is Holy Spirit baptism? Why is it important?

I don't intend to spend time here going into the theology of Holy Spirit baptism - some people believe you get baptized in the Spirit when you are saved, but I believe Holy Spirit baptism is a separate and distinct experience.  There is plenty of Bible Scripture to support this, and you can do your own research, or read Robert Morris' book, The God I Never Knew, for more insights.  Regardless of your view, the important thing is experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Holy Spirit baptism is important because it makes us a complete person in Christ.  Jesus said He had to leave so the Holy Spirit could come (John 16:7), and we know from the Acts of the Apostles and Pentecost the impact the Holy Spirit has had on the church.  The early disciples couldn't do what they did on their own, and neither can we.  We need the Holy Spirit to guide us into the truth of relationship with the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Am I still saved if I'm not baptized in the Holy Spirit?  Can I still have a relationship with Jesus without it?

Yes! Salvation comes through belief in Jesus Christ and surrender to Him as your Lord and Savior.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and was resurrected so that we could have eternal life.  But His sacrifice also paved the way for the Holy Spirit to be freely shared to all who ask for this gift, to serve as our comforter and guide in our walk with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

To emphasize this point, let talk about our church leaders.  Smith Wigglesworth was already a pastor who preached alongside his wife prior to Holy Spirit baptism.  Agnes Sanford had a healing ministry and wrote the best-selling book, The Healing Light, decades before she was baptized in the Holy Spirit.  And Francis McNutt was a Catholic priest for many years prior to experiencing Holy Spirit baptism.

But even though all of these church leaders were serving in a ministry capacity, and some had strong gifting prior, they all acknowledged that something was missing in their walk with the Lord.  They were missing a certain "power" that comes from the fire and presence of the Holy Spirit, and once they received this baptism, they and their ministries were never the same.

How can I get baptized in the Holy Spirit? How do I know that I've been baptized in the Holy Spirit? What happens to be me when I am?

Baptism in the Holy Spirit comes from simply asking Jesus for it - that's all it takes! Like salvation, opening your heart to this amazing gift is all that's required, and Jesus will do the rest!  If you are uncertain about this, ask a prayer partner, pastor, or other Christian friend who understands Holy Spirit baptism to pray with you.

So does something happen immediately or at another point in time? Like salvation, some people experience something immediately, others have a noted physical or spiritual experience at another point in time, and others realize they have grown into this baptism gradually as they mature in their walk with the Lord.  Don't worry about a specific experience or indicator - if you've asked, Jesus will be faithful in sharing this gift.  And trust me, when you have it, you'll know!

Holy Spirit baptism brings many amazing benefits - power (Acts 1:8), love (Romans 5:5), the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness (Galatians 5:22), and spiritual gifts like prophecy and speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).  Some people are scared off by thinking it's all about the "weird" spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues (which is actually wonderful by the way), but the other fruits of the Spirit like joy, peace, etc. are also very noticeable changes.

To bring this into real life examples, let's see how our three church leaders experienced baptism in the Holy Spirit:

• When Smith Wigglesworth told his wife about his baptism and the ability to speak in tongues, she told him, "I have been preaching for twenty years, and you have sat beside me on the platform, but on Sunday you will preach yourself, and I'll see what there is in it."  As she sat in the back of the church that Sunday, Smith was filled with the Spirit and gave an incredible message.  He describes his wife as being "terribly disturbed" and said in a voice that all around could hear, "That's not my Smith, Lord, that's not my Smith!" He went on to have a powerful ministry and traveled the world with the message of Jesus, with a wife who was continually amazed at his transformation.

• Agnes Sanford describes feeling drained, along with two of her prayer partners, after the many years of praying for others and traveling for her ministry.  They asked God what they could do to get their strength back, and all heard, "Pray for the Holy Ghost."  When they did, "the power of the Spirit fell upon us immediately.  First of all, we felt a deep and intense burning in the middle of the head and with it a drawing feeling, as though the hair were brushed the wrong way, or as though one had on a hat that was too tight."  She goes on to say they were given three specific gifts of the Spirit - a joy they had never known before, an understanding of truth, and the gift of peace.

• As a Catholic priest, Francis MacNutt says "it was as if there was a power in Jesus and His followers that was missing in my life."  He could see that those he met who claimed to be baptized in the Spirit had the fruits of love, joy, and peace in their eyes.  After praying for the baptism in the Holy Spirit, to which he felt no change, Agnes Sanford, who was also present, suggested, "I think it would be better to pray for you for a release of the Spirit and the charismatic gifts that are already in you through baptism, confirmation, and ordination."  When that was done, Francis was overcome by a wave of laughter, and "it was as if a spring of joy had welled up from within me, the joy of the Holy Spirit. Wave upon wave of joy engulfed me."  Francis went on to start a powerful healing ministry that thrives today.

My personal testimony is similar to Francis MacNutt. I accepted Christ at seven years old and was baptized in the Spirit soon thereafter, and I recall growing up with spiritual gifts.  But as I got older I drifted away from these gifts.  Thankfully, five years ago I was revitalized and asked God for more, and it was as if a switch was flipped in my life.  I had a very clear moment of change that came upon me.  I haven't been the same since, as I experience the fruits of the Spirit, greater revelation of the Word, and many other spiritual gifts.

Reverend Tommy Tyson defined the baptism of the Spirit as an "event in our lives through which we become more continually aware of the presence, the person, and the power of the risen Christ." No matter where you are in your walk with God, or even if you don't know Jesus yet, there's always an opportunity for more, for the fullness of Christ in you.  

I hope you'll consider asking Jesus for the gift of the Holy Spirit - the Acts of the Apostles are alive and well today, and there's a great adventure in store for all who ask for more!

A Hindu came up to a preacher in North India and said, "I want to ask a question, not through criticism but for information.  I have been reading the New Testament and am especially struck with the Acts of the Apostles.  These men seemed to have a wonderful power and fullness of spiritual life.  Sir, have you found what they had?"  The preacher was speechless.  Though he was a graduate of a university and was a missionary, he knew in the inmost depths of being that he did not have what the early disciples seemed to have found.  He went home, fell on his knees, yielded himself fully to Christ - and found! - E. Stanley Jones

- Adam Gellert

adamgellert.com

PS. Click the links here for more information on the books/references quoted above:

Agnes Sanford, Sealed Orders

Smith Wigglesworth, Baptized in the Holy Spirit

Francis MacNutt, The Nearly Perfect Crime

Robert Morris, The God I Never Knew

Ever Be - Will You Answer the Call?

"For many are invited, but few are chosen." - Matthew 22:14

Free will is a great gift that can be unappreciated or misunderstood at times.  Many of us watch as others come up with great ideas or ministry opportunities that turn into whatever definition of success we have (fame, fortune, a big church following, God's favor, etc.).  We think "why can't I ever get that lucky break?"  or "Hey, I had that idea too a few years ago, why didn't I take action on it?"  We then blame God for showing favoritism to others or not giving us the same opportunities, when in fact we should be taking accountability for own inaction when God did open the door.  He gives all of us a chance to work in our calling and purpose in partnership with Him, but few are obedient to the call.

A small example of this in my own life was a day when I heard the song "Ever Be" by Aaron Shust.  It's still one of my favorite songs, and that day I felt the impression that I should share the song on social media because someone else needed to hear it.  Being new to the social media world and still worrying about how many "likes" I got from posts, I noticed that nobody had "liked" the post after several hours and removed it, being embarrassed at the lack of response.  

But the following day, I saw the exact same post from another person, who said they felt led to post the song "Ever Be" for someone to hear.  It instantly made to realize that if I'm not willing to be obedient to something God had assigned to me, He would find someone else willing to take the risk.

In a bigger example, Darren Wilson, a filmmaker who has produced several documentaries such as Finger of God, Father of Lights, and Furious Love, tells a similar story in his book, Finding God in the Bible.  He had never made a movie before but was obedient to God's calling to do so.  This has led to incredible success as his movies have made an impact across the world.  

Darren writes in his book, "When He asked me to start making a crazy movie about miracles, I was at my lowest point and honestly had nothing to lose by stepping out.  It was only years later that I began receiving emails from producers and directors around the world - people who had far more talent, resources, and ability than me - admitting to me that for years God had been asking them to make a documentary about the things He's doing around the world, yet because of reputation, finances, schedule, fears, or whatever other excuse they could come up with, they all put it off or said no.  Then they looked up and saw that here I had done it.  Little old me with my borrowed camera and $20,000 budget.  I was not God's first choice for this.  I was simply the one guy dumb enough (or smart enough) to say yes."

What has God put into your heart to do? What excuses are you making to not take action? It may be something as small as paying for the person behind you in the drive thru line, but that one act of obedience will open the door to more, as God now sees He can trust you with bigger and bigger assignments.  He has big plans for each of us, if only we will realize we have the choice to take action, to take the leap into the unknown.  You'll be in for a fun ride if you will only say "YES"!  

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"  And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" - Isaiah 6:8

P.S. Check out Darren's movies and other projects at wpfilm.com.

-Adam Gellert

adamgellert.com

The Key To Your Heart

"My beloved put his hand by the latch of the door, and my heart yearned for him." 

- Song of Songs 5:4

A few days ago I was going for a run, one of my favorite times to listen to praise and worship music and hear from God.  As I was sifting through the song selections on my phone, I decided to do something I've never done before - I asked God what He wanted to hear.  And just like so many other times I've heard from God, His answer was totally unexpected and taught me another important lesson in my relationship journey with the Father.

The song I heard God say was "Let My Love Open The Door," a song by Pete Townshend, lead guitarist of the famous classic rock band The Who.  I knew the song, but I also knew it had to be God, since I haven't thought of or heard that song in years.  With it being a secular song, I wondered if I had heard right, and couldn't wait to look up the lyrics to see why God had chosen this song.

Not surprisingly, the lyrics were a perfect message for me, and really for all of us, when put into the perspective of this song coming from God:

When people keep repeating

That you'll never fall in love

When everybody keeps retreating

But you can't seem to get enough

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door to your heart

When everything feels all over

Everybody seems unkind

I'll give you a four-leaf clover

Take all worry out of your mind

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door to your heart

I've got the only key to your heart

I can stop you from falling apart

Try today, you'll find this way

Come on and give me a chance to say

Let my love open the door

It's all I'm living for

Release yourself from misery

There's only one thing gonna set you free

That's my love

That's my love

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door

When tragedy befalls you

Don't let it drag you down

Love can cure your problems

You're so lucky I'm around

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door

Let my love open the door to your heart

And just for good measure, in case some of you (including myself) wonder if this song was just a random thought, here was a quote of the day I read later that evening from E. Stanley Jones, a missionary to India:

"Where other keys get jammed, love opens the door, for it fits the heart - every heart."

Wow! Isn't God amazing!  I learned some important lessons about God from this experience. First and most obviously, was the message from the song that God's thoughts about us are those of love, that He holds the key to our heart if we will open the door and let Him in.  We are always on His mind, and He loves each of us!  And even though I know He loves me, I never get tired of hearing it, just like we always appreciate the reinforcement when our loved ones say, "I love you!"

But the other important takeaway was the fact that God used a "secular" song to communicate with me.  You may miss out on hearing from God if your mind is closed to what you view as "non-Christian" sources. Be open to all the ways God can talk to us - God created it all, and He can use it all for His glory!

So take the time to ask God how He wants to share His love with you - and be open (and amazed) at His answers!

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." 
- Psalm 139:23

-Adam Gellert
adamgellert.com

God Is Love

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." - 1 John 4:8

No matter what you believe, or who you believe in, all people believe in Love.  At the core of humanity, we all want to be loved, and love others.  The Beatles sang, "All You Need Is Love."  And the Bible says, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love."

What is love?  The dictionary defines love as "an intense feeling of deep affection."  But love goes deeper than this.  My favorite description of love is a Bible Scripture read at many weddings, including my own, from 1 Corinthians 13:

"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."

I think most people, Christians and non-Christians alike, would read this and agree with the author, Paul, on this description of love.  We read or hear these verses and our spouse, children, or other loved ones come to mind.  But let me challenge you with another twist to this Scripture, one that may make you squirm in your chair a little.

We also read in 1 John 4:8 that "God is love."  He is the very essence of love.  But do you really believe it? Let's look at 1 Corinthians 13 with a new lens:

"God is patient, God is kind.  God does not envy, God does not boast, God is not proud.  God does not dishonor others, God is not self-seeking, God is not easily angered, God keeps no record of wrongs.  God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  God never fails."

What's your reaction to this verse now? Does it feel the same as before?  If not, why?

What has been your experience with God?  What is your relationship with Him?  

• Do you believe God is patient with you, that He is kind?
• Do you believe God does not envy, that He doesn't boast, that He is not proud?
• Do you believe God does not dishonor you, that He is not self-seeking?
• Do you believe God is not easily angered with you?
• Do you believe God keeps no record of your wrongs?
• Do you believe God does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth?
• Do you believe God always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres?
• Do you believe God never fails you?

I think most of us, if we are really honest with ourselves, have a difficult time answering "Yes" to all (or even most) of these questions.  We've been hurt, disappointed, let down, experienced loss, wondered why something had to happen the way it did.  We think we've done too much to really be loved unconditionally.  How can God allow all these bad things to happen to me, or to the world around us, if He really loves us?  

But if you will let Him in, and seek God with all your heart, soul, and mind, you'll discover there is no room for doubt in any of these areas.  Because God is love, we are believing a lie if we accept any other belief about who He is, and how He sees us.  

God created each of us to be in a loving relationship with Him.  So much so that He willingly sacrificed His one and only Son, Jesus, to die for us, so that we could be in a love relationship with our Creator, an unconditional love that frees us from the bondage of death, to spend eternity with our one true Love.  Accept this today and experience God, experience Love.

"All you need is God."

- Adam Gellert

adamgellert.com

My Encounter With God

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.  - 1 Kings 19:12-13

I always enjoy reading stories about near-death experiences and other encounters people have with the heavenly realm.  It encourages us in our faith, and gives us hope in a future eternity with God. I shared one such story from a friend in a previous blog entry, The Day I Touched Heaven.  And I'm currently reading an amazing book, Imagine Heaven, by John Burke, which relates several incredible stories of people's miraculous journeys to heaven and meeting God or Jesus (or both).  

Reading this book reminded me that I have yet to share on this site my own amazing story of meeting God (I shared it in my book); it changed my life and continues to give me confidence and hope daily, and I pray it does the same for you.

Many years ago, I dozed off to sleep one night, unaware that I was about to encounter the Creator of the universe. I dreamed I was at my grandparents’ home. Everyone in my core family was there in the dream with me - my parents, brother, grandparents, and aunts and uncles. Suddenly, someone in the group told me that God wanted to speak to me, and it was as if I knew just what to do or expected it. I had no fear. 

I was in the family room, and a fog or mist, low to the ground, came out of the hallway that led to my grandparents’ bedroom. The fog came right toward me, and I somehow knew that God himself was approaching.  I covered my face with my hands as He drew near, and I knew in my Spirit that I could not look.  

I squeezed my eyes shut just as I was engulfed in the brightest light I had ever seen. There was warmth around me that made me so comfortable and free; the warmth may be the thing I remember most vividly.  Then I felt a hand on my right shoulder, and I was aware that it was God’s right hand. As I reflected on this later, I knew this was a purposeful and orderly act, because this would not be the natural placement of someone’s right hand as they were reaching out to touch someone’s right shoulder.  Scripture also confirms this:

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.” - Revelation 1:17

While He was touching my right shoulder, I heard a voice in my right ear speaking these comforting words, "It's okay; it's okay."  Amazingly, His voice was both different and as familiar as my earthly father's voice.  The voice was speaking into my right ear.  This was strange and unbelievable.  Why? Because I've been deaf in my right ear since birth!

It was a perfect moment - blinded by light, enveloped in radiant warmth, a hand on my shoulder, and the familiar, paternal voice of my Father. The experience only lasted for several seconds.  I was so upset when I woke up because I never wanted to leave that moment. I was so comforted and at peace.

This dream changed my life forever and serves as a foundation of my faith today. I now have the confidence of knowing that in the heart of it all, the God whose presence I experienced, whose hand touched me, and whose voice I heard, is alive, He is real, and He loves me as a father loves his child. I also no longer have a fear of death - if leaving this world means getting to be in His presence and having that same experience for eternity, I’m ready to go at any time! That’s how amazing and real my dream was.

I hope this testimony encourages you to know that God loves each of us in a very real and personal way.  As you walk through life's journey, He is with you every step of the way, encouraging you with the comforting words, "It's okay." Because an eternity of joy, peace, love, and God's warm presence awaits you.  

The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. - Matthew 4:16

-Adam Gellert

adamgellert.com

What Color Were Your Shoes?

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." -Ecclesiastes 3:11

In the natural world, time dominates much of how we operate our lives.  We wake up and go to sleep at certain times, we celebrate another year of being alive on our birthday, and we see the impact of time as our own mortality comes into view in our later years.  The idea of eternity is so difficult for humans since our lives are time bound, with a defined beginning and end.

So what will our eternity look like?  What will we remember from our time on earth?  It boggles the mind to think about the concept of our existence never having an end, forever living in our spiritual bodies.  What will carry through from our time in this life?

During my participation in Gateway Church's freedom program called "Kairos," a story from one presenter still sticks in my mind and has changed how I view my priorities during my time on earth. 

The presenter asked God these same questions about eternity, and God answered:

"You were in second grade, right?"  
"Yes," the man replied.  
"Do you remember what color your shoes were the first day of second grade?"  
"No," was the response. 
"Do you remember what you had for lunch the first day of school?"
Again, "no."
"But you were there, right?"
"Yes," was the reply.

Then God said, "This is what eternity will be like. You will know you were on the earth, that you were there, but that's all you will remember over the span of eternity."

This story really shook my world.  What it made so clear is that our day-to-day life, and the things we worry about most of the time, don't really matter in the long run.  My focus should be on eternity, and my relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who will be with me on the eternal journey.  And what can I be doing during my short time on earth to impact eternity - who else can I help introduce to Jesus?  How can I be a light to the world? I can see now why Jesus and his disciples were focused solely on bringing people into repentance, into a relationship with the Savior - because in the end that's all that matters. 

Knowing this truth about eternity, and the few things that will remain from this earthly experience, what are you focusing your time and attention on?  Are those things going to last, will they have eternal impact?  If not, maybe it's time to take a fresh look at your true calling and purpose as a follower of Jesus.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. -Ephesians 1:18

- Adam Gellert

adamgellert.com

For more information on Gateway's "Kairos" program,  click here.

Strawberry Fields

"Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me." - John 15:4-5

I have to admit, I have a rebellious tendency that can get me into trouble.  I recall a personality test I took at work years ago, where the watch out for my manager was to "understand his need to rebel."  I also rated high on "mischievous" on another assessment, defined as a "fondness for causing trouble in a playful way."  This can make for a dangerous combination, but also has some positives in that I'm willing to take risks and challenge the status quo when a different direction may be needed.

So why do we rebel? It's because we resist control and authority.  We see it as teenagers when we resist our parents' control and authority over our lives, and as adults in the workplace when we resist a manager's direction or a company policy.  And we see it in the Bible, with many examples of people who resist submitting their will to God because of their desire for control and independence.

I was spending time with God recently during a period of heightened rebellion in my relationship with Him, when He said, "Strawberries."  I was left with the impression that He was using this to describe me, so I looked up strawberries to discover what it was about them that He attributed to me.

Sure enough, I learned that strawberries can be very high maintenance.  When in growth mode, strawberries produce "runners," or vines that extend from the "mother" plant and try to grow new "daughter" plants.  The problem is, these runners take energy away from the mother plant, and farmers typically trim most of these runners back to allow for more growth of the mother plant.  So while strawberries have many outstanding health benefits and taste great, farmers who grow strawberries know they are dealing with a fruit that takes more care than others.

What does this mean for those of us who tend to be more rebellious? It's actually great news, because God created each of us to be special and unique, and He knows that He has to tend the "garden" of His creation in unique ways.  It's no surprise that He began creation with the Garden of Eden, with its large variety of plants and trees.  He loves tending to His garden of unique personalities with each person He created, and He's not scared or intimidated by your unique personality traits.

But now that I know I'm a strawberry in God's garden, I want to be more mindful of the potential "runners" in my life that keep me from bearing the best fruit possible. For me it's rebellion and the desire to have control.  I can ask God to expose and trim back these runners, so I can better submit to His perfect plan and will for my life.

What runners are getting in the way of your best life?  Ask God, the perfect Gardner, to expose and trim these areas, so you can bear the fruit God intended.


-Adam Gellert
adamgellert.com