You Will Receive Power From The Holy Spirit
God has a promise for each of His children. It is a very important gift that will help you immensely in your life as a disciple. We know it as the promise of the Holy Spirit. It is the coming of the third person of the holy trinity, God the Holy Spirit, in the life of the Christian with a definite experience of baptismal power. I lived a long time as a Christian without knowing that God wanted to give me this promise. But when I discovered it, I received it and I have never been the same again. The Holy Spirit dwelt with me, but now I was in me with great power, something very different from what I had experienced up to that point. (John 14:17)
In the book of Acts, chapter 2 Luke tells us that, when Peter finished preaching his sermon, some of those who were listening asked him, "Brothers, what shall we do? (v.37) Peter answered the question as follows: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call" (v.38-9). In his statement, we can see three important issues: repentance, water baptism, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. We have already talked about the first two, repentance (Born Again) and Water Baptism. Now I will talk about the third, the gift and/or promise of the Holy Spirit.
The promise of the Holy Spirit is a baptism of power that all of Christ's disciples need, which is why Christ told His first disciples to wait for it. (Luke 24:49) They obeyed and received. The most beautiful thing about today is that you no longer have to wait to receive.
This promise is for you and is available today.
This gift and presence of the Holy Spirit will help you: a) live a victorious life in the Lord, b) be courageous and bold about your faith, c) pray effectively (Romans 8:26), d) live in holiness, and e) worship Christ (John 16:14).
Here are four steps to take in order to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit.
First, it is important to know that this is for you. “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts2:39).
Second, we must ask in faith. “So, I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[a] a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13).
Third, you have to surrender your heart to God. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
Fourth, be filled with the Spirit. “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). “All were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit granted them to express themselves” (Acts 2:4). Accept what God gives you, thank Him and praise Him.
