Overwhelmed, overflowing, overjoyed

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11). So proclaimed John, the voice in the wilderness. God the Father had told John that God the Spirit would descend upon God the Son, “who will baptize with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:33) and John he proclaimed it just as he had heard it.

So if the Father introduced the Son as the one who would baptize with the Spirit, this baptism must be important, right? So what does “baptize in the Spirit” mean, anyway? Why is it important to God? And how must we respond?

The word, “baptize” means to immerse, or submerge, often as a means of cleansing. It has an “overwhelming” connotation to it – a thoroughness or completeness. When participated in as a rite, baptism is an outward symbol of an inner working of grace. Writing about our baptism into Christ, for instance, Paul explains our submersion signifies our participation in our Savior’s death and our resurfacing depicts our resurrection with him to eternal life.

Shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus shared this advanced notice with his disciples: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth ... He lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16, 17). Now, God is Spirit. And in sending his Holy Spirit to live in us, God fills us with his own being, unites us with him and binds us together with each other. It is as Jesus prayed to his Father, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me” (John 17:22, 23). Oneness restored. Mission accomplished. Prophesies fulfilled. It is finished.

So God’s desire is that we be completely immersed – overwhelmed – in his Spirit. This is the closeness, the unity he desires with us: we live in him and he lives in us. Ours is not a “restored-and-set-on-the-shelf” relationship with God, but a “clothed-with-power-from-on-high” identity in him. And the overflow of the Holy Spirit in us is a “you-will-do-even-greater-things” baptism. For the Holy Spirit fills us with God’s power and for God's purposes. His Spirit works in and through us in whom he lives. It is part of being one with him and one in him.

The questions each of us needs to ask ourselves and answer are these: Do I believe this to be true? If so, how will I respond? We can suppress the truth and deny it. We can deem it to be true but not give ourselves over to the will of God and the working of his Spirit. Or we can completely submit ourselves to God’s will in all things and open ourselves to the powerful working of his Holy Spirit in and through us.

When we choose to submit ourselves to God in belief and obedience, we can expect his Spirit to act and we can expect to respond ...

He will counsel us as a trusted friend; we submit to his wisdom and care.
He will counter the lies of Satan with the truth of Christ; we listen for him and trust him.
He will speak the words of God; we listen for divine instruction.
He will remind us of Jesus’ teachings; we read the Word and breathe in its truths.
He will give us words to say before opposition; we wait, listen, trust and speak.
He will fill us with faith, hope and love; we celebrate God in the Spirit.
He will make us more like Christ; we submit to his work in us.
He will gift us as he determines; we seek his gifts and operate in them to the glory of God.

Throughout the Old Testament, God pointed forward to a day that excited his own heart – the day when he would pour out his Spirit on his people. That day has come and that day is now.

Our response? Give ourselves over to him completely. Hold nothing back from him. And let him baptize us – completely overwhelm us – with his Holy Spirit. This is his great desire. May it be ours, as well.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Tuesday post by Diane Ward

Daily Scripture Reading Matthew 3:1-12 (NIV)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

(Matthew 3:1-3) In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah. A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. (Matthew 3:17)"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

The traditional Mediterranean culture of Jesus’ time stressed honor and shame. In baptism, Jesus

relinquished his rightful honor to embrace our shame. After Jesus' public act of humility, God publicly identified Jesus as his own son. Matthew 3:17 (NIV) “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”

Baptism is not a means to repentance but rather an act of obedience that follows our choice to turn our lives toward Jesus in repentance. Baptism declares our faith, shares Christ’s burial and resurrection symbolizing death to our old life. Baptism announces and celebrates our new life in Christ, and our inclusion in God’s family.

Imprinted on my heart forever is the morning I was baptized. The pastor asked me if I had given my heart to Jesus and repented of my sin. As I said “yes” he covered my nose and mouth and dipped me into the water. Although I was a bit scared at age 7 of being lowered into the water, my heart simply knew that I wanted to belong to Jesus. The pastor shook my hand and welcomed me as an “ageless and equal member” into the family of God.

Is baptism optional for the believer? Let’s look at Matthew 28:19. “ Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Come on in, the water’s just fine!

The Story - Chapter 23 - Jesus' Ministry Begins

Matthew 3:17 (NIV)
"And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." 

We have all, at one time or another, longed to hear our father praise us.  As children we would try to be funny and entertaining so that our fathers would laugh at us and we could sense their love.  Then, as we grew older we still performed so that our dad would notice and maybe nod approval.  A father's acceptance is very important.

So, I can just imagine what these words meant to Jesus.  He was God, but he was also man and to hear His Heavenly Father affirming words just had to warm Jesus' heart.  It must also have made quite an impression on the crowds that were gathered around Him and on John the Baptist too.

Right now I am wondering about Jesus' cousin, John.  He was born to this time, to this moment when He could serve Jesus in this manner.  Did it come naturally?  Was he born knowing what he was to do with his life?  Who trained him, who instructed him in the ways of a preacher?  How did he know that he was to baptize people, to convict them of their sin and to point them to Jesus?  His own father must have taught him the ways of a priest.  His loving father must have instilled in him the purpose for which he was born.

So, even if you did not have an earthly father who did these things for you you did have a loving God as your father and He always says and does the right thing for each of us daily.

Read Matthew 3 here

Listen to Matthew 3 here