John 3:5-8 (NCV): "But Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, unless one is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter God’s kingdom. Human life comes from human parents, but spiritual life comes from the Spirit. Don’t be surprised when I tell you, “You must all be born again.” The wind blows where it wants to and you hear the sound of it, but you don’t know where the wind comes from or where it is going. It is the same with every person who is born from the Spirit.“
John 14:15-17 (NCV): “If you love me, you will obey my commands. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper - Comforter to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth.
John 15:26-27 (NCV): “I will send you the Helper from the Father; He is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When He comes, He will tell about me, and you also must tell people about me, because you have been with me from the beginning.”
John 16:7-11 (NCV): “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go away. When I go away, I will send the Helper to you. If I do not go away, the Helper will not come. When the Helper comes, he will prove to the people of the world the truth about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment. He will prove to them that sin is not believing in me. He will prove to them that being right with God comes from my going to the Father and not being seen anymore. And the Helper will prove to them that judgment happened when the ruler of this world was judged.”
John 20:21-22 (NCV): "Then Jesus said again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, I now send you.“ After He said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit."
Acts 1:4-5 (NCV): "Once when He was eating with them, He told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, “Wait here to receive the promise from the Father which I told you about. John baptized people with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.“
Acts 1:8 (NCV): "But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses - in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world."
In the Book of Acts (Acts 1:8), Luke describes the geographical spread of the Gospel: from Jerusalem (Acts chapters 1-7) to Judea and Samaria (Acts chapters 8-9), and then to the Gentiles and to the ends of the earth (Acts chapters 10-28). No matter where we live, as believers, we should begin our witness at home and then extend it "into all the world." Certainly, the church today needs a new filling of the Spirit of God.
Apart from the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we - believers can't:
1) Witness with power (Acts 1:8)
2) Understand the Scriptures (John 16:13)
3) Glorify Christ (John 16:14)
4) Pray in the will of God (Romans 8:26-27)
5) Develop godly character (Galatians 5:22-23).
Acts 2:1-6 (NCV): "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a noise like a strong, blowing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something like flames of fire that were separated and stood over each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages by the power the Holy Spirit was giving them. There were some religious Jews staying in Jerusalem who were from every country in the world. When they heard this noise, a crowd came together. They were all surprised, because each one heard them speaking in his own language."
Acts 10:44-45 (NCV): "While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been given even to those who were not Jews."
The Scriptures use various names for the Holy Spirit.
He’s called:
• Holy Spirit • Spirit of the Lord • Spirit of God • Eternal Spirit
• Helper • Comforter • Holy One • The Lord • Spirit of Truth
• Spirit of Christ • Spirit of Jesus Christ • Spirit of Counsel
• Spirit of Knowledge • Spirit of Might • Spirit of Understanding
• Spirit of Wisdom • Spirit of the Fear of the Lord • Spirit of your Father
• Spirit of Glory • Spirit of Grace • Spirit of Judgment • Spirit of Burning
• Spirit of Life • Spirit of Love • Spirit of Power • Spirit of a Sound Mind
• Spirit of Prophecy • Spirit of Revelation • Spirit of Holiness
• Spirit of the Holy God
This renewal takes place in the “inward man” (2 Corinthians 4:16), which “is renewed in knowledge” (Colossians 3:10) according to the image of God.
So, the renewal comes about intellectually, through the work of the Holy Spirit, as we seek, study, recall, and obey the Word of God.
Titus 3:4-5 (NCV): "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was shown, He saved us because of His mercy. It was not because of good deeds we did to be right with Him. He saved us through the washing that made us new people through the Holy Spirit."
The Holy Spirit’s impact on our lives (regeneration and renewal) are brought together in this text in a rather unique way.
The "renewing of the Holy Spirit“ pertains to the work that the Holy Spirit does within us (sanctification). God’s Spirit works in us to help us to become more like Him; it is the replacement of our own sinful nature with God's Holy nature, enabled and achieved by the work of the Holy Spirit within us.
Acts 10:42-48 (ERV): "Jesus told us to go and speak to the people. He told us to tell them that he is the one God chose to be the Judge of all who are living and all who have died. Everyone who believes in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name. All the prophets agree that this is true.” While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his speech. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the Holy Spirit had been poured out as a gift also to people who were not Jews. They heard them speaking different languages and praising God. Then Peter said “How can anyone object to these people being baptized in water? They have received the Holy Spirit the same as we did!” So Peter told them to baptize Cornelius and his relatives and friends in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.”
Here are some practical ways to stay continually filled with the Holy Spirit:
- Every day, make the decision to walk in obedience to God.
Scripture tells us that God freely gives the Holy Spirit “to those who hear and obey Him” (Acts 5:32). Jesus said, “If you truly desire to be my disciple, you must disown your life completely, take up your cross and surrender to my ways” (Luke 9:23).
This is an attitude of the heart. We have the daily opportunity to offer our lives to God as “His sacred, living sacrifices” and to “live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart” (Romans 12:1), it is our authentic expression of worship.
- Make it a daily habit to ask God the Father to fill you afresh with the Holy Spirit.
- Be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely.
- Use every opportunity you have to do good, because these are evil times.
- Do not be foolish, but learn what the Lord wants you to do.
- Do not allow yourself to be intoxicated with anything, which will ruin you, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.
- Put yourself in the company of people who are full of the Holy Spirit.
- Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord.
- Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Continually pray for God to send a great revival, resulting in a great harvest of souls.
Each one of us was made to manifest the glory of God and host His Spirit – His presence. As we continue to desire more of God, honor the Holy Spirit, and surrender our hearts to Him, we will stay continually filled–overflowing with the Holy Spirit.
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