10/30/06: Update

I just wanted to post an update on my blog from 10/23. If you read that one, you'll remember that we'd had an outstanding service Sunday night a week ago yesterday, and had a man come in off the street and go to the altar to get prayed for. He had an outstanding repentance experience and felt a freedom from sin that was overwhelming.

We invited him to come back the next weekend to be with us and to get baptized, but honestly I didn't really expect to see him again. I guess I was being pessimistic, but particularly when we didn't see him Friday night, I just didn't want to be too disappointed if he didn't show up Sunday morning for the baptism.

Long story short, however, yesterday morning he showed up all cleaned up and with a suit and tie on (smelling clean--no alcohol and cigarette stink this time!). He even brought his mother and a friend with him to see him get baptized. He testified about his experience and said that God set him free and cleaned him up last Sunday night, and asked all of us to keep praying for him that he could fulfill God's will in his life. So he was baptized as well as a young girl in our church who received the baptism of the Holy Ghost several months ago.

Before the baptism, Bro. Bernard preached about water baptism and how it is necessary to fulfill all righteousness, following Christ's example when he went to be baptized of John. He said that if someone has repented of their sins that they are eligible for baptism as an outward sign that they are burying their old ways and resurrecting to live for Christ. He said that baptism is something that we can do for someone; it's a physical act that the ministry performs. But there is another baptism that the ministry can't provide; God has to baptize you with the Holy Spirit. If you come in and repent and get baptized, after that if you just stick around and seek after more of what God has for you, then God will immerse you in His Spirit and make you a new creature! As Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized . . . and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." So, welcome to the church, Bro. Leslie!