“Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a better qualification for the ministry than classical learning.” -John Fletcher
I read this today and thought it was a wonderful word, and an important one. Fletcher said this while he was teaching at a Methodist seminary in the 1700s. He was a man who was passionate about the Lord and about learning. Extremely well read in theology and the classics, Fletcher knew as well as anyone that no human learning or effort can prepare us for Christ’s work alone. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit. As Jesus clearly taught, without Him we can accomplish nothing. Many Christians in our world sadly accomplish very little for the kingdom. I believe that this is because though they are saved, they are not anointed with the Spirit and therefore have little to no power for ministry.
It seems to me that most of the Evangelical and Reformed denominations have forgotten the long-standing tradition of praying for believers to receive the Holy Spirit. To be sure we know that every saved person is indwelt by the Spirit, but not all have his anointing for ministry. We must seek after that. The early church clearly pursued this, and the early Baptists followed their example as did the Methodists and others. The early American Baptists included the following in the Philadelphia Confession, “We believe that (Heb 5:12, 6:1-2, Acts 8:17-18, 19:6) laying on of hands (with prayer) upon baptized believers, as such, is an ordinance of Christ, and ought to be submitted unto by all such persons that are admitted to partake of the Lord’s Supper; and that the end of this ordinance is not for the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, but for (Eph. 1:13-14) a farther reception of the Spirit of promise, or for addition of the graces of the Spirit, and the influences thereof; to confirm strengthen, and comfort them in Jesus Christ.”
Of course they did not teach that gifts did not come, but that the gifts were not the primary purpose or desire here. The chief desire was for the Spirit Himself and He is the one who brings the gifts and power which we must have in order to minister with Christ. Far too many of us are living and even ministering in human strength. It’s no wonder that we struggle to find victory. I think that we should take a play book out of the early church and the early Baptists and Methodists. We should get back to praying that we might be filled with the Spirit.
At the end of the day, what are we after? I hope, pray, and seek to be after His clear and defining presence in my life and in our church.
This is just a short thought, but one that I think is important enough to share. I hope some of us will take some time to chew on it, and to ask Jesus to give us the will to desire the Holy Spirit and His power in our lives more than we desire the vanities we find ourselves pursuing on an average day.
Grace and peace be with you all,
Pastor Nick
