| ACTS 1 VERSE 5 & 6 |
By Reverend Don Boucher
5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be
baptized with the Holy Spirit."
John’s baptism is in keeping with the Jewish tradition and the law
of immersion and becoming clean, before ministry. It also speaks
to the future initiation into the Kingdom of God set out in the New
Testament through believer’s baptism. John was of a priestly line.
His father had received the prophetic promise of His birth while in
the Holy of Holies. A priest is one who intercedes for others as an
intermediary between men and God. John was also a prophet.
One who speaks to men on behalf of God. Jesus said he was more
than a prophet. He prepared the way for the Lord. Now Jesus is
saying that the way has been prepared for the coming of the Holy
Spirit who is also God. He said previously that he could not come
because Christ had not been glorified. Now He would be glorified
with the glory he had before the creation of the world. It is always
Glory that prepares the way for the coming of the Holy Spirit. If
we are to experience the fullness or the immersion of the Holy
Spirit we must dwell in the Glory of God. If the Glory of God is to
come we must die to self. Immersion or Baptism is always a sign
of death. We are buried with Him in baptism and raised again to
new life. After the Baptism of the Spirit you would never hear the
Apostles speaking about an Earthly Kingdom. That does the not
mean they did not try to win earthly Kings, and those in influential
positions, they did. Their focus however was on a Kingdom not of
this world. Verse 6 shows this lesson was yet a future on for them.
6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at
this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Old habits and dreams die hard, even when they are not of God.
You would think that the death burial and resurrection of Jesus
would be enough to have the apostles think in a new and living
manner. It would take the Holy Spirit himself to teach them all
things. We all ask the wrong questions when we are not filled with
the Holy Spirit but thank God that the Lord is patient with us and
directs us in the appropriate direction.
baptized with the Holy Spirit."
John’s baptism is in keeping with the Jewish tradition and the law
of immersion and becoming clean, before ministry. It also speaks
to the future initiation into the Kingdom of God set out in the New
Testament through believer’s baptism. John was of a priestly line.
His father had received the prophetic promise of His birth while in
the Holy of Holies. A priest is one who intercedes for others as an
intermediary between men and God. John was also a prophet.
One who speaks to men on behalf of God. Jesus said he was more
than a prophet. He prepared the way for the Lord. Now Jesus is
saying that the way has been prepared for the coming of the Holy
Spirit who is also God. He said previously that he could not come
because Christ had not been glorified. Now He would be glorified
with the glory he had before the creation of the world. It is always
Glory that prepares the way for the coming of the Holy Spirit. If
we are to experience the fullness or the immersion of the Holy
Spirit we must dwell in the Glory of God. If the Glory of God is to
come we must die to self. Immersion or Baptism is always a sign
of death. We are buried with Him in baptism and raised again to
new life. After the Baptism of the Spirit you would never hear the
Apostles speaking about an Earthly Kingdom. That does the not
mean they did not try to win earthly Kings, and those in influential
positions, they did. Their focus however was on a Kingdom not of
this world. Verse 6 shows this lesson was yet a future on for them.
6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at
this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Old habits and dreams die hard, even when they are not of God.
You would think that the death burial and resurrection of Jesus
would be enough to have the apostles think in a new and living
manner. It would take the Holy Spirit himself to teach them all
things. We all ask the wrong questions when we are not filled with
the Holy Spirit but thank God that the Lord is patient with us and
directs us in the appropriate direction.
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Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2006