Are you Living the Resurrected Lifestyle? - Part 1/3
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25)
No one knows what happens after death, till they meet Jesus. Jesus makes it clear that those who die in Him will find everlasting life. Mary, and Martha said they believed in Jesus, but their belief wasn’t mixed with faith to realise that Jesus had power over death. Till they saw Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Many did not ‘enter the rest’ promised by God in the OT because their faith did not match up with their actions; they were either disobedient or only intellectual in their belief. Many today are struggling with their walk because their belief is more intellectual rather than a heart surrendered, like a child, to the fact of a wonder-working God.
I want to share three critical experiences, one each for the next three Wednesday’s starting today.
Have you received the Holy Ghost SINCE you believed?
So many, question and debate over this separate experience of a believer after being born again (John 3:3) i.e. the baptism of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5). I don’t bother to argue because we’ve grown up in a world where signs and wonders follow the believer. By God’s amazing Grace, we’ve witnessed and experienced healings and miracles that only God could do. Sadly, there is a large population of genuine believers who think tongues and miracles have ceased. Jesus had promised his disciples and all who believed the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, only those who are willing to believe will see the glory of God!
Peter, and the disciples were transformed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. They preached and taught like never before. This radical transformation can come only by the power of God. The Holy Spirit is a joy unspeakable, not of this world, He is the third person of trinity. We move to a lifestyle of faith that believes in the impossible, confirmed by the Word of God.
In Acts 8:12-17, people in Samaria had become born again believers but not received the Holy Spirit yet. Peter and John were sent to pray that they may receive the Holy Spirit, and they did - tongues, et all.
Rather than remembering past sins, and fearing the unknown, believers must seek Christ for the baptism of the Holy Spirit to move on. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a promise to all of God’s children (Luke 11:9-13). All we need to do is sincerely ask.
The Holy Spirit leads the spiritually minded believer, who is full of life and peace (Romans 8:5, 6). It was the Holy Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead. (Romans 8:11)
So many Christians rely on degree holders and health “experts” to treat their mental health disorders. Spirit baptised believers who walk the Walk, know where to turn to. Instead of emails to set appointments with doctors, they send knee-mails to receive immediate response from God Himself through the power of the Holy Spirit. What about doctors? They are for those who rely on them. Everyone walks according to the grace God gives them. Having said that, nothing is kept away from a seeking heart. So please, Ask-Seek-Knock, if you want to experience a fuller prayer experience, one that brings great rejoicing, giving glory to God (Acts 10:46).
Come epidemic or pandemic, earthquakes or Tsunami’s, Spirit baptised believers are given to praying in the anointing day and night for the lost souls, backslidden believers, the sick, homeless, addicted, etc. every kind of human suffering in the world.
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; (Luke 18:1) (1 Thessalonians 5:16, 17)
It is the Holy Spirit that gives the ability to think and speak the Word of God as Paul writes in Corinthians.
'Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.' 1 Corinthians 2:4-5,13,16
In times of trial or temptation, the Holy Spirit gives the words to speak. We are truly empowered by the Holy Spirit which enables us to live by faith because the love of God which produces the faith comes from the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:6).
Jesus asks the clinical question in Luke 18:7-8, will there be faith on earth when He comes? Jesus is coming for His elect who cry to Him daily. He will avenge His children. How can faith increase? When love increases. How can love increase? When the Holy Spirit is shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5).
Dear Believer, seek His anointing and watch your life change forever as you are led to impact nations for His glory.
Dear Reader, Jesus is the Friend of the spirit (of man), you will never be lonely or suicidal when you know Him like true believers do. Come to Jesus, wherever you are, get on your knees and invite Him into your heart. He died for you on the cross and rose up the third day for your salvation and mine. He is the Bread of Life, the Living Water, when we eat of Him, eternity is restored because He thought of YOU before the foundation of the Earth.