Pneuma Life: Holy Spirit in Youமாதிரி

The Promise of the Father...

Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.
Luke 24:49

Book of Acts living.

Why would we settle for less? Well, for lots of reasons. Fear is probably the chief reason of all. The problem is we have a dying world at stake. A world hungry for experiencing God, not mere theory about Him. A world yearning for His loving power, not pious platitudes. This same world that needs heaven’s touch because it has been hell-bent since Adam and Eve handed it over to the king of hell.

In our brief study here, we won’t even try to delve into the various teachings regarding baptism in the Holy Spirit. We won’t discuss whether believers receive Spirit baptism at their point of salvation or whether it is a second experience. Suffice to say—all believers everywhere, including myself, desire a more significant role of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives.

Let’s remember Jesus' breath for the disciples just after His resurrection, telling them they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, He later instructs them to wait in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Father—the Holy Spirit—to endue them with His power. Although they had already received the Spirit, they needed His overflow—His baptism—before ministering to the world, just as Jesus had told them the Holy Spirit would enable them to do (John 14:12).

What is the original meaning of Jesus’ word for power translated in Luke 24:49 above?

Dynamis Greek—Meaning: Energy, power, might, great force, extraordinary ability, and strength. All of the words derived from the stem Dyna- have the meaning of being able and capable. The power for performing miracles. It also means moral power and excellence of soul.

This is the same dynamic power in the Holy Spirit that Jesus walked in during His earthly, miraculous ministry (Luke 4:14). Now, He is exhorting His beloved disciples not to leave home with Him!

It is the same Spirit empowerment that all four gospels record John the Baptist saying—He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

What does baptism mean in the original language:

Baptizo Greek-Meaning: To baptize, dip, dye, immerse, plunge, submerge, inundate, flood, swamp, soak, douse, drench, or saturate.

These are not passive words. How wonder-full that the Holy Spirit desires to soak and drench us, yet, at that same time, set us ablaze with His fire!

What word(s) from the Greek translation of Baptizo encourage or challenge your heart and why?