Monday, February 24, 2025
Baptism
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13
Please read Acts 2:1-5 today. Here we see one of the seven times in the New Testament that speaks of the baptism of the Holy Spirit specifically. Four of the mentions are by John the Baptist as he predicts the coming baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). The original word in the Greek (en) can be translated as with, in, or by, which is why you may see it different ways in different translations. John baptized with water signifying repentance of sin. He predicted that there would be a baptism of the Holy Spirit. That baptism would mark being part of the body of Christ (the Church). Jesus promised the baptism of the Holy Sprit (Acts 1:5). Peter recalls this prediction in Acts 11:17. So, we see that of the seven mentions of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, six of them are predictive in nature. In Acts 2:1-41, we read of the first occurrence of the predicted baptism of the Spirit, and we see what those who first received the Spirit experienced. However, not all who received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit had the same experience. There is no indication that the 3,000 who received the Sprit experienced the same signs. But they were baptized with the Spirit. Paul, in the last of the seven mentions explains that every one who has truly been born again has been baptized (immersed) into the body of Christ—the Church. So, the baptism of the Spirit is a one-time occurrence that places one within the body of Christ based on the atoning work of the Son. At the moment someone receives Christ as Savior, they are regenerated and renewed by the Spirit (Titus 3:5), baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), indwelt by the Spirit (Romans 8:9-11), and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)! As the Spirit indwells us we have opportunity to experience him in all his fullness. Take time today to praise God for the Holy Spirit and for all that amazing truths that are found in him!
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Filling
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness. Acts 4:29
This week we will take some time to look at the command to be filled with the Spirit and the amazing fullness that comes into our lives as we obey the command! As we begin, we will consider that there are two aspects or ways in which a person can be filled with the Spirit. Consider Luke 1:15; 1:41; 1:67; Acts 2:4; 4:31; 9:17; 13:9. The word in the original language translated filled in these texts is the Greek verb pimplēmi which refers to a temporary type of filling as an outward or sovereign act of God, divinely empowering someone in a non-normative way for a special ministry or service. This emphasizes the event of being filled. Notice that many times this filling gives a special boldness to proclaim the truth of God. This type of filling is not said to have happened to every follower of Jesus. Not all believers experienced this type of filling. Some of the people had this filling more than once. In some instances, it seems to be sought whereas in others it simply comes upon them at God’s discretion for his purposes. This filling is different than what is meant by the indwelling of the Lord. This is not the way of filling that is commanded in Ephesians 5:18, which we will look at tomorrow. This is a special filling of the Spirit for a special purpose. It is descriptive in nature, not prescriptive. We are not told we must seek this type of filling, but we are not told that we cannot. We are not told that this type of filling will have a guaranteed sign associated with it. Ponder this type of the filing of the Spirit today. Consider asking God for boldness to declare the truth of his gospel in his power!
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Filling (part 2)
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit Ephesians 5:18
Please read Ephesians 5:15-21 today. Here we see a second aspect or way in which a person can be filled by the Holy Spirit. The word in the original texts here is the Greek verb plēroō which describes an inward and continuing condition of fullness rather than a specific instance and this type of fullness produces holiness in the life of a follower of Jesus. Consider Acts, 6:3, 5; 7:55; 11:24; 13:52; and Ephesians 5:18. We are told this is a filling we are to have. We are to be filled with the Spirit in this way. Spirit filling can be thought of as the control of the Spirit in a person’s life. In the filling we looked at yesterday, this was a filling that came upon a person. The filling we are looking at today is a filling within a follower of Jesus that requires a continual filling. We are to be continually filled with the Spirit. As Paul contrasts this with being drunk, we can see that this is a matter of control. Instead of allowing ourselves to be controlled by things of this world we are to be controlled by the Spirit. This is a call to continual surrender to his presence and fullness in our lives. While baptism and indwelling are taught to be a one-time event in the life of a believer, this filling of the Spirit is to be continually sought and embraced. This is a call to holiness. It is a call to purity. It is a call to complete and ongoing surrender of our life to the will and reign of God in our lives. And it is in this surrender that we will find the fullness of God within us that will lead us to the abundance of life he has designed for us. Take some time today to consider the way you seek to be continually filled with the Spirit!
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Outcomes
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:19-21
Please read Ephesians 5:17-21, and Colossians 3:16-17 today. How can one tell they are allowing themselves to be filled with the Spirit? This is an important question as Paul makes clear in Romans 8:9. If we do not have the Spirit in us, then we are not truly saved. If we have the Spirit within us, we will seek to allow the Spirit to have control of our lives and we will seek to put off anything that is not of the Spirit (that which is of the flesh). It is a battle for control. There are several lists in Scripture that allow us to see the identifying characteristics of one who has the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 5:19-21; Colossians 3:12-17 as examples). There is a distinct change that comes into the life of one who is in Christ and filled with the Spirit. People who are filled with Spirit talk differently. They have a winsome way of communicating. They address people differently. There are truths that are in their hearts and lives that cause them to communicate in greater joy. They are people who sing a new song (Psalm 40:3). It is a song that is new every morning as the new mercies of the Lord are embraced. They are people who make melody on their hearts because they have set apart Christ as holy in their hearts (1 Peter 3:15). The Lord Jesus in the heart of a person allows that person to live out life making melodies. “I have a song that Jesus gave me, It was sent from heav’n above; There never was a sweeter melody, ’tis a melody of love. In my heart there rings a melody, There rings a melody with heaven’s harmony; In my heart there rings a melody; There rings a melody of love.” Elton Roth, 1922. Take some time today to sing the melody that God has place in your heart!
Friday, February 28, 2025
Outcomes (part 2)
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:19-21
Please read Ephesians 5:17-21 again today. Yesterday we looked at three of the outcomes Paul gave of being filled in the Spirit in these verses. Today we will look at the last two. A person who is allowing the Spirit to fill them will be thankful. They will give thanks always and for everything. This does not necessarily mean thanking God for evil. It means thanking God for who he is and for the fact that he is there amid evil. Many times it is hard for us to see the possible good in situations that feel bad. And it can be equally difficult to see something that feels really good as not being best for us if it is taken away. Knowing the Spirit and relinquishing control to him keep us from believing we are in control or need to control things for us to be thankful. The Spirit is a Spirit of peace that allows us to have peace in our lives as we live thankfully and gratefully. Read Colossians 3:16-17 to remind yourself of the joy that comes from choosing to be thankful. Submission is the final outcome Paul lists here. Those who are being continually filled with the Sprit are those who know how to live in submission, because they are submitting to him! This allows them to live submitted lives with others. Submission can be thought of as a decision about the worth of another person. It is a way of living in respect of and for others, loving them deeply from the heart. It means not looking not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4). Look over the lists of identifying characteristics of a person who is allowing themselves to be filled by the Spirit. Do you see those characteristics in your life? How does it impact the way you meet with others in your day-to-day life? Take time today to thank several people and God!
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Inseparable Operation
giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Ephesians 5:20
Today I would like to remind us of the doctrine of inseparable operations which allows us to understand that every act of God, because of who God is as Father, Son, and Spirit, is from the Father, through the Son, and in the Spirit. This doctrine does not indicate a hierarchy in any way, but rather a unified order, involving all the Persons of the Trinity. It is not that part of God accomplishes something, which is what we can come to think when we too strictly define roles. Understanding this doctrine helps inform us how to pray. A person who is filled with the Spirit will pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18). In Ephesians 2:18, Paul shows that through Jesus we have access to the Father in the Spirit. In the verse above we see that in the Spirit we give thanks to the Father in the name of Jesus. Jesus tells us to ask in his name (John 14:13-14). So, we see that we pray to the Father through the Son in the Spirit. This is the normal pattern of prayer that aligns our prayers with the inseparable work of God. This does not preclude us from speaking to each of the Persons directly thanking them for what they specifically have done or would do, but keeping our general prayers to the Father through the Son in the Spirit keeps us grounded in the fullness of the Trinity in our prayers!
Celebrate the fullness of the Trinity in your life. Who needs to hear what God has done for you today?