Sermon Tone Analysis

These Gospel readings are one of the very few times that all 4 Gospels tell us an important truth:

That Jesus is the One sent by God to pour out the Holy Spirit on all flesh — on every person.

In fulfillment of:

Esteemed Pentecostal theologian Stanley Horton said:

In these Gospel passages ...

But John adds a new thought not mentioned in the Old Testament.

The Spirit is not only to be poured out upon them; they are to be immersed in Him, saturated with Him.

As Barclay says, if life is drab, inadequate, futile, earthbound, it is because believers have neglected the Holy Spirit and failed to enter into the sphere of life dominated by the Spirit through this baptism which Christ alone has the power to give.

I like what John Piper said about Jesus baptizing in the Holy Spirit compared to John the Baptist baptizing with water:

Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014) (This is He Who Baptizes with the Holy Spirit)

[John the Baptist] wants us to feel the vast superiority of Jesus in this contrast.

Baptizing with the Spirit and baptizing with water is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.

It’s the difference between a person and a painting, between a marriage and a ring, between a birth and a birth certificate, between immersion in water and immersion in God.

So tonight we acknowledge what our Prayer Guide for today says:

God’s people need the power of the Holy Spirit to take the message of Jesus and to do the works He called us to do.

Nothing less that the anointing of the Holy Spirit can help us do these things.

Not psychological techniques.

Not marketing strategies.

Not manipulation.

Not cleverly devised songs.

Nothing less than the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

During our week of fasting and prayer let’s pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.