No need to argue

One of the arguments that divides Christians (to the sorrow of the Lord---John 17:20-21) is the question of the Holy Spirit. But I have come to realize that I need not get bogged down here. When I am feeling my weakness, when I am conscious of a need for more of God's power (Ephesians 3:16) in a situation, as I did on a recent night, I do not have to take sides on the theology of baptisms or fillings.

What I do is pray thus:

"Lord, I am desperate for you at this moment. A matter has arisen in which I want your name to be glorified. And if I want it, how much more do you want it. I recall the times of old when men would cry out for you to act against your enemies, and for the sake of your great name you acted (2 Chronicles 14:11).

"I recall that when Samson was at his worst, your Spirit came upon him for your kingdom's sake (Judges 14:6,19). And though King Saul had no heart for you, even he was filled with the Spirit and prophesied with the prophets at your pleasure (1 Samuel 19:20-24). This means you are not hindered by the unworthiness of men when your glory is at stake. How much more so when your servant desires your fame?

"And onto these aforementioned people you poured your Spirit even before the days of The Great Outpouring in the book of Acts, before the perfect life and death of your Son had secured the Age of the Spirit. How much more will you not now lavish the bounty of the Spirit of Christ on us, even the least of whom are greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11)? 'For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory' (2 Corinthians 3:9).

"And if all this were not enough to embolden me to request a filling of your Spirit (or a baptism, or whatever you call it; Lord, thou knowest), your Son Jesus himself invites us. Speaking to believers---to sons and daughters who already have the Spirit in some way---he says, ". . . how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him" (Luke 11:13). We have, and yet he bids us ask."

This is how I spoke to the Lord that night, using his own language as much as I could. When you find yourself on your knees before the One who is theology itself, you become very humble about your own little petty theology.

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