Several
years later, Lake was introduced to the healing power of
God through Alexander Dowie. After moving to Zion, Illinois
to associate more closely with Dowie, Lake received a tremendous
impartation of the healing power of God from the Holy Spirit.
Many miracles and manifestations of the Spirit followed.
Those around Lake again tried to convince him that he had
received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
By the turn of the
century, John G. Lake had undergone a powerful salvation
experience, an even more powerful sanctification experience,
and an impartation of the gift of healing. At each juncture,
those around Lake tried to convince him that he had received
the baptism of the Holy Spirit, yet his heart burned
for more of God than ever before.
Searching for that
which would satisfy the longing of his heart, he began
to fast, pray and wait upon the Lord for nine months.
At the end of this period of prayer and fasting, Lake
had an awesome experience with the Lord. He knew then
that he had been immersed in the Holy Spirit and had
finally become a dwelling place of God. His heart and
soul were now satisfied that the Holy Spirit was residing
in him, speaking through him, and saturating every fiber
of his being.
Finally his heart
was content that he had received the baptism of the Holy
Spirit which would produce the nature and character of
Christ within him. Lake believed, as the Scriptures taught,
that this indwelling experience now equipped him to carry
on the ministry of Christ as did the early apostles.
Triune Salvation
During the winter
of 1913, Lake presented a teaching to the Church of England
entitled, "Triune Salvation. |
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This
teaching revealed a key secret to his power and intimacy
with God.
So significant was
its content that the Bishop of London wrote about this
message, "It contains the spirit of primitive Christianity
and reveals the distinction between the Christian soul
of the first and twentieth century, the Spirit of Christ’s
domain, by which Christianity attained its spiritual
supremacy...
| It is
one of the greatest sermons I have ever heard and
I recommend its careful study by every priest." |
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In this study, Lake
revealed the important significance of our complete redemption
on all three levels of human life--spirit, soul (mind)
and body. I Thessalonians 5:23 declares, "Now may
the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may
your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete,
without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Lake taught that it was the tendency of the average
Christian to stop at the redemption of their spirit.
He believed that it was equally as important for the
believer to allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify the soul
and the body in order for the individual to become
the habitation of God. The sanctification of the soul
literally involves the impartation of the mind of Christ.
John Wesley defined sanctification as "possessing
the mind of Christ and all the mind of Christ."
This level of consecration is essential for the believer’s
thoughts to be perfectly in tune with the
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Lord’s thoughts and the Christian’s ways
consistent with His ways.
Complete sanctification of soul and mind also involves the
renewal of the emotions. Many believers are trapped in the
tyranny of grief over the past, not realizing that they are
a new creation and that all things have become new (II Corinthian
5:17), past failures erased by the blood of Christ. Grief ultimately
leads to bitterness, and bitterness will defile many (Hebrews
12:15). Consequently, it is essential that the Holy Spirit
be allowed to thoroughly consecrate and sanctify the mind,
and the emotions in order for Christians to become the tabernacle
of the Holy Spirit.
This triune salvation
also involves the separation of the believer from all
that would defile, recognizing that the body is the temple
of the Holy Spirit and should be consecrated accordingly.
Romans 8:11 states, "The Spirit of Him who raised
Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal
bodies through His Spirit who indwells you." This
imparted life granted through the indwelling presence
of the Holy Spirit will provide divine health and freedom
from the lusts that are a result of man’s fallen
condition.
Lake taught that
the genuine Christian is a separated person--separated
forever to God in all the departments of life: body,
soul and spirit are forever committed to God. This absolute
consecration to God, or "triune salvation," is
the real secret to the successful Christian life and
essential to becoming the habitation of God.
According to John
G. Lake, this complete consecration to God makes the
Christian a "Christ-man" and reveals the secret
of life and communion with God received into the entire
being through the Holy Spirit. (con't.) |
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