The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Rapture Kathryn Kuhlman The Rapture Part 1

You and I are going to have one of the most practical heart -to -heart talks that we've had for a long time. Oh, somebody said good. We're going to have a heart -to -heart talk today. That's right. And I'm going to talk about something that I feel is vitally important to you because I tell you very frankly that there is never a week but when somebody asks me one question, That's what I'm going to talk about today. And you may be wondering about the answer to that same question. You may have thought, now sometime I'm going to ask Catherine Kuhlman this question. But the only reason that you haven't asked it is because you haven't gotten around to it. So I might just as well include... All of you, once and for all. Like a lady wrote recently, and she said, I want you to answer for me. Then I'll be satisfied once and for all. I hope you feel that way about it. All right, this is it. Now, no one in the whole world is more sold, and I say that very reverently, on the Holy Spirit than I am. No one believes more in the baptism with the Holy Spirit than I do. And I believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a very definite experience. You've heard me say over and over again that one's conversion, the new birth experience, being born again is a definite experience. Definite. Just as... definite as your first birth. Just as definite as when you were born in the flesh. Your spiritual birth is just that definite. Now, when we come to that wonderful experience of being filled with the Spirit, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it too is just as definite. It isn't a matter of growth. It is definite. And this is the question that I'm asked so often. Is it necessary to have the baptism of the Holy Spirit for the power to be raised in the rapture? In other words, you and I know that the next great world event will be the rapture of the church, the great catching up, when this glorious body of Christ will be taken up. Is it necessary to be filled with the Spirit, to have the baptism with the Holy Spirit, to be taken? Let me rephrase it. Only those who have been filled with the Holy Spirit, only those who have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, be taken up at the time of the rapture. I see somebody just taking her hands out of the dishwater right now and saying, I want to hear that. First of all, let's see what the Word of God says regarding the Holy Spirit. I like what Jesus says. Oh, it's something that's so personal. It's just right from his own lips. And he's talking in the 16th chapter of John. And he's telling them about the Holy Spirit, the work of the Holy Spirit. And he says, nevertheless, I tell you the truth. Don't you like that? In other words, I'll never lie to you. I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away. For if I go not the way, the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, now he begins talking about the ministry, the work of the Holy Spirit. When he has come, he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. Of sin because they believe not on me. Of righteousness because I go to my father and he see me no more. Of judgment because the prince of this world is judged. In other words, the Holy Spirit is the mighty convicting power in the world today. And he continues, I had yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. For he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come. He will glorify me. Always remember, the Holy Spirit will never glorify an individual. He'll never glorify any man, any woman. Always know that. The Holy Spirit will never glorify Catherine Kuhlman. The Holy Spirit will never glorify Dr. Jarman. The Holy Spirit will never glorify any preacher, any personal worker. Never. The Holy Spirit will only glorify one, and that's Jesus Christ. He shall glorify me, Jesus says. Never, as long as you live, forget those words. Now then, let's go a little deeper. I'm taking the words of Jesus regarding the Holy Spirit. Those last words before he went away. Just before he left, he is talking about the same person. And he's talking about this wonderful experience. Being filled with the same person, the Holy Spirit. the same person that he said would convict, the great revealer, the one who would glorify Jesus. And the last words before Jesus went away were concerning this same person. But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. In other words, You're going to receive power after you've been filled with this wonderful person. But don't stop there. Don't stop there. Keep right on going. Because Jesus very distinctly tells why one is filled. the purpose for this experience. And ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth. He makes it very clear that this wonderful experience of being filled with the Spirit, this glorious experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, is given for one purpose. To witness its power for service. Never forget some of these things that I'm giving you in the spirit today. I think that we need more good old -fashioned teaching regarding the Word of God. truth about some of these things. I do not believe that there's any ignorance worse than spiritual ignorance. Zeal is wonderful, but be sure that you use your zeal in the right channel. You see, this wonderful experience is so new to so many. So many are receiving the light regarding this wonderful experience and this wonderful person of the Holy Spirit that it's almost like a child who has received a wonderful present. And they're so overwhelmed with it all, they don't know what to do with it. They're so overcome with it all. the thrill of it all, the excitement of it all. What we need to do is to hold steady, come back to the Word of God, and stay with His Word. There'll always be those who'll carry a thing a little too far beyond the real truth of the matter. Stay with the word. That's the reason this ministry has held low these many years without any fanaticism, without any sensationalism. It's had a good foundation. Lo, these 20 years. Sure. This ministry is open to anyone who wishes to investigate it. Sure. It hasn't been a fly -by -night thing because it wasn't built on sensationalism. It has had as its foundation the very word of God. We've stayed with the word. And when you stay with the word, not adding to it, not taking from it, go right down the middle of the road, you'll get results. Mm -hmm. The converts will stick. If it's just built on sensationalism. You go back six months later and say, where were the converts? Where were those who were born again? Where were those who came to the altar? But when it's built on the word of God and you stay with the word, you can go back 60 years later and you'll still find those converts, Dethi. continuing to grow in the Word. And that's the reason that I'm talking to you about this truth that is so vitally important. This wonderful experience of the baptism with the Holy Spirit is given the believer for power. Power. for service. Power to witness. And every believer should experience the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Because if ever there was a time when Christians needed this power for service, it's now. If ever there was a time when Christians needed this power to witness, it's now. This very hour. And you are not claiming your full inheritance in Christ Jesus if you have not yet been filled with the Holy Spirit. But let's come back now to the original question. Is this experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, necessary to be taken up in the rapture? When we have this great catching up, those who have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit be taken up. Oh, it's gotten quiet even at your house. Let's take the word. Just take the word, my friend. All right. You've heard me read it over and over again. You've read it so often. You know it. without even turning to the word. But had you really read it? Fourth chapter, 1 Thessalonians. He's talking about this great hour when the dead in Christ shall be raised first, then we which are alive. But let me read it to you. For the Lord himself. shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Just one requisite. Those who died in the Lord. When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, If right now, that moment would take place when God turns to the holy angels, when the Father turns to the Son, when he gives the Holy Spirit the nod, and he says, this is it. And watch. And with the... Trump of God, the dead in Christ shall rise first. Those who died in the Lord, and there are literally thousands and tens of thousands who died in the Lord, who had no light whatsoever regarding the Holy Spirit. They had no light whatsoever. ever regarding the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Saints of God, born again, their sins covered with the blood. It doesn't say those who died in the Lord and were filled with the Spirit. It doesn't say that at all. Sometimes I think that we're so prone to put words in God's mouth. Sometimes I think we're so apt to put words in the mouth of Jesus. Things that he never said at all. We're so prone to add to the Word of God. Be careful. You and I are on dangerous ground when we start adding to the Word of God. That's very dangerous. And there are those today who are adding to the Word of God. And you can't just take a phrase or a portion of the Word of God, take it out of its context, out of its setting. You've got to see everything that relates to the same subject. You could almost make a new doctrine out of any portion of the Word of God. by taking it out of its setting. No, ma 'am. There is nothing more or less said about those when the trump of the Lord shall sound and the dead in Christ shall rise first. precious saint of God, every man, every woman, who's been born again. And their bodies are out there in that cemetery, wherever they are. Whether they were a Christian for 50 years or five hours, if they were born again and died in the Lord, will be caught up. That's the first resurrection. Tomorrow, I will continue to talk about those of us who are left at that time. God bless you.