“But ye shall recieve power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalm, and in Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8
In the Old Testament, He was “God above us,” manifesting Himself as a “cloud by day” and as a “pillar of fire” by night.
In the New Testament, He was Emmanuel, “God with us.” He was the “Word made flesh” in the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. Both were precious and glorious manifestations of God in the lives of His children!
However, He was not satisfied to dwell “above” us or even “with” us but rather He wanted to build His house “within” us, The ALMIGHTY God wanted to live “IN” His people! Hallelujah!
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:16-18
The very same God who lived in the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, has NOW come to live in us by the BAPTISM of the HOLY GHOST and FIRE! This God within us gives us POWER, ABILITY, EFFICIENCY and MIGHT!Therefore, this Holy Ghost baptism is not optional, it is a mandatory personal experience with Him!
“And if God would not suffer the virgin Mary to come into heaven without receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost, don’t think you can wrap yourself around some church and get in with anything less. You’re going to get the Holy Ghost or be out. That’s all..That’s the Gospel teaching, brother. It might burn you up, and scorch you, and blister you, and everything else, but it’ll do you good.” Rev. William Branham