Engulfed

The New Testament contains multiple references to the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit." To be baptized means to be fully immersed or engulfed by something. For instance, John the Baptist and the disciples of Jesus conducted baptisms in a river with an ample water supply to cover the entire body.

In Scripture, we see expressions such as the Holy Spirit "coming upon," "being poured out," "falling upon," or "being received by" believers. Those who experienced this were said to be "filled with" the Holy Spirit. This concept of being "filled" can be likened to pouring something into a container.

Imagine a jar of popcorn with a lid on it. If we dip this jar into a large bowl of water while the lid is closed, only the outside gets wet—similar to water baptism. However, the contents gradually spill out when we remove the lid, allowing water to fill the jar from within. In this analogy, we can view ourselves as jars containing old, undesirable habits. The more we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, the more we refresh our minds and eliminate those outdated behaviors.

Various individuals and groups experienced baptism with the Holy Spirit in unique ways, each with their own distinct encounter. Our openness to the Holy Spirit is crucial to experiencing His healing power, which can penetrate deep into our hearts, souls, and minds. As we create more space for Him, He can fill us repeatedly, transforming us from the inside out.

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