One Baptism
What is the “One Baptism referred to in Ephesians 4?

"This cup may not pass except I drink of it..."

If you were raised in a church setting, more than likely you were taught about 'baptism,' which referred to water baptism or Holy Spirit baptism. However, are you aware the Bible speaks about the “one baptism” that saves? Is it water baptism or Holy Spirit baptism that saves, or could there be another?

Let's read this portion of Scripture for ourselves. Ephesians 4:4-5 “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism”.

Have you read it? Let’s read it again, “One Lord, One faith, One baptism!” If you have read the context it is written in, you will see each subject (Lord, faith, baptism) points to one source - Jesus.

If so, what “Baptism is this referring to?

There is one Lord that saves – the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is one faith that saves – faith in Christ.

There is one baptism that saves – baptism in Christ.

The most important baptism you can get is the baptism into Jesus Christ!
Galatians 3:27 says it so well “For all of you who are baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.”

John 16:13 “How be it when He the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you INTO all truth”

Would you be so kind to permit me to indulge in this word a little bit – INTO Christ?

Into – That which you were not in before, a new way, a new experience! Previous to being ‘into’ you were out.

What is this baptism all about?

Have you ever saw an adult that has just come in from the cold wearing a winter coat and their child runs over and, turning its back into the stomach of the adult, reaches its arms up and gently slides its arms into the arms of the coat? With excitement, the child announces they are wearing their parent's coat, even though the parent still has the coat on. Can you picture that?

Shouting with excitement, the parent waves their arms and because the child’s arms are inside; every movement performed by the parent the child’s arms automatically follows. Why? Is it only because the adult is stronger? No! Why then? Because the child's arms are inside the coat, and wherever the person who is wearing the coat goes the child MUST go.

This is “The Baptism in Christ!” You are IN Christ, and wherever He leads us we must follow.

When you have truly experienced Jesus, and not religion, you are put into Christ just like that child wearing the coat of its parents. Being IN Christ means, when Christ hung on the Cross you hung with Him. When He laid down His life, you laid down yours. Have you ever read, “Not my will be done?”

This revelation was birthed out of a vision God gave me of Christ on the Cross and I was inside Him. I could see through His eyes, my arm’s was in His, my legs in His and so on. As I share this, remember the child wearing the coat, which I have shared with you. Through the Master's eyes, I saw a man coming with a hammer and a large nail and Jesus reached out His arm (Remember He laid His life down or NO MAN could have taken it). As the Master's arm was being laid down, every ounce in me fought for my arm not to go with His, and yet, because I was in Him I had no choice. My life was being laid down because I was in Him. Are you aware that you will never be able to lay your life down to self except through the baptism in Christ? Yes, my friend, can you see when you enter into Christ your life is NOT your own, because you have been brought with a price? The day I received that vision from the Master, I knew my life would never be my own again. Yes, I was aware I would make mistakes, but what we would deem as a mistake in our lives God turns it around for good.

Let’s take a story from the Bible and imagine the events of that day went something like this?

The disciples are out at sea and a storm is brewing right in the middle of John giving a sermon to the rest of the disciples. Fear was rising within the disciples as the waters crashed fiercely against the boat! As they tried wiping the water away from their eyes they noticed a figure in the distance. Immediately they thought it was a ghost (well after all, they were in the middle of the sea) but to their surprise Peter had jumped overboard.

The words astonished, amazed, overwhelmed could be used to describe the disciples who remained in the boat. John’s sermon certainly came to a standstill. The fear of drowning left as they watched in amazement Peter walking on the water. Each step was being accented with an echo coming through the waves, “Come!” As John’ vision cleared he realized the “One” who was behind the voice. Yes, it was now that he realized it was Jesus who was walking towards Peter and not a ghost.

I can see Peter, with a smile from ear to ear, walking towards the one he loved. He’s like many of us. We step out with only one thing in mind we have heard, and so we obey.

The more I read this story of Peter, and the more I have tasted the Church of today, the more I realize that very few ever walk in the depth that God has called us to. We are the boat ministry brethren never stepping out into the supernatural. Did you ever wonder how it was that Peter walked on the water that day? What held him above the crashing waves? It was the Word of Jesus saying, “Come!” As the Rhema Word came from Jesus it caused Peter to walk where he would never have ever been able to walk. It was the impossible being made possible! That is what happens when you hear the Word of the Lord and act upon it. It will take you to a place where only His grace can keep you. Are you seeking the Rhema Word? When you're IN Christ, there is a calling, a voice that will echo through many things in your life, but it will find your spiritual ears for Scripture says, “He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches!” (Rev 3:22)

This is about you hearing from the Spirit yourself, for yourself, like Peter did. The echo that Peter heard that day was on the same sound level for everyone in that boat to hear, but my friend, only one walked on water – it was the one who heard the quickened Word the Rhema Word.

How many within the Church of today will walk in the depths of the Rhema Word? Will they stay in boat or will they walk on the water. You see, only those hearing in the spirit will cheer you on across the roaring waves. If not, you’ll hear the cries, “Peter, come back here! You’re going to drown! It’s not God’s will.” Recognize any???

My friend, if you hear Him beckoning you to “Come”, then, Go, walk on those waters and see the supernatural being performed in your life. Don’t allow religion to stop you, fear to bind you and you’ll experience the miraculous in such a way that will be overwhelming. We serve a “Supernatural God, Who wants to take you into a place that few dare to go. Will you be the next Peter?

I know what you may be thinking? Peter sunk! Peter may have sunk but he never drowned. He may have fallen but he didn’t lie down. However, he had one thing that no one else in that boat had that day or ever had – he experienced a walk that no one else would have - what a story line!

Can you hear the Master’s voice? Can you hear the echo through all your problems, through all your cares? He’s still calling you!

No matter how you feel, no matter what you have done, no matter where you are, if you feel that drawing – You are baptized in Christ. No matter where you go, no matter what you do or where you are, He is drawing you again to a point of no return.

There is a cup you must drink of the same way Jesus drunk of it. It’s the cup of predestination, which has been set before you. Before you were born God knew you would be reading this. For Peter the cock would crow 3 times. No matter how many times he would try for this not to happen, it would. No matter how far Jonah ran, at some point a whale was going to wait on him and hold him for 3 days in its belly.

What am I saying?

The “Baptism,” this “one baptism” is a point in your life where destiny meets you head on and from that point on you will be led into a path not of your choosing but of the Master’s. Do you really think Peter wanted to deny Christ? There is the magnet love of Christ that will cause each one of us to come to the place like the Old Testament servants would say, “Pierce my ear, I’ll be your servant for life!”
As I bring this teaching to a close, know that you are held in the palm of His hand and no man or thing can ever pluck you out of it. Know that this “one baptism” is the one that saves you from self, through that the only thing that can rise is the glory of God. Do you want that? To be in Him so you can raise your eyes to heaven and know it’s not you that liveth but it is Christ who lives in you. Do it today. A life changing experience awaits you.

                                                                           M. Wylie

He said, “I love you, but I know this other man loves you and would love to spend some time with you.”

The other man that my husband wanted me to visit was my Father, who has been a widower for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit him only occasionally.

That night I called to invite him to go out for dinner and a movie.

“What’s wrong, are you well,” he asked?  My Father is the type of man who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.

“I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,” I responded” just the two of us.”  He thought about it for a moment, and then said, “I would like that very much.”

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick him up I was a bit nervous.  When I arrived at his house, I noticed that he, too, seemed to be nervous about our date.  He waited in the door with his coat on.  He was wearing his best suit.

He smiled for a face that w as a radiant as an angel’s.  “I told my friends that I was going to go out with my daughter, and they were impressed,” he said, as he got into the car.  “They can’t wait to hear about our date.”

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy.  My Father held out his arm and I took it as if I were the First Lady.

After we sat down, I had to read the menu.  His eyes could only read large print.  Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Father sitting there staring at me.  A nostalgic smile was on his lips.

“It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,” he said.  “Then, it’s time that you relax and let me return the favor,” I responded.  During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation, nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other’s life.  We talked so much that we missed the movie.  As we arrived at his house later, he said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.”  I agreed.

“How was your dinner date?” asked my husband when I got home.  “Very nice, Much more so than I could have imagined,” I answered.

A few days later, My Father died of a massive heart attack.  It happened so suddenly that I didn’t have a chance to do anything for him.  Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place Father and I had  dined.  An attached note said: “I paid this bill in advance.  I wasn’t sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates – one for you and the other for your husband.  You will never know what that night meant for me.

“Daughter, I love you.

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: “I Love YOU. And to give your loved ones the time that they deserve.  Nothing in life is more important than your family.  Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till “some other time.”

Somebody said it take about six weeks to get back to normal after you’ve had a baby…Somebody doesn’t know that once you’re a Father, “normal” is history.

Somebody said you can’t love the second child as much as you love the first…somebody doesn’t have two or more children.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a Father is providing for your children…somebody never watched his “baby” get on the bust for the first day of kindergarten…or on a plane headed for military “boot camp.”

Somebody said a Father can stop worrying after his child gets married…somebody doesn’t know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a Father’s heartstrings.

Somebody said a Father’s job is done when his last child leaves home…somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your Father knows you love him, so you don’t need to tell him…somebody isn’t a Father.

Pass this along to all the “Fathers” in your life and to everyone who ever had a father.

This isn’t just about being a Father; it’s about appreciating the people in your lives while you have them…no matter who that person is.

Watch your Thoughts, they become words, Watch your Words, they become actions.  Watch your Actions, they become habits.  Watch your Habits, they become character.  Watch your Character, for it becomes your Destiny.

“Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle”.