by David Scott Robertson
I thank you, Jesus,
For initiating our relationship.
I had no rights to you,
No access to you,
No kinship or family tie to you
That would warrant you’re coming to rescue me from my sin.
And yet,
Notwithstanding,
You heard the distant and feeble cry for help of my fallen soul lost in a dark and lonely place.
You heard my voice long, long ago…
And though there were ten thousand times ten thousand angels
Worshipping you in a heavenly language,
Their worship, their song, their holy adoration
Could not drown out my voice crying in the wilderness.
“O God, help!”
“O Lord, I need you!”
“O God, I’m lost without you.”
And you came.
You left your place of perfection.
You left the throne of your glory where all recognized and responded correctly to your righteous and absolute power, authority, and holiness.
You left all that behind
And headed to a hostile and alien land that you knew,
In your foreknowledge,
Would despise and reject you
And ultimately require of you your life.
And you came to me.
You came to me by the way of the cross.
You came to me through the way of death.
You came to me not by taking the scenic route,
But by taking the brutally hard path up a hill called Mount Calvary.
You did it because you knew that this road was the only path that led to my heart.
And in that single act of selfless sacrifice in your sinless perfection,
You rescued me and mankind once for all through your profound love.
And I live to tell about it.
Me who was destined to self-destruct in one short life span and depart from light to darkness,
From temporary pleasures to eternal torment.
I live to tell about
Meeting a Man who told me all things I ever did --
One who knew me and loved me anyway.
I have met Jesus,
The Savior of the world,
The Lord of my life,
The greatest Hero who ever lived.
With that in mind, Lord,
I give you my heart, my life, my worship, my obedience, my labor, my token and pledge of my abiding love for you and your Word and your will and your ways.
I thank you, Jesus,
For being the inspiration of these words emanating from a transformed life.
DSR
6/20/03
Friday, June 20, 2003
Sunday, June 15, 2003
The Great-Ness of God
by David Scott Robertson
(Mat 8:23 KJV) "And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
(Mat 8:24 KJV) And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
(Mat 8:25 KJV) And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
At one time or another we've all experienced a rain storm. Thanks to modern media and Doppler radar we even know about thunderstorms and enjoy the benefits of a National Weather Service who issues warnings of impending severe weather.
When a thunderstorm graduates into a tornado or hurricane this goes beyond "ordinary" and becomes a "great" or "severe" storm. People in a tornado or hurricane's path seek shelter and pray for personal safety and minimum property loss.
This was similar to the case in the scripture passage quoted above when the disciples, seasoned fisherman who were no strangers to storms, became so alarmed at the "great tempest" that they all thought they were going to die. Notice what happens when Jesus intervenes:
(Mat 8:26 KJV) "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."
I love these words: "…and there was a great calm." Please note that it was not an ordinary, common, expected, or normal calm. It was not a customary or traditional calm. No, the Bible says it was a "great calm." It was a calm that could be felt.
Just like the "great tempest" provoked thoughts of fear of perishing in the disciples so the "great calm" provoked thoughts of wonder and amazement:
(Mat 8:27 KJV) "But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"
When God shows up on the scene of a tornado, hurricane, blizzard, earthquake, mudslide, volcanic eruption, or any other natural disaster that can be named…the "great-ness of God" can be seen in the midst. In a God-charged atmosphere, the ordinary can become extraordinary; unplanned meetings can become divine appointments; unexpected detours can become non-scheduled delights brimming with the simple pleasures of God's provision and power.
(Psa 16:11 KJV) "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
So there you have it, right there plain as day in God's Word - a "great tempest" followed by a "great calm" resulting from a three-word command from Jesus, the Author of Life.
Now here are a few principles from the passage I believe the Holy Spirit wants to teach us:
I firmly believe that the Lord wants us to come to such a place of security in our relationship with God that if Jesus is in our boat, all is well regardless of the storms raging around us. In other words, we become convinced that the safest place on earth is in the center of God's will. I also believe God wants us to learn to trust Him no matter what. I believe God wants us to experience a "great calm" IN the storm not just AFTER the storm. Not only that, I also believe that Jesus would have been extremely pleased if one of His disciples had taken the initiative to exercise "great faith" against the "great tempest" and commanded the "great calm" to come as Jesus was so painstakingly trying to train them to walk in the authority of the believer. That's a cue for us if we can take the hint.
(John 14:12 NIV) "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
Jesus, Prince of Peace, please help us to walk daily in a continual state of "the great calm" that you afford those who believe and trust in Your name and in Your Word. Amen.
DSR
6/15/03
(Mat 8:23 KJV) "And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
(Mat 8:24 KJV) And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
(Mat 8:25 KJV) And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
At one time or another we've all experienced a rain storm. Thanks to modern media and Doppler radar we even know about thunderstorms and enjoy the benefits of a National Weather Service who issues warnings of impending severe weather.
When a thunderstorm graduates into a tornado or hurricane this goes beyond "ordinary" and becomes a "great" or "severe" storm. People in a tornado or hurricane's path seek shelter and pray for personal safety and minimum property loss.
This was similar to the case in the scripture passage quoted above when the disciples, seasoned fisherman who were no strangers to storms, became so alarmed at the "great tempest" that they all thought they were going to die. Notice what happens when Jesus intervenes:
(Mat 8:26 KJV) "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."
I love these words: "…and there was a great calm." Please note that it was not an ordinary, common, expected, or normal calm. It was not a customary or traditional calm. No, the Bible says it was a "great calm." It was a calm that could be felt.
Just like the "great tempest" provoked thoughts of fear of perishing in the disciples so the "great calm" provoked thoughts of wonder and amazement:
(Mat 8:27 KJV) "But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"
When God shows up on the scene of a tornado, hurricane, blizzard, earthquake, mudslide, volcanic eruption, or any other natural disaster that can be named…the "great-ness of God" can be seen in the midst. In a God-charged atmosphere, the ordinary can become extraordinary; unplanned meetings can become divine appointments; unexpected detours can become non-scheduled delights brimming with the simple pleasures of God's provision and power.
(Psa 16:11 KJV) "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
So there you have it, right there plain as day in God's Word - a "great tempest" followed by a "great calm" resulting from a three-word command from Jesus, the Author of Life.
Now here are a few principles from the passage I believe the Holy Spirit wants to teach us:
I firmly believe that the Lord wants us to come to such a place of security in our relationship with God that if Jesus is in our boat, all is well regardless of the storms raging around us. In other words, we become convinced that the safest place on earth is in the center of God's will. I also believe God wants us to learn to trust Him no matter what. I believe God wants us to experience a "great calm" IN the storm not just AFTER the storm. Not only that, I also believe that Jesus would have been extremely pleased if one of His disciples had taken the initiative to exercise "great faith" against the "great tempest" and commanded the "great calm" to come as Jesus was so painstakingly trying to train them to walk in the authority of the believer. That's a cue for us if we can take the hint.
(John 14:12 NIV) "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
Jesus, Prince of Peace, please help us to walk daily in a continual state of "the great calm" that you afford those who believe and trust in Your name and in Your Word. Amen.
DSR
6/15/03
Sunday, June 8, 2003
Results in Short Order
by David Scott Robertson
Authority.
How you feel about this one word reveals much about you. Your understanding of it is paramount. Your submission to it will determine your success or failure. God ascribes incredible significance to authority.
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God" (Romans 13:1).
I have observed that the higher up you rise (or are promoted) in levels of authority the less you have to speak to produce results. Action happens when true authority speaks.
MILITARY PERSONELL UNDERSTAND THIS…
"The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith" (Matthew 8:8-10).
DEMONS UNDERSTAND THIS…
"When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he [Jesus] drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick" Matthew 8:16).
All it took was "a [single] word!"
THE DISCIPLES UNDERSTOOD THIS…
"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus" (Matthew 14:29).
DEAD PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THIS…
"He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!") (Mark 5:41).
"And when he [Jesus] thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth" John 11:43).
Authority brings results in short order. It's been this way since creation:
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light" (Genesis 1:3).
And whatever God orders will continue to be until Creator God repeals His command.
JESUS HAS A FIRM UNDERSTANDING OF AUTHORITY…
"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18).
SUBSEQUENTLY, GOD HAS DELEGATED HIS AUTHORITY TO HIS FOLLOWERS…
"I [Jesus] have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:19).
Therefore, line up under God's authority and walk in it every day. Your times of refreshing through sweet communion with your Heavenly Father will expand as you begin to walk with a right attitude concerning His authority in you and over you. You may even begin to notice that your verbal declarations against Satan are transformed from "empty threats" into "powerful commands" that bear the non-negotiable authority of God delivered by one of His sanctioned deputies on the earth.
The more authority and government of God that you and I walk in, the more spiritual power we will possess. The more spiritual power we possess, the shorter our commands will need to be to see results. We will begin to see results in short order! Let me further illustrate this principle…
The prophet Elijah prayed a sixty word prayer (see 1 Kings 18:26-37) and the fire of God fell from heaven and so consumed the sacrifice in his contest with the Baal worshippers on Mount Carmel that the fire of God burned up the rocks!
The military general Joshua prayed a thirteen word prayer (see Joshua 10:12) and the sun and moon stood still for about a full day!
The obscure Israelite "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain...'" (1 Chronicles 4:10). And what was the result of that short prayer? "…And God granted his request" (1 Chronicles 4:10).
When we begin to walk in the governmental authority of God we can "with a word" destroy the works of the devil! (I John 3:8).
And do you know what else? It gets even better than this! Let me tell you where walking in obedience to the authority of God and respecting, obeying, and submitting to those whom He has delegated to rule over us as church, political, and civic leaders will lead you:
When you get a handle on this concept, your life will begin to radiate the power of God so that words are not even necessary to bring about results in short order.
"Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment" (Matthew 9:20-22).
"As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed" (Acts 5:15-16).
":Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet" (2 Kings 13:21).
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
Do you see it? If we get a firm grasp on walking "under" and "in" the authority and government of God, our very lives can become "an act of spiritual war" combating the forces of darkness and illuminating the world with the glory of God in us! And results with come in short order!
DSR
6/8/03
Authority.
How you feel about this one word reveals much about you. Your understanding of it is paramount. Your submission to it will determine your success or failure. God ascribes incredible significance to authority.
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God" (Romans 13:1).
I have observed that the higher up you rise (or are promoted) in levels of authority the less you have to speak to produce results. Action happens when true authority speaks.
MILITARY PERSONELL UNDERSTAND THIS…
"The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith" (Matthew 8:8-10).
DEMONS UNDERSTAND THIS…
"When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he [Jesus] drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick" Matthew 8:16).
All it took was "a [single] word!"
THE DISCIPLES UNDERSTOOD THIS…
"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus" (Matthew 14:29).
DEAD PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THIS…
"He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!") (Mark 5:41).
"And when he [Jesus] thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth" John 11:43).
Authority brings results in short order. It's been this way since creation:
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light" (Genesis 1:3).
And whatever God orders will continue to be until Creator God repeals His command.
JESUS HAS A FIRM UNDERSTANDING OF AUTHORITY…
"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18).
SUBSEQUENTLY, GOD HAS DELEGATED HIS AUTHORITY TO HIS FOLLOWERS…
"I [Jesus] have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:19).
Therefore, line up under God's authority and walk in it every day. Your times of refreshing through sweet communion with your Heavenly Father will expand as you begin to walk with a right attitude concerning His authority in you and over you. You may even begin to notice that your verbal declarations against Satan are transformed from "empty threats" into "powerful commands" that bear the non-negotiable authority of God delivered by one of His sanctioned deputies on the earth.
The more authority and government of God that you and I walk in, the more spiritual power we will possess. The more spiritual power we possess, the shorter our commands will need to be to see results. We will begin to see results in short order! Let me further illustrate this principle…
The prophet Elijah prayed a sixty word prayer (see 1 Kings 18:26-37) and the fire of God fell from heaven and so consumed the sacrifice in his contest with the Baal worshippers on Mount Carmel that the fire of God burned up the rocks!
The military general Joshua prayed a thirteen word prayer (see Joshua 10:12) and the sun and moon stood still for about a full day!
The obscure Israelite "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain...'" (1 Chronicles 4:10). And what was the result of that short prayer? "…And God granted his request" (1 Chronicles 4:10).
When we begin to walk in the governmental authority of God we can "with a word" destroy the works of the devil! (I John 3:8).
And do you know what else? It gets even better than this! Let me tell you where walking in obedience to the authority of God and respecting, obeying, and submitting to those whom He has delegated to rule over us as church, political, and civic leaders will lead you:
When you get a handle on this concept, your life will begin to radiate the power of God so that words are not even necessary to bring about results in short order.
"Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment" (Matthew 9:20-22).
"As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed" (Acts 5:15-16).
":Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet" (2 Kings 13:21).
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
Do you see it? If we get a firm grasp on walking "under" and "in" the authority and government of God, our very lives can become "an act of spiritual war" combating the forces of darkness and illuminating the world with the glory of God in us! And results with come in short order!
DSR
6/8/03
Monday, June 2, 2003
The Blessings of Water Baptism
by David Scott Robertson
(Mat 3:13 NIV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
(Mat 3:14 NIV) But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
(Mat 3:15 NIV) Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
(Mat 3:16 NIV) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
(Mat 3:17 NIV) And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Water baptism is a wonderful experience for new believers (or returning prodigals).
The symbolism in the act is rich. Water baptism helps one identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is an outward demonstration of an inward transformation. It is a profound expression of obedience to the Lord's command to be baptized as a lasting ordinance of the church. It is following in the footsteps of Jesus and carries with it spiritual weight in the invisible realm.
There are countless blessings associated with being baptized in water for those who approach this biblical command from a heart of obedience, gratitude, and expectation.
First, we must settle in our hearts that this is the clear command of God and His will for every Christian. There are many scriptures we could point to, but perhaps the most famous might be the mandate to baptize (and be baptized) drawn from the Great Commission passage itself:
(Mat 28:19 NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(Mat 28:20 NIV) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
That settles it for me! In this brief thought about God, I want to focus on four distinct blessings that I see so apparent when John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ.
BLESSING #1: (Mat 3:16 NIV) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. AT THAT MOMENT HEAVEN WAS OPENED, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
Like Jesus experienced, I fully believe as His followers that the newly baptized believer will experience an "open heaven" over them as they begin a life of obedience before God.
BLESSING #2: (Mat 3:16 NIV) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, AND HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE AND LIGHTING ON HIM."
In the same way, the Holy Spirit will come upon us afresh and anew and heighten our sensitivity to His voice.
BLESSING #3: (Mat 3:17 NIV) AND A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAID, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
I believe those who are baptized position themselves to hear the voice of God more clearly and more frequently. This can happen through encountering God in prayer, while reading the Bible, listening to God's servants speak on His behalf in preaching, teaching, witnessing and testifying of His amazing grace, and most especially through the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.
BLESSING #4: (Mat 3:17 NIV) And a voice from heaven said, "THIS IS MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH HIM I AM WELL PLEASED."
God the Father spoke an affirming word to His Son Jesus at His water baptism. When a believer is baptized, it confirms us as sons or daughters of God. It validates that we are the children of God since the act testifies of the Truth (Jesus, John 14:6) and bears witness with the Spirit of Truth. Our obedience delights our Heavenly Father and we please Him by doing His revealed will.
Not only do we obtain these blessings from God but we are publicly confessing our faith and allegiance to Jesus Christ.
I personally have been baptized in water on three occasions, each significant in the time and season of my life. Each was a relevant and unique spiritual experience signaling a renewed commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps you have been born again but have never been baptized in water. Maybe you were sprinkled as a child or an adult and never really understood the full implication of the experience. It could be that you have recently come back to Christ after a period of wandering as a prodigal, estranged from your Father. Finally, perhaps God has recently led you through a process of deliverance that has broken chains that have bound you to the past…
Whatever the case, may I recommend that you consider the blessings of water baptism?
I will close out this thought with a true story reported by a pastor:
A young witch attended a church service and through the preaching of the Word and the power of God surrendered her life to Christ. The pastor wisely arranged for the new convert to be baptized immediately.
The next day the former witch called her boyfriend, a practicing warlock, and told him the "good news." Enraged, the boyfriend, who was steeped in the occult, immediately drove to the church, burst in the pastor's office, and with great insolence told the pastor sitting at his desk: "I've come to get my woman and Satan's woman and take her back to where she belongs!" As he was walking out the door, the warlock said to the pastor, "by the way, she hasn't been baptized yet, has she?" The pastor replied, "yes she has, we did it immediately after she got saved." The warlock shook his head and said, "We've lost her, then, and Satan can't touch her now."
The point in this true story is clear: While being baptized in water does not in itself provide salvation, it does carry great weight in the spiritual realm. The convert, in a sense, is "sealed" through their act of obedience as being a believer "in Christ".
It was the Romans who refused to feed a "Christian" to the lions unless they had first been baptized in water. Unless the alleged Christian had been baptized, the Romans refused to believe they were a Christian.
(1 Sam 15:22 NIV) But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEED IS BETTER THAN THE FAT OF RAMS."
DSR
6/2/03
(Mat 3:13 NIV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
(Mat 3:14 NIV) But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
(Mat 3:15 NIV) Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
(Mat 3:16 NIV) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
(Mat 3:17 NIV) And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Water baptism is a wonderful experience for new believers (or returning prodigals).
The symbolism in the act is rich. Water baptism helps one identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is an outward demonstration of an inward transformation. It is a profound expression of obedience to the Lord's command to be baptized as a lasting ordinance of the church. It is following in the footsteps of Jesus and carries with it spiritual weight in the invisible realm.
There are countless blessings associated with being baptized in water for those who approach this biblical command from a heart of obedience, gratitude, and expectation.
First, we must settle in our hearts that this is the clear command of God and His will for every Christian. There are many scriptures we could point to, but perhaps the most famous might be the mandate to baptize (and be baptized) drawn from the Great Commission passage itself:
(Mat 28:19 NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(Mat 28:20 NIV) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
That settles it for me! In this brief thought about God, I want to focus on four distinct blessings that I see so apparent when John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ.
BLESSING #1: (Mat 3:16 NIV) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. AT THAT MOMENT HEAVEN WAS OPENED, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
Like Jesus experienced, I fully believe as His followers that the newly baptized believer will experience an "open heaven" over them as they begin a life of obedience before God.
BLESSING #2: (Mat 3:16 NIV) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, AND HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE AND LIGHTING ON HIM."
In the same way, the Holy Spirit will come upon us afresh and anew and heighten our sensitivity to His voice.
BLESSING #3: (Mat 3:17 NIV) AND A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAID, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
I believe those who are baptized position themselves to hear the voice of God more clearly and more frequently. This can happen through encountering God in prayer, while reading the Bible, listening to God's servants speak on His behalf in preaching, teaching, witnessing and testifying of His amazing grace, and most especially through the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.
BLESSING #4: (Mat 3:17 NIV) And a voice from heaven said, "THIS IS MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH HIM I AM WELL PLEASED."
God the Father spoke an affirming word to His Son Jesus at His water baptism. When a believer is baptized, it confirms us as sons or daughters of God. It validates that we are the children of God since the act testifies of the Truth (Jesus, John 14:6) and bears witness with the Spirit of Truth. Our obedience delights our Heavenly Father and we please Him by doing His revealed will.
Not only do we obtain these blessings from God but we are publicly confessing our faith and allegiance to Jesus Christ.
I personally have been baptized in water on three occasions, each significant in the time and season of my life. Each was a relevant and unique spiritual experience signaling a renewed commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps you have been born again but have never been baptized in water. Maybe you were sprinkled as a child or an adult and never really understood the full implication of the experience. It could be that you have recently come back to Christ after a period of wandering as a prodigal, estranged from your Father. Finally, perhaps God has recently led you through a process of deliverance that has broken chains that have bound you to the past…
Whatever the case, may I recommend that you consider the blessings of water baptism?
I will close out this thought with a true story reported by a pastor:
A young witch attended a church service and through the preaching of the Word and the power of God surrendered her life to Christ. The pastor wisely arranged for the new convert to be baptized immediately.
The next day the former witch called her boyfriend, a practicing warlock, and told him the "good news." Enraged, the boyfriend, who was steeped in the occult, immediately drove to the church, burst in the pastor's office, and with great insolence told the pastor sitting at his desk: "I've come to get my woman and Satan's woman and take her back to where she belongs!" As he was walking out the door, the warlock said to the pastor, "by the way, she hasn't been baptized yet, has she?" The pastor replied, "yes she has, we did it immediately after she got saved." The warlock shook his head and said, "We've lost her, then, and Satan can't touch her now."
The point in this true story is clear: While being baptized in water does not in itself provide salvation, it does carry great weight in the spiritual realm. The convert, in a sense, is "sealed" through their act of obedience as being a believer "in Christ".
It was the Romans who refused to feed a "Christian" to the lions unless they had first been baptized in water. Unless the alleged Christian had been baptized, the Romans refused to believe they were a Christian.
(1 Sam 15:22 NIV) But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEED IS BETTER THAN THE FAT OF RAMS."
DSR
6/2/03
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