PENTECOST TEACHING

How much more will the Father give…..

John 20.22           Receive the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 5.18    Be filled with the Holy Spirit

Steps to take

There are four things we can do to co-operate with God as He fills us with the Holy Spirit:

1.          We can desire God, to be thirsty for more of God himself in our lives: (not for a roller-coaster ride of spiritual thrills).  Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let them come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within them” John 7.37-38. John comments that he was talking about the gift of  the Holy Spirit.  We find similar invitations through Scripture, eg. Revelation 22.17, Isaiah 55.1.

2.          We can confess to God everything that could be a blockage to the work of the Holy Spirit within us.  At an obvious level this means admitting our sins and sinfulness to God – that we are not worthy in ourselves, yet that we trust in Jesus who carried that sin to the grave on the cross so that we could be new, forgiven children of God. At a deeper level, we need to bring to God our fears, what will happen to us if we surrender to the Holy Spirit? Although we know that God loves us, we sometimes have deep doubts and fears. Many people have also been disappointed or hurt when people prayed for them insensitively, or they did not feel anything happening.

3.          We need to ask God for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  In Luke 11.9-13, Jesus assures the disciples that if they keep asking, God will give us the good gift of the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to take time and ask God to fill and refill you regularly.

4.          Welcome God the Holy Spirit by relaxing and allowing Him to do whatever He likes in you.  The surest signs of the coming of the Holy Spirit are God’s love and peace within us. At one time or another most also experience manifestations and gifts of the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit floods through your being, thank God for his love and grace in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Fruits of the Spirit

Matt.7.16              Jesus says  You shall know them by their Fruits...

See also Galatians 5.22-26  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control....

We, who live by the Spirit, must now keep in step with the Spirit:

1. The Fruit of Repentance
   True repentance is not an emotion, but a decision of the will – a decision to turn away from sin (envy, unforgiveness, resentment, pride, etc) and submit unreservedly to the Lordship of Jesus.  (Ps 51.v17)
2. Respect for the Authority of Scripture –
   To delight in God’s word.  (Isaiah 66.2)  This is one I esteem. He who is humble and contrite in Spirit, and trembles at my word.’  All scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim.3.16)
3. We EXALT Jesus at ALL times  (John 16.13-14)
4. We have a great love for our fellow Christians.  We make love our AIM at all times. (John 13.35)  Jesus told His followers, By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
5. Loving concern for the unreached.  (John 4.35)  Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. We no longer hold on to a form of religion (2 Tim.3.5)  The Holy Spirit within us will be fire in our bones and thrust us into the world’s harvest field (city, neighbours and beyond). 

It is amazing what ordinary people (weak and fallible) can do when we are truly surrendered to Him!