In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist refers to Jesus, saying, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy and fire.” The Bible is very clear that Jesus is the one who implements this baptism, immersing us in the Holy Spirit. We also read in Act 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”. This is a biblical truth that can transform our lives, however we need to recognize the importance of retaining and cultivating our relationship.

I am so thankful to Denzil R. Miller’s reminder of the importance of maintaining the Spirit-Empowered life. As he mentioned, “Failure to do this will result in backsliding and loss of power.” It is clear to me, that failure to see the importance of maintaining the Spirit-Empowered life will produce a devaluing of what God is valuing.

Denzil R. Miller will encourage the reader to value the Baptism of Holy Spirt in a way that will be fruitful in your life and ministry. You will want to read and study what he gives as the, “Guidelines for Maintaining a Spirit-Empowered Life.” As he beautifully states, “Life in the Spirit in not an automatic thing. It must be nourished and cared for.” His teaching encourages me to continue to pray, Dear Jesus, let me value what you value.

Reviewed by Alan James Schrader

Find Maintaining the Spirit-Empowered Life on the Decade of Pentecost free download page: http://www.decadeofpentecost.org/booklets/

In this Fall 2007 conversation with a reader, Executive Editor Raul Mock, asked some questions of a recent subscriber.

Image: Samuel Zeller.

What you have been studying lately?

Lately, I have been studying church planting and church growth strategies.  I been studying Pentecostal & Charismatic history in the last two-thousand years, Revivals through history especially modern ones (Shearer Schoolhouse, Welsh, Topeka, Azusa Street, etc.).  Also, I am doing an expository study of the Sermon on Mount.

What topics or conversations have inspired you or irked you recently?

I have been inspired recently of sudden re-interest in the Azusa Street Revival. I have been interested in Azusa for years and it’s nice to see it getting so much attention lately. I have been irked by conversations about Pentecostals & Charismatics are becoming institutionalized. I have been irked by secular news stories about Pentecostals & Charismatics and about some of our fallen leaders.

If you could sit down with a group of theologians and Bible teachers, what questions would you want to ask?

Where are we going as a movement? If we are going in a wrong direction, how do we get back on the right path. If we are going in the right direction, how do we maintain? I know the obvious answer is to trust and obey the Lord through the power of the Holy Ghost, and live a Spirit-filled life, keeping that in perspective what can we do as individuals, as churches, and as denominations.

Thanks for your time.

God bless you in Jesus’ name,

Pastor Ben