Sunday, March 30, 2014

The Moment

The Holy Ghost Anointed Jesus at His Baptism
courtesy photobucket.com
 
Visiting today at the newest church in town Oroville Faith Center, Assembly of God.

Pastor John and his wife were dressed in casual clothing, but their eyes sparkled as if they had just come from the throne room of the King.

Pastor John was reading from Matthew 3:15-17 about Jesus requesting John the Baptist to baptize him.  John at first refused because his was the baptism of Repentance and Jesus had NO need to repent.
 
Jesus insisted and said, “This must be done for a declaration, and to fulfill righteousness.”
 
Jesus recognized that John was bringing a message from God as a sign unto the world.
 
The baptism of Jesus was to be symbolic of his life and soon coming death and resurrection.   As Jesus came out of the water, He had a new direction and purpose and his official ministry was to soon begin.  He also received an anointing from the Holy Spirit.

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The sign of the dove and the voice from heaven was a supernatural declaration that the Father was pleased with Jesus.

When we follow Jesus and participate in the emersion of water, we take that first step to tell the World that we have made a change.   Baptism does NOT make us a child of God, but it is done in obedience to the Lord to show the world that we are His child.

We are to take that step into the water and identify with Christ.  We are changing directions and will leave our old life behind.

Pastor suggested that we leave our enemies (those things that plague us and hold us down) in the water and receive newness of life. 

The children of Israel were being chased by Pharaoh’s army but God parted the waters of the Red sea on either side and they marched through the river on dry land.  Then suddenly as their enemies rode into the water, the enemy army was quickly consumed as the water enveloped them.

In His younger years, Jesus was know as the Carpenter’s son, a student, a dweller in Nazareth, a reader of the scrolls in the temple, but now His direction completely changed. 

He went about preaching, teaching and healing all who were sick and oppressed. 
 
After his resurrection, Jesus gave a command to wait for the Baptism by Fire and to receive the Holy Ghost.  
 
 
Have you received the Holy Ghost since you have believed??
 

3 comments:

Floyd said...

Sounds like you're having fun trying out different churches. We're all part of our Savior's church, but where you go has to be a little bit brighter!

Wise Hearted said...

Yes, the moment I believed the Holy Spirit came to reside in this frail body. We are gleaming as you visiting other churches. Thanks Hazel.

Joy said...

Yes, i did Hazel. Precious gift. Amen