I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he 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). The fire John the Baptist was referring to in that scripture was the spiritual fire of the Spirit that would burn brightly through the life of Jesus. That same fire would later burn brightly through the lives of the totally obedient disciples who received the baptism in the Holy Ghost.

Although John baptized in water, Jesus knew the disciples would need more than that to carry on His work after He was gone—they would need the power of the Holy Ghost. That is why Jesus didn’t just tell them to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost; He commanded them to. And [Jesus], being assembled together with them, COMMANDED them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence (Acts 1:4,5).

Jesus then went on to tell the disciples what they would receive in the Upper Room. 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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). The greatness of the fire of the Holy Spirit would soon be reality to those who would go to the Upper Room. Jesus knew He would soon be going back to His Father and that He would no longer be with His disciples in a physical form, but He made it possible that He could live within each one of their hearts through the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost Arrived

When the Day of Pentecost arrived, the Spirit did come just as Jesus had said He would. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:2-4). Notice that they did not speak of their own accord but as the Spirit gave utterance. Speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance is the initial evidence of the real baptism in the Holy Ghost.

Only after the disciples received that baptism were they properly equipped to carry out the great commission Jesus gave: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:17,18). Marvelous signs and wonders took place through the greatness of the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Eagerly, the Early Church disciples received that great commission, and that is why they went to the Upper Room in one mind and one accord to receive the greatness of the fire of the Spirit. Oh, what a great commission Jesus gave, and we must hear it as the Early Church heard it. It hasn’t changed, and it is for all people today.

Just as that greatness was necessary for the Early Church, it is necessary for us today; and the fire of the Spirit is falling in this final hour. The Lord has let me see that fire falling again and again; and thus saith the Lord, it will fall greater and greater.

The fire of the Holy Spirit will burn out of us all that is unlike our Master until we are in one mind and one accord and come into the unity of His Spirit and His love. Then the miracle power will move for us and others in greater and greater ways.

Peter received that fire of the Holy Spirit; and immediately afterward, he stood up to people who had recently demanded the death of Jesus. “You crucified Him! You crucified Him!” he cried. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter was changed from a weakling who denied Christ into a mighty force for God; and about 3000 souls were added to the Kingdom that day. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles (Acts 2:43).

The signs and wonders that were done by the apostles through the greatness of the fire of the Holy Spirit thrilled many hearts. Then those works launched that small, brave band of men on a mission of such magnitude that countless multitudes down through the ages have had the opportunity to know the saving power in the blood of Jesus and the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

They Spoke the Word with Boldness

The disciples prayed in one accord in the temple every day. As Peter and John were walking into the temple one day, a crippled man asked alms of them; and Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us…Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God (Acts 3:4,6-8). People marveled at the boldness of Peter and John as they spoke the truth and did mighty works of God. The people knew Peter and John were unlearned men, but they were men made different because they had been with Jesus.

In the face of great persecution, the Early Church prayed for boldness; and that boldness came through the greatness of the fire of the Spirit. 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. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul (Acts 4:31,32).

The discipline of the Holy Spirit was so strict in those first days of the Early Church that people were struck dead for lying. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost…? And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things (Acts 5:3,5). Later, Ananias’ wife, Sapphira, told the same lie, and the Holy Ghost struck her down, too. The greatness of the fire of the Holy Spirit was keeping the church pure.

Amazing Miracles Took Place

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people…And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one (Acts 5:12,14-16). Every person who was brought before Jesus was healed! The works of the Holy Spirit are so wonderful!

Through the power of the Holy Ghost, Peter said to a man who had been bedridden with palsy for eight years, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately (Acts 9:34).

The Holy Ghost performed a great miracle through Peter in Joppa where the Church was in deep mourning over the death of one of their dear workers. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord (Acts 9:40-42).

They Spoke in Tongues and Magnified God

While Peter was yet in Joppa, a Gentile named Cornelius sent for him. Why?—because Cornelius had seen an angel of the Lord in a vision; and the angel had said, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter…he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do (Acts 10:4-6).

At the same time, the Lord had given Peter a vision and showed him that the Gentiles as well as the Jews needed to hear the message of Christ. So Peter traveled to the house of Cornelius and preached the message of Christ to him, his friends and his relatives. “Believe on Christ Jesus and receive remission of your sins,” Peter told them. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God (Acts 10:44-46). The greatness of the fire of the Holy Spirit is for all people who love God.

Peter’s next statement makes a distinction between water baptism and the baptism in the Holy Ghost. He said, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we (Acts 10:47)?

Peter then spread the news of the Holy Ghost falling to the other disciples saying, And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning (Acts 11:15). What had happened when the fire of the Holy Ghost fell on them at the beginning? They spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.

Peter went on to say, Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost (Acts 11:16).

Prayer without Ceasing

The Bible says that those who do the will of God will be persecuted. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (II Timothy 3:12). And the Early Church disciples knew all about that. At one time, James, the brother of John, was killed; and Peter was thrown into prison, but the brethren didn’t give up on him. They prayed to God for him without ceasing, and the greatness of the fire of the Holy Spirit went into action. Although Peter was bound between two soldiers, he was sleeping; and the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision (Acts 12:7-9).

That angel led Peter through the prison gate and out onto the street—that’s what the power of the Holy Ghost can do. Through that power, the disciples carried the news of the saving Christ to the known world at that time. When they were rejected, they just shook the dust from their feet and went on their way full of joy. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost (Acts 13:52). They spoke boldly in the name of Jesus, and the Lord granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Persecuted but Not Defeated

Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost; and the Bible tells us that through the greatness of the fire of the Spirit, Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake (Acts 6:8,10). Many people came to God because Stephen let the greatness of the Holy Spirit flow through him. In doing so, he shook the kingdom of Lucifer so much that false witnesses were hired to lie about him because they could find no real fault in such a good man. Those liars said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law (Acts 6:13). As a result, Stephen was stoned to death.

The apostles scattered everywhere to escape the persecution in Jerusalem, but the greatness of the fire of the Holy Spirit went with them. In Samaria, the Holy Spirit wrought wonders through Philip as he preached Christ to the people. 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).

When the apostles at Jerusalem heard about those in Samaria who had received 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). This scripture again makes it clear that the Holy Ghost baptism is different from water baptism. After receiving Jesus into your heart as your Savior, there is yet more—the baptism in the Holy Ghost.

Carried on the Wings of the Spirit

Philip was alive with the fire of the Holy Ghost, and the Spirit was able to direct him to a eunuch in the desert. The eunuch was puzzled about the writings of Isaiah, and Philip was able to explain the Scriptures to him. The eunuch then accepted Christ and wanted to be baptized. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:36,37).

After Philip had baptized the eunuch, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea (Acts 8:39,40).

Philip was so yielded to God that the Holy Spirit was able to pick him up out of the desert and set him down in another place that was about 100 miles away so he could preach the Gospel there. How did it happen? He was carried on the wings of the greatness of the fire of the Spirit.

Paul’s Fantastic Transformation

Before Paul became a great apostle, he was persecuting Christians and having them put to death. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem (Acts 9:1,2).

When Paul was on his way to Damascus, an overpowering light from Heaven suddenly shined round about him; and he fell to the ground and was blind. Then Jesus Himself spoke to Paul saying, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he [Paul] said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do (Acts 9:4-6)?

Paul underwent a fantastic transformation that day, and he became a believer in Jesus Christ. The Lord then sent a Spirit-filled brother in the Lord to him named Ananias, who ministered to Paul so he could receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

A magnificent change took place in Paul. So instead of persecuting the Church of Christ, he began to boldly speak the name of the Lord Jesus; and the power of the Holy Spirit worked mightily through him. In Lystra, he met a man who had been crippled from his mother’s womb and had never walked. Paul, steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked (Acts 14:9,10). That man didn’t slowly pull himself up—he leaped and walked like the crippled man had done whom Peter and John had prayed for at the temple gate.

No Defeat in Christ

The miracles of God and the greatness of the fire of the Holy Spirit caused the kingdom of Lucifer to rage. The faithful disciples of the Early Church were buffeted, brutalized and battered; and yet they stood. There was no room for those who were not deeply committed to the cause of Christ because lukewarm Christians cannot claim the greatness of the fire of the Holy Spirit. It was the dedicated, consecrated ones like Paul and Silas who carried that fire and evangelized the known world of their day.

At one time, Paul and Silas were beaten with many stripes and cast into prison; yet they had such great reality of the Holy Spirit that at midnight, they prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bands were loosed (Acts 16:25,26).

Not only were Paul, Silas and the other prisoners freed, but the jailer was completely shaken; and he cried, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house (Acts 16:30,31).

How did the world look upon those faithful few? They described them as these that have turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).

The Holy Ghost Is a Must

As Paul was teaching some of the believers in Ephesus, he asked them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:2-6).

Those verses make it clear that a person does not automatically receive the baptism in the Holy Ghost when he or she is saved. Salvation is vital, and people must receive that first. Then they have to go on to seek the baptism in the Holy Ghost because the fire of the Spirit gives great power for service to all who will yield completely to Him.

The fire of the Holy Spirit was so great in Paul that God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them (Acts 19:11,12). People were healed simply by faith in the cloths Paul had anointed with miracle power. The cloths didn’t heal; they were just a point of contact people used to release their faith so they could accept their miracles.

A Legacy of Faith

The greatness of the Holy Spirit in Paul compelled him to say, 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 greatness of the fire of the Holy Spirit molded the mind of Paul in such a miraculous way that he wrote a stirring legacy of faith that was made possible through divine blood, love and truth. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35,37-39).

The Glory of God Will Rain Down

The Early Church evangelized the known world in their day, and we must do the same thing today. Thus saith the Lord, we are going to evangelize the whole world in this our final hour. We will do it through the power, the strength and the courage of Jesus; and the greatness of the fire of the Spirit will pave the way. With the same Holy Ghost and the same miraculous power the Early Church had, we will go forth in the Spirit; and we will not back down.

The Lord will give mountains of miracles in this final hour. Thus saith the Lord, the heavens will open; and the glory of God will be rained down in a miraculous way that the Earth has never seen before. Oh, the thrill, the joy and the happiness of it all! It is wonderful indeed to look up and rejoice in knowing that redemption draweth nigh, that our Redeemer liveth and that Jesus is on the right hand of the Father saying, “Father, rain it down! Father, send the miracle power, the power of the Holy Ghost!”

I Saw the Heavens on Fire

One time, the Lord took me into the miracle greatness of God and carried me to a place I have never been before. I thought I had seen the power of the Holy Ghost, but I had never seen it like I did that day. It was an unbelievable place, and I shall never get over it.

At first I didn’t know what I was seeing. I thought it must be the Battle of Armageddon. The heavens were filled with billows of fire everywhere, and in the center was the greatness of the miracle power. The Lord told me, “This is the fire of the Holy Ghost.”

In great amazement and astonishment, I saw the fire of the Holy Ghost falling. Through the greatness of that fire, I could see how it is going to be possible to evangelize the world. Because of such power being sent from Heaven, I could see how we are going to be able to conquer for the Lord with great force. We are taking up where the Early Church left off, and nothing can stand before the power and greatness of the Spirit. The heavens will open and be full of the fire of the Holy Ghost.

We live in the hour of the greatness of our God and of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. The fire is falling from Heaven, and nothing can stop us now. There are not enough devils or enemies to come against us that could hinder us. We are moving ever onward into the greatness of God, and the fire of the Holy Spirit is falling to burn out everything unlike God. It is time to stand like the Early Church and be counted for the Master. It is time to know that God is still on the throne, that Jesus is alive and that His promises are true. It is time to know who and what you are in the Lord and what you can have from Him in this final hour.

This is our hour of visitation, and the Lord is dealing with the Gentiles to get as many as possible ready to leave with Jesus at His second coming. We are going to trample the devil underfoot because the Pentecostal fire of the Spirit is operating today. It is the same Holy Ghost whom Jesus and the Early Church clothed themselves in, and He is defeating the devil for us today. Thus saith the Lord, that same Holy Ghost is my cloak and yours today in this our final hour on Earth.

Is the Fire of the Spirit Burning in Your Life?

Are you ready to finish the Lord’s work quickly and then leave this Earth? Is the greatness of the fire of the Spirit in your life? Are you clothed in all of His goodness? The Early Church spent time with the Holy Spirit, and that is what you will have to do. How much time are you giving to Him? If you are trying to find your way in life through books other than the Bible, it will not work.

The solutions you need for this hour will come through the Holy Ghost or not at all. The Acts of the Apostles tells us that God will move with signs, wonders, miracles and healings. Jesus said, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works [greater in number] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (John 14:12). How can this be? Because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (I John 4:4).

Three thousand souls were swept into the Kingdom when they heard Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost. It was possible through the power of the Holy Ghost, and Peter knew it. The power was falling from Heaven, and people could not stand before the presence of the Holy Ghost. In our day, the numbers of souls that are won will go far beyond 3000 or even 300,000 at a time. I know because my eyes beheld the glory of the Lord when I was carried into His greatness and into His Spirit, a place God had never taken this servant before.

That is why I declare the glory of the Lord to people wherever I go, and I tell them that we have nothing to fear or worry about. We are going to be fully equipped, and God will be raining down the fire of the Holy Ghost from Heaven throughout the whole Earth. Miracle power will come with the greatness of the fire of the Holy Ghost, and signs and wonders will be performed in the name of Jesus…and then the end shall come, saith the Lord.

Redemption Draweth Nigh

Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord! His plan is laid out before us by the Holy Spirit. We have the plan of God just like the Early Church did, and we are seeing that incredible plan in action today. The Early Church had a small area to cover compared to what we have today, but we also have different tools to use such as our ministry television programs, website, world radio station and social media pages. Thus saith the Lord, we shall do it. It will be done.

You must rise up in the strength of His greatness and in the might of His power and go forth facing the enemy unafraid. Throw aside man’s theology and his books of religious theory; all you need is the Word of the living God. You will have to play less and pray more. You will have to fast, live in the Word daily and seek the Lord until He is more real to you than the people around you. You must be completely buried in His greatness and in His love.

Thus saith the Lord, as you are hid away in Jesus, the world will see the light of His greatness; and many people will come to Him. It is our hour of visitation and a time to condition your mind to know that soon you will be changed in a twinkling of an eye and caught away to be with the Lord forever. 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).

The coming of the Lord is at the door. The greatness of the fire of the Holy Spirit is falling today, and you must let it fall on you.