dedicating to the LORD a time for seeking His face, following His leading, and knowing His voice
Introduction:
Thus far we have seen how the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of implicit foreshadowings and explicit prophecies in Scripture. We have also seen the lasting transformation the Baptism imparts to the individual, for witnessing, discernment, and intimacy in their relationship with the Lord. Thanks to the error of the Corinthian church, we also have studied the proper purposes and settings for the spiritual manifestations that come as a result of the Baptism. These manifestations can be separated into those that edify the individual believer and those that edify a body consisting of many believers.
In covering all of the above, we have answered the why's, who's, when's and the where's involving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Why? The Baptism is meant for empowered living and ministry. Who? Jesus is the Baptist in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Baptism is for all believers. When and where? The Baptism and its manifestations are deeply personal experiences for the prayer closet and for the mission field just outside the believer's doorstep. The Baptism also opens another door for that believer to be empowered to edify other believers. This last lesson in the series, however, is designed specifically to answer the question of how. How does a believer receive this experience? The answer with the best guarantee of success is to seek the Giver of the Baptism wholeheartedly, "to seek the face of He who baptizes" (from the study's introduction) and to wait upon the Lord.
We can learn by the successes of those in Scripture who sought more from the Lord. Moses asked the Lord bluntly "show me your glory" (Exodus 33:18), but only after the Lord had told him first "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." Elisha followed his master persistently and asked him "let me inherit a double portion of your spirit" (2 Kings 2:9). Moses and Elisha both received their experiences but they also had another thing in common, they knew the voice of their master and their master knew them. Scripture records another such success story, one that has a lot to do with seeking the Lord, receiving an experience, the voice of the Lord and, amazingly enough, the day of Pentecost. The story is found in 2 Chronicles 15:1-15. In the case of Judah, Scripture declares "the LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you," (2 Chronicles 15:2c). The Lord is with us when we are with Him and if we seek Him wholeheartedly, He promises to be found by us. Truth is, He wants us to know His voice and He desperately wants to be found.
Thus far we have seen how the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of implicit foreshadowings and explicit prophecies in Scripture. We have also seen the lasting transformation the Baptism imparts to the individual, for witnessing, discernment, and intimacy in their relationship with the Lord. Thanks to the error of the Corinthian church, we also have studied the proper purposes and settings for the spiritual manifestations that come as a result of the Baptism. These manifestations can be separated into those that edify the individual believer and those that edify a body consisting of many believers.
In covering all of the above, we have answered the why's, who's, when's and the where's involving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Why? The Baptism is meant for empowered living and ministry. Who? Jesus is the Baptist in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Baptism is for all believers. When and where? The Baptism and its manifestations are deeply personal experiences for the prayer closet and for the mission field just outside the believer's doorstep. The Baptism also opens another door for that believer to be empowered to edify other believers. This last lesson in the series, however, is designed specifically to answer the question of how. How does a believer receive this experience? The answer with the best guarantee of success is to seek the Giver of the Baptism wholeheartedly, "to seek the face of He who baptizes" (from the study's introduction) and to wait upon the Lord.
We can learn by the successes of those in Scripture who sought more from the Lord. Moses asked the Lord bluntly "show me your glory" (Exodus 33:18), but only after the Lord had told him first "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." Elisha followed his master persistently and asked him "let me inherit a double portion of your spirit" (2 Kings 2:9). Moses and Elisha both received their experiences but they also had another thing in common, they knew the voice of their master and their master knew them. Scripture records another such success story, one that has a lot to do with seeking the Lord, receiving an experience, the voice of the Lord and, amazingly enough, the day of Pentecost. The story is found in 2 Chronicles 15:1-15. In the case of Judah, Scripture declares "the LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you," (2 Chronicles 15:2c). The Lord is with us when we are with Him and if we seek Him wholeheartedly, He promises to be found by us. Truth is, He wants us to know His voice and He desperately wants to be found.
Verse for the week:
"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)
Light the Fire Ministries ©2004
