Gifts Received

Sometimes we are not really sure what we have received.

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” 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, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them. - Acts 19:1-7

Paul makes a distinction here between the baptism of John and the baptism of Christ, saying John was merely preparation for the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

They had never heard there was such a thing, so it is safe to assume that if we don't know we have a gift, we must not have it, right?

I wonder.

They called Jesus a teacher.  Teachers find the talent that is latent in us and brings it out, so we can be all we are capable of being.  What if that is what Baptism is all about, bringing out what is already there, what is waiting to be harnessed and put to use.  What if that thing that is there is God?

Each of us is made by God, in God's likeness, possibly of the same stuff.  So, it makes sense that God is in us.

We have come to call that innate stuff of God The Holy Spirit, and we attribute gifts to it.  It makes sense, therefore, that God would want us to know we have this power to draw upon.

So, the teacher draws it out and turns us on to God in us.

How cool is that?

When we receive the Spirit in baptism, we are getting acquainted with God as a driving force in our lives.  And we get to reaffirm that relationship every day when we pray.

So, let the partnership begin again today.  And let us conquer the world.

More to come...