Acts 19:1-6 Baptized Me Again

Acts 19:1-6

1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.

The story in Acts of the Apostles, chapter 19, verses 1 to 6, is about a man who knows God’s word to a degree. But he, Apollos, never really saw God’s word fully fulfilled. He heard John the Baptist preaching and saying he was preparing the way for the Lord. He was baptized by John but was not there when Jesus was baptized. Nor did Apollo hear or see the miracles Jesus performed. He did not see or hear of Christ’s crucifixion or resurrection, which fulfilled the prophecy of the Old Testament. A person may believe Jesus is Lord and believe in God, but without fulfilling a genuine relationship, they will not live spiritually. They cannot fully speak in the tongues of Godly love to others nor prophesy the good news gospel because they are not born of the spirit yet. I grew up in the Crowders Mountain area of Gastonia, North Carolina. I remember my address was ten-twelve Hollyhills Dr, not far from Chapel Grove Elementary School, and Chapel Grove Baptist church was the biggest church in the area. Families in the area went to that Baptist Church, and every summer, it had Vacation Bible School, so my siblings and I got invited, and we went, mainly because we were promised ice cream. At the end of VBS, some got baptized or went to Chapel Grove Baptist Church more frequently. Did the children get baptized because they wanted to devote their lives to the Lord, or was it because their peers did? I remember when my nephew, Andrew Sewell, was baptized at my mother’s church, the Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church; maybe it was after their VBS. He was so excited then, but that excitement for the church for the Lord is less exciting for Andrew now. Can I say if Andrew believes in God or not? I think he does. But I have not seen that from him as for having the spirit and prophesying to others who the Lord is.  Clergy can baptize a person, like Pastor Greg Neely of Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church, but only the Holy Spirit can baptize a person’s soul. Baptism is proving submission to the Lord publicly, washing your sins away. God sees the heart, and His Spirit will baptize you when He sees your heart has submitted. Sometimes, believers get baptized again for a more fulfilling rebirth in Christ. God bless you all; the Lord Jesus anoints you with His love, His humble bondservant, Samuel Jerry Head.

Isaiah 57:15 For this is what the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. 16 For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would grow faint before Me, and the breath of those whom I have made. 17 Because of the wrongful act of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him; I hid My face and was angry, and he went on turning away, in the way of his heart. 18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, 19 Creating the praise of the lips. Peace, peace to him who is far away and to him who is near,” Says the Lord, “and I will heal him.”