The Plan and Lectionary

Dear friends and siblings,

The Peace of the Risen Lord be with you all.

I am privileged to be given the opportunity to write to you for this quarter beginning from June to August. We ended the previous quarter on the Ascension of Christ on 29th May 2025 where we have Luke recording in Acts 1:3 "To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them for forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God." During this time there is perhaps the one appearance we can attribute to this period as recorded by Matthew (Mt 28:16ff) and Mark (Mk 16:14ff). It takes place at "a mountain top in Galilee." Mark adds that they were reclining at table. It is here that he gives the great commission. Mark's text may seem to imply that Jesus was taken up from this mountain, "after he had spoken to them" (Mk 16:19). Evidently Jesus had also summoned them back to Jerusalem at least toward the end of the period of the forty days. There they would be present for the feast of Pentecost. "And while staying with them He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, 'you heard from me; for John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now'." (Acts 1:4-5)

Brethren, this is the time that we also need the baptism of the Holy Spirit for us to be able to fulfil the Great Commission. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, the Great Commission becomes the GREAT OMMISSION. The wiseman in Ecclesiastes 10:10 says; "If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed." We are sharpened for the task of the Great Commission when we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit and be overwhelmed by the Spirit for our task of making disciples of all nations in this period of growth in the ordinary times. We need the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

I would like to site 5 reasons why we need the Holy Spirit Baptism.

i. We need he Holy Spirit for the Assurance of our own salvation.
ii. We need the Holy Spirit for Successful Christian Living
iii. We need the Holy Spirit for Boldness to Witness
iv. We need the Holy Spirit for Miraculous Power that Confirms the Gospel
v. We need the Holy Spirit who is the source of the Gifts for Ministry in the Church

Space would not allow me to delve into details why you need the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but I pray that as we journey through our lectionary readings and themes in this quarter, the Holy Spirit Himself will illuminate you into deeper affection and commitment to discipleship and things of the Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an absolute necessity in every Christian's life for the service to which God has called us.

The Holy Spirit fills the believer's mind with a genuine understanding of truth, takes possession of the believer's abilities, and imparts gifts that qualify the believer for service in the body of Christ. When a person accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Saviour and Lord, the Holy Spirit dwells inside him or her (see John 14:15-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:13). But believers also need the baptism of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:5-8).

The Holy Spirit and The Power of The Blood of Jesus are teachings that you don't hear much about anymore. Maybe that is one of the reasons why the church is so lukewarm now days. But we cannot afford to be wimpy Christians. We need the power of the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit to navigate the dark days we are living in our contemporary world.

Being baptized and filled with The Holy Spirit is one of the most important things you need to do to fulfil the calling of God for your life and seeing His will come to pass. If you want to see your life changed, you must be filled with The Holy Spirit, the beautiful and powerful third person of the Trinity.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit can raise many questions. Has a person experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit or not? Is it a special experience or does everyone who has been converted experience it?

Why do you think there are so many questions about it? People speak about their experience with receiving the baptism, and as often as not they exaggerate it and want to lead others into the same manner of experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus makes it clear to the apostles why they are to receive the Holy Spirit and what the sign will be. That makes it simple and reassuring. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8.)

Some people, when they receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, feel a warmth on their bodies, others feel other things and others, better still, feel nothing. I want you to really pay attention to this: Do not go by your feelings; you receive the Holy Spirit by faith, not by feelings. So, whether you feel something or not, it is your faith that opens the door to receive. If you ask, you will receive. We must desire the Holy Spirit who is the source of our strength and power to be able to fulfil our calling and task to be witnesses of the Resurrected Christ. "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13)

Let us continue to pray for that renewal through the baptism of the Holy Spirit and also pray for a successful and spirit-filled Conference of The Methodist Church which begins from 26th June to 2nd July at Telford.

I will ask you to join me in saying this prayer.

Father, your word said that if I ask, I will receive. I believe in you; I believe in your word. So today I want to ask you in the name of Jesus that you would baptize me with your Holy Spirit. I surrender my life to you; I want less of me and more of you. I want to be empowered to do what you have called me to do. I receive the baptism of The Holy Spirit now through faith in your word. I thank you Lord Jesus. Amen

Many, many blessings.
Quophie Anochie Ababio