The moral and supernatural characteristics of the filling of the Spirit

Acts 11:24-25  "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."

Introduction and review:
In recent posts on this blog we have looked at what is meant by the term "filling of the Holy Spirit".  We noted from our study of Acts 11 the following characteristics of Barnabas as a Spirit-filled believer:

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

The Spirit's filling ministry is marked mainly by increases in moral integrity and on occasion seasons of supernatural enablement
The above heading on this next paragraph represent where this author stands on the nature of the Spirit's filling ministry.  One writer who has aided greatly in seeing how Christians filled with the Holy Spirit are primarily impacted in moral categories and in exceptional cases, supernatural seasons, is author and theologian John R.W. Stott.  He writes the following about the filling or what he terms "the fulness of the Spirit" : "The Spirit's fullness involves not a private, mystical experience so much as moral relationships with God and our fellow man." 1 Certainly we should see a difference in a Christian who is filled or under the influence of the Spirit's working in their lives. However it must also be maintained too that being that the Spirit is the One doing the work in concert with the believer's willingness to be shaped by such filling, such a work is supernatural. 

Stott later on writes in that same booklet the following statement which I think brings clarity with regards to those Christians upon whom the Holy Spirit may Sovereignly pour out unusual amounts of supernatural graces and giftings: "I do not for a moment deny any of these things. Nevertheless, these are not the usual, general, or common purpose of God for all His people, but the unusual, particular, and exceptional ministries of the Holy Spirit to some. Those to whom the Sovereign Spirit grants such experiences should indeed bow down and worship God in gratitude. But they should not, if they are true to scripture, refer to any of them as the baptism of the Spirit. Nor should they urge the same experiences upon others as if they were the spiritual norm. Nor should they suggest that such unusual spiritual experiences are the secret of either holiness or usefulness, since many in the history of the church have been powerful in character and ministry without them."2

With the mainly moral and occasional supernatural dimensions of the filling of the Spirit laid out, let us now briefly aim to put some Bible underneath these statements, being that without the scriptures, we have no authority by which to understand life nor the Christian life. 

Scriptures that lay out for us the Spirit-filled life in its moral and supernatural characteristics
For sake of brevity, we will lay out as much as possible the main texts in the Epistles that explain to us the Spirit-filled Christian life.  The Book of Acts certainly gives us concrete illustrations of such (such as Peter, Paul and Barnabas), however we also need explanations and clarifications of such events and experiences, which is why we turn to the Epistles.

1. Romans 8:5  "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds onthe things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."

In Romans 8:1-5 the Apostle Paul lays out a full description of the Spirit-filled life with regards to how it operates  - namely by the law or power of the Spirit.  Much like an aircraft "operates" by the law of lift in counteracting the "law of gravity", the Spirit-filled Christian relies upon the indwelling Spirit to influence him or her to govern their drives, emotional life and thought lives by the Spirit's work of filling and leading them.

2. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?"

The distinctions made between "carnal" and "spiritual" should not be taken too sharply to refer to two classifcations of Christians, but rather two ways in which Christians can operate.  All Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit and all Christians have the new nature. However some Christians choose to rely upon their soulish realm of mind, emotions and will in living their lives, rather than the Holy Spirit inside their human spirit.  The terms "spiritual" and "carnal" define the source from whence the Christian is operating or being influenced. The goal of the Spirit-filled life is always to submit one's soulish realm under the influence of the Holy Spirit in the human spirit. Remember - the Spirit-filled life is not a matter of you getting more of the Spirit, but rather Him having more of you.

3. Galatians 5:16 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."
Paul here is explaining the Spirit-filled life in another fashion as that which defines the Christian's manner of living or walking. It is in this chapter of Galatians we see both the primary moral emphasis of the Spirit filled life (Galatians 5:22-24, 26) and the supernatural aspect undergirding the moral fruit (Galatians 5:25). 

4. Ephesians 5:18 "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit."  

This passage is the clearest one in all the New Testament that demonstrates the obligation every Christian has to be Spirit-filled.  Here we see the heart of this teaching - namely being under the influence and control of the Spirit. In context we see how the filling of the Holy Spirit is to be a constant and repeatable experience of the Christian, whereby they consciously submit themselves to the Spirit's leading through the scriptures.  Ephesians 6 of course lays out the practical outcomes of the filling of the Spirit in the realm of marriage, raising children, employment and spiritual warfare. 

5. Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

This passage functions as a parallel to Ephesians 5:18 and ties together the Holy Spirit's ministry inside the Christian's human spirit to the Holy Spirit's ministry to the Christian through the scriptures.  It is a manifest impossibility to be Spirit-filled apart from exposure, study and submission to the Word of God.  Being that Paul write Ephesians and Colossians at almost the same time, we can see why his remarks are so closely related.  

6. 2 Peter 1:4-5a "For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, havingescaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence...."

Though we may not necessarily see the term "filling in this passage", yet this is Peter's way of describing the same reality.  Both the primary moral dimension of the Holy Spirit's filling and ministry and its attendant supernatural aspect is described fully here in 2 Peter 1.  Years ago author Jack Taylor described the Spirit-filled life as the "much more life".  As Peter dsecribes the Spirit-filled Christian in these verses, he is speaking of someone who sees the need to "add" onto their faith.  

Closing thoughts
The hope is that with these last few posts, that the reader has gotten initiated to this very important and often neglected area of the Spirit-filled Christian life.  The reader is encouraged to look at the passages in today's post, as well as the remarks made over the past couple of posts to bring into sharper understand this curcial truth for Christian living - the Spirit-filled life. 
Endnotes:
1. John R.W. Stott. The Baptism and Fulness of the Spirit. Intervarsity Press. 1965.

2. John R.W. Stott. The Baptism and Fulness of the Spirit. Intervarsity Press. 1965. Page 36

Four Antidotes to worry

Matthew 6:33-34 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Introduction and review
Yesterday we zeroed in on Matthew 6:25-34 to consider the three negative truths about worry.  We mentioned how Jesus' teaching against worry comprised the practical realm of His vision in Matthew 6 on the powerful, practical Christian life.  We also noted that the word translated worry in Matthew 6:25,27,28,31 and 34 speaks quite literally of a person's mind being pulled in all sorts of different directions. The three negatives of worry that we gleaned from Jesus' instructions were:

1. Worry is worthless.  Matthew 6:25-26
2. Worry doesn't work. Matthew 6:27-30
3. Worry's wages pay nothing. Matthew 6:31

In today's post we are featuring the four antidotes to worry that we find in this text and throughout God's Word. 

Distinguishing between concern, responsibility and worry
Before we move into the four antidotes to cure the worry is your life, let me say a word  to those who may be tempted to assume that we should not be moved to concern or responsibility.  Concern refers to being able to target specific attention on an area in a responsible way honoring to God. Romans 12:8 gives an example of what it means to exercise proper concern: "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." Likewise, taking responsibility means taking care of the things in life as God's steward. 1 Corinthians 4:2 "In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy." Worry is different from concern and responsibility.  Whereas concern and responsibilty operates on "what is true", worry operates on "what if's". As Oswald Chambers has noted: "Worry is caused by calculating without God." To not take responsibility is negligence; to not be concerned is ignorance. However to worry is sin.  Whereas responsibility and concern for the Christian proceeds from faith, worry proceeds from fear.  

Jesus four antidotes to worry in Matthew 6:25-34
Whenever I think of these four antidotes, they could also be four great doctrinal foundations upon which to lead a church, a family or your life.  Jesus lays them out to us as antidotes to defeating worry.  Please note them.

1. Jesus. Matthew 6:25a
Who is speaking these words of instruction to us? Jesus Christ - God in human flesh. (John 1:1, 14)  He is the foundation (Ephesians 2:20); the anchor of faith (Hebrews 6:18) and the author and finisher of faith (Hebrews 12:1). When the sea vessel of my faith begins to be blown around by the winds of worry, I only need to call to the Master and he through His word will say: "peace be still!" Notice the second antidote...

2. Sovereignty of God. Matthew 6:25b-32
I remember one time seeing a church sign that said these words: "Rather than telling God how big your problems are, you need to tell your problems how big your God is!"  God's Sovereignty is His comprehensive control over all peoples, places and times.  Jesus shows how Sovereign God is in His Provision (6:25b-30) and His All-knowingness or omniscience (6:31-32). Consider some of these other verses on God's Sovereignty. 1 Chronicles 29:11 "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, OLord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all." Romans 11:36 "From Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory and majesty forever, amen!"  So we see how Jesus and His Sovereignty are effective antidotes against worry.  The bigger God is shown to me, the small my problems become. Let us then consider the third antidote....

3. The cross.  Matthew 6:33
Jesus notes in Matthew 6:33a "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness....".  Even though Jesus spoke these words some three years before His cross, yet the Bible is clear of there being only one way in which we can access God's righteousness - through the finished work of Jesus on the cross and from the empty tomb.  All that preceeded the cross lokked forward to it, and everything else thereafter proceeds from it.  The cross is the place to flee to for the Christian looking for asylum from worry.  Hebrews 12:3 states - "For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Worry will cause anyone to lose heart - yet the cross is where we go when we feel our faith weakening and our resolve loosening.  So we look to Jesus, God's Sovereignty and the cross to remedy worry.  Praise be to God there is one other antidote in Matthew 6:33-34 - God's promises.

4. God's promises.  Matthew 6:33-34
Matthew 6:33-34 states - "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." There are at least 8,000 promises in the Bible.  2 Peter 1:4 reminds us - "For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, havingescaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." Lamentation 3:23-24 states - 
"The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”

An illustration - His mercies or lovingkindness is new every morning
Whenever we consider Lamentations 3:22-24 in concert with what we read in Matthew 6:34, we have a very potent combination of promises to effectively deal with worry. To illustrate how God's promises work against worry, lets picture those lovingkindnesses spoken of by Jeremiah in Lamentations as 5 crisp one dollar bills, placed in my hand by God every morning.  Throughout the day I encounter typical challenges - some planned and some unknown.  The toast for breakfast burns in the toaster - a fifty cent problem.  On the way to work someone cuts me off - another fifty cent problem.  At lunch I discover I have a flat tire - a two dollar problem.  Once fixed, I work through the rest of my day and on the way home, that same guy cuts me off - fifty cents, and when I get home, I realize the toaster may need fixed - another fifty cent problem.  Now by the end of the day I have a dollar's worth of lovingkindess or mercy left to operate. Suddenly I get a phonecall and find out that the boss would have me to come in a half-hour early to tackle another big project.  Now to me that may very well be a two dollar problem - and here I am with one dollar of mercy left.  I'm tempted to say - "Oh God, I cannot take much more.  I don't have what it takes to tackle that situation.  Then He reminds me of verses such as Lamentation 3:22-24 and Matthew 6:34. That night I fall asleep and the next morning, bright and early, God is there to meet me with five dollars of fresh lovingkindness.  I have five dollars of grace to tackle a two dollar problem.  Come to find out that what I thought was a two dollar problem was really not worth fifty cents of worry!  

Closing thoughts
You see, when we consider God's promises, as coming from the Sovereign God, paid for at the cross by Jesus, we have discovered the antidotes to worry: Jesus, God's Sovereignty, the cross and God's promises.  Matthew 6:25-34 gives us the antidotes we need to defeat the disease of worry.  May you and I regularly take what the Great Physican has prescribed to us here in these verses.

Three negative truths about worry

Matthew 6:25-26 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?"

Introduction: The three-legged stool of Powerful, Practical Christianity

The vision of the powerful, practical Christian life given by Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6 outlines for the reader the three-legged stool upon which the Christian life rests.  The first leg is that of the doctrinal in Matthew 6:1-15. Jesus unfolds the heart of prayer as he teaches the disciple's, upon their request, what an effective prayer-life looks like, sounds like and acts like. The second leg that the Christian-life rests upon is the supernatural leg, as seen in Matthew 6:16-24. Jesus points his listeners to the supernatural provision of fasting that God's people can practice in making more room for God in their life.  Without doctrine, the supernatural cannot be explained and without the supernatural, doctrine becomes dry.  However there is a third equally important leg that enables Jesus' listeners to act on both - the practical leg in Matthew 6:25-34. In applying sound doctrine and relying upon God's supernatural power, Jesus gives His listeners exhortation on how to avoid worry.  These three legs: the doctrinal, supernatural and practical comprise Jesus' vision for the powerful, practical Christian life in Matthew 6. 

Zeroing in on Jesus' warning not to worry

With that introduction, we now zero in on Matthew 6:25-34 to consider the subject of today's post: Three negative truths about worry.  As we just mentioned, this comprises the practical realm of Jesus' address on the powerful, practical Christian life.  The word translated worry in Matthew 6:25,27,28,31 and 34 speaks quite literally of a person's mind being pulled in all sorts of different directions.  In today's post we aim to look first of all at worry itself, with tomorrow featuring four antidotes to worry that we find in this text and throughout God's Word. 

3 negative truths about worry

1. Worry is worthless. Matthew 6:25-26

Matthew 6:25-26 is where Jesus points out the worthlessness of worry.  Could you imagine a bird sitting in his nest with his wing propping up his head and his brow furrowed, wondering where he is going to get the next worm? It is proposterous to think about - which is Jesus' point.  Worry is worthless. David reminds us in Psalm 127:2 "It is vain for you to rise up early,To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors". For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep." But notice what else Jesus has to tell us about worry....

2. Worry doesn't work. Matthew 6:27-30

Jesus states in Matthew 6:27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?"  The rhetorical question posed by Jesus has a very clear and self-evident implication: no one, because worry doesn't work? Then Jesus gives a second illustration from the realm of nature or general revelation - the flowers of the field coupled with a scene from the special revelation of the Bible - Solomon in all his glory.  Solomon, the richest and wisest man who ever lived (with the exception of Jesus) was adorned in robes of wealth, and yet the fields, full of weeds, have dotting their hills and meadows vibrant colors far more vibrant than Solomon's jewels.  Worry has never once added anything to life - but only taken from life.  It doesn't work and it is a worthless exercise but notice thirdly what Jesus says about worry....

3. Worry's wages. Matthew 6:31-32

Jesus says in Matthew 6:31-32a "Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things....". Jesus lists three typical problem areas that people think they will solve by worrying: "What will we eat? What will we drink" and "What will we wear for clothing?" Adrian Rogers has noted that worry is the interest we pay today over the debt of anxiety that we have about tomorrow. Worry does not add to your life, it subtracts. 

Those are the three negative truths about worry. Tomorrow we will consider the four antidotes to worry.  

Noting further thoughts about the Spirit-filled life

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.

Introduction and review

Yesterday we began considering what is meant by the Bible's teaching on the "filling of the Holy Spirit". We considered Barnabas as an introduction to this important truth - being that he is described as being Spirit-filled and is a great illustration of what the Spirit-filled life can look like, sound like and act like.  We also compared the Spirit-filled life to rechargable batteries, noting that the Christian who is repeatedly filled with the Spirit following their conversion will have all they need to live the Christian life and be a blessing to others. Today we want to explore the Spirit-filled life a bit further by considering what some Bible teachers of the past have to note about it.  We will then conclude with some implications to be seen about the Spirit-filled Christian life. 

What some well-known Bible teachers of past and present have to say about the Spirit-filled Christian life. 

Charles Stanley notes the following about the filling of the Holy Spirit in his book - "The Wonderful Spirit-filled life": "A big part of the Spirit-filled life is learning to recognize the fingerprint of the Holy Spirit. Once you know what to look for and once you begin looking for it, you will be amazed at how real the Holy Spirit will become to you. Learning to recognize the Holy Spirit is the first step in learning to live the Spirit-filled life."1 It has been often said that the issue of the Spirit-filled life is not about getting more of the Holy Spirit as it is of Him getting more of you.  As we saw a few days ago, the Spirit's work of baptizing a believer connects them to the Person and Power of Christ.  We cannot get more nor less of the Spirit, since He shares in the same eternal nature as the Son and the Father.  You cannot add nor subtract from an Infinite Person.  However as Christians, we are finite and thus there can always be more of us under the Spirit's control and influence.

The late Bible scholar Dr. John Walvoord notes that the Spirit-filled life is the primary source of spiritual experience. He writes: "A careful study of the nature of the filling of the Holy Spirit will reveal that it is the source of all vital spiritual experience in the life of the Christ."2 

Thus at stake in the Spirit-filled life is the producing of my experience of Jesus' Person and power by way of being under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit. Positionally I am made right with God by His supreme declaration of justification over me at saving faith.  If justification can be considered to be the center-piece truth of the Christian's conversion, then the Spirit-filled life ought to be considered the center-piece reality governing the Christian's post-conversion life.   

Oswald Chambers in his book: "My Utmost of His Highest" notes this about the Spirit-filled Christian life: "God saves a person, fills him with the Holy Spirit, and then says, in effect, 'Now you work it out in your life, and be faithful to Me, even though the nature of everything around you is to cause you to be unfaithful.'" 

Closing thoughts for today
In looking at what these three authors have said about the filling of the Holy Spirit, we can note how from differing angles, the Spirit-filled life is about bringing you from a point of passivity about God to activity in God.  On the same token, the Spirit-filled life's aim is to train you in abandoning self-sufficiency in favor of looking to Jesus Christ as your all-sufficiency.  In as much as the Spirit-filled Christian life is about the Holy Spirit getting more of you and you being saturated by Him, truly the Spirit filled Christian will be marked as one who is truly saturated and filled with Jesus Christ. 

Endnotes:

1. Charles Stanley. The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life. Nelson. 1992

2. John Walvoord. The Holy Spirit. Zondervan. Page 189

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........