Several years ago, I attended a Bible Study service in one familiar church. The study that fateful evening had centered on the baptism of Jesus Christ at the River Jordan.
For the most part, I was tremendously enthralled by the descriptive heavenly experience Jesus had at His baptism as recorded in the Gospels. The heavens were opened and the Holy Spirit openly descended upon Him like a dove.
On the other hand, I could not help but ponder over the fact that this spectacular experience of Jesus’ at the Jordan has remained a very unique experience in the history of Christianity till date. Matthew’s account of that event tells us that:
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him (3:16, NIV).
Luke puts it this way, “…the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased”” (3:22, NIV).
“Does anyone have any question arising from this study today?” the Bible study facilitator had asked at the end of the study.
I flung my innocent hand up in the air. And having been acknowledged, I asked, “Why is it that the heaven does not open unto us and the Spirit of God does not descend bodily upon us during water baptism in this era like it did on Jesus Christ as we saw in the study?”
“Victor, are you comparing yourself with Jesus?” yelled one church elder from the far corner of the hall where he was sitting.
He must have felt that my question was controversial or ill-conceived. But I was convinced I asked the question because I wanted to know more, without any ulterior motives.
“Jesus is Jesus and we are not Jesus… We as mere humans should not expect to have a water baptism experience with the heavens opening and the Holy Spirit descending as on Jesus the Son of God,” he further stated.
In my heart as a young adult then, I felt that was not the best answer I could possibly get for that question. But I could not really push any further, else I could have been accused of challenging an elder inappropriately.
Thankfully, the Bible study facilitator stepped in and tried to salvage the situation by giving what I could call a more acceptable explanation to me. He explained that we can receive the Holy Spirit even before, during or after water Baptism.
“What matters”he opined, “is that we can receive the Holy Spirit, irrespective of whether or not He came upon us in a very spectacular way, as was the case of Jesus.”
I can identify with that summation because from my own water baptism experience, the heavens did not tear open (smiles), neither did the Holy Spirit descend on me in a spectacular way like it did on Jesus. But I still was baptized and I still have received the Holy Spirit.
Actually I had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit before I even had the opportunity of having the baptism by immersion in water.
What was your own experience? I hope you would not mind sharing.
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Victors Corner Blog 
I attended church in Texas when I was about 10 years old. The church was a mega church with a few thousand members. They came on the Air Force Base and picked the kids up and took us to church and returned us home. My mom didn’t feel that was the right church for her, but she let us go. I loved that church. We had bible camp and we had a tent session one night and we did alter call and I promise that God was letting me know that He was there and present in my life. I had never felt the holy spirit before so I started crying and feeling God’s grace all over me. A few weeks later we were in Sunday school and the instructor asked “How many of you know that if you died today you would go to heaven?” I didn’t know. The instructors ushered me off and talked to me about accepting Christ as my personal savior and committing my life to Him. I did. I’ve never looked back.
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That’s so sweet Tikeetha. Thanks for sharing your personal story. I was 14 when I gave my heart to Christ. As you said, no looking back for me too. Remain blessed.
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My receiving of the Holy Spirit is described in the Scripture below Victor, this was after two water Baptisms, one was forced as a young Teenager and it was like having a Bath without soap, I nearly drowned, sad but True.
Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee Except a man be Born of water and of The Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is Born of the Spirit is Spirit.
Mark 1:8 8 I indeed have Baptized you with water but He shall Baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
1 Corinthians 2:9-16 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that Love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with Spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are Spiritually discerned. But he that is Spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the Mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? but we have the Mind of Christ.
1John 2:26-28 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing Teacheth you of all things, and is Truth and is no lie and even as it hath Taught you ye shall abide in Him.
Matthew 10:26-28 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed and hid that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light and what ye hear in the ear that preach ye upon the housetops (KJV)
Christian Love Always – Anne.
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Yes indeed, except we are born of water and the spirit we cannot enter the kingdom of God. Thanks Anne for the contribution.
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Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
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Thanks for the reblog
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You’re very welcome Brother and Lord Bless you 😎
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