I am certain That Mitt Romney has a belief in his Mormon faith that is deeply held and sincere. It, his faith, is a mark of his character which I applaud and respect.
It appears to me that he, through his faith holds to ideals of peace, love and humanity. Indeed, I have never met a person of the Mormon faith whom I did not find anything but pleasant, especially at a number of inter-faith meetings I have attended at the Church of Latter Day Saints temples from time to time.
For me however, when it comes to choosing which candidate to vote for, especially for the highest office in the land, I am unable to separate the person from their religion when that religion is Mormonism.
I can appreciate that most, if not all religions have a degree of the fantastic about them. Much of this is clearly set out to illustrate moral precepts or is, frankly, propaganda directed at perceived enemies. However, nothing I can see in the Judeo-Christian Muslim context is divorced from historic, anthropological and archaeological reality.
Taking an undisputed source, The Book of Mormon itself we find in the introduction what is set out to be the historical setting of Mormonism. In summary the introduction advises, inter-alia, that " A glorified, resurrected being, Moroni," showed to Joseph smith in 1823 some golden plates upon which Moroni's father Mormon had inscribed the history of an ancient civilization in America and the visit of Jesus Christ to that civilization.
Again in brief " Two great civilizations came from Jerusalem ( to America) in 600 BC" namely the Nephrites and the Laminites the latter being the "Ancestors of the American Indians".There was apparently an older civilization the Jaredites which preceded them after "God confounded the languages at the Tower of Babel."
Now it is indisputable there there is not a single shred of archaeological evidence of any pre-Native American ("American Indian" ) civilization, especially one of the purported size and sophistication set out in the Book of Mormon. Not a building, boat or artifact, not a domestic utensil, article of jewelry or clothing, or grave, in fact, nothing at all.
The ancestors of the "American Indians" did not come from the Middle East, they are indisputably of Asian origin having crossed the ancient land bridge from Siberia.The idea that the language (or rather multiplicity of languages) of Native Americans' was "confounded in Babylonia" is ridiculous and is not of course supported by any regarded ethnologist.We are clearly dealing not with fable or even fantasy but with a romance.
Again, there is a lot to challenge in the history of the Christian religion but nothing on the level of the entire religion being divorced from any sort of reality grounded in time and place.
I appreciate that people of faith can compartmentalize their life views.World famous scientists can view their work in the strictest of rationality whilst being sincere Christians which religious dogmas they understand they adhere to as a matter of faith divorced from the mindset they use in their occupation.
However, as much as I respect this attitude (which I hold to myself) there is a point at which I have to question the mindset of those who have, as I see it, stretched the faith/rationality dichotomy beyond its limits.
Thus for Romney to hold,as I am sure he sincerely does, to the purported historic roots of the Mormon faith
shows that, to me at least, he has thought processes that are a significant aspect of his personality that are questionable in respect of wider views he might hold now or in the future.
These include concepts which, again to me, are are totally divorced from reality.I would not look to a candidate for president to have,again as a major aspect of his very being, this sort of mindset.Simply put, if non-rationality at this core level can be accepted and acted on then what other non-rationality can also be accepted and acted on?
It may be said that Palin might hold to a fundamentalist belief which may or may not consider e.g. evolution to be totally true and which might take the old testament to be literally correct.However those views, even if held, are well within the mainstream of acceptable religiosity and have been held by world leaders throughout the ages.I would be sure the majority of voters would be comfortable electing a person to high office who subscribed to them.
It might also be stated that the same objections to Romney/Mormonism was made in respect of John F. Kennedy (and Alfred E. Smith before him) which objections have proven to be unfounded. However, the objections to Roman Catholicism was predicated on the belief that the Pope would be put in a position of having undue influence on American politics through the mechanism of a Catholic president-not primarily to the basic beliefs of the religion itself.
Whether the majority of voters would be comfortable in voting into the White House a person who held to the Mormon faith is a matter of conjecture but for me it is a settled issue.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The View From New York-Is This The Economy The Left Defends Against Palin?
At the end of the day a presidency must be judged,except in war time, on how the economy is doing, i.e. how many people are in work.The (true) unemployment rate is the key.It is the factor which governs the day to day life of the average American-their "happiness" index whether measured in standard of living, their children's ability to get good schooling, their access to amenities their ability to pay their mortgage or rent-in other words the foundation of a decent life.
A sixteen percent unemployment rate-the highest since 1982-which shows no sign of dropping anytime in the near future-is a sign of unmitigated failure. The Gulf oil spill,the health care situation, immigration are all important but they don't impact the entire country to the level that the unemployment rate does.They can be argued about, fixed, changed but for the most part children don't go to bed hungry because of them, marriages don't break up, families don't walk away from their homes because of them.
16% is a number-it is a sad reality to see this in human terms, to walk around towns like New Rochelle and Larchmont as I have been doing and to see empty shop after empty shop, to see shops open and then close in quick succession. These were prosperous commuter belt towns but the decline is palpable.I have only see the normally unflappable New Yorkers in such a quiet mood and that was in the year after 9/11.There is no overt anger, rather a somberness which, in what is usually a sea of positivity, is striking.
The few Obama stickers in the train station car parks are fading to match his poll ratings.This bastion of liberalism is fast learning that statism is not the solution no matter how fancily dressed up it was presented in 2008.The liberal left, so typified by the East Coast elite still struggle to defend this administration and ridicule Palin-even if they never accept the clear facts that their path is the wrong one. Frankly, their electoral votes are not needed.Hopefully however a future Republican led economy will open their eyes-lets hope that not too many more are tossed on the scrap heap in the interim.
A sixteen percent unemployment rate-the highest since 1982-which shows no sign of dropping anytime in the near future-is a sign of unmitigated failure. The Gulf oil spill,the health care situation, immigration are all important but they don't impact the entire country to the level that the unemployment rate does.They can be argued about, fixed, changed but for the most part children don't go to bed hungry because of them, marriages don't break up, families don't walk away from their homes because of them.
16% is a number-it is a sad reality to see this in human terms, to walk around towns like New Rochelle and Larchmont as I have been doing and to see empty shop after empty shop, to see shops open and then close in quick succession. These were prosperous commuter belt towns but the decline is palpable.I have only see the normally unflappable New Yorkers in such a quiet mood and that was in the year after 9/11.There is no overt anger, rather a somberness which, in what is usually a sea of positivity, is striking.
The few Obama stickers in the train station car parks are fading to match his poll ratings.This bastion of liberalism is fast learning that statism is not the solution no matter how fancily dressed up it was presented in 2008.The liberal left, so typified by the East Coast elite still struggle to defend this administration and ridicule Palin-even if they never accept the clear facts that their path is the wrong one. Frankly, their electoral votes are not needed.Hopefully however a future Republican led economy will open their eyes-lets hope that not too many more are tossed on the scrap heap in the interim.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Obama Is The Antithesis Of Palin-How's That working Out For Ya ?
The Left/MSM continue on their merry way denigrating, ridiculing and dismissing Palin. Her myriad of faults, according to them, include being-actually I'll have a go at putting the most common in one sentence-here goes. "Palin is a dumb, grifter who speaks in an incomprehensible word salad in a horrible voice, she is a quitter, causes divisions in society and doesn't have a clue about policy, especially about energy which she pretended to have some expertise about-not only that, she is badly educated going to five universities to get a nothing degree".
On the other hand Obama is "highly educated an illustrious Harvard grad,a gifted orator and has a tremendous grasp of policy, a proponent of change and a unifier".
Well if Obama's qualities as a person are so grand, if his grasp of policy has so much depth, if he is a unifier of the nation-basically everything that Palin is supposed not to be then, please explain, MSM/leftists,why has his poll rating dropped from 69% to 42%? Which must be the most precipitate drop in presidential polling history over the same time frame. If everything he is and represents is so much better than what Palin is and represents then why is the country turning against him-including the leftist pundits.
The answer is what many said was the case in the election period in 2008. Obama is an empty suit, a person with limited experience, especially as an executive and is over his head "not in the right pay grade" to answer the questions of governing.The country, receptive, because of the anti-Bush feeling at the time, to a press that created a myth was sold a bill of goods which is turning out to be very pricey for a fault item.
The time is coming when the great mass of the public will take a second look at the genuine qualities that Palin represents (if not Palin herself) and will see the real depth and value in dedication to sound money, life, low taxes, prosperity through encouraging small business to grow and employ, sensible energy policy and people who speak the truth. Let the left rail against Palin as a cover up for their frustration at their fallen idol-their day is done,they have had their chance through two election cycles and have blown it-time for them to get out of the way and let true American values reassert themselves.
On the other hand Obama is "highly educated an illustrious Harvard grad,a gifted orator and has a tremendous grasp of policy, a proponent of change and a unifier".
Well if Obama's qualities as a person are so grand, if his grasp of policy has so much depth, if he is a unifier of the nation-basically everything that Palin is supposed not to be then, please explain, MSM/leftists,why has his poll rating dropped from 69% to 42%? Which must be the most precipitate drop in presidential polling history over the same time frame. If everything he is and represents is so much better than what Palin is and represents then why is the country turning against him-including the leftist pundits.
The answer is what many said was the case in the election period in 2008. Obama is an empty suit, a person with limited experience, especially as an executive and is over his head "not in the right pay grade" to answer the questions of governing.The country, receptive, because of the anti-Bush feeling at the time, to a press that created a myth was sold a bill of goods which is turning out to be very pricey for a fault item.
The time is coming when the great mass of the public will take a second look at the genuine qualities that Palin represents (if not Palin herself) and will see the real depth and value in dedication to sound money, life, low taxes, prosperity through encouraging small business to grow and employ, sensible energy policy and people who speak the truth. Let the left rail against Palin as a cover up for their frustration at their fallen idol-their day is done,they have had their chance through two election cycles and have blown it-time for them to get out of the way and let true American values reassert themselves.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Palin's Team Follows My Advice on European Tour-Letterman Show Should Be Next
I advised in March that the next positive step for Sarah Palin, which would be a major assistance in building up her credentials for a 2012 presidential run, would be to do a world tour. I wrote inter alia (advising the need for her to get a foreign policy profile-the perceived lack of which is a point of attack against her at the moment)
"What would, I suggest, be helpful in filling this gap in her CV and removing one further impediment/MSM attack point, would be to arrange for a "grand tour" of the major European capitals in the not too distant future. There is a good base for this as Palin met with a number of world leaders at the U.N. during the 2008 campaign and some sort of follow up structure in Europe might be put in place. I have no doubt she would be received by huge crowds wherever she went and world leaders (Berlusconi particularly one would imagine) would no doubt appreciate the photo op."
It appears that the first leg of such a tour is being mooted by the Palin camp with the U.K. and Margaret Thatcher as the first "photo op". This works on so many levels-the strong woman, the Reagan connection, the principled conservatism of Thatcher and the association with a cultural icon with gravitas. This should however just be the first leg of a much longer tour taking in as many major capitals and seeing as many world leaders as possible.
Once this has been undertaken the next step should be, as I suggested back in January, an appearance on the Letterman show. This has so much potential, it keeps her profile up and shows magnanimity on her part and would blunt his criticism of her by him in later days. What I wrote then is even more valid now;
"I believe Palin has everything to gain from going on his show, if indeed Letterman has undertaken a new and balanced approach to her. It would show a magnanimous (and Christian) spirit on her part, a willingness to forgive and forget and to move on in the light of a sincere apology. It would attract, certainly, one of the largest television audiences of all time if promoted properly on both sides. That it would boost Letterman's ratings, which was, rightly of course, last year a concern to Palin, would not matter in the spirit of reconciliation."
"What would, I suggest, be helpful in filling this gap in her CV and removing one further impediment/MSM attack point, would be to arrange for a "grand tour" of the major European capitals in the not too distant future. There is a good base for this as Palin met with a number of world leaders at the U.N. during the 2008 campaign and some sort of follow up structure in Europe might be put in place. I have no doubt she would be received by huge crowds wherever she went and world leaders (Berlusconi particularly one would imagine) would no doubt appreciate the photo op."
It appears that the first leg of such a tour is being mooted by the Palin camp with the U.K. and Margaret Thatcher as the first "photo op". This works on so many levels-the strong woman, the Reagan connection, the principled conservatism of Thatcher and the association with a cultural icon with gravitas. This should however just be the first leg of a much longer tour taking in as many major capitals and seeing as many world leaders as possible.
Once this has been undertaken the next step should be, as I suggested back in January, an appearance on the Letterman show. This has so much potential, it keeps her profile up and shows magnanimity on her part and would blunt his criticism of her by him in later days. What I wrote then is even more valid now;
"I believe Palin has everything to gain from going on his show, if indeed Letterman has undertaken a new and balanced approach to her. It would show a magnanimous (and Christian) spirit on her part, a willingness to forgive and forget and to move on in the light of a sincere apology. It would attract, certainly, one of the largest television audiences of all time if promoted properly on both sides. That it would boost Letterman's ratings, which was, rightly of course, last year a concern to Palin, would not matter in the spirit of reconciliation."
Monday, June 14, 2010
Thoughts On Baptism In The Spirit
As part of a series of occasional wanderings from things political into things metaphysical here is an exposition on the workings of the Holy Spirit. This a an amalgam of various postings and my own commentary as my knowledge is far to poor to have made such a deep analysis with so many insights.The compilation speaks to me of my own experience and hopefully it is inspiring to others.
BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT
IT IS CONSIDERED ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT BY THE FACT THEY ARE BAPTISED WITH WATER AND LIVING IN A STATE OF GRACE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE ACCEPTED JESUS AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOUR.
THIS POSITION IS, HOWEVER, ONE THAT MIXES THREE SEPARATE SPIRITUAL STATES; FIRSTLY) THAT OF A BAPTISED CHRISTIAN IN THE STATE OF GRACE (WHO IS SACRAMENTALLY A CHRISTIAN “BAPTISED INTO CHRIST”) (1)Gal.3:27
SECONDLY) THAT OF A CHRISTIAN WHO IS “BORN AGAIN” (REGENERATED). THAT IS, A CHRISTIAN WHO HAS UNDERGONE A KIND OF “CONVERSION” WHICH INVOLVES A KNOWLEDGE OF AND COMMITMENT TO JESUS AS ONE’S LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOUR (2) Gal.2:20
AND…. THIRDLY) THAT OF A CHARISMATIC CHRISTIAN WHO HAS RECEIVED THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT AS AN EXPERIENCE SEPARATE FROM, USUALLY SUBSEQUENT TO, A “CONVERSION” EXPERIENCE (3)Titus.3:4-5
THE PENTECOST EXPERIENCE OF BECOMING CHARISMATIC BY BEING “BAPTISED IN THE SPIRIT” (4) Acts.1:5 IS SOMETHING CLEARLY DISTINCT FROM, AND BEYOND, THE EXPERIENCE OF BECOMING A CHRISTIAN BY BEING “BAPTISED INTO CHRIST” (5) Rom.6:3 BY WATER.THE TWO BAPTISMS HAVE TOTALLY DIFFERENT PURPOSES.
WATER BAPTISM MAKES ONE A CHILD OF GOD IN A SPECIAL WAY, GRAFTING ONE INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST (6 Gal.3:27/7 Rom.6:3 WHILE SPIRIT BAPTISM GIVES ONE CHARISMATIC POWER TO BE AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS OR EVANGELIZER IN BUILDING THE KINGDOM (8 Acts.1:8-9 9 Luke.24:48-49).
THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN VARIOUS BAPTISMS IS SCRIPTURAL (10 Heb.6:2)
All FOUR GOSPELS QUOTE JOHN THE BAPTIST EMPHASISING THAT DISTINCTION “I BAPTISE YOU WITH WATER, BUT HE WILL BAPTISE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT” (11 Mat.3:21/12 Mark.1:8/13 Luke 3:16/14 John.1:33)
JESUS ALSO MAKES THE DISTINCTION IN A PRE-PENTECOST DISCOURSE WITH HIS DISCIPLES IN JOHN (15 14:17,) BY USING TWO DIFFERENT PREPOSITIONS; ‘WITH’ AND ‘IN’; ‘THE SPIRIT…LIVES WITH YOU (NOW) AND WILL BE IN YOU (LATER)” JESUS THUS CLEARLY DISTINGUISHED BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF INTIMACY BY WHICH THE SPIRIT CAN RELATE TO AN INDIVIDUAL.
THE BAPTISMS MENTIONED IN HEBREWS (16 6:2 ) WERE REFERRED TO BY JESUS AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS PUBLIC LIFE; IN JOHN (17 3;5 ) HE TELLS NICODEMUS THAT A PERSON MUST BE ‘BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT.’THEN, AT THE VERY END OF HIS EARTHLY EXISTENCE, JUST BEFORE HIS ASCENSION, HE AGAIN DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN THE TWO BAPTISMS “JOHN BAPTISED WITH WATER, BUT IN A “FEW DAYS” YOU WILL BE BAPTISED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT’ (18 Acts.1:5)
THE DISCIPLES WERE ALREADY CHRISTIANS, OF COURSE, AS SHOWN BY THE FACT THAT THEY HAD ALREADY RECEIVED SPIRITUAL LIFE FOR HAVING ‘HEARD HIS WORD AND BELIEVED IN THE ONE WHO SENT HIM”(19 John.5:24). JESUS HAD ASSURED THEM THEIR ‘NAMES WERE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN“(20 Luke.10:20).
FURTHERMORE, THE RESURRECTED JESUS HAD BREATHED UPON THEM, EVEN IMPARTING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ACTIVATE A MINISTERIAL GIFT OF FORGIVING SINS (21 John.20:22-23). YET HE TOLD THEM TO PRAY FOR (22 Luke.11:13) AND TO WAIT FOR (23 Luke.24:49/ 24 Acts.1:4) A SUBSEQUENT (AND THEREFORE SEPARATE) GRACE OF THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT A “FEW DAYS “ AFTER HIS ASCENSION (25 Acts.1:5) –CLEARLY AN ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE BEYOND THE CHRISTIANITY THEY HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING.
AN EXAMPLE IS SEEN IN 26 ACTS.19:2 PAUL FOUND TWELVE DISCIPLES AT EPHESUS WHO WERE BELIEVERS AND ASKED THEM “DID YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN (OR AFTER) YOU BELIEVED?”
WHEN THEY ANSWERED IN THE NEGATIVE, PAUL BAPTISED THEM. THEN , “WHEN PAUL PLACED HIS HANDS ON THEM, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME UPON THEM AND THEY SPOKE IN TONGUES AND PROPHESISED” (27 Acts.19:6).IF BELIEVING OR BEING CONVERTED CARRIED WITH IT THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT, THEN PAUL’S QUESTION WOULD HAVE BEEN MEANINGLESS.
THE EPHESIANS’ BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS SUBSEQUENT TO (AND THEREFORE DISTINCT FROM) THEIR BELIEF IN CHRIST AND ALSO DISTINCT FROM THEIR WATER BAPTISM. WHILE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT IS ALWAYS DISTINCT FROM THE CONVERSION EXPERIENCE, IT NEED NOT NECESSARILY BE SUBSEQUENT TO IT, AS THE CASE OF CORNELIUS’ HOUSEHOLD, ALL OF WHOM RECEIVED THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT BEFORE THEY WERE BAPTISED IN WATER.(28 Acts 10:44-48 ).
IN RECOUNTING THIS EPISODE AT THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM (29 ACTS 15;7-9) PETER REFERRED TO TWO SEPARATE ACTS: PURIFYING THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH (CONVERSION) AND RECEIVING THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. PETER CLEARLY IDENTIFIES THE EXPERIENCE OF CORNELIUS’ HOUSEHOLDWITH THAT OF THE DISCIPLES ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST(30 ACTS.11:15-17;15:8)TO ILLUSTRATE: COMMON TERMS SUCH AS “BAPTISED IN/WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT” “POURED OUT” AND “GIFT” APPEAR IN BOTH ACCOUNTS.
PAUL’S BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT AT THE HANDS OF ANANIAS CAME THREE DAYS AFTER HIS CONVERSION ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS, AND JUST BEFORE HIS WATER BAPTISM (31 ACTS 9:3-18). HERE AGAIN, SPIRIT-BAPTISM IS SEEN AS DISTINCT FROM A CONVERSION EXPERIENCE AND DISTINCT FROM WATER BAPTISM.
A COMMON MISUNDERSTANDING IS TO REGARD SPIRIT BAPTISM AS A ONE-TIME ISOLATED EVENT, RATHER THAN THE BEGINNING OF A ‘GROWTH IN THE SPIRIT” WITH THE POSSIBILITY FOR FURTHER “REFILLING” PERIODICALLY WHEN PETER AND JOHN JOINED IN A PRAYER MEETING AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON, THEY WERE REFILLED BY A DEEPENED PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (32 Acts 4:31) .THE EXACT TRANSLATION OF (33 EPHESIANS ( 5:18 ) IS NOT “BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT” BUT ”BE BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT” –AN ONGOING, RECEPTIVE EXPERIENCE
THUS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT IS AN EXPERIENCE OVER AND ABOVE EXPERIENCES OF WATER BAPTISM AND THE BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE, AND IN GENERAL, THE CONVERSION EXPERIENCE.
IT ADDS TO THE “INDWELLING” OF THE SPIRIT A NEW KIND OF PRESENCE- AN “INFILLING” THAT CAN PRODUCE EMPOWERMENT AND GROWTH- A GROWTH IN THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT (34 GAL.5:22-23) AS WELL AS THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT (35 1TIM.4:14 ) 36 2 Tim.1:6).
ALTHOUGH PAUL FOUND MUCH TO CRITICISE AMONG THE CORINTHIAN CHRISTIANS, HE STILL CALLED THEM ‘SANCTIFIED’, AND YET “CALLED TO BE HOLY” (37 1 Cor.1:2) THAT IS, HE ATTRIBUTED TO THEM WHAT SOME THEOLOGIANS CALL ‘POSITIONAL SANCTIFICATION”, AND YET HE URGED THEM TO “PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION”. THE GROWTH FACTOR IN THIS “PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION” IS THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF (38 1 Peter.1:2 ) ( 39 Rom.13:16 ). WHO “HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS AND INTERCEDES FOR US (40 Rom.8:26).
HENCE IT FOLLOWS THAT THOSE WITH A RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS “SPIRIT OF HOLINESS” ( 41 Rom.1:4) THROUGH THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRACES INDUCING THAT GROWTH. (42 1.Th.3:13 ) (43 John 7:38-39)
IS BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT (AS AN EXPERIENCE DISTINCT FROM WATER BAPTISM) NECESSARY TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE? THE ANSWER IS NO. BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR SALVATION.THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SALVATION ARE REPENTANCE, FAITH AND BAPTISM (44 Acts 2:38 ) ( 45 Mk.16:16 ).
NEITHER IS BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT NECESSARY TO EXPERIENCE POWER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. THE TWELVE AND THE SEVENTY TWO WENT OFF ON MISSION WITH THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF GOD (46 Lk. 9:1,6 ) 47 Lk. 10:17,19 ,EVEN PRIOR TO PENTECOST.THE REQUIREMENT FOR POWER IN MINISTRY IS SIMPLY FAITH (48 Jn.14:12).
BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT IS NOT NECESSARY TO EXPERIENCE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.THERE ARE MANY CHRISTIANS TODAY WHO DO NOT DISPLAY EVANGELISTIC FERVOUR BUT CERTAINLY EXHIBIT LOVE, JOY, PEACE PATIENCE, KINDNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF CONTROL (49 Gal.5: 22:23). WE CAN EXPERIENCE FRUIT AS WE GIVE OURSELVES TO CHRIST AND LIVE IN HIS SPIRIT (50 Gal.5: 24:25)
THUS TO LIVE A GOOD AND FRUITFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE, WE CAN DO WITHOUT THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT.BUT WE CAN ALSO EXPERIENCE, THAT BEYOND CONVERSION, GENEROSITY, BEYOND EFFECTIVE SERVICE, BEYOND EXPERIENCING FRUIT, BEYOND SALVATION,THERE IS BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. THEN WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
IN THE FIRST CASE i.e. WATER BAPTISM, WE ARE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.WE BECOME A “WELL OF LIVING WATER’. IN THE SECOND CASE SPIRIT BAPTISM, WE ARE FILLED TO OVERFLOWING, AND BECOME “RIVERS OF LIVING WATER” THESE RIVERS OF LIVING WATER GENERATE POWER AND BOLDNESS WE NEED TO CARRY OUT GOD’S PURPOSE FOR US.
“BUT WHOSOEVER DRINKS OF THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM SHALL NEVER THIRST: BUT THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM SHALL BE IN HIM A WELL OF LIVING WATER SPRINGING UP TO EVERLASTING LIFE.” (51John.4:14)
IN THE LAST DAY, THAT GREAT DAY OF THE FEAST, JESUS STOOD AND CRIED, SAYING, “IF ANY MAN THIRST, LET HIM COME TO ME, AND DRINK.HE THAT BELIEVES ON ME, AS THE SCRIPTURE HAS SAID, OUT OF HIS INNERMOST BEING SHALL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER”. [BUT THIS SPOKE HE OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH THEY THAT BELIEVE ON HIM SHALL RECEIVE: FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS NOT YET GIVEN; BECAUSE JESUS WAS NOT WAS NOT YET GLORIFIED [ASCENDED TO HEAVEN] (52 John.7:37:38
LET US NOW TRY TO DEFINE WHAT IS BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT.
THE BASIC TEXT IS (53 Acts.1:8 ) “YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES UPON YOU, AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM, THROUGHOUT JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH." ACCORDING TO LUKE, THESE ARE THE VERY LAST WORDS OF JESUS, AND IT IS AFTER SAYING THIS THAT JESUS ASCENDS INTO HEAVEN ( 54 Acts.1;9) THE VERY IMPORTANT LAST WORDS.THE VERY FINAL INSTRUCTIONS.THE VERY KEY TO BRINGING ABOUT WHAT JESUS HAD COME INTO THE WORLD FOR-THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD.
WHAT IS BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT? IT IS AN INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BY WHICH A PERSON IS EMPOWERED TO BE A LIVING WITNESS TO JESUS FOR THE PURPOSE OF GLOBAL EVANGELIZING !!
WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT THERE IS A RENEWED OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT IN ONE’S LIFE.
THIS POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ENABLES US TO BECOME EFFECTIVE.THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS IMPARTED NOT JUST TO ENABLE US TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, BUT TO ENABLE US TO DO A VIBRANT AND EFFECTIVE MINISTRY .IT IS THE POWER FOR MISSION.
THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT EXPANDS OUR VISION, STIRS OUR HEARTS TO ACTION, SUSTAINS US WITH PERSEVERANCE, EMPOWERS US WITH SPIRITUAL GIFTS, AND FILLS OUR HEARTS WITH GREAT JOY AS WE DO OUR MISSION.GOD WANTS THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT FOR EVERYONE.
”FOR THE PROMISE IS MADE TO YOU AND TO YOUR CHILDREN AND TO ALL THOSE FAR OFF, WHOMEVER THE LORD OUR GOD WILL CALL” (55 Acts.2:39). ALL FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST ARE CALLED TO HOLINESS AND ALL ARE CALLED TO MISSION.
THIS INFILLING CAN BE AN ACTUAL PHYSICAL EXPERIENCE.I HAVE SEEN IT DESCRIBED MANY TIMES AS “A GENTLE BREEZE, OR LIKE A CURTAIN OF HONEY, FLOWING THROUGH THE BODY FROM OUTSIDE THE BODY FROM HEAD TO TOE”. IT MIGHT BE WHAT THE DISCIPLES EXPERIENCED WHEN JESUS “BREATHED UPON THEM IMPARTING THE HOLY SPIRIT” (56 John.20:22
THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT IT IS A GENUINE PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION AND IMPARTS AN INCREDIBLE BLESSING.IT DOESN”T MAKE THE RECIPIENT IN ANY WAY BETTER OR DIFFERENT FROM CHRISTIANS WHO LIVE BY FAITH ALONE, IN FACT IT MAKES THEM EQUAL AS IT CAN BE SEEN AS AN AID TO THOSE WHO ARE WEAK IN THE FAITH.
RATHER, IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN BAPTISED IN THE SPIRIT FOR SOMETHING THAT GOD WANTS THEM TO DO WHICH THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO DO WITHOUT HIS GRACE AND HIS FREELY GIVEN POWER TO DO IT.
HOW CAN ONE BE BAPTISED IN THE SPIRIT? AS WITH ALL THINGS EMANATING FROM GOD’S LOVE IT IS COMPLETELY SIMPLE AND COMPLETELY FREE- JUST ASK FOR IT! YOU ONLY HAVE TO DO TWO THINGS.
FIRST, ONCE YOU HAVE ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOUR YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK GOD TO BAPTISE YOU IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.THE BIBLE SAYS “ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU” (57 Luke.11:9).
SECOND, BELIEVE YOU HAVE IN FACT RECEIVED THIS GIFT FROM GOD.THE APOSTLE PAUL, WRITING TO THE GALATIANS, SAID “DID YOU RECEIVE THE SPIRIT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, OR BY HEARING WITH FAITH”? 58 Gal 3:2). THE OBVIOUS ANSWER IS, BY FAITH. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT IF YOU ASK, YOU WILL RECEIVE.
I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT, AS IN THE GOSPELS, THIS ASKING SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS- BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT, AS GOD CAN DO ANYTHING, IT CAN BE RECEIVED SIMPLY BY ASKING.
HERE IS A PRAYER TO ASK BY IF YOU SINCERELY WISH TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM IN GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT:
“HEAVENLY FATHER, AT THIS MOMENT I COME TO YOU. I THANK YOU THAT JESUS SAVED ME. I PRAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT MIGHT COME UPON ME. LORD JESUS BAPTISE ME NOW IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
I RECEIVE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT RIGHT NOW BY FAITH IN YOUR WORD. MAY THE ANOINTING, THE GLORY, AND THE POWER OF GOD COME UPON ME AND INTO MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.MAY I BE EMPOWERED FOR YOUR SERVICE FROM THIS DAY FORWARD.COME INTO MY LIFE LORD JESUS.
THANK YOU, LORD JESUS FOR BAPTISING ME IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.AMEN.
BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT
IT IS CONSIDERED ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT BY THE FACT THEY ARE BAPTISED WITH WATER AND LIVING IN A STATE OF GRACE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE ACCEPTED JESUS AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOUR.
THIS POSITION IS, HOWEVER, ONE THAT MIXES THREE SEPARATE SPIRITUAL STATES; FIRSTLY) THAT OF A BAPTISED CHRISTIAN IN THE STATE OF GRACE (WHO IS SACRAMENTALLY A CHRISTIAN “BAPTISED INTO CHRIST”) (1)Gal.3:27
SECONDLY) THAT OF A CHRISTIAN WHO IS “BORN AGAIN” (REGENERATED). THAT IS, A CHRISTIAN WHO HAS UNDERGONE A KIND OF “CONVERSION” WHICH INVOLVES A KNOWLEDGE OF AND COMMITMENT TO JESUS AS ONE’S LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOUR (2) Gal.2:20
AND…. THIRDLY) THAT OF A CHARISMATIC CHRISTIAN WHO HAS RECEIVED THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT AS AN EXPERIENCE SEPARATE FROM, USUALLY SUBSEQUENT TO, A “CONVERSION” EXPERIENCE (3)Titus.3:4-5
THE PENTECOST EXPERIENCE OF BECOMING CHARISMATIC BY BEING “BAPTISED IN THE SPIRIT” (4) Acts.1:5 IS SOMETHING CLEARLY DISTINCT FROM, AND BEYOND, THE EXPERIENCE OF BECOMING A CHRISTIAN BY BEING “BAPTISED INTO CHRIST” (5) Rom.6:3 BY WATER.THE TWO BAPTISMS HAVE TOTALLY DIFFERENT PURPOSES.
WATER BAPTISM MAKES ONE A CHILD OF GOD IN A SPECIAL WAY, GRAFTING ONE INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST (6 Gal.3:27/7 Rom.6:3 WHILE SPIRIT BAPTISM GIVES ONE CHARISMATIC POWER TO BE AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS OR EVANGELIZER IN BUILDING THE KINGDOM (8 Acts.1:8-9 9 Luke.24:48-49).
THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN VARIOUS BAPTISMS IS SCRIPTURAL (10 Heb.6:2)
All FOUR GOSPELS QUOTE JOHN THE BAPTIST EMPHASISING THAT DISTINCTION “I BAPTISE YOU WITH WATER, BUT HE WILL BAPTISE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT” (11 Mat.3:21/12 Mark.1:8/13 Luke 3:16/14 John.1:33)
JESUS ALSO MAKES THE DISTINCTION IN A PRE-PENTECOST DISCOURSE WITH HIS DISCIPLES IN JOHN (15 14:17,) BY USING TWO DIFFERENT PREPOSITIONS; ‘WITH’ AND ‘IN’; ‘THE SPIRIT…LIVES WITH YOU (NOW) AND WILL BE IN YOU (LATER)” JESUS THUS CLEARLY DISTINGUISHED BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF INTIMACY BY WHICH THE SPIRIT CAN RELATE TO AN INDIVIDUAL.
THE BAPTISMS MENTIONED IN HEBREWS (16 6:2 ) WERE REFERRED TO BY JESUS AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS PUBLIC LIFE; IN JOHN (17 3;5 ) HE TELLS NICODEMUS THAT A PERSON MUST BE ‘BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT.’THEN, AT THE VERY END OF HIS EARTHLY EXISTENCE, JUST BEFORE HIS ASCENSION, HE AGAIN DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN THE TWO BAPTISMS “JOHN BAPTISED WITH WATER, BUT IN A “FEW DAYS” YOU WILL BE BAPTISED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT’ (18 Acts.1:5)
THE DISCIPLES WERE ALREADY CHRISTIANS, OF COURSE, AS SHOWN BY THE FACT THAT THEY HAD ALREADY RECEIVED SPIRITUAL LIFE FOR HAVING ‘HEARD HIS WORD AND BELIEVED IN THE ONE WHO SENT HIM”(19 John.5:24). JESUS HAD ASSURED THEM THEIR ‘NAMES WERE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN“(20 Luke.10:20).
FURTHERMORE, THE RESURRECTED JESUS HAD BREATHED UPON THEM, EVEN IMPARTING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ACTIVATE A MINISTERIAL GIFT OF FORGIVING SINS (21 John.20:22-23). YET HE TOLD THEM TO PRAY FOR (22 Luke.11:13) AND TO WAIT FOR (23 Luke.24:49/ 24 Acts.1:4) A SUBSEQUENT (AND THEREFORE SEPARATE) GRACE OF THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT A “FEW DAYS “ AFTER HIS ASCENSION (25 Acts.1:5) –CLEARLY AN ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE BEYOND THE CHRISTIANITY THEY HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING.
AN EXAMPLE IS SEEN IN 26 ACTS.19:2 PAUL FOUND TWELVE DISCIPLES AT EPHESUS WHO WERE BELIEVERS AND ASKED THEM “DID YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN (OR AFTER) YOU BELIEVED?”
WHEN THEY ANSWERED IN THE NEGATIVE, PAUL BAPTISED THEM. THEN , “WHEN PAUL PLACED HIS HANDS ON THEM, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME UPON THEM AND THEY SPOKE IN TONGUES AND PROPHESISED” (27 Acts.19:6).IF BELIEVING OR BEING CONVERTED CARRIED WITH IT THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT, THEN PAUL’S QUESTION WOULD HAVE BEEN MEANINGLESS.
THE EPHESIANS’ BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS SUBSEQUENT TO (AND THEREFORE DISTINCT FROM) THEIR BELIEF IN CHRIST AND ALSO DISTINCT FROM THEIR WATER BAPTISM. WHILE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT IS ALWAYS DISTINCT FROM THE CONVERSION EXPERIENCE, IT NEED NOT NECESSARILY BE SUBSEQUENT TO IT, AS THE CASE OF CORNELIUS’ HOUSEHOLD, ALL OF WHOM RECEIVED THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT BEFORE THEY WERE BAPTISED IN WATER.(28 Acts 10:44-48 ).
IN RECOUNTING THIS EPISODE AT THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM (29 ACTS 15;7-9) PETER REFERRED TO TWO SEPARATE ACTS: PURIFYING THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH (CONVERSION) AND RECEIVING THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. PETER CLEARLY IDENTIFIES THE EXPERIENCE OF CORNELIUS’ HOUSEHOLDWITH THAT OF THE DISCIPLES ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST(30 ACTS.11:15-17;15:8)TO ILLUSTRATE: COMMON TERMS SUCH AS “BAPTISED IN/WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT” “POURED OUT” AND “GIFT” APPEAR IN BOTH ACCOUNTS.
PAUL’S BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT AT THE HANDS OF ANANIAS CAME THREE DAYS AFTER HIS CONVERSION ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS, AND JUST BEFORE HIS WATER BAPTISM (31 ACTS 9:3-18). HERE AGAIN, SPIRIT-BAPTISM IS SEEN AS DISTINCT FROM A CONVERSION EXPERIENCE AND DISTINCT FROM WATER BAPTISM.
A COMMON MISUNDERSTANDING IS TO REGARD SPIRIT BAPTISM AS A ONE-TIME ISOLATED EVENT, RATHER THAN THE BEGINNING OF A ‘GROWTH IN THE SPIRIT” WITH THE POSSIBILITY FOR FURTHER “REFILLING” PERIODICALLY WHEN PETER AND JOHN JOINED IN A PRAYER MEETING AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON, THEY WERE REFILLED BY A DEEPENED PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (32 Acts 4:31) .THE EXACT TRANSLATION OF (33 EPHESIANS ( 5:18 ) IS NOT “BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT” BUT ”BE BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT” –AN ONGOING, RECEPTIVE EXPERIENCE
THUS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT IS AN EXPERIENCE OVER AND ABOVE EXPERIENCES OF WATER BAPTISM AND THE BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE, AND IN GENERAL, THE CONVERSION EXPERIENCE.
IT ADDS TO THE “INDWELLING” OF THE SPIRIT A NEW KIND OF PRESENCE- AN “INFILLING” THAT CAN PRODUCE EMPOWERMENT AND GROWTH- A GROWTH IN THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT (34 GAL.5:22-23) AS WELL AS THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT (35 1TIM.4:14 ) 36 2 Tim.1:6).
ALTHOUGH PAUL FOUND MUCH TO CRITICISE AMONG THE CORINTHIAN CHRISTIANS, HE STILL CALLED THEM ‘SANCTIFIED’, AND YET “CALLED TO BE HOLY” (37 1 Cor.1:2) THAT IS, HE ATTRIBUTED TO THEM WHAT SOME THEOLOGIANS CALL ‘POSITIONAL SANCTIFICATION”, AND YET HE URGED THEM TO “PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION”. THE GROWTH FACTOR IN THIS “PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION” IS THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF (38 1 Peter.1:2 ) ( 39 Rom.13:16 ). WHO “HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS AND INTERCEDES FOR US (40 Rom.8:26).
HENCE IT FOLLOWS THAT THOSE WITH A RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS “SPIRIT OF HOLINESS” ( 41 Rom.1:4) THROUGH THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRACES INDUCING THAT GROWTH. (42 1.Th.3:13 ) (43 John 7:38-39)
IS BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT (AS AN EXPERIENCE DISTINCT FROM WATER BAPTISM) NECESSARY TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE? THE ANSWER IS NO. BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR SALVATION.THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SALVATION ARE REPENTANCE, FAITH AND BAPTISM (44 Acts 2:38 ) ( 45 Mk.16:16 ).
NEITHER IS BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT NECESSARY TO EXPERIENCE POWER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. THE TWELVE AND THE SEVENTY TWO WENT OFF ON MISSION WITH THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF GOD (46 Lk. 9:1,6 ) 47 Lk. 10:17,19 ,EVEN PRIOR TO PENTECOST.THE REQUIREMENT FOR POWER IN MINISTRY IS SIMPLY FAITH (48 Jn.14:12).
BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT IS NOT NECESSARY TO EXPERIENCE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.THERE ARE MANY CHRISTIANS TODAY WHO DO NOT DISPLAY EVANGELISTIC FERVOUR BUT CERTAINLY EXHIBIT LOVE, JOY, PEACE PATIENCE, KINDNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF CONTROL (49 Gal.5: 22:23). WE CAN EXPERIENCE FRUIT AS WE GIVE OURSELVES TO CHRIST AND LIVE IN HIS SPIRIT (50 Gal.5: 24:25)
THUS TO LIVE A GOOD AND FRUITFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE, WE CAN DO WITHOUT THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT.BUT WE CAN ALSO EXPERIENCE, THAT BEYOND CONVERSION, GENEROSITY, BEYOND EFFECTIVE SERVICE, BEYOND EXPERIENCING FRUIT, BEYOND SALVATION,THERE IS BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. THEN WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
IN THE FIRST CASE i.e. WATER BAPTISM, WE ARE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.WE BECOME A “WELL OF LIVING WATER’. IN THE SECOND CASE SPIRIT BAPTISM, WE ARE FILLED TO OVERFLOWING, AND BECOME “RIVERS OF LIVING WATER” THESE RIVERS OF LIVING WATER GENERATE POWER AND BOLDNESS WE NEED TO CARRY OUT GOD’S PURPOSE FOR US.
“BUT WHOSOEVER DRINKS OF THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM SHALL NEVER THIRST: BUT THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM SHALL BE IN HIM A WELL OF LIVING WATER SPRINGING UP TO EVERLASTING LIFE.” (51John.4:14)
IN THE LAST DAY, THAT GREAT DAY OF THE FEAST, JESUS STOOD AND CRIED, SAYING, “IF ANY MAN THIRST, LET HIM COME TO ME, AND DRINK.HE THAT BELIEVES ON ME, AS THE SCRIPTURE HAS SAID, OUT OF HIS INNERMOST BEING SHALL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER”. [BUT THIS SPOKE HE OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH THEY THAT BELIEVE ON HIM SHALL RECEIVE: FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS NOT YET GIVEN; BECAUSE JESUS WAS NOT WAS NOT YET GLORIFIED [ASCENDED TO HEAVEN] (52 John.7:37:38
LET US NOW TRY TO DEFINE WHAT IS BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT.
THE BASIC TEXT IS (53 Acts.1:8 ) “YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES UPON YOU, AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM, THROUGHOUT JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH." ACCORDING TO LUKE, THESE ARE THE VERY LAST WORDS OF JESUS, AND IT IS AFTER SAYING THIS THAT JESUS ASCENDS INTO HEAVEN ( 54 Acts.1;9) THE VERY IMPORTANT LAST WORDS.THE VERY FINAL INSTRUCTIONS.THE VERY KEY TO BRINGING ABOUT WHAT JESUS HAD COME INTO THE WORLD FOR-THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD.
WHAT IS BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT? IT IS AN INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BY WHICH A PERSON IS EMPOWERED TO BE A LIVING WITNESS TO JESUS FOR THE PURPOSE OF GLOBAL EVANGELIZING !!
WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT THERE IS A RENEWED OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT IN ONE’S LIFE.
THIS POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ENABLES US TO BECOME EFFECTIVE.THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS IMPARTED NOT JUST TO ENABLE US TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, BUT TO ENABLE US TO DO A VIBRANT AND EFFECTIVE MINISTRY .IT IS THE POWER FOR MISSION.
THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT EXPANDS OUR VISION, STIRS OUR HEARTS TO ACTION, SUSTAINS US WITH PERSEVERANCE, EMPOWERS US WITH SPIRITUAL GIFTS, AND FILLS OUR HEARTS WITH GREAT JOY AS WE DO OUR MISSION.GOD WANTS THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT FOR EVERYONE.
”FOR THE PROMISE IS MADE TO YOU AND TO YOUR CHILDREN AND TO ALL THOSE FAR OFF, WHOMEVER THE LORD OUR GOD WILL CALL” (55 Acts.2:39). ALL FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST ARE CALLED TO HOLINESS AND ALL ARE CALLED TO MISSION.
THIS INFILLING CAN BE AN ACTUAL PHYSICAL EXPERIENCE.I HAVE SEEN IT DESCRIBED MANY TIMES AS “A GENTLE BREEZE, OR LIKE A CURTAIN OF HONEY, FLOWING THROUGH THE BODY FROM OUTSIDE THE BODY FROM HEAD TO TOE”. IT MIGHT BE WHAT THE DISCIPLES EXPERIENCED WHEN JESUS “BREATHED UPON THEM IMPARTING THE HOLY SPIRIT” (56 John.20:22
THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT IT IS A GENUINE PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION AND IMPARTS AN INCREDIBLE BLESSING.IT DOESN”T MAKE THE RECIPIENT IN ANY WAY BETTER OR DIFFERENT FROM CHRISTIANS WHO LIVE BY FAITH ALONE, IN FACT IT MAKES THEM EQUAL AS IT CAN BE SEEN AS AN AID TO THOSE WHO ARE WEAK IN THE FAITH.
RATHER, IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN BAPTISED IN THE SPIRIT FOR SOMETHING THAT GOD WANTS THEM TO DO WHICH THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO DO WITHOUT HIS GRACE AND HIS FREELY GIVEN POWER TO DO IT.
HOW CAN ONE BE BAPTISED IN THE SPIRIT? AS WITH ALL THINGS EMANATING FROM GOD’S LOVE IT IS COMPLETELY SIMPLE AND COMPLETELY FREE- JUST ASK FOR IT! YOU ONLY HAVE TO DO TWO THINGS.
FIRST, ONCE YOU HAVE ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOUR YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK GOD TO BAPTISE YOU IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.THE BIBLE SAYS “ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU” (57 Luke.11:9).
SECOND, BELIEVE YOU HAVE IN FACT RECEIVED THIS GIFT FROM GOD.THE APOSTLE PAUL, WRITING TO THE GALATIANS, SAID “DID YOU RECEIVE THE SPIRIT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, OR BY HEARING WITH FAITH”? 58 Gal 3:2). THE OBVIOUS ANSWER IS, BY FAITH. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT IF YOU ASK, YOU WILL RECEIVE.
I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT, AS IN THE GOSPELS, THIS ASKING SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS- BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT, AS GOD CAN DO ANYTHING, IT CAN BE RECEIVED SIMPLY BY ASKING.
HERE IS A PRAYER TO ASK BY IF YOU SINCERELY WISH TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM IN GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT:
“HEAVENLY FATHER, AT THIS MOMENT I COME TO YOU. I THANK YOU THAT JESUS SAVED ME. I PRAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT MIGHT COME UPON ME. LORD JESUS BAPTISE ME NOW IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
I RECEIVE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT RIGHT NOW BY FAITH IN YOUR WORD. MAY THE ANOINTING, THE GLORY, AND THE POWER OF GOD COME UPON ME AND INTO MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.MAY I BE EMPOWERED FOR YOUR SERVICE FROM THIS DAY FORWARD.COME INTO MY LIFE LORD JESUS.
THANK YOU, LORD JESUS FOR BAPTISING ME IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.AMEN.
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