The Spirit Filled LifeSample

LIVING IN CONTINUAL SPIRIT BAPTISM
By: George O. Wood

When praying for the baptism in the Spirit as a young person, I would hear people use Luke 11:9–13 to teach about it—ask, seek, knock. But I misunderstood these verses. I really didn’t think the Holy Spirit wanted to have anything to do with me. I felt that I not only had to ask, but I had to beat the door down.

In reality, this passage reminds us that Spirit baptism is not something we ask for once. It should be something we ask for and expect to receive repeatedly. This is why Jesus used the progressive present tense. Go on asking, go on seeking, go on knocking. There is never any time in your life where you should simply come to rest and say, “I’ve received all the Spirit of God I’ll ever need.”

We never have enough of God’s Spirit. Yes, we have enough to serve God capably today, but we must replenish the supply of His presence in succeeding days. Jesus gave us a pattern to follow—ask, seek and knock. If you’re not filled to the level of your need for the Spirit today, then ask, seek and knock. And go on asking, seeking and knocking, until you’re full and satisfied for that moment. Then, there will come another moment where you’ll need more of the Spirit. It’s right to say, “Father, You promised the Spirit. You promised the baptism in the Spirit. I’m here to ask.”

Don’t treat the baptism in the Spirit as something that happens only once. Exercise the gift. Paul said to Timothy about his ministry in 2 Timothy 1:6, “Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands” (KJV). The New International Version says “fan into flame.” The word for “stir up” is a Greek word that represents a hot coal, an ember, a spark. A charcoal fire needs to be fanned into flame. This is the word Paul used.

There will be times when we need the wind of the Spirit of God to rekindle a gift for ministry. This is true with the baptism in the Spirit as well. Kindle, rekindle, keep being filled with the Spirit so that this blessed experience is a regular expression of your relationship with Christ.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to me?

ACTIVATION

By faith, stir up the gift of God inside you as you pray. Hear what the Spirit has to say about you and agree with Him.

Ask for more of the Holy Spirit to fill you, transform you and flow out of you.