03/22/2019 — Salvation is the first and most important step for the believer, but it should not be the end of the story! If you are part of the Body of Christ, you need to seek out the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in your life.

The Holy Spirit is an essential component of revival, no matter where it happens – in the Body of Christ at large, in a community, in a congregation and in an individual life. If you are new to WHC or to the Body of Christ, be sure to participate in water baptism and then pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It will make a tremendous difference in your faith life!

EDUCATION

John 14:12-21
“I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do—even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father! For I will do whatever you ask me to do when you ask me in my name. And that is how the Son will show what the Father is really like and bring glory to him. Ask me anything in my name, and I will do it for you!
“Loving me empowers you to obey my commands. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Savior, the Holy Spirit of Truth, who will be to you a friend just like me—and he will never leave you. The world won’t receive him because they can’t see him or know him. But you will know him intimately because he will make his home in you and will live inside you.
“I promise that I will never leave you helpless or abandon you as orphans–I will come back to you! Soon I will leave this world and they will see me no longer, but you will see me, because I will live again, and you will come alive too. So when that day comes, you will know that I am living in the Father and that you are one with me, for I will be living in you. Those who truly love me are those who obey my commands. Whoever passionately loves me will be passionately loved by my Father. And I will passionately love you in return and will manifest my life within you” (TPT).

Acts 19:1-10
"While Apollos was ministering in Corinth, Paul traveled on through the regions of Turkey until he arrived in Ephesus, where he found a group of twelve followers of Jesus. The first thing he asked them was 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?'
“'No,' they replied. 'We’ve not even heard of a holy spirit.'
"Paul asked, 'Then what was the meaning of your baptism?'
"They responded, 'It meant that we would follow John’s teaching.'
"Paul said, 'John’s baptism was for those who were turning from their sins, and he taught you to believe in and follow the one who was coming after him: Jesus the Anointed One.'
"When they understood this, they were baptized into the authority of Jesus, the Anointed One. And when Paul laid his hands on each of the twelve, the Holy Spirit manifested and they immediately spoke in tongues and prophesied.
"For three months Paul taught openly and fearlessly in the synagogue, arguing persuasively for them to enter into God’s kingdom realm. But some of them hardened their hearts and stubbornly refused to believe. When they spoke evil of the Way in front of the congregation, Paul withdrew from them and took the believers with him.
"Every day for over two years, he taught them in the lecture hall of Tyrannus, which resulted in everyone living in the province of Asia, Jews and non-Jews, hearing the prophetic word of the Lord" (TPT).

APPLICATION

• Salvation is the greatest miracle God works in a human life. But there is also what theologians call a "second work of grace" – the infilling of the Holy Spirit – which empowers believers with the same power that rose Jesus Christ from the tomb and empowered the first disciples of the early church!
• Through the filling of the Holy Spirit, we have the opportunity to experience more of God. Whatever you have experienced in your Christian walk, you can be assured that there is more to Him! And, we need to be diligent about seeking more of Him in our lives so that we can be more effective witnesses of Him in our circles of influence.
• The Holy Ghost enables us to understand what God has said to us in His Holy Word, the Bible. We don't need a religion to tell us! Human authors can explain the meaning of Scripture to us, to a point, but when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, He will speak to us directly about what His Word says and means!
• Speaking in tongues is an inevitable, though not necessarily immediate, sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit. If a heavenly language that you can't understand is not a part of your life right now, don't be concerned that you are somehow a second-class Christian. Tongues aren't a spiritual badge of honor. Continue to seek God and ask for Him to give you the gif of tongues in His timing.

IMPARTATION

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit! What members of the first century Church experienced in the book of Acts, and what Jesus promised the disciples in the Gospels, is available to me today, and I eagerly receive it!
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit today and empower me to be a more effective disciple for You in my circles of influence. I long to be a sign and a wonder to the people I interact with on a daily basis – my family, my friends, my neighbors and my co-workers. Thank You, Lord, for what You have done through me and will do!
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ – Jehovah Joshua Messiah – I pray. Amen!