The crying need for the church today is to be filled with and led by the Holy Spirit. We have lots of knowledge. We have lots of programs. We have lots of voices in and around us shouting this way and that way. But where is the manifest power of God? Where is the clarion voice of the Shepherd sounding out in and from the church of the Living God? Here is how we can have it.
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:13
Jesus posed the above question after He had taught on prayer and had told the story of the man who went to his friend at midnight for some bread. Because of the man’s persistence, he got that for which he asked his friend.
Jesus paid the sacrificial price to give us all the good gifts, both physical and spiritual, needed to effectively operate in the kingdom of God. These gifts are on the table, spread before us, with our enemies looking on.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Psalms 23:5
There are enemies within us and outside us to keep us from obtaining the gifts God has made available to us. There are thoughts and feelings within, and there are voices, opinions, and experiences outside that war against us, to prevent us from freely receiving the things of the kingdom as a child. But the table is spread. There is an abundance of gifts for us to have and operate in for an overflow of victory, praise, power and glory to God.
God’ way and God’s voice is simple and clear: Hear-Believe-Ask-Act.
Everything in the kingdom of God works by faith. True faith produces action. Everything in the kingdom works by God’s Word and God’s Spirit working together. When we work together with God’s Word and God’s Spirit by taking action, the Spirit moves to create that which needs to be created. When we take action on God’s Word, the Spirit imparts what needs to be imparted. God is faithful to His Word. God confirms His Word with signs following. When we are trusting God, we take action. When we take action, God shows up. God manifests.
This is the simplicity of receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven for every believer to receive. He is “on the table.” Father God wants us all to have the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Jesus had it. The early church had it. And it is for us today. It was by the Spirit that they accomplished the assignments God had for them, and it is by the Spirit that we can accomplish the assignments God has for us today. We accomplish God’s assignments by the fruit and manifestations of the Holy Spirit, by being surrendered to the Holy Spirit.
God has not made it complicated. It is His good pleasure to give all His children all good things, both physical and spiritual.
Seek first the kingdom and righteousness of God; and all these [physical] things shall be added unto you. Fear not little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the [spiritual] kingdom. Matthew 6:33;Luke 12:30-31
This is God’s love for His children. He wants us to go through this life with good things, and anointed, and overflowing in the fullness of His life, peace, joy and power. Jesus said come unto me and find rest to your souls—not struggle. In Him there is rest and refreshing. Matthew 11:28-29; Isaiah 28:11-12
Jesus made it clear: “Ask, and it shall be given.” Simple. Luke 11:9-10
The promise is given—He will baptize, He will immerse believers in the Holy Ghost and with the fire of God’s enlightening and purifying presence. Hear and believe the promise that the loving Father has spoken. He has given His Word, and He does not go back on His Word! Luke 3:16
Hear and believe God’s Word. Ask the Father for the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Take action. Surrender everything of your life to Him. Surrender every thought, every feeling, and everything that has your focus. If you are holding on to something, then that is an area that cannot be filled. Focus on Him. Focus only on giving all to Him in faith and receiving from Him.
Now, take a deep breath and surrender your pride, your breath, and your tongue to God (the tongue which no man can tame—James 3:8). Keep going. Keep surrendering your pride, your breath, and your tongue to God. It does not matter what it feels like or sounds like. Surrender those thoughts about what it feels like or sounds like, and of what people think. Keep at it until you are freely and completely surrendered to Him.
Act in faith. Be persistent. Give expression of your surrender to God regardless of what you feel or think. Dive into the river and let the river fill and carry you! This is the whole point of being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is that you be completely surrendered to God to allow Him to be in your life without limits, and speak through you in any way He so desires. That is truly being filled. God wants to use you to speak and act on this earth by His Spirit.
God gives a supernatural language by which we can communicate with Him spirit-to-Spirit, and worship Him in Spirit and in truth. By the Spirit, we give thanks, praise and worship to God in an excellent way. By the Spirit, we also give expression to the groanings of the Spirit to bring about the perfect will of God in our life and in the lives of others. By praying in the Spirit, we build ourselves up strong in the Lord on our most holy faith and keep ourselves in the love of God. 1 Corinthians 14; Romans 8:26-27; Jude 20
We face enemies at the table who speak and operate in a supernatural way. God equips us to speak and operate in a supernatural way. The enemy is the prince of the power of the air. As we give breath to the Spirit of God, we invade the enemy’s territory and dismantle his strongholds and devices. This is why God wants to speak through us by His Spirit—so we can be the most effective vessels to set the captive free. This is God’s ultimate goal—to seek and save that which is lost and build up the saints strong in Jesus.
All this comes about by our total surrender to God so that it is not by our might or power, but by the Spirit of God in and through us. By us earnestly desiring the gifts of God, and by our surrender to God, God’s plans and purposes are accomplished by God’s power in and through us. Zechariah 4:6; 1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1
As we humble ourself as a little child in total surrender and trust in God, we can become partakers of all the good things of the kingdom. There are many good things just waiting to be taken from the table. By hearing and believing God enough to ask and act on His Word, we can take those gifts and good things and enjoy and operate in the power of God’s Spirit to accomplish His work, all to the glory of God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (the anointed). Matthew 18:3-4
