Thursday: Filled With the Holy Spirit No doubt, it is important to know who the Holy Spirit is. But this knowledge would be pointless unless it leads us to completely open our lives to be filled with Him. Jesus made it clear that if we fail to invite the presence of the heavenly Guest to abide in us daily, there is another kind of spirit that is eager to enter into the empty life and produce a spiritual disaster (Matt. 12:43-45). Jesus Himself was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1, NKJV). Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. — Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 139. What does Luke 11:9 tell us about the way we may receive the Holy Spirit? What do these verses show us regarding the Father’s willingness to give us the Holy Spirit? At the Last Supper, Jesus promised His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit. He emphasized the Spirit’s comforting and teaching ministry, which was to meet their need at that time. After Christ’s resurrection, however, the context was different, and the disciples faced new challenges. What was the focus of Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit after His resurrection? See Acts 1:4-8. Acts 1:5 contains the only record of Jesus talking about being baptized with the Holy Spirit (NKJV). John the Baptist had announced this special baptism (Matt. 3:11, John 1:33), but it had to wait until Christ’s ascension. What does baptism with the Spirit mean? In Acts 1:8, Jesus Himself explained this with a parallel expression. You are baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5, NKJV) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you (Acts 1:8, NKJV). To be baptized is to be totally immersed in something, usually water. It includes the whole person. Baptism with the Holy Spirit means to be totally under the influence of the Spirit, completely filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18, NKJV). This is not a once and forever experience, but is something that needs to be constantly renewed. If someone asked you, Have you ever been filled with the Spirit, what would you answer, and why? Leave a comment The post Thursday: Filled With the Holy Spirit appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 20:18:56 +0000
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