The Holy Spirit has become dogma for our 21st Century. A rebirth, a new hunger must awaken our soul to the truth and necessity of the Holy Spirit in us and through us. We must have the Holy Spirit. -Dwight A. Pryor
The Holy Spirit is the mark of the New Covenant. The mark of the new relationship with God.
But in our "Have it your way American living" we can easily lose sight of this transformational truth. We tend to look at the Holy Spirit from more of a dogma stance. A creed or doctrinal category. We might say I had that experience years ago. But what about today. Have you experienced the Spirit today? Are your fully renewed in the power of the Spirit right now? To the 1st Century church it was not dogma, it was the mark of this new thing that God was doing. The manifestation of Joel 2.28, "I will pour out my Spirit on all people."
John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize us in the Holy Spirit and with fire. Jesus said that we would receive power when the Spirit is poured out on us. Power and fire to continue advancing God's kingdom, to make disciples, to continue bringing heaven's peace to the earth.
Baptizo is Greek for Baptism and means: to “dip, soak, immerse” into a liquid so that what is dipped takes on qualities of what it has been dipped in - such as a cloth in dye or leather in tanning solution.
As we are baptized in the Holy Spirit we take on his qualities, his nature.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is not about speaking in tongues only, as some denominations have made it to be. It happens but so does dreams and visions, prophetic words. But the point that is changing my life is simple. For far to long the Spirit has been more dogma to me than a living reality.
During my years of training for ministry the primary lesson I learned was to, "Make it Happen." So I excelled in this energy of making it happen. Striving to be the best I developed the make it happen lifestyle. But I am discovering the truth of John 6. The Spirit gives life and the flesh counts for nothing. To make it happen is to bypass God in many ways, if we are not careful.
So the last many years has been a deconstruction of a life dedicated to making it happen and allowing the Spirit to guide and direct my life.
Take bread for example. Bread is a symbol of daily nourishment. It is also a visual illustration of the intelligence of man in creating sustenance for himself. Manna, on the other hand, is provided by God alone, without human effort or achievement. Manna reminds us that there is another dimension of supernatural provision whereby God Himself sustains life.
Could it be that the 21st Century American church lacks supernatural miracles because we are making our own bread? Our own structures and our own kingdoms. Birthed from our own intellect. Are we making it happen without God?
These are the painful questions I have been asking myself the last five years. It is transforming me. The only thing I can clearly see is that Brian Phillips must have the power of the Holy Spirit in every moment, every decision. For he raises me from my dead end way of living. He guides and comforts. Christ baptizes us in the power and fire of the Holy Spirit. That is the action plan for the advancing of his Kingdom.
I don't think that God is mad at us for missing it. But I do know that he is filled with joy when the revelation of the Spirit moves from dogma to the essence of the new life. So this is not about a guilt trip.
Tomorrow I want to look at how the Spirit helps our broken souls find peace.
