21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
The Christianity that is succeeding looks massively different from what we find in the traditional churches of Europe. In this newer- yet older- version of Christianity, the worship is enthusiastic, creative, spontaneous, and supernaturally oriented. All these groups center on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and experience of the Holy Spirit’s empowering and an outpouring of God’s desire to heal and free our wounded humanity – the very message of the gospel…
A major factor in this revival has been the rediscovery of the Baptism of the Spirit. …during the first three hundred years after Christ’s death, the church expected that Christians would receive a Pentecostal experience – for instance, they might prophesy or pray in tongues – when they were immersed in the waters of baptism.
I do not believe that it was just a coincidence that a lively experience of the baptism of the Spirit went along with the belief that all Christians were equipped to pray for healing and the casting out of evil spirits. … the power of the spirit is the dynamic force of God that lies behind the ministry of healing and deliverance. You cannot have one without the other.
The body (the church) has lain almost motionless – so inert that some of the greatest thinkers thought that it had died. They could find no pulse.
But now the heart, the Spirit, the fire is back. Once more the Spirit is falling on a waiting humanity – Parthians, Medes and Elamites!
(MacNutt Francis. The Healing Reawakening, Chosen Books, 2005)
8 But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 GNT)
29 And now, Lord, take notice of the threats they have made, and allow us, your servants, to speak your message with all boldness. 30 Reach out your hand to heal, and grant that wonders and miracles may be performed through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God’s message with boldness. Acts 4:29 -31 (GNT)
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed, 5 he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us. 6 God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that by his grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for. Titus 3:6-7 (GNT)
