Foundations, Part 5 - Baptized Under Pressure
Hebrews 6:1-3 "Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement. And this we will do if God permits."
Let's continue laying our second foundation - the doctrine of baptisms.
We've already looked at the first two baptism mentioned in the New Testament:
Each of these should be elementary to a believer.
There's a third baptism that is also foundational to the spiritual walk of every Christian - it's the Baptism in Tribulation.
There's a third baptism that is also foundational to the spiritual walk of every Christian - it's the Baptism in Tribulation.
Water baptism is the easiest of these three to understand. Because of that, we have seen that it sets the pattern for the other two. I encourage you, if you haven't read the previous post on water baptism to go back and read it first. Afterwards, you'll understand the pattern of baptisms and how that applies here - to tribulation.
The Medium: Pressure
Luke 12:50 "But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!"
The Greek word that is translated here as "distressed" is synecho - it literally means to be pressed on every side. It's the same Greek word that was used to describe a military siege on a city. In that situation, the enemy soldiers would surround the city walls and not allow anyone in or out. Over time, this would put pressure on the city as it began to starve due to lack of food.
This is the term Jesus used to describe how He felt leading up to the cross - He was under extreme pressure. (He knew everything that was about to happen to Him!) No one else has ever experience stress that can compare to this. And what did Jesus compare it to? A baptism.
Jesus was literally being submerged in pressure! Like water baptism, He was being pushed under the press and then feeling it wash over Him like a wave.
While we can't understand the magnitude of the pressure He was experiencing...we can relate to the nature of this baptism. Have you ever felt pressed on all sides? Have you ever been in a situation that looked hopeless, and you could see your enemy (so to speak) preparing for your defeat? If so, I've got great news for you...you're being baptized with the same baptism Jesus experienced!
The Greek word that is translated here as "distressed" is synecho - it literally means to be pressed on every side. It's the same Greek word that was used to describe a military siege on a city. In that situation, the enemy soldiers would surround the city walls and not allow anyone in or out. Over time, this would put pressure on the city as it began to starve due to lack of food.
This is the term Jesus used to describe how He felt leading up to the cross - He was under extreme pressure. (He knew everything that was about to happen to Him!) No one else has ever experience stress that can compare to this. And what did Jesus compare it to? A baptism.
Jesus was literally being submerged in pressure! Like water baptism, He was being pushed under the press and then feeling it wash over Him like a wave.
While we can't understand the magnitude of the pressure He was experiencing...we can relate to the nature of this baptism. Have you ever felt pressed on all sides? Have you ever been in a situation that looked hopeless, and you could see your enemy (so to speak) preparing for your defeat? If so, I've got great news for you...you're being baptized with the same baptism Jesus experienced!
The Repentance: I Am Unable Alone
Matthew 20:22 "But Jesus answered and said, 'You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?'
They said to Him 'We are able.'"
We all think we're strong enough to handle pressure....up to the point when it happens to us. The moment we start to feel the press, everything changes!
For some, panic sets it the moment pressure comes.
Others seem to endure for a time, only to fall apart when "one more thing" gets added to the mix.
No matter who you are, every natural person has a breaking point. And the pressure will continue to come until that point has been reached.
At that moment, when you feel like you're going to collapse, is when you desperately need to realize this truth: You shouldn't have tried to go through this on your own to begin with!
Your strength, your ways, and your wisdom will not be enough! When the pressure's on, recognize that YOU are not enough on your own! You won't get it fixed. You won't get it solved. You won't figure it out.
Now what??
They said to Him 'We are able.'"
We all think we're strong enough to handle pressure....up to the point when it happens to us. The moment we start to feel the press, everything changes!
For some, panic sets it the moment pressure comes.
Others seem to endure for a time, only to fall apart when "one more thing" gets added to the mix.
No matter who you are, every natural person has a breaking point. And the pressure will continue to come until that point has been reached.
At that moment, when you feel like you're going to collapse, is when you desperately need to realize this truth: You shouldn't have tried to go through this on your own to begin with!
Your strength, your ways, and your wisdom will not be enough! When the pressure's on, recognize that YOU are not enough on your own! You won't get it fixed. You won't get it solved. You won't figure it out.
Now what??
The Death: Not My Will, But Yours Be Done
Now you die.
This is what being baptized under pressure did for Jesus. It brought Him to the place where the will of His flesh had to die. What did He pray in the Garden? "Father, if it's possible, take this away from Me! Nevertheless, not My will but Yours be done!"
Usually, the pressure from the outside isn't the problem - it's the pressure on the inside. It's when you know what God wants from you, but your old nature is unwilling to do it. And the pressure will continue until you do one of two things:
1 - you flat out disobey Him
OR
2 - you finally submit to His will.
Like Jesus, we need to be willing to die to ourselves and submit to the will of the Father.
"God, no matter how difficult it is - no matter what I see ahead of me - I will do whatever You want me to do!" This is the moment that this baptism starts working - it's the moment when your will dies underneath the pressure.
This is what being baptized under pressure did for Jesus. It brought Him to the place where the will of His flesh had to die. What did He pray in the Garden? "Father, if it's possible, take this away from Me! Nevertheless, not My will but Yours be done!"
Usually, the pressure from the outside isn't the problem - it's the pressure on the inside. It's when you know what God wants from you, but your old nature is unwilling to do it. And the pressure will continue until you do one of two things:
1 - you flat out disobey Him
OR
2 - you finally submit to His will.
Like Jesus, we need to be willing to die to ourselves and submit to the will of the Father.
"God, no matter how difficult it is - no matter what I see ahead of me - I will do whatever You want me to do!" This is the moment that this baptism starts working - it's the moment when your will dies underneath the pressure.
The Faith: I Will NOT Be Overcome!
But this is not a fatalistic death to self.....that is, "I'm going to be crushed under this press, so I might as well give up!"
No, this death is an act of faith.
Hebrews 12 tells us that Jesus endured the cross "for the joy that was set before Him." He submitted to His Father's will knowing what was on the other side of the baptism! By faith He went down under the "waves", knowing that He would be raised back up.
It's the same way with us. We don't surrender to the pressure, we surrender to obeying God's plan. We make the decision to follow His commands - even if they're unpleasant at first - because we know that we're coming back out of the pressure!
By faith, you surrender to God's will and declare, "I am going to do it His way, even if it's hard...because HE will bring me the victory!"
1 John 5:4 "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith."
No, this death is an act of faith.
Hebrews 12 tells us that Jesus endured the cross "for the joy that was set before Him." He submitted to His Father's will knowing what was on the other side of the baptism! By faith He went down under the "waves", knowing that He would be raised back up.
It's the same way with us. We don't surrender to the pressure, we surrender to obeying God's plan. We make the decision to follow His commands - even if they're unpleasant at first - because we know that we're coming back out of the pressure!
By faith, you surrender to God's will and declare, "I am going to do it His way, even if it's hard...because HE will bring me the victory!"
1 John 5:4 "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith."
The Resurrection: Power To Be A Conqueror
Putting your faith in the Father's promise will release the same resurrection power in your life that was released in Jesus'. Not only did Jesus receive the power to go through what He wanted to avoid...but that same power raised Him back up on the other side of it!
I'm telling you, Brother/Sister - If you go through the baptism under pressure correctly, you will not come out the same way you went into it! Just like the other two baptisms, this one will bring a release of God's power, and will raise you up into a brand new life!
Acts 14:22 "We must through many tribulations [pressures] enter the kingdom of God."
Pressure ushers you into the kingdom. Do you want to see the kingdom of God manifest in your life, your family, your job, and your church? Then don't resist the baptism of pressure!
Comments
Post a Comment