Life with the Spirit!

Spirit Baptism

Luke 3:16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

There is a lot of talk about being baptized in the Spirit in a Pentecostal Church. When we talk about the Holy Spirit we often think about the Pentecostal Church. I think there is a danger when you replace the ministry and headship of Christ. I have read the Bible, I believe in the trinity. For some reason all three being one equal but separate. The Trinity chose to make Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith. We are missing out if we neglect the ministries of the Holy Spirit, but we mistaken if turn them into something mystical instead of Biblical. The Bible talks about Spirit Baptism 7 times. 7 times is a significant number of times but it also isn’t a point of emphasis in the New Testament Text I think it helps to look at Spirit Baptism in terms of 3 P’s

Promise of Spirit Baptism

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Spirit Baptism is never mentioned in the Old Testament. It is only prophesied in the days of John the Baptist. It is prophesied in each of the four gospels. It is never a part of the ministry of John the Baptist or Jesus. That tells me a couple of things

1 Baptism of the Spirit is not required to get to heaven.

Abraham David John the Baptist all Old Testament saints did not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They are going to heaven without that blessing. I also believe that believers following the rapture of the church will not be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

2 Baptism of the Spirit is for the church age.

The dispensation of the church from Pentecost to the rapture the Holy Spirit baptizes believers. It is a special gift promised by Christ the night before He was crucified. You are blessed. Never forget that. Believers in the tribulation will not be so blessed

Pentecost and Spirit Baptism

Prepentecost

Acts 1:5 “or John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.

Jesus promised that Pentecost would be the moment when Spirit baptism would begin

Postpentecost

Acts 11:15-16 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

This is a reminder of what came to the church on the day of pentecost. It appears to signal people’s inclusion into a special group, the church. In Baptism we identify with the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ you are a new person in Christ. In Spirit Baptism you identify with the bride of Christ who the Holy Spirit has been tasked to protect.

Practical Spirit Baptism

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.

Spirit Baptism again is you as a Christian being placed in the Body of Christ. Corinthians clearly states that all believers are baptized in the body of Christ. It is a different work than salvation, but I believe it happens at the moment of salvation. It is like getting a driver’s license. When you get a drivers license what’s the purpose to drive. But you have probably used your drivers license for more things than just driving. It has been handy as identifying you as a resident of the New York. Not all drivers are NY residents just like not all believers are members of the catholic church Be careful when I use that word catholic I mean global body of believers. Not st Mary’s. Don’t think I am minimizing Spirit baptism for a second. It is powerful. Being a Christian indwelt by the Spirit is powerful. It changed my life. Has it changed yours? I would be miserable without Christ. Without the Spirit living here in my heart.

Spirit Filled

Once you have been baptized in the Spirit the next question is are you filled with by in I don’t really know which preposition to use. Ask Connie Hanel Jeannie Mullineaux or Bob Bowker they taught me about prepositions maybe it should be all of them.

There are 15 references to Spirit filling in the New Testament. Filling of the Holy Spirit is different than Spirit Baptism. It is has two meanings to us as the believer.

Fill me up.

Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Filling of the Spirit is not just for the church like Baptism of the Spirit. It happened in the Old Testament. I believe that it will happen in the tribulation but some times the Holy Spirit grabs special control of a person to do a special work. Like building the tabernacle in Exodus like the prophet Micah.

Sprit filling - The Holy Spirit’s influence and control for a special event.

Luke 1:67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

There are times when people are filled with the Spirit so God can accomplish a very specific situation. I believe that Spirit Baptism is for the church. I may be wrong on that. I am ok with being wrong, but spirit filling seems to be transcendant of dispensations. Therefore it happened to men like Zarcharias at a very important moment the coming of Jesus Christ to herald the coming Messiah. Therefore I see that this could be something that happens after the church. In other words the Holy Spirit even though this is His time to work in the hearts of men like never before or after he is not limited to this time.

Special Spirit filling has an evangelist connection.

Acts 11:22–24 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Barnabas was filled with the Spirit what happened people were saved.

On Pentecost believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and people were saved.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

As a young Bible school student I was scared albeit intimidated by speaking in tongues. I was a baptist we didn’t believe in speaking in tongues. I went to school with Pentecostals you weren’t a good Christian unless you spoke in tongues. I believe in speaking in tongues. BIBLICAL speaking in tongues. People spoke and everyone heard in their own language. Maybe it should be called listening with ears. You can disagree with me. People have sat in this church for years disagreeing with me thats ok. But we need to make the main thing the main thing. When you are spirit filled the purpose is to glorify God and result is usually SALVATION.

Spirit filled deacons

Acts 6:3–7 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

When the first deacons were selected. Deacons were selected so that the elder pastors could focus on Bible study and prayer. The deacons were to meet the needs of the community and be the assistants. They were filled with the Spirit. Do you notice the results people were saved. Oh my, I have been missing this. I decided here and now when studying this. PRAY LORD fill me with your spirit. Fill our deacons. Fill our shepherdesses with the Spirit. Do you want people to be saved. Absolutely pray the Holy Spirit to move in this church. I must be honest...

In the Bible we are never commanded to pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit.

That doesn’t mean we can’t pray for Spirit filling, I just believe that God did not want Spirit filling to be put in a box. There is no magic potion to being filled with the Spirit. It isn’t bounce two times, spin backwards and then the Spirit will come upon you, I think it is open ended up to the Holy Spirit. It also doesn’t mean that you are good Christian if you have this acute filling of the Spirit but Jim does. Doesn’t mean that. But I believe that there is a second facet to the filling of the Spirit.

Jesus was filled with the Spirit for special tasks.

Luke 4:1 “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,”

One can be filled with the Spirit more than once.

Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

Paul was filled with the Spirit on more than one occasion. Interestingly both the events of Spirit filling above, led to people being saved. WOW! I desperately want to see people saved. Back at camp kids came to know Christ all the time. They were discipled now a good number of them are making disciples. In church. Every week its YOU! Don’t take offense to that. I love you all so much. But you now the Bible, you are not fresh fleshly meat, you are more seasoned saints. Witnessing is harder to come by. Salvation prayers are less frequent. I struggle with that. BUT the relationships here last longer. They are closer. I keep praying for unshackled stories. I know God is providing them.

The Process of becoming full.

Every believer is in the process of filling.

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

This is the gradual spiritual maturity of the believer. The person who is a little bit more full of the Holy Spirit. I like to put these two fillings together. That is when you have something special. There are actually two different phrases for Spirit filling I won’t bore you but one is for a special activity the other is for extensive control.

Believers should strive for extensive influence and control of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

Look at that verse. What are you letting control your life. Alcohol or the Holy Spirit. You ever seen an alcoholic. This conversation isn’t about if you should have dimotap or if you had a sip of wine at your sister’s wedding. This is talking about the person contolled by Drinking. It’s killing there marriage but they have to drink. They will lose their license but they have to drink. Their job money ambitions all gone. They can’t control their actions because they are drunk. The converse is the Spiritually mature beleiver. The Holy Spirit controls your life. You don’t buy a coat without the involvement of the Spirit. You dont’ accept a job without consulting Him. He directs you from the time you get up to the time you go to bed.

What are you filled with?

Romans 1:29 “being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,”

2 Corinthians 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter for a reason

I said a moment ago Spirit Filled is not something we are told to pray for. I am not going to tell you that you can’t. I pray for Spirit Filling. I am telling you that you need to YIELD to the Spirit! Always be prepared to have him in your life. I have two questions. Are YOU Baptised in the Spirit? Are you Spirit Filled?