Hearing THE Voice

Sunday’s scripture in Luke 3:21-22 it reads as Jesus is baptized, the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus, and Jesus heard; “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.”
Jesus was Baptized – the heaven’s opened – God spoke - the Holy Spirit descended upon him
What is Baptism? Is it the sprinkling of water on an infant, or adult? Is it a time of water being poured over your head, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? Is it being dunked in a basin, a lake or river, completely submersed? These are all acts of being baptized. But what is Baptism?
The RNM Series: “The DIO Trilogy: Part Two: Baptism” by Jared Dodd, addresses the word Baptism. Baptize means to immerse, to wash clean.  Baptiso meant to immerse. Such was the actions of the Pharisees as referenced in Mark 7 Traditions and Commandments.  The Pharisees used the word Baptize, or the Greek word “Baptiso”, as a sign of washing: as they did not eat unless they had washed, including their traditions of washing of cups, pots and copper vessels and dining couches. They’d Baptiso, wash clean their feet, their clothes, etc.
The Great Commission, in Matthew 28: 19,  Jesus gave instruction to the eleven disciples, telling them: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” It changed the meaning of Baptism, be immersed (Baptized) into the reality of who God is.  Today when we say Baptize/Baptism we are referring to a religious ceremony signifying our belief.
It’s a command from Jesus to be baptized. We are to be dunked practically into Him, the reality or essence of Him, of who God is. It’s a lifelong process of knowing God, as we dive down into the depths of the reality of who God is as: Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
David Bisgove, in the RNM Video “What is Baptism?”, says that baptism is the external sign that we are no longer alone, we are bound to God and one another.  Jesus’ baptism marked and identified him for Gods purpose, it launched Jesus ministry. Much as our Baptism launches us into our ministry, reminding us of our identity, our belonging , our mission. It’s our ministry Go Button. We are now his Disciple. We are to go and make Disciples continuing the mission, to bring all people into a relationship with Him.
We are to listen to His voice, His words of affirmation saying: You are mine; I give you a future and a hope; You are the light of the world, go let your light shine; I have called you friend. It’s a watershed moment- listen to the whisper.  God speaks to you through reading His Word, through Study, through a community of believers who share in this mission. Claim for yourself his words, You Are Mine!   In Baptism the Holy Spirit takes up residence within you, Child of God. It signifies and seals our adoption into Christ.  Its our cleansing from sin.  It’s our commitment to belong to the Lord and His Church.  We are baptized into a family of believers; we are never alone; this gives us a presence and assurance that God is forever in our life.
 
Have you ever heard voices? Is God saying to you, you are precious, you are redeemed, you are loved, you are valued? We need to listen and be immersed in God’s love. We receive God’s Grace, God invites us into the future with him, to be part of a covenant community of baptized believers, in union with Christ, as the Holy Spirit has made us a Child of God. We just need to take this knowledge of what the true meaning of our baptism means, from head knowledge to heart knowledge!
So that we too can hear, You are a child of God with whom I am well pleased.
Larry & Darlene