The Holy Spirit

Following an amazing week of revival, what now? Do we need to wait another year to experience the power of the Holy Ghost? NO! God is always looking to impart more of His Spirit to prepare us for what’s ahead! Paul wrote in Romans 1:11, “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.” Pastor Nathan’s message today was all about the move of the Holy Ghost and how He wants to work through each of us. We don’t come to church just to get back to zero. No, the Holy Spirit wants to take us to new dimensions in Christ! Titus 3:5 gives us a glimpse into the plan God has for our lives. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and RENEWING of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit comes to bring salvation, healing, liberty, and freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17) When Moses was upon Mount Sinai for 40 days in the presence of God and communed with Him face to face, his face began to shine with God’s glory! All of Israel was afraid of Moses because of the glory. The glory of God and the move of the Holy Spirit are no less real today. He is still the God of signs and wonders.

However, the move and the working of the Holy Spirit can still raise questions today. Our flesh likes to be comfortable, to be in control and know what is coming next, but do we really go to church to be comfortable, or do we go to have an encounter with God? We should see things we’ve never seen before and experience the power of God. When Moses saw God’s goodness, he was changed, and we now have access to the very throne of God by the Blood of Jesus and by the working of the Holy Spirit. When we enter God’s glory, we also will be changed from glory to glory! (2 Corinthians 3:18) In every service, God has something He wants to impart to us, but He is searching for willing hearts. (Ps. 110:3)

It is also up to us to see that the next generation experiences the power of God and to ensure that the move of the Holy Spirit is not lost. Reverend Kenneth E. Hagin said, “There is a move of the Holy Spirit that will be lost to this generation unless people are taught and led into it.” God desires to use us, but we must desire a relationship with the Holy Spirit. The move of the Holy Spirit is how God works. Without Him, we can have a nice religious service. Religious people like to be in control, but the Holy Spirit desires to control us, and we must yield to Him. The Holy Spirit is all about helping people and He works through us. (1 Corinthians 12:7, Philippians 2:13)

So, what does happen when we tap into the power of the Holy Spirit? In Acts 2, many SUPPOSED that the disciples were drunk. It was Peter who stood up to remind them that this is that of which the prophet Joel prophesied. They had come in contact with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead! They spoke in heavenly languages given by the Spirit. Is it scriptural to fall before the power of God? In the Old Testament when the glory descended, the priests could not stand to minister. (II Chronicles 5:14 ) When Jesus spoke the words, “I Am He” the soldiers were knocked to the ground. (John 18:6) The move of the Holy Spirit brings the supernatural. “And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear (reverence) saying, We have seen strange things today.” Luke 5:26 “If we are out of our mind [just unstable fanatics as some critics say], it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for your benefit.” (II Corinthians 5:13 AMP) There are still critics in the world today, but the Holy Spirit is still moving! The flesh (religion) thinks it knows how a person should respond to the Holy Spirit, but they have no frame of reference as to how our bodies will react when touched by the greatest power in the universe! Some might laugh. Some might cry. Some might run, and some might fall, but as Smith Wigglesworth said, “God would have the assembly as free as possible, and you must not put your hand upon the working of the Spirit or it will surely bring trouble. You must be prepared to allow a certain amount of extravagance in young and newly baptized souls.”

“If you want to have an assembly full of life you must have an assembly full of manifestation. Nobody will come if there is no manifestation.”

Praise God for a church led by spirit-filled pastors who are not afraid of the move of the Holy Ghost! I, for one, am blessed to be a part of Open Door Church, and I will never be ashamed of the move of the Holy Ghost.