The Baptism of the Holy Spirit – Rick Bagwell

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JESUS PRAYED

AT JESUS’ BAPTISM, HE PRAYED. 

IN LUKE 3:21,22 – …JESUS ALSO BEING BAPTIZED, AND PRAYING, THE HEAVEN WAS OPENED, AND THE HOLY GHOST DESCENDED IN A BODILY SHAPE LIKE A DOVE UPON HIM, AND A VOICE CAME FROM HEAVEN, WHICH SAID, THOU ART MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.

AGAIN, JESUS PRAYED AT HIS TRANSFIGURATION:

LUKE 9:28-31 – HE (JESUS) TOOK PETER AND JOHN AND JAMES AND WENT UP INTO A MOUNTAIN TO PRAY. AND AS HE PRAYED, THE FASHION OF HIS COUNTENANCE WAS ALTERED, AND HIS RAIMNENT WAS WHITE AND GLISTERING. AND, BEHOLD, THERE TALKED WITH HIM TWO MEN, WHICH WERE MOSES AND ELIAS:  WHO APPEARED IN GLORY, AND SPAKE OF HIS DECEASE WHICH HE SHOULD ACCOMPLISH AT JERUSALEM.

THEN AGAIN, JESUS PRAYED IN THE GARDEN:

MATTHEW 26:36,39,41 –  THEN COMETH JESUS WITH THEM UNTO A PLACE CALLED GETHSEMANE, AND SAITH UNTO THE DISCIPLES, SIT YE HERE, WHILE I GO AND PRAY YONDER.

 AND HE WENT A LITTLE FATHER, AND FELL ON HIS FACE, AND PRAYED, SAYING, O MY FATHER, IF IT BE POSSIBLE, LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME: NEVERTHELESS NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS THOU WILT.  

WATCH AND PRAY, THAT YE ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION: THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK.

ALL THREE EVENTS LISTED: WE SEE THAT JESUS PRAYED.

HOW MUCH MORE DO WE SEE THE NEED TO PRAY MORE?

WHAT ARE WE MISSING?

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As They Were Able To Hear It

…AS THEY WERE ABLE TO HEAR IT.

 

Do you struggle with the question: What is my role in God’s kingdom?
“I desire to be the best I can be in every area of my life, But where are those older women who are supposed to teach me? I want to please God. I want to be a godly example in my home, Help me!
Well, this program was birthed by God, to do this very thing.
I will try to answer your questions.

Mark 4:33
And with many such parables spake He the Word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

After reading this verse of Scripture, I kept meditating on the last portion …as they were able to hear it (Or, as much as they were ready to understand).
You know how sometimes you are reading and all of a sudden a verse just jumps out at you?
Well, this is what happened.
So, I decided to do some homework.
I was impressed to search the Scriptures and commentaries for it’s fullest meaning.

The Bereans are called more noble than those in Thessalonica, because they received the Word and searched the Scriptures daily. (Acts 17:11).

Have you noticed How our the Holy Spirit teaches us things as we are ready to receive them? We are all on different levels with Him.
Some are not ready to receive some things from God yet, while others are like the Disciples in verse 34b …and when they were alone, He expounded all things to His Disciples.

The disciples were on another level with Him; and out of those twelve, there were three who seemed to be on a higher level than the others.
(Matthew 26:36,37 -Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder.And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy (downhearted).
Now, look at Matthew 17:1,2 – And after six days Jesus took Peter, and James, and John his brother up into a high mountain apart,
And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.
John 13:23 – Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus Loved.This is referring to John, to whom God gave the Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1a). We will also remember at His crucifixion, he put His mother into John’s care (John19:26,27).

The disciples were a chosen dozen, of whom Jesus chose out of His followers to a new level of communion with Himself. They stayed close to Him to stay in His presence, to grow in wisdom, knowledge and understanding about His kingdom, and He explained the parables to them privately. – Of course we know one of these betrayed Him. He knew the crowd wasn’t ready for it, and some of them were just following His teachings for the loaves and fishes; they really didn’t want to know Him or even understand the mysteries of the parables.
Some were even there to catch Him in something so they could have Him killed. Sounds like some of those today who feel like their calling is to police the true ministers of God.

I tell you, I have seen a lot of this!

How can we grow-in-the-Lord if we are always questioning the content of the messages of true men and women of God?
I am not talking about those who are in error, I am talking about what I call spiritual jealousy, where one is trying to prove how right they are and how wrong the other brother is.

Acts 5:38,39 – And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men and let them alone: for if this counsel (or message) be of men, it will come to naught (nothing): But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
It’s like a war of Words; assassination in the ministry, when they don’t even know about the level the other man is on with God.
You could be wrong, you know.
You could be coming against the work of God.
Our battle is with the devil and demons, not with flesh and blood.
Trouble not the Father, with these emotional outbursts: you will damage your own ministry, and keep the flow between God and you hindered.

In John 16:12 Jesus told His disciples …I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear (or grasp) them now.

Even the disciples had more to learn. Jesus knew they couldn’t grasp them at this time, but He would send the Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth.

I was growing in the Lord before I received the precious experience of the Holy Spirit Baptism.
I was so hungry and thirsty for all of God I could get.
I still am.
I didn’t really know what was to take place, because my teaching did not include this wonderful experience.

After I was filled, There was a greater understanding of the supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and His gifts.
This is what some who have not yet experienced Him, call “hype;” and other things that I will not repeat.
Believe me, He is real and will lead us into all truth.
Why should we settle for just a portion of God and not experience His fullness.

God began to open-up the Scriptures more and more to me and move me up to another level with Hi. And deliverances began to come into my life.
I had power to witness , like never before.

Believe me, there is a great difference in your understanding of the things of God when the Holy Spirit fills your life.
Growing is a process, and experiencing God is also a process of levels. We move from one level to another.
After we are free, there is no stopping us. We are so in love with Jesus and so hungry for God, we could eat the red print off the Bible.

Ask Jesus to fill you with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. He will. You will experience more of God.
This is not a devil as some say.
I’ve never seen a devil that could make me love Jesus more.
All the devils had to leave.

We are all instructed to do something for God. We are saved for more than just a fire escape, or hell prevention. We are saved with a purpose for our lives.
As we grow in-the-Lord, He will reveal to us things in our lives that need to be gotten rid-of.
I can imagine it like a creek or stream of water, in which a whirlpool is circling in the midst. Have you seen what I’m talking about?
During my tom-boy years, I would go down to the creek behind my house and swing across it by holding on to a vine. You know, -like Tarzan.
One day I noticed a big swirl in the water and I kept watching as trash and debree began to surface.
This is how the Holy Spirit begins to work with us to get impurities out of our lives. He causes us to see and recognize in ourselves, as we are able to bear it: those thing that are not pleasing to Him.
If we don’ know they are there, how can we confess them?
We confess them and repent. And He, with His mighty power, reaches down and scoops them out of our lives.
Again and again, as we allow Him to do this, He brings us up to a new level with Him.
Ask Him to fill you with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Search out the Scriptures in the book of Acts with an open mind.
Ask Him, and He will fill you.
This gift is for the believer only. It is free.

Pray this prayer with me:
“Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus. I ask You, if there is anything in my life that is not pleasing to You, please take it out. Expose it to me now. I confess it to You, and ask You to remove from my life any hindrances, any sins that keep me from by best with You. Forgive me, and fill me with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. My desire is to go to the highest level with You that can be reached. Amen.”

We can stay free, if we stay out of things the Word of God shows us to leave alone. We also need to keep that personal relationship with God alive, by spending time with Him in that “secret place”.

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WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN

JOHN 3:36 – HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE: AND HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE: BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM.

1. WE CANNOT BE SAVED WITHOUT FAITH IN JESUS.

2. WE ARE MADE RIGHTEOUSS BY FAITH.

3. WE CANNOT PLEASE GOD WITHOUT FAITH.

4. WE CANNOT OVERCOME THE WORLD WITHOUT FAITH.

5 WE CANNOT BE LIKE JESUS WITHOUT FAITH.

6. WE CANNOT BE VICTORIOUS IN WARFARE WITHOUT FAITH.

7. WE CANNOT PRAY WITH RESULTS WITHOUT FAITH.

8. WE CANNOT RECEIVE THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SRIRIT WITHOUT FAITH.

9. WE RECEIVE HEALING BY FAITH.

10. WE WORSHIP IN THE SPIRIT THROUGH FAITH.

11. WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN.

XTRACTSLOOKING UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. JESUS IS THE WORD MADE FLESH. HE IS THE FOUNDER OF OUR FAITH. FAITH IS HIDDEN IN THE WORDS OF THE BIBLE. TO THOSE WHO HAVE JESUS IN THEIR HEART, THE HOLY SPIRIT  EXTRACTS THAT FAITH FROM THE BIBLE AND PLACES IT IN OUR HEART. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A  PERSON TO  PRAY TO THE FATHER IN JESUS NAME AND READ THE BIBLE AND NOT BE FULL OF FAITH AND POWER. NATURAL FOOD PRODUCES  NATURAL STRENGTH AND ENERGY TO THE BODY. SPIRITUAL FOOD PRODUCES SPIRITUAL STRENGTH AND ENERGY TO STHE SPIRITUAL MAN. FAITH AND POWER COMES FROM EATING AT GOD’S TABLE OF PRAYER AND WORD.

JESUS IS THE ORINGINATOR OF FAITH. HE INITIATES FAITH IN THE HEART’S OF MAN. JESUS PERFECTS OUR FAITH, THE END RESULTS IS HIS CHARACTER, HIS INTEGRITY, HIS OBEDIENCE.

TRUE FAITH IS NOT A REBEL, BUT COMPLETE SURRENDER TO HEAVENS PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES. THY KINGDOM COME THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

WE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, WE HAVE A JOB TO DO IT’S CALLED END TIME HARVEST.

WE BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS, WE HAVE A PURPOSE. THE  LEVEL OF WARFARE THAT IS TAKING PLACE AGAINEST CHRISTIANS IS PROOF JESUS IS COMING SOON. ARE WE TO HIDE IN A CAVE OR TAKE THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD. THE REASON THE FATHER SENT HIS SON IS BECAUSE HE LOVE’S EVERY SINNER. BUT THEY MUST HEAR THE GOSPEL AND EITHER ACCEPT IT OR REJECT IT. WE ARE THE END TIME  MESSENGERS.  WE ARE THE JUST THAT LIVE BY FAITH.WHAT A BLESSING TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST AND HIS LOVE. WHAT A BLESSING TO SEE THE RESULTS OF FAITH, I HAVE SEEN HIS POWER IN OPERATION, BUT I HAVEN’T SEEN ANYTHING YET.    

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FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART II

IN CONTINUING, “FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART I”, I FIND MYSELF STILL IN A PRISON, BUT THIS IS A STATE INSTITUTION CALLED PERRY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, INSTEAD OF FEDERAL.

A GOOD FRIEND, WHO WAS ONCE AN “ACQUAINTANCE IN CRIME”, ZEB OSBORNE, WAS ON THE YARD AS A PRISON MINISTER, AND WE STARTED TALKING OLD TIMES AND OUR PAST.

I NOTICED SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT HIM. HE NEVER MENTIONED HE HAD GOTTEN SAVED, OR THAT I WAS ON MY WAY TO HELL. 

I THOUGHT HE HAD A POSITION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SO I ASKED HIM TO HELP ME GET TRANSFERRD TO A BETTER INSTITUTION. HE DID, AND I WAS TRANSFERRED TO DUTCHMAN, AND THEN TO GOODMAN WHICH WAS AND IS A MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION.

I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS DRAWING ME INTO THE CHURCH SERVICES PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEERS. ON MARCH THE 12TH, 1986, LIBERTY MINISTRIES CAME TO STEVENSON INSTITUTION FOR A CHURCH SERVICE THAT NIGHT.

I RODE IN THE PRISON TO STEVENSON CHURCH SERVICE MANY TIMES. WHEN THE ALTER CALL WAS MADE, I WOULD WANT TO GO DOWN TO THE ALTER, BUT MY HANDS WOULDN’T LET ME TURN LOOSE OF THE PEW IN FRONT OF ME. BUT THIS NIGHT, I LET GO, AND GAVE MY HEART TO JESUS.

WHEN I DID, THERE WAS DEFFINATELY A CHANGE IN MY LIFE. THE LORD PUT A HUNGER FOR HIS WORD IN MY HEART. WHEN I RETURNED BACK TO GOODMAN, AFTER THE SERVICE, I TOOK A PAPERBACK BOOK AND STUCK IT IN THE BLINDS TO CAUSE AN OPENING IN THE WINDOW FOR THE STREET LIGHT TO SHINE THROUGH. THIS WAS SO I COULD READ MY BIBLE. I READ MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE,  JOHN AND A PORTION OF ACTS.

SOMEHOW, I KNEW GOD HAD MORE FOR ME.

WHEN I WENT BACK TO CHURCH, MARCH THE 21ST, LIBERTY MINISTRIES WAS THERE AGAIN. PASTOR ROY PORTER JUST HAPPENED TO BE PREACHING ON THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST, AND I RECEIVED THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST THAT NIGHT. AND I TELL YOU, LIFE DON’T GET ANY BETTER THAN BEING SAVED AND FILLED WITH THE HOLY GJOST.

THINGS REALLY STARTED CHANGING IN MY LIFE. I WAS GOING UP FOR PAROLE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, SO I PRAYED ABOUT IT. MY FRIEND ZEB OSBORNE, SPOKE ON MY BEHALF AT THE PAROLE HEARING. THEY TOLD HIM HE WOULD NOT BE MAKING PAROLE. SO HE CAME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT NEWS, AND I TOLD HIM, “I DON’T ACCEPT THAT.” THEN IT WAS MY TURN TO GOD BEFORE THE PAROLE BOARD. I ANSWERED THEIR QUESTIONS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY GAVE ME MY PAROLE!!!

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS WAS NOT MY FIRST TIME TO ASK THE LORD IN MY HEART: I WAS WAITING A NEW TRIAL FOR BANK ROBBERY, WHILE I WAS IN JAIL. I WAS READING THE BIBLE, OCCASIONALLY. THERE WERE NO PREACHERS COMING IN, SO I MOSTLY JUST READ. I THOUGHT I HAD GIVEN MY LIFE TO THE LORD, BUT IT WAS LIKE ALL THE TIMES I ASKED THE LORD TO HELP ME, AND I’D NEVER DO IT AGAIN, BUT I DID DO IT AGAIN.

I WAS JUST WANTING HIM TO HELP ME OUT OF A SITUATION.

IT’S WHAT YOU HEAR ABOUT A LOT, “JAILHOUSE SALVATION.” IT DOESN’T STICK. YOU ARE STILL ON YOUR WAY TO HELL, I’M SORRY TO SAY.

BUT IT HAS TO BE THE REAL DEAL.

WHEN I GOT OUT OF PRISON, GOD REALLY STARTED MOVING I MY LIFE. SOMEONE WAS PAYING FOR MY COLLEGE TUITION AT ERSKINE THEOLOGICAL SIMINARY. I WENT ONE SEMESTER AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD EXPELLED ANOTHER STUDENT WHO WAS WORKING ON HIS MINISTRY LISCENSE FOR PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST, AND I KNEW IT WASN’T THE PLACE FOR ME TO BE, SO I LEFT.

I WAS AT HOME ON MY KNEES PRAYING AND WORSHIPPING AND ASKING GOD TO SEND A COMPANION IN MY LIFE. I HAD NOR MORE THAT GOT THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH, THAN I HEARD A KNOCK AT THE FRONT DOOR. IT WAS MY EXWIFE. WE HAD BEEN DIVORCED 14 YEARS. SHE WAS SAVED, AND LIVING FOR THE LORD. WE SHORTLY REMARRIED. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WAS PRAYING AND ASKED THE LORD FOR A SON: THREE WEEKS LATER I FOUND OUT SHE WAS PREGNANT. IN ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS, I FOUND OUT IT WAS A BOY. GOD IS GOOD.

GOD PLACED ME IN A MINISTRY OF GOING BACK INTO THE PRISONS TO MINISTER TO THE INMATES OF ALL AGES.

GOD HAS TAKEN ME TO PLACES I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD GO. I HAVE MINISTED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 10 TIMES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. WHAT A JOY IT HAS BEEN TO SEE PEOPLE GET SAVED AND HEALED.

I HAVE A TRIP COMING UP JANUARY 2011 TO GO BACK TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. I NEED YOUR PRAYERS. 

I AM OPEN TO GO INTO PRISONS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER COUNTRIES AS THE LORD LEADS AND PROVIDES.

O HOW WONDERFUL IT IS FOR YOU IF JESUS IS IN YOUR HEART!! AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW JESUS, YOU CAN ASK HIM TO COME INTO YOUR HEART AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE. REALLY MEAN IT AND HE WILL COME IN. IT WOULD BE THE GREATEST THING YOU COULD EVER DO.

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