Whew! Well, in that case, no problem, right? Wrong! Evidently, the young boy's understanding of the word "irreplaceable" is different from Charlie's Mom's. Oh, how important it is to have a truewe want, but in reality, we need to go by God's definition—going as far as He wants. So many think that the Spirit-filled life is optional and that they can just go along as they see fit. A.W. Tozer put it this way: "The Holy Spirit and fallen human self are actually diametrically opposed. Before the Spirit of God can work creatively in our hearts, He must condemn and slay the 'flesh' within us. To do this, He must have our full consent to displace the natural self with the person of Christ—a personal crucifixion and then raised to new life. Self is dethroned and Christ is enthroned forever!"
understanding, especially when it comes to spiritual things! So many today think the Christian life is just a matter of going as far with the Lord as
Lets turn to Acts 18 to see this truth lived out on one of Paul's missionary journeys—"…a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John." (Acts 18:24,25) His name—Apollos—the name of a pagan deity, and in the Greek, meaning "to destroy fully," helps us to understand the choices before him. He had already decided to replace his pagan heritage with a truly Godly one, repenting of his sins and being baptized for their remission. But eloquence and instruction wouldn't cut it—would he go deeper than that?
It turns out, Paul's associates, Aquila and Priscilla, "took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." (vs. 26) With this further revelation of Jesus and the fulness of His Spirit, Apollos would then travel through Achaia, "showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ." (vs.28b) Obviously, Apollos had not only been willing to crucify the natural "self" and sacrifice his pride, but he also gave the Lord full consent to replace everything with the power of the Holy Spirit. Self was dethroned and Christ was enthroned, to reign and rule over every aspect of his daily life!
Now when Paul arrived in Ephesus, we see it all played out again—"…finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism." (Acts 19:1b-3) So, who were these people, or, more importantly, where were they—spiritually, that is? Were they true Christians or were they just disciples of John the Baptist? Some believe they were just followers of John, still waiting for the Messiah. But if that were true, they were not following John's teachings very carefully, for he himself had pointed to Jesus, and told everyone, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) Others suggest that these Ephesians were truly saved already, since Paul himself recognized that they were believers. In either case, it is clear that these 12 Ephesian disciples are not yet filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, for that is about to happen!
Clearly a choice had already been made though—to replace a pagan heritage with a godly one—first, in repentance and turning from sin, as indicated by John's baptism, and secondly, in a true saving belief in Jesus Christ. But would they be willing to go even deeper than that? Paul's previous question is really a powerful one. The Greek for their "having believed" is "pisteusantes," an aorist participle, which normally indicates an action prior to the action of the main verb, which, in this case, is the receiving of the Holy Spirit. So, literally, the question is, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit after you believed?" Of course, Paul is not speaking of the initial indwelling of the Holy Spirit that happens from the very moment of one's belief, conversion, and regeneration. No, he is speaking of an even deeper work of God that has been given into the hands of Jesus to perform. Even John the Baptist pointed to it, when he confessed, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." (Matthew 3: 11) It isn't that they hadn't actually heard of the Holy Spirit, for they had certainly done so through the message of John. What they hadn't been aware of was the present day outpouring of that Spirit. They were then baptized in the name of Jesus, consenting to a new covenant of God, replacing the natural man with the Spirit of Christ. And then even more happened—"…when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." (vs. 6)
Praise God—we would, in the natural, think that the things of God would be irreplaceable, but the call of God upon your heart and mine is so precious and so powerful, that as we submit to it, it is almost as though whatever has gone before is now replaced. 2 Peter 1 speaks of it as an "adding", but the resulting walk with the Lord is so much deeper than before, if feels as though the former things have been displaced by something much better. Peter tells us that, "…if these things be in you, and abound, (such as virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, brotherly kindness, and love) they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." (2 Peter 1:8-10) God never intended people to just "get saved" and just sit!
Do you see now just how crucial it is for our own spiritual walk to not refuse to go where God calls us to go? And not only for us, but what about for those around us, even if there is only one? Years ago, a famous evangelist from communist Eastern Europe, was overcome by a sense of failure, even though he had seen 200 respond to the gospel that night. After he had poured his heart and his life out in preaching, a teenage boy came up and said, "Pastor, I need to talk to you." The evangelist said that he was too tired and that the boy should return the next night. He never came back! The saddened evangelist recounts, "The Communists arrested me later that second evening. I was interrogated nonstop, day and night for five days. I answered all their questions because I feared the tortures and the beatings I would receive if I hadn't. Out of fear for the Communists, I could speak five days and nights without stopping. Out of love for God, however, I could not speak five minutes to that teenager looking for the way of life. He never came back! How will I stand before God and account for bringing only 200 to Christ that evening, and not 201?
Do you see how crucial it is to not let your faith-walk stall out? Whether it be in a self-centered life, with no thought for the Lord at all; or in the ritualistic warming of a pew, thinking all is fine; or in the midst of a curiosity of spiritual things; or in the joy of a born-again relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ; or in the glorious throes of being baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit; or in the ensuing days of ongoing Christian growth—don't let anything hinder your walk with the Lord! Matthew Henry once wrote, "If we desire to be in earnest in the great work of salvation, every pursuit and enjoyment must be given up which hinders the effect of the gospel upon the mind, or loosens it's hold upon the heart." Until the Lord comes again, which could be very, very soon, there will always be one more who needs the Lord. Understand this—we may be the onlyonly sermon preached to yet another soul. No longer let the natural man, with all of his logic and eloquence, with all of his instruction and fervency of human spirit, with all of his mightiness of even the Scriptures—no longer let this "Apollos" rule, for it only leads to destruction. Apollos needed Jesus and His fullness, and so did the Ephesians. We need Jesus and His fullness to replace everything else. Will you let His definitions be your definitions? Irreplaceable? No, it is very replaceable, so let Him do it right now! Bible read or the
