John the Baptist said, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he [Jesus] that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire (Matthew 3:11). That Holy Ghost fire did shine forth through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and that same divine fire must burn within every child of God today.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Let your [Holy Ghost] light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:14,16). That light and those good works are a result of Holy Ghost fire manifesting through a child of God’s life.

Jesus did not start His ministry until He was filled with the Holy Ghost. And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him [Jesus], and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased (Luke 3:22). Then signs, wonders, miracles and healings started manifesting through His life.

When Jesus began His ministry, He proclaimed, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me (Luke 4:18). Jesus was anointed to minister to people and to do good works that would glorify His Father in Heaven. When Jesus’ light shined forth, it caused people everywhere to give glory to God.

Signs, Miracles and Healings

When Jesus finished His mission on Earth, He gave His followers the Great Commission: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [signifying being baptized in the Holy Ghost]...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:15,17,18).

The miracles and healings helped launch the Gospel to the known world of that day quicker than anything else could. They put God’s stamp of approval on what was being preached to the people, and they separated the Gospel of Jesus Christ from every other religion and idol god in the world at that time.

Jesus received the Holy Ghost before He began His ministry; and that is why He instructed His followers, And, behold, I send the promise of my Father [the Holy Ghost] upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49). Only then were they to go forth and start the church of Jesus Christ.

Peter Failed Without the Spirit

Jesus told the disciples, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). The fire of the Holy Ghost makes true Jesus witnesses who shine forth with divine love and faith. It was necessary for the members of the Early Church to have the baptism of the Spirit, and it is necessary for those in the latter church today.

The Bible says that after Peter was set on fire with the Holy Ghost, he stood before the Jews declaring, “You crucified Jesus! Repent and be baptized!” But before Pentecost, Peter had failed the Lord over and over again. He could not stay in step with Jesus, and he even rebuked Jesus when Jesus told the disciples about the plan of redemption He was about to fulfill. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee (Matthew 16:22).

When Jesus needed Peter the most in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was sleeping. Jesus saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour (Matthew 26:40)? When Peter did wake up, he cut off a man’s ear. When Jesus was being arrested, all the disciples [Peter included] forsook him [Jesus], and fled (Matthew 26:56).

Peter failed yet again when he denied ever knowing Jesus three times. He even went so far as to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man (Matthew 26:75).

After Peter was baptized in the Holy Ghost, the divine fire transformed him from a selfish, spiritual weakling into a mighty, soul-winning force for God and His Kingdom. He preached a sermon that brought 3000 souls to the Lord, and he was even ready to put his life on the line. Holy Ghost fire produces wonderful works and brings souls into the Kingdom.

Seek Holy Boldness

As the Lord moved through the Holy Ghost to build His Church, the devil was working to bring persecutions against the Church. Even so, the disciples still gathered together. Were they praying for relief, deliverance or an escape? No. They were praying for more holy boldness to go forth and do the will of God. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).

Up to that point, the fire of the Holy Ghost did not blaze through those disciples as it should have; but as they gathered together, that fire began to burn hotter and higher within them until it destroyed all thoughts of self and all selfish reservations. Then they went forth to lay their lives on the line and preach the Word of God with signs, wonders, miracles and healings.

You cannot live your life however you please if you want divine fire to burn in your vessel. It requires strict, spiritual discipline and complete surrender to the Holy Spirit every day. The account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 demonstrates the strict discipline of the Holy Ghost. They were both members of the church, but each of them told a lie; and the Holy Ghost struck them dead.

The intense heat of the fire of the Holy Ghost burning in your life will keep you purified of any contamination from sin, the world or selfishness. Then the person of the Holy Ghost will have liberty to use you without limitation or hindrance.

The Holy Ghost Is for All

The fire of the Holy Ghost caused the church to grow beyond its Jewish boundaries. Up to that time, the Jews had been separating themselves from the Gentiles; but God’s plan was greater than man’s plan, and He wanted the Gospel and the Holy Ghost to go all over the world.

Acts 10 tells of Peter sharing the Word of God with Cornelius, a Gentile, and his family and friends. As Peter began to speak, he didn’t have a chance to say much before the Holy Ghost suddenly fell on all who were in the house. Peter and the other Jews knew it was the Holy Ghost for they heard them speak with [new] tongues, and magnify God (Acts 10:46).

That was the same fire of the Holy Ghost that was poured out in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4).

The Spirit is being poured out in the same way today, and the gift of the Holy Ghost is a promise for all people of the world. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call (Acts 2:39). The only condition is that a person must first be saved.

The Spirit Works Through People

The power and fire of the Holy Ghost blazed through a young man named Stephen. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people (Acts 6:8). The Holy Ghost fire burned so brightly within Stephen that he willingly laid his life on the altar of sacrifice to become the first martyr of the Early Church.

Philip was another layman who carried the fire of the Holy Ghost, and it produced wonderful results in Samaria. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city (Acts 8:6-8). The fire of the Holy Ghost blazing through just one yielded vessel brought great joy, liberty and freedom to those people for soul, mind and body.

When the Apostles heard that the people of Samaria had gladly received salvation and the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:15-17).

Those verses make it clear that salvation is a separate experience from the baptism in the Holy Ghost. Some Pentecostal churches believe that when people get saved, they automatically receive the Holy Ghost; but that is not what the Bible teaches.

Caught Up by the Spirit

At another time, the fire of the Holy Ghost working through Philip led him into the desert where he found an Ethiopian eunuch traveling in his chariot. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest (Acts 8:29,30)? It is obvious that Philip was used to obeying the Holy Spirit; and that day, he led that eunuch to salvation and baptized him in water.

Then the Bible records an unbelievable phenomenon: And when they [Philip and the eunuch] were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:39). Philip was so completely yielded to the Holy Ghost that when his divine mission was completed, the Spirit picked him up and took him to a city that was miles away.

When the Bride of Christ has completed her divine mission on Earth, the Holy Ghost will lift her up out of the wilderness of this world and transport her to Heaven. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (I Corinthians 15:51,52).

Paul and Silas Set Free

Study the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, and you will learn that there was no hypocrisy in the Early Church. Those disciples had to be completely yielded to the cause of Christ and to the power and the fire of the Holy Ghost because they were enduring constant persecution. The higher the flames of persecution mounted against them the higher and hotter the fire of the Holy Ghost had to burn within them. It purified them of all contamination so they could truly rejoice as they gave their lives for the cause of Christ.

The Bible tells of Paul and Silas being arrested for casting a fortunetelling devil out of a young slave girl. She could no longer tell fortunes and make money for her masters, and they were so upset that they had Paul and Silas arrested. They were beaten, publicly humiliated and then thrown into the innermost part of the prison where their hands and feet were bound in stocks; but were Paul and Silas cast down, complaining and afraid they might be put to death the next day? No. The fire of the Holy Ghost was burning so brightly within them that they were rejoicing, praising God and singing hymns.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed (Acts 16:26). That great manifestation of the power of the Holy Ghost not only freed Paul and Silas but also shook the jailer. He had such overwhelming Holy Ghost conviction that he ran in and fell on his knees before Paul and Silas declaring, Sirs, what must I do to be saved (Acts 16:30)? That night, the jailer and his whole household came into the Kingdom of God.

Holy Ghost Fire Changes Things

The fire of the Holy Ghost burned brightly in the Apostle Paul, and it compelled him to pay any price to carry the Gospel to the Gentiles. He sacrificed greatly every day to establish the Gospel wherever he went no matter how much opposition and adversity he faced. He said, The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God (Acts 20:23,24,27). The fire of the Holy Ghost filled Paul with such powerful, divine determination that no supernatural or earthly power could break it.

The fire of the Holy Ghost had such a tremendous impact on the known world in the Early Church days that the Bible said of those disciples, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also (Acts 17:6). Only the power of the Holy Ghost can turn the world upside down as it blazes through the lives of individuals. Man does not have that capability.

The Spirit Must Be Within

Friend, have you been baptized in the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues? Is the fire of the Holy Ghost burning so brightly within your vessel that it can purge you of all disobedience, selfishness, lukewarmness, love of the world, seducing spirits and negligence in your relationship with God?

The Word says, That he [Jesus] might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27). When Jesus makes His second appearance to Earth, He is coming for that glorious church. It includes people from all over the world and from all walks of life who are filled with and yielded to the Holy Ghost and who have kept their spiritual garments spotless.

Jesus is coming soon, and the signs of His return are all around today. He said, Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come (Matthew 24:42). Now is the time to be wide awake and yield to the Holy Ghost so completely that His fire will be ignited in your soul. Then you must never let it go out because no one knows when the Lord will come.

Let Jesus Save and Heal You

If you are not saved today, pray this prayer with me now: Oh, God, I confess all of my sins before you. Forgive me, Lord, and I will serve you for the rest of my life. I thank you for this warning, and I will make the most of it. I’ll be what you want me to be before Jesus returns. I believe there is power in the blood of Jesus that washes away all of my sins. Come into my heart, Jesus. Come into my heart.

Friend, if you meant that prayer, Jesus is yours. Now, you can have your miracle, healing or deliverance. Let the Lord make you a testimony for His honor and glory in this hour. Jesus said a believer shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:18). I’m the Lord’s believer, and I’m going to agree with you in prayer. Lift your hand, and let’s look to Jesus.

Lord, in the name of Jesus, I bring those who are sick in body, those with a great need in their life. Lord, lay a healing hand upon each one. In the holy, blood name of Jesus, heal! Deliver them; set them free, and make them a witness for your honor and glory. In the name of Jesus, I pray.

The Holy Ghost Must Live Within

Friend, you must receive the Holy Ghost in this last hour. You need to have that divine oil in your vessel, and you must let that divine fire ignite and burn out all the dross in your life. You won’t be ready for Jesus’ return any other way.

I am going to call down an anointing for you to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Then you can go to www.ErnestAngley.org and click on the Holy Ghost baptism link. There, it explains to you how to prepare for the Holy Ghost, how to receive Him and what to do after you receive.

Lord, in the name of Jesus, anoint the people who need this oil in their life and don’t have that flame burning within. Anoint them to yield completely and totally to the Holy Ghost. In the name of Jesus, receive this anointing, and yield to the Holy Ghost.

God bless you today.