God offers much more than a momentary experience. Let Him totally fill you with His
power and turn your life into an adventure.
Years before the Azusa Street Revival a radical band of zealous ministers crisscrossed the
United States advocating a second Christian experience that they called the baptism of
the Holy Spirit. These men and women were known as Holiness preachers. They were the
spiritual descendants of John Wesley, and like Wesley they taught that sanctification was
a work of the Holy Spirit that had to be prayed for and received by faith.
One early Pentecostal pioneer, Benjamin Hardin Irwin, began to teach that a third
Christian experience was available to believers. He called it “the baptism of fire” and
eventually founded a denomination based on his doctrines—the Fire-Baptized Holiness
Church. Irwin eventually stepped into error and began teaching that there are numerous
other explosive experiences available to every Christian such as “the baptism of
dynamite,” “the baptism of oxidite” and “the baptism of selenite.”
These bizarre teachings were rejected early on by mainstream Pentecostals. While they
could find a biblical basis for fire-baptism (John the Baptist mentioned it in Matthew
3:11-12), there is no mention in Scripture of power encounters with combustible geologic
elements! Being filled with the Holy Spirit was certainly never meant to be a complicated
or mysterious process.
Yet all early Pentecostal founders—including William Seymour, founder of the Azusa
Revival—taught that God desires to fill every Christian to the brim with the Holy Spirit.
They correctly observed that many Christians wade into the shallow waters of salvation
and never go deeper.
The apostle Paul said, “Do not get drunk with wine … but be filled with the Spirit”
(Eph. 5:18, NASB). Yet how many Christians today really seek this total saturation?
How many of us are content to wear only a thin Holy Spirit veneer? How many of us are
willing to surrender total control of our lives to the Holy Spirit’s direction?
In the opening of the book of Revelation, John describes a glorious vision of the Triune
God. He sees the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit—whom He describes as “the
seven spirits who are before His throne” (see Rev. 1:4-5). We know there is only one
Holy Spirit; so why does John portray Him this way?
Like the seven-pronged menorah that gave light to the Holy Place in Moses’ tabernacle,
the Holy Spirit is multi-dimensional. He is one Spirit, yet He is pictured as a candlestick
with seven lamps. This is God’s way of showing us that His Spirit is not limited. If we
dare to invite Him to fill us, He will take us on a lifelong journey—deeper and deeper
into the presence and power of God.
Do you want all dimensions of the Holy Spirit’s fullness? Don’t be satisfied just with a
manifestation of speaking in tongues or with the proverbial goose bumps you might feel
at an altar service. There is so much more. Jesus is the baptizer in the Holy Spirit. Ask
Him to give you:
…More holiness. When we invite Him in our hearts, the Holy Spirit’s fire burns up our
pride, greed, impatience, bitterness and selfish attitudes. Ask Him to consume everything
in your soul that is not like Jesus.
…More boldness. When the early disciples were filled with the Spirit, the first thing they
did was preach the gospel without fear to everyone around them. If you struggle with
timidity, or if you find it hard to share your faith, you need a stronger dose of the Spirit.
…More joy. The Spirit is our Comforter, and when we yield to Him there is no room for
anxiety, fear, heaviness, despair or regret. Allow the Spirit to heal every wounded place
in your soul so that you can know His joy.
…More supernatural power. When the Spirit fills us, He activates His miraculous gifts
in our lives. While we may have natural talents, He gives us new gifts such as prophecy,
healing, discernment, miraculous faith and miracles. If you have not moved into this
supernatural dimension, ask for a fresh baptism of the Spirit and expect the impossible.
…More wisdom. Jesus never intended for us to trust in our intellect and common sense
alone. Regardless of your profession, the Holy Spirit will give you amazing guidance
on the job. When you learn to listen to Him, life becomes an adventure of listening and
obeying. Those who are filled with the Spirit are sensitive to His voice.
…More revelation of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is our teacher, and He leads us into all
truth. His greatest goal is to fill us with the knowledge of Christ so that we can reflect
Him everywhere we go. It is only by the Spirit that we can truly know Jesus intimately.
…More love. The Holy Spirit cares for people, He knows what is burdening them, and
He wants to speak to them. When we yield our lives to Him unconditionally, we become
ambassadors of reconciliation. Ultimately, the more you are filled with the Spirit, the
more people you will lead into a genuine encounter with God.
Pray this today:…Holy Spirit, forgive me for being satisfied with a mere touch when You
offer a powerful infilling of Your Spirit. I want all that You have for me. Fill me to the
brim and let me experience every dimension of Your presence in my life. Amen.
J. Lee Grady is contributing editor of Charisma.
(Source: Charisma online)