Baptize with the Holy Spirit and Fire

Matthew 3:11, Acts 1:5, 8 2:

After Jesus ascended into the heavens, I can't help but wonder what the disciples must have been thinking. They must have reminded one another of the things that He said.

"Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, 

"Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, 

as I told you before. John baptized with water, 

but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 

Acts 1:4, 5 NLT

He told them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father... that they be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Something new was going to take place. Imagine their anticipation of what that would be like. Why did Jesus reference John the Baptist?

John the Baptist by Harold Copping

Before Jesus began His ministry, John the Baptist came to

"Prepare the way for the LORD'S coming! 
Clear the road for him!" 

Matt. 3:3 NLT 

John preached the message of repentance to prepare the hearts of the people for the LORD. As the last Old Testament Prophet, He foretold about Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit:

"I baptize with water those who repent of their sins 
and turn to God. 

But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am - 

so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave 
and carry his sandals. 

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." 

Matthew 3:11 NLT

John Baptized with water to those who repent of their sins. Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit. But he had to go away, so that the Holy Spirit could come. And a whole new age and covenant would begin. What did John mean when he prophesied that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire? In the coming posts we will look to the Word and ask the Lord to open our minds to understand the scriptures.

Clothed with Power

Luke 24:49, 2Kings 2:6-13,

Since Easter, Resurrection Sunday we have looked into the 40 days that Jesus spent with his disciples after he died and resurrected from the dead. He appeared to them in a physical, glorified body. He talked to them and gave them instructions. Then the day came that He ascended into the heavens. His last instructions for them before His Ascension are found at the end of Luke and the beginning of Acts. The account of  in Luke 24 is very tender and insightful. It says in verse 45 that "He opened their minds to understand the scriptures." Wow, the prayer of our hearts "Lord, open my mind to understand the scriptures."  In the last statement Luke records Jesus saying:

"I am going to send you what my Father has promised; 

but stay in the city until you have been  
clothed with power from on high." 

Luke 24:49 NIV

Recently, I read the story of Elijah leaving his mantle (cloak) to Elisha. It reminded me of this verse because it says "clothed with power from on high". But in checking other versions I was disappointed that the word clothed is not there. Both NKJ and KJV read like this:

"And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you:

but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem 
until ye be endued with power from on high." 

Luke 24:49 KJV

The King James uses beautiful meaningful words we don't often use anymore, let alone grasp the depth their meaning... behold, tarry and endued. For this reason, I often do word studies as they open up the scriptures and help bring us greater understanding. The word endued was really worth looking up! Check it out:

 

Endued #1746 enduo means to wrap, sink into a garment; to array with clothing; be clothed with. It is used metaphorically of power in Luke 24:49.

When Jesus was with them he spoke about everything written about him prophetically in the Old Testament and "He opened their minds to understand the scriptures." I wonder if He spoke of Elijah and Elisha? I say this because it is a perfect picture of what was about to happen to Jesus' disciples.

Jesus was at times compared to Elijah. He asked his disciples "Who do men say that I am, the Son of Man? They answered, "Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah..." Matt. 16:16. They probably thought this because of the many miracles that both Elijah and Jesus did. But so did Elisha. What did that mean for the disciples? Let's get into the story of Elijah and Elisha:

"And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha to Gilgal. Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they went down to Bethel..." The LORD sent them also to Jericho and finally to Jordan.

"... the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. And so it was, when they has crossed over that Elijah said to Elisha 'Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?' Elisha said, 'Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me...' ' You have asked a difficult thing,' Elijah replied. 'If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won't." 2 Kings 2:1-11 NKJ, NLT

Elijah apparently would not promise what God alone could give. Would God reveal to Elisha and give him "eyes to see" what was about to happen to Elijah? That would have meant that the anointing of God would rest upon him.

"As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, 'My father! My father! I see the chariot and the charioteers of Israel! And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. 

As Elijah ascended into Heaven, his cloak drifted down.  Elisha picked up Elijah's cloak (mantel). He returned to the bank of the Jordan River and struck the water with Elijah's cloak and cried out, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah? Then the river divided, and Elisha went across. When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, 

'Elijah's spirit rests upon Elisha!'" 

2 Kings 2:11-15 NLT

Wow! Elijah was taken up into heaven and his mantel fell to Elisha; who would now walk in the same power of the Spirit of God working miracles as Elijah had done. 

Jesus Christ was taken up into heaven as his disciples watched in amazement. "Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives... they went into the upper room where they were staying... these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication... " Acts 1:12, 14 NLT, NKJ
They prayed as they waited for the promise of the Father to receive power from on high. What would happen in the days to follow? Would the Spirit and power of Jesus Christ rest upon them as the spirit of Elijah rested upon Elisha? Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. What did Jesus say about the works his disciples would do?
 

"I tell you truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done,

and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, 

so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 

Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." 

John 14:12-14 NLT 

As I type this, I feel inadequate to speak of the power of the Spirit of God. I am not walking in the power of Elijah, Elisha, Jesus Christ and the early apostles. But neither are many other Christians in the world today. Miracles are rare and most perhaps miracles are in areas of the persecuted church. I asked a dear friend about this and I posted her comment on this blog. It is called Words from a Friend.

Here is her sensitive reply:

"As I have sought the Lord, I have seen this time we are in as one of purging and testing, a time of reckoning--He is drawing those that will to Himself in a way that will bring sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf.  A time that will bring understanding of His Word and the ability to KNOW God.  This awakening, if you will, is a work of His Spirit in the willing heart, a quiet work between God and His Beloved... the passionate, persistent, pursuer of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior by His Holy Spirit which brings His transformation in the inner man.

Do you see the church His Body transformed like Peter was?  He has called us to new birth in Him.   Jesus Christ is the author of a faith which purifies and gives victory over sin.

His timing is perfect, who can hold the Glory of the Lord that brings forth the anointing which will bring His signs and wonders that will follow His Word (truth)...  We see in Acts, as they all waited in one accorded seeking the Lord, having relinquished all to Him, the Lord brought to them the baptism of fire that brought forth the power of God through them.

With all my heart, I believe that we shall see the powerful, anointed move of God through His Body, His Church, the question is to all of us is... what or who has your heart?"

This is not only for you today, dear reader; it is for me as well.

Next post... "On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together..." Acts 2:1 NLT 
 

Some additional thoughts:
I see more parallels in the story of Elijah/Elisha and Jesus/His disciples:

1) Elijah taken up to heaven is similar to Jesus being taken up to heaven:

"Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind... And Elisha saw him no more." 

2Kings 2: 11, 12 NIV

"Jesus... was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him." 

Acts 1: 6, 9 NLT

2) Wind and fire, both types of the Holy Spirit are seen in each account:

"...suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, 

and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." 

2Kings 2: 11 NIV

"Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house... They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each one of them. 

Acts 2: 2, 3

3a) After Elisha picked up Elijah's mantel and parted the Jordan river, the prophets said,

"The spirit of Elijah is resting upon Elisha." 

2 Kings 2:15 

3b) After the wind and fire in the upper room, it says, 

"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit." 

Acts 2:4

Yes, similar to the spirit of Elijah resting upon Elisha, 

the Holy Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ rested upon those gathered in the upper room.
 It is my hope and prayer that the Holy Spirit of God 

will rest in power on those who passionately, persistently, pursue Him 

in our day and age that we live in, 

that His Word will go out in power and might, 

bringing many sons and daughters into the kingdom.