John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Yesterday we saw the Lord sending Ananias to Saul in the house of Judas on Straight Street. Ananias was to lay hands upon Saul and give him sight. We cannot have ears to hear and eyes that see without being baptized of the Holy Spirit. Only one who has the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit can baptize another. That was evident from John 1:33.

Anyone can baptize with water, it does not save you. If you have been taught that water baptism saves, receive this correction, it does not.

Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

The baptism of repentance is symbolic that repentance must come before salvation. If you have prayed that prayer of faith, “Lord be merciful unto me a sinner.”, then that symbolizes your baptism of repentance. Then you may come to believe by faith on Jesus Christ and be saved. Then comes the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which must be administered by one who has the abiding Spirit of God by the laying on of hands.

Acts 8:18a And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given …

1 Timothy 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

What is next? How do I get from here to there?

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

Yesterday I gave you an incomplete answer in how you get born again. You might have missed these two tiny words within one paragraph that stated “it begins”. Yes it begins with an earnest seeking of God to rescue you from your sinful condition but there is more. There is more but this opens the dialogue with God for further instructions.

Acts 9:5-6 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Perhaps the most famous conversion holds the key to the next step once the dialogue has been opened. Paul acknowledges Jesus Christ as Lord and asks for a command. As learned as Paul was in the Hebrew manuscripts, he did not make a plan for himself in what was to be done next. He sought to be told what to do, surrendering self-will and accepting Christ’s Lordship.

Paul has surrendered self-will, now what?

Acts 9:10-12 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit comes next.