Fall 1994

Becoming a Lively Stone
Wade E Taylor

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the
Word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have
tasted that the Lord is gracious" I Peter 2:2-3.

The word "tasted" takes us beyond that which is religious into that which is spiritual. In other words, the "Word" becomes personally active within our lives.

"To whom coming, as unto a living stone,
disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of
God, and precious" I Peter 2:4.

You may remember the "pet rock" fad of some years ago. A "lively stone" is certainly not an inert pet rock. Rather, it pertains to our being quickened and having the life and energy of the Holy Spirit active within us. Our inner being has become a "conductor" that transmits the presence of the Lord, as He radiates, moves, and flows through us.

If Peter were writing today, he would have used the word "cobalt" or something that is "nuclear" which radiates energy and contaminates everything near it. Thus, we should literally transmit the presence of the Lord. Wherever we are, there should be something within us that is actively projecting the convicting presence of the Lord.

When our being is cleansed and open to His presence, we become that "lively stone," anointed and moved upon by the Holy Spirit as a transmitter. It will affect all those who are near us. They will become convicted by our very presence.

For example, I "wait upon the Lord" that there might be a greater quality and depth of His abiding presence within me. I literally "soak" in His presence. As a result of this, His convicting presence will be transmitted through me in a greater measure. Thus, if I walk through a shopping mall, those I pass should begin to think about the Lord and feel convicted.

Our relationship to the Lord should be such that a total stranger might say, "You are a Christian, I felt the presence of the Lord as I passed you." This does happen and should be a more common experience. Others should notice that we are "lively stones."

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is at the heart of this. There is an old Pentecostal cliche' that says, "The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is given for power for service." Certainly, we will serve better, but this Baptism is far more than that.

Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22). We are told that a "measure of faith" is given to every man (Rom 12:3). When a person accepts the Lord, the Holy Spirit comes in and fills that "measure of faith," but He does not wholly possess all of their being. They have only partially submitted to the control of the Holy Spirit.

The word "Baptize" means to immerse. This "immersion" involves much more than water. We are immersed in water, but our being "Baptized in the Holy Spirit" involves a total submission of every aspect of our being to the control of the Holy Spirit.

"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend
not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able
also to bridle the whole body" James 3:2.

According to this Scripture, James is telling us that the tongue is the most unruly member in our body. Thus, if we can control our tongue, we will be able to control the whole body. Relating this to the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, we see that when we are immersed, the last member to go under will be the most unruly, the tongue.

Therefore, as an evidence that the entire body is under the control of the Holy Spirit, this now subdued tongue begins to speak in a language that is not its own, but given by the Holy Spirit. Thus, it can be said that "tongues are the evidence of being FULLY submerged in the Holy Spirit.

There are those who may say that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit can be received without experiencing this phenomena of tongues. I would answer, "they have not been completely immersed in the Holy Spirit."

This full control that has been given to the Holy Spirit is indeed provided for in our redemption. But it must be worked out "experientially" through life's experiences, and this takes a lifetime.

If I have been fully immersed, I have come under the power of God, totally. Now He has the "throne rights" of my life. He can work in the totality of my life until experientially, every aspect of my being has come under His power.

This "lively stone" that we are is to be built up as a spiritual house, in which we are involved with Him in an active, cooperative, relationship (Eph 2:19-22). Then we will be the witness He has called us to be.