Baptism with the Holy Ghost

One mark of a genuine baptism with the Holy Ghost is exaltation of Christ. This is exactly what happened to the Moravians two centuries ago in Herrnhut, Germany. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and became witnesses of Christ and Him crucified. Their theology became Christology. Their creed was in two words “the cross”.

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit caused the Renewed Moravian Church to see no man save Jesus only. Their spiritual vision became so keen that they could see Him who is invisible. The form in which He appeared to them most frequently was when He was “led as a Lamb to the slaughter, wounded for their transgressions and bruised for their iniquities” (Is. 53). Their prayers, their litanies, their hymns, their conversation and their sermons had one theme, “the wounds, the blood and death of Jesus”. Their leader Zinzendorf, set this forth most clearly in two verses of his famous hymn:

The Savior’s blood and righteousness

My beauty is, my glorious dress;

Thus well arrayed, I need not fear,

When in his presence I appear.

The holy spotless Lamb of God,

Who freely gave his life and blood,

For all my numerous sins atone,

I for my Lord and Saviour own.

 
Zinzendorf warns all Moravians and indeed those who desire to live a righteous life that we would be constantly under attack. He encouraged and exhorted his brethren in the ministry and fellow-workers to be awakening preachers at all costs of personal popularity. The Moravian Church has withstood many attacks over the years and will have to withstand many more attacks in the future, for as soon as revivals and conversions take place, the devil is loose. The baptism with the Holy Ghost compels us as Moravians to be foot soldiers, indeed witnesses for Jesus Christ. Is there another witness?