To God be the glory
We can learn so much from the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.
Perhaps what is most significant, is that Jesus did no public ministry before this moment of grace. As a man, like one of us, He needed the anointing of the Holy Spirit to come upon Him in order to serve the Father in ministry. He was God, but gave us this example.
"And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him. And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Then Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert..."
(Matt. 3:16- 4:1)
For those who want to begin a life with God, these are the first basic steps:
HOW TO BE IGNITED BY GOD
(1) Receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour
(2) Receive the power of the Holy Spirit
(3) Develop a daily relationship with Him through prayerful Bible meditation (esp. the Gospels) and worship from the heart
(4) Ask the Lord to reveal your calling, your mission in life
(5) In obedience do what He asks, serve Him by serving others in the power of the Spirit
(John 14:16-17;15:8; Acts 9; Gal. 1:11-12)
For those who have done this already, of course these steps never get old! It is the kerygma, the basic message of the Gospel, which is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." (Rom. 1:16)
Most people that have at some point in life done steps one and two, have received the fire of God's love, but have grown cold. Perhaps it is the "the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things," (Mark 4:19) or traumas, persecutions, etc.
The Bible urges us to "fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." (2 Tim. 1:6) Some people are cold coals, some have a small flame, some are blazing and when you get around them, you can feel the fire of God's love.
As one evangelist said, "light yourself on fire, and people will come for miles to watch you burn." Jesus said of John the Baptist, that he was "a burning and shining lamp." (John 5:35)
In the Old Testament, the God commands Israel:
"Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
For behold, darkness covers the earth,
and thick darkness is over the peoples;
but the LORD will rise upon you,
and His glory will appear over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn." (Isaiah 60:1-3)
What a promise for evangelism! If we shine with God's light, people will come around us. As it said in the film, Field of Dreams, "if you build it, they will come."
But how? Jesus revealed the truth of the Old Testament in the New: He said,
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 5:16)
Yet, He also said,
"Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." (Matt. 6:1)
How do we shine the light of Christ if we are not on fire!? Jesus said that John the Baptist was so on fire that people were "willing to rejoice for a while in his light." (John 5:35)
Without the power of the Holy Spirit, no one can burn with God's fire, and no one can shine His light. No fruit will come of preaching or evangelism or any form of ministry without the fire of God. John the Baptist said "He who is coming after me will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and FIRE." (Matt. 3:11, emphasis mine)
How does a person receive the fire, the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Jesus instructed us simply to ask the Father for this gift: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13) He called the Holy Spirit, "the Promise of the Father," and commanded His disciples to "But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:29)
When I gave my life and heart fully to Jesus, I received the power of the Holy Spirit for a changed life, and the beginning of a fruitful ministry! This is the gift of the Father, available to all who would call upon Him.
Signs and wonders follow them that believe (Mark 16), but only after they receive the power of the Holy Spirit! Just look at the life of the disciples before, and after Pentecost. The Holy Spirit infilling and overflowing for souls is still available today, and is urgent now more than ever.
Press into God and ask for the Holy Spirit today! You will not be disappointed.
In Jesus' Name,
Dan Devine, M. Div
Identity Crisis Management (Outreach for Men)
Download the free audios: "ICM Step 1," and "Faith," the first steps of basic, Scriptural freedom.
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