In all the Bible both Old and New, no human from Adam to Christ ever accomplished anything supernaturally significant without the Holy Spirit.
In the Pentecostal circle, many have limited the purpose and gift of the Holy Spirit to speaking and praying in tongues, although that too is very essential. The release and gift of the Holy Spirit was to enable us as the church and as individuals, to walk victoriously in the fullness of the power and presence of God, and to fulfil our mandate. Jesus said in Acts 1:8 (NIV) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
- We are not saved to live a miserable, dejected, and defeated life. We are saved to live an abundant life, a transformed and a victorious life over Satan, sin, sickness, courses, addiction, depression etc. When the Holy Spirit comes into a person, he imparts the Zoe life and the power of God that changes the person’s life.
John 6:63 “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing…”
John 10:10 “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
- Salvation is the greatest gift we would ever receive, and it is the start point of our walk with Christ. The truth is that many believers are stock at the start, they deprive themselves of an abundant life experience that God wants them to have after salvation. To be able to enjoy the benefits of salvation and experience the gift of abundant life, we need the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit does not only bring the spark of spiritual life to us, but He also works in us to make us more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit does not only stop us from acting wrong but also helps us to desire that which is right, pure, and holy. We overcome the power of flesh by the power of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16,17 “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.
Galatians 5:22-23 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
- The Holy Spirit equips us with the gifts of the spirit, to enable us to carry out the mission of Christ on earth.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
- The Holy Spirit equips us for spiritual battle and enables us to pray:
The Christian life consists of battles against unseen enemies that we can only conquer by the Holy Spirit as our supernatural ally. While Jesus was on earth, he did not engaged the Devil in direct combat in the wilderness until he was “full of the Holy Ghost” (Luke 4:1). The only way we make effective use of the armour of God is by “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18).
PRAYER POINTS
- Thank God for the special gift of the Holy Spirit and for His work in our lives.
- Thank God for all the gifts and fruit of the spirit already operational in your life
- Ask the Lord to take away anything in you that grieves the Holy Spirit;
- Bad speech and curse words: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth (Eph 4:29)
- Uncontrolled emotions: Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice (Eph 4:32)
- Lying: Therefore, putting away lying, “ (Eph 4:25)
- Drunkenness: Do not get drunk on wine… be filled with the Spirit (Eph 4:18)
- Ask God to fill you afresh with the Holy Spirit and with His power
“…how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)
- Pray for manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in your life. (Gal 5:22,23)
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matt 7:20)
- Ask God to grant you the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit
“…eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.” (1 Cor 14:1)