● AWAKENING ● REVELATION ● UNVEILING ●

Baptism is another issue that invites much unnecessary debate. It is a ritual that had its purpose and function before the cross. John Crowder’s* insight lends much needed elucidation:

The “baptism” of the Spirit is not a separate thing where first you only had Jesus, and now you get the Spirit. It just means to get dunked, immersed or have your senses tangibly “filled” or flooded with the Spirit Whom you had all along. After all, He is the “Spirit of Jesus.” Col. 2:10 says “By your union with Christ you are filled with the Godhead” … that means you already have the Spirit … you even have the Father in you too! So “infilling” is not a “second work,” rather it’s about a continual enjoyment – a daily dunking – and experience of the Spirit we already have. Not a one-time or two-time event, but Paul says, “Be ye continually filled …” Eph. 5:18. It’s an abiding relationship – He remains in you.

So, in trying to decide whether or not to undergo baptism, bear in mind that the fear-mongers have no place in this decision. Thankfully, we don’t “need” a ritualistic, public dunking to get us into the Holy Spirit. We have it in spades already on the inside of ourselves!
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* JOHN CROWDER – John loves to push the envelope and provoke God’s people to extreme joy! He is an internationally recognized author, speaker, and advocate of supernatural Christianity. John is on the forefront of a fresh renewal movement marked by ecstatic experience, miracles and recovering the foundational preaching of the cross of grace.

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WOULDN’T  YOU  LIKE  TO  APPLY  BIBLE  VERSES  AND  PROMISES  TO  TAKE  PLACE  HERE  AND  NOW  IN  YOUR  LIFE  ACCORDING  TO  JESUS’  OWN  WORDS  “IT  IS  FINISHED”?  .  OPEN  YOUR  BIBLE  –  FOR  EXAMPLE  –  TO  EPHESIANS  1:1  AND  START  READING.  REMEMBER,  GOD’S  PART  IS  DONE.   WE  WANT  TO  ACCESS  HIS  FINISHED  WORK.   AFTER  ALL,  HE’S  LIVING  ON  THE  INSIDE  OF  US,  RIGHT?   WHEN  DID  YOU  WANT  TO  RECEIVE  YOUR  ANSWERS?   A  WEEK  FROM  NEXT  MONDAY?   THEN  CLOSE  YOUR  BIBLE  AND  WAIT  TILL  THEN !!  [SORRY,  I  DIGRESSED.]  BACK  TO  EPHESIANS  –  DOWN  TO  17:

Ephesians 1:17-23 KJV

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: [18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, [19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places , [21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: [22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.  ALL  THAT  POWER  AND  STRENGTH  AND  WISDOM  AND  LOVE  IS  MINE  N-O-W  LIVING  ON  THE  INSIDE  OF  ME.   MY  POWER  FAR  EXCEEDS  ALL  PRINCIPALITIES  AND  RULERS  OF  DARKNESS.  I  AM  HEALED  RIGHT  NOW.  GOD  IS  THERE  INSTEAD  OF  THE  (YOU  NAME  IT  –  IT’S  GONE !! ) .  GET  UP,   SHAKE  OFF  THE  HYPNOTIC  HOLD  THAT  HELL   HAD  OVER  YOU.   IT’S  GONE.   KEEP  READING.   KEEP  APPLYING.   NOT  FOR  SOME  TIME  IN  THE  FUTURE  –  EVEN  TEN  MINUTES  FROM  NOW.   GOD’S  BLESSINGS  ARE  NOT  ON  THEIR  WAY  –  THEY’RE  HERE  NOW  WITHIN  YOU !!!!  .  DON’T  GO  BACK  TO  THE  LIE.  

CONTINUING  READING  PAUL’S  WORDS,  I  HAVE  TO  CHOKE  BACK  TEARS  OF  THANKFULNESS  FOR  HIS  EXAMPLE  OF  BEING  COMPLETELY  GIVEN  OVER  TO  GOD  (AS  I  YEARN  TO  BE):

Ephesians 3:7-14, 18-19 KJV

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. [8] Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; [9] And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: [10] To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, [11] According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: [12] In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. [13] Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. [14] For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, [18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; [19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

PAUL  DIDN’T  THINK  ABOUT,    MEDITATE  ON,  TALK  ABOUT  OR  DISPLAY  HIS  OWN  BODY:  HIS  FOCUS  WAS  SINGLE:  THE  LORD  WAS  HIS  LOVE  AND  HIS  LIFE.   HE  GAVE  NO  THOUGHT  TO  ALL  THE  GARBAGE  THE  WORLD  WANTED  TO  HIT  HIM  WITH  AT  EVERY  TURN.  PAUL  WAS  A  COMPLETELY  CHANGED  PERSON  AFTER  HIS  CONVERSION.  IMAGINE  YOUR  OWN  LIFE,  COMPLETELY  GIVEN  OVER  TO  JESUS,  LIVING  THROUGH  .  .  .  .  .  YOU  !!