Bonus - “Supernatural”: The Baptism of the Spirit
Blog Series Intention Recap: Over October, I want to encourage you to journey alongside the Holy Spirit, understanding His roles as a friend, educator, source of solace, and guiding presence. This exploration involves examining the Holy Spirit's interactions with New Testament believers, contemplating the invaluable gifts He provides, and discerning our appropriate responses. Hopefully, by the end of the series, you will no longer be “Scared of the Ghost.”
This post is part of the series “Scared of the Ghost.” Click here to check out the other posts.
Let’s jump into This Bonus Installment:
In this installment of “Scared of the Ghost,” I wanted to look at a theological concept the Pentecostal world of my youth wholeheartedly adopted. I grew up in the Assemblies of God, and you can find their position here. Over the years, some of my thought processes about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit have shifted. I still believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as a theological concept. However, we emphasize the gifts instead of the growth of the Fruit of the Spirit. Gifts should empower us, but we need the maturity of the Fruit to keep the gifts from becoming curses that drag us down.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, as witnessed in Acts 1:8 and 2:4, holds a place in the early Christian church's history, signifying a pivotal moment of divine empowerment and transformation. In Acts 1:8, Jesus conveys a promise to His disciples, assuring them that they will receive an extraordinary endowment of power when the Holy Spirit descends upon them. This divine power will equip them to serve as Christ's witnesses, spreading His message to the farthest corners of the earth. This promise sets the stage for the extraordinary events in Acts 2:4.
On the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2:4, the long-awaited promise becomes a stunning reality. In the form of tongues of fire, the Holy Spirit descends upon the gathered believers. A profound infilling of the Spirit marks this divine encounter, and the believers are supernaturally enabled to speak in languages they had never known before. This phenomenon, often described as speaking in tongues, is a miraculous manifestation of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is characterized by an outpouring of divine power that empowers believers and ushers in a transformative and deeply spiritual experience. This divine indwelling signifies a profound and tangible connection with the Holy Spirit, equipping believers for a life of service and witness to the world. It ignites a fire within the hearts of believers, driving them to boldly share the message of Christ, transcending language and cultural barriers. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a remarkable manifestation of God's presence and anointing, and it plays a crucial role in the early Christian church's expansion and the ongoing mission of spreading the Gospel.
Yielding to the Holy Spirit plays a significant role in the context of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This spiritual event, as described in the New Testament, represents an infilling of the Holy Spirit, equipping believers with divine power for service and witnessing. The act of yielding, in this case, refers to a believer's willingness to fully open themselves to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the context of this baptism. Here's how yielding and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit are interconnected:
Preparation and Readiness: Yielding to the Holy Spirit involves a heart prepared to receive the fullness of the Spirit. Individuals are encouraged to yield before and during the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, meaning they are open, receptive, and ready to embrace the experience. This preparation involves repentance, surrender, and a desire to be filled with the Spirit.
Empowerment for Witnessing: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is often associated with empowerment for witnessing, as seen in Acts 1:8. When believers yield to the Spirit during this baptism, they are not merely receiving power for their improvement but for effective witness and service. This yielding means they are willing to be led by the Spirit in boldly sharing Christ’s message.
Manifestation of Spiritual Gifts: Yielding to the Holy Spirit during the Baptism often leads to expressing spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and discernment of spirits. The Spirit gives these gifts for the church’s growth and divine purposes. When believers yield to the Spirit, they allow these gifts to operate in their lives, thereby building up the body of Christ.
Ongoing Relationship: Yielding is not a one-time event but a posture of continuing surrender to the Holy Spirit. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a powerful encounter, but yielding is a daily practice. It involves maintaining a relationship with the Spirit, seeking His guidance, and continually allowing Him to work in and through the believer's life.
Fruit of the Spirit: Yielding to the Holy Spirit during the Baptism also paves the way for further development of the Fruit of the Spirit, including love, joy, peace, and self-control. The presence of these virtues in a yielded believer's life testifies to the transformative work of the Spirit and influences their interactions with others.
The Fruit reflects a heart open to divine influence and guidance, resulting in empowerment for witnessing, the manifestation of spiritual gifts, and a life characterized by the Fruit of the Spirit. The Baptism is a significant event that marks a believer's empowerment, and yielding ensures an ongoing, fruitful relationship with the Holy Spirit.
GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
In Scripture, we see an explanation of the different ways the Holy Spirit empowers believers. "Charisma" originates from the Greek word "charis," meaning grace. In spiritual gifts, "charisma" refers to the gifts, abilities, or manifestations of grace that the Holy Spirit bestows upon believers to edify the church and fulfill God's purposes. These gifts, commonly known as the gifts of the Spirit, encompass a diverse range of abilities and empowerments graciously given by God through His Spirit.
The gifts of the Spirit are not natural talents or skills but supernatural endowments intended to build up the body of Christ. Charisma encompasses a broad spectrum of gifts outlined in the New Testament, such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues, among others. Each gift is unique, bestowed according to God’s will, and meant to be exercised in love for the common good within the Christian community. The gifts of the Spirit represent the manifold expressions of God's grace at work in the lives of believers, reflecting the richness and diversity of God's provision for His people.
Different theological positions exist when we discuss gifts of the Spirit or Spiritual Gifts. Some believe the manifestations of the Holy Spirit ended with the original twelve apostles - cessationism. Others are convinced they still exist today - non-cessationism. When I look for Spiritual gifts, I look to Romans and I Corinthians passages. I do not include the Ephesians passage.
Here is a list of spiritual gifts as described in the New Testament:
Word of Wisdom: The ability to impart divine wisdom and insight into complex situations and decisions (1 Corinthians 12:8).
Word of Knowledge: The capacity to possess knowledge and understanding beyond human ability, often used to guide and edify others (1 Corinthians 12:8).
Faith: A deep, unwavering trust in God and His promises that can inspire and move mountains (1 Corinthians 12:9).
Healing: The ability to bring about miraculous physical, emotional, or spiritual healing through prayer and faith (1 Corinthians 12:9).
Miracles: The power to perform extraordinary signs and wonders that defy natural laws (1 Corinthians 12:10).
Prophecy: The gift of receiving and conveying divine messages, often related to encouragement, edification, or foretelling of future events (1 Corinthians 12:10).
Discerning of Spirits: The ability to discern and differentiate between spiritual influences, whether they are from God, human, or demonic sources (1 Corinthians 12:10).
Speaking in Tongues: The capacity to speak in unknown languages, often in prayer or worship, with interpretations available (1 Corinthians 12:10).
Interpretation of Tongues: The ability to interpret the meaning of messages spoken in tongues, making them understandable to others (1 Corinthians 12:10).
Administration: The gift of organizing and leading effectively within the church and other ministries (1 Corinthians 12:28).
Teaching: The skill to explain and communicate God's truths, enabling others to understand and apply His Word (Romans 12:7).
Encouragement: The gift of offering comfort, consolation, and support to those in need, often inspiring hope and optimism (Romans 12:8).
Giving: The ability to generously and cheerfully provide material resources and financial support to individuals and causes (Romans 12:8).
Leadership: The aptitude to guide and direct people, demonstrating wisdom, vision, and servant-hearted leadership (Romans 12:8).
Mercy: The gift of demonstrating compassion, kindness, and empathy to those suffering or in distress (Romans 12:8).
Helps: The capacity to provide practical assistance and support to individuals, ministries, and the church (1 Corinthians 12:28).
The Holy Spirit gives these spiritual gifts to believers to build up the church, edify one another, and glorify God. Each individual may have a unique combination of these gifts meant to serve the body of Christ and the broader community.
So, How Does This Help Me Not Be “Scared of the Ghost?”
First, salvation or justification is not dependent on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We can reject these gifts but do so at our peril. God weaves and works the tapestry of our lives to bring his plan to fruition in the world. Rejecting the Holy Spirit’s gifts removes the tools necessary to complete the path God lays out in front of us.
Second, according to Scripture, God gives good gifts. Why would we abandon good gifts that advance the kingdom? We can trust God’s goodness and look to our future. He won’t abandon us or make us look stupid.
