Baptised with Heavenly Power

I’m currently reading Philip H. Eveson’s Book called “Baptised with Heavenly Power”. I’m so excited to really get my head around Martyn Lloyd-Jones’s theology of baptism in the Holy Spirit. And I’m sure this book will help us later in the year, when we have a sermon series called “Charismatic Church” scheduled. Instead of midweek life groups, the whole church will meet together for various times of teaching and prayer and exercising spiritual gifts for the glory of Jesus Christ. One of those sessions will be a talk on what it means Biblically to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. We want to do justice to a subject which is much debated across the Church and delve into the detail, showing that our church belief and practise really does come from Scripture. So, look forward to that!

Anyway, the opening chapter of this book focuses on Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ Calvinistic Methodist background. Eveson argues that Lloyd-Jones’ upbringing exposed him to the theologically rigorous teachings of John Calvin, combined with the experiential emphasis of Welsh Methodism. This combination might feel odd, because we often associate Reformed churches with being dry and lifeless and lacking the experience of God’s presence. But Lloyd-Jones certainly did not think this an odd combination, but a Biblical combination. Criticising some of the most dry and lifeless Reformed churches, Lloyd-Jones said “I regard the term “dead calvinism” to be a contradiction of terms”. He argues that any Christian who truly believes in God’s Sovereignty and glory would be spiritually alive and joyous, not dry and dead. Unfortunately, the Methodist Church today is a long long way from what it was in Wales during the Welsh Revival.

I believe the Bible teaches that God is Sovereign in all things, including salvation. God has chosen us before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight, those whom he foreknew he has predestined and those whom he predestined he has called and those whom he has called he has justified and those whom he has justified he has glorified. And I believe in the experience of God’s presence through the Holy Spirit in our lives and especially when the Church comes together.

As part of New Frontiers, I have typically labelled myself a Reformed Charismatic, but maybe (on reading this opening chapter), I’m really a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist.

Often the labels are unhelpful. More importantly, I’m moved to pray that Christ Church Fareham, Commission and New Frontiers would be theologically rigorous, believing in the clear Biblical teaching that God is Sovereign over all things, and full of the Holy Spirit’s presence, experiencing Him individually and corporately.