“For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,”
Colossians 1:13 AMP
Following a process of preparation and meeting all the requirements, foreign nationals that want to become citizens of another country go through a ceremony of acceptance. Once that is completed, they are now legally part of the new country entitled to and bound by the laws that govern that land. While there may be waves of excitement and joy, it is not based on their feelings but the reality of the law! Their old citizenship ends and they receive a new status and a new identity. The baptism of the Holy Spirit can be compared to this ceremonial transfer of citizenship to the kingdom of God! Once held by the kingdom of darkness, now transferred to the Kingdom of light!
We see in the book of Acts that on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on those gathered in the upper room and everything changed!
“When the day of [a]Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place, 2and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit]. 4And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other [b]tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].” Acts 2:1-4 AMP
Following this event, we see the disciples beginning to evangelize with power, passion, and an unending commitment to the work of God. Some Christians associate the baptism of the Holy Spirit as speaking in tongues or other experiences they have with the Holy Spirit. While speaking in tongues is one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit baptism, it is only one of the gifts! It is not an indication of a higher level of spirituality than another believer. The issue at hand is the moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit to accomplish that which God has called the believer. When we see the church at Corinth moving in all of the Spiritual gifts, there was a serious problem about maturity in Spiritual matters! Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus,
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.”
Ephesians 6:12 AMP
If that is the case, we must then have other tools by which we make war in the spiritual world! Writing to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul reminded them that,
“For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. 4The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 AMP
The result of this new citizenship we are now “In Christ” rather than “in Adam.”
“For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22 AMP
Now that we are citizens of the Kingdom of God and alive in Christ, we have access to all of the rights, privileges, and tools promised by the Father. I encourage you to seek out that which the Father has given to you to through the Holy Spirit to accomplish your mission this side of heaven!
"Immagrants"
“For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,”
Colossians 1:13 AMP
Following a process of preparation and meeting all the requirements, foreign nationals that want to become citizens of another country go through a ceremony of acceptance. Once that is completed, they are now legally part of the new country entitled to and bound by the laws that govern that land. While there may be waves of excitement and joy, it is not based on their feelings but the reality of the law! Their old citizenship ends and they receive a new status and a new identity. The baptism of the Holy Spirit can be compared to this ceremonial transfer of citizenship to the kingdom of God! Once held by the kingdom of darkness, now transferred to the Kingdom of light!
We see in the book of Acts that on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on those gathered in the upper room and everything changed!
“When the day of [a]Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place, 2and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit]. 4And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other [b]tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].” Acts 2:1-4 AMP
Following this event, we see the disciples beginning to evangelize with power, passion, and an unending commitment to the work of God. Some Christians associate the baptism of the Holy Spirit as speaking in tongues or other experiences they have with the Holy Spirit. While speaking in tongues is one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit baptism, it is only one of the gifts! It is not an indication of a higher level of spirituality than another believer. The issue at hand is the moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit to accomplish that which God has called the believer. When we see the church at Corinth moving in all of the Spiritual gifts, there was a serious problem about maturity in Spiritual matters! Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus,
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.”
Ephesians 6:12 AMP
If that is the case, we must then have other tools by which we make war in the spiritual world! Writing to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul reminded them that,
“For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. 4The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 AMP
The result of this new citizenship we are now “In Christ” rather than “in Adam.”
“For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22 AMP
Now that we are citizens of the Kingdom of God and alive in Christ, we have access to all of the rights, privileges, and tools promised by the Father. I encourage you to seek out that which the Father has given to you to through the Holy Spirit to accomplish your mission this side of heaven!
Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken