God’s Empowering Presence – Not by might / baptism of spirit Paul asks a question; Acts 19:2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Let me introduce you to a general vision of the Holy Spirit. Zech 4:1 And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” And then the angel said this to Zechariah… Zech. 4:6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah was saying that what they lacked in every human resource would be supplied - as needed - by the one resource that could supply all of it… The spirit… The Holy Spirit. In the New Testament we get so much more definition of who the Holy Spirit is and what he will do and here’s just a taste what Jesus said. - He is our helper. A counselor. A comforter. - He will guide you. John 16:13 - He will make Jesus is real to you as he was to his disciples. John 15:26. - He will teach you. John 14:26. - He will live in you. John 14:17. - He will assure you of victory. John 16:11. - He will assure you that you are a child of God. Romans 8:16. We step into the New Testament world and John the Baptist is saying that one of the unique hallmarks of Jesus is what he’s going to call the “baptism of the spirit.” Luke 3:16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Acts 1:4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” What is this baptism of the Holy Spirit? It is extraordinary power and presence of Jesus for Jesus exalting living and serving. When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven he said this to his disciples…Luke 24:49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” What does the infilling of the Holy Spirit look like? Why do we need it and what does it do? When does it happen?