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Today, we are continuing our message series called “Power for Life.” If you missed either of the first two messages in the series. I would strongly encourage you to watch the videos, available on our website, YouTube and Facebook. The key verse for this message series and the book of Acts is: Acts 1:8 (ESV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” These were Jesus’ last words before He ascended back into heaven. I believe the Bible makes it clear that your primary purpose on this earth as a follower of Jesus is to be His witness. One day, all believers will be in heaven. When we are in heaven, we will continue to worship God, we will have fellowship with other believers, we will continue to learn more about God and we will serve God. So four of the five biblical purposes for a believer will continue on in heaven. The only biblical purpose we can’t fulfill in heaven is that of being a witness, the purpose of evangelism. There will be no outreach in heaven as everyone will be saved. That is why the last words of Jesus commanded His followers to receive the Spirit’s power in order to fulfill their purpose of being a witness for Him. Today, I’ve entitled the message “How to Receive Spirit Baptism.” If you’ve listened to the last two messages, you’ll remember that the power to be witnesses is released through Spirit baptism. Now, this power we are talking about is not an impersonal force, as in Star Wars. The power that you receive at Spirit baptism comes from the person of the Holy Spirit. When you are baptized with the Holy Spirit, you allow the Spirit to take control of your life and body. The Spirit is no longer just living in the recesses of your heart. At Spirit baptism, the Spirit erupts through your life, your tongue and your mind. Jesus put it this way in ... John 7:38-39 (ESV) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. According to Jesus, Spirit baptism results in the Spirit flowing out of a believer’s heart like rivers of living water. When a person is baptized with the Spirit, He enters into a supernatural partnership with the Spirit. God’s will for every person is for them to be saved, water baptized and Spirit baptized. After Acts 2, the Scripture assumes that every believer has received Spirit baptism and speaks in tongues. We ‘ll be talking a lot more about the importance of tongues next Sunday in my message “Gateway into the Supernatural.” Today, I want to tell you the story of my encounter with the Holy Spirit. My father was a Baptist pastor, so I was raised as a Baptist. I was saved at age 4 and water baptized at age 9. As we learned last Sunday, Baptists don’t teach about or believe in Spirit baptism as described in Acts. So, I knew absolutely nothing about it. When I was in college, I led a small group Bible study with another college girl. On a Christmas break one year, she went to visit some friends in Florida. When she came back to Iowa, she was different, she had changed. She had become a bolder witness, filled with more joy and had a much greater passion for the Word. Everyone in the Bible study group noticed. When we asked her what happened, she said that she had been baptized in the Holy Spirit at a church in Florida and now regularly spoke in tongues. I was intrigued, but cautious at the same time. I had heard that Baptists taught tongues were of the devil. So, at the next Spring break, I and some other students from the Bible study took a trip to Florida with her to find out more. We attended the church where she had her experience with the Spirit. The week we were there they didn’t talk about the Spirit much, but I picked up a small booklet on Spirit baptism filled with Scripture references. Back in Iowa, I began to read that booklet and read through the book of Acts multiple times. I was amazed at all the things I had been missing about the power of the Spirit. I became thoroughly convinced that Spirit baptism was God’s will for every believer. So, one day, I felt led to fast and I asked others in the Bible study to pray for me. I was alone in my room and I simply asked Jesus to baptize me with the Holy Spirit. I sensed the Spirit well up within me and I began to speak in tongues. I knew that everything was changing. I continued to pray in the Spirit daily and I had a new understanding of the Bible, which I loved to read. I was able to hear God speak to me in a way I never had before. I began to be used in the gift of prophesy in various Bible studies and praying for people to be healed. My relationship with the Holy Spirit was taken to a much deeper level. Now years later, I am so grateful that God led me into being baptized with the Spirit. Yet, I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface of the power God has. Spirit baptism is just the beginning of a supernatural life. This morning at the end of the service, I will be available to pray for those seeking Spirit baptism, which is for every believer. Today, we are going to continue our study of the book of Acts to learn more about how to receive Spirit baptism. The example of Apollos in Acts 18 is not normally cited as an example of Spirit baptism. However, when we look at the story of Apollos, followed by the story of the Ephesians in Acts 19, each incident informs the other. Of course, the chapter divisions in our Bibles were not in the original text, but were introduced in the 13th century. So, let’s learn more from Apollos. In order to be Spirit baptized … Acts 18:24-25a (ESV) Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus … This is our first introduction to Apollos. As a Jew, he had been trained in the Old Testament Scriptures. Someone had discipled or instructed him in the way of the Lord, he had been saved. Not only had Apollos been saved, but when he came to Ephesus, he began to teach others accurately about Jesus and as we’ll see others were saved. But for everything that Apollos knew, there were some things he didn’t understand correctly. Acts 18:25b-26 (ESV) … he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. Apollos knew about and was teaching about Jesus’ ministry, His death and His resurrection. However, the only water baptism Apollos knew about was the baptism of John. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, that was offered to those who repented during the ministry of Jesus on earth. Jesus was baptized by John. After Jesus rose from the dead, He instructed believers to baptize new believers in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This was the true Christian baptism, not John’s baptism. Today, many people think that water baptism is not important, nor are the details important. That is not true at all. Water baptism is very important, as are the biblical instructions for believer’s baptism by immersion. So, the teaching team of Priscilla and Aquila did not publicly correct him, but privately explained about true Christian baptism, in the name of the Lord Jesus. To his credit, Apollos was open learning new things about God and obeying God. Acts 18:27-28 (ESV) And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. So, from what happened in the next episode that we’ll talk about next, it is clear that Apollos followed up on the teaching of Priscilla and Aquila and was water and Spirit baptized. Now, we see that his teaching was not just accurate, but it was powerful. Why wasn’t Apollos Spirit baptized? Wrong teaching. This is still true for many today. Many churches teach that everyone is automatically spirit baptized at salvation. Others teach that spirit baptism and the gift of tongues are not for today. In order to overcome wrong teaching in your past, you must be open to learning new things from the Bible, just as Apollos was. Some people find it hard to admit that their Christian life is deficient. Pride will keep a person from receiving Spirit baptism. Other people are afraid of what other people will think if they’re Spirit baptized. In order to grow in God, you’ve got to learn and experience new things in God. Now we’re going to move right into Acts 19, which takes place at Ephesus. Remember, Ephesus was where Apollos first taught and then experienced water and Spirit baptism. Acts 19:1 (ESV) And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. Apollos next travelled to Corinth, while Paul came to Ephesus where he found some disciples or believers in Jesus. These believers were undoubtedly taught by Apollos before he was instructed more accurately by Priscilla and Aquila. Acts 19:2 (ESV) And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Paul’s question to the Ephesian believers completely demolishes the doctrine that Spirit baptism is automatic for every believer at salvation. By asking the question, Paul clearly indicates that a person may receive Spirit baptism in close proximity to believing or they may not. The Ephesian disciples had believed but their answer was no, they had not even been taught about the Holy Spirit. Acts 19:3-5 (ESV) And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Since the disciples had not been Spirit baptized, Paul next inquires about their water baptism. They had been taught by Apollos only about John’s baptism. Paul told them that the time for John’s baptism was over, now they needed to be water baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. So, these disciples as well, learned something new and followed through by being water baptized in Jesus’ name. What happened next? Acts 19:6-7 (ESV) And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all. Of course, one thing was lacking. The disciples having been water baptized were not yet Spirit baptized. So, Paul prayed and laid his hands on them and they were Spirit baptized. Immediately they began both speaking in tongues and prophesying. Speaking in tongues is praying to God in a language you don’t know. Prophesying is allowing God to speak through you to others in a language you do know. Tongues is always seen as the evidence of Spirit baptism in Acts, where as prophesying is only seen on some occasions. During this series, I’m asking you to do three things. First, pray and seek God for more of His power. If you haven’t been Spirit baptized, seek Him for that, just as I did years ago. Secondly, read through the book of Acts in January, just as I did. Third, read the teaching book Power for Life, just as I read accurate teaching in my quest. Finally, let’s go over some simple steps to receiving Spirit baptism. There’s a lot more instruction in the book Power for Life, but here are the basics. Jesus is the one who baptizes in the Spirit. Worshipping and drawing near to Jesus is key to being Spirit baptized. Be sure that there is no unrepented sin in your life. Sometimes, a person can be Spirit baptized by praying on their own, as happened with me. However, there is ample Scriptural precedent for having someone already Spirit baptized lay their hands on you and pray for you. Luke 11:13 (ESV) If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” In this little-known Scripture, Jesus instructs his children to ask God to give them the Holy Spirit, speaking of the good gift of Spirit baptism. Many people are not Spirit baptized because they’ve never asked for the gift. Mark 11:24 (ESV) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. As with any prayer, you must pray in faith, believing that God is answering your prayer, in order for that prayer to be answered. Scripture teaches us that the gift of Spirit baptism is available to every believer. Acts 2:4 (ESV) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. In this verse, who began to speak in tongues, the disciples or the Spirit? The answer is the disciples began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them. As you submit your tongue to the Spirit and begin to speak, the Spirit will give you the unknown words and sound to speak. If you wait for the Spirit to pry open your mouth and speak through you with no effort of your own, it will never happen. You must begin to speak as the Spirit moves upon you in answer to prayer. As you submit to the Spirit, you are filled with His power and are Spirit baptized. Next Sunday, we will show why Spirit baptism is just the beginning, it is the gateway into the supernatural.
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आत्माको बप्तिस्मा पाठ ६-आत्माको बप्तिस्मा आत्माको बप्तिस्मा सम्बन्धी चाबी पद १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ हो—“किनकि चाहे हामी यहूदी हौं चाहे ग्रीक, चाहे हामी कमारा हौं चाहे स्वतन्त्र, हामी सबै एउटै __________ एउटै शरीरभित्र ____________ (डुबाइएनु, राखिनु) भयौं; र सबैलाई एउटै आत्माभित्र पिउन दिइयो।” यस पदमा बताइएको “एउटै शरीर” भनेको मण्डली हो। “र सबै कुराहरू उहाँका पाउहरूमनि पारिदिनुभयो, र उहाँलाई सबै कुराहरूमाथि ________ हुनाका निम्ति __________लाई दिनुभयो, जोचाहिँ उहाँको __________ हो अर्थात् उहाँको परिपूर्णता, जसले सबै कुरामा सबै कुराहरू भरिदिनुहुन्छ” (एफेसी १:२२-२३)। “अनि उहाँ _________ अर्थात् ____________ _________ हुनुहुन्छ” (कलस्सी १:१८)। मण्डलीलाई ख्रीष्टको शरीर भनिएको छ, र ख्रीष्ट उक्त शरीरको शिर हुनुहुन्छ। आत्माको बप्तिस्मालाई १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ मा परमेश्वरको कार्य भनिएको छ जुन कार्यद्वारा विश्वासीहरू ख्रीष्टको शरीर, अर्थात् मण्डली भित्र बप्तिस्मा (डुबाइनु, राखिनु) गराइन्छन्। त्यसोभए कसरी एउटा विश्वासी ख्रीष्टको शरीरको अङ्ग बन्दछ? आत्माको बप्तिस्माद्वारा। यस खण्डले मण्डली कहिले सुरु भयो भन्ने महत्त्वपूर्ण प्रश्नको जवाफ खुलस्त पार्ने चाबी दिँदछ। हामीले सर्वप्रथम आत्माको बप्तिस्मालाई बुझ्यौं भने, मण्डली कहिले सुरु भयो भनी हामीले निर्धारण गर्न सक्नेछौं। परमेश्वरले सर्वप्रथम विश्वासीहरूलाई आफ्नो शरीरमा कहिले बप्तिस्मा दिनुभयो? विश्वासीहरू सर्वप्रथम कहिले ख्रीष्टको शरीरमा राखिए? यसको जवाफ दिनु भनेको मण्डली कुन दिनमा सुरु भयो भनी निर्धारण गर्नु हो। आत्माको बप्तिस्माको बारेमा बप्तिस्मा दिने यूहन्नाले सर्वप्रथम मत्ती ३:११ मा भविष्यवाणी गरेका थिए (साथै मर्कूस १:८; लूका ३:१६; यूहन्ना १:३३)। “साँच्चै, पश्चात्तापका निम्ति म तिमीहरूलाई __________ बप्तिस्मा दिन्छु, तर जो मपछि आउनुहुन्छ, उहाँ मभन्दा शक्तिशाली हुनुहुन्छ, जसका जुत्ता बोक्ने लायकको म छैनँ; उहाँले तिमीहरूलाई __________ _________ र आगोले बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुनेछ” (मत्ती ३:११; तुलना गर्नुहोस्, मर्कूस १:८; लूका ३:१६; यूहन्ना १:३३)। यूहन्नाको बप्तिस्मा पानीको बप्तिस्मा थियो (“म तिमीहरूलाई पानीमा बप्तिस्मा दिन्छु”); ख्रीष्टको बप्तिस्मा आत्मिक बप्तिस्मा हुनेथियो (उहाँले तिमीहरूलाई पवित्र आत्मा र आगोले बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुनेछ)। “आगोको बप्तिस्मा” मुक्ति नपाएकाहरूको निम्ति हो र त्यसमा इन्साफ सम्मिलित हुन्छ। यो “आगोको बप्तिस्मा” भविष्यको कुरा हो (मत्ती ३:१२)। यस वाक्यांशलाई ध्यान दिनुहोस्, “उहाँले तिमीहरूलाई पवित्र आत्मा…ले बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुनेछ”। “बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुनेछ” मा प्रयोग भएको क्रियापद भविष्यत् कालमा छ। यसको अर्थ बप्तिस्मा दिने यूहन्नाले यी शब्दहरू बोल्दाहुँदि आत्माको बप्तिस्मा सुरु भइसकेको थिएन। यो कुरा भविष्यमा हुनेछ भनी यूहन्नाले प्रचार गरिरहेका थिए, तर यो ठीक कुन समयमा हुनेछ भनी उनले पूर्वसूचना गरेनन्। यो पनि ध्यान दिनुहोस्, बप्तिस्मा दिनेवाला ख्रीष्ट हुनुहुन्छ। विश्वासीहरूलाई ख्रीष्टको शरीरमा स्थानान्तर गराउनुहुने उहाँ नै हुनुहुन्छ। मण्डली बनाउनुहुने उहाँ नै हुनुहुन्छ (मत्ती १६:१८)। हामी केही क्षणमा अध्ययन गर्नेछौं, १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ मा बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुने पनि ख्रीष्ट नै हुनुहुन्छ। मत्ती १६:१८ मा प्रभु येशूले भन्नुभयो, “म आफ्नो मण्डली ___________”। यस कृयापदको भविष्यत् कालले मण्डलीको निर्माण कार्य येशूले यी शब्दहरू बोल्नुहुँदा भइसकेको थिएन भनी सङ्केत गर्दछ। उहाँले यसो भन्नुभएन, “मैले आफ्नो मण्डली बनाएको छु।” उहाँले यसो पनि भन्नुभएन, “म आफ्नो मण्डली बनाउँदैछु।” होइन, निर्माण परियोजना सुरु भइसकेको थिएन र मण्डली अझै भविष्यमै थियो। येशूले मत्ती १६:१८ का शब्दहरू बोल्नुहुँदा मण्डली सुरु भइसकेको थिएन। आज ख्रीष्टले आफ्नो मण्डली बनाउँदै हुनुहुन्छ। दिनुहुँ उहाँले _________ पाउनेहरूलाई ____________ थप्दैहुनुहुन्छ (प्रेरित २:४७ हेर्नुहोस्)। तर प्रश्न आउँछ, निर्माण परियोजना कहिले सुरु भयो? प्रेरित १:५ मा प्रभु येशूले आत्माको बप्तिस्मा अझै भविष्यमा नै रहेको कुरा बताउनुभयो: “किनभने यूहन्नाले साँच्चै पानीमा बप्तिस्मा दियौ; तर अब केही __________ तिमीहरू पवित्र आत्माले बप्तिस्मा गरिनेछौ” (प्रेरित १:५)। हाम्रो प्रभुको अगमवाणी अनुसार, आत्माको बप्तिस्मा त्यस घडी सम्म भइसकेको थिएन, तर यो छिट्टै हुनेवाला थियो। एकै जना पनि ख्रीष्टको शरीरमा डुबाइएको थिएन। त्यसैले, प्रेरित १:५ अगाडि मण्डली सुरु भइसकेको हुन सक्दैन। येशूले प्रेरित १:५ का शब्दहरू बोल्नुहुँदा, उहाँको मृत्यु र उहाँको बौरिउठाइ भइसकेको थियो, तरैपनि त्यस समयसम्म आत्माको बप्तिस्मा भइसकेको थिएन, पवित्र आत्मा आइसक्नुभएको थिएन, र मण्डली बनिसकेको थिएन। तरैपनि प्रेरित १:५ को अगमवाणी निकै उल्लेखनीय थियो किनभने येशूले आत्माको बप्तिस्मा “केही दिनपछि” (त्यस समयदेखि धेरै दिन पर्खनुपर्दैन) हुनेछ भनी भन्नुभयो। यसको अर्थ त्यो घटना छिट्टै हुनेछ, केही दिनमै। साँच्चै, हामीले सिक्नेछौं, उक्त घटना केवल १० दिनपछि पेन्टेकोस्टको दिनमा घट्यो। पेन्टेकोस्टको दिन र उक्त दिनमा घटेका अनौठा घटनाहरूलाई प्रेरित २ अध्यायमा वर्णन गरिएको छ। यस अध्यायमा आत्माको बप्तिस्मालाई तोकिएरै बताइएको छैन। पेन्टेकोस्टको दिनमा आत्माको बप्तिस्मा भएको थियो भनी हामीलाई एकैचोटी प्रेरित ११ मा मात्र तोकिएरै बताइएको छ, “अनि जब म बोल्न थालें, तब पवित्र आत्मा, जसरी _________ (पेन्टेकोस्टको दिनमा) हामीहरूमाथि ओर्लनुभएको थियो, उसरी नै उनीहरूमाथि ओर्लनुभयो। तब प्रभुले यसो भन्नुभऐको वचन मलाई सम्झना भयो, ‘यूहन्नाले साँच्चै पानीमा बप्तिस्मा दिए, तर तिमीहरू पवित्र आत्माले ___________ गरिनेछौ’” (प्रेरित ११:१५-१६)। यस खण्डको स्पष्ट भनाइको आधारमा, पवित्र आत्माको बप्तिस्मा सर्वप्रथम पेन्टेकोस्टको दिनमा भएको थियो भनी हामी जान्दछौं। विश्वासीहरू सर्वप्रथम त्यही दिनमा ख्रीष्टको शरीरमा संलग्न गराइएका थिए। मण्डली त्यही दिनमा सुरु भएको थियो। तर कोही-कोहीले आपत्ति जनाउलान् र यसो भन्लान्, “मत्ती ३:११ र प्रेरित १:५ मा उल्लेख गरिएको आत्माको बप्तिस्मा १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ मा उल्लेख गरिएको आत्माको बप्तिस्माभन्दा बेग्लै कुरा हो। मत्ती ३:११ र प्रेरित १:५ मा बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुने व्यक्ति ख्रीष्ट हुनुहुन्छ, तर १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ मा मा बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुने व्यक्ति ख्रीष्ट हुनुहुन्छ।” झट्ट पढ्दा यस्तो लागे तापनि मत्ती ३:११ र प्रेरित १:५ का ग्रीक शब्दावलीहरू व्यावहारिक रूपमा १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ सँग समान छन्। तलको चार्टले यो स्पष्ट पार्दछ। यी सबै पदहरूले उही बप्तिस्माको कुरा गरिरहेको छ, र यी चारओटै पदहरूका ग्रीक संरचना एकदम मिल्दोजुल्दो छन्। निम्न चार्टमा गरिएको अक्षरश: उद्दरणले स्पष्ट पार्दछ। ग्रीकको “en” अव्यय (नामयोगी) लाई हाम्रो नेपाली बाइबलमा “एउटै आत्माद्वारा” भनी अनुवाद गरिएको छ (१ कोरिन्थी १२:१३) जसको कारण बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुने पवित्र आत्मा नै हुनुहुन्छ भन्ने गलत निश्कर्षमा कोही-कोही पुगेका छन्। तर यस पदलाई यसरी बुझिनुपर्छ, “एउटै आत्मासित एउटै शरीरमा (ख्रीष्टक शरीर, अर्थात् उहाँको मण्डली) बप्तिस्मा भयौं (ख्रीष्टद्वारा)”। ख्रीष्टले हामीलाई आफ्नो शरीरमा बसाल्नु मात्र हुँदैन, तर उहाँले हामीलाई पवित्र आत्मा भित्र डुबाउनु पनि हुन्छ। “किनकि चाहे हामी यहूदी हौं चाहे ग्रीक, चाहे हामी कमारा हौं चाहे स्वतन्त्र, हामी सबै एउटै आत्माद्वारा एउटै शरीरभित्र बप्तिस्मा भयौं; र सबैलाई एउटै आत्माभित्र पिउन दिइयो।” (१ कोरिन्थी १२:१३)। हामीले पवित्र आत्मालाई प्राप्त गर्दा सबै आशिषहरूको भरपूरीमा सहभागी भएका छौं: “तब हामी आफैले गरेका धर्मका कामहरूद्वारा होइन, तर उहाँकै कृपाअनुसार उहाँले हाम्रो उद्धार गर्नुभयो — नयाँ जन्मको स्नान र पवित्र आत्माबाटको नवीकरणद्वारा; जसलाई (“जसलाई” शब्दले पवित्र आत्मालाई सङ्केत गर्दछ) उहाँले येशू ख्रीष्ट हाम्रा मुक्तिदाताद्वारा हामीमाथि प्रशस्त गरी खन्याउनुभयो” (तीतस ३:५-६)। “…पिताबाट पवित्र आत्माको प्रतिज्ञालाई प्राप्त गरेर” (प्रेरित २:३३)। “जसले ममाथि विश्वास गर्छ, पवित्रशास्त्रले भनेअनुसार, उसको हृदयबाट (एकदम भित्रबाट) जिउँदो पानीका नदीहरू बहनेछन्। तर यो कुरा उहाँले आत्माको विषयमा भन्नुभयो, जसलाई उहाँमाथि विश्वास गर्नेहरूले पाउन लागेका थिए; किनकि पवित्र आत्मा अझैसम्म दिइनुभएको थिएन; किनभने येशू अझै महिमित हुनुभएको थिएन।” (यूहन्ना ७:३८-३९)। परमेश्वरको प्रशंसा गर्नुहोस्, शान्तिदाता आउनुभएको छ! पिताको प्रतिज्ञा दिइएको छ! आत्माको बप्तिस्मा पेन्टेकोस्टको दिनमा सुरु भयो र मानिसहरूले ख्रीष्टमा विश्वास गर्दा यस वर्तमान समयमा पनि निरन्तर भइरहेको छ। यदि तपाईंले प्रभु येशूलाई आफ्नो मुक्तिदाताको रूपमा ग्रहण गर्नुभएको छ भने (यूहन्ना १:१२), के तपाईं ख्रीष्टको शरीरको अङ्ग हुनुभएकोमा धन्यवादी हुनुहुन्छ (१ कोरिन्थी १२:२७)? मानिसहरूले “मण्डली जाने” कुरा गर्छन् तर के तपाईंले तपाईं आफैं नै मण्डली हुनुहुन्छ भनी महसुस गर्नुभएको छ? तपाईंले आफैंलाई ख्रीष्टको शरीरको अङ्गको रूपमा देख्नाले तपाईंको ख्रीष्टिय जीवनमा ठूलो भिन्नता ल्याउँदछ। परमेश्वरले अति महत्त्वपूर्ण तरिकाले तपाईंलाई तपाईंको शिर, प्रभु येशू ख्रीष्टसँग जोड्नुभएको छ (एफेसी ५:३०-३२), र परमेश्वरले तपाईंलाई अति महत्त्वपूर्ण तरिकाले यस शरीरमा भएका अन्य सबै विश्वासीसँग जोड्नुभएको छ। मण्डली कुनै संस्था होइन; यो एउटा जीवित संरचना हो, जोचाहिँ परमेश्वरकै जीवनद्वारा स्पन्दित भइरहेको छ (कलस्सी १:२७; गलाती २:२०)। महत्त्वपूर्ण व्याकरणगत विचार १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ को व्याकरणगत संरचना सुसमाचारका पुस्तकहरू र प्रेरितको पुस्तकमा भएको आत्माको बप्तिस्मा सम्बन्धी पदहरूसँग एकसमान छ भनेर हामीले हेरिसक्यौं। यी हरेक पदहरूमा बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुनेचाहिँ ख्रीष्ट हुनुहुन्छ र उहाँले पवित्र आत्माभित्र (ग्रीक: en) (पवित्र आत्मासित वा पवित्र आत्माको माध्यमद्वारा) बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुन्छ। बप्तिस्मा दिने कार्यमा ख्रीष्ट र पवित्र आत्मा दुवैजनाको भूमिका हुनु सम्भव छ। ख्रीष्टले पवित्र आत्मालाई नै सो कार्य गर्न दिनुभएर विश्वासीहरूलाई शरीरमा बप्तिस्मा दिनुभएको हुनसक्छ। यो कुरालाई यूहन्ना ४:१-२ मा चित्रण गरिएको छ। यूहन्ना ४:१ मा येशूले बप्तिस्मा दिने यूहन्नाले भन्दा पनि बेसी चेलाहरूलाई बप्तिस्मा दिनुभयो भनी बताइएको छ। यूहन्ना ४:२ मा येशू आफैंले कसैलाई बप्तिस्मा दिनुभएन भनी खुलाइएको छ! कसरी उहाँले धेरैलाई बप्तिस्मा दिनुभएर एकैजनालाई पनि बप्तिस्मा नदिन सक्नुहुन्छ? जवाफ यो हो, येशूले धेरै चेलाहरूलाई बप्तिस्मा दिनुभयो तर उहाँले यो कार्य आफ्ना चेलाहरूद्वारा गर्नुभयो जोहरूले वास्तवमा बप्तिस्मा दिने कार्य गर्दथे। १ कोरिन्थी १२:१३ मा यस्तै हुनु सम्भव छ। बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुने येशू ख्रीष्ट हुनुहुन्छ (मत्ती ३:११; प्रेरित १:५ इत्यादिको प्रकाशमा) तर बप्तिस्मा दिने काम वास्तवमा पवित्र आत्माले गरिरहनुभएको छ। ख्रीष्टले आफ्नो बप्तिस्माको कार्यलाई कार्यान्वयन गर्ने माध्यमचाहिँ पवित्र आत्मा हुनुहुन्छ। नयाँ नियमका पत्रहरूमा यो अवधारणा नौलो छैन। येशूले मुक्ति दिनुहुन्छ भन्ने कुरामा हामी सबै सहमत छौं र तरपनि मुक्तिको वास्तविक कार्य परमेश्वरका आत्माद्वारा कार्यान्वयन गरिन्छ (१ कोरिन्थी ६:११ हेर्नुहोस्)। ख्रीष्टले आफ्ना विश्वासीहरूलाई ख्रीष्टको शरीरमा डुबाउनु हुन्छ भन्नु निश्चय पनि उचित कुरा हो, र त्यसैले उहाँसँग बप्तिस्मा दिनुहुने नामक पदवीको दाबी गर्ने उचित अधिकार छ। मत्ती १६:१८ मा आफ्नो मण्डली बनाउनुहुने ख्रीष्ट नै हुनुहुन्छ भनी हामी सिक्दछौं। प्रेरित २:४७ मा मुक्ति पाएकाहरूलाई दिनहुँ मण्डलीमा थप्नुहुने प्रभु (येशू ख्रीष्) हुनुहुन्छ भनी सिक्दछौं। प्रेरित २:३३ लाई बिचार गर्नुहोस्, त्यहाँ आत्मालाई खन्याउनुहुने प्रभु येशू नै हुनुहुन्छ। प्रभु येशूले पवित्र आत्माको आशिषपूर्ण व्यक्तित्वसँग सहकार्य गर्नुभइ, उहाँको अनुग्रहको महिमाको प्रशंसाको निम्ति यो महान् कार्य सम्पन्न गर्नुहुन्छ। ख्रीष्ट येशूमा बप्तिस्मा गरिएको विश्वासीहरूको महिमित ओहोदा छ। उनीहरू ख्रीष्टमा छन्। उनीहरू परमेश्वरका प्रिय पुत्रमा छन्: “यसैकारण कोही __________ छ भने ऊ एउटा नयाँ सृष्टि हो, पुराना कुराहरू बितिगएका छन्; हेर, सबै कुराहरू नयाँ भएका छन्” (२ कोरिन्थी ५:१७)। “यसकारण अब ख्रीष्ट येशू___ हुनेहरूलाई कुनै दण्डको आज्ञा छैन” (रोमी ८:१)। विश्वासीहरू कसरी यो ओहोदामा प्रवेश गर्छन्? कसरी मुक्ति पाएको व्यक्ति परमेश्वरको पुत्रमा राखिन्छ? यो आत्मिक बप्तिस्माको माध्यमबाट गरिन्छ (पानीको बप्तिस्माको माध्यमबाट होइन)। एउटा व्यक्तिले मुक्ति पाएकै घडी यो कार्य सम्पन्न हुन्छ। परमेश्वरले विश्वासीलाई आफ्नो पुत्रमा राख्नुहुने समय यही हो: गलाती ३ अध्याय: किकि ख्रीष्ट येशूमाथि राखिएको ____________द्वारा तिमीहरू सबै परमेश्वरका सन्तान हौ। किनकि तिमीहरू जतिले ख्रीष्टभित्र _______________ (डुबाउनु, राखिनु) लिएका छौ, तिमीहरूले ख्रीष्टलाई पहिरेका छौ। अब त्यहाँ न यहूदी रह्यो न ग्रीक, न कमारा न स्वतन्त्र, न पुरुष न स्त्री; किनकि ख्रीष्ट येशू____ तिमीहरू सबै एक हौ” (गलाती ३:२६-२८)। रोमी ६ अध्याय: वा हामीहरूमध्ये जतिजनाले _________ __________ ____________ (डुबाउनु, राखिनु) लियौं, हामीले उहाँकै मृत्युभित्र बप्तिस्मा लिएका थियौं भन्ने कुरा के तिमीहरूलाई थाह छैन? यसकारण हामी उहाँसँगै बप्तिस्माद्वारा मृत्युभित्र गाडियौं; र जसरी पिताको महिमाद्वारा ख्रीष्ट मरेकाहरूबाट बौराइनुभयो, त्यसरी नै हामी पनि जीवनको नयाँपनामा हिँड्नुपर्दछ। किनकि यदि हामी उहाँको मृत्युको समानतामा एकैसाथ जोरिएका छौं भने उहाँको बौरिउठाइको समानतामा पनि जोरिएका हुनेछौं (रोमी ६:३-५)। विश्वास गरेको घडी साँचो बप्तिस्मामा के हुन्छ भनी देखाउन पानीको बप्तिस्माचाहिँ एउटा चित्रणयुक्त बप्तिस्मा हो। मुक्ति पाएको समयमा, एउटा मानिस येशू ख्रीष्टभित्र बप्तिस्मा गराइन्छ वा राखिन्छ, फलस्वरूप ऊ “ख्रीष्टभित्र” हुन्छ। यो साँचो बप्तिस्मालाई तल चित्राङ्कन गरिएको छ: विश्वासी येशू ख्रीष्टभित्र बप्तिस्मा गराइएको छ (गलाती ३:२७; रोमी ६:३), यसको अर्थ यो पनि हो कि ऊ, - उहाँको मृत्युभित्र बप्तिस्मा गराइएको छ (रोमी ६:३)। - उहाँको गडाइभित्र बप्तिस्मा गराइएको छ (रोमी ६:४)। - उहाँको बौरिउठाइभित्र बप्तिस्मा गराइएको छ (रोमी ६:४-५)। - उहाँको शरीर, अर्थात् मण्डलीभित्र बप्तिस्मा गराइएको छ (१ कोरिन्थी १२:१३)। अर्को शब्दमा, विश्वासीलाई पूर्ण रूपमा ख्रीष्टसित यतिसम्म सम्मिलित गराइएको छ कि प्रभु येशूले टार्ससका शाउललाई यसरी भन्न सक्नुभयो, “तिमी ________ किन सताउँछौ?” (प्रेरित ९:४)। शाउलले विश्वासीहरूलाई सताएका थिए भनी हामी जान्दछौं (१ कोरिन्थी १५:९)। त्यसोभए येशूले किन यसो भन्नुभयो, “तिमी मलाई किन सताउँछौ?” शरीरले दु:ख भोग्यो भने, शिरले महसुस गर्दछ! तसर्थ, पानीको बप्तिस्मा विश्वासीको ख्रीष्टमा भएको यस महिमित सम्बन्ध र ओहोदाको चित्रण हुनुपर्छ। त्यसैले मैले (विश्वासीको रूपमा) यसो भन्न सक्छु: आत्माको बप्तिस्माको व्यवहारिक महत्त्व - म उहाँको शरीरमा राखिएको छु। म अतिमहत्त्वपूर्वक मेरो शिर, प्रभु येशू ख्रीष्टसित जोडिएको छु (कलस्सी ३:३-४)। म अतिमहत्त्वपूर्वक ख्रीष्टमा मेरा दाजुभाइहरू र दिदि बहिनीहरूसित जोडिएको छु। म परमेश्वरकै जीवनद्वारा स्पन्दित भइरहेको एउटा जिउँदो संरचनाको हिस्सा भएको छु। - म ख्रीष्टमा सदाको निम्ति अनन्तसम्मै सुरक्षित छु। मेरो मुक्ति गुम्नको निम्ति, कसैले मलाई ख्रीष्ट शरीरबाट विस्थापित गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ (मलाई शरीरबाट छुट्टाउनुपर्ने हुन्छ!)। यो कहिल्यै पनि हुन सक्दैन। - मैले आत्माको बप्तिस्मा पाएको छु भन्ने तथ्यले ख्रीष्टिय एकतालाई प्रोत्साहन दिनुपर्छ। त्यहाँ “एउटै शरीर”, “एउटै आत्मा” र “एउटै बप्तिस्मा” (एफेसी ४:४-६) छ। रगतद्वारा किनिएको हरेक विश्वासी ख्रीष्टको शरीरमा राखिएका छन्, र हामी एउटै मण्डलीको साझा अङ्ग हौं। हामीहरू एउटै शिरसँग जोडिएका छौं। हामीहरू एउटै रगतले किनिएका छौं। हामी एउटै आत्माद्वारा अन्तर्वास गरिएका छौं। हामीहरू एउटै स्वर्गीय पिताका सन्तानहरू हौं। हामी एउटै पुस्तकको (“एउटै विश्वास”) विद्यार्थीहरू हौं। हामीहरू एउटै जीवनका हकवालाहरू हौं। हामी एउटै धन्य आशाको बाटो हेरिरहेका छौं। आशिषपूर्ण एकता र अमूल्य अभिन्नता! - आत्माको बप्तिस्माले मलाई एउटा नयाँ र महिमित ओहोदामा प्रवेश गराउँछ। - आत्माको बप्तिस्माले मलाई ख्रीष्टसित उहाँको मृत्यु, गडाइ र बौरिउठाइमा सम्मिलित गराउँछ। ख्रीष्टले पूर्ण गर्नुभएको कार्य मेरो निम्ति अति व्यक्तिगत बन्दछ। उहाँको मृत्यु मेरो हुँदछ। उहाँक जीवन मेरो हुन्छ। म उहाँसित मरेँ र म उहाँसित जिउँछु र उहाँ मभित्र जिउनुहुन्छ (गलाती २:२०)