The More

In John 20:21-22 Jesus speaking to his disciples said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Does that mean that they have experienced all that God would impart to them as followers of Christ? Is there no room for greater intimacy and new experiences of His divine presence in their lives? Obviously, there was more. Jesus speaking to his disciples again said, “and now I will send the Holy Spirit just as my father promised but stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” (Luke 24:49) He speaks again, in Acts 1:4-5 “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” In 1969, as a new believer in Christ I saw in others a greater joy, a greater depth of relationship, and power that I simply did not have at that time in my life. It caused me to hunger and thirst for more, though I did not know what the more was! That is when I heard about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I did not understand the term theologically, but I did believe that all good gifts came from God. I will never forget that day, that very moment when kneeling before the Lord I experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I now knew experientially what I had hungered for, more of his control of my life, more of what I needed to live my life in a way that would honor him and bless others. In my love for the body of Christ I have asked the same question the apostles did, “Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit since you believed?”