THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST - IMMERSED IN THE SPIRIT
Immersed: To plunge into something that surrounds or covers; purification by or submergence (becoming subordinate to) in The Spirit
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
FILLED: To gorge, in abundance, completely satisfy. Also to SATIATE : something that has destroyed interest or desire. (ie: desire for the world.)
FULL: Replete (full and abundantly provided for) Covered over. Complete.
The scriptures give many examples of being filled and full of The Holy Ghost:
Luk 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness...Act 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel...
The Holy Ghost is NOT...
A Checklist of Achievement....just to speak in Tongues
A Thing....just a power or force. (ie: Simon-Act 8:18-20)
A Place...a level of spirituality, a place to relax
The Holy Ghost is a PERSON:
He is the third personhood of the Trinity.
He is equal with the Father and the Son: God the Father, God the Son, God The Holy Ghost
He is the Spirit of Truth, the Intercessor, The Comforter, The Teacher, The Guide (etc...)
Immersed: To plunge into something that surrounds or covers; purification by or submergence (becoming subordinate to) in The Spirit
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
FILLED: To gorge, in abundance, completely satisfy. Also to SATIATE : something that has destroyed interest or desire. (ie: desire for the world.)
FULL: Replete (full and abundantly provided for) Covered over. Complete.
The scriptures give many examples of being filled and full of The Holy Ghost:
Luk 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness...Act 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel...
The Holy Ghost is NOT...
A Checklist of Achievement....just to speak in Tongues
A Thing....just a power or force. (ie: Simon-Act 8:18-20)
A Place...a level of spirituality, a place to relax
The Holy Ghost is a PERSON:
He is the third personhood of the Trinity.
He is equal with the Father and the Son: God the Father, God the Son, God The Holy Ghost
He is the Spirit of Truth, the Intercessor, The Comforter, The Teacher, The Guide (etc...)
Why We NEED to RECEIVE The Holy Ghost:
STORY OF THE HAUNTED HOUSE... Mat 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
The unclean spirit is gone out of a man due to Salvation because unclean spirits never leave voluntarily!
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
As studying this, I THOUGHT I understood what "empty and garnished" meant until I dug a little deeper!
Empty: From G4981; to take a holiday, that is, be at leisure for (by implication devote oneself wholly to); figuratively to be vacant (of a house): - empty, give self
Garnished: From G2889; to put in proper order, that is, decorate (literally or figuratively); specifically to snuff (a wick): - adorn, garnish, trim.
I like to tour new houses and some of them are “model” homes. They are furnished and decorated beautifully, everything in order…but there is no life in the house. The rooms are not used. No Activity, no work going on in the rooms.. They are houses…not homes. Beautifully decorated leisure. Easy targets for thieves.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Spiritual Application:
If we are not activitely seeking the Lord, working for Him, occupying ourselves for the Lord...If we believe that we have attained a certain "spiritual level"...that we can rest on our achievements or our “checklists”. I’m Saved (check!)...Sanctified (check!)…Baptized (check!)...I’m a good person (check!)... If we neglect our works of Prayer, Bible Study, Church Attendance…then the following can happen…we can easily be overcome.
The same account is found in Luke, however Luke also shares this warning.
Luk 11:21-22 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
We need a Strong Man (The Holy Ghost) to dwell in our vessels / Heart / lives...so that a stronger man than ourselves won't overcome us and take away our armour. (Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation, Sword of the Spirit, Breastplate of Righteousness, Belt of Truth, Feet shod with Prep. Of Gospel of Peace).
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power,after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…TO BE AT LEISURE? NO!!....…and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Psa 104:4
...to be continued.
2 comments:
Good stuff. Thanks. I'll say a big "AMEN!" to the part about the Holy Ghost not being just something to mark off our check list. I often stand in awe at our people who are so zealous to pray with a person UNTIL they receive the Holy Ghost, and the moment the person speaks in tongues it's all over. It's like all the altar workers think, "Whew! My work is DONE. I won't have to pray for that person again." They act like speaking in tongues is the cure-all. Speaking in tongues is NOT what "fixes" everything; it's just the initial outward evidence that the "power for service" abides inside. Unless, of course, the tongues aren't from the Holy Ghost...but that's a whole different subject. ;-)
That's right! Tongues is NOT the gift. The Gift is The Spirit and The Power of God dwelling within us.
Unknown tongues is The Holy Ghost sayin "hi! I'm here...I'll take over now."...in Heaven's language of course. :)
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