[These
reflections are rooted in an excellent article entitled, “Baptism in the Holy
Spirit, Initial Evidence, and a New Model,” by Dr. Gordon Anderson, President
of North Central University, Paraclete, Fall, 1993]
As
the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts
concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all,
saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the
strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and fire … What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will
instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a
scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those
who ask him!” (Luke 3:15-16; 11:11-13 ESV)
The first
three books of the New Testament are known as the Synoptic Gospels. Synoptic means the narratives of the
life and times of Jesus agree frequently in subject, order and language. Mark
may have been written first and served as an outline for Matthew and Luke.
Matthew was written for Jewish believers,
showing Jesus as the genuine Messiah.
Mark was written to a Roman audience, preparing
the church for suffering. Peter was the primary source of information. Jesus is
seen as the suffering Servant.
Luke was the truest historian having an
eye for detail, extensively interviewing key witnesses and thoroughly investigating
everything. He wrote to a Greek believer, revealing Jesus as the perfect Man.
Both
Matthew and Luke record Jesus saying, “If we, being evil, know how to give good
gifts to our children, how much more will our Father in heaven give…,” but here
the two writers part company. Matthew records “good gifts,” while Luke records
“the Holy Spirit.” Combining the two, “good gifts” are found in the fullness of
“the Holy Spirit.” Matthew and Luke both reveal the Blessing comes to disciples
who ask.
When a
person places faith in God, the convert receives the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit, the breath of life. The Spirit guides the follower of Jesus to behold
the glory of the Father and reflect the image of Christ. The nine graces in the
fruit of the Spirit grow and Jesus is naturally
seen in their life. The focus of Spirit fruit
is strength of character.
Another
experience with the Holy Spirit comes to believers who ask – an additional work of grace in which Christ
is supernaturally witnessed. The
focus of Spirit gifts is power of Presence.
For a
person to complete their representation of Christ, their testimony of Jesus to
the world, both the natural and supernatural dimensions of His nature
must be seen.
A core
value of the Church is that “all believers are entitled to, should ardently
expect, and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy
Spirit and fire, according to the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was
the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With it comes the
enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their
uses in the work of the ministry. This experience is distinct from and
subsequent to the experience of the new birth. With the baptism in the Holy
Spirit come such experiences as an overflowing
fullness of the Spirit, a deepened
reverence for God, an intensified
consecration to God and dedication to His work, and a more active love for Christ, for His Word, and for the lost.” (Statement
of Fundamentals of the Assemblies of God) The day of Pentecost is about
experiencing the fullness of God’s presence.
Pentecostals
and Evangelicals are not fundamentally the same. The fervent desire of Evangelicalism
is reformation, established by study
of Scripture. The enthusiastic passion of Pentecostalism is transformation, consummated by regularly
yielding to the fullness of the Spirit.
An emphasis
on a cognitive knowledge of God is
based on reformation. Yet an emphasis on an experiential
knowledge of God is based on transformation. Combining experiential to
cognitive creates a holistic consciousness of God.
Spirit-filled
believers recognize Bible study as one of several activities helping to develop
a meaningful relationship with God. Scripture declares believers are not to be
conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans
12:1). Transformation is primarily accomplished by yielding to the Holy Spirit.
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
Nine components of life and ministry
Every person needs nine spiritual activities for purpose
and fulfillment. Growing eternally is uniquely achieved through these various
expressions of faith.
Following Jesus: Receiving forgiveness of sin and being adopted into God’s
family. Becoming spiritually alive and gaining
the potential for eternal growth and development. Enjoying fellowship with God and experiencing His many
blessings.
Water baptism: The act of experiencing death to pride and the
resurrection of humility; a visual testimony of the crucified life.
Scripture: Receiving divine direction, confidence, and encouragement.
Prayer and Fasting: Gaining strength, power, and discipline, resulting in an overcoming life.
Holiness: The progressive activity of getting rid of sinful
impurities, occurring throughout a lifetime.
Community: Receiving correction, comfort, rebuke, and relief to
successfully live a Jesus kind of life, along with opportunities to help
others.
Suffering: Divinely orchestrated situations producing character and
perseverance.
Ministry: God called assignments bringing fulfillment to the
Heavenly mission.
Baptism in the
Holy Spirit: An experience subsequent to
salvation providing more power for
service, more miraculous
manifestations, and other added
dimensions of dedication. Also involved is an ability to have communication
with God my means of a heavenly prayer language, as well as increased passion and a greater sense of urgency.
Sacred events have significance in the
wellbeing of a follower of Jesus. These nine are vital for spiritual advancement.
The baptism in the
Holy Spirit
Many dedicated followers of Christ not claiming
the baptism in the Holy Spirit are accomplishing wonderful things for the
Heavenly Father. They are gaining
a meaningful ministry by virtue of Bible knowledge, or a well-developed prayer
life, or suffering. How much more could these individuals accomplish
if they experienced all the provisions for fulfilling the mission of the church?
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the gift of
more. The experience is about additional power and ability for witnessing
greater accomplishments, a second Blessing.
Followers of Jesus reaping this
supernatural expression should give careful attention to all the components of
spiritual life, while those denying the manifestation would benefit greatly by
giving vigilant consideration to the Blessing.
This immersing experience of God, subsequent
to salvation, provides increased
power for life and ministry, characterized by a deep sense of divine presence.
A profound feeling of mystery and emotion is often involved, establishing
supernatural communication with God in a language not learned or understood.
Speaking in tongues is beneficial in
relationship with all the dimensions of eternal living. What actually happens
when speaking in tongues? The believer
enters edifying communication with God in a different mode, talking heart to heart rather than head to head.
In search for approval from the broader faith
community are Spirit-filled believers losing the very thing that makes them
effective, the passionate approach to life and service? God provides liberty in
the Holy Spirit. Included in this freedom is an escape from cognitive to
super-rational conversing with God.
For advancing the Great Commission believers should
seek the Blessing that makes for dynamic accomplishments, the baptism in the
Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ earthly ministry
was saturated with the Spirit
Jesus was conceived by the Holy
Spirit and born of the maiden Mary. From this miraculous conception He was holy
and free from the taint of sin.
Jesus experienced the Holy Spirit
coming upon Him when baptized in water, visually anointed and fully equipped to
give an accurate revelation of God.
Jesus was full of and led by the Spirit
when tempted by Satan in the wilderness, gaining a greater ability to resist.
The older covenant prophesied the Messiah
would be empowered by the Spirit. “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon
me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has
sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and
the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the
LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to
grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of
ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead
of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting
of the LORD, that he may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3) After reading a portion of this passage at his hometown synagogue Jesus
stated, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:18-21)
Jesus relied on the Spirit while performing
His ministry. He said, “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons,
then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matthew 12:28) “And Jesus returned
in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through
all the surrounding country.” (Luke 4:14)
Jesus was raised from the grave through the Spirit’s power
as the vindicated Son of God.
Jesus ascended into heaven and in His exalted position received
the Holy Spirit from the Father, pouring the Spirit out on His disciples during
the Festival of Ingathering.
Today, the Holy Spirit takes that which is of Christ and makes
it known to His followers, disclosing His mercy, victory, healing, and imminent
return.
Becoming
like Jesus involves experiencing a full and powerful
relationship with the Holy Spirit.
More
To be all you can be in Christ, ask for the Holy Spirit baptism. “For
all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him
that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” (2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV)
Every
promise is yes. Have you appropriated
all His promises? Are you able to respond “Amen” to the infilling of the Spirit?
Peter
declared, “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are
far off [every generation]….” (Acts
2:39 ESV) Experience the Blessing! Be full of the Holy Spirit.
No comments:
Post a Comment