Overwhelmed with the Holy Spirit

Two things that stand out about John from this reading. First, when asked what he says about himself by the priests and Levites his response directly stems from his identity in Christ. He responses not about himself but with who Jesus is [and who Jesus has made him to be]. See the theme here people?!
Secondly, John flat out declares his unworthiness in comparison to Christ. He uses self-deprecating language when seen in comparison to Christ. He declares that even he, one who has been marked as the forerunner of Christ to baptize by water, is unworthy to untie Jesus' sandals. Think about Jesus' feet for a second...Those guys are probably have layers of dirt caked on them, a wicked sandal tan, might possibly smell from the extensive walking Jesus did, heck he probably has long toe nails too [we don't read about Jesus stopping to trim His big toes!]. With even quite possibly the gnarliest of feet, John submits to His Lord and claims himself unworthy.

The story continues and we see Jesus, the one who baptizes in and with the Holy Spirit, come alongside John. Jesus comes and He begins baptizing in the power of the Holy Spirit. From this moment, believers are being submerged, immersed, and dunked in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus overwhelms us with the Spirit. He doesn't just dip us in, he fully dunks us. We have the power of the Holy Spirit living and dwelling inside us that is continually accessible to us. If you know anything about the Holy Spirit than you know the power that it has. I never fully understood what it meant to have the Holy Spirit living inside of me until I began college. That could be a whole separate post so I won't go into it just yet, if you have questions you I'm here, but just know what great responsibility and opportunity that gives you. When we recognize the power of the Holy Spirit lives are changed, transformed, and renewed. I am daily wrecked by the Holy Spirit when someone prays truth over me that is directly from the Spirit or when I hear God encouraging me to speak a certain truth over a friend which just so happens to pertain to their life without my prior knowledge. [In fact, I was so much so wrecked by the power of the Holy Spirit that when my old Lifegroup leader freshman year prayed over me a prayer that was so specific to my life - which she knew nothing about because I had just met her that day - the Holy Spirit renewed and redeemed my life from that day on.]

When I read this devotion not only do I see the rich ways in which God saturates us in His love and mercies but also how he submerges us in the power of the Spirit. Each of us, after accepting Christ, have the power of the Spirit living inside us and are thus co-partners with Christ in administering His grace and truth.

[sorry mine always end up being so long!]
Blessings to all,
Hope Frankian

ps. all these post reminded me of this throwback...... Steven Curtis Chapman anyone?!!!