When I first gave my life to Christ, I knew nothing about God’s Word because I was raised atheist. My mom said if I was ever water baptized she would disown me. One time my mom sneezed and I said “God, bless you!” copying what I heard other kids say. My mom told me to never say the name of God again! My family hated any mention of Jesus Christ or Church. I had no idea Christmas was about the birth of God’s son Jesus, until after I gave my life to Christ in my early 20’s!
I was 20 years old, and an “entertainer” in a Gentlemen’s Club in New Orleans, when I said the salvation prayer. When I prayed it for the very first time, the depression I was in, supernaturally lifted off and I felt the Holy Spirit come inside of me! The constant loneliness I suffered immediately disappeared. My roommate told me to go get water baptized.
I found a local church, and scheduled a water baptism. Before my appointment, we had a meeting at our entertainment club to discuss how to manipulate more money out of men when they visited. I invited a couple of my stripper friends to accompany me to the church after the meeting, to watch me get baptized. After the preacher dunked me, I came out of the water refreshed and feeling clean. Not just on the outside, but on the inside too. However I did not know God’s Word, and I continued to do drugs, get drunk, party, and work in the clubs. After water baptism, something inside me knew what I was doing wasn’t right, but I had no guidance and didn’t know what to do. I did attend church a couple of times after water baptism, but I was too ashamed to tell anyone about my party lifestyle. I did not know at the time I could be free of the sin that trapped me.
During that time, I met a drug dealer who I married in the courthouse. I was convinced God sent him, even though he was not a Christian, and was obviously into shady behavior. He did not stay faithful in short lived marriage and it caused a lot of emotional pain.
After the divorce, I felt like the Lord was prompting me to get re-baptized. By this time, I had quit the clubs, and started attending church on a regular basis. I wasn’t perfect, but I was sincerely trying to follow Christ. There is no scripture saying you are only allowed to be water baptized once.
When I went back to the same church, and got water baptized a second time, I felt supernatural joy inside and I KNEW something had happened. I had joy and peace like never before! I KNEW inside a new season had begun.
When you get water baptized, something SUPERNATURAL happens! Your “old man” is cut off, and the new you comes out of the water. Just like when Jesus died on a cross, and the Holy Spirit resurrected Him to new life! If you have been water baptized correctly, you will sense and see the change. When I water baptize someone, I make sure they see the scriptures and KNOW what is about to happen.
Let’s look at some scriptures about water baptism. The first one is from Mark 16, where Jesus tells EVERYONE that part of their salvation package is water baptism:
And Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
Notice Jesus said you believe AND are baptized. This means you believe in Jesus FIRST, then you are baptized. Jesus also said, if you believe and are baptized, miraculous signs WILL follow you including speaking in tongues, casting out demons and laying hands on the sick! Here is what the word “baptized” in the Greek means:
Is Baptized-(Strong’s G907) baptizō- to fully immerse, to submerge with water.
Twice in the New Testament the scriptures talk about your old self dying in those waters. Apostle Paul tells us in Romans when we are “buried with Him through baptism” we get to walk in “newness of life.” Are you walking in this newness of life? Do you feel like your “old man” is still following you? You may need to get water baptized!
…having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. Col 2:20
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:1-4
Who qualifies to be water baptized? John the Baptist refused to water baptize anyone in the Jordan river until they bore the fruits of repentance. This means they truly repented of their sins:
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,Matthew 3:7
Water Baptism is done in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is NOT done to join a church or a movement. It is only done in obedience to God’s Word and a desire for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18
In the Bible, disciples of Jesus Christ, both men & women, water baptized converts. For many years I have water baptized many people. I have baptized them in pools, bathtubs, lakes etc. There is no scripture saying only a man or ordained Pastor can water baptize someone. If you are a water baptized believer, you can water baptize others!