and Finally
Prepare
the Way of the Lord
was the theme for the 2001 Flames of Fire conference.
We were inspired by such passages as Isaiah 40:3, Isaiah 35:8-10 and Mark
1:1-11.
As
I look again at the message of John the Baptiser, I feel that it is often lost
in the story of the Baptism of Jesus.
This prophet came “preaching
a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”,
but his message to the church has only been half-heard, “I
have baptized you with water; but he (i.e. Jesus) will baptize you with (the)
Holy Spirit.” Many
committed Christians have somehow missed, or explained away, the fact that there
are two separate baptisms. For
many of us these two baptisms were years apart, that was not usually the case in
the early church described in Acts.
Charismatic
Renewal has failed to show the way from the Word of God.
David Pawson in his book, “Jesus Baptises in One Spirit” *
homes in on four essential events in our Christian walk.
Repentance
of sins
Believing in Jesus as Saviour and Lord
Being
baptised in water
Receiving/being baptised in Holy Spirit
He
shows how it is that the Church has only half-heard linking the baptism in Holy
Spirit with either baptism in water (as do many sacramentalists ) or with
believing in Jesus, i.e. being born again (as do many evangelicals).
He has deliberately left out the definite article in Holy Spirit and
points out the need to look at the context to see when and where it should be
included. John the Baptiser would not have known about the Third
Person of the Trinity. David’s
book is written by one who searched both Old and New Testament scripture to
study and find the Holy Spirit because he needed to know for himself.
And
that brings me to the theme for this year’s Flames
of Fire.
“Your
Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
(Psalm 119v105)
We
have to be willing to study the Word of God, there are many books to help
us but the best help is the teacher sent by Jesus.
“The
Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you
all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
(John
14:26)
When
we have received the Holy Spirit we
will want to know more of His Word.
Mary Newsom