We had our teaching
meeting (Innovation Hour) last two weeks and it was a great success as we
studied the theme: “The Holy Spirit”. The Lord poured out His spirit upon all
flesh and it was fresh impartation upon some. Since we began planning for the
meeting the Lord has been dealing with me on the subject of the outpouring
(Baptism). The dealing was to see one primary reason for the outpour.
It is quite important to
establish first that being born again is a different experience from being
baptized in the Holy Spirit. There had been call to salvation before the Holy
Spirit was released unto men. Every believer has the Spirit in a measure
through the new birth that brings about the conviction to salvation; this
however is not the same as baptism of the Holy Spirit (The Outpour).
“Now when the apostles
who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they
sent Peter and John to them, who when they had come down, prayed for them that
they might receive the Holy Spirit” Act8:14-15
“And it came to pass,
that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts
came to Ephesus: and finding certain DISCIPLES…And when Paul had laid hands
upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them…” Acts 19:1,6
It
is an experience exclusively reserved for those who have received Jesus as
their savior and Lord. You are set when you believe.
The
Spirit of God is mentioned also in the Old covenant over and over at different
occasions. The only difference with the New Testament was the ability of God’s
Spirit to dwell in man. The Spirit of God came upon the prophets of old for performance
(upon) and not for in-workings. It was basically upon them to do the works of
God. They could not take possession of the Spirit; they were not capable of
reproducing God on earth because there was no supporting domain for the spirit
to dwell as the nature of man was still corrupt.
Death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ made it possible for God’s Spirit to be able
to take dwelling inside of man. So, the New Birth (being born again) marks the
starting point; that is where the life that could not accommodate God’s spirit
inside is replaced with a new “God-compatible” one. Now, the baptism of the
Holy Spirit brings about the possibility of the reproduction of God’s nature in
man as exemplified by Christ.
It
is important you understand the primary essence of the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit in order not to be fooled by the devil’s wiles. The word “baptism” is
from the Latin word “baptizo” which means “immerse”. Immersion is a form of saying
completely. It depicts “all” without remaining one. So, it can be said that
baptism of the Holy Spirit means being overtaken totally by the Holy Spirit. When
a man is baptized in the Holy Spirit, it means God has poured the totality of
Himself inside of such a man. It is just as gaining admission into a higher
school of learning (New Birth) and then such person is given full scholarship(Outpour).
So,
the primary intent of the outpouring of His Spirit is not to ensure the demons
in your locality are destroyed. Jesus already dealt with the demons. In fact, the
disciples had the power over demons before the outpour of the Holy Spirit. Believing
on the name of Jesus is potent enough to cast out demons (Mark 16:17). The
basic issue now is “You”. One basic intent of the outpour of the Holy Spirit is
to train your soul for inheritance (right standing with God) by the Word.
“Now
we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God;
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” 1Cor2:12
The
Holy Spirit within wants to change you more than your desire to change the
world. His work within you is to produce His fruits. The reproductive
capability that was lost through the first Adam has been restored in Christ and
made manifest by the Holy Spirit. It is not a call to show superiority over
evil spirits; we are not in a competition. This is His divine power at work in
us.
The
belief that baptism of the Holy Spirit launches you to begin to do miracles and
manifest gifts has produced more vibrant tongue speaking brethren who struggle
with sin daily.
Baptism
of the Holy Spirit is an official coronation into a spiritual reality where you
can live a life devoid of sin and sinfulness. It is an outpour of all of God
inside of you. And in Christ who represented God to us, there is no sin.
How
about those who are baptized with the evidence of speaking in tongues and still
struggle daily with sin, falling and rising; are they not genuinely baptized?
There
is no amount of impartation that will make a man a full proof without the WORD.
Sustainable impartation is premised on consistent feeding on the WORD. Act20:32.
Friend,
it is through knowledge (Knowing you are an embodiment of the whole of God) that
the outpour of the Holy Spirit becomes an experience beyond impartation.
Have
you been walking in this reality of the baptism?
Enjoy your week.
Be Innovated
Olufemi Ibitoye
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