The Principle of Impartation

Impartation Defined 

The Principle of Impartation may be defined by stating that if one has a desire to live a life in ministry to others one must carry the Spirit of Christ within themselves. In ministry, one gives the Spirit of Christ to others, in a sense, and one can only give the Spirit of Christ to someone else if they have the Spirit of Christ themselves. In impartation, those who come into contact with the one in the position of ministry should be aware that this individual has the Spirit of Christ within them. 

Impartation Modeled in the Life of Jesus 

In the life of Jesus, one may see this Principle of Impartation put into practice. Jesus was God, so naturally when his followers spent time with him they were in a very real sense spending time with God. However, Jesus was not only God. He was also a human living with the Holy Spirit inside of him, the very Spirit of God. Jesus also imparted the Spirit to his disciples in a human way as well, not just as God. There is evidence in the New Testament that Jesus was a man who was filled with the Holy Spirit of God. At Jesus’ baptism, it is recorded that the Spirit of God came down from heaven in the form of a dove and landed upon Jesus. This was a sign that the Spirit of God was present with Jesus and it showed that he had God’s approval and authority. Evidence of the Spirit in Christ is also seen when Jesus is at the synagogue in Nazareth and he reads from the scroll “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” This idea portrays the impartation of the Spirit as a sort of anointing. Jesus had been anointed by God’s Spirit to proclaim good news.

Later in the gospels, Jesus anoints his disciples to proclaim this good news as well. This is seen especially in the great commission. Jesus also gave them of his own Spirit so that they would not be afraid and would be able to complete the task he had given them. This is seen in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples in the second chapter of Acts, but it is also seen before Christ’s ascension when he breathes his Spirit onto them. It is also recorded that after his resurrection Jesus appeared to the disciples and breathed on them and told them to receive his Spirit. He said this even to those who doubted.