Introducing the Filling of the Holy Spirit

Acts 11:22-24 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. 23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.

Review from past couple of days: Spirit-baptism and water baptism
The past couple of days we have taken some time to consider the Holy Spirit's important work of "plugging" people into Jesus at saving faith through what the Bible calls "The Baptism of the Holy Spirit".  Once a person is converted to Christ by grace through faith, having been "plugged in" by Spirit-Baptism, they then "go public" by bearing witness to others through the Christ-ordained rite that is designed to be a sign signifying the  reality of such an event - the ordinance of water baptism.  

Water baptism is the Christian's first major step of their obedience in post-conversion and pictures not only what took place in the Spirit's baptism of them at saving faith,but also communicates their desire to be  under Christ's Lordship and following the Spirit's leading through the scriptures.  With that brief review, we now turn our attention to the focus of today's post that describes the Spirit's primary, repeated ministry in the Christian's life - what the Bible calls the "Spirit-filled" life.

Introduction: Rechargeable batteries and the Spirit-filled life

It is amazing how many batteries one can go through when raising children as active and fun-loving as our own.  Often our smaller children (or even the bigger ones) will come to my wife or me and inquire about batteries. No sooner do we buy those big packs of 10 or more batteries then to find out that we need to purchase more batteries! That is where my wife made the choice to purchase rechargable batteries and a battery charger! As long as we keep those chargers plugged in, the kids will never run out of energy for their toys, but will simply know by looking at the chargers filled with rechargeable batteries whether or not they have what it takes to power their favorites things. 

What ought to characterize the Christian throughout the remainder of their post-conversion life? The Spirit-filled life.


Just as in the illustration above, you and I as Christians - whether new to the faith or converted for years - continue to live life in this world - with the batteries of the Christian walk needing  recharged.  The Spirit-filled life can be likened to the repeated need to be recharged and influenced by the Spirit following one's conversion to saving faith.  

Meet a Spirit-filled man by the name of Barnabas

Acts 11:19-30 details the events the were still following from the persecution of Stephen the Martyr in Acts 7-8.  The church had blossomed and grown despite the hardship and tribulations that she endured.  Acts 11:21 records a major development in regards to the progress of the church at Antioch - "And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord." These people were getting converted as a result of the Spirit's work through the preaching of the Gospel. But now with the people becoming new believers, what was going to be needed? How was this fledgling Christian movement in Antioch going to continue on from this point? Enter the man Barnabas and the key trait which he possessed - being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 11:24, quoted at the beginning of today's post, records how Barnabas "....was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith."  In the remainder of time that we have I would like us to briefly consider what the rest of Acts 11 (particularly 11:23-25 and 30) has to teach us about the filling of the Spirit in regards to is characteristics.

Characteristics of the Spirit-filled life. Acts 11:23-25, 30

1. Clear testimony  11:23a

2. Confident joy      11:23b

3. Consistent in Faith 11:24a

4. Kingdom fruit 11:24b

5. Counted reliable  11:30

Certainly there are other scriptures in the New Testament that bear out more examples and more traits - yet Barnabas' is a great introduction to the Spirit-filled life in terms of what it looks like, sounds like and acts like.  Barnabas (whose name means "son of encouragement) was the type of Christian you enjoyed being around.  The Spirit-filled Christian not only has enough "rechargable energy" for their own Christian walk but they operate in the "over-flow" of the Holy Spirit to the affecting of others.  I think it is only apropos that in the very first place that we find the name "Christian" being used to describe Jesus followers that it should be attached to this idea of being "filled with the Holy Spirit." Having looked at the traits that accompany the Spirit-filled life, we will explore further truths about this wonderful Biblical truth tomorrow.  

P2 Understanding the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Acts 11:16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

Introduction & Review:

In yesterday's post we began considering the Bible's teaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  We traced the idea through the Gospels and the Book of Acts. In today's post we aim to finish up our study by noting what the Epistles teach about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, as well as some final life applications.   

Tracing the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" through the Epistles

Seeing how the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" is understood in the epistles

As one continues on into the New Testament, the baptism of the Holy Spirit becomes clarified in both its meaning and purpose.  1 Corinthians 12:13 represents the clearest definition we have regarding this important ministry of the Holy Spirit: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." Paul's statement here is plain: that all who by grace through faith believe upon Jesus Christ are described as being "baptized into one body" by the Holy Spirit.  What is that body? The body of Jesus Christ - i.e the church.  In other words, the baptism of the Holy Spirit places a believer into the church - that is to say - that group of God's people who are chosen, beloved and truly regenerated by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 3:12)  

Much like when you plug a cord into an outlet to access the power and influence of the electricity, the Holy Spirit's of Spirit baptism connects you to Jesus' Person and power at conversion. Through the progress of revelation in the New Testament, we can see most clearly what John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter and Paul meant by this phrase "baptism of the Holy Spirit."

A quick note on the relationship between "Spirit baptism" and "water baptism"

For those who may wonder what the distinction is between "Spirit baptism" and "water baptism", a quick few thoughts are in order. First, water baptism is something one does to bear witness to their prior conversion to faith in Jesus.  Second, water baptism points back, signifies or pictures what took place in the Spirit baptism of conversion.  Water baptism conveys the meaning of the Christian's prior saving identity in Christ by faith.  Thirdly, being that it communicates visibily the Spirit's invisible prior work of connecting that person to Jesus in saving faith (i.e Spirit baptism), both are related to one another as sign (water baptism) signifying a prior saving event (i.e Spirit baptism). Fourthly, the Spirit's baptism at salvation is the saving event, with water baptism simply re-enacting and making public and visible what took place privately and invisibly. These distinctions are worth pointing out to the reader, being that so much confusion abounds among sincere Christians as to the order and timing of these things. 

Closing thoughts and applications

Today we spent time tracing through the New Testament the phrase: "baptism of the Holy Spirit." We discovered that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is all about connecting you as a believer to Jesus Christ, thus clarifying your Christian identity. (see for example Ephesians 4:1-6)  This event of "Spirit baptism" takes place at conversion and happens to every believer in Christ so convicted by the Spirit to believe on Jesus as Savior and Lord. It is upon this work of the Spirit in connecting us to Jesus that we base our entire identity as Christians. 

P1 Understanding the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Acts 11:16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

Introduction:

In today's post we aim to understand what the Bible has to teach regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Peter is explaining to some Jewish listeners in Acts 11 the significance of the Holy Spirit's outpouring upon a group of Gentile believers in Acts 10:44-48.  A Pentecost-like event occured, resulting in the Holy Spirit being poured out and thus connecting the God-fearing gentile believers to the church that had been birthed forth in Acts 2. The baptism of the Holy Spirit can be likened unto taking a cord and plugging it into a wall outlet.  A sinner at saving faith is plugged into Jesus by the Holy Spirit through the specific ministry that the Bible refers to as the "baptism of the Holy Spirit". We will talk more about this particularly imagery in tomorrow's post, but for now let the imagery register in the reader's mind to aid bring this important Biblical teaching into the realm of concrete, practical understanding.  

Peter's use of the phrase "baptism of the Holy Spirit"
The phrase that Peter uses in Acts 11:16 in his recounting all of the events in Acts 10:44-48 is the statement: "baptized with the Holy Spirit".  Upon hearing Peter connecting the events of Acts 10:44-48 to what took place among the Jewish believers in Acts 2:1-5, the Jews respond to Peter's words.  We see his closing remarks and their response in Acts 11:17-18 - "17 Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” 

So what did Peter mean by this phrase "baptism of the Holy Spirit"? Today's post will trace this idea of "Spirit baptism" through the Gospels and Acts, with the remainder of our study concluding in the Epistles and some applications tomorrow.   

Tracing the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" through the Gospels and Acts

Tracing the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" through the Gospels

The first time we see reference to the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" is in Matthew 3:11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." John the Baptist is the speaker and is explaining to his followers how he is the forerunner to the Messiah - Jesus Christ.  John the Baptist's baptism was a baptism of repentance. By being baptized or immersed into the waters of the Jordon River, the people were identifying with John's message and with the one to Whom He was referring. Their reception of the message of John the Baptist by faith made them fit candidates for this special act of water Baptism.  Jesus of course would eventually come and be baptized by John, not for the sake of repentance (for Jesus was the sinless, incarnate Son of God) but rather for the sake of publically identifying with the people for whom he came to die and to show Himself to be the fulfillment of all righteousness and the Father's will. (Matthew 3:15) 

As John the Baptist preached about his effort in performing baptisms, He states that the One coming after Him (Jesus) will bring about a baptism not of water, but of the Holy Spirit and of fire.  Parallel statements of this sort are found in all four Gospel records. (Matthew 3:11-12; Mark 1:7-8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). This curious phrase is stated by John the Baptist but is offered no further explanation by him, being that its fulfillment was to take place at a later time.  

As Jesus begins to minister throughout Galilee and gradually into the Judean countryside, one of the things He alludes to is the time when the Holy Spirit will come and minister differently than He did in the Old Testament.  The statement made by John the Baptist earlier about the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" appears to be further explained by Jesus in John 7:38-39 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." 

So when was this event of which Jesus speaks going to take place? Furthermore, is this event the same one spoken of earlier by John the Baptist - namely "the baptism of the Holy Spirit"? To answer that question, we need to move onto the book of Acts.

Tracing the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" through the book of Acts

As we come to Acts 1, we see Jesus giving final instructions to his disciples prior to his ascension. Luke records Jesus' words in Acts 1:5 "for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” That event to which Jesus is referring, and to which John the Baptist had referred to at the beginning of the Gospels, in the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-5. By particularly noting how Acts is the sequel to Luke's first volume of His Gospel, we can understand the connection between John the Baptist's statement about "baptism of the Holy Spirit" in Luke 3:16 to Jesus' remarks about it in Acts 1:5. Furthermore, whenever we consider how Peter allusion to Jesus' remark in Acts 11:18 ties together the Spirit's work at Pentecost among the Jews in Acts 2:1-5 and among the Gentile God-fearers in Acts 10:44-48, we can connect the events of the Spirit's outpourings in Acts is seen. 

Seeing how the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is associated with conversions and missions

Jesus told his disciples in Acts 1:8 "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  This verse gives us the outline of the Book of Acts in a nutshell and corresponds to the strategy in which the Holy Spirit was going to enable and empower the church to move forward in its missionary efforts through the Book of Acts.  Each of the major divisions of Acts 1:8 correspond to the four particular occassions of the Spirit's outpouring or what we could call "mini-pentecosts":

a. Jerusalem = The Spirit's outpouring in Jerusalem at Pentecost in Acts 2:1-5

b. Judea/Samaria = The Spirit's outpouring upon the Samaritans in Acts 8:14-17

c. Uttermost parts of the earth = The Spirit's outpouring upon the God-fearing gentiles in Acts 10:44-48 and Pagan gentiles in Acts 19:1-6. 

As we begin to understand further about this phrase "Baptism of the Holy Spirit", we see the Bible associating it with the conversion of people from an Old Testament to New Testament understanding of things, with the eventual specific point being the conversion of people to Jesus Christ in faith and repentance. An example of evidence for this understanding is found in what we noted earlier about Peter's statement about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 11:16 and the people's response in 11:18, namely they saw that the Gentiles were included or connected to God's saving purposes. Like a plug in a wall socket, the Holy Spirit of God was gradually revealing to the early church His desire to call and plug in otherwise dead sinners by faith into the Person and work of Jesus Christ.   

More tomorrow........

Concluding Lesson To Praying with Jesus: Praying For Strength

Hebrews 5:7 "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety."

It is hard to believe that we have reached the tenth and final day of this study on "praying like Jesus". In writing this study I have felt convicted about my own prayer-life, seeing that in comparison to Jesus, I have a long way to go. Having said that, you and I as Christians can praise God for the fact that when we aim to pray like Jesus, Jesus is praying with us and for us. (1 John 2:1-2; Hebrews 2:10-14) In our study we have covered nine crucial characteristics of praying like Jesus:

1. Priority & power 
2. Fellowship of prayer
3. Prayer in our decisions
4. Praying for one's enemies
5. Thankfulness
6. Encouraging others to pray
7. Praying for unbelievers
8. Praising God
9. Persisting in prayer

Today's final characteristic of Jesus-like praying is the idea of praying for strength. This particular trait may strike some as the most unusual - being that Jesus was fully God. However the reader must remember that Jesus incarnation meant He also became fully man. His teaching and example of praying for strength serves to instruct us. We read in Luke 18:9-14 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away,was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Too often we as Christians pride ourselves in being able to do what we do "by ourselves". Human self-sufficiency is the enemy of moving forward in the Christian life. On the other hand, when you admit to God that you are weak welcomes His supernatural power to intervene in your life. (Romans 8:26-27). 

Notice what Jesus says to Peter in Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Jesus prayed for Peter to have strength - since the flesh and human ability are ineffective in matters of spiritual warfare or growth. Jesus Himself got alone with His Father to be strengthened and He even permitted angels to aid Him in His human life. (Luke 22:43)

Point of Application: If Jesus in His humanity prayed for strength and relied upon the strength of the Heavenly Father, then who are we to deny ourselves the same said privilege? Jesus humbled Himself and in His prayer life He saw dependence upon His Father as the fulcrum by which to accomplish His mission. In closing out this series on "praying like Jesus", may we pray to God for strength to pray like Jesus, so that our prayer-lives can be more like His and be more effective in the coming days.

Praying Like Jesus: Persisting In Prayer

Hebrews 5:7 "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety." 

The reasoning behind this study is simple: in praying like Jesus our consistency and effectiveness in prayer will increase. Thus far we have considered the following eight traits of Jesus' prayer-life: priority & power; fellowship of prayer; prayer in our decisions; praying for one's enemies; thankfulness; encouraging others to pray; praying for unbelievers and praising God. Today's post features a vital trait that must not merely accompany prayer but be regarded as the essence of prayer itself - namely persistence. 

Roughly 30% of Jesus teaching ministry included parables. A parable is quite literally taking a known idea, experience or story and "throwing it alongside" an otherwise unknown or familiar spiritual concept. On one occasion we see Jesus so emphasizing the need to persevere in prayer that He dedicates an entire parable to that theme. Luke records the parable of the "Unjust Judge" in Luke 18:1-8 "Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, 2 saying, 'In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.3 There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ 4 For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’ 6 And the Lord said, 'Hear what the unrighteous judge said; 7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?'

What is amazing about all of the traits of Jesus' prayer-life that we have studied up to this point is that we could possess them all, and yet not pray-like Jesus for reason of simply giving up in prayer. Certainly it is difficult to judge which characteristic is most crucial when it comes to prayer. Anyone of the traits is important. However the theme of "persistent prayer", or what older Bible translations term "importune prayer" gets us close to distinguishing Jesus-like prayer  from powerless rote-like prayer. The key to persisting in prayer, according to this parable, is to plead upon the character and ability of God to bring about answers to our prayer. If you and I believe that God hears prayer (Matthew 7:7-11) and if we believe He is able to do far beyond all that we can think and imagine (Ephesians 3:20) then our ability to persevere will be heightened. It is fair to say that to the degree you believe God is willing and able, so will be the amount you persist in prayer. This is why we read Jesus saying in Luke 21:36 "But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Point of Application: Prayer, like life itself, is not a sprint but a marathon. Faith trains us to base our confidence on what we can't see, rather than on what we can see. May we not give up and become prayerless. As Adrian Rogers once said: "God's delays are not God's denials." May you and I persist in our prayers and keep on keeping on until God answers our requests.

Praying Like Jesus: Praising God

Hebrews 5:7 "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety." 

As we have surveyed the prayer-life of Jesus up to this point, our aim has been in praying like Him. The reasoning behind this study is simple: in praying like Jesus our consistency and effectiveness in prayer will increase. Thus far we have considered the following seven traits of Jesus' prayer-life: 

1. Priority & power

2. Fellowship of prayer

3. Prayer in our decisions

4. Praying for one's enemies

5. Thankfulness

6. Encouraging others to pray 

7. Praying for the salvation of unbelievers.

In today's post we focus on another very important trait of what it means to pray like Jesus - praising the Father. Luke records by Divine inspiration these words in Luke 10:21 "At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, 'I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight." Now why was Jesus praising the Father? In the context of Luke 10, seventy of Jesus' followers had been sent out with instructions on how to minister and perform miracles in Jesus' name. Nothing thrills the Lord more than when His people do His bidding and do it with joy! In Luke 10:1-20 we see the seventy go out and then return with exceeding joy on the success that attended their ministry.

Jesus' instructions to them and delegation of authority was the reason for their success. Yet what we see Jesus doing in Luke 10:21 speaks volumes as to why His instructions and delegation to those seventy disciples was successful - because He gave credit to the Father. The life of praise to God is like a fountain that spills over into the attitudes and the activities of the person. Praising God in prayer has the effect of transforming both the person and those around them. Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us that "the joy of the Lord is our strength". Philippians 4:4 adds to the previous thought by connecting our praise with God to His power and peace in Philippians 4:5-9. When praise is the tone of our prayers, all of the other elements studied thus far in this blog series will take its cue. Jesus' prayer life was regulated by His joy and praise of the Father.

Point of Application: When you and I praise the Lord in our prayer times, prayer automatically goes from being a duty to a delight. Jesus was a joyful man - and it shows! When you and I are joyful on the inside, it will show on the outside. Joy carries with it a sense of calmness and certainty that is missing in our world. May you and I pray like Jesus by praising the Father!

Praying Like Jesus: Praying For Unbelievers

Hebrews 5:7 "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety." 

Welcome to day seven of our study on "Praying Like Jesus". The hope is that this study has began to change how you look at prayer and pray. In today's post Jesus is going to demonstrate perhaps one of the most significant things we can pray for: praying for unbelievers. When we think of all the reasons God has the church to continue being a presence here on earth, a number of suggestions are offered. Some note that Jesus wanted to have us remain in this world to be a worshipping people. Certainly we are to worship Him through our songs, hearing the Word of God and living out our daily lives before others - however worship will only be perfect in heaven. As noted teacher Dr. John MacArthur points out - the clue to defining our main purpose for remaining here on earth is found in the one thing we will not be doing in Heaven. 

All other activities that are very important: fellowship, growing in sanctification and learning scripture are biggies when it comes to defining the essentials of Godly living in this world - however they do not mark the chief reason for why we are here. All of those activities will continue on into eternity where Christians will not only had perfected them but will continue excelling in them. The only activity that will cease once we leave this world - either by death or rapture - is that of evangelism.

Jesus states in Luke 10:1-2 "Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. 2 And He was saying to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."'  Praying for unsaved loved ones, friends and co-workers opens the door for the Holy Spirit to lay such persons on our hearts and to see them as souls in need of the Savior. Evangelism is the Christian's greatest responsibility, which requires prayer.

As Jesus was dying on the cross, He prayed on behalf of unbelievers in Luke 23:33-34. Jesus uttered a total of seven sayings on the cross, and the prayer for unconverted people was the first of those sayings. The heart of Jesus' mission was to die for sinners. In the immediate sense He was praying for the Romans and Jews who had sentenced and condemned Him. Yet we also recognize in that prayer He was praying by extension for those sinners who sins He died for.

Point of Application: How often do you and I pray for unbelievers? We pray for the sick - and we should. We often pray for safety in traveling or before our meals - and we ought. We pray for provision of needs - which is necessary. Yet how often do we pray for unbelievers' salvation? Praying for the unsaved is the one thing that will break us from the tendency to focus on ourselves and begin the process of focusing on others. This is how Jesus taught and lived in His prayer life - putting others before Himself.