My First Baptism Experience
In April 2006, my friend David took me to his church, a Pentecostal church. It was on that night (April 14, 2006), I got baptized in the name of Jesus. Actually, the night before that, I asked him to go to a night club or to go to a bar with me for I needed a friend to have a drink with because I just got my heart “broken” badly from a bad romance, a failed love promise. In fact, I was so heart-broken that I even wanted to commit suicide a couple of nights before that. For I didn’t know how to deal with my stress and my trauma better other than seeking earthly means to seek temporary comfort. But David recommended me to go to his church with him for he told me that he had tried all the means like alcohol, drugs, sex, etc. to fix his life problems before, but it didn’t work at all, for next day after all the indulgence, there was still emptiness inside. I understand now that those empty places in our hearts can only be filled by 
/
/ 
(YHWH) (commonly pronounced as “Yahuwah/Yahuah/Yehovah/Yahuweh/Yahweh”) Elohim/G-d, the Most High. Drugs or alcohol or any other temporary pleasure or things in the world including money, wealth, jobs, material possessions, personal achievements, success, our lovers, spouses, and even our children can never fill the void places in our hearts. Nothing and No One but Elohim, our Creator can fill our void hearts with everlasting joy and peace! He is the Only Elohim, Healer and Savior! He is Life! HalleluYah!
I didn’t have anyone to go out with me that night, and I didn’t like going out alone. On the other hand, David’s advice seemed quite wise, therefore I decided to go with him to his church. We went to his church that night. It was a Good Friday night just before Easter Sunday. As soon as I entered the church, I felt the peaceful energy in the atmosphere. Yes, I felt great presence of peace and purity there. At that night, I had strong desire to be washed clean. Therefore, when the preacher made an altar call, asking who would like to get baptized, I raised my hands without any hesitation. Because I wanted to be washed clean, for I knew that I was a terrible sinner, and I sure needed forgiveness. And I wanted to go to heaven after I leave this world, so I decided to get baptized to get washed clean to start a new life!
At that time, I believed that baptism would save me from going to hell and so I got a ticket to heaven through my baptism. Now I know that baptism means so much more than that. It means that one was baptized into a discipleship – a taught one of 
/
/ 
/ 
/ 
(commonly pronounced as “Yahushua/Y’shua/Yeshua/Jesus”) the Messiah, and a 100% believer and follower of Messiah 
. Without believing in Messiah 
, the son of Elohim, without having faith in Him, without His grace/favor, one cannot be saved, as it is written “For by favor you have been saved through belief, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of Elohim, it is not by works, so that no one should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, Halleluyah Scriptures, HS)
According to the Scripture/Bible, Baptism is necessary, but the pre-step of that is belief/faith in Messiah 
, and repentance, which means sincere regret and remorse of one’s sins that he or she makes decision to turn away from sins and to be committed to live for Elohim – to think, say and do things according to Elohim’s commands and to do His will. Without faith and repentance, baptism is in vain.
Before baptism, one is a sinner, but through the baptism in the name of Messiah , one’s sins are forgiven. For one’s baptism is that one is being baptized into 
the Messiah’s death and one was buried with the Messiah through the baptism, so after baptism, one came out of the water, which symbolizes the renewed one rose up with the Messiah from the dead and became a adopted child of Elohim and will enjoy the everlasting life with Elohim and 
the Messiah and to be with Him forever! HalleluYah!
I didn’t know what repentance meant then, but what I did know that I wanted to be washed clean and I wanted to be born again to have a brand-new life. And I did believe in Messiah . I did believe that I would be given everlasting life through Messiah and all my sins would be forgiven through His precious blood. I did feel remorse for the wrongs, the sins I had committed before in my life and didn’t want to live that way anymore or else I would not have wanted to be washed clean. Therefore, I did repent in my heart before I got baptized that night. Therefore, my baptism that night was not in vain. Praise Elohim and Master !
Here I have to mention that my baptism experience at that night did change my life. Immediately after my baptism, I felt all my burden inside lifted up from me. I felt light. I stopped crying, and I saw light and hope in my life. I didn’t have suicidal feeling and thoughts anymore. Instead, I found peace, the indescribable peace inside of me. I really found rest for my soul. It was really like what Messiah said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) Wow, the Scripture is so True!
The change did happen instantly. That night, right after my baptism, I felt I have become a stronger person with so much inner strength. I even thought my suicidal thoughts prior to my baptism was really foolish.
My First Dream Revelation
3 days after I got baptized, I dreamed of a big golden stake (cross) and a golden phoenix was on the left shoulder (the left beam) of the Stake. I woke up feeling so happy and so special and important to Elohim. (Because “Phoenix” is my English name and the true main meaning of my Chinese name). I didn’t really understand the full meaning of this dream revelation. But I did believe I’m important to Elohim. Or else He wouldn’t have put me on the Left side of the Golden Cross. Really from that day when I got my first baptism, I started to have a drive to become Elohim ’s servant, producing spiritual fruits for His Kingdom! (For more dream revelations, Click Here)
My Life After My First Baptism – Water and Holy Spirit Baptism
After my baptism, even though I didn’t have much knowledge of the bible, I did have awareness of sins more than before and also had a drive to go to Bible College one day and to work for Elohim, and I believe I received Holy Spirit/Ruach ha’Qodesh at that night when I got baptized in the church. For it is written ““Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” (Acts 2:38 b, NKJV) I greatly thank Elohim for giving me His Ruach ha’Qdosh! HalleluYah!
After my baptism, I didn’t go to church every Sunday, and I didn’t read Bible either. From 2006 – Summer 2010, I only went to church 10-20 times. The main reason was that I was busy with the worldly affairs, didn’t make myself available to connect to Elohim and Master .
I love knowledge and wisdom. I used to love the world knowledge. I did well in almost whatever I learned. But unfortunately, in the busy cities where I lived my life mainly, I never made time for Elohim and His Word. His word is real wisdom above all human wisdom. True wisdom is from Elohim. But I had missed that. How I wished I had a friend at that time, who would come to my life to guide me to build an intimate relationship with Elohim and Master , and teach me His Word, but I found no one except my assistant pastor who came to my apartment giving me a couple of Bible lessons, but I stopped that for I did not have interest in that because at that time I was so engaged in the worldly affairs of this life, and I did not have the love for the Word. But deeper in my soul, I was desperately looking for relationship with Elohim but I didn’t know how. How I wished someone would have led me into a personal intimate relationship with Elohim earlier. I wasted so many years wondering like a lost sheep without a shepherd. I was seeking a relationship with Elohim since I was a child. It was a relationship, not a religion that I sought.
At that time I believed that Elohim was only related to me after my earthly journey ended and Elohim had nothing to do with me in this life other than giving me salvation ticket. Since I had got my salvation ticket, I believed I was safe. But now I know that this thought is totally wrong. Now I realize that Elohim has everything to do with me, not only this life, but everlasting. He is Love, and He is life. He is all in all! Messiah came to the earth to bring us a relationship for He is the mediator who has reconciled us to Elohim our Father in the heavens/shamayim, the Creator/Maker of the shamayim and the earth, the Creator of all things. He came with a government on His shoulder; He brought the Kingdom of Heaven to us – righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit/Ruach ha’Qodesh.
At that time, unfortunately, I didn’t know what I have known now and I was very ignorant spiritually. I then believed that I was still a sinner after my baptism and I didn’t live a righteous life, so I felt guilty to go to church. I thought I would go to church after I totally live my life pleasing to Elohim. I also didn’t read and study the Bible, and I didn’t spend time with Elohim and Master either so I didn’t know Elohim and Master – I didn’t have relationship with Him. Though often then I told Elohim that I would make time for Him and to study the Bible in the future when I had time. I was very sincere in making that promise to Elohim.
Though I didn’t often go to church in those days, whenever I went, I was always sincere. I always went to the altar after the pastor made an altar call, and always made sure to kneel down before the Most High to pray for help and deliverance. My pastor and many other pastors laid hands on me and my son every time we went there. Yes, I forgot to mention that I also took my son to that church and made sure to set a good example for him so we both went to the altar to kneel down to pray at the end of the service. My son also got baptized in winter 2006 in that church. Praise Elohim for His everlasting love and mercy for my son and me!
Between 2006-2010, I did take a few people to go to that church, and they were all got baptized in the name of Jesus. The reason I took them there was that I wanted them to experience the goodness of Elohim that I have experienced. As I said earlier that I had a drive to work for Elohim right after I got baptized. This drive first demonstrated by me suggesting and taking people to the church to get baptized including my son first of course. Even though I was ignorant of spiritual matters and the Word of Elohim, Elohim was very patient with me. He had been always with me, guiding me through His Qodesh Ruach/Holy Spirit, even though I didn’t realize that then! Praise Elohim! HalleluYah!
—- — To Be Continued in Part 3 —-
— Click Here to go back to Part 1
“ 
said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6, The Scriptures, ISR)
“Y’shua said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except by Me.” (John 14:6, Aramaic English New Testament)
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10, NKJV)
“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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 6:3-6, NKJV)
“Or do you not know that as many of us as were immersed into Messiah were immersed into His death? We were buried with Him through immersion into death, that as Messiah was raised from the dead by the esteem of the Father, so also we should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-6, The Scriptures, ISR)
“For by favor you have been saved through belief, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of Elohim, it is not by works, so that no one should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, Scriptures, HS)
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16, NKJV)
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7, NKJV)
“
answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he is unable to enter into the reign of Elohim.” (John 3:5, The Scriptures, ISR)
“Y’shua said to him, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father except by me. (Yochanan/John 14:6, Aramaic English New Testament, AENT)
“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38, NKJV)
“And Kepha said to them, “Repent, and let each one of you be immersed in the Name of Messiah for the forgiveness of sin. And you shall receive the gift of the Set-apart Spirit. (Acts 2:38, The Scriptures, ISR)
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Y’shua haMashiach for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Ruach haKodesh.” (The Complete Messianic Aleph Tav Scriptures, William H. Sanford)
“Shimon said to them, “Repent, and be immersed each of you in the name of Master YHWH-Y’shua for the forgiveness of sins, that you may receive the gift of the Ruach haKodesh.” (Acts 2:38, Aramaic English New Testament 2012, AENT)
(Acts 2:38, Picture Above Exempt from Aramaic English New Testament)
“And when they heard these things, they were immersed in the name of our Master Y’shua Mashiyach.” (Acts 19:5, Aramaic English New Testament, AENT)
“And he commanded them to be immersed in the Name of Messiah. Then they asked him to remain a few days. (Acts 10:48, The Scriptures, ISR)
“Then he commanded them to be immersed in the name of our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach.. And they beseeched (from) him so as to stay with them (a few) days. (Acts 10:48, Aramaic English New Testament, AENT)
“But these are written, that you might believe that Y’shua is haMashiach, the Son of Elohim; and that, believing, you might have life in his name.” (John/Yochanan 20:31, The Complete Messianic Alefph Tav Scriptures)
(Picture Exempt from Romans 6:22-23, Aramaic English New Testament)
“And this is life eternal that they might know You the only true Elohim, and Y’shua haMashiach, whom You have sent.” (Yochanan/John 17:3, The Complete Messianic Aleph Tav Scriptures)
(Picture Above Exempt from Yochanan/John 17:3, Aramaic English New Testament)
Notes and Bibliography
The Scripture verses in this article are from the following:
- HalleluYah Scriptures (HS)
- The Scriptures, ISR
- The Complete Messianic Aleph Tav Scriptures, William H. Sanford
- Aramaic English New Testament (AENT)
- New King James Version (NKJV)
- The Interlinear Bible Hebrew English by Jay P. Green, Sr.
Hebrew Fonts Resources: www.ancient-hebrew.org
