11/07/2017 — Baptism is an outward sign of the inward transformation that God makes within us when we accept Jesus's offer of salvation. It's important for the person baptized — and for those who witness the baptism. Witnesses fulfill a holy responsibility of observing the covenant the person baptized makes with God, and agree to defend that covenant against the attacks of the enemy.

EDUCATION

Romans 6:3–4
“Do you not know that we who were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (MEV).

Galatians 3:26–29
“You are all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, and there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (MEV).

APPLICATION

• A baptism service is not just for those being baptized. Baptism is a sign to the entire community of the miracle of salvation in our midst. Salvation transforms individual lives. It populates Heaven and empties hell. So we need to see baptisms as a sign of what God has done in our midst.
• What is not dead cannot be resurrected. Jesus had to die before He could rise from the dead on the first Easter. The life of a man, woman or child who is baptized is a sign from God that He still shows grace and mercy for a fallen race.
• Baptism is the believer's endorsement. It says whatever Jesus deposited in the bank of Heaven belongs to the person who is baptized. It’s a public endorsement in front of witnesses that makes all of heaven available to whoever chooses to declare himself or herself a Christ–follower.
• We have communion with God the Father through Jesus Christ, not when we sit in a pew or participate in a Life Group, but when we publicly identify with Him through water baptism.

ACTION STEPS

Pray for this Sunday evening's Legacy Miracle, Healing and Victory Prayer Cloth service and all those who will be ministering at that service, including Dr. Rod Parsley and Apostle Guillermo Maldonado.

IMPARTATION

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for revealing Your heart for Your people through the sacrament of baptism. Thank You for making baptism an outward sign of the inward transformation that has occurred in my life, so that I may be a sign and a wonder reflecting Your love to others.

Order my steps so that I will prioritize and remember my baptism, and so I can more fully identify with You when I witness my brothers and sisters in Christ being baptized. Show me daily how to more fully conform to Your teachings and Your ways, so I can win others into Your Kingdom.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ — Jehovah Joshua Messiah — I pray. Amen!






WHC FAMILY PRAYER REQUESTS

In Matthew 18, Jesus said “Truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” Let’s stand in agreement with the following members of our church family who have requested prayer:
We want to pray with YOU! Send in your prayer request on this online form so we can agree with you in prayer! Send in your testimony or praise report here when God moves in your life, so we can give Him glory with you!!