Scripture
“I baptise you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am… He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

Observation
People ask John the Baptist if he is the expected Messiah. He replies that there is one coming soon who will be much greater than John and he will baptise them with the Holy Spirit.

John warns that the Messiah will bring a purifying judgement, and they need to be ready.

Jesus comes to be baptised by John. The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus in the form of a dove, and a voice comes from heaven saying, “You are my dearly loved Son and you bring me great joy.”

Application
A relationship with Jesus must open us up to the Holy Spirit. Just as John's baptism in water signified a changed life, the baptism in the Holy Spirit leads us into the presence and the power of God to changer our lives and to minister to others.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit should happen at the same time as conversion, but for some reason the two events are often separated in time.

The true christian life is only possible as we allow the Holy Spirit to act in us and through us.

Prayer
Holy Spirit flow through me. Change my heart and let me be a vessel of your grace in the world. Amen.