40 Days of Prayer - Day 3
What happens when we ask God for the baptism of the Holy Spirit? A few examples of the changes the infilling of the Spirit will bring to the life of the receiver are: (1) a stronger desire to study God's Word, (2) a more earnest prayer life, (3) a deeper repentance for our sins, and (4) changes in lifestyles and activities.
The infilling of the Spirit is necessary for the believer to walk victoriously in Christ. According to the Bible, one does not "know" Christ in the fullest, biblical sense without the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is illustrated in the parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25: 1-13), in which Christ told the foolish virgins, who were without the oil of the Holy Spirit, “I know you not" (verse 12).
Here, as well as in other Scriptures, Christ speaks of not "knowing" someone. For example, Jesus said:
"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt. 7:21-23).
Simply knowing the teachings of the Bible, or engaging in active ministry for Jesus, is not a substitute for knowing Him intimately through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Water baptism is similar to the wedding service, while Spirit baptism is symbolized by the consummation of the marriage when the bride "knows" her bridegroom. Satan will resist this work fiercely; for he is aware that the Spirit's infilling will break his power in the believer's life.
Understanding and experiencing the infilling of the Holy Spirit is second in importance only to understanding and accepting Christ as our Savior. Nor is there any more important work for the believer than to seek the Spirit's infilling and to learn to walk victoriously in the Spirit.
Another very important point is that we must renew this infilling every day. It is not a "once and forever" experience. Paul tells us that "the inward man is renewed day by day" (2 Cor. 4: 16). We need the renewing of the Spirit every day of our lives. Paul's command to "be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5: 18) is a continuous action verb in the Greek meaning; we are to keep on being filled with the Spirit daily.
Christ is our example in all things. Of Christ's Spirit-baptized experience Ellen White writes:
"Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the early hours of the new day the Lord awakened Him from His slumbers, and His soul and His lips were anointed with grace, that He might impart to others" (Christ's Object Lessons, p. 139).
If Christ needed to receive the baptism of the Spirit every day, the Christian surely needs to pray for this daily experience in the Spirit.
Our growth into the fullness of Christ by the Spirit is a process:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18).
Spiritual growth is a process into which we must enter anew every day. Ellen White described the development of character the recipient of the Spirit's infilling receives when she wrote:
"When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven" (The Desire of Ages, p. 173).
What a wonderful blessing our Lord has provided for each of us through the baptism of the Holy Spirit!
Personal Reflection and Discussion
List four benefits of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Is the baptism of the Spirit to be a one-time event in the Christian's life?
How often is the Christian to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
How often did Christ receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
What does receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit do for our relationship with Christ?
Why is Satan fearful of your receiving the Spirit's infilling?
What does Ellen White say will happen in our life when we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Prayer Activity
Call your prayer partner to discuss this devotional with him/her.
Pray with your prayer partner:
• for God to continue to baptize each of you with His Holy Spirit.
• for Christ to manifest the changes in your life necessary for you to reflect Him fully.
• for the individuals on your prayer list.
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING BIBLE VERSE IN YOUR PRAYER:
"Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the''Lord: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, 0 Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee" (Ps. 33:18-22).
The infilling of the Spirit is necessary for the believer to walk victoriously in Christ. According to the Bible, one does not "know" Christ in the fullest, biblical sense without the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is illustrated in the parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25: 1-13), in which Christ told the foolish virgins, who were without the oil of the Holy Spirit, “I know you not" (verse 12).
Here, as well as in other Scriptures, Christ speaks of not "knowing" someone. For example, Jesus said:
"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt. 7:21-23).
Simply knowing the teachings of the Bible, or engaging in active ministry for Jesus, is not a substitute for knowing Him intimately through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Water baptism is similar to the wedding service, while Spirit baptism is symbolized by the consummation of the marriage when the bride "knows" her bridegroom. Satan will resist this work fiercely; for he is aware that the Spirit's infilling will break his power in the believer's life.
Understanding and experiencing the infilling of the Holy Spirit is second in importance only to understanding and accepting Christ as our Savior. Nor is there any more important work for the believer than to seek the Spirit's infilling and to learn to walk victoriously in the Spirit.
Another very important point is that we must renew this infilling every day. It is not a "once and forever" experience. Paul tells us that "the inward man is renewed day by day" (2 Cor. 4: 16). We need the renewing of the Spirit every day of our lives. Paul's command to "be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5: 18) is a continuous action verb in the Greek meaning; we are to keep on being filled with the Spirit daily.
Christ is our example in all things. Of Christ's Spirit-baptized experience Ellen White writes:
"Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the early hours of the new day the Lord awakened Him from His slumbers, and His soul and His lips were anointed with grace, that He might impart to others" (Christ's Object Lessons, p. 139).
If Christ needed to receive the baptism of the Spirit every day, the Christian surely needs to pray for this daily experience in the Spirit.
Our growth into the fullness of Christ by the Spirit is a process:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18).
Spiritual growth is a process into which we must enter anew every day. Ellen White described the development of character the recipient of the Spirit's infilling receives when she wrote:
"When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven" (The Desire of Ages, p. 173).
What a wonderful blessing our Lord has provided for each of us through the baptism of the Holy Spirit!
Personal Reflection and Discussion
List four benefits of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Is the baptism of the Spirit to be a one-time event in the Christian's life?
How often is the Christian to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
How often did Christ receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
What does receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit do for our relationship with Christ?
Why is Satan fearful of your receiving the Spirit's infilling?
What does Ellen White say will happen in our life when we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Prayer Activity
Call your prayer partner to discuss this devotional with him/her.
Pray with your prayer partner:
• for God to continue to baptize each of you with His Holy Spirit.
• for Christ to manifest the changes in your life necessary for you to reflect Him fully.
• for the individuals on your prayer list.
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING BIBLE VERSE IN YOUR PRAYER:
"Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the''Lord: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, 0 Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee" (Ps. 33:18-22).
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