Prayer Works Morning Devotion: May 22, 2025

"Waiting On The Holy Spirit - Getting Our Hearts Ready for Pentecost"

"Matthew 3:11 - He Will Baptize You With The Holy Spirit And Fire "

---

Good morning, good morning, good morning, everybody. I hope you had a wonderful evening. You slept well, woke up, rested and you are ready for another day of God's surprises, let us go to the Lord in prayer.  

Father, we come before you. We thank you for who you are. We thank you for your mercy. We thank you, Lord, that we find ourselves in, you know, in the palm of your hands. That your eye is on the Sparrow.  

That you see everything you are not confused about our existence. You are aware of all the things that's taking place in the Earth today. So we thank you, Lord, that today is its own agenda. 

Some have already started this day, some already halfway through the day. But yet we are experiencing the same the same thing that you have for humanity today. So, Father, we bless you for your hand that is constantly guiding us in all things right and in all things true. We know for a fact that without you, we have nothing.  

So we are grateful that you have made us to be something because we find ourselves in you. So, Father, as we look at today's word as we devote this morning time to you as we commune with your spirit with the Holy Spirit today.  

I pray that maybe inward work of the Holy Spirit in us continue to grow, continue to eliminate some things and continue to heal us emotionally, mentally, physically, even some of the things that we've been dealing with for years, that we are just waiting for the work of the Holy Spirit to reveal and to deal with. 

So Father we thank you that there's this invisible work that the Holy Spirit is doing in us. And we are so privileged, as we will only see the results. So we thank you for your grace and thank you for who you are in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray Amen.  

Brothers and sisters today, where in Matthew 3:11. This is where we get the promise here. So this is John the Baptist telling the people that he was baptizing. Says I indeed baptize you with water into repentance. 

But he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. You will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. The one who's coming is mightier, doesn't say great, mightier than me.  

And when he comes he’s going to baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. All I want to do today is I want to kind of explain baptism so that we are all on the same page.   

The baptism, the water baptism. Brings us into salvation. When we get baptized. When you get baptized with water is the doorway into salvation now. Baptism means you take something and you immerse it. 

 Immersed into what is not sprinkling, it's immersed. There are so many things I'm seeing nowadays that, yes, baffles me. There instances you see people getting baptized and there's either two people standing in the water and they are not the pastor.  

The pastor standing outside and he says, we baptize you and the two people. Deep the person in water while the pasta is stunning outside of the water. I've seen that too many times now. 

This new method 21st century thinking. I believe that's wrong because when you baptize somebody, it's your responsibility of the person who is baptizing the person to immerse in other way you are responsible of bringing this person into salvation.  

So baptism in water gives us the doorway to salvation. The baptism of this spirit which is being talked by John here. It brings a new believer into the body of Christ by a spiritual organic union that is affected or that is done by the Holy Spirit.  

So you are now saved. You are now a new creature, but to integrate you into the body of Christ. Now you have to be baptized by the Holy Spirit. Remember, the scripture says it's Christ in us the hope of glory.  

So we knew about optimizing when you are being baptized by the Holy Spirit, you are ingrained into the body of Christ. That's why it's baptism or the Holy Spirit it's so important. 

Because it brings people into there's a union that happens, two people who were baptized by the Holy Spirit to enter into the body of Christ. So the baptism of the spirit it has to take place once. It cannot be undone once you are immersed into 

So for example, if you take a fabric that is white and deep it into a container that has dye. That fabric forever is turned from white to blue. You can't undo that. Now there's a difference between being baptized into and to being filled.  

The scripture does not tell us that you can be baptized twice by the by the Holy Spirit. The evidence of baptism by the Holy Spirit most times is followed by speaking in tongues. This is why speaking in tongues is so important, because it is an evidence. 

That you now have been baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. So in other words you're being immersed into a new species of people. That's what scripture says you are now a new creation where? in Christ Jesus.  

So it is your citizenship into the body of Christ, then three, can be called Christianity because you've been baptized. You're not called a Christian because you chose to follow Christ.  

You called a Christian not because you believe that Christ came and died. Of course, believing Christian came and died. You have to be baptized in water in order to get to salvation, but once you are now baptized into salvation.  

In order to become this new creature that is part of the body of Christ you have to be baptized by the Holy Spirit and when the Holy Spirit baptizes you, you become ingrained into the body of Christ.  

That's why you always hear me say they are three races. There’s Jews, Gentiles and believers, Christians, those are the three races. Because once you are baptized with the Holy Spirit, you become a new creation.  

A new person who is now ingrained into the body of Christ. Now in Ephesians 5:8 it says do not get drunk on wine, instead be filled with the spirit. The term be filled is often in Greek, it’s translated to keep on being filled with the spirit. 

It is a continual thing that now has to take place in the life of a believer. Because you're now being permanently immersed into the body of Christ.  

Now you have to continue to be filled. The reason why we continue, we need to continue to be filled is because we are being aided and given courage, boldness and all the necessary tools to meet the things that will continue to challenge us from an evil perspective.  

That's why we have to be fueled, what we are doing on June 8th. We are believing that those who come who have never been baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, who we experience, that those who have been baptized into will get continuously filled.  

That's why you always hear the Scriptures say now Paul being full of the Holy Spirit or while Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He preached the gospel and the whole entire city came to the knowledge of Christ.  

Revival broke out in Samaria after Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit not baptized. He was full of the Holy Spirit and he preached the Gospel and revival finally broke through into Samaria and then Stephen says the disciples heard about it, that Samaria has been taken for Christ.  

And they came to anchor Stephen to enter Phillips, sorry. This is after Steven has been stoned. So being full of the Holy Spirit is what, it's almost God is saying yeah, you're in immense into.  

But for the task at hand I now have to fill you in order to perform. Or in order to do that which I am calling you to do now the Holy Spirit knows all things. Even the mind of God and reveals them to us.  

So when he is revealing to you somethings he also means he is to fill you for the job and task at hand. That's why it is important to the field of the Holy Spirit. So we have salvation,  baptizing of water.  

Then you have the Holy Spirit's baptism. Which brings you into the body of Christ so that you can commune with the new creation. Then you have to be filled continuously, perpetually for the rest of your life.  

The infilling by the Holy Spirit is going to continue happening time after time, and we have to look for it. Especially when we know God is either sending us or is pushing us to do some things. 

So when you go for Thanksgiving, when you want to go talk to somebody, when you want to go to talk to your cousin who is struggling and you know he is demonically possessed. You have to be filled for the task at hand, and I want us to understand and to recognize that this is the process that God has put in place.  

In order for us to continue to be victorious, this is why you see some people who pray before they go and visit somebody in the hospital or somebody who's dealing with sicknesses and disease.  

Why? Because you believe that you are being filled. This is where you see the Holy Spirit is incredibly amazing and that sometimes it tells you to do certain things before you go see another person or to do certain things before you go somewhere.  

And the reason why it does that is because he is equipping you for the journey ahead. Now, sometimes we just was like, I don't know, I've heard people say, hey I was going this way and the Lord something said in me I need to pray.  

Well, you are being filled for the journey ahead. So I want us to be aware of those moments when the Holy Spirit says or when you find yourself doing things that are outside of your normal routine, before you do certain things spiritually.  

That's called the feeling of the Holy Spirit. That's why you see it in scripture over and over again, being full of the Holy Spirit, being full of the Holy Spirit. Paul started singing in prison, was he baptized? Yes.  

Was he baptized by the Holy Spirit? Yes. But on this particular day, for this particular event or here to be full of the Holy Spirit. Full to the brim to capacity. Not bringing you other than the spirit of God. 

That's what we are desiring to continually be filled at every moment that God is equipping us to go and do some work. So let's pay attention to those times when you hear him say, hey, pray before you go.  

Because it's preparing you, it’s preparing you. Tell you a quick story. When I was in Zimbabwe. You know, Bishop comes and says, hey, we're going to go, I’ve been asked to come preacher this country.  

And we're going to encounter high level, high levels of witchcraft at this conference. So in promptly right at the airport going to board. He says you know what, we're going to fast. Let's fast from now onwards until we come back to Zimbabwe.  

So those four days in promptly not prepared for it. Let's fast from now onwards. As soon as we get on this plane until we come back, we're not eating anything, just drinking water and I was young.  

So I'm just saying, ok, I guess that's what the Bishop says. But it was only after you get there you realize why the Holy Spirit will promptly tell you that because seriously, we encountered high levels of witchcraft. Which is sent to curse the service in church.  

Why did the Holy Spirit give an impromptu way? Because I want to feel you for the task by hand and you need to be ready and prepared for it. And the only way you can be ready and be prepared for it is if I see you. 

So next time when we are given a task and we know we are going to do a task and you hear the leading of the Holy Spirit. Say pray or fast or sing a song. It's because we have been prepared, we are being filled by the Holy Spirit.  

So now I hope we all understand clearly, salvation brings you into. It gets you saved. Believing in God believing that Jesus came and died on the cross that brings you into salvation. You are exonerated from your sinful nature.  

Then you get baptized by the Holy Spirit to be immersed into the family of God, the body of Christ. If you are not baptized by the Holy Spirit into then most likely you are not part of this family, even though you are saved.  

But you know, part of what God is doing, the empowering of, that's why Jesus said to the disciples do not go anywhere. Because what my father is promising, it promised to send, and it's coming is going to empower you to do things that I have instructed you to do.  

When I said greater works, will you do? When I say go and preach this gospel to the outermost ends of this world. Go baptize and heal the sick. In order to do that, you have to be baptized by the Holy Spirit because he is the one that empowers you to do that.  

Now, there are certain times, brother than sisters, where you have to go and perform even much harder tasks. And in those times you have to be fools of the Holy Spirit. So salvation, baptism of the Holy Spirit, full and being full of the Holy Spirit, which is continual and perpetual.  

We have to constantly be filled in order to meet the task at hand. So when the Scripture says when the enemy comes in like a flood, God will raise a standard. In other words, God will fill some people up to become the standard to match that which has come in like a flood, Amen. 

So let's understand these terms and let's pay attention to it when it happens. So that you are aware and you know that I don't have to be afraid.  

That's where the scripture says don't fear. Fear not for I am with you. In other words, fear not, for I am filling you for the task at hand. So let's understand those so that when we encounter it.  

When you hear the Holy Spirit say, hey, pray fast. You don't argue and fight it, you say, Oh my God do I have to start this fast today? So next time we hear that voice say, hey, you need to fast.  

Just go ahead and because you're being filled for what's coming, that's why he knows all things and he searches all things and he knows some things in our own strength or with what we currently possess. It's not good enough.  

So we're going to have to fill you in order to go deal with that demonic spirit. That giant we’re going to have to fill it, Amen. So let's understand this, let's get better at seeing it. Let's get paid off hearing it.  

So that when it happens we are not wrestling in fighting with the Holy Spirit. Let us pray. Father, we thank you for your brilliance of the things that you've put in place. So that we are continuously being victorious. You're so incredible how you've laid things to function and to operate.  

So that we are constantly victorious in the execution of the things you've called us to execute. So we bless your matchless name of how you continue to equip us so that we will never fail.  

If we follow your patterns, we will never fail. Because you have made and put everything in place for our victory. That is impossible to fail if we follow this pathway, it's impossible because you God have made it that way.  

You've given us a surety through the Holy Spirit. So thank you for empowering us to do things that you called us to do. And thank you for filling us to meet the task at hand. And deal with whatever the enemy throws our way. Open our eyes and our minds.  

So our understanding of how you plan and how you do things continue to grow. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. If anyone amongst us have not been baptized by this gift, I pray Lord, for an opportunity to experience the immersion into the body of Christ.  

And for those laws that you are sending out to help families to pray for loved ones, to deal with cousins to deal with nephews who issues. I pray for you infilling.  

So that we are the standards that you raises up when the enemy throws or comes in like a flood. We desperately need to be filled. For we know we need to match what the enemy is doing in this nation.  

I pray for your grace, for your love to abound in us and as we go through this day continue to grow us. Continue to strengthen us in all things true. May we continue to take every square inch for the Kingdom of God to Minister to others to bring them to Christ.  

So they can experience this victory. I thank you of how you have layered your things, how you have layered your Kingdom to function with ease and that we will never fail. We will never fail because your sovereign authority is with us.  

Now as we go through this day. Bless the works of our hands. Bless our ideas and our thoughts. Bless people we encounter, let them experience the Holy Spirit, the fruit of the spirit flowing through from us.  

And I pray, Lord, that with strength and wisdom be our daily portion. Now lead us not into temptation but delivers from the evil one for thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever, Amen.  

So brothers and sisters if we didn't know we now know salvation, baptism with the Holy Spirit and being full of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord bless you. Have an awesome day. We'll see you tomorrow, Friday.