The Holy Spirit in Spiritual Warfare
This blog will explain why the Holy Spirit is necessary for the spiritual war going on around us. You can also view this topic on my YouTube Channel.
ERT Physical Testing
Qualification requirements
We conducted semi-annual physical examinations with the North Vancouver Emergency Response Team (ERT). One day, several people tried out for the team. They knew they had to complete a minimum of 50 push-ups, 50 sit-ups in one minute, 5 pull-ups, and a 225-pound bench press. They performed these exercises consecutively with only brief rests in between. The aerobic test requires us to complete a mile-and-a-half run in under 10 minutes. Coming off an injury and 20 years older than most tryouts, I told them I would finish the run in under 10 minutes. They needed to cross the finish line ahead of me.
Failing even if meeting the Requirements
I finished the run in 9:55, with nearly all the tryouts completing ahead of me—some by a significant margin while a couple paced me. The ones who paced me failed to realize they had already fallen short. We expected everyone to give their best effort, especially those trying out. Those few pacing me, much younger at 20 years my junior, only aimed to meet the minimum standards.
minimal requirements for a christian
Many believers act like they’ve only completed the minimal requirements to secure a “get out of hell free” card. They don’t give their all to the Lord and instead hope to reach heaven through their strength.
Need to be Baptized in the Holy Spirit
What we truly need—all of us—you and me—is to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. He is the only one who will empower us to complete our mission. So today, I will discuss the importance of the Holy Spirit—stay tuned.
Being Spiritually Fit
Every military or paramilitary organization emphasizes physical training as an essential aspect of basic training. Fighting on the front lines requires both physical and mental resilience. When you join the army of God, you must also be spiritually fit. Yet, too often—even in Pentecostal circles—we fall short of this standard and wonder why evil has such a stronghold in our world.
challenging beliefs
Some of what I will share today may challenge your beliefs, mainly the belief that becoming a believer involves a one-time prayer of salvation. Many of us only worry about escaping hell, securing an insurance policy, or getting our sins forgiven. We neglect our calling to an abundant, joyful, and victorious life. We must recognize that we are engaged in a spiritual war.
what is salvation
We often believe that salvation involves accepting Jesus, asking for forgiveness, and then sitting back. However, this mindset isn’t scriptural. The New Testament never instructs us merely to accept Jesus; Peter states in Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Notice the pattern: repent, be baptized in Jesus’ name, receive forgiveness of sins, and then receive the Holy Spirit.
holy spirit – the missing element
This pattern was the norm in the early Church. The disciples spent three years with Jesus and had their sins forgiven. They had even gone out in His authority and witnessed healings and exorcisms, yet they weren’t ready to become the “church.” Despite their advanced theological knowledge, they still needed something crucial.
With their 40 days of in-depth teaching from the resurrected Lord, they needed more. So Jesus instructed the disciples to “tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endowed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).
Wait for the Holy Spirit
The Bible reiterated this in Acts 1:4, where the disciples were to “wait for the gift my Father promised. John baptized with water, but the Holy Spirit would baptize them in a few days. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
holy spirit on the day of pentecost
So they waited, and ten days later, this gift arrived, as described in Acts 2:1-4: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
purpose of the holy spirit
But why did they need the Baptism in the Holy Spirit? The passage from Acts reveals two main reasons: to receive power and to be witnesses for Christ.
As Jews, the disciples recognized the Holy Spirit as an external enabling power, as the Old Testament recounts instances of individuals who received this power.
Holy spirit is a person
In John 14-17, Jesus tells them that the Holy Spirit is God’s power and that He is a person—a Paraclete, a helper, a comforter—just like Jesus. He would “convict the world regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8).
In John 14:26, Jesus reassures the disciples: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
enabling power of god
As Jews, the disciples knew the Holy Spirit as an enabling external power. The Old Testament talks of a number who had this power on them, but in John 14 – 17, Jesus tells them that not only is Holy Spirit the power of God but was a person. He is not “the” Holy Spirit but just Holy Spirit, another Paraclete, helper, and comforter. One just like Jesus. Holy Spirit would “convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment” John 16:8
In John 14:26, Jesus tells the disciples, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” In John 15:26-27, we are told, “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.”
So this Advocate, the Holy Spirit, will teach believers all things, remind them of all Jesus said, and testify of Christ. Believers are also supposed to be witnesses of Jesus!
Then, in John 16:13, we are told, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will only speak what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
So you can see why Jesus told them to tarry.
christian pattern
In Acts, you see the pattern: repent towards God for sins, believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, be baptized in water, and receive/be Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
The first three cover Forgiveness of sins, but Baptism is the “proof” that one is in God’s family. It is the “seal,” the mark of God’s ownership.
If you remember the Gospel accounts, John baptized Jesus by total immersion in the Jordan River. As Jesus came out of the water, the Holy Spirit came upon Him, and God gave His approval, saying, “This is my Son.”
no miracles without holy spirit
Jesus did not perform any miracles, signs, or wonders until he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Neither can we. We can get some things done because of God’s grace, but we will never be true warriors until we receive baptism in the Holy Spirit.
By the way, baptism means being “completely saturated.” It is Jesus who Baptizes us. John the Baptist clearly stated that Jesus would baptize us in/with the Holy Spirit.
continuous walk with holy spirit
The Christian walk isn’t a vertical line with repentance and believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior on the “get out of hell insurance policy” side and water baptism and Spirit baptism on the “after our salvation side”. Instead, it is a continual walk. It is called “The Way.” The Christian walk is to believe and continue to believe in Jesus. We have been saved, are being saved, and will be saved! Believers are to be holy and continue to become holy (sanctified). We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit and filled continuously.
Salvation is a continuous walk with God, actually the Holy Spirit. We are to hear the Holy Spirit, be obedient, and walk in step with Him until we finish the race.
be baptized in the holy spirit
Believers need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. In the early Church, it followed on the heels of water baptism. Look at the Samaritan example (Acts 8:14-38). Phillip had evangelized them, and Peter and John went to see how things were going. Peter and John realized the Samaritans had not received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, which they immediately corrected.
Then, in Acts 19, Paul goes to Ephesus and meets believers. They had been water baptized but under John’s baptism and not in the name of Jesus. Nor had they received the Holy Spirit baptism. Act 19:4-6, “Paul said, “John’s Baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” Hearing this, they received baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.”
Notice that Paul took them on the proper pathway: repent and believe in Jesus. Then, they were baptized in water in Jesus’s name. Finally, they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. These twelve men would form the core of the Church at Ephesus.
Here, we see them performing the verbal actions of speaking in tongues and prophesying. Both the Ephesians and Paul could point back to this event. Spirit Baptism is recognized both by the person baptized and those observing.
effective warriors
You and I will be effective warriors once Jesus has baptized us in the Holy Spirit with a distinguishable sign, which is verbal. Humbling ourselves, we allow the Holy Spirit to fill and lead us continually. The Holy Spirit hears and sees what Jesus, the head of the Church, is saying and doing. We can then engage in the mission we are assigned to do.
By the way, the power the believers were waiting for was the ability to perform supernatural acts. We are also called to perform supernatural acts! Our calling is to be Christ’s witnesses by casting out demons, healing the sick, setting captives free, and living holy, victorious lives.
One thing a recruit gets is a uniform and the tools needed to complete the tasks assigned to them. Next week, we will look at the equipment assigned to a warrior in the army of God. I challenge you to find, clean and polish your assigned items. It might be good to see if they still fit and can withstand a prolonged battle.