Last Saturday night we celebrated water baptisms. It was powerful! As I stood near the tank to hold the microphone for Brent – it felt like there was a huge flash of light each time a believer went through the water.
Pastor Brent spoke that night about Pentecost – both the Jewish feast of Shavuot and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that day. As I meditated on this, I believe that God highlighted to me some truths from scripture about the Gift of the Holy Spirit to share with you this week:
The Kingdom of Heaven and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit:
Jesus said: “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matt 11:11 ESV)
This is astonishing. Think about the great men and women who were "born of woman" before John the Baptist: the miracles and spiritual authority of Moses, the authority of Deborah and of Samuel, the favor of God upon David, the wisdom and splendor of Solomon, the miracles and power of Elijah and Elisha! And yet Jesus said that the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than these?
So then, who gets to be in the kingdom of heaven – while still on the earth?
Jesus offered the answer to Nicodemus in John 3:3 - Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:3-6 ESV)
Being “born again” is about being re-generated with our Father’s DNA – by His Spirit. Some think that the water that Jesus spoke of is the water of baptism.
John the Baptist baptized, and even Jesus baptized people with water through His disciples (John 3:22 and 4:1-2). But this was not yet the fullness. How do we know? The Apostle John tells us:
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, asthe Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39 ESV)
Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit! (John 1:33) He began on the day of Pentecost. Here are verses from Acts Chapter 2 (ESV). The Apostle Peter is speaking to a crowd:
32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Just let the inexpressible extravagance of this gift wash through you! The very Spirit of our Father given to us by Jesus!
If you’re like me, you may be wondering: “Okay, I believe that I’ve received gift of the Holy Spirit – so even if I’m the least in the kingdom of heaven; shouldn’t I show some evidence of being greater than the heroes in the Old Testament?”
Good question! Part of the answer is that the full baptism of the Holy Spirit was not available until Jesus died on our behalf and opened the way for the Holy Spirit to continually dwell with those who trust Jesus. That is a greater gift right there! Yet, it is also true that few possess the Holy Spirit without measure or limit - like Jesus did in His human body. So, let's keep seeking, knocking, and asking Papa God about that (see Matt 7:7 and Luke 11:9). He will not withhold any good thing from us! (Ps 84:11)
This Saturday night (June 2), we'll explore living in the Spirit – especially in the realms of health and healing. We have the honor of receiving from our own Eva Medina and Lonnie Ellis. AND Abba has arranged for Pastor Felito Utuie from Iris Ministries/Mozambique to be with us. Pastor Felito is warm, humble, full of the Spirit, and has seen much of heaven's reality come to earth.
Expectantly,
Russ Fochler
Pastor Brent spoke that night about Pentecost – both the Jewish feast of Shavuot and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that day. As I meditated on this, I believe that God highlighted to me some truths from scripture about the Gift of the Holy Spirit to share with you this week:
The Kingdom of Heaven and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit:
Jesus said: “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matt 11:11 ESV)
This is astonishing. Think about the great men and women who were "born of woman" before John the Baptist: the miracles and spiritual authority of Moses, the authority of Deborah and of Samuel, the favor of God upon David, the wisdom and splendor of Solomon, the miracles and power of Elijah and Elisha! And yet Jesus said that the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than these?
So then, who gets to be in the kingdom of heaven – while still on the earth?
Jesus offered the answer to Nicodemus in John 3:3 - Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:3-6 ESV)
Being “born again” is about being re-generated with our Father’s DNA – by His Spirit. Some think that the water that Jesus spoke of is the water of baptism.
John the Baptist baptized, and even Jesus baptized people with water through His disciples (John 3:22 and 4:1-2). But this was not yet the fullness. How do we know? The Apostle John tells us:
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, asthe Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39 ESV)
Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit! (John 1:33) He began on the day of Pentecost. Here are verses from Acts Chapter 2 (ESV). The Apostle Peter is speaking to a crowd:
32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Just let the inexpressible extravagance of this gift wash through you! The very Spirit of our Father given to us by Jesus!
If you’re like me, you may be wondering: “Okay, I believe that I’ve received gift of the Holy Spirit – so even if I’m the least in the kingdom of heaven; shouldn’t I show some evidence of being greater than the heroes in the Old Testament?”
Good question! Part of the answer is that the full baptism of the Holy Spirit was not available until Jesus died on our behalf and opened the way for the Holy Spirit to continually dwell with those who trust Jesus. That is a greater gift right there! Yet, it is also true that few possess the Holy Spirit without measure or limit - like Jesus did in His human body. So, let's keep seeking, knocking, and asking Papa God about that (see Matt 7:7 and Luke 11:9). He will not withhold any good thing from us! (Ps 84:11)
This Saturday night (June 2), we'll explore living in the Spirit – especially in the realms of health and healing. We have the honor of receiving from our own Eva Medina and Lonnie Ellis. AND Abba has arranged for Pastor Felito Utuie from Iris Ministries/Mozambique to be with us. Pastor Felito is warm, humble, full of the Spirit, and has seen much of heaven's reality come to earth.
Expectantly,
Russ Fochler
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