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From: ptl@fluke.UUCP (Mike Andrews)
Newsgroups: net.religion.christian
Subject: Some Information on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Message-ID: <1379@vax3.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 19-Apr-85 16:05:20 EST
Article-I.D.: vax3.1379
Posted: Fri Apr 19 16:05:20 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Apr-85 08:10:19 EST
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Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
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Hi,

Some people have shown interest in getting information on the Baptism
of the Holy Spirit.  I can only speak from my own personal experiences.
So here goes ---

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit does exist today, as it did in the early
Church.  It is evidenced by those using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
mentioned in I Corinthians 12-14, and by the fruits God has produced
through their use.  As with any tool God has given us to serve Him
with, it can be misused, abused, or even left to wither away like a
muscle that isn't exercised.  But it is only a tool He has graciously
given us.  Some people, both `Charismatic' and `non-Charismatic' focus
so much on the tools, that the garden isn't even looked after, let
alone looked at.  And God is doing a *Mighty* thing in His Garden.

The term Charismatic refers to being gifted.  We are all gifted by God,
Christian and non-Christian alike.  Whether we accept the Gifts or not,
He has them there for us.  The Baptism of the Holy Spirit can be looked
at as an outpouring of His Holy Spirit:  God's Holy Spirit working
directly through us to serve, glorify, and honor God, by bringing His
Love to others so they and we can share an eternity together with Him.

I've heard the Baptism of the Holy Spirit compared to someone who has
received all these beautifully wrapped boxes.  Inside are the Gifts we
received in Baptism.  As a Roman Catholic, I also believe that God
has a special purpose in the Sacrament of Confirmation - to pray God
fills me in a new, special way with His Holy Spirit, to empower me
with tools to work for Him.  The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is asking
God to help us open these beautiful packages, and properly use what's
inside.  He helps us open specific Gifts to be used in His time,
and He prepares us to use them properly.

It is a non-denominational Gift.  Makes sense - God's non-denominational.
God will and does give this *unimaginable* Gift(!!!) of the outpouring of
His Holy Spirit to any of His who ask Him for it.  And when you do,
expect Him to answer your prayer.  He answered mine, as well as the
prayers of lots of other fine people I know or know of.

Speaking in Tongues is real.  When I had my first experience with
Charismatics and the renewal movement back about 1971, speaking in
Tongues scared me off for a while.  The next 10 years to be more exact.
Then in 1980 I felt compelled to get together with other Christians more
than only for Mass on Sundays.  I ended up meeting some wonderful, truly
Loving people who happened to be in a Charismatic prayer group.

Being Baptised in the Holy Spirit doesn't make anyone better than someone
who isn't.  Being Christian doesn't make us better than non-Christians.
One of the most gifted people I know doesn't consider himself Charismatic.

So why be involved in the Charismatic renewal?  Because God is doing something
truly unimaginable with and for His people today.  He wants us
to experience Life the way He planned.  And He wants us to share His Eternal
Life with others using His Power, for His Glory.  So He's given us tools to do
it with.  The Baptism of the Holy Spirit isn't the only tool God has given
us.  Look at the Cursillo movement, Marriage Encounter (please keep my wife
and me in your prayers as we're making our ME weekend starting tonight),
Engaged Encounter, Bible camps, Christian summer camps, prayer groups.
Don't forget our own Churches that God has Blessed us (Gifted us) with.

God Bless us ALL,

Mike Andrews
-- 

     ***  Ezekiel 37:1-14  ***         ***   Ephesians 5:8-21  ***
                    *** Job 3:25 and Mark 5:36 ***


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