Acts 2:38-39 (NET) Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
After Olamide accepted that all her sins had been forgiven and the deep-rooted guilt in her heart was washed away, she received the gift of the Holy Spirit and started to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave her utterance. She had believed in the Lord for several years but just could not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This was because of some level of guilt she still retained in her conscience. This was dealt with through the miracle of water baptism.
You will see that in today’s Bible verse, Apostle Peter tells the people to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins, and then they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Many have been able to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit even before they were baptized in water because they believed that their sins had been forgiven and they got rid of all deep-rooted guilt in their consciences after they believed. This was usually easier for the Gentiles because they did not have an elaborate consciousness of sin like the Jews who had the law. But many others have found that their consciences received the required freedom needed for them to be filled with the Holy Spirit after they were baptized in water. Indeed, the baptism of the Holy Spirit has come to some immediately after their baptism in water. That was the case with our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:16).
In 1 Peter, we see that water baptism is a pledge [or answer] of a good conscience to God. There is clearly a connection between it and the conscience. 1 Peter says:
“And baptism, which is a figure [of their deliverance], does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [providing you with] the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 3:21 AMPC.
Go into today remembering that you cannot walk in the fullness of the Spirit [and your spiritual gifts] if your conscience is still weighed down by any level of guilt. Deal with the guilt in your conscience through the water (the word of God) and the blood (remembering and depending on the sacrifice of Christ), and you will receive an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a new measure.
Prayer: Lord, deliver me from all guilt so I may walk in the fullness of the Spirit. Amen.
—Abraham Damilola Arigi
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Bible In 1 Year: II Corinthians 9-10 (in today’s audio)
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