baptism in the Spirit

When I was a kid, we would open all presents under the tree on Christmas day. My father was in charge of supervising the cleanup. Making sure that only the paper wrapped around the gifts and used bows were thrown away. He was concerned that part of someone’s gift would get thrown out. After a thorough inspection, would he include boxes.

That’s it. The gift-giving portion of Christmas would be completed. The floor was clean, and the entire Christmas tree skirt was once again visible. But before everyone was dispursed to carrying away their haul, one of my parents would announce, “Hey, I think we forgot one. There’s one more.” Again, the seasonal excitement and anticipation would rumble in your stomach. “What? Another one? Where is it? There’s nothing left under the tree.”

One year my sister and I were told to go to the garage. There, waiting for us, were brand new bikes. Another year, my father brought into the living room a big square box and placed it in front of me. I said, “This isn’t mine!” My mother quickly put me on the witness stand and asked, “How do you know?” No way was I going to confess to unwrapping it after I found it in their bedroom days before. I suppose my writing creativity kicked in, and I quickly replied, “Because it’s so big!” I was good at peeking. I liked the challenge of not getting caught. I would use an Exacto knife and then put the exact length of tape back over the ones I sliced.

God knew our greatest need was a savior, so He sent us his son, Jesus. The best Christmas gift of all time! No one had an opportunity to peek, but God gave plenty of advanced notice as to what He would do. And those that were on a “need-to-know” basis knew.

Jesus came. He grew up and ministered truth, light, salvation, healing, and deliverance, showing us a better way to live. Then, He humbled himself and died on the cross. He died for three days and then showed He even had power over death and hell. He then ministered for a few more days, but as He was about to leave, He told his disciples, “Oh, there’s one more.”

Jesus promised us that He would send us the Holy Spirit when He left. The Holy Spirit would give us the power to minister. Jesus had the Spirit on him. When He was baptized, the Holy Spirit lit upon him when He came out of the water. Jesus knew we also needed God’s Spirit in our lives and ministries.

I love having the Holy Spirit on me. I don’t know how I would live or minister without Him! Not a bad gift to learn about that was one more.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NET)

After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. Mat. 3:16

Christmas may be over, but if you have never been filled with the Holy Spirit look for Him as another gift. Seek Him out and ask to be filled with him. You will be surprised what a difference He makes in your life.

Oh, in case you were wondering, my big gift was a black and white TV with knobs and an antenna telescoped out from the inside. No coaxial connection and no remote, but I loved it. I had it for several years and actually sold it in a garage sale.

We, well Americans anyway, like to move, and move fast. We hurry home, to the store, to work and even to church. We have drive-thrus to make our trips even faster. We believe we have too much to do, so we have to go at a frantic pace. But what if God had something He wanted to get done? And what if his plan included you? Would you proceed with the same fervency? Or would you dig your heels in and say, “Let me pray about it.”

There is nothing wrong with discerning God’s perfect will and timing. And that is probably a wise thing to do before launching a new church program. Did we ever see Jesus form a committee to discern the will of God? No. Did we ever see him say, “Wait, let me go pray about that before I speak to your disease.”

My point is this; Jesus, who was filled with the Spirit of God, flowed with his heavenly Father. He didn’t have to stop and pray, or set aside a three day fast first, he just knew already the will of the Father. He also operated in the power of the Holy Spirit. For instance, when Jesus encountered the woman at the well, he was operating in the gift of the Spirit of knowledge. Jesus knew she had many previous husbands and in fact the guy she was currently with was not her husband.

No one has to go and get ceremonially clean anymore before entering the Holy of Holies, the presence of God. You can walk in his presence and actually live in it. If you remain in that atmosphere all the time you just know. You know things. You can have wisdom and understanding of people and of issues all around you.

It’s important to be filled with the Holy Spirit:

The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God’s Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.” Mat. 3:16 (MSG)

Understand the Holy Spirit gives you power to minister:

But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth. Acts 1:8 (AMPC)

The veil that once separated from the presence of God has been torn in two by God:

At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. Mat. 27:51 (MSG)

While flowing in the Spirit you will do great things for the kingdom of God:

I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do—even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father! John 14:12 (TPT)

brady, mark a.

Words to inspire you

There’s One More