The Blue and Purple

Friend – you are called to be exceedingly dangerous. Do you consider yourself dangerous?

If you don’t, maybe it’s time to shake it up. 

But maybe you don’t want to be dangerous. Maybe you prefer life safe. Controlled. Still. . .

If that’s you, it’s not you. It’s not who you really are. And it’s definitely not who God has in mind when he looks at you.  

No, it’s time to be dangerous! Time to live fully alive. And yes, somewhat on the edge. On the ledge of faith upon the cliff of security.

We want to serve the Lord with our whole lives. And to do so, we seek ‘the danger’ he is calling us to. But we wouldn’t pursue the danger without being dangerous ourselves. We need guns. Lots of guns. 

But in all seriousness, we must be equipped. And to be fully dangerous, we need the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

If you aren’t baptized in the Holy Spirit, you need to get equipped. And if you are on the fence on whether or not you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, well now is the day to be sure!

There are two baptisms: John’s baptism, and the baptism of Jesus in the Holy Spirit. 

Briefly, John’s baptism is to ‘prepare the way’ of the Lord. In your heart.  You cannot have the baptism of the Holy Spirit without having been born again first.  The Lord has given us water baptism to wash you from sin. To prepare your body for burial. And once you come out of the water, resurrection.  

The baptism of the Holy Spirit, on the hand, is the baptism into the spirit of Jesus – the Holy Spirit.  

Some may argue these are one in the same, but I assure you they are not. 

My friend’s father pointed these verses out to me when I was coming to know the Holy Spirit: 

“When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

With Peter and John, they treated it as a two-part process. Knowing the good news about the people of Samaria, the apostles still sent them to go  and finish the job; these people needed everything.

But there no mention of water (with the baptism). So here’s one more, also from the book of Acts:

“There he [Paul] found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?

  They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

  So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

  “John’s baptism,” they replied. 

  Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance”… On hearing 

  this they were baptized into 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.”

I hope you find this as exciting as I did when I first read this – there are two baptisms! 

But what’s the big? Why have two? And if you have seen fruit in your life, doesn’t that already you have the Lord in his fullness?

There are many reasons, maybe infinite, the Lord chose to do it this way. But one of the biggest just this: to make you dangerous.

The Lord’s heart is to be one with you. All the way down, deep into your bones – one in spirit! This is probably near the top of the list of why he made it this way.

But another reason the Lord baptized in the Holy Spirit is to equip you. 

When I signed my life over to the Lord, realizing nothing good will come out of my own intentions and strength, I became his son, and he became my Father.  And on that day, I told the Lord, like every born-again Christian, “I will do whatever you ask. I will serve you”  

And from then on we try to fulfill this vow we have made – to serve him (and his people)! 

He knew we needed more. We needed the right tools. But the Holy Spirit is no tool.  He is the Lord. 

And when he comes in and baptizes you, you have access to his weapons.  

Speaking in tongues. Prophesying. Healing. Everything Jesus did, and more.

This equipping allows us to look beyond simple ministry, evangelism, and service. The baptism of the Holy Spirit allows us to access him in the deepest way, and to minister to others in the deepest way – spirit to spirit.

What do I mean? Have you ever brought up Jesus to someone, maybe just even mentioned his name, and nothing really happened? Maybe the person you were with thought about him for a second, but nothing changed. The room felt the same, and everything remained normal.

But have you ever mentioned to someone something that triggered an old memory? Maybe you brought up a place you visited or a new experience you had, only to your surprise to find out how impactful mentioning that was to them. Perhaps they started to tear up, or unload a story about a very similar place or event.  << This is the access the Holy Spirit gives us all of the time.

These secrets. These moments. These “mentions” to people will no longer be accidental; the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say. He will whisper to you the perfect, beautiful “trigger” to be given to that person who needs to hear it.  

This is how you reach people and how the Lord changes people. The Holy Spirit in you gives you access to his unlimited supply. You only need to employ him! 

This is merely an example to show the difference between “everyday” ministry without, and with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

There will be no need for “accidental” mentions anymore; You will be perfectly intentional with your words because you will be one with him. You will think more like him, and get more access to the secrets, and the power needed to touch people at the spirit level.

There are so many benefits to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but equipping is a big one. Becoming dangerous for the Lord is one.

Get up. Kill, and eat! This is the charge to Peter. Hunting is inherently dangerous. You bring weapons of war to kill something…then eat it!

Jesus is saying, “I will make you a hunter of men!” Go. Kill, and Eat. Eat the fruit of your labor which is testimony, and life! When we kill and get our reward, we are fully alive.

And how do you get this baptism? You ask! 

And if you have asked, and nothing seems to have changed yet, go find someone and get ‘imparted.’  Have them lay hands on you. Have them pray for you. And you will receive!

Here is how I received mine second baptism. Yours may be slightly different, but the fruit will be the same. You will be one with the Holy Spirit.

…and become very dangerous!