THE HOLY GHOST BAPTISM AND POWER I
Memorise:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. .. Acts 1:8
Read:
Acts 3:1-8
Message
Today's Bible reading passage starts with 'Now'. This implies that after the incident that happened before, something new is happening. Acts 2 tells us about the day of Pentecost and how everyone at the upper room was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now then refers to something that was about to happen in the lives of Peter and john as a result of that incident. Clearly, that was the working of miracles.
When you get baptised in the Holy Ghost, you carry divine power within you. You have the power to work miracles, heal the sick and raise the dead. Unfortunately, many Christians become baptised and are satisfied with just speaking in tongues. You received more than that when you were baptised in the Holy Spirit; you received the power to go out and do the work of God.
Many years ago, I prayed to God for many weeks for power to do His work, but He didn't respond. At last, one night, He told me to keep quiet and began to ask me some questions. "Have you been baptised in the Holy Ghost?"I said, "Yes". He said, "What is written in Acts 1:8?" I knew it offhand, so I quoted it to Him. Then He said, "You received power after your baptism in the Holy Ghost. "I responded, "Lord, but I don't feel powerful. " He replied, "Did I say the just shall live by feelings?"
The next morning, a sick child was brought to me for prayers. I was afraid, but then I remembered the conversation I had with God the previous night, so I laid my hands on the child and prayed. Not long after, I felt the child go numb, and I thought to myself, "Has this child died?" When I finished praying and opened my eyes, I realised that the child was sound asleep. The mother said that the child had not slept in days, but now, she was sure that God had healed her child.
Go out and use the power that God has already given to You, if not, it will remain dormant. When I realised that I had been empowered by God, I was hungry to keep laying hands on the sick. That is how I've gotten to the stage where many great miracles happen through me today. I have been using the power God gave me since I was baptised in the Holy Spirit and it has been growing since then.
Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 22-23
Hymn:
To The Work! To The Work! We Are Servants Of God
Key Point:
If you have received the Holy Ghost baptism with the evidence of speaking in tongues, begin to use the power God gave to you.
To the work! to the work! we are servants of God
Toiling on, toiling on.
Toiling on, toiling on.
Let us hope, let us watch,
And labour till the Master comes.