Soaked & Smoking

May 24, 2026    Rev. Kevin C. Benton

This fire-filled message challenges us to move beyond simply being forgiven believers to becoming fire-baptized witnesses. Drawing from Matthew 3:11 and Acts 2, we discover that God doesn't just want clean temples—He wants filled, overflowing, on-fire temples. The baptism in the Holy Spirit isn't just about speaking in tongues; it's about being so saturated with God's presence that we become mobile upper rooms, carrying Pentecost wherever we go. The message distinguishes between the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at salvation (when the Spirit moves in) and the baptism in the Holy Spirit (when the Spirit takes over the whole house). Fire purifies, burning away the junk in our lives. Fire ignites our passion, boldness, and spiritual gifts. Fire spreads, touching everyone around us. We're reminded that those 120 believers in the upper room didn't just receive a sprinkle or a touch—they were saturated to overflowing. They went from hiding in fear to boldly witnessing in public, with Peter preaching one message that led 3,000 people to salvation. The evidence of true Spirit baptism shows up not just in supernatural manifestations, but in our boldness, power, fruit, and harvest. We're called to stop trying to fight spiritual battles in natural strength and instead tap into the supernatural power available through the Holy Spirit.