OPENING THE GIFT

Not long ago...well, actually it was slightly less than sixteen years ago, Glenda and I went to visit one of our daughters for Christmas. This was exciting for us, because our second grandchild would be celebrating her first Christmas. (She was a newborn the Christmas before.) We all gathered around in the living room of their small home and drank hot chocolate, played Christmas music, and enjoyed the antics of our little granddaughter Lindsey.  The pile of gifts under the tree were almost exclusively for her and we all waited to see her reaction to the gifts. Lindsey was only 14 months old and could barely walk, let alone figure out what to do with the gifts laid out before her.  Her father reached under the tree and pulled out the biggest box and put it in front of her.  Without hesitation she used the beautifully wrapped box to pull herself up, spread her arms, and then flopped over on top of it like it was a bed.  She put her arms around the box and hugged it. Which cracked all of us up.  No amount of coaxing could convince her to tear the paper off of it to reveal what was inside. Finally, in frustration, her father took her hand and started to rip the paper off.  She started crying and flopped back down on the box as if to protect it.  Eventually, she did figure it out. 

When we raise our children in a Pentecostal home, it is easy to assume that a child will know how to 'open' God's gift of 'the' Holy Spirit. As with the idea of salvation, there is a sense that we have to do something to earn it, or deserve it.  The Baptism of Holy Spirit (I've never figured out why we don't say 'Baptism BY Holy Spirit') is a mystery to some people.  It doesn't help that modern Pentecostalism was a lot like my son-in-law trying to teach Lindsey how to tear off the wrapping.  It can be traumatic and leave a newborn Christian with a bad taste in their mouth.  Either, they didn't 'let go' or they didn't 'hold on', or any of a hundred other instructions that were given them as they 'tarried' at the altar.  

There is a lot to be said for being there when someone first speaks in tongues. It is thrilling to those of us who've been baptized for a long time.  It is awesome to see the joy spread over their face, and see the tears flow.  I've waited long hours over young men and women who'd been so overtaken by Holy Spirit that they'd been what we call 'slain in the Spirit.'  It's kind of like my granddaughter laying down on top of her Christmas gift and hugging it.  You know they had a profound experience, but you don't know what it was about.  That is why I believe that as fathers, we have to prepare our children for the one gift that required the death of Jesus to be given.  Salvation is just the beginning!  Actually salvation is the gift box all wrapped up, and the baptism is the unwrapping.  Later, once everything is unpacked, and we understand what the gift is, then we play with what we were given.  

Perhaps the funnest moment for me as a proud spiritual father, was to watch my daughter's best friend Nicole simply say; I want that.  Then without fanfare or much ado, she walked down the aisle the next Sunday morning, raised her hands, and began talking in tongues.  The fellowship erupted in joy, and she has lived her life serving Christ ever since.  

It was simple, and we make it hard.  As we look at the verses from last weeks lesson, it becomes clear that the asking is the most important part.  You can ask, and He will give.  Sometimes it can take a little while because of faith issues, or sadly even shame issues.  Eventually Holy Spirit wins out, and we witness the growth of someone who discovers the gift inside them.  

Let's talk about it this Sunday.  

THE GOOD GIFT

 Our discussion of Sanctification was fairly straightforward, and we ended up in agreement about the work of sanctification, even agreeing on whether it is a one time work, or whether it is an ongoing work.  In that discussion we bounced all around the role of Holy Spirit in the work of sanctification.  Which has set us up to discuss one of the thorniest issues in the church as a whole.  As with anything we discuss, it is important to divulge our own personal baggage that we bring on our trip through the land of spiritual discussion.  

As all of you know, my spiritual heritage is Pentecostalism.  I was raised in the Assemblies of God (AOG), and even held exhorter's papers with them for two years as a young adult.  While I've had many people try to dissuade me of my Pentecostal faith over the years, they were wasting their breath.  Once you've been baptized into (the) Holy Spirit, it is very difficult to deny that work in your life. Once you've experienced Holy Spirit, you can't unexperience Him.  

I was very happy when Holy Spirit led me to REAL Ministries. As a Spirit Led faith family, we don't 'push' being baptized in the Holy Spirit.  This is not a complaint, it is a compliment. A lot of damage was done by well meaning people early in the Pentecostal movement, but Holy Spirit is patient, and has brought the focus of Pentecostalism to it's proper place.  In the Pentecostal churches I grew up in,  children were encouraged to 'seek' the baptism of the Spirit as early as 9 or 10 years of age.  It wasn't always a pretty sight. I've seen every method, nuance, and practice used to guide children into being baptized.  As I look back over those days, I find what people did then as comical, and sometimes a little over the top.  Their hearts were good, and their motivations pure, but often the methods left a lot to be desired.  YET, let me make it clear, being baptized in (the) Holy Spirit was the ONLY thing that held me firmly in my faith through my long battle with science, faith, and personal trauma.  You can't undo experience.  

SO...how do we as fathers teach our children about Holy Spirit?  How do we spark their interest enough for them to earnestly desire the giver of the gifts?  That is the core of this Sunday's discussion.  I believe the Pentecostal experience is part, and parcel of 'Sanctification.'  As we discovered in our discussion of sanctification, it is the transforming part of the salvation experience.  Holy Spirit is our guide through the salvation experience so it would stand to reason that at the 'business' end of our transformation He would be there waiting to fill the vessel He created.  Holy Spirit guides someone to present the gospel to us, (draws us) and then He convicts us of our sins.  He imparts faith to believe, convinces you of Christ's saving power, and guides you to that powerful moment when you realize you can't save yourself.  NOW you are born again, a new creation born of incorruptible seed, and destined for good works.  (SCREECH>>>>>>>>>>>>>>)  Good Works?   I thought we were done with that!!!  No, we're not done with works, and yes, good works.  Hello, that's what sanctification is for!!!   You just went through the Holy Spirit vessel wash, and you are saved for a purpose, God's purposes. YOU are HIS workmanship!!!    

Pentecostalism of the 1940's through the 60's was about a feel good experience, not purpose.  I know, I lived it.  An average Pentecostal service in my youth was a joyous handclapping, knee slapping, tongue talking, jig dancing and Jericho marching good time. I've seen every reaction to Holy Spirit's presence a man can see, except for someone rolling in the aisle.  I would not trade those experiences for any amount of gold.  I'm not belittling them, a matter of fact I am wistful to see them once more.  I like a good 'runaway' service once in a while.  It's been many years since I've seen a Jericho march, and many people have forgotten what they were for.  I haven't!  I was delivered from a specific sin through a Jericho march, and it anchored my faith in God forever.  

I have a personal theory on how our children can be hungry for the Pentecostal experience, but it has nothing to do with them.  First, we as fathers have to be children in our faith, and in our response to Holy Spirit.  Criticism?   Yes.  

"Well, I never!"

Exactly.  You never. We must lay aside our notions of what a service should be, and give Holy Spirit room to Baptize.  We have a physical baptistry at the back of our stage that takes a lot of work to fill, and prepare for a baptismal.  YET, we don't mind doing it.  I don't know how many of you have seen it, but I've seen people come up out of the water speaking in tongues.  We have to prepare our services to be ready to have someone Baptized in Holy Spirit.  WE as men of God must be completely abandoned to Holy Spirit and seeking His Presence in order to create the desire in our children.  Do we need to return to the unbridled, freewheeling services of the Pentecostal services of the past?  NO!  But, it wouldn't hurt for some of us to let our hair down either. Some of us in the Men's group have never experienced a runaway, or an outpouring, because of our own agenda.  Getting rid of our agendas, clearing our calendar, putting away the desires of the flesh are what the old folks would call fasting.  It doesn't happen in its simplest form, let alone meals.  Why am I making an issue of this?  I'll say it again, we adults are the ones who create a hunger in our children for the supernatural.    

Being Baptized into Holy Spirit is simple, and it (the experience) is the manifestation Holy Spirit (the person) surrounding you.  The Baptism in Holy Spirit  will manifest in speaking in other tongues.  That is God's encryption and decryption service to you.  It is in that gift, that God is glorified in you.  I could go on for at least twenty lessons just talking about the gift of tongues, but that isn't what this lesson is about.  Every biblical reference to being Baptized in Holy Spirit is followed by talking in tongues.  Nuff Said.

Dave's simple Holy Spirit Baptismal guide.  

1. Children have to want it, (HIM).  In Luke 11: 9-13 Jesus explains it all.   YOU, THEY, US, WE have to ask for Holy Spirit. This is the crux of verse 9!   To want something, Children need to be exposed to it. This is where I think a Spirit Filled, tongue talking, prophesying, bible reading, love giving father is essential!!! Do you speak in tongues in front of your children outside of a service?

2. Children have to know HE is a gift. In Luke 11:13 the statement is simple, yet profound. "how much more will your heavenly Father give (the) Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"  All the 'tarrying', all the agonizing, all the back pounding, all the 'guidance' into how to 'speak in tongues' is what man does to the experience.  Men made it a side show.  

IS THAT ALL THERE IS TO IT?   Yes, kinda, sorta.  Well, not actually.

3.  You have to be in prayer.  More like communing with Jesus, um...more like desiring His presence.  Every recorded instance of speaking in tongues (Being Baptized in Holy Spirit) was preceded by prayer and praise.  (Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:38, Acts 10,) 

There you go.  We don't have to send our children off to Church Camp, or drag them to a Holy Ghost revival at some far corner of our nation.  We  don't have to do anything but be surrendered ourselves.