Matthew 3:11
I baptize you with water so that you will give up your sins. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I bought a new digital camera, I researched all of the major brands, read reviews, and compared prices and packages. One option was to choose a basic camera, see how things went, and then consider adding lenses and other accessories at a later date. Another option was to choose a “deluxe package” and get extra lenses, an external flash, tripod, carrying case, and even lens cleaner. The question became whether I wanted the basic, bare bones camera or whether I wanted the whole enchilada… the full experience (or potential for it!).
John the Baptist offered the message to choose God and the promise of heaven. He foretold of the coming of Jesus … Who would bring the “full experience”. Some of us heard the John the Baptist sermon and stopped, so to speak. We live in the world of forgiven sins, love for God and the promise of heaven. But we have never fully acknowledged Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit. We’ve never embraced our faith on a level where our hearts are filled with the fire and excitement of recognizing the Holy Spirit’s continual presence within us.
There seem to be a whole lot of “John the Baptist” Christians who have invited Jesus to be the Lord of their lives and forgive their sins … but that’s where their walk with the Lord begins and ends. They are satisfied with the “basic package”. They live a good life, go to church and pray. They are nice to their neighbors, and most days, they are pretty content and confident. But Christians who have recognized the Holy Spirit and the “fire in the belly” of a continual relationship with Him have tapped into the potential for experiencing God on a level that is almost beyond description.
I bet if you think about it, you can name dozens of “John the Baptist” Christians, but naming those who appear to recognize their anointing by the Holy Spirit may be much more difficult. And only you know for sure which camp in which you fall these days. But the GOOD NEWS is that you can change camps! There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a “John the Baptist” Christian. If you have invited Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, you have chosen perfectly. But if you stopped at salvation, you’re missing out on all God wants to give you … and that’s a shame! God wants us to experience the presence of His Holy Spirit every day - all day. He wants us to operate in this anointing, companionship, and fire! He wants us to be so filled with His glory that we overflow with excitement, enthusiasm, joy and blessings.
John the Baptist said it best – if humbly. He knew that God had empowered him to share His message and to foretell the coming of Jesus. He was clearly chosen by God and given great responsibility. But he also realized that he was not even worthy to carry the shoes of Jesus … the One who brought the power of the Holy Spirit to His children. Just like salvation itself, the gift of the Holy Spirit is 100% free. It doesn’t cost us anything … there is nothing scary about it, and it doesn’t hurt! Haven’t we been “John the Baptist” Christians long enough? Isn’t it time to upgrade to the “Deluxe Package?” Won’t you invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in your heart today?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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