7 Things Churches Do - Baptism of the Holy Spirit
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INTRO
INTRO
Today we continue on our series of 7 Things Churches Do.
When I was a child I went to a church that at around middle school years you were supposed to take these classes. At the end of these classes there would be a little test and during some ceremony you were “confirmed.” Now as we have been looking at the things that churches should do, I wanted to study the history of confirmation. Mostly I wanted to take a look at why the early church would do these things. Now it is my belief that as the church and it’s traditions grew I think they had good thoughts in mind, but over time these traditions became ritualistic and lost their meaning. To find the meaning you have to go way back to find the theology of what they were doing.
In the early church, there were 3 acts of initiation. Often they were performed on the same day, and often on Easter. You would be baptized as the first sacrament, then from there you would be anointed with oil as the second sacrament of confirmation, and then you would take part in your first eucharist - or communion.
Heres what they believed was going on:
You needed to be baptized to be saved..it was a proclamation of your decision to follow Christ.
Confirmation served 2 purposes:
It was the church welcoming you in to their family.
More importantly it was God bestowing His anointing on you and baptizing you with the Spirit.
And the Eucharist was more of a celebration and a remembrance that the church would do together, celebrating His death and resurrection to rescue you and bring you into the family of God.
Eventually these things changed. Since they believed that baptism was the thing that rescued you they wanted to make you you would go to heaven. So what they changed was baptism happened at birth so that no matter what happened in your life or how evil you became, you were still going to go to heaven. Later as you learned to walk and talk, they would teach you some things and you would celebrate communion as an extra assurance that Jesus was living in you. Then because every one knows that the person you are at 5 is not the same person you are at 13 or later, you would take a class and the church and you would agree that you wanted to be part of the Church and they would anoint you with oil to represent the gifts of the Holy Spirit being bestowed upon you.
So here is the problem with all that. None of that is taught in the Bible. It can easily be a ritual that gives you a false sense of security that everything is okay and truth be told you might not be. Real conversion does not take place because a priest dunked you in the water. Just because you ate the wafer and drank some grape juice doesn’t mean that Christ is now living in you. And just because you passed a test and the priest anointed you with oil doesn’t mean your filled with the Holy Spirit.
Don’t get me wrong. I actually believe that the church had good intent and great desire to help the people meet the Lord. But the ritual doesn’t do it God does.
EXP
EXP
That being said, as we study the word, we find that the church was tasked with doing things. When I read the passages that the early church used for confirmation, I see that we do have a role to play. And the early church did get one thing right. The filling of the Holy Spirit is a necessary part of our Christian walk.
Note, I did not say speaking in tongues is a necessary part. That a gift that is given to be used as He sees fit, as is prophesying, words of knowledge, words of wisdom, discernment, gifts of healing, etc. Those are examples of how the Holy Spirit may use you to perform His ministry. But they are not the actual Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
As usual, when we go through these things the church does, I am not talking details about technique unless it is in the Bible. I want to discuss the what’s and why’s rather than the how’s. I believe that when we get to the real heart of the matter the how’s take care of themselves.
So Here We Go. Today we will talk about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
So Here We Go. Today we will talk about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
What Jesus Promised.
What It Looked Like in the Bible.
What the Church’s Role Is
What Jesus Promised
What Jesus Promised
The Last Supper
The Last Supper
“I have eagerly desired to eat this meal with you.”
“I have eagerly desired to eat this meal with you.”
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
Helper, advocate, intercessor
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Jn 14
He will teach you all things
He will bring to remembrance all Jesus has taught.
Peace, fearlessness
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
Jn 15
He bears witness
and through us He will bear withness
And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;
Jn 16:8-10
Conviction of sin
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Jn 16:13
Declares things that are to come
Glorifies Jesus
Declares what is His to you.
for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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 end of the earth.”
for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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 end of the earth.”
POWER TO...
Witness at home 1st
ever expanding circle.
What It Looked Like in the Bible
What It Looked Like in the Bible
5 Times in Acts
5 Times in Acts
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
In the first one it came from nowhere as they were praying. They began to speak in tongues so that the crown they drew looking like drunk people could hear in their own language. It took the disciples to a place where they were a small group hiding and gave them a boldness to preach to the nations.
In the second one, Peter and John were released from prison and they were praying for God to show his hand… the earth shook and they were filled with the Spirit. (Note: God’s answer to show Himself is answered by empowering them with the Holy Spirit.) The other thing we see here is that at least some of the people filled on this occasion were already previously filled. This would seem to demonstrate that being filled is not a one and done occurence, but instead it happens continuously throughout the life of a Christian.
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The third time we don’t see a specific thing that happens, but the passage seems to describe that the filling cannot be bought. It seems to require a heart pure towards ministering Jesus to people.
The 4th time it happens as Peter is speaking. No laying on of hands or specific prayer, but it’s the first time that the Holy Spirit is given to the gentiles. This lets us know that anyone can receive it as long as your heart is towards him.
In the second one, Peter and John were released from prison and they were praying for God to show his hand… the earth shook and they were filled with the Spirit. (Note: God’s answer to show Himself is answered by empowering them with the Holy Spirit.) The other thing we see here is that at least some of the people filled on this occasion were already previously filled. This would seem to demonstrate that being filled is not a one and done occurence, but instead it happens continuously throughout the life of a Christian.
The third time we don’t see a specific thing that happens, but the passage seems to describe that the filling cannot be bought. It seems to require a heart pure towards ministering Jesus to people.
The 4th time it happens as Peter is speaking. No laying on of hands or specific prayer, but it’s the first time that the Holy Spirit is given to the gentiles. This lets us know that anyone can receive it as long as your heart is towards him.
This time as with the third we actually see a difference between John’s Baptism into the name of Jesus Christ, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. These are evidence by tongues and prophecy.
What does all that mean?
What does all that mean?
My take away is that you can’t put how this works into a nice little package. What we see is that if your heart is towards the ministry, you will be filled. It doesn’t matter the color of your skin or your gender. There will be gifts, but you can’t definitively say what they will be. You can say however, that they will be available.
My Experience
My Experience
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When I got saved i immediately could pray in tongues over people and in my own prayer life. I have never been led to speak in tongues out loud in a public meeting but have no problems that it does happen… when it does there should always be interpretation.. which I have done.
Prophecy, Words of Knowledge, Words of Wisdom, Healing, that has happened.
I have prayed for people and they have fallen down.. although I don’t always know why. I’ve seen people dance in the Spirit, and laugh in the Spirit.....
I’ve seen strange thing that God has used to really minister to people and I’ve seen people fake it like somehow they are better if they cackle like a chicken.
So, here’s what I know..... I can’t put God in a box.
What the Church’s Role Is
What the Church’s Role Is
Well, lets go through the examples and see what the church is doing.
Wait and Pray
Wait and Pray
In the church is simply waiting on God and praying.... so that what we do and it’s what we encourage others to do.
Praise, Ask for Boldness for Him to Move through Us
Praise, Ask for Boldness for Him to Move through Us
In we see people being thankful for deliverence and a strong desire to see God increase boldness in their lives so they can do what God would have them do.... so we encourage that same attitude. We know that God wants to rescue the world around us and He wants to do it through us.
Lay Hands on Each Other
Lay Hands on Each Other
In we see that it is a gift He gives to those that Love God. And we see the Apostles praying for those who have already believed in Christ… so that’s what we do. We pray for people to receive the Baptism of the Spirit.
When He Leads.... Follow
When He Leads.... Follow
In we see Peter simply following the leading of the Lord and proclaiming Jesus to people. So we encourage the same… listen for the leading of the Lord. Ask him for his direction and leading… and when he gives you the direction and leading, proclaim it and watch what He does.
Recognize the Baptism Is for Everyone
Recognize the Baptism Is for Everyone
Recognize the Baptism Is for Everyone
Recognize the Baptism Is for Everyone
In the 4th one we see a couple major differences. Paul was a guy who had not walked with Jesus. Some might think they are not qualified to pray for people. Recognize you are called to pray for people to receive the Holy Spirit. Those that received already received the baptism into the name of Christ but were not filled. So we do the same.. we pray for those Christian who have not received it.. Be filled with the Spirit of God.
Another side not to this last one when they were filled they began to speak in tongues and to prophecy. Both works of ministry. The baptism of the Spirit is about being filled so that you can be His hands, His mouth, His feet.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to pray for you following those rules…
I am going to anoint you with oil.
I am going to touch your head and not push.
You are going to come with a heart to receive His Spirit
My prayer will be short unless God leads me to say something specific.
Know that God wants to give you real purpose and power… your past doesn’t matter.... now is what matters.
Will you fall down? Maybe.
Will you cry? Maybe
Will you begin speaking in tongues? Maybe
You are in a safe place here. Do not let what God wants to do through you be hindered by your fear.