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Monday, December
29, 2008
What It Is
Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go
ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (16) He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned. (KJV)
Baptized, baptism, the word simply means
to immerse, or cover with a fluid. Let’s think about this for a moment;
being that the seed within us is Christ, what kind of water would bring
this seed to life and allow it to grow; the waters we are surrounded with
in this carnal realm or possibly living Spiritual waters? I would like you
to pay close attention to one of the biggest little words in verse 16, ‘is’
not was. So how one ‘is baptized’ is referring to now, today. Does this
mean you have to stand around and keep pouring water over your body
constantly? Sound silly and far-fetched? Well, not much sillier than
thinking that dunking someone in a river or a pool is going to be any more
effective either. If one also notices the end of verse 16, that it’s the
unbelief that causes the separation and condemnation because one did not
take the time to immerse themselves in the living Spiritual waters of the Word,
but instead chose to partake of a watered down ritual that so many are hung
up on.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake
unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (KJV)
Take notice of the fact that our goal and
purpose as believers is to baptize, immerse all those around us in living Spiritual
waters that should be flowing from the heart, watering and bringing life to
us as well as those around us. Take note also that the Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost are all spiritual in nature as well. There is no other name
given under heaven by which we can be saved, that being Jesus Christ. So,
for anyone to teach any other doctrine than the doctrine of Christ is
unacceptable to Our Father; a doctrine which is no longer based on the outward
rituals of the old law but rather is based on a new and living way.
1 John 5:7-9 For there are three that
bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these
three are one. (8) And there are three that bear witness in earth, the
spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (9) If
we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is
the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. (KJV)
The three that bear record in heaven are One
and in agreement, working together as One. The three that bear record in
heaven are all spiritual in nature as well, something we should be giving
our full attention to. Remember, we have been raised up and allowed access
to the kingdom of God so that we can hear this message straight from the Source,
that being the source of the river of life. There are three that bear
record to the things of this world and are limited to the witness of man,
what they can see, hear, touch, or should I say get dunked with, and these
operate in the realm of the flesh. However for one to walk in the Spirit
then one needs to receive the witness or testimony from God, again taking
note of the fact that the witness of God is greater than what many are
giving testimony too.
Isaiah 44:3-4 For I will pour water upon
him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit
upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: (4) And they shall
spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. (KJV)
Our seed is the Word of God; God is a
spirit, and those that worship Him must do so in His realm which is Spiritual,
based on truth. The truth is a Spiritual seed that requires a constant
watering just like our physical bodies; so our spiritual seed needs a
constant watering so that one doesn’t die of dehydration. Pouring water on
people is a bit backwards to say the least, because no matter how much
water you pour on them it does nothing for the inward. In fact, quite
frankly it is just a pour excuse by watered down people who consider the
witness of man over the witness of God, because they have become dull of
hearing to the Spiritual meaning and interpretation of the Word of God.
John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great
day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him
come unto me, and drink. (38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture
hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (39) (But
this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive:
for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet
glorified.) (KJV)
Now that the Holy Ghost has been poured
out upon all flesh, which is another symbol for baptism, what kind of water
are you partaking of today; is it living Spiritual water or are you still
stuck in the carnal realm? In order for the living Spiritual waters to flow
from the heart it is something you will have to allow into the heart,
drinking it on a daily basis which will bring life to that seed within,
that being Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are
we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we
be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (KJV)
If one notices again, we see that when we
receive the witness of God it refers to being baptized as something
spiritual, and is no longer based on a carnal ordinance. There is a well of
life, a river of life proceeding from the throne of God which we as
believers have access to so that we can drink and partake of those living Spiritual
waters. So what well are you drinking from? And when you go about teaching
others and baptizing them, are you immersing them in something Spiritual or
carnal? Being the fact that our Lord is a Spirit, I would hope for your
sake it is with living waters.
Luke 12:49-50 I am come to send fire on
the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? (50) But I have a
baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be
accomplished! (KJV)
The word ‘straitened’ refers to, arrest
or hold back. How our Lord would have liked to have opened up and shared
more of the Spiritual things with His disciples, but they were still
limited to their carnal understanding because the Holy Spirit was not yet
poured out. How our Lord is still kept under arrest and held back from
working with many people because they have become dull of hearing, not
taking the time to hear the witness from above, but rather are still
holding to that of man which is limited and only operates in the carnal realm.
John 1:31-33 And I knew him not: but that
he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with
water. (32) And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from
heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. (33) And I knew him not: but he
that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou
shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which
baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (KJV)
Back in the time of John’s ministry they
were limited in their understanding, people that held more to outward
rituals. Once our Lord paid the price and the Spirit of God was poured out
upon all flesh we now see or should be seeing a new realm where He
operates, and desires His people to operate in also. The Lord baptized you
with the Holy Ghost so that you could baptize others in His name, immersing
them in His living waters of truth. The question today is, what realm are
you operating in and which realm is our Lord operating in, the carnal or
the Spirit? Now faith is, and that is what it is to those that believe, because
without faith it is impossible to please Him, a faith apart from the works
of the law.
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