Baptism and Renewing of the Holy Spirit
(As you can see, drawing is not really one of my gifts! But still anyway this is the best I could manifest of the picture God gave me!)
The back story: Basically at Bible study meeting today (15th April 2014) with Pastor Ife leading, we were focusing on The Holy Spirit touching in once again on the power of: The Holy Spirit, the Biblical history, the purpose and the manifestation of it. Just a short introduction as we plan to go more in-depth…. Basically the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (as it is not only a one time occurrence). So during the meeting, the Lord gave me the above picture, and as we prayed the picture just below the top one came to me and so this post is my interpretation of them both!:
The pictures will probably make more sense to those who are saved, but it is not just for those who are saved – this is also important:
For the unsaved:- The Lord wants to draw you into His ‘waters’ which represents: His presence, power, blessings promises, eternity, and purification etc. Basically – His Holy Spirit…. 1.
Now for those who are saved: As you can see from the first picture, we are submerged 2 – ‘baptised’3, ‘saved by grace’ by faith, ‘under His covenant’4. You can think of being just underneath the water’s surface, in this way, as though you are covered by His righteousness. 5
Being close to the surface, I believe, corresponds to your faith level. God wants to increase your faith, bring/draw you deeper into the depths of Him 6. He wants to saturate you totally and completely in Himself to purify, cleanse, and ‘wash you’ so that you are fully sanctified. 7
So basically you are ‘drowning’ in a sense, though not really as it is a ‘spiritual drowning’. You are dying to self. 8 In actual fact it is more of a spiritual awakening because you are submerged in Him and He, Himself, is ‘Life’. – “Dead to sin, alive in Christ.”9 .
As you are submerged deeper into the depths of the water (The Holy Spirit), the deeper you go, the more of Himself He pours into you, which consists of: His character (fruits of the Spirit), His power (gifts of the Spirit), His Kingdom (His ministry)10 . Therefore you continue to become a newer and newer creation – the version of you which you were called to be, as He manifests Himself within you…creating a better you…11
So, the first picture is the manifestation of the ‘natural into the spiritual’. We become more Christ like (our natural selves become more spiritual).
Then comes the manifestation of the ‘spiritual into the natural’ (the spirit manifests in the natural); which is kind of the opposite working in reverse which is the purpose.
This is basically the ‘outpouring’ of The Holy Spirit’ happening in the natural (the natural manifestation of the spiritual)12 . The Spirit permeates through you – His light shines out from within you – surrounding you (almost like a glow – His glory)13 .
The ‘drowning’ and the ‘outpouring’ are happening simultaneously – the Spirit is transforming you from within;14 whilst also transforming the natural which surrounds you, through you 15 . So as you stand before your neighbours they can see the Holy Spirit manifesting from you 16 , through the ‘outpouring’17 of His fruits 18 , His gifts 19, His ministry 20 , as you get deeper into the depths of the water, His Holy Spirit 21 .
Be blessed. ❤
Prayer:
Father, I praise the works you have done, and have yet to do. I thank you for speaking to us through your creation, thank you for calling each of us to you.
I thank you for your sanctification. I thank you that you want to come into us and create us anew. Help us to stay in eternity. Help us to desire to thirst for you, your fruits, your gifts, your ministry which you so desire for us to have. Help us truly get to know the hidden depths of you, as we sink deeper into you to gain more understanding.
Thank you Lord. Thank you for your mercy, thank you for forgiving us our sins and causing us to become righteous under the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
I decree and declare that there will be a transforming in each one of us who accepts your truth.
I decree and declare that a works will be done for your glory.
I decree and declare that an outpouring of your Holy Spirit shall be done through us so that others can see your glory and be drawn to you also.
We give you thanks for the sacrifice you made by sending Christ to die on the cross for our sins, so that we may be able to touch into eternity with you. Thank you for your blessings and promises that we come into now.
Thank you Jesus for loving us so much.
We bless you, we thank you and we give you all the praise.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen !
Corresponding scriptures:
1 – 1 Peter 3:21, James 4:8, Hebrews 7:24-25.
2 – Romans 6:4.
3 – Acts 11:16,
4 – Hebrews 10, Colossians 2: 9-12.
5 – Matt 5:6; 6:33, Romans 10:4, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 John 2:29, Hebrews 12:11, Titus 3:4-7, Philippians 3:8-9, Romans 3:22-2.
6 – 1 Corinthians 2:7-16.
7 – James 4:8, Titus 3:4-5.
8 – Romans 6:3-11; 7:5-6; 8:13-17, Colossians 3:3-10, Philippians 3:10-11.
9 – Romans 6:11; 7:4; 6:4-7; 6:13.
10 – 1 Corinthians 12:27, Ephesians 3:20.
11 – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 John 3:24.
12 – 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.
13 – Psalm 97:4, 1 John 1:5-7, Ephesians 3:20-21.
14 – Philippians 3:8-11; 3:20-21.
15 – Philippians 3:10-11, Colossians 2:16-23, Ephesians 3:20.
16 – Hebrews 2:1-4.
17 – Luke 11-12.
18 – Galatians 5:22.
19 – 1 Corinthians 12:1.
20 – Ephesians 4:12, Colossians 9; 14:17.
21 – 1 John 4:13-16; 5:20, Matthew 7:20, James 2:14, Colossians 1:28.
TheReadyWriter 