"ABLAZE" With Holy Spirit Power

by Del Rossin

President Kieschnick has been encouraging the LCMS to be “ablaze” with the Holy Spirit so that more and more we would boldly reach out to all people with the saving Gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

But in the midst of this encouragement, the LCMS finds itself in a quagmire of internal strife and political maneuvering. We are becoming known as a denomination of fighting one another rather than “keeping the main thing the main thing” . . . Jesus Christ and him crucified and risen that all might find forgiveness, life and salvation in him.

But even though agreeing on the free gift of salvation, we often find ourselves easily distracted, weak and feeble when it comes to witnessing to others about our wonderful, living and loving Savior. Could it be that there is a power shortage in our midst? Is it really possible to be ablaze with the power of the Holy Spirit?

The disciples are our pattern

Jesus spoke much about the critical presence of the Holy Spirit in the disciples’ lives. As he prepared them for his departure, he assured them that “another Counselor” would come and live “in them” (Jn. 14:16-17) and guide them in a very personal and profound way (Jn. 16:13-15) as they carried out Jesus’ ministry on the earth. No one can deny that on Pentecost they were “clothed with power from on high” (Lk. 24:49) and that many came to Christ because of what they “saw and heard” through these former cowards.

A key Bible passage is John 20:19+ when Jesus appears to his disciples on Easter night. They needed to hear the words “peace be with you” as he suddenly appears in the room and shows them in his hands and side the marks of his crucifixion; and they were “glad when they saw the Lord.” Then he says to them, “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” His intent was that they would go forth as he did with the precious Gospel of the Kingdom as Peter describes Jesus’ ministry in Acts 10:38: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”  Then John writes, “he breathed on them, and said to them ‘Receive the Holy Spirit . . .’”(Jn. 20:22). Did they receive the Holy Spirit? Of course they did because Jesus said so! But were they “clothed with power from on high” as Jesus promised? No, that happened on Pentecost!

Every Christian has the Holy Spirit

The preceding paragraph is in harmony with the fact that every Christian has the Holy Spirit resident in his or her heart, for “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3). The assurance of my salvation has always been based on the cross of Jesus and his daily forgiveness that the baptism covenant offers. The answer to my prayer to be filled or ablaze with the Holy Spirit belongs on the “sanctification” side of the coin as the Holy Spirit continues to “call, gather, and enlighten” the Church. Another way to put it: “The Holy Spirit is RESIDENT in every Christian, but he wants to be PRESIDENT.”

Jesus empowers with the Holy Spirit

Remember, the disciples had the Holy Spirit when Jesus told them on Ascension’s mount, “Not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father . . . for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5). That is when the famous Acts 1:8 passage was fulfilled: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”

This term “baptized with the Holy Spirit” can be quite troubling for Lutherans, because the only use of the word “baptize” in my Lutheran experience was the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. It is true as the Nicene Creed says that there is only “one baptism for the forgiveness of sins,” but Scripture also uses the term to describe one of the blessed ministries of our exalted Lord Jesus Christ.. . . namely to empower believers with the Holy Spirit for witnessing.

Some say that Jesus’ ministry, as the one who empowers with the Holy Spirit, was limited to the original 120 on Pentecost. But in Acts believers (who “had” the Holy Spirit) continue to receive this empowering in Samaria (8:14-17), Saul in Damascus (9:17), in Caesarea (10:44-47), and in Ephesus (19:1- 17). Thus this empowering experience is Lutheran because it is a ministry of the risen Christ, and it was not limited to Pentecost. But how are we to understand and appropriate it without falling into the errors of “second blessing” theology and giving the impression that Christians are inferior or incomplete without it?

Receiving the Holy Spirit’s power

Down through the centuries many Christians have prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit, not for personal gain, but for power to carry out Jesus’ Great Commission. How does one receive this power of the Holy Spirit to be ablaze with the living Christ for the world?

For me, Jesus’ words in John 7:37-39 are a tremendous help: “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Jesus illustrates “salvation” as taking a drink of living water (e.g., Samaritan woman in John 4). Thus every Christian has the Holy Spirit within him or her. But Jesus says a time would come when believers would experience the Holy Spirit flowing out through them like a river. This river would be manifest in the lives of those who received power for witnessing and service to others as Christ’s Kingdom spread through them to the whole earth. It is interesting to note that, on Pentecost, Peter describes that day’s events with “river” words: “. . . Jesus . . . has POURED OUT this which you see and hear” (Acts 2:33).

As a sacramental Christian, I understand being empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a “release” of the Holy Spirit who is already resident in every believer. Thirty-five years ago I did not receive someone I did not already have, but he (the Holy Spirit) got control of more of me. I still have a long way to go in this life of sanctification, and I need to be filled daily with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18) for I am a weak, leaky vessel.

Also, I don’t think God is as hung up with terms as we sometimes are, for his Word also uses besides “baptized with the Holy Spirit,” terms like “filled,” “anointed,” etc. So use any of the Biblical terms for this ministry; the main thing is to realize that we desperately need the power of the Holy Spirit if this rapidly decaying civilization is to be reached with its only hope . . . the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pray often for the Spirit’s Power

This reception of the Spirit’s power for witnessing is not “emotion” but a “motion” of his work through us. In fact it is very “Lutheran” to pray for this equipping power, for ancient collects even encourage it with such words as: “Grant we beseech thee, thy Holy Spirit and come . . . .” In Luke 11:13 Jesus encourages such prayer: “How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him.” It is the will of Jesus that believers pray in like manner in a simple and expectant way. Jesus promises to answer with a Spirit-empowering “yes!” Why? Because his promise is not “might” or “could,” but “will.” HAVE YOU ASKED?

Note Paul’s exhortation in Eph. 5:18b: “ . . . but be filled with the Holy Spirit.” The thrust of the verb here is present tense continuing action. Why? Because as sinners we are weak and so easily distracted from our number one calling in life . . . sharing the love of Jesus with fellow sinners.

I urge all of us, who have such a brief lifespan to impact lives for Christ, to repent daily for not having more of God’s love for the lost. Then, every day, we need to pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to boldly flow through us in word and deed so that people can “see and hear” Jesus in us. “And when they had prayed . . . they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). For lost people’s sake PRAY EVERY DAY for a bold empowering of the Holy Spirit. Then we will find some of the things that are tension points in the LCMS less significant, as brothers and sisters cause the angels to rejoice in heaven as more sinners repent and believe in Jesus as their Savior also.

But be expectant when you pray. Let there be no “If it be thy will” in this prayer, for we know it is God’s will! With the eyes of faith see yourself ablaze with the Spirit. Be open to the Spirit’s leading as you interact with people. Be open for the Holy Spirit to work signs and wonders through you and fellow believers . . . signs to non-believers that Jesus Christ is Lord. Be open to the various practical ways in which the Holy Spirit may place people on your heart. Ask Jesus for his love for them to flow through you. It is not too late, Jesus is waiting to answer our persistent prayers!

A suggested prayer as you KEEP ASKING:

Lord Jesus, thank you for being my Savior and for the free gift of eternal life through your cross and glorious resurrection! Thank you for your promise to me in Luke 11:13, " . . . how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." I now ask you to fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I might be a more powerful witness for you and that others will see and hear Jesus in me.

Del Rossin

Editor and Director: RIM