Just a quick thought. For those questioning the need for believers (that’s people like you and me) living in 2023 (again, that’s people like you and me) to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, let me remind you of the command that Jesus issued to His followers (again and again once more, that’s people like you and me).
“Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you; but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high.” Luke 24:49 (Amplified Bible)
“While being together and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Of which,” He said, “you have heard Me speak. [Jn 14:16,26; 15:26] For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized and empowered and united with the Holy Spirit, not long from now.” Acts 1:4-5 (Amplified Bible)
From these two passages of scripture, let me share three simple insights, ones that you will hopefully meditate upon in the upcoming days.
- Jesus was speaking to people who loved Him and were His devout followers. (That kind of sounds like people like you and me, doesn’t it?)
- The command shows the priority that Jesus placed upon His followers receiving this power-packed gift from above. There was no alternative plan. They were not to leave Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on high.
- The need for the “fully equipped” power that accompanies the baptism in the Holy Spirit is needed in 2023 as much if not more than it was needed in the days of Jesus.
Needed? Yep. Greatly needed? Yep, yep! Greatly needed today? Yep, yep, yep! Greatly needed today for believers? Yep, yep, yep, yep. Greatly needed today for believers like you and me? Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep (and a whole lot more yeps!).
