š„21-02 LIVING IN CONTINUAL SPIRIT BAPTISM š„
By: George O. Wood
When praying for the baptism in the Spirit as a young person, I would hear people use Luke 11:9ā13 to teach about itāask, seek, knock. But I misunderstood these verses. I really didnāt think šthe Holy Spirit wanted to have anything to do with me. I felt that I not only had to ask, but I had to beat the door down.
In reality, this passage reminds us that Spirit baptism is not something we ask for once. It should be something we ask for and expect to receive š¹ repeatedly. This is why Jesus used the progressive present tense. Go šon asking, go on šseeking, go on knocking. There is never any time in your life where you should simply come to rest and say, āIāve received all the Spirit of God Iāll ever need.ā
We never have enough šÆof Godās Spirit. Yes, we have enough to serve God capably today, but we must replenish ā the supply of His presence in succeeding days. Jesus gave us a pattern to followāask, seek and knock. If youāre not filled to the level of your need for the Spirit today, then ask, seek and knock. And go on šasking, seeking and knocking, until youāre full and satisfied for that moment. Then, there will come šanother moment where youāll need more šof the Spirit. Itās right to say, āFather, You promised the Spirit. You promised the baptism in the Spirit. Iām here to ask.ā
Donāt treat the baptism in the Spirit as something that happens only š” once. Exercise theš gift. Paul said to Timothy about his ministry in 2 Timothy 1:6, āStir š„up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my handsā (KJV). The NIV says āfan intoš„ flame.ā The word for āstir upā is a Greek word that represents a hot coal, an ember, a spark. A charcoal fire needs to be š„ fanned into flame. This is the word Paul used.
Do not be drunk with wine, for that is reckless living. But be šfilled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18 MEV
When He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, āReceive the Holy Spirit.
John 20:22 MEV
When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was š shaken. And they were all š„filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with šboldness.
Acts 4:31 MEV
There will be times when we need the windā
of the Spirit of God to rekindle a gift š·for ministry. This is true with the baptism in the Spirit as well. Kindle, rekindle, keep being filled with the Spirit so that this blessed experience is a šregular expression of your relationship with Christ.
By faithš, stir up the gift of God inside you as you pray. Hearš what the Spirit has to say about you and agree with Him.
Ask for more of the Holy Spirit to šÆfill you, transformš” you and flow out of you.
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