Lord, When Did We See You?

Baptisms!

September 27th 5 people were baptized with water! Two of them were people I work with. Cpl Sarcione and Cpl Zaragoza. It was an honor to help baptize them with Pastor Nick.

Me (Andrew), Cpl Sarcione and Pastor Nick.

What Is Water Baptism?

Water baptism is the outer demonstration of the inner baptism. “I indeed baptize you with water UNTO repentance….” [Matthew 3:11] Said John the Baptist. If you truly have The Holy Spirit within, you will be led to water baptism UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. It is the will of God. Jesus also being God in nature and fully man was baptized by water.
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.” [Matthew 3:13-15] GET BAPTIZED! No excuses! Being baptized as a baby does not count! It is more of a dedication. Jesus was baptized at around 30 years of age. YOU NEED TO MAKE THE DECISION TO BE BAPTIZED. No one can make that choice for you. And of those people who say they were baptized as a baby you can usually tell. The Holy Spirit does not dwell in them, they probably don’t go to church or READ their bibles. Sounds like anyone you know? You?

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” [Matthew 7:18-20]

Baptized By Fire!

“…but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the HOLY SPIRIT and FIRE.” [Matthew 3:11] When you CONFESS with your mouth and BELIEVE in your heart that Christ is Lord, you ask Christ to dwell within you. To confess with your mouth doesn’t just mean to say Christ is Lord, it means, “LORD! I am a sinner! I need you because you are good! And I am filthy!” No matter who you are to do that truthfully you have to be humbled.

Now time for the Holy Spirt! Once you ask Jesus Christ to be your one and only God, the Holy Spirit will dwell within you. The Holy Spirit will now convict you. Christ will now teach you. “Do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.” [Matthew 23:10] You’ll start to feel bad for certain habits and sayings wanting to do better. Now the real struggles begin. You will notice you fail when you try to be better. Why? You think can better by your own strength. Do not ask God for strength. That’s Pride. Ask, “Lord be my strength.” Always humble yourself before God and even man. “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” [Matthew 23:12] Jesus will be your strength against evil and sinful desires. The battle is spiritual, against soul.

“Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” [Isaiah 41:10]

Baptized By The Name!

People miss the point of baptism. When we get baptized we are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The name of Jesus has power.

Cpl Zaragoza

Zaragoza spontaneously asked me one day at work if he could get baptized. He had heard Sarcione and I inviting everyone at work to come to Sarcione’s baptism. He had asked me just a couple of days before if he could get a bible. I gave him a New Testament bible and told him to start in John. (Great place to start! John, Acts and Romans) We had one awesome conversation. He believes in Jesus as God. He said that he will get what he deserves when he dies. He gets that Jesus died for his sins but doesn’t understand it. He wouldn’t ask God for forgiveness, saying that he has become a better person by learning from mistakes. He said he knows his pride is stoping him from asking Jesus.

I told him that I agree that God will give you what you deserve. God is Just. The bible tells us exactly what we deserve: God’s wrath! “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” [Romans 3:23] He then kept talking about how God has been teaching him through life and his mistakes. I said, “that is true.” But, he was acting like God will forgive him just because he is now a “good person.” I told him again, “God is loving. You forget that he is just. He has to punish you for breaking his law. It’s JUSTICE.” I told him, “Let’s say you committed a murder 20 years ago and never got caught. But, you turned your life around and became a ‘good person.’ If you got caught for the murder 20 years later, you would be charged for the murder and punished for life (probably).”

UNLESS someone does your time on your behalf! That is the whole thing with Jesus dying for our sin: THE GOSPEL. God loves us. He wants us to be with him eternally. But, we separate ourselves by sinning against God. “For the wages of sin is death…” [Romans 6:23] ETERNAL SEPARATION. Jesus Christ died for our sins. God’s wrath and our death, was on his son, Jesus, for our sake. Jesus ROSE from the dead on the 3rd day, defeating death, that we may have eternal life through Jesus Christ. I could see Zaragoza had understanding. He said “thank you.” Then, a couple days later, he ask to be baptized! Praise God!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16]

Cpl Sarcione

Sarcione was isolated on an island called Iejima for a couple of months. After a couple of months on the island he texted me, “Hey do you know where I can get a bible?” I then went to the chapel and got him a bible. After a little while in Iejima, he came back. He was put one my shift. I didn’t know him personally I just knew his face. I see Sarcione at work reading his bible every day! He then asked when church was. SATURDAYS 1800 ZEBULUN CHURCH. That Is when we started talking a lot about faith, scripture, asking questions on where to start, what things mean in the bible, and what The Gospel is. Then, he asked if we can go evangelizing. Sarcione and I go evangelizing every weekend, planting seeds, and praying. His faith has grown fast and his foundation is strong! Why?

Sarcione doesn’t just attend church one day of the week and then return to his life. He lives for Christ! He was baptized and is in the spiritual fight. He is a doer of the word! “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” [James 1:22] EVERYONE is called to spread the Gospel! “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” [Matthew 28:19] You don’t know God if you don’t READ; and those who don’t read nor pray don’t walk in faith. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” [Romans 10:17]

Gate 2

Gate 2 in Okinawa is a street where many americans go to party. Sarcione and I go there on Friday’s to plant seeds. Some people can have harden hearts others seek Jesus. We know that there is evil and the devil wants to hurt God. This is where Sarcione’s faith grew big time! Sarcione was tested with questions and his heart was tested to see where it really lays. Over months his response has become sharp with the word of God. His prayers have become powerful. His hunger for God grew. Sarcione has spent time in God’s presence by reading, praying and fasting. He knows Jesus!

Sure some people aren’t called to preach. But we are all called to have a response for our hope. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” [1 Peter 3:15]