North Gate

BETA

 
 

Baptism in the Holy Spirit prevents us from taking our relationship with God for granted. The Holy Spirit draws us closer to God and we find a greater and deeper reverence for the power of God as we witness the work of His Spirit.


Luke records the reverence that comes with the baptism in the Holy Spirit. "Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles." Luke writes, "everyone." It is important to know that this word "everyone" includes the apostles doing the work as they are being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Wonders and miraculous signs of God are taking place in front of their eyes and under their hands.


The drawing in of the Holy Spirit baptism also reminds us of the promise of heaven, which is the Kingdom of God. The writer of Hebrews records, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe..." The baptism in God's Holy Spirit enables us to worship God in the way that is acceptable to God. In that worship we know how to truly be thankful. Our thankfulness surpasses a simple thank you as we would say thanks when someone holds the door, or gives us a bottled water. It is a thankfulness more like the humbling silence or the loud exuberance of the miners rescued from the collapsed mines in Chile, because Christ gives us a new life. Then, beyond that new life He baptizes us with his Holy Spirit and our thankfulness becomes like the the drill operator that drilled the hole that allowed the elevator to be lowered down and bring the men up. He knew that maybe someone else may have been able to operate the drill and elevator, but he was chosen and he got the opportunity to be part of that incredible rescue. This is what it is like when we see others' new birth experience and we have had a part in that experience.


Next stop - Revere Beach



 

Scripture references

  1. 1.Acts 2:43

  2. 2.Hebrews 12:28



Online resources

Deepened Reverence for God