Be Connected

Water & Holy Spirit Baptism

Water Baptism

What is Water Baptism?

Water baptism is not a personal choice, but a command for believers. Jesus established water baptism as an ordinance when He gave the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16). Water baptism is a public, outward testimony that indicates a personal, inward faith. It gives evidence of the inner change that has already occurred in the believer's life when he or she was "born again" through faith in Jesus Christ.

Baptism identifies the believer with the message of the gospel, the Person of Jesus Christ, and other believers. It associates the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and signifies the believer's death to the old life and his or her resurrection as a new creation in Christ (Romans 6:1–8; Colossians 2:12).

Why are We to be Baptized?

We are to be baptized because Jesus Christ commanded it (Matthew 28:19), and because we love the Lord. Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Throughout the Book of Acts, we read how the early church gave importance to water baptism (Acts 2:41, 8:12, 8:36–40; 9:18, 10:47–48, 16:33, 19:1–7).

Who Should be Baptized?

All born-again believers in Jesus Christ—and only believers—should be baptized (Mark 16:15–16; Acts 8:12, 36–38; 16:31–33; 18:8).

Are Infants and Children to be Baptized?

After Peter spoke at Pentecost, "those who gladly received his word were baptized" (Acts 2:41). In the New Testament, every instance in which a person was baptized and his or her identity was given, that person was an adult. In light of Scripture, infant baptism must be ruled out, because infants cannot receive the Word of God and understand it. However, infants are to be dedicated to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:26–28). Children may be baptized if they receive and understand God's Word.

In Whose Name Are We to be Baptized?

As part of the Great Commission, Jesus instructed the disciples to baptize "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).

Is Water Baptism Necessary for Salvation?

The Bible clearly teaches that we are saved by grace through faith and according to God's mercy (Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5). The thief on the cross next to Jesus had no time to be baptized; yet Jesus promised that he would be with Him in Paradise that day (see Luke 23:43). The Bible contains no record of Jesus baptizing anyone—a strange omission if baptism was essential for salvation. The Apostle Paul declared, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel…" (1 Corinthians 1:17). This clearly indicates that salvation is a response of faith to the gospel—not the act of baptism. Therefore, water baptism is not an act of salvation, but an act of obedience.

BAPTISM OF HOLY SPIRIT

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…" — Jesus, Son of God

Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit for Everyone?

To do God's work, we need God's power. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and who are children of God through Him (Acts 2:38–39).

What Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs when the Spirit of God comes upon a believer. The Holy Spirit fills the believer's mind with a genuine understanding of truth, takes possession of the believer's abilities, and imparts gifts that qualify the believer for service in the body of Christ.

When a person accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit dwells inside him or her (John 14:15–17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:13). But believers also need the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5–8).

Why We Need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

The purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to empower believers for service, to witness, for spiritual warfare, and for boldness in their testimonies (Acts 1:8; 4:19–20, 29–31; 6:8–10; 1 Corinthians 2:4).

Jesus commanded the disciples not to begin the work to which He called them until they were baptized in the Holy Spirit (see Luke 24:48–49; Acts 1:4, 8). When the apostles met other believers in Christ, they at once asked whether the believers had received the Holy Spirit. If not, they made sure they received Him (see Acts 8:14–16; 19:1–5).

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an absolute necessity in every Christian's life for the service to which God has called us.

How to Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Jesus said, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13). God fulfills His promises in a variety of ways, and no two human beings are alike in how they receive spiritual things.

The New Testament tells us that some believers received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the moment of their conversion, such as Cornelius and his family (see Acts 10). Others, such as the believers in Ephesus, received it at a later time (see Acts 19:1–5). We should never limit God by our own expectations. He is sovereign and will work in whatever way He chooses.

 Online Water Baptism Form

Have you decided to follow Jesus for the rest of your life?
Are you ready to take the next step as you grow in your faith? Then you’re ready for water baptism!
We're so excited to celebrate this decision with you as you take this next step in your walk with Jesus and go public for Him!

Please complete the information below and a team member will contact you with more information on your baptism experience

Join the Team

We would love to welcome you to be in the ministry and to not taking ourselves seriously together. 

You can be a volunteer or join the team by contacting our Creative Team on Info Desk every Sunday or contact us through email. 

Rooted

Steps of growing

IGNITE : The Love - Understanding the Basics

INFUSE : The Training - The different aspects of the ministries

IMPACT : The Lifestyle - Flourish and fruitful

Is It Necessary to Join a Local Church?

Although we are all members of the universal church, the body of Christ, it's very important for a Christian to identify with a body of believers in a local church. We need each other in order to develop fully as Christians (see 1 Corinthians 12:4–27) and to make disciples (see Matthew 28:19).

Counseling

In this church, all family, marriage and general issues are matter to us. We even have our own ministry concerning families practical problems. Don't hesitate to reach us on our contact. Our counsellor will be available for you and your needs. 

Connect Groups

We believe that community is the heart of church. Smaller community is the centre of it. Let's get connected. We have several areas that can fits in your neighbourhood. If you are interested to join, please visit our Info Desk on every Sunday services.

Praying is believer's breath. Yes it's that important.

Join us on our monthly prayer every first Saturday of the month.

Details on our Facebook and Instagram. Or you can visit our Info Desk on every Sunday.

Why Children Should Be Dedicated

Baby dedications are actually family dedications. The entire family needs to be lifted up in prayer so that family members will be empowered to keep their responsibilities.

The Bible gives us an example of dedicating a child to the Lord through the account of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:11, 26–28. Unable to have children, Hannah wept before the Lord because of her condition. As she was weeping, she made a vow to God and said, "O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life…" (1 Samuel 1:11).

God honored Hannah's request and gave her a son, Samuel. Hannah kept her vow and dedicated (which means "to set apart") Samuel to the Lord.

Requirements for Dedication

To dedicate a child to the Lord is to make a vow to submit your child completely to the will of God and raise that child in the ways of the Lord.

Parents who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will be unable to submit their children to God's will and His ways, because they themselves do not know the ways of the Lord. As a result, we must decline any requests to involve an unbelieving parent in the dedication of a child. We view this as an act of protection rather than rejection, as we cannot encourage someone to make a vow to God that we know he or she cannot keep.

The Bible says, "It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vow" (Proverbs 20:25 NIV). The Bible records instances where God dealt severely with those who broke their vows to Him (for example, read Acts 5:1–11).

A believing parent may dedicate a child independently of an unbelieving spouse.

More info on our info desk or you can contact our office for more details

"Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 'Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me, but Him who sent Me.'" 

—Mark 9:36–37

Children Are the Ministers of the Future

At Harvest, we realize the future will one day be in our children's hands. We want to do all we can to encourage and equip the children in our congregation to walk with God, both now and throughout their adulthood.

Children Are a Heritage

The Bible says that children are a heritage and a reward from the Lord (Psalm 127:3). God has given Christian parents the tremendous responsibility of raising their children in the ways of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). He entrusts parents with the responsibility of establishing a foundation built upon Jesus Christ early in the lives of their children.

Kids are God's secret weapon. We take them seriously.

Join us on our Kids Church every Sunday. We'd love to have you there!