All I’m saying is there is another baptism.
I’m not saying we are not brothers in Christ.
I’m not saying you didn’t receive the Spirit.
I’m saying you were baptized in water.
The baptism with the Holy Spirit is different.
There is more God has for you, and your son.
JLB
With all due respect JLB, I'd like to share another story.
21 years ago I moved from Washington State to Michigan. This was after coming back to my roots in the Lord ironically through my stint in Scientology, a failed marriage, the loss of my first born child, loosing my oldest daughter to Foster Care because it was revealed through the DNA test she wasn't my biological child and I didn't have the fight to endure. Most men would have given up, but I knew through it all God had better plans for me. What kept me grounded, even when I hated and dispised God with my lips was the feeling of God making me whole when I came out of the baptismal waters.
My wife grew up in the church of Christ and her roots are deep and span generations. Although I had read the Bible several times, I was hungry to study it, and understand it. The church of Christ was big on study and I was amazed at their knowledge.
After I married my wife, the Elders invited me to a meeting which I found out was to question me about baptism. Having experienced being in a court of law, I felt like I was being interrogated and when the verdict was in, it was determined I was baptized with Johns baptism and I was in need of baptism to relieve the Holy Spirit for the remission of my sins and my soul was at stake to the fires of hell.
I looked up to these people, and suddenly I was questioning my salvation and after agonizing over this, and wanting to please God, I submitted to the Eldership and was baptized.
When I came out of the water, I knew in my heart it was wrong. I could feel it in the depths of my soul and it set me on a projectile to study it deeper. At the same time, it caused me to stand firm on my experience when I was baptized at 13. I was promised three things.
1. All my sins were forgiven.
2. The promise Jesus would never leave or forsake me.
3. I would receive the Holy Spirit
At the time of my baptism, I didn't really know these three things. I said the sinners prayer and was reading my Bible daily. But I knew something was missing. When I read Acts 2, I saw baptism as bringing one into a community of believers, and that was my attraction. Mind you, I grew up in a Catholic orphanage before being tossed between Foster Care until 4th grade when I went to live with my Dad, only to end up incarcerated at age 12 -16. Yeah, I had some trust issues.
When I was raised out of the water, I felt inwardly clean and I felt complete. I felt God in me.
This one experience has been my bedrock and I know I received the Holy Spirit when I was being raised out of the water and into newness of life.
Help me understand what you mean when you say I have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But when you do, I only ask that you tell me your story. I want to know what you experienced that was your bedrock experience. The one you fall back on when you wonder where God is, or why terrible things seem to happen.
To Oz"s point with being baptized in Christ's suffering, I can attest to this. I understand it and have suffered with Christ How else could I lift my hands to God and give him praise at the side of my daughters casket just a few short years ago.
I do want to understand your baptism by the Holy Spirit and I look forward to hearing your story,
Your Brother in Christ,
Jeff