Welcome to Hank’s Place –
I’ve been sharing how revolutionary the resurrection was to the early Jewish believers. They began worshiping on Sunday and not the Sabbath ordained by God under the Law! And I’ve been sharing how important being baptized in the Holy Spirit was to those Jewish believers. So much so they sent Peter and John to baptize those formerly despised Samaritans in the Holy Spirit after they had gotten born again under Philip’s preaching.
Still think the baptism of the Holy Spirit doesn’t much matter? Well, there’s more. In Acts 10 we find gentiles, the Centurion Cornelius and family, people not having any part of the Old Covenant. They feared God but did not know Him. And God shows Peter through a vision not to call anyone unclean, unworthy of hearing the Gospel. The Gospel is for EVERYONE, everywhere! Peter, was staying with Simon the tanner (which itself was an unclean profession). He goes with the messengers from Cornelius and preaches the gospel to Cornelius’ tribe. The Holy Spirit falls upon them like those in the upper room on the day of Pentecost! They were speaking in tongues and glorifying God.
The early church leaders in Jerusalem at first needed convincing this was a God thing. And they were. Jew and gentile – one body in Christ! Oh, and don’t forget Paul encountering a group of believers in Ephesus, Acts 19. It says he immediately asks them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” He laid hands upon them. The Holy Spirit came on them and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. God and man back then believed this is important! Still true today.
What kind of ‘service’ would the Holy Spirit equip you for? I suggest Acts 10:38, “You all know of Jesus of Nazareth, and how God anointed Him, with the Holy Spirit and with POWER. He went about performing good, healing all those bound by the devil because God was with Him.”
The baptism in the Holy Spirit gives you that same Spirit’s anointing – YOU, through the Holy Spirit are empowered to perform good, and heal those bound by the devil, that master slanderer and liar. Don’t let the clever lies of the devil cause you to stumble into unbelief!
It is so important people hear and receive the Good News and become believers. God gives us the Holy Spirit for this awesome task my friend. By the Holy Spirit you are equipped for performing good, setting captives free, and healing – for Jesus’ glory and humanity’s help.
Be filled today my friend, inward and outward – you’ll COME ALIVE!
And, you’ll turn the world upside down!
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