STEEMCHURCH: Receiving the Holy Spirit

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“As all things pertaining to life and godliness have been given to us by His divine power, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1: 3).
Many of us can affirm that we are full of the Spirit. Witnessed that they have been baptized in the Spirit. Preach that the Holy Spirit empowers to witness and that he sanctifies us. Pray in the Spirit, speak to the Spirit, walk in the Spirit and listen to his voice. I truly believe that the Holy Spirit is the power of God.

I can take you to the place where I was filled with the Spirit, at eight years of age. I still remember my tears and the cry of my heart for the Lord. I remember the incredible vision of Christ that I received and remember the passion for Jesus that resulted from that moment. The Holy Spirit has been my friend and comforter ever since.

But still, lately I have found myself praying, "Lord, did I really receive your Holy Spirit? Do I really know the incredible power that lives in me? Or is the Holy Spirit just a doctrine for me? Will I be ignoring him, somehow? Am I not asking you to do what he came to do in me? Will I still be carrying things on my own that he came to do for me?

The fact is, you can have something very valuable and not know it. And you can not enjoy what you have because you do not know how valuable it is.

There is a story about a farmer who worked on his small farm all his life. For decades he worked the rocky earth, living poor and finally dying in despair. Upon his death the farm became the property of his son. One day while plowing the land, the son found a nugget of gold. He took her to value and was told that the nugget was pure gold. The young man soon discovered that the farm was full of gold. Instantly, he became a rich man. However, his father lost all that wealth, although he was on earth all his life.

In the same way it happens with the Holy Spirit. Many of us live in ignorance of what we have, of the power that resides in us. Some Christians live their entire lives thinking that they have the Holy Spirit, however, they have not truly received it in fullness and power. The Holy Spirit is not fulfilling in them the eternal work for which he was sent. According to him we have the treasure inside us.

Now, I'm not talking about demonstrations. Often, some believers seek the Holy Spirit only when they are in a bind and want him to manifest to them. They expect him to come down and sweep their problems. But Peter says that is not the truth about the Spirit. According to him, we have the treasure inside us: "By his divine power we have been given all the things that belong to life and to godliness" (2 Peter 1: 3).

In the Jordan River, John the Baptist told the Pharisees: "I baptize with water; but in the midst of you is one whom you do not know "(John 1:26). Those religious leaders saw Jesus in the flesh, and they heard him speak. But they had no understanding of who he was. They were not aware of his power and glory. In the same way, Jesus asked Philip his disciple, "So long have I been with you, and you have not known me, Philip? (John 14: 9) I want to ask you a similar question: How long have you testified that you are filled with the Holy Spirit? I could possibly tell you the Spirit as the Lord told Philip, "Have I been with you all these years and yet you do not really know me?"

Sometimes I wonder if Christians today
in day they are not up to the believers of the
Pablo's times.

Something seems to be failing in the church today. We all know that the Christians of the first century faced great afflictions. They endured severe trials, difficult times, persecutions that were life or death; but they did not fall under the pressure.

Paul says that the Thessalonian church endured the loss of their homes and possessions, all their belongings. However, these believers were not shaken by experience. He attributes his strength to the power of the Holy Spirit: "For our gospel did not come to you in words only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit and in full assurance, as you well know what we were among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in the midst of great tribulation, with joy of the Holy Spirit "(1 Thessalonians 1: 5-6).

Paul then describes the testimony that came because of their joyous resistance. "In this way you have been an example to all the believers of Macedonia and Achaia, because the word of the Lord has been spread out from you; and not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has spread, so that we have no need to speak at all "(1: 7-8).

But the pastors and saints of that church did not give in. They did not complain about their circumstances and did not question God's proofs. On the contrary, there was rejoicing among that body of believers. And Paul said to them: "You are the talk of the nations! His joy during difficult times has amazed and touched others near and far. "

These Christians had really received the Holy Spirit. I wonder, what did they know about the power of the Holy Spirit that so few Christians today seem to know? What is missing? Where is the joy of the Holy Spirit in our times of trial and affliction?

How does the Holy Spirit work in us in these difficult times? His power is made known only when we receive him as our squire. The Holy Spirit was given to us for this same reason, to carry our burdens and concerns. So, how can we say that we have received it if we have not passed on our burdens?

Think about this, the Holy Spirit is not kept under lock and key, but is here, dwelling in us. And he is anxiously waiting to take control of every situation in our lives, including our afflictions. Therefore, if we continue in fear - desperate, asking questions, submerging ourselves in anxiety - then we have not received him as our comforter, helper, guide, savior, and strength.

You can object, "The Holy Spirit was sent to empower us to testify of Christ." That is true, but what does our testimony comprise? Is it merely to talk to people about Jesus? Is it simply to quote the Bible? Is it just praying for people? These things are all part of our testimony, that's for sure - but they do not cover everything.

No, the testimony for the world is the Christian who has placed each of his burdens on the Holy Spirit. Like the believers in Thessalonica, this believer sees overwhelming problems everywhere and still has the joy of the Lord. He relies on the Spirit of God for his comfort and to guide him from affliction. And he has a powerful testimony for the lost world, because he expresses joy despite being surrounded by darkness. His life tells the world "This person has seen the light."

Such a Christian has truly received the Holy Spirit, because he allows the Spirit to provide everything he needs to overcome. A crestfallen believer is simply not a testimony.

Beloved, God allowed each of Paul's trials. And that led the apostle not to trust in himself, but to trust fully in the Holy Spirit to set him free. The Scripture says: "And having finished all things stand firm" (Ephesians 6:13). We are told, in essence: "You have discharged all your human strength. You have tried to solve your own problems and you have reached the end of yourself. Now let God do everything. He will achieve your liberation by the Spirit that lives in you. "

Paul is talking about something more than giving a passive sigh like, "Oh, I'll trust God with this." No, he talks about being so impotent, so resigned, that you have to depend on a "God who raises the dead . "(2 Corinthians 1: 9). His conclusion was: "Only God has the power to free me from this impossible situation (death). Only his Spirit can resurrect a new form of liberation. "